OK, so back to the blog after the SEC title game. I have to say, after that game was over I was really not overly disappointed. A tad bit frustrated that the game got so out of hand, because NO WAY do I think LSU is 32 points better than us, but it was just one of those games where once the snowball formed, it kept gathering speed and size and then just rolled over us. I think what stood out to me the most in the game was how much we miss having a solid run game, also how much we need a more physical and dominating OL. Granted, against the LSU front you are not going to run the ball much but we really didn't have enough of a run threat to give those guys any fear at all. After playing aggressive football in the first quarter, it looked as though our coaches pulled back a bit because our D was playing so very well. And let me just say, our D was outstanding in that game, 237 total yards, ZERO first downs in the first half. I think obviously the nation came away impressed with LSU but I do think despite the score that folks had to be impressed with our D and how it played. If all our guys come back, as Jarvis Jones has said they will, WOW. We just have to take care of Todd Grantham and Mark Richt, give them more money and years. Yeah, I know you don't want to go crazy with salaries and contract extensions but our athletic department HAS the money to pay guys deserving and to me after this year, those two guys deserve it. Grantham obviously because this D is getting better and better and kids WANT to play for him in his system. Richt because he survived a bad start and turned the season around, has built this teams confidence back up and we return a great nucleus of talent that should have us in contention for an SEC title again next year. Simply put, a head coaches needs to be under contract for 3-4 years at all times, so his job status is NOT used against him on the recruiting trail. More about recruiting coming up later. It was announced that we will play Michigan State in the Outback bowl Jan 2nd. I think that is a very interesting matchup-one of the best of the bowl season honestly. Michigan State has lost 3 games same as us-Notre Dame, Nebraska and the Big10 title game to Wisconsin-a team they also beat. The Spartans also easily handled Michigan, so they have beaten both Big10 BCS teams. If we should beat them, they would become our most impressive win of the year. So, a lot to play for in Tampa next month-and it will be a homecoming game for Aaron Murray and Orson Charles-that has to make it extra special for those guys. UGA has opened as the early 3 point favorite which sounds about right to me.
Let's take a look at 2012 for a minute, I will give you the Haney projected starters for next year. First let's take a look at defense, where we lose only Brandon Boykin and DeAnglo Tyson, assuming all come back as the players are currently saying. A LOT can happen between now and when these kids have to declare for the NFL so you always project with a grain of salt.
DT-Abry Jones SR
NG-Jon Jenkins SR
DT-Garrison Smith JR
OLB Cornelius Washington SR
ILB Christian Robinson SR
ILB Alec Ogletree JR
OLB Jarvis Jones JR
CB-Sanders Commings SR
S-Baccari Rambo SR
S-Shawn Williams SR
CB-Branden Smith SR
WOW, just take a look at that folks. Course the scary news is, other than Garrison Smith, we probably would be replacing the entire D for the 2013 season. Granted, we have a lot of younger guys that would get a lot of playing time-Ray Drew, Amarlo Herrera, Damain Swann, Nick Marshall, Corey Moore, possibly Kwame Geathers, Mike Thornton, etc etc but that will be a lot of talent leaving Athens after next year-you see that Robert Nkemdiche.
Now for the offense, I will assume Orson Charles comes back but right now I would say at best it is 50-50 on him. He had a great year and has the potential to work his way into a great draft position. One thing we do need to keep in mind now, becoming a first round draft pick is not very important. With the new labor deal the NFL worked out over the summer, even the 1st round picks will not make nearly as much as before but the later round guys also likely will make less than before. Here is a look at my projected offense-the OL is the biggest guessing game right now.
OT-Kenarious Gates JR
OG-Dallas Lee JR
C-David Andrews Soph
OG-Chris Burnette JR
OT-Watts Dantzler Soph or John Theus FR
TE-Orson Charles SR or Arthur Lynch JR (if Charles leaves of course)
WR-Tavarres King SR
WR-Malcolm Mitchell Soph
FB-Zander Ogletree JR
TB-Isaiah Crowell Soph
QB-Aaron Murray JR
The offense of course is much younger in terms of experience and starters than the D. Assuming Murray stays for his SR year, all would be back in 2013 except King and Charles, that is pretty impressive. King and Charles also play positions of great depth so their loss would not be as big as other spots. You also know that we have a bunch of young WR's already contributing, Crowell will certianly be pushed by current players and recruits, an interesting battle will take place to see who is #2 behind Murray at QB. I honestly believe if the OL group can gel and come together, next year figures to be a strong year. 2013, well, offensively I can see it as being a great year, but the D will be reloading. The good news though, the bullets we will reload with, many of those guys will be upperclassmen. Drew, Herrera, Moore, Swann, Marshall, etc, those guys will be juniors. This recruiting year is all about restocking the talent pile-I would suggest that there will be a lot of guys signed this year that will redshirt but we need a strong and deep class this year. Depth chart is truly where the two SEC elite programs have us beat-LSU/Bama. They have so much talented depth, they simpy reload each and every year. I think we are on our way to that now-when you see a position like LB or WR for example, where we suffer a lot of injuries but young guys step up and play extremely well, that is where you gain your strength. You have recruited talent that is good enough to come in and play early and not hurt you on the field.
Now taking a look at our current recruiting class, yestereday we picked up the #1 ranked multi purpose RB in the nation in Keith Marshall. This not only gives us back to back #1 backs in the nation, but it gives Mr. Crowell some top notch competition in practce. Marshall is an early enrollee which means he reports to Athens in early January-in time to go through MAT drills, in time to go through spring practice-in other words, he will be ready to roll come next August. He is a bright kid, with a 4.2 GPA, he will have time to pick up the offense, gain strength, and get started in the classroom. We still have 10-11 spots left in the class. Below is how I would break it down-
RB- Gurley and or Davis
WR-Patterson-the JUCO
LB-Lee and Eligwe (both currently commited to other schools but we still have a shot)
DE-Jenkins and Whitehead
OL-Young and maybe someone else or JUCO
CB/S-Elder
One final note, hoops team plays host to GT tonight. Both teams enter at 4-4. We really need to make it 3 straight over the Nerds tonight, then hopefully pick up a road win at Southern Cal, win the other non conference game to get to 10-4 before SEC play. I figure we might win 6 conference games, that would put us at 16-11 and have potential for an NIT bid. I don't see them team being NCAA caliber as just not enough scoring potential. Caldwell-Pope is certainly looks to be a good player, Donte' Williams is really playing better but overall we just can't score enough to win a lot of games. Tonight's game starts at 7p and will be televised on Fox Sports South. Go Dogs!
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