Bleacher Report - Articles by Michael Foster

My Thoughts on The NFL: Week 10

Michael Foster — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:44:02 -0500

I've been a little inconsistent and sporadic with my articles lately, mainly because of school. So, as a different approach, I've decided to make a post every Monday in regards to the NFL and college football.

So here goes.

My Thoughts on The NFL: Week 10

1) First off, I want to make a comment about my hometown Falcons. Thank you Atlanta, for not only beating the hated Saints and improving to a 6-3 record, but also for still being curdious enough to allow Drew Brees to throw for over 400 yards.

My fantasy lineup of Brees, Roddy White, Jerious Norwood, and the Falcons defense and special teams, had a serious performance this week!

On that note, dont look past this Falcon defense at all! They gave up a google of yards on Sunday, but remember that New Orleans came into the game as the NFL's best offense and the Dirty Birds held them to 13 points...until the last six seconds when Lance Moore caught a hail mary! Woops!

I'm going to be honest with you. I did not think Matt Ryan had the arm strength to play in the NFL.

Maybe I'm just really used to watching...that guy who wore No. 7...sling balls around the field like oranges for five years. But with Ryan in town, those "oranges" are all of a sudden catchable (and might I add so tasty!).

Matt Ryan has been incredibely impressive. This guy is a rookie! He found a loophole or something, because rookie quarterbacks dont do this kind of thing. I couldnt be happier with the Falcons performance so far this season.

2) On an opposite note, I cannot help but find the "car crash" (no pun, in reference to the motor city...okay, maybe it was) that is the Detroit Lions somewhat comedic. This team came into the year with playoff implications, and havn't even won a game.

I heard Detroit was having a "blackout" this weekend, and expected to see their black jerseys. Little did I know that meant they weren't even making it onto television. They took the oppurtunity to wear their beautiful throwbacks instead.

Well, glad we got to see those Detroit. Try wearing them when people actually get the chance to see them!

Honestly, I think Detroit could pull off the unthinkable this year, and go winless. I know its difficult. The Dolphins gave it their all for the goose egg last season. But, Greg Camirillo accidently found a crease and the ball stuck to his hands. Camirillo could not slow down the wheels before he passed the goaline. Is it that hard to stop running?

Camirillo must have felt like the "sickest man in America."

Stopping a game winning TD catch might be tough for the Detroit Lions, because Calvin Johnson has alot more mass than Camirillo, and therefore will find it even harder to stop running towards the dreaded endzone (if in fact the time comes). However, Detroit did give half of that chance away when Roy Williams left. If the time ever comes to win a game, you dont want two guys with game breaking potential on the field.

3) Am I the only person who felt awkward with the Mike Singletary stuff going on? Seriously, hes a great guy and a hardcore football man. But seriously Mike! I think he went a little too far out on the limb, especially when he stripped the bark off two of his own limbs in the locker room.

He did what?!?!?!

If there is any parents reading, make sure you tuck you're kids in bed when the 49'ers play on Monday Night Football this evening.

If the 49ers fall behind too much, Mike Singletary might just go streaking onto the field and punch a player in the face. Nudity + Violence = Bad for children.

...okay, that might be a little too much. Mike Singletary is a guy I think alot of people would want to play for. I hope he has alot of success in San Fran.

4) One thing that has really intrigued me this season, is the lack of dominant teams in the NFL.

New England doesnt look like USC vs. the Pac-10 anymore. The Colts arent making defenses look silly.

San Diego has fallen off the map, along with the great LT. I havn't heard from Tomlinson this year, and frankly, forgot how to spell his first name. Then again, no one knows how to spell his first name...right?

Maybe I'm not so dumb after all. I wont question my level of intelligence however when I state that this years Super Bowl race is wide open!

Even Tennessee, the only undefeated team, is boring to watch. To put that statment into perspective, I nearly soiled myself everytime the Patriots played last season. They were that good, either that or I have health problems that havn't been diagnosed.

