With fall practice beginning this afternoon, here are a few things I'm looking for in the days leading up to the Okie State game (Image: AJC.com):1. Tailback - Can anyone differentiate themselves enough to claim the starting role definitively? Right now, my guess is that we'll be using three backs, King, Samuel, and Thomas, on a rotating basis. I'd really love for someone to take over and become a feature back. All are good, but none have shown up big yet. Don't forget Washaun, either. It is always iffy to depend on a freshman (with some noted exceptions) for carries, but Ealey could come in and get some immediate playing time if his high school film was any indication of his abilities.
2. Health - About a practice or two into 2008, Trinton Sturdivant went down with a huge knee injury that altered the course of last season. But it didn't stop there, as you'll recall. Lord, please keep our players fully functional and structurally sound.
3. Orson Charles - At 6'2" and 232, Charles is big enough to block, but it's his speed and quickness that are so intriguing. He can create mismatches with safeties and outside linebackers in a way we haven't seen since Leonard Pope's height and hands created similar matchup problems for opposing defenses. He's the type of tight end we haven't enjoyed in recent seasons. The coaches seem really excited about him, so it will be fun to watch him develop. I just hope it happens soon.
4. Battle and Dobbs - With Justin Houston out for the first two games. Someone obviously must step up at end. We don't necessarily need them to be beastly bullchargers, but we need those guys to be competent and to make a few plays. We've got to have the threat of a competent pass rush this year. Without it, Zac Robinson will have too much time and our secondary will get torched by OSU. Those guys must play some good ball this fall.
What are your keys to fall camp?
Quinton
22 comments:
for me, this season is all about the DE production. The OL will create enough holes to make the backs look good and keep the offense from ever falling completely apart.
our Defensive scheme is dependent on a consistently disruptive pass rush. We've seen what happens when we don't get that. We make Nick Stephens and McKenzie Adams look like Sam Bradford.
Hopefully with Owens back, our DEs will be free to work 1 on 1 on the edges and make some plays.
I also hope that Willie will adjust if he realizes that none of the DEs are getting the job done. Blitzes from LBs, Safeties, whatever gets the job done.
Prince Miller and a young Boykin will need help from the pass rush. We don't want to leave those DBs back there for 4+ seconds while the QB surveys the field.
This should be our chief concern as UGA fans right now.
Justin Houston, i hope the weed was good, son. It wasn't worth it, though, I'm sure.
Dontavious Jackson always gets left out of the TB mix.
My keys, health and defense. Questions in LB play, DB youth, and DE improved play mean the defense needs work across the board.
Really hoping we get strong safety play. I have a feeling Evans has finally found a position that suits his skill set, and Jones, well, less nudging and more tackling, obviously, but the skill is there (5 INTs by Jones last yr I think).
did Geathers finally qualify?
I wish the entire defensive coaching staff would watch replays of the Utah vs Alabama bowl game and see how a defense adjusts to their opposition. Then they could learn to use what they have to attack rather than to sit back.
Geathers has not cleared yet.
I almost wonder if we'd be better off experimenting with Jeff Owens' "KJG" defense and go with a 3-4. Lord knows we have enough LB's to rotate in.
The secondary. PERIOD.
Our biggest liability (Bryan Evans) has now been moved to safety. A position in the past under Willie that has struggled with deep thirds coverage (Thomas Davis, Greg Blue, Tra Battle). This scares me. Boykin will be solid, but Miller is always a bit of a liability as well. I hope a few of the kids we recruited in the last 2 years can step up and make a name for themselves...and i hope if the guys on the field arent performing, the coaches give them a chance. Pugh, Rambo, Commings, Branden Smith, etc.
If we don't get pressure from DE, Ok State will run wild, we need to hit their QB every play, think Tebow 07
Stay healthy, especially at QB and DE. Anyone thought about what this season will look like if Cox gets hurt?
Honestly I feel we may still be OK with Gray behind center. Richt has already hinted at using him in special situations (maybe a little read option stuff?). Our offensive gameplan might change a bit, but I feel a lot better with him backing up Cox than I did when Joe T III was pegged as the starter in '06.
