Georgia Bulldogs: 2011 Post-Spring Depth Chart Surprises

Georgia released it's post-spring depth chart today and while there were few surprises, a few things stood out—at least to me—as curious.

For one, the sight of Ken 'Boo' Malcome at No. 4—behind the walk-on Brandon Harton and the diminutive Carlton Thomas—seemed odd. Malcome was one of the major standouts this past spring and seemed poised to challenge Caleb King for more significant carries come summer. However, the fact that he didn't even manage to land at No. 2 concerned me a bit—but only a little bit.

Perhaps the groin injury that plagued Malcome all spring played a role in where he ended up on the chart (although, it does seem worth noting that, Baccari Rambo missed all of spring managed to maintain his position on the depth chart despite missing the majority of spring practice).
It's a situation that bears watching once summer drills commences as, hopefully, there isn't more to it than meets the eye.

Keep in mind, for those who don't know, this chart does not speak to where guys like Isaiah Crowell or Damian Swann will land once they arrive and throw their respective skills into the mix. It's sole purpose is to present a guide as to where guys stand as of right now.

Another small surprise, although no one should be too shocked by it at this point, is the fact that Michael Bennett has leaped over Israel Troupe. Troupe's stock has really declined over the last 18-months and it looks as if his impact at Georgia will be relegated to a reserve capacity from this point forward. It's too bad that he hasn't really found his groove, he's got the physical attributes needed to be a solid competitor, I'm just not sure he ever really committed fully to playing football.

On the other hand, the 'Michael Bennet Hype Train' continues to gain traction and, by summer, it will likely be at full bore as this young man continues to make sure he's not overlooked by anyone.

Oh, and in case you missed it, we are thin on the offensive line, at safety, and at wide receiver. I'm praying the new strength program also includes a heavier emphasis on injury prevention. We are one hamstring injury away from seeing a tight end being a permanent fixture on the offensive line and that's not a comforting thought. 

Mark Richt: I Want To Stay At Georgia for 10 More Years..."At Least"

Mark Richt spoke openly about his desire to remain in Athens as head coach of the Georgia Bulldogs and, given the buzz that suddenly seems to be accumulating around the team (both positive and negative), he has a good chance to state his case for seeing that happen if he completes a solid 2011 campaign.

In the meanwhile, he might want to take a long look at how his staff recruits offensive linemen as, yet again, Georgia finds that very unit in the news again for all the wrong reasons. This time the news surrounds junior, A.J. Harmon, who has decided to transfer.

Harmon was expected to play a key role in the offensive line rotation this season—particularly in the wake of the Trinton Sturdivant injury—but was unable to get his academics in order (at least that's the rumor floating around), leaving depth on the offensive line at dangerous levels.

That said, Mark Richt has made it clear that Georgia is not out of options yet.

Watts Dantzler, Xzavier Ward, and Zach DeBell are all due in this summer and, at least two of those three guys, are expected to play a contributive role on the line this year and that likely would have been the case even if A.J. Harmon had not made the decision to transfer.

As for Richt, he's been in this situation on far more occasions than he'd like during his tenure at Georgia and, to be frank, it would be more disconcerting if this were a conversation about Cordy Glenn or Ben Jones as Harmon hasn't been as impactful on the line as the scurry around him now might lead you to believe.

Although, to be fair, anytime you lose significant experience at the left tackle position—even if it is in a reserve capacity—you feel a little less easy heading into the season. Harmon certainly had the reps and the familiarity with the blocking schemes that you like to see in your linemen, but he never was able to breakthrough as a starter and it is likely he didn't see that changing much this season either—academic problems or not.

The arrival of the heralded tackles from the 2011 signing class just got a lot more interesting—hope these dreams won't be of the deferred kind.

Georgia Bulldogs: Wherefore Art Thou, Branden Smith?

Branden Smith hasn't made much noise at Georgia since his freshman year when he burst onto the scene in with one very big play against the South Carolina Gamecocks. A play that happened so long ago that you've likely forgotten how spectacular it was—see it again below:



That one still leaves me shaking my head in awe—his speed is amazing—but what happened to Mr. Smith? Where has he gone and when the hell will he be back? All indications point to a 2011 return—whether it comes more on offense than defense is yet to be seen—as Smith was observed fielding kicks and punts over the weekend.

Is that where Georgia hopes to see him do the most damage this season, particularly given Smith's injury history? After all, it's well-known that Smith suffered through multiple concussions in 2011, and if he continues to play defense, collisions with opponents who outweigh him by better than 40-50 pounds is likely. Of course there are those who would point out that defensive back Brandon Boykin doesn't dwarf Smith by very much, size wise, yet he's been able to achieve success.

While the latter is true, it's premature to place Smith and Boykin in the same category where skill or development is concerned. Smith is not yet the caliber of player—at least not defensively—that Brandon Boykin is, and Boykin makes up for in ball skills and mental play what he lacks in overall size.

Overall, however, the biggest challenge Smith will have—if he does intend to succeed on defense—is grasping Todd Grantham's defense.

Recall that when Smith signed with Georgia in 2009, Martinez was still running the defense, and the soft-zone scheme Georgia's defense operated under was meant for guys like Smith and Boykin who could use their speed to catch up to a play if they missed a read (although, to be honest, we all remember how well that worked out).

With Grantham at the helm, defensive backs have to take a more proactive role in how they play their position. They have to both read and react—not just react—and not every player has proven that they can do this with ease.

If Smith is going to get back on the field fast, I suspect it will be in a special teams capacity—for the most part—with some gadget plays thrown in for good measure. I don't know that he has a future on defense at the corner spot, at least not now, but his speed and talent are simply too valuable a commodity to not find a home on the football field in 2011. 

Clint Boling on Georgia: "We Just Didn't Really Play Up To Our Potential"

Former offensive lineman, Clint Boling, was recently interviewed during a media session at the NFL combine—taking place this week in Indianapolis—and when he was asked to explain how a team  that came into the 2010 season so talented ends up 6-7, he had the following to say,

(h/t Jay Adams)



So, basically, Clint had no more of an idea what went wrong than the rest of us.

He mentioned A.J.'s absence and pointed to their inability to meet their "potential", but it didn't look to me like he really had much of a clue what happened in 2010—honestly, he didn't look comfortable answering the question at all. To me that screams loss of control.

The offensive line was by far the most heralded unit on the 2010 squad and, if nothing else, they were expected to remain as effective last season as they appeared to be at the end of 2009. The fact that they were as wildly inconsistent as they were says, to me at least, that there was a definite problem with the message coming from the coaching staff. None of these guys were on the same page and the play on the field suffered as a result.

Hopefully that "disconnect" won't be an issue in 2011.

Georgia Bulldogs: What Would Searles' Departure Mean For Recruiting?

It is being reported tonight, by multiple news outlets, that Georgia offensive line coach, Stacey Searles has accepted the same position on Mack Brown's coaching staff at the University of Texas.

Searles has been the target of much finger-pointing over his last two seasons at Georgia due to the disappointment of his offensive line units. To be fair, however,  it is uncertain how much of their problems were due to conditioning as opposed to coaching.

Either way, he appears to be on his way to Austin to begin anew and, less than two weeks until signing day, Georgia is labored with the task of starting a new coaching search. While possible replacements have only been mildly kicked about—Hugh Nall, Mac McWhorter, and former Vanderbilt head coach, Robbie Caldwell, have all been mentioned—the real concern is what will become of Georgia's 2011 offensive line prospects?

Well, the biggest fish of the group, Watts Dantzler, has already spoken via his Twitter account and he looks to be solid:

Dantzler was close to coach Searles, and his commitment became a concern the moment news of a possible departure hit the airwaves.

Dantzler was highly recruited by a number of schools, but his decision ultimately came down to two—Auburn and Georgia. Georgia won out and any chance the Tigers might have had to swoop back into the picture was seemingly killed long ago.

Reportedly, Dantzler is "done with Auburn" after the way he was treated during the football game against Georgia. Said Dantzler, "I left with about 10 minutes left in the game...I got treated very poorly while I was there. A lot of the fans were getting on me, saying they didn’t want me there. I even wore blue and everything. It wasn’t a very good day for me over there."