But how can you not contrast the undefeated Patriots of last season, and the undefeated Titans of this season, and see a completely different blue print for winning.

I am very interested in seeing how far the Titans get this season.

5) I really dont like all of he indoor stadiums these days. Nor, do I favor field turf.

The new buildings are quite impressive, but the elements are a vital part of sports.

Just look at the World Series this year. How about the contrast between the indoor field in Tampa Bay, and the weather-struck Philly home? We all know what happened with the weather in Philly.

Indoor stadiums just are not right. They are great, but dont go well with football.

Thankfully, most of the new buildings out there have retractable roofs. Make sure you let the kickers know that before kickoff. Do a kicker a favor; Tell him to look up.

But how many players do you think would rather play in the snow, than have that nagging rubber get in their shoes from field turf?

I would like to see the Falcons, Vikings, Lions, and Rams get outdoor venues. And, also, see all 32 teams switch to grass.

Well, that is all I have to rant about this week.

I just have one question.

How many players do you think couldnt help but chuckle when Singletary dropped the pants?

Atlanta Falcons Mid-Season Report

Michael Foster — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:12:06 -0500

As I watched the 2008 NFL draft earlier this year, one thought replayed in my head constantly as the Falcons first pick approached.

"Please draft a quarterback. Please draft a quarterback!"

Now, from my past observations, rookie quarterbacks rarely (if ever) have success, but I was ready for a rookie quarterback. I was ready for a new start, no matter how long it was going to take for this team to mend.

For me, and I'm sure for every Falcons fan, there was a strange feeling in the air as Matt Ryan was chosen as Atlanta's first round pick.

The new face of the franchise.

One one hand, it was kind of depressing to see such an era come to end. Atlanta fans finally realized Michael Vick was no more. That guy who brought excitement to Falcons football, and ironically, the same guy who later sent it to the grave, was gone.

It's surreal to even think about. No Falcons fan would argue against it. The Michael Vick era was a dream, and a horrid nightmare.

Have I said that name too much? My apologies.

But, as soon as Matt Ryan stepped onto the podium, every Falcons fan was suddenly at peace.

We weren't gonna win nine games in 2008.

We weren't going to have a good team.

However, we at least didn't have to endure the hell of 2007 anymore.

Well, nine weeks into the 2008 season, Falcon fans are in dreamland once again.

The Falcons entered 2008 with a rookie head coach, a rookie quarterback, a rookie middle linebacker, and zero expectations. Most pundits picked Atlanta to register a "null" in the win column.

Right now the Falcons are 5-3, on track for a 10-6 season. However, nobody is bragging. Nobody is saying, "what now!"

There isn't any drama in Atlanta. There is a strange silence this team exhibits as they go about their ways, but at the same time, there is quite a buzz in Atlanta these days.

And with that fact, you realize, this isn't the Hollywood roller coaster franchise we had from 2002-2007.

This is just you're every day football team. No big names. No big stories in the news every week. They are just playing hard, and are really fun to watch.

Could Falcons fans asked for more? I think not.

The Falcons have definitely exceeded my expectations so far this season. Not only in the win column, but in regards to how they conduct themselves.

This team plays to win. They play with the huge underdog label every weekend.

However, contrastingly, they have an overwhelmingly exuberant confidence that I have not seen here in a while.

Matt Ryan has come in and exceeded every expectation I had for him. I just have never beleived in rookie quarterbacks doing it all in year one. It's too difficult of a position to grasp.

But this guy has been incredible. Granted, he's no Tom Brady (haha, irony in that statement as well...sorry), but Ryan carries himself like a ten year veteran.

I know a rookie when I see one. I know a veteran when I see one. This kid found a loophole; I'ts not supposed to be this easy.

Ryan is on track to throw for 18 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, and over 3,000 yards. I cannot believe how good he has been. I knew he was something special after he did the unthinkable against the Bears.

