Buck DE: J. Wynn (SR) - Wynn, a junior college all-american at defensive end, was *finally* moved back to his natural position of DE for the Florida Game. Lots of candidates to back him up here including Battle, Dobbs, Lemon, Woods, etc. Prediction: Upgrade in size and strength in '08.
RUSH DE: R. Battle (JR) - Moving Battle over from Buck to Rush would give us 40 more pounds over Howard. We'd lose a step in pursuit, but we'd improve vs. the run. Lomax will be a senior next year, but he's mostly a pass rush specialist. Prediction: Upgrade vs. the Run. Downgrade vs. the Pass.
DT: Owens (Sr) - He has been slowed by ankle problems this year, but he has a world of ability. Corvey Irvin as a SR backup is also nice. Prediction: Upgrade in experience.
Overall DL Thoughts: The Martinez/Van Gorder defensive scheme from the past few years demands a front four that can get a consistent pass rush without having to send two blitzers per play. We haven't been deep enough, big enough, experienced enough or talented enough the past two years to provide the stable front four the scheme requires. The size, depth and experience challenges should be gone next year.
SLB: Dent (So.) or Ellerbe (Sr.) - Ellerbe played some SAM linebacker vs. Florida for the first time. Much of that came while Georgia was in its 3-3-5 look. Dent has out played B. Miller in my opinion already this year. Prediction: Upgrade in speed and ability regardless of which direction we go vs. Brandon Miller.
MLB: Ellerbe (Sr.) or Washington (Sr.) - I think Ellerbe's starting spot will be determined by Dent and Washington. In other words, if we want the best 3 LBs on the field, we already know that Ellerbe is one of them. Upgrade in experience if its Washington here. Upgrade in speed and experience if its Ellerbe here.
WLB: Curran (So.) - Against Florida, Rennie had the best game for a Georgia Weakside Linebacker since Tony Taylor left. If he stays healthy, he should hold onto the 1st team job and enter next season with six starts under his belt. Upgrade in experience.
WC: Prince Miller (Jr) or Bryan Evans (Jr) - I'm not up to speed on the injury situation. Is Bryan Evans hurt because it seems like Miller gets clowned quite a bit in coverage and his tackling is a bit suspect. Either way, we return depth here. Push or Upgrade (I say Push b/c Prince won't get any bigger)
SC: Asher Allen (Jr) - Allen has played better and better each week. Upgrade in experience. My only concern is depth. I'm not sure who his back-up would be. Remarcus Brown is basically buried on the depth chart right now.
S: CJ Byrd (Sr) - I'm expecting some sort of three safety rotation where Quinton Banks backs up both Jones and Byrd. We lose experience and leadership from Kelin Johnson, but we're replacing him with another fifth year senior. It's probably a push.
S: R. Jones (So.) - With a year of experience under his belt, I think he makes the proper play on the first quarter deep ball near the end zone vs. the Gators next year. That first TD was simply a rookie play. He has the speed and size to be a monster safety. Upgrade in experience.
Overall DB Thoughts: UGA cornerbacks have typically blossomed late in their sophomore seasons. The junior year has been the payoff year. That was true for Wansley, Bryant, Thorton, Minter, Jennings, Oliver, etc. Martinez has subbed safeties more liberally this year than he has in any year that I can remember except '03 when he utilized Greg Blue off the bench for Jones and Davis. In other words, the backups aren't as green as normal.
In Sum:
Not only do we return 9 of 11 starters from the Florida Game. But we return 18 of 22 players on the defensive two-deep. Only Brandon Miller and Thomas Flowers are seniors among the back-ups.
The future looks bright.
See Also:
-- 2007 UGA Depth Chart - Georgiadogs.com
-- We game planned energy and Xs and Os - Get the Picture
PWD