For now, it appears safe to say that Dantzler will remain a Bulldog.

Dean Legge of Scout.com reportedly has the same feelings about both Hunter Long and David Andrews.  He doesn't get the feeling that either is a threat to be lost by Georgia if Searles is indeed gone—particularly not Hunter whose brother is already enrolled at Georgia.

As for DeBell, there is no word on him as of yet, but there is little reason to believe he won't remain committed to Georgia. Just as a side note, Debell is projecting out as a tight end or fullback at the next level and it's possible that Georgia has other plans for him—just putting that out there.

In the meantime, it doesn't appear that a Searles' departure would spell doom for the 2011 class.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About Kentucky

The Georgia Bulldogs have enjoyed their stay in Athens, GA these last two-weeks, as both the offense and the defense seemed to find their rhythm. Now, it's time to take their show back on the road again as the surging Bulldogs will take on the feisty Kentucky Wildcats in Lexington.

For many, this game will be the true barometer of whether or not Georgia's last two wins were a result of good play or bad opponents—some aren't so sure it's not more the latter than the former.

Either way, it's time to see how much improved this offense and defense is against a better, more challenging, opponent.

If you've been following this blog all season, you know how this works, 10 points of interest about the Wildcats will be offered up as FYI—take them for what they are worth.

Here's what you need to know about Kentucky:

1. Their pass offense is good. 

The Wildcats are currently ranked 25th in the nation—2nd in the conference—in passing offense. The maturation of Mike Hartline has been the difference.

The senior is comfortable in this offense, proficient in calling plays, and confident in his ability to lead this team back—no matter what the deficit. He is playing his best football of the year, so far, and was a major catalyst in the Wildcats big win over South Carolina last week—passing for 349-yards and four touchdowns.

2. The offensive line is better-than-advertised. 

The Wildcats had to replace four players from last season's unit, but that hasn't seemed to matter much. This group has developed a great chemistry together, and have done a tremendous job of keeping Mike Hartline upright this season—allowing only six sacks through seven games.

3. They are porous against the run. 

They managed to keep South Carolina (who lost their leading rusher in the second half) and Akron (who ranks 100th in rushing offense this season) under 100-yards rushing, but they have consistently given up 175-yards or better to every other opponent they have faced this year—including 211-yards to Mississippi and 311-yards to Auburn.

Note: The Wildcats have given up 45 rushing plays that have gone for 10 or more yards this season. 

4. That said...they have issues with mobile quarterbacks. 

Trey Burton, of Florida, had his biggest game of the season against the Wildcats (scoring five rushing touchdowns), Jeremiah Masoli, of Ole Miss, scored four times (scrambling for one touchdown and tossing three more), Cam Newton, of Auburn, tallied 198-yards and four scores. Quarterbacks who have the potential to run, and roll out of the pocket, give the Wildcats fits.

5. They're defensive line is capable of dominating—if they get on a roll. 

The defensive line is young, but hungry. They have had a few really good performances this season—three weeks ago against Ole Miss, they tallied eight tackles for loss (TFL)—and some not so good. However, they remain focused and ready to meet the challenge each week.

Mark Crawford, a JUCO transfer from Kansas, has been a great leader on the line and provides the emotional spark the team needs when things get tough. Keep an eye on him at defensive tackle. He's already got 3.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks on the year.

6. Randall Cobb is still the man. 

The junior wideout is responsible for 1,155 total yards for the Wildcats this season, and remains a weapon that has to be accounted for at all times. He, along with Derrick Locke, remain two of the most important pieces to the success of Kentucky's offense.

7. Chris Matthews may have had his coming out party last week. 

Senior wide receiver, Chris Matthews was an enigma for South Carolina last week. He finished the game with 12 catches, for 177-yards, and one touchdown. It was his second 100-yard receiving game of the year (the first came against Florida).

If Derrick Locke is forced to miss more time (leaving Cobb to perform more rushing duties), Hartline will be tossing plenty more passes Matthews' way—at 6'5", 219 pounds, he makes for an ample target.
  
8. Their third down defense hasn't been as impressive in conference play. 

Kentucky has held their non-conference opponents to less than 22-percent on third downs this season. However, in SEC play, they have been susceptible to allowing teams to extend their drives via conversions. SEC opponents convert at just over a 50 percent clip.

9. Their redzone defense is pretty bad. 

If an opponent can get inside the 20, they are likely going to get six. This season, the Wildcats have allowed the opposition into the redzone 25 times—19 of those resulted in a touchdown.

Note: They are dead last in the SEC in this category.

10. Their second-half defense is tough. 

The Wildcats, over the last two weeks, have done a phenomenal job of making halftime adjustments on defense—outscoring their opponent 38-6. On the flip side, they've been walloped in the first-half, of those same games, 59-27.

If a team can jump out early and contain the Cats' late, they stand a chance of escaping Lexington with a win.

*Most of the stats used in this article are available via courtesy of cfbstats.com. 

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Ranking The 10 Best Performers In The Win Over Vandy

The start of the game was reminiscent of the start of Georgia's SEC season—wildly inconsistent, out-of-sync, and frustrating.

The offense found it difficult to get going, thanks in large part to the frequent stoppages of play and early on, it seemed as if the Bulldogs would be regressing back to the mediocre brand of football many came to expect during their four game losing streak (three timeouts used in the first six minutes).

However, the Bulldogs dominated that other team from Tennessee, both offensively and defensively, pitching their first shutout of the season and running all over and through the Vanderbilt defensive front—A.J. Green didn't even have to get his super hero clothing dirty on Saturday as there were plenty of big plays and familiar playmakers to go around.

So who made the cut for being the most productive on the day?...

1. Washaun Ealey, RB

Ealey ran with purpose on Saturday, breaking tackles, driving the pile, and making running lanes appear even when there didn't seem any. He even managed to hold onto the ball inside the five-yard line—the place he's struggled all season long—and score a touchdown.

He finished the day with 17 carries, for 123 yards, and one touchdown (7.2 ypc).

Note: Vanderbilt was the team Washaun Ealey broke out against last season as well. From that point on, he became a force in the Georgia running game, rushing for 595 yards and three touchdowns the remainder of the way.

2. Carlton Thomas, RB

Thomas finally hit pay dirt in the redzone, scoring twice on the day—once on a nice 15-yard run led by the blocking of center Ben Jones and, for the second time, on a nine-yard run late in the third.

He still isn't going to be the guy between the tackles but you have to applaud his efforts on Saturday.

Note: Those were the first touchdowns of Thomas' career. 

3. Kris Durham, WR

What more can you say about Durham?

Whether he was gaining yards on the first big passing play of the game (55 yards), or leaping above three defenders to pull down an ill-advised pass from Aaron Murray, the senior has given the Bulldog faithful everything he's got this year, and his four catch, 112-yard performance on Saturday just gave the fans yet another reason to smile.

Note: Durham averaged 28.0 yards per reception for the game, bringing his average, on the season, to 20.6. 

4. Aaron Murray, QB

He didn't have to run it much, but he stepped up and made a couple of really big plays from the pocket, a 48-yard strike to A.J. Green which led to a touchdown and a 22-yard completion to Aron White during a 16-play, 86-yard drive to end the first half.

The redshirt freshman ended the day with 287 yards and two touchdowns.

5. Uga VIII

How can you not mention Georgia's newest member?

"Big Bad Bruce" was a baaaaadddddddd Dawg on Saturday—bad meaning good—as he started his tenure both undefeated and, as coach Richt pointed out, "unscored upon".

6. The Defense

Wow.

Sure it was Vanderbilt, but that means nada—keeping a team off the board is impressive, no matter who they are or what they've done this season. After all, even Louisiana got on the board against Georgia in the first game of the year.

The Bulldogs held Vanderbilt to a total of 140 yards (82 passing and 58 rushing), 1-of-11 on third downs, and eight first downs....eight! Not to mention, they were +2 on the day after forcing an interception and a safety.

