Setting low expectation for their Sep 27 matchup, I guess. UGA will be good. But Tebow won the Heismann and carried an weak defense to a top 20 ranking last year - pretty much all by himself. Stafford will have to prove he's worthy of being mentioned as on par with Tebow.
Not at all. I'm making that judgment based on how Richt deals with his QB's, that a strong running game can be a QB's best friend, and the number of players returning from last years squad. Georgia is going to have to find a couple more WR's to solidify their rotation. I'd have to go count to get the exact number but I know they are returning just about all of their starters from last year. I think they lost less than five. Nothing against Tebow...I have a lot of respect for him on and off the field. He's not your proto-typical QB. I've just been impressed with Matthew Stafford from back in his high school days and the way he performed last season.
Anyone else think JPW has potential to surprise this year returning with another year of experience- maturity, settling in, etc.
The biggest reason I put Georgia ahead of the game in Tiger Stadium is when it falls on the schedule. I don't consider the Clemson game to be a true road game and while Arkansas will be a test I've seen their crowds out of the game only a few seconds into them. Literally, back when Shaud Williams took the first play 80 yards for a TD there were people leaving the stadium in over 14 minutes left in the first quarter. I see Georgia as the first true road test. LSU comes on the schedule after playing in Athens and Knoxville. It'll be a different team after those two trips.
This makes sense, Bama will be road tested when it comes to TigerStadium. How healthy Bama is will have a lot to do with their late season performance. Depth is a problem there, for this year.
Specifically, at linebacker. I am not a fan of Prince Hall (suspended) and honestly couldn't care if he makes it back or not. He, along with Zeke Knight, both started last season and now that Zeke is dealing with his heart situation (as in health) it going to mean 2-3 true freshman will likely see action there. I do like the leadership we've got coming back on defense, even if one of those guys is a true sophomore. Hell, when McClain played in the Auburn game last season with a broken hand along with suffering a separated shoulder it was one of the gutsiest performances I've seen in a while.
You sound like you should be commenting for ESPN. Tebow stands out in the Meyer system, but he is hardly on par with Stafford as a pro system QB. Stafford is way ahead of Tebow as an NFL prospect. Stafford is now 17-4 as an SEC starter which includes a true freshman season. As Fran Tarkenton pointed out during the Sugar Bowl, Stafford has the strongest arm in NCAA football. The Florida-Georgia game will be the key matchup in the SEC East this year, but the Georgia running attack, with Caleb King and Kalvin Daniels in the mix, will be the key factor, not Tebow or Stafford.
I can assure you that Georgia does NOT have a WR problem. Stafford will be very dangerous because he has a very strong arm, and the running back tandem of Caleb King and Knowshon Moreno will be as pronounced as McFadden/Jones or Cadillac/Brown. Moreno and King will often line up in a tandem split back formation. You heard me talk about Moreno before last season. I am saying this today... Caleb King is just as good as Knowshon Moreno, perhaps a little better!
Any team needs a rotation of 6 or more. They'll be relying on freshman, which isn't that big of a deal in the WR rotation, but they'll still need some players to step up. On offense, that may be the biggest question mark.
