crawfish
05-27-2008, 07:58 PM
I saw this on Southern Pigskin and thought the Georgia faithful would enjoy.
Off-Season Look: Georgia (http://www.southernpigskin.com/page.cfm?story=11730&cat=exclusives)By the SouthernPigskin.com Staff
http://cache.secsports.com/image_lib/fbc_uga_matt_stafford_123006_164w.jpg
Overview - This might be the most talented team of the Mark Richt era in Athens. Expectations are at a championship level for the Bulldogs. Many media outlets have named Georgia their pre-season number one. The biggest obstacle for a team loaded with many future first round draft picks on the roster is a schedule that is the toughest in college football.
Biggest Strength - There may not be a team in college football with more talent in the offensive backfield. Quarterback Matt Stafford is poised for a banner year after throwing 19 touchdowns in 2007. Entering his third season as a starter, Stafford is emering as a nationally elite signal caller. Sophomore running back Knowshon Moreno rushed for 1,334 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in his first season. He finished last season on a tear, topping the 100-yard mark in five of his last six regular season games and scoring two touchdowns in a Sugar Bowl rout of Hawaii. Few players run with more passion or explosiveness. Fullback Brannan Southernland is the best player at his position in the league. Even the backfield depth is great. Caleb King will form an exciting one-two punch at tailback with Moreno.
Biggest Question - Can this team survive the schedule? The Bulldogs have just one team on their schedule, Vanderbilt, who finished 2007 with a losing record (FCS member Georgia Southern went 7-4). The tough tests come in two-game flurries. Georgia has consecutive road trips to South Carolina and Arizona State, back to back home games against Alabama and Tennessee, consecutive out of state games against LSU and Florida and contests against Auburn and Georgia Tech to finish the season. The one-two punch of LSU and Florida in late October, early November may be one of the toughest two-game stretches in college football history. How many times has a team played the defending national champions and the defending Heisman Trophy winner in consecutive weeks? No team in the game has a more difficult schedule.
Offenisve MVP - It could be either of the backfield stars, but Moreno is poised for an especially huge season after rushing for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman. His relentless running style, not to mention his remarkable production, has made him a national favorite. Moreno will replace Darren McFadden in 2008 as the SEC's premier running back.
Defensive MVP - Senior linebacker Dannell Ellerbe earned second-team All-SEC honors last season after leading the Bulldogs in tackles with 93 and finishing second on the team in tackles for loss and sacks with 11.5 and 4.5 respectively. A tenacious defender, Ellerbe will be the heart of what could be the SEC's top defensive unit this fall.
Rising Star - Junior offensive guard Vince Vance is ready to live up to his junior college billing. A 2006 first-team All-American at the JUCO level, Vance will bring a 6'8'', 320 pound frame to the Bulldog starting lineup. Athletically, his skills are impressive for someone with his physical build. Vance will provide considerable muscle along the interior of the Georgia front line.
Key Game - This year's showdown against the Florida Gators in Jacksonville has the potential to be the biggest game this series has seen in quite some time. Both Georgia and Florida have been regulars in the top five in the pre-season polls. Each school has being ranked number one by at least one prominent media outlet. A chance the SEC Championship Game, and perhaps the national championship, could be on the line on November 1st. Throw in the controversy from last season and it's going to be a fun one.
Off-Season Look: Georgia (http://www.southernpigskin.com/page.cfm?story=11730&cat=exclusives)By the SouthernPigskin.com Staff
http://cache.secsports.com/image_lib/fbc_uga_matt_stafford_123006_164w.jpg
Overview - This might be the most talented team of the Mark Richt era in Athens. Expectations are at a championship level for the Bulldogs. Many media outlets have named Georgia their pre-season number one. The biggest obstacle for a team loaded with many future first round draft picks on the roster is a schedule that is the toughest in college football.
Biggest Strength - There may not be a team in college football with more talent in the offensive backfield. Quarterback Matt Stafford is poised for a banner year after throwing 19 touchdowns in 2007. Entering his third season as a starter, Stafford is emering as a nationally elite signal caller. Sophomore running back Knowshon Moreno rushed for 1,334 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in his first season. He finished last season on a tear, topping the 100-yard mark in five of his last six regular season games and scoring two touchdowns in a Sugar Bowl rout of Hawaii. Few players run with more passion or explosiveness. Fullback Brannan Southernland is the best player at his position in the league. Even the backfield depth is great. Caleb King will form an exciting one-two punch at tailback with Moreno.
Biggest Question - Can this team survive the schedule? The Bulldogs have just one team on their schedule, Vanderbilt, who finished 2007 with a losing record (FCS member Georgia Southern went 7-4). The tough tests come in two-game flurries. Georgia has consecutive road trips to South Carolina and Arizona State, back to back home games against Alabama and Tennessee, consecutive out of state games against LSU and Florida and contests against Auburn and Georgia Tech to finish the season. The one-two punch of LSU and Florida in late October, early November may be one of the toughest two-game stretches in college football history. How many times has a team played the defending national champions and the defending Heisman Trophy winner in consecutive weeks? No team in the game has a more difficult schedule.
Offenisve MVP - It could be either of the backfield stars, but Moreno is poised for an especially huge season after rushing for 1,334 yards and 14 touchdowns as a freshman. His relentless running style, not to mention his remarkable production, has made him a national favorite. Moreno will replace Darren McFadden in 2008 as the SEC's premier running back.
Defensive MVP - Senior linebacker Dannell Ellerbe earned second-team All-SEC honors last season after leading the Bulldogs in tackles with 93 and finishing second on the team in tackles for loss and sacks with 11.5 and 4.5 respectively. A tenacious defender, Ellerbe will be the heart of what could be the SEC's top defensive unit this fall.
Rising Star - Junior offensive guard Vince Vance is ready to live up to his junior college billing. A 2006 first-team All-American at the JUCO level, Vance will bring a 6'8'', 320 pound frame to the Bulldog starting lineup. Athletically, his skills are impressive for someone with his physical build. Vance will provide considerable muscle along the interior of the Georgia front line.
Key Game - This year's showdown against the Florida Gators in Jacksonville has the potential to be the biggest game this series has seen in quite some time. Both Georgia and Florida have been regulars in the top five in the pre-season polls. Each school has being ranked number one by at least one prominent media outlet. A chance the SEC Championship Game, and perhaps the national championship, could be on the line on November 1st. Throw in the controversy from last season and it's going to be a fun one.