Note: Georgia is currently ranked 39th in the nation in turnover margin. They ended last season ranked 118th. Also, over the last two games the defense has allowed 14 points, 409 total yards of offense, forced five turnovers, and held the offense to 7-of-24 on third downs. 

7. Drew Butler, P 

That's the Drew Butler that Bulldog fans know and love. Butler averaged 49.0 yards per punt on the day.

8. The Offense

The Georgia offense has looked significantly better over the last two weeks and yesterday, against the Commodores, they totaled 547 yards of total offense (315 yards passing and 232 yards rushing). Add to that, they dominated the time of possession (37:15), and averaged better than 11.0 yards per passing play.

Note: Over the last two weeks, the Georgia offense has totaled 949 yards of total offense and scored 84 points.

9. The Offensive Line

There is still some improvement to be made in both pass protection and run blocking, but you have to give a nod to the reconfigured line which features a confidence-gaining Trinton Sturdivant at left tackle and an impressive Kenarious Gates at right guard.

10. Tavares King, WR

He's quietly having a good season for the Bulldogs at his position and caught four passes for 70 yards on Saturday.

What say you?...What caught your eye about the team on yesterday.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About Vanderbilt

Finally!! Georgia Bulldog fans woke up this past Sunday morning celebrating a win for the team. That means this week, they will be hoping for a new streak to commence—a winning one.

Mark Richt will take his team's 41-14 victory over the orange bunch from Knoxville and try to parlay it into another victory this week— this time against the Vanderbilt Commodores (2-3 overall, 1-1 SEC).

Georgia will have their hands full with Warren Norman, but the Bulldogs are hoping to make this Homecoming game match-up a winning one.

Here's what you need to know about the Commodores:

1. They still have Warren Norman and he's still pretty darn good. 

Norman remains a threat, both on offense and special teams, and needs to be given the proper respect. He's averaging 6.17 yards per carry, and is coming off a two-touchdown performance against Eastern Michigan.

He's also averaging better than 30 yards per attempt on kick returns—good enough for 2nd in the SEC.

2. Larry Smith is still Larry Smith. 

Smith has proven to be competent when he has time to gather himself behind his offensive line that is, for lack of a better phrase, still a work in progress. That said, he is still prone to decision-making errors that lead to costly interceptions and busted plays.

3. Chris Marve is one of the best linebackers in the SEC—period. 

He was forced to miss last week's game due to a torn meniscus, but there was hope that he would be able to return for this week's contest against Georgia. Marve has recorded 100+ tackles in two consecutive seasons and is looking to do so again this year. He, along with Sean Richardson, form a potent tandem in the linebacking corps.

4. They're atrocious against the run. 

In their two wins this year, Vanderbilt has given up 300 yards rushing. In their three losses, 619 yards—including 280 to LSU. Needless to say, they have a problem stopping the run. If ever there was a week for Georgia to get the running game going, it's this one.

5. By contrast, their pass defense is nearly tops in the conference. 

Vanderbilt's pass defense ranks 2nd in the conference and 15th in the nation. They've allowed 800 yards through the air, on the year, and are holding quarterbacks to less than 60 percent completion percentage. Junior, Casey Hayward, has an interception in each of his last four games, and plays the pass as well as any defensive back in the country.

6. Tim Fugger is a beast.

Fugger has forced fumbles on the year—leading the SEC. He has been one of the more consistent performers on an, otherwise, rebuilding defensive front that is still searching for more playmakers.

7. They're young.

The Commodores have started a lot of freshman this season, and have been aggressively looking for the right mix on both the offensive and defensive lines. However, there is a lack of depth at many key positions and that has meant the team has had to endure an extended bout of growing pains on both sides of the ball.

8. They have had trouble getting into the redzone.

A lack of consistency in the passing game coupled with an under-performing offensive line has meant few redzone opportunities for the Commodores this year. They are dead last in the SEC in redzone attempts (13) and are tied with their in-state counterpart, Tennessee, for touchdowns converted within those attempts (7).

9. The kicking game is still a sore spot. 

Vanderbilt averages less than 40 yards per punt. On the flip side, that has made their punt defense very stingy (3.67 avg).

10. Their offense doesn't spend much time on the field. 

They average 26 minutes a game in time of possession. That means their defense spends the better portion of each contest on the football field. That likely explains why Vandy ranks near the bottom of the conference in both scoring defense (9th) and scoring offense (11th).

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Mark Richt Under Fire After Loss to Mississippi State

That game in Starkville, what can you say that hasn't already been said? It was a travesty, an
embarrassment, a flaming pile of horse manure, and whatever other colorful adjectives you wish to use at this point.

Mark Richt, and the rest of his coaching staff, have gone from being a group with potential to a potential group without jobs—if you believe the interwebs.

Well, if you came here to see Mark Richt or Todd Grantham get thrown under the bus, leave now. That's not going to happen here—not today.

Despite the hideous display of undisciplined football that was played in the first half of the Mississippi State game, Georgia wasn't demolished by those other Bulldogs. On the contrary, as they have done all season, Georgia shot themselves in the collective foot by making foolish mistakes and continually forgetting that every down matters.

That is the reason why most rational fans are unhappy this morning. That is why they are scratching their heads and wondering what the hell is going on in Athens. The fact is, by the end of the first half, the Bulldogs should have, at worst, been sitting on a 14-7 lead.

Washaun Ealey's ill-timed fumble (again) and Marlon Brown's inability to play with proper fundamentals, erased eight points from the board. In both cases, the mistakes were avoidable and the poor execution of those plays was the reason the momentum of the first half ended in Mississippi State's favor.

Moving on to the defense, the one question that has to be asked is: what was the problem on third downs? Time and again, the defense placed the Bulldogs in situations where they should have been playing back on their heels, yet they let them off the hook by allowing them to convert for the big gain.

It was like they gave all they could give on first and second down, then let their foot off the gas on third downs—hoping Mississippi State would do the same.

Even more, where's the pass rush? Chris Relf had too much time to sit back and scan the field. Give any quarterback that kind of time and he will beat you. It also didn't help that the guys up front were continually dominated by the Bulldogs' offensive line—a frightening trend that began in week two at South Carolina.

People say there's nothing wrong with the strength and conditioning program at Georgia, well, all signs to the contrary because what I've seen is a front seven that can't muster a fraction of the pressure that they should under this new "attacking" style of play.

Admittedly, some of that is personnel. Grantham doesn't have the players to fit what he would like to do, but there are still plenty of good athletes at Georgia, and they should not continually get whipped by every offensive line they come up against in Division I football—that's embarrassing. 

One of the lone bright spots is Aaron Murray. He continues to shine despite standing behind an under-achieving offensive line. Bless him for being the play maker that he is, but he's going to get killed at some point this season because his line has no heart—that's right—NO HEART!

Last night, it became more and more difficult to count the sheer number of times the pocket broke down, particularly on the right side, and defender after defender was able to break through and flush Murray from the pocket. He was able to scramble his way to the first down more than once, but is that really what you want him doing all season—running for his life?

At one point, either Chris Burnette or Chris Davis just got outright flattened by a defensive player who managed to break through the line—sad. Did Stacy Searles (Georgia's offensive line coach) go on a long vacation because he's obviously not showing up to coach these "so-called" veterans who were supposed to be the rock for Georgia this season.

As for the offense, where do you possibly begin? Mike Bobo is atrocious at play-calling. There is no other way to say it. Georgia had one-on-one coverage all night against the Bulldogs, yet he decides to let Carlton Thomas have a go, or he calls some crappy draw play that loses yards—just no imagination whatsoever.

The only thing Bobo did right last night was accept responsibility for being such a hack. A welcome change from the idiocy that was last week when he, essentially, blamed the lack of offensive success on Aaron Murray's inability to get rid of the football—such class that guy.

Special teams is another conversation altogether. Did Georgia ever start outside of the shadow of their own 20? Seriously, where is the protection on special teams during kick/punt returns? The blocking was horrible and, aside from one very nice run by Brandon Boykin, there was nothing spectacular about the way Georgia played on returns last night.