I think Gray will receive adequate playing time at QB. Not sure if he will take over right away but if Cox struggles, Richt won't be afraid to pull the gun on Cox (see Joe T in 06).
I think the Dawgs need healthy bodies that let them get after it in practice. If they stay healthy enough, the hittin' and competition in practice will translate on the field.
I'm mostly concerned with, in order, our DE, secondary, and QB. Also, I don't know about you but, I'm absolutely loving the way the OSU is setting up for us. I mean, they are acting as if they are USC and we are UVA or something. This is a program that beat one team (mizzou) with a pulse all year, and finished last season with a loss to Oregon in some second rate bowl game.
But the fact that one of their best players is saying we should be afraid, their coach talking about their fans intimidating us, and so forth...more and more I'm feeling an absolute beat down they never saw coming in 4 weeks.
They might just get the treatment from Owens/Atkins that Seymour/Stroud gave arkansas--where the center gets thrown @ the qb after every snap. A team that hung half-a-hunerd on lsu, in baton rouge mignt not scare in t-bone's orange house of horrors easily. I hope he hooks his windmills up to the air lettin' out of their sails after the game.
Anon. 6:28, not really sure that your "feeling an absolute beat down they never saw coming in 4 weeks" is justified. Your number 1concern is our DE's, and rightly so. Given the Justin Houston situation, we have zero idea what will happen from that position. If we are unable to apply pressure on Zac, and given last season as our only measuring stick that is highly unlikely, it will be a long day in Stillwater. I look for CWM to blitz early and often to see how we stack up. I feel that we will be facing a long flight home from Stillwater.
going back to '06, for their Sr class, this team beat missouri ly and neb in '06 @ home w/ loses to tamu, ok (twice) tx & kan @ home. They loose to almost everyone on the road w/ many being double digit losses. UGA needs to turn a few things around from ly's horrific 10-3 season w/ a New Year's bowl win but to think osu is a bunch of ten foot boogeymen seems a stretch.
AD---I'm feeling a beat down coming because I feel we have the talent edge in most areas. Sure, they have a good QB, RB, and WR---but I just don't think they have the lines on either side to hang with ours. Same goes with LB and secondary. Also, we very well may have to blitz, but regardless we have JO and GA back this year which should make a huge difference along our DL.
Overall, though Ok state should have a better team this year, "given last year as a measuring stick" I'm not terribly impressed with them, and certainly don't think we'll be coming back with a loss. Again---this is the same team that lost 3 of their last 4 games last year (or 4 of 6), and plays in a conference that gives up as many points on D as arena football teams do.
Again, the only team they beat last year with a pulse was Mizzou. Yet you're making it seem like they are going to roll us since we have a question mark at DE. I don't get it...
Paul, about a year ago you linked to a website that allowed you to select all your favorite teams and create a season grid schedule. What was the name of that site? Thanks alot.
Anon 10:09,
The site is Strangestbrew.com
The address to the 2009 schedule is: http://www.strangestbrew.com/cfb_sched/schedulizer.php
Have fun.
I really want to see a tailback emerge in camp. I'm ok with a few different guys getting touches, but I would feel more comfortable knowing we have go to guy. I really hope caleb can bring back memories of parkview high school... but we shall see.
I think that if we have a solid run game, that joe cox will be just fine. But if he's facing a bunch of third and long situations, than we're going to have issues.
As for the defense, I really am worried about DE. I was really excited about Houston making Zac Robinson's life a living hell, but I guess that won't be happening. So, I'm really hoping someone will prove themselves in camp. I'm also looking forward to seeing how the young guys in the secondary (boykin, cummings, rambo) develop. They all seem promising.
Over all, I hope the entire defense will play with a hunger and fire that we are used to seeing out of georgia's defenses.
I really do like how we matchup against OK ST. The keys will be striking early and making the game as physical as possible. Hopefully Zac will be on the turf every other down.
Isn't Ealy 20yrs old? I would imagine that being 2yrs older is a huge advantage in HS. Not so much in college. I hope he's the next great RB at Georgia. I don't see that same crown being placed on the head of any of the utter 3 guys.
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