2-a-Days: Georgia and Georgia Tech

Georgia Bulldogs



There hasn't been this much hype surrounding Georgia in a loooong time. Was the Sugar Bowl a legitimate, impressive victory or a hellacious beatdown of an undeserving team that didn't deserve to be there? That's an interesting question that we'll never really find out. But, what was done was done, and the Bulldogs really are one of the best teams in the nation. Will they take the SEC and/or qualify for the BCS championship?


THE OFFENSE: The offense relied mostly on the ground attack of Thomas Brown and the offense's budding superstar, Knowshon Moreno, but now the sophomore Moreno has the show all to himself. Ready to become a top-flight RB and remind us all of those Herschel Walker days (yes, I went there), Moreno should be invited to New York if he can stay healthy and the Dawgs remain in the national title hunt. He's that good. At QB, Matthew Stafford returns for what is basically his third year as the starting QB. He was pretty much free from competition last year and did okay, ranking 56th in passing efficiency. He can get better, but as long as he manages the game and tries not to do too much, he'll be alright. Mohamed Massaquoi and Kenneth Harris (both seniors) combine to make one of the better Georgia receiver corps in quite awhile and this should help the passing game move along. Now that those guys are seniors, it should lessen the hurt of losing Sean Bailey. A.J. Green could see some extensive time in the offense as well. Tripp Chandler is a respectable TE with a solid combination of blocking and receiving. The offensive line returns a few young guns, but Chester Adams and Fernando Velasco will be missed. Probably, the development of the offensive line will determine whether or not the Bulldogs can separate them from Florida and the rest of the SEC.


THE DEFENSE: The defense is part of the reason why most pundits and prognosticators love Georgia this year. The Bulldogs return nine guys to complete a very solid unit that allowed a tad over 20 points a game. Georgia welcomes back Geno Atkins to help plug up the middle at DT. He's a big guy with next-level potential and he should have a fine year. LBs Dannell Ellerbe and Rennie Curran will have good years at their respective positions and Georgia does have a pretty decent LB corps in total. Kelin Johnson will depart from the secondary at SS, but Asher Allen comes back at corner and figures to come up big as a junior. This side of the ball has a great mixture of talent and experience, and that, as we all know, means.......They'll be pretty good. Willie Martinez has a good bunch.


THE SCHEDULE:

Aug. 30 Georgia Southern
Sept. 6 Central Michigan
Sept. 13 at South Carolina
Sept. 20 at Arizona State
Sept. 27 Alabama
Oct. 11 Tennessee
Oct. 18 Vanderbilt
Oct. 25 at LSU
Nov. 1 Florida
Nov. 8 at Kentucky
Nov. 15 at Auburn
Nov. 29 Georgia Tech

Wow. This is a really tough slate to deal with, but if any team can do it, Georgia probably can. Georgia Southern shouldn't be an extremely difficult task and even though it pains me to say it as a Chippewa fan, neither should Central Michigan. There is a game against Arizona State and that might shut up some of those that criticize Georgia for not taking any risks in their non-conference schedule. The SEC slate has two really tough road games in LSU and Auburn, but the good news is they do face Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida at home. As is usual, the season ends with a game against rival Georgia Tech.

Don't Even Think About It:
Ehhhhh.....Maybe....:
Good/Probable Shot At It: The whole schedule.


THE OUTLOOK: Georgia will go to the national title. As a matter of fact, they'll win the national title. There, I said it. They seem to have the complete package besides the schedule. I usually don't buy ESPN-fueled hype, but I am with this team. The offensive line has a few question marks, but it's nothing to worry about; the unit did fantastic last year ranking 13th in sacks allowed. Other than that, every thing is clear skies ahead for the Bulldogs. Now it's just a matter of getting through that schedule with a loss or fewer. If the cards fall into place, two losses might get the Bulldogs in the title game. But it's really possible and they should at least make the Sugar Bowl. Apocalyptic scenario, Capital One Bowl.


BOWL GAME?: BCS Championship.









Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets



Georgia Tech isn't anything if it isn't interesting. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure there is a more interesting team out there this season, not even Michigan. The big question surrounding Georgia Tech is, can the option succeed in a major conference that doesn't involve QBs standing a few yards behind center? The flexbone is making its debut in the ACC, and the high-and-mighty defenses don't seem to think it will be effective against them. Will it though?