All of this leads to one conclusion: Georgia is young and undisciplined in most areas. There is no leadership on the field and no player seems willing to step up and be the guy. The arrests and suspensions that plagued the team in the spring and summer were a harbinger of just how young and undisciplined this team would be on the field this season—hate to admit it, but it's true.

A.J. Green can't fix what ails Georgia. If you still believe he can, stop fooling yourself, it's simply not true. Even more, if you think firing Mark Richt right now is the way to go, answer this question: then what? Who do you think should take his place? Rodney Garner? Mike Bobo? Todd Grantham? Some other, currently unemployed, has-been, who got fired for doing the same thing Richt is right now?

Forgive the license, but continue to take your chances with Richt the rest of this season and in 2011 too—he's done enough to earn that much. Firing Mark Richt today is not the answer. He's still a good coach and this one season, as catastrophic as it has been thus far, could just as easily have been one that started 4-0.

Last night was painful. No doubt about it, but with 5:32 left to play in the game, it was still a 10-6 contest that Georgia had every opportunity to win—it's the same opportunity they had against both Arkansas and South Carolina.

This team has questions to answer about their heart, but the talent is there—they just need to start figuring out if they're man enough to use it.

The comment section is open to whatever you want to say, even if it's in total disagreement with my take—I assure you, your points are every bit as valid as mine.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Where Has The Running Game Gone?

This was supposed to be the year that the Georgia run game took off. Washaun Ealey and Caleb King were supposed to be the guys to make it happen on the ground—leaving Aaron Murray free to rule the air. Everything was supposed to be good for the Georgia offense in 2010 because the end of 2009 showed, without question, that "we run this state".

Well, proof-positive that things don’t always go as planned: Caleb King went back to being the guy that couldn't stay healthy, the offensive line forgot that it still has to supply holes for the backs to run through, and Washaun Ealey left his motivation for playing better on his key ring.

Washaun Ealey turned it on during the second-half of last season and, by the time Georgia met up with Georgia Tech in the finale, it was clear that he was going to be something special. Where has that dominance gone this year?

In 2009, he averaged 5.74 yards per carry (through nine games). This season, he's averaging 4.38 yards per attempt. That's not an altogether bad average, but if you look closer, he isn't doing that well where it matters—on those critical third downs.

In 2009, Ealey had nine attempts on 3rd-and-short (a distance of 1-3 yards), and he averaged 7.22 yards per attempt (h/t cfbstats.com). As a result, Georgia was able to extend drives and force defenses to  play the run more aggressively—thereby opening up the passing game.

This season, Ealey is averaging 2.25 yards per attempt—he's not getting it done. That means more attention is on Aaron Murray and his wide receivers. Teams have the luxury of abandoning their rush defense because there is not much threat of the Bulldogs converting a short-yardage situation via the run—hence the offense stalls.

Who’s to blame for this lack of effectiveness?

The first finger, naturally, gets pointed at the offensive line. They aren’t dominating at the line of scrimmage and, as a result, they are getting pushed backwards by opposing defensive lines. It’s an issue we have seen before—it happened on multiple occasions last season as well (the game versus Arizona State stands out).

Was the line overrated this season? Is the chemistry not yet clicking with the starting five? Is it a conditioning issue? Has offensive line coach, Stacy Searles, lost his ability to coach? All of these are questions that have come up—none have acceptable answers. The hope just seems to be that, whatever the problem, it’s fixable and, everything will be fine.

However, just as much of the blame could fall on the performance of Ealey. He isn't running with the
same amount of urgency or motivation that he did last season. Despite the questions surrounding the line, he should be doing better than he has thus far.  He played well, at times last season, in spite of the line—not because of it.

Perhaps there was more to his rivalry with Caleb King than met the eye. It's no secret that the two fed off each other's energy.  With no Caleb to share the load with this year, Ealey might not feel the need to give more than necessary—no true competition is there to unseat him, so why bother.

Does that mean Ealey’s not giving his all? No, but most can agree that some players perform better if they know there is a possibility they will be benched in favor of another. As it stands, at Georgia, there is Ealey and no one else.

Ealey shared carries with Caleb King, Carlton Thomas, and Dontavius Jackson (the latter two to a lesser extent) in 2009. This year, it's just him. He's played nearly every offensive down, as either a rusher or a pass-blocker, and it's not altogether clear that he's built for the increased workload.

Whatever the case, it's clear that this is not the same Washaun Ealey that turned heads last year. He's less confident, less effective, and less exciting to watch on the field. All three of those together contribute to an offense that has become more vanilla by the minute and a passing game that, if not for the legs of Aaron Murray, could be more of a concern.

This is an offense that has talent but, without a significant run game, Georgia is going to continue to struggle to put points on the board. Ealey needs to find his groove again—soon—and perhaps that will start with the return of Caleb King—assuming he’s capable of staying healthy this season.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 10 Things You Need To Know About Mississippi State

It was another night spent at the Heartbreak Hotel after the Georgia Bulldogs lost to the Arkansas Razorbacks in the waning seconds of Saturday's match-up in Athens.

The team fell to a worrisome 0-2 record in the SEC (1-2 overall) and the chorus of "Mark Richt Must Go" saw a sudden surge amongst opinionated bloggers and online media types looking for a surge in site traffic.

If you are a Georgia Bulldog die-hard, the win over the Louisiana Cajuns, on September 4th, has long since dissipated, and the truth you are left with is this: Georgia still has some growing up to do.

That said, it's time to shake off the heavy coat of disappointment and put on your best red and black face as the Bulldogs head to Starkville to face that other SEC Bulldog team from the west. They too are still seeking their first big time conference win and Georgia has to look ripe for the picking to a team that has played better than the final scores of their last two games would suggest.

So, what do Georgia fans need to know about the Mississippi State Bulldogs?

1. They still haven't truly settled on a quarterback. 

Tyler Russell has solid potential, but he's not ready to carry the team. He struggles with the pass rush and he isn't nearly as mobile Chris Relf. That said, Georgia still hasn't shown a propensity for getting to the quarterback on a consistent basis so it would not surprise to see Russell getting a few more snaps this week.

2. Chris Relf can be dangerous.

Relf may not dazzle you with his arm, but he is more than capable of picking up key yards with his feet. He is the most dangerous to a defense once the play begins break down. His ability to use his legs to buy time for his receivers to get open has served him well, for the most part, this season. He's a lot more instinctual and focused on the run than simply standing in the pocket—that's something to take note of. 

3. Vick Ballard is one to watch. 

The Bulldogs are still searching for their run game this season, but they hope to see Vick Ballard become the man who can offer them their most legitimate compliment to the passing game. He hasn't been able to bust out of his shell just yet, but he has been dangerous at home (averaging 6.08 ypc) where he's already scored three touchdowns.

4. They have a couple of talented receivers in Chad Bumphis and Brandon Heavens.

If the quarterback play is able to find its groove, there is definitely room to be encouraged about the Bulldogs ability to move the football vertically. Chad Bumphis' skills aren't a mystery. He's every bit the physical, talented, and speedy receiver you remember him to be, and he's only in his sophomore year. Heavens offers a nice No. 2 option—he is every bit as capable of stretching the field and challenging the secondary.

 5.  The offensive line is better this season than the last.

If you consider the fact that Chris Relf has scrambled a bit more than Dan Mullen might like, it's  impressive that, through three games, the offensive line has only allowed five sacks. By contrast, Georgia's line has allowed nine.  Derek Sherrod continues to shine at the left tackle position—giving coach Mullen hope that better days are on the horizon for both the passing and the running game once everything really starts clicking.

6. They have a solid group of linebackers. 

Starting with senior linebacker, and leader, K.J. Wright, the Bulldogs boast an impressive set of linebackers who are more than capable of making the life of the quarterback, and the accompanying running game, quite miserable. Wright is an all-around beast—both on the field as a playmaker and off the field as a leader—and Chris White doesn't get nearly enough credit for being the athletic, smart, and instinctive player he's been over the last year or so.

