The University of Georgia Bulldogs have come to expect success year in and out, even while competing in the SEC East, a division that is probably the toughest in all of college football. Expectations must be tempered this year in Athens as the Bulldogs play one of the most difficult schedules in the nation this year as well. The Bulldogs need to avoid the injury bug that plagued the preseason national championship caliber team last season. Replacing starting quarterback Matthew Stafford as well as star running back Knowshon Moreno will make it even tougher for a Bulldog team that won 10 games in 2008. On offense, senior quarterback Joe Cox will finally get the opportunity to be the full time starter for the dawgs. Cox, a perennial backup, will have to prove that he can handle being an SEC caliber quarterback. He has never thrown more than 28 passes in a single season during his backup years in Athens. Cox will, however, have the benefit of playing behind four returning offensive linemen. Cox also has an excellent target in sophomore wideout A.J. Greene. Sophomore running back Caleb King will get the first shot to replace Moreno. King was highly touted coming out of high school and has dealt with injuries over the years but definitely has the abilities to be a great SEC running back if he can stay healthy.
Defensively, the dawgs have plenty of experience. Seven projected starters are seniors and the other four are juniors. The defensive line is big and nasty in the middle, anchored by nose guard Geno Atkins. Georgia needs to find a threat from the defensive end position which accounted for only 11 sacks in 2008. The Bulldogs will miss former cornerback Asher Allen anchoring the secondary but hope that experience and depth at the position will fill the shoes that Allen left behind.
On special teams, the dawgs return placekicker Blair Walsh but will feature a new punter in Drew Butler. Prince Miller is back to handle the return duties for UGA once again. Miller showed that he is capable of being a dangerous return man and an asset on special teams.
Georgia's schedule is not very friendly with a road trip to play Oklahoma State in week one. The Dawgs also host Arizona State and travel to Georgia Tech for an extremely tough out of conference schedule. As if the out of conference games weren't enough, the dawgs have to play Florida at a neutral site in Jacksonville, FL, South Carolina, LSU and Auburn at home as well as tough conference road games at Arkansas, Tennesse and Vanderbilt. With all of the new key position starters and tough schedule, it could potentially be a long year for Bulldog fans. With a little luck and some key guys stepping up early, the dawgs should easily make it to a bowl game. But with Florida in control of the East, UGA is likely destined for second place in 2009.
PREDICTION:
Realistic Best Case Scenario: 9-3
Realistic Worst Case Scenario: 5-7
3 comments:
Realistic worst case secnario is 5-7? Simmer down a bit. I see 9-3 with a possibility of 10-2. Worst case would be 7-5. If UGA does pull a UT and go 5-7, go ahead and tie my noose...
Tough schedule with a lot of new faces. I'm not sold on Joe Cox just yet. I'll say this- if they win at OK State week 1 I think they win 9 or 10 games. But that will be a tough challenge early on.
To hell with Georgia! They are always overrated, and the never win shit! 1980, still celebrating...Get over it!
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