THE OFFENSE: If you've been living under a rock, you wouldn't know that Paul Johnson will take a shot at implementing the triple option flexbone for the Yellow Jackets. This caused Taylor Bennett to transfer to Louisiana Tech, but Johnson does have two capable candidates in Calvin Booker and Josh Nesbitt. Bryce Dykes also has a shot at the job, but expect Nesbitt, who has the best running ability, to take it. Jonathan Dwyer did all that was asked of him backing up one of the best running backs not many people heard of, Tashard Choice. Choice is now off to the NFL, but Dwyer should have a break out campaign in the new rumble-and-tumble ground attack. Greg Smith and Roddy Jones will see time at the other slotback position and whichever one proves to be more explosive will probably get the nod. I feel bad for Demaryius Thomas. He was supposed to be the next best thing since Calvin Johnson, but now Thomas won't exactly be used the way he was planning on it. However, he should emerge as the top target and he could see some more catches. Paul Johnson probably won't shy away from throwing the ball entirely and he can still put up solid numbers as the number one guy. This is a pedestrian group, which I guess is okay. The offensive line is kind of rebuilding, but at least they can build around this guy, Andrew Gardner. He's an All-ACC lock and a pretty good one at LT. Dan Voss will move over the C spot, he should do a good job there. Basically, this offense might take some time to adjust and it might even look sloppy at times, but the players that Chan Gailey left over are fine fits. There won't be much of a hiccup.


THE DEFENSE: Even if Johnson's offense was slow to get the hang of things, at least the defense will do a good enough job of keeping things afloat. Losing Jon Tenuta to Notre Dame is a tough loss, but this team will be fine regardless. The defensive line plans on wreaking havoc upon ACC offensive lines. In a defensively-oriented conference like the ACC, having a group this good can't hurt things. Yeah, it stinks that Darrell Robertson isn't there anymore, but Michael Johnson and Derrick Morgan at DE make quite a pair. Morgan should break out and Johnson will have one of those years that gives Mel Kiper a reason to exist. Of course, let's not forget about the interior: Vance Walker and Darryl Richard. Walker (pictured) had a good year last year and will do even better now that he's a senior. The LB corps is hurting a tad with Phillip Wheeler and Gary Guyton now missing, last year's tackling machines. Anthony Barnes is a dynamic athlete at LB who should make people forget about Wheeler or Guyton in a hurry. This guy is bound to have a huge year. Sophomore safety Morgan Burnett figures to be right in the thick of becoming an All-American this year if he can improve upon last year's freshman season. Jahi Word-Daniels will have a big year and if you haven't seen him play before, do so! He's a joy to watch in coverage.


THE SCHEDULE:

Aug. 28 Jacksonville State
Sept. 6 at Boston College
Sept. 13 at Virginia Tech
Sept. 20 Mississippi State
Oct. 4 Duke
Oct. 11 Gardner-Webb
Oct. 18 at Clemson
Oct. 25 Virginia
Nov. 1 Florida State
Nov. 8 at North Carolina
Nov. 20 Miami
Nov. 29 at Georgia

I understand that it's tough to get your schedule in order, but Georgia Tech is one of a handful of ACC teams double-dipping into the FCS pool. Jacksonville State and Gardner-Webb should really pose challenges......Right. The ACC schedule isn't that forgiving with road games against Boston College, Virginia Tech, and Clemson. Plus, North Carolina should be better. The year closes out with (gulp) Georgia.

Don't Even Think About It:
Ehhhhh.....Maybe....: @ Virginia Tech, @ Clemson, @ Georgia
Good/Probable Shot At It: Jacksonville State, @ Boston College, Mississippi State, Duke, Gardner-Webb, Virginia, Florida State, @ UNC, Miami


THE OUTLOOK: Georgia Tech will be alright. I'm not buying the doom-and-gloom, this-offense-can't-work theories. Ask yourself how Navy has done against ACC foes in the past. Boston College? Wake Forest? Duke? Now, what separates this job from the Navy job is the freedom to recruit. Paul Johnson might not get the top-flight recruits because this isn't a flashy offense (although it could be, just look for a Reggie Campbell highlight reel). But, Johnson can find the right fits to run the offense and it should be even better than it was a Navy. The option is the "Great Equalizer" in college football and it will work at Georgia Tech. Besides, the defense won't be out-of-this-world stifling, but it will be good enough to at least ensure a bowl game. Besides, considering how poor most of the offenses do against the ACC defenses in conference play anyway, who cares if it doesn't pan out? They'd get the same total production running another offense. Sorry, I'm rambling, expect the Yellow Jackets to be a respectable 7-5 this year.


BOWL GAME?: Meineke Car Care Bowl.