7. Beware of Charles Mitchell.

The secondary of Mississippi State is an opportunistic one. There are a lot of guys playing a very aggressive brand of football in this unit, and Charles Mitchell sets the tone for their approach. He's tough, he's hard to fool, and he brings the heat on every play. His veteran presence has been a steady, influential, force on a very underrated unit.

The Bulldogs are currently fourth in the SEC in pass defense.

8. They are more dangerous on third down than they are on first and second. 

The offense, as mentioned earlier, is still attempting to find an identity—both at the quarterback and the running back spots. That said, the Bulldogs have still proved to be adept at pulling out the big third down play when necessary. So far this season, they are converting 45 percent of their third downs—fifth in the conference (by way of comparison, the Crimson Tide convert close to 47 percent of their third downs).

9. They convert in the redzone. 

The Bulldogs haven't made many trips to the redzone this season (five), but they have made every one count—scoring a touchdown each time.

10. Kickoffs have been a sore spot.

Special teams coverage on kickoffs has been a problem for Mississippi State. They rank nearly dead last in the conference in kickoff coverage, allowing close to 27 yards per return.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: The Best Individual Performers in The Loss to South Carolina

It seems comical to walk away from this loss with anything but a laundry list of negatives. After all, as much credit as you feel obliged to give South Carolina for securing a big time SEC victory at home, you feel equally sick to your stomach that Georgia didn't play the best they could play on Saturday.

That said, you start looking for the silver lining—wherever you can find it—because there is still a lot of football left to play.

So, after revisiting the game, and the box score, here are the performances that represent hope that tomorrow will be a brighter day.

1. Aaron Murray, QB

Murray was solid. Despite the final score, you have to be impressed with how the young freshman performed under hostile conditions, on the road, for the very first time. He made good decisons—aside from a play in the first half where he should have thrown it away, but took the sack instead.
He didn't try and do too much with the football and he didn't turn the ball over—that's key. He was as steady as the fans could have hoped in that pressure-cooker of a situation and that bodes well for the future. That said, the coaches need to take the handcuffs off him a little more.
Richt and Bobo still seem hesitant to set him loose and, to be frank, it's time to see what he can do with a more wide-open playbook.

2. Justin Houston, LB

Lost in the mess that was a myriad of missed tackles and poor run defense was the fact that Justin Houston performed well on Saturday—three sacks, ten tackles, and a forced fumble—against South Carolina.

3. Kris Durham, WR

Everyone, both before and after the game, emphasized the loss of A.J. Green and the impact his absence might have played in the loss. However, no one gave nearly as much credit to Kris Durham who, in Green's absence, managed to rack up 76 yards on three catches (25.3 avg). The senior continues to be a reliable set of hands for Murray and, unfortunately, not much attention is being paid to that fact.

4. Pass Defense

The main focus of conversation is centered on the inefficiency of the Georgia run defense. They got  got pummeled by Marcus Lattimore—all day long.  The true freshman had no problem making ground against the defensive front of Georgia.

However, the pass defense was pretty good. Garcia managed 165 yards passing in the game—most of which came on a couple of really big third down completions, in the first half, to Alshon Jeffery.

5. The Georgia defense—overall

The poor tackling cannot be expressed enough. However, even with that, and without A.J. Green—Georgia still kept it close. They ONLY lost by 11 but, the way they tackled, Lattimore ran, this game could have easily been a blowout for South Carolina.

For all the guffaws of the first half, give a little credit to Grantham for making some adjustments to the defense at halftime. The Bulldogs were pitching a shutout until the late field goal and, if the offense were able to convert a couple key redzone opportunities—who knows?

6. Blair Walsh, K

Where his counterpart, Drew Butler, seemed to be having an off day, Walsh continues to be money in the bank for Georgia. He wasn't given much of a chance to do anything special—like kick a game-winning field goal—but he did manage to convert his field goal opportunities when called upon.

Again, that may not seem like much to hang your hat on, but it's important to know that your kicker is able to perform—no matter the situation—particularly on the road in the SEC.

7. Washaun Ealey, RB

Ealey's fumble will be the focus for many—no doubt about it. However, it was encouraging to see him come out early and hit the holes hard. He churned out a lot of big yards before the offensive line started to look suspect for Georgia. Even more, he did it by himself.

Caleb King was not a factor in this game (still not certain what happened there—ankle?) but Ealey didn't seem to mind carrying the load on his own. He finished with 19 carries for 79 yards in his season debut.

Okay, that's it for this week because, honestly, it would have been easier to find 20 things wrong with the way Georgia played than to find five things right.

Time to prepare for Arkansas.

As always, love to hear your thoughts on the game. So, what say you?

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• No. 24 South Carolina holds off No. 22 Georgia (sports.espn.go.com)

Georgia Bulldogs Football: Will The Bulldogs Cover?...Who Will Shine Against Louisiana?

The beginning of the college football season began with a bang last night as one ranked team fell (Pitt)—unceremoniously—and another unranked one made a case for why they, maybe, should have been (South Carolina).

As we edge closer to the Georgia Bulldogs first official game of the year (12:21 EST on ESPN3), just a few final thoughts on the season opening match-up against the Louisiana Cajuns.

Georgia needs to come out ready to play this Saturday. There is already plenty of buzz going the way of South Carolina as Steve Spurrier took his offensive playcalling to old heights Thursday night—pummeling the Southern Miss Golden Eagles 41-13.

In doing so, he sent a strong message to both the national media and the SEC east that his team is  ready to compete for a title this season.

True freshmen, Ace Sanders and Marcus Lattimore, look like they will be key contributors this season as the Gamecocks offense looked more balanced in the run game than they have been in years past. Also, despite the absence of 2009 standouts, Clifton Geathers and Eric Norwood, the Gamecock's defense did a fairly decent job of keeping the Eagles from accomplishing anything they wanted to—by ground or air.

That said, it will be up to Georgia to do something big against the Cajuns to show that they too are ready to reclaim a spot at the top.

Murray won't have the luxury of Hutson Mason to spell him (a la Connor Shaw for Stephen Garcia), so he will need to be poised and ready every step of the way.  He should make few, if any, major mistakes against this Cajuns defense.

So, who will shine on Saturday:

1. Georgia Bulldog wide receivers

If Green is out, then you have to look at Brown or Rantavious Wooten. It doesn't matter who it is, the Bulldog receivers match-up well against the undersized Cajuns secondary.

2. Carlton Thomas, RB

It would be easier to pick Caleb King, but many expect him to take the load for Georgia in Ealey's absence. It's far more likely that this will be the game to see what Thomas can do as well. Look for him to get some space against a Cajuns front that isn't nearly as aggressive as a unit and is often prone to giving up huge yards on the ground. 

3. Justin Houston, LB

Chris Masson will see a lot of Sanford Field on Saturday—unfortunately he'll be on the ground when he does. Look for Houston to make life hectic for Masson who will be working behind a less experienced offensive line. 

4. Orson Charles, TE

It wouldn't surprise to see Orson get in the end zone a couple times on Saturday with some big catches that turn into big gains. The conservative play of the Cajuns secondary leaves a lot of holes in the middle of the field and often leads to receivers being able to get behind the defensive backs—Charles and White will take advantage.

5. The Georgia offensive line

The defensive front of Louisiana houses a couple of playmakers, Grant Fleming for one, but not enough to disrupt the passing game of the Bulldogs. Expect the offensive line to dominate from the snap and control the line of scrimmage for the entirety of the game.

Will Georgia cover?
The Bulldogs are notorious for being awful against the spread but, this game more than other, they need to come out and make a solid statement about what they're made of this season. The fans won't be okay with them just winning this game, they will need to do it in convincing fashion and Mark Richt will likely oblige their request.

Georgia will cover the -25.5 and, hopefully, head into Columbia with some solid momentum for their first SEC match-up of the year. 

Georgia Bulldogs vs Louisiana Special Teams:The Decided Edge Goes To The Bulldogs

The Georgia Bulldogs may enter 2010 with questions on offense (how will Aaron Murray fare?) and defense (will the 3-4 be the difference?), but the special teams unit is set.

Blair Walsh (K) and Drew Butler (P), lead the way on a unit that is expected to be one of the best in the nation this season.

Last season, Walsh was one of the most accurate kickers in the SEC (completing 20-of-22 field goal attempts and all 50 of his PAT's), while Butler averaged 48.1 yards per punt to lead the FBS.  Both are expected to be even better this season.

As far as the return game goes, Georgia has no shortage of candidates—starting with Branden Smith.
Smith will be used as a punt returner this season and what he brings, without question, is speed. In case you forgot just how fast this young man truly is, take a look at the clip below:



Smith will share the role with other Bulldog players—A.J. Green and Bacarri Rambo could get some looks as well. Said Smith of the role, "I bring a lot,..Speed. That’s the main thing, is speed. Big plays. Punt return, you need a reliable guy to be back there, and you don’t really have a lot of speed, but
you’ve gotta be able to catch the ball, and just to have that breakout speed."

On kick returns, Brandon Boykin will attempt to work his magic again. The junior defensive back had three returns for a touchdown last season—including two that were more than 100-yards. He is definitely a commodity at Georgia and will, hopefully, be special again in 2010:



The Cajuns unit is also very good. Special teams has been one of the bright spots for them under head coach, Rickey Bustle (who doubles as the special teams coach) thus far.

For those who didn't know, Bustle was an assistant coach at Virginia Tech from 1993-2002 and he picked up a thing or two about how to run a special teams unit from the master—Frank Beamer.
Louisiana ranked 26th in the nation in both kick and punt return defense in 2009, allowing 20.15 and 6.15 yards per kick/punt—respectively.

They also are third in the nation since 2002 in blocking kicks (41)—an impressive distinction to be sure.

Spencer Ortego is the team's punter and, in 66 attempts last season, he averged just over 40.0 yards per attempt. More remarkable is the fact that only 21 of the 66 punts attempted were actually returned—for a grand total of 21-yards.

Their place kicker, Tyler Albrecht, also returns. His longest field goal in 2009 went for 48-yards, but it was for the win against Kansas State so he has some proven ability in the clutch.

The Cajuns are a lot less impressive in the actual return-game as they haven't been able to find a reliable kick or punt return man who offers the explosiveness you'd like to see on the field. Bustle is hopeful that he will be able to find a guy this season who can take the ball and run with it—literally—because last season, the Cajuns ranked 118th in the nation in kick return average (18.06).

Georgia vs Lousiana Offensive Analysis: What Can The Cajuns Do Against Georgia's 3-4?

Last week, we took a look at both the Cajun's quarterback, Chris Masson, and the multiple 4-3 defense that the team runs. This week, we will continue breaking down the Cajun's unit by looking at their offensive and special team's units.

While it is fair to say that this is a lot of analysis for a team that the Georgia Bulldogs should handily beat, it's always nice to know the opponent a little better—right?

So, lets get to it.

The Cajuns run a multiple 4-3 offensive scheme. It's a scheme that has, in year's past, lent itself more towards the run than the pass—depending on a strong offensive line and explosive running back talent to move the chains.

However, in theory, it's a scheme that is much more effective if it is executed in a balanced manner—keeping opposing defenses honest and off-kilter.

Last season, the tide seemed to change for the Cajuns as they finally found a strong-armed, nimble-footed, quarterback in Chris Masson. His versatility as a runner and a passer, seemed to be tailor-made for the multiple 4-3, but the Cajuns were unable to find any consistency in their running game—the one area they were so strong in the three seasons prior.

This season, the hope is that the newly signed, Robert Walker (or someone else) will become the guy who can both run and catch out of the backfield. If Louisiana can find that guy, whoever he might be,  then their talented corps of wide receivers, which includes Marlin Moore and Richie Falgout, along with standout TE, Ladarius Green, can finally find some room to roam free in the secondary.

Last season, Masson improved the Cajun's passing game by nearly 40.0 passing yards per game, but the lack of a significant rushing attack (going from more than 263.0 yards per game in 2008 to just under 137.0 yards a game in 2009) made the team more one-dimensional than they would have liked and led to less scoring opportunities for them as teams were able to control the line of scrimmage and consistently jam their receivers.

Despite the return of the bulk of the Cajun's offensive talent for 2010, there is still very little indication that they have truly found a player who will be capable of carrying the rushing load this season. Robert Walker is an option, but he is a true freshman and, therefore, untested.

What does this mean for the newly installed 3-4 at Georgia?

For one, if the Cajuns are still a bit conservative on the line of scrimmage, then Georgia's front-seven should have very little trouble containing the run and controlling the tempo of the game. By doing so, they put pressure on the passing game and, hopefully, can force Masson into a throwing error or two—leading to big play opportunities in the secondary.

On the other hand, if Louisiana has indeed found the formula for running the multiple 4-3 (utilizing both an effective rushing and passing attack), it will be a much harder offense to defend against—despite the attacking style of the 3-4—because then the Cajuns can offer as many looks on offense as Georgia can on defense.

The element of surprise comes into play and that could lead Georgia into making costly errors in coverage and in line play. Brad McGuire could be a name worth remembering.

He was used by the Cajuns last season in some of their wildcat formations and, though he was beat out for the QB job by Masson at the start of 2009, he still has some value as a passer—particularly on short routes.

One thing is certain, Louisiana knows how to score if they can get into the redzone. In 35 tries last season, they scored 31 times (27 of which were via touchdown)—they move the ball well inside the 20. So, it would be nice to see Georgia keep them out of the redzone.  

It will be interesting to see how committed to the run the Cajuns are in the early going, if it's successful, they will build from there. If not, it could be a very long day for Rickey Bustle's team.

Georgia vs Louisiana Defensive Analysis: What Scheme Do The Cajuns Run?

Yesterday, we looked at the quarterback match-up between Aaron Murray and Chris Masson. If you missed it, you can find it here. Today we will take a snapshot of the Cajuns' defensive scheme and how it operates.
 
The Cajuns run a multiple 4-3 defense. It's a very physical, in-your-face, scheme that depends greatly on the intelligence and athletic ability of its linebackers. It was installed in the spring of 2004 and is currently being coached by the Cajuns defensive coordinator, Kevin Fouquier.

In this scheme, there is a big emphasis on the linebackers ability to react first and read second. If that sounds funny, it's not, anticipation is an important element to executing this scheme effectively. It's important to be quick afoot and have the ability to adjust to each play as it progresses, rather than reacting after the snap.

That said, it can be a good way to force turnovers because, if your players can adapt quickly to the snap of the ball, then they have a genuine opportunity to blow plays up, force fumbles, and foster interceptions.

The reason for this is because the plays are moving so quickly and, seemingly, with such chaos,  until the quarterback can be forced into panic mode. If he's not prepared for it, he will often forget to advance to the second or third progression in an offensive play. Often, this will lead to an ill-advised pass to a well-covered receiver.

Furthermore, from a running backs standpoint, it can be frustrating to see the lanes seal up so quickly.
So, unless a running back is able to make his cuts and create new lanes of his own, when one closes up, he could be met by a big wall of defenders—sometimes forcing a fumble in the process.

On the other hand, there are disadvantages to running this scheme as well.

For one, it allows a lot of ground yards if the linebackers cannot recover quickly from a poor read. Add to that, if the front four fails to do a good job sealing off lanes and closing gaps, it's possible to see a decent runner rattle off four-to-six yards before they are apprehended.

Furthermore, the secondary plays very conservatively in the scheme the Cajuns run, so there is little man-to-man coverage. They are constantly guarding against the big play but are vulnerable to plays underneath that can lead to easy scores or big chunks of yardage by speedy receivers.

The Cajuns have a stellar group of linebackers, a seasoned secondary, and a decent front four. They know the system and finally started making small strides in executing it last season, but there is still work to do. The key for Georgia will be to use the strength of their offensive line to keep the running lanes open.

If quarterback, Aaron Murray, can control the tempo, keep the linebackers guessing, and make smart adjustments, Georgia should be able to perform successfully against the Cajuns.

Georgia vs. Louisiana QB Analysis: Aaron Murray vs Chris Masson

The Georgia Bulldogs will face the University of Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns in week one.

This match-up should be won by the Georgia Bulldogs, but the Cajuns are a feisty team and did catch at least one BCS team sleeping last season, defeating the Kansas State Wildcats, 17-15, on their home field.

Subsequent contests against BCS teams would not be as successful. They lost to both Nebraska and LSU by a combined score of 86-3. However, this early in the season, it is reasonable to expect that the Cajuns will be ready to go.

In anticipation of the game, Lets take a look at the various head-to-head match-ups that we'll see that day.  These will be relatively brief looks and will focus in on one particular aspect or position.

Up first is the quarterbacks—Aaron Murray and Chris Masson.

The first question that has to be asked with Murray is, will he be mentally ready to take the field and play as effectively as he has in summer practices?

Both coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo, have given Murray their full vote of confidence. However, despite the strides he's taken, most fans will still be on pins and needles until Murray proves he can perform in front of a large crowd.

Murray, himself, still admits to having "jitters" when he steps onto the field at Sanford Stadium—even an empty Sanford—and while a few frayed nerves are expected, the crowd at Stanford, which is expected to be a sell-out, will anticipate his calming down in a hurry.

It should help that he won't be facing too much of a pass rush from the Cajuns.

The offensive line should have no problem getting Murray the time he needs to scan the field and find an open receiver. The Cajuns ranked 106th in sacks last season, tallying only 12, and often were stalled in their efforts to get into the backfield. On the other hand, the strength of the Cajuns defense lay in their second-level defenders—the linebackers and the secondary.

Senior linebacker, Grant Fleming, who ended 2009 with 89 tackles, 3 forced fumbles, and 5 tackles for loss, will be one to watch. He was moved from outside to middle linebacker over the spring and will be the leader of this unit.

Fleming, along with outside linebackers, Daylon McCoy and Devin Lewis-Buchannan (both starters in 2009), will look to slow down the Georgia running game—which fans can expect to see a lot of early.

Even more, the secondary returns all three of its starters. As a unit they were responsible for a, more than respectable, 16 interceptions in 2009 (23rd in the nation). It's an impressive number to be aware of, especially when you consider Georgia—with their above average talent—had only ten.

Hopefully Murray can avoid some of the mental lapses and overthrows that have plagued him at certain points this summer.

As for Chris Masson, he will be in his second full season at the helm. He was fortunate in 2009, as is Murray this year, to have a very good offensive line to stand behind last season. However, the Cajuns will replace three starters in 2010 and there is some doubt as to whether or not they will have a sufficient running game to offset their passing attack.

The Cajuns ranked 72nd in the nation in rushing offense 2009—nearly last in the Sun Belt. They are playing around with several options at that spot this summer and hope that someone will step up and be the difference.

Junior Julian Shankle returns and will offer some experience in the backfield but, the odds on favorite to get the most carries is likely going to be the incoming freshman, Rob Walker—he has impressed all summer as both a runner and a pass-catcher.

If Masson's reconstituted offensive line can give him some time, as well as offer sufficient lanes for the rushing attack, then he will have plenty of options in the passing games to target.

Ladarius Green (TE) and Marlin Miller (WR) return to offer their talents and it is reasonable to expect to see Masson targeting both on a regular basis.

Finally, Masson is a fairly nimble quarterback himself. He was responsible for six rushing touchdowns last season—leading the Cajuns to No. 16 in the nation in redzone offense. He is just as much a scoring threat as any of his receivers or running backs and, in the Cajuns multiple offense, he will need to be accounted for at all times.

Georgia Bulldogs: Ten Things To Watch For in Week One

We are quickly approaching the first game of the season for the Georgia Bulldogs and many are anxiously awaiting kickoff. Georgia will face the University of Louisiana-Lafayette's Ragin' Cajuns in week one—a cupcake by the standards of most any Division I school.


That said, Bulldog fans won't take any match-up lightly, especially when it's one that will feature a Georgia team that has a new-look front seven, a new-look quarterback, and a new-look secondary. Even still, it's tough to imagine Georgia losing to the Cajuns—then again, the same was said about Michigan when they played Appalachian State—just saying.


So, what do I hope to see when the Bulldogs take the field on September 4th at 12:21 pm (EST) on ESPN3.com?...


1. How does the offensive line look?

This is the season that Georgia is going to depend on their offensive line to protect Aaron Murray and jumpstart the running game—which will be leaned on heavily to start.

However, if the 2009 version of this stellar 2010 unit shows up to play in game one—remember, the one that seemed to have trouble getting the needed push up front in short-yardage situations—be afraid...be very afraid.

2. Speaking of Murray...does he look comfortable?

The one thing that seemed to give Georgia fans some concern was the shell-shocked nature of Aaron Murray's play at G-Day. He equated it to jitters and being overwhelmed by the expectations of the fans, but if he thought playing in front of 40,000 fans who are all pulling for you was daunting, wait until he sees the 90,000 strong who have spent all summer hearing about what a tremendous young talent he will be for Georgia.

Expectations couldn't be higher for Murray than they are right now—is he ready to step into the spotlight and make it happen? Or will he fold under the glare of the national spotlight?


3. Who will emerge as the legitimate No. 2 wide receiver that can compliment A.J. Green?

If ever there were an opportunity for Marlon Brown to stake his claim to greatness, it's going to be in week one. He hasn't done much this off-season and, after an injury setback late in the spring, all anyone has heard about is Rantavious Wooten, Tavarres King, and Logan Gray.

However, Brown is the guy you hope to see come into his own this year (his size alone makes him an intriguing target) because you want to see A.J. have an opportunity to really bust loose this season—he can do a lot more damage if opposing defenses have to focus on more than just him.

4. How effective will the pass rush be?

I expect to see a lot more pressure on the quarterback this season. There were far too many games in 2009 where QB's were allowed to sit in the pocket or roll out to their left/right, and fire at will. That needs to stop.

Georgia cannot allow average quarterbacks to look like Heisman candidates this year.


5. Is the 3-4 jelling?

This is a biggie.

I expect to see some growing pains as players transition from running scrimmages and drills to actually implementing the concepts into a game. Even with that, there is still a level of competency that one will be hoping to see from this unit, against a lesser opponent, in that first game.

This game should be a tune-up, not a speed bump, of what we can expect to see this season. 



6. Hutson Mason?

Let's not kid ourselves here, Mason is the No. 2 QB at Georgia this season—barring a complete catastrophe. So, it stands to reason that if we are going to see what he has to offer, then this is the game to see it—right?

If things go as most fans hope, the game will be over by halftime and the second-unit (both offensive and defensive) will start getting its reps somewhere around the tail end of the third-quarter.

Mason is someone that we would like to see getting some time early—just in case—so that we can gain a better understanding of just how concerned we should really be–if at all.


7. Which newcomers are going to be special this season?

We all know about T.J. Stripling and Alec Ogletree. However, we'd like to see what Zander Ogletree can do on special teams—can he be special? Better still, how good is Logan Gray going to play at wide receiver?  All signs point to a good season for him there, if he can stay healthy—has he been in the wrong position all along?


Furthermore, what of Mike Thornton?  Garrison Smith? Derek Owens?...this is the game to see if they are could be something special at Georgia.

8. Fundamentals!


Last season, unfortunately, it wasn't uncommon to see poor tackling, bad angles taken on balls, big time lapses in coverage, and costly turnovers on offense. This offseason the coaching staff has taken a much tougher approach to stamping out that sort of play and, hopefully, it translates to a much more disciplined looking team on the field.

9. How well will the secondary play?

As mentioned briefly in the previous section, the secondary was a sore  spot last year—so many miscues and mistakes. They will definitely be something to look at in week one.

How well have the philosophies and teachings of new defensive backs coach, Scott Lakatos, sunk into his players?

Boykin, Cuff, Williams,Owens, Hamilton and Smith will all be called upon to make a difference this season, but the overall product will need to be the same—more consistency, less catastrophe.


10. Will this team be special in 2010?


Believe it or not, a true follower of any particular program can tell you after the first game is in the books, whether or not this is going to be a team that will win all season. The way they do so might not be scientific—typically it's a "gut feeling" or they "just know"—but it doesn't have to be; a well-coached team isn't hard to recognize.

If the Georgia Bulldogs are going to challenge in 2010, they will show their grit early and it will reflect on the scoreboard. This Cajuns team may be good but they are not better than Georgia and that message should ring loud and clear in the final score, in other words...it shouldn't be close.

Georgia Bulldog Football Is Almost Here...(VIDEO)

A nice little fan video to get you a little more pumped for the season...as if you needed it.

AP Preseason Top 25: Pick by Pick—Did The AP Writers Get It Right?

Did the AP writers get it right?


What follows is a pick-by-pick analysis of the AP Preseason Top 25 in its entirety and whether or not, in my personal opinion, each team was placed at the right spot—it's that simple.

That said, let's get to it:


1. Alabama

The Tide are the reigning BCS Champions and should be given their proper respect as such. They have questions on defense but the talent and coaching on that side of ball leads many to believe they will be just fine. As for the offense, they are set and should have little trouble scoring this season.


2. Ohio State

I'm not as sold on Ohio State as everyone else seems to be at the moment. Terrelle Pryor could be the quarterback that we saw play so well at the Rose Bowl but, then again, he could also be the guy we saw play so poorly against Michigan the week prior. The Buckeyes will live or die with him this season, and I don't know that he's ready—the Buckeyes should be lower.


3. Boise State

If I have to go simply by the numbers and not my personal opinion of Boise, then they should be No. 2. They finished the year undefeated, beat an Oregon team that ended up playing in a BCS game, and won their BCS match-up against TCU—a Top 10 opponent. They return 22 starters, including Kellen Moore at QB, and have a favorable schedule. All signs point to success this season.


4. Florida

Too high. No way a team loses the best quarterback in college football, their two top receivers, and the heart of their secondary—not to mention their defensive coordinator—and are actually made better for it. I'm not buying Florida at four—they will have some growing pains this year.


5. Texas

Again, too high. Texas lost some key elements on both offense (Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley) and defense (Earl Thomas and Sergio Kindle) and will be breaking in a new quarterback in Garrett Gilbert. Some may feel that Gilbert earned his wings in the BCS Championship game, stepping in for the injured McCoy, but that's not enough to make Texas a contender in 2010. He will have to prove he can be consistent for more than three full quarters of one game.


6. TCU

They might be exactly where they should be—for now. I am not sure how well the Frogs will deal with the defensive losses of Daryl Washington and Jerry Hughes. Those two were a major part of the smothering defense that wreaked havoc on the MWC in 2009. Now that they are in the NFL, can they find able-bodied replacements?

7. Oklahoma

Too high. I think the AP voters are still in love with Bob Stoops and all of the wonderfully dominant teams he coached at the start of the decade. His teams routinely find favor in the Top 10 of most polls—despite how poorly they finish the season. That said, an 8-5 record does not deserve this much respect, and neither does Bob Stoops at this point.


8. Nebraska

Too low. Hello, Nebraska beat Oklahoma...see what I mean about the respect that Bob Stoops teams receive? The Cornhuskers came within 60 seconds of possibly finding their way into the title game and they return 17 starters—eight of whom are on defense. Suh might be gone and perhaps that's what gave voters pause, but this is still a good team.


9. Iowa

About right. I really like Iowa in the Big Ten this year and I think they could have something special brewing at the tail spot this season—despite the logjam. They just need a little more consistency out of their quarterback to really get things moving in 2010.


10. Virginia Tech

Too high. It might help the No. 3 team to know that the program they will play in September will already have a reason to gripe if they actually get their backside handed to them in RFK. The Hokies defense is suspect and their special teams is inexperienced—they should not be ranked ahead of Miami, Georgia Tech, or North Carolina based on what they have coming back in 2010.


11. Oregon

Too low. Masoli is gone but so what? Chip Kelly has never had any trouble breaking in a new guy at quarterback and the Ducks still have plenty of firepower on offense to go along with a better than average defense.


12. Wisconsin

The coaches' poll seems to be spot-on about Wisconsin—they aren't sure what to make of them just yet. Here's the thing, the Badgers need some quality conference wins this season to offset that joke of an OOC schedule. If they can do that, there is little reason they shouldn't be BCS bound this year.


13. Miami

Too low. The offensive line is a question mark—absolutely. The defense has talent but needs more fire—no doubt about it. That said this is still one of the best teams that Randy Shannon has fielded since he took the reigns at "The U" and there is no excuse for them not to do well this season.


14. USC

I don't know what to think of this pick. While I can understand the need to include the Trojans in the poll, there is little reason for them to be ranked higher than a team that actually has a chance at a BCS bowl appearance in 2010. It just seems like a wasted spot. So, in my opinion, they are ranked too high because they probably shouldn't be ranked at all. 


15.  Pittsburgh


If Bill Stull were still spreading the ball around, I could understand placing the Panthers here, but a repeat of last season seems unlikely—even with Dion Lewis running the ball. I don't think they should be ranked significantly lower than 15, but I do think they should be slotted a bit lower than both Georgia Tech and North Carolina.

16. Georgia Tech


Too low. I know that they can be beaten if there is time to prepare but, seriously, how often will a team have time to get ready for the triple-option? The loss of Demaryius Thomas cannot be taken lightly (he was their leading receiver) but the Jackets still have Josh Nesbitt and a wealth of talent at running back. If the defense can find even a small trace of competency under new DC, Al Groh, they will be even more dangerous this year.

17. Arkansas


Ryan Mallett is the main reason why this team is getting so much love. Honestly, he's the best quarterback in the SEC—no question. However, he does not play defense and the Hogs have a little trouble keeping good offenses honest. The Razorbacks have a great quarterback but everything else is average. I can think of a half dozen other teams who would be more worthy of this spot—they are too high.

18. North Carolina


Too low. The offense is anemic but the defense is the reason this team will be good in 2010. If the NCAA doesn't yank too many of their key players and the offense can find any amount of consistency in the passing game, this team could win the ACC.


19. Penn State

Does it seem like too much of an insult to say that this is too high for the Nittany Lions? I realize that Evan Royster is back, but the defense is a major concern with all three starting linebackers gone. Even more, Daryll Clark may have made some fans want to set his jersey on fire after the way he played against Iowa last year, but he did lead the conference in touchdown passes last season. He won't be easy to replace.


20. Florida State


I'm going to say they are a little too low. I think they should be swapping places with Arkansas but that's just me. The 'Noles are bringing in a new coach this season after more than four decades with Bobby Bowden at the wheel. Expectations for QB Christian Ponder remain high and the defense, particularly the secondary, is expected to improve. They won't play in a BCS game, but they should have a better record than the 7-6 one they ended with in 2009.

21. LSU


I tend to believe that Les Miles has finally begun to wear on the Baton Rouge faithful a bit after the coaching miscues of last season.  This is going to be his year to prove that he hasn't lost his touch and can still field a winner in the SEC West. I don't know if No. 21 is too high for them, but they are definitely a team that could go either way.


22. Auburn

I like the Tigers and I feel that they are too low here—perhaps No. 19 would have suited them better. Then again, how would I justify placing them above an LSU team that they got pummeled by last year?


23. Georgia

Mark Richt's squad isn't getting much love this season and, perhaps, that is exactly what he wants to see. If his team can fly a bit under the radar in 2010, maybe he can sneak up on a few of his overly confident foes. They may be just right at No. 23.

24.  Oregon State


Too high. The Beavers have a lot of excitement on their roster in the Rodgers brothers, but they aren't worthy of a Top 25 ranking—not right now. I think that Navy or Connecticut would have been a much better choice here.

25. West Virginia


Again, too high. The Mountaineers weren't that impressive last season and didn't close out well in their bowl game against Florida State—losing 33-21. I don't know that they should be ranked at all and I could have easily seen Missouri or South Carolina resting comfortably in this spot. Even better, where's the love for Rutgers? They are a potential Big East sleeper with QB Tom Savage at the helm—do not overlook them.