I like to call him: the Anti-Vick!

Michael Turner has been the staple of the offense, and in my opinion, the Band-Aid to the franchise. He was the big free-agent aquisition, and has come in and quietly jumpstarted the offense.

Atlanta has gotten back to old school, smashmouth football, primarily because of Turner.

Then you've got your superstars like Roddy White and John Abraham, who have both been absolutely awesome this season.

But once again, quietly they sneak up on the elite of the NFL.

This defense, lead by an interesting combo of tenured veterans and young, but unproven talent, has bent...but not broken. And the most imporant thing is, they play hard!

I said it in a previous article, and I'll say it again.

The difference between this team, and past teams, is that this team wants to win. They play to win. They play for pride, knowing that nobody expects them coming.

And, for now, that's all that matters. I don't care what Atlanta's record is at the end of the season; The important thing is that they have washed the past few years away, and have done everything they can to right the ship to this point.

All I expected from the Falcons was a smooth transition. Come on Falcons, I think 5-3 is overdoing it!

Here is you're typical statistical breakdown:

Passing: Matt Ryan (#2)- 133/277, 1,661 yards, 9 touchdowns, 5 interceptions

Rushing: Michael Turner (#33)-176 carries, 794 yards, 6 touchdowns

Receiving: Roddy White (#84)-48 receptions, 733 yards, 3 touchdowns

Tackling: Curtis Lofton (#50)-47 tackles

Sacks: John Abraham (#55)-10 sacks

...multiply those numbers by two...you might be pretty impressed!

0-16 huh? Go Birds!!

Dawg's Two Losses: Was It Meant to Be?

Michael Foster — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 05:28:35 -0500

I'ts a phrase that always follows the definite ending to a sports season. Whether it be four games in, or at the final bell.

"Wait 'till next season," was the phrase uttered over and over by Georgia fans during and after the 49-10 "swamping" by our hated rival, the Florida Gators.

Even though four games remain, all hopes of an SEC championship, or a BCS appearance, have been thrown out the door.

I'ts been a year full of irony, and set up for utter disappointment for Georgia fans.

For a team that was ranked number one in the preseason, it is insane to believe that Georgia was completely dismantled in the two biggest games of the season.

But think about how it happened. I'ts like a championship was never meant to be, for that number one team.

This team has all of the talent in the world. They have great coaching. We've seen them win big games. We've seen them over come adversity. This team IS good enough to win a national title.

But, in this ONE YEAR where we all really felt we could finally win it all, can we not as fans argue that something has been against us? Some strange force we can't even explain.

Alabama and Florida are incredible teams, and both in the national title hunt. But lets take a look at those games.

Its like, whenever everything came together, everything went against us.

How is it that a 'Bama team comes into Athens on "Blackout Saturday" and throws a 31-0 nothing lead on the board? I'ts a thought I still cannot fathom.

Remember when we recovered a fumble on the first possession against the Tide, but it was called back because of an "illegal hands to the face."

In reality, those illegal hands to the face didn't even affect the play. Two plays later, Alabama is up 7-0, and has all of the momentum.

Remember yesterday, when Georgia intercepted Tim Tebow with the score 0-0, but it was called back by an illegal hands to the face? Once again, the play wasn't even affected.

Twice yesterday, Florida got away with interference. Now, I don't blame the officials for missing the calls. Missed calls happen. But those missed calls just so happened to result in an 88-yard interception return, and a long TD pass.

Fourteen points Florida really didn't earn. Georgia was in the game, but a few missed calls later, it was all set in stone. We lost.

Why is it that an offense could outgain Florida, and look so great, but in the most pivotal parts of the game, fall apart?

How did we not connect on a wide open pass in the endzone? Stafford has been on target all year.

How did Knowshon Moreno fumble a pitch? He always protects the ball.

How did Blair Walsh miss two chip shot field goals? He could knock down a 50 yarder in his sleep.

We didn't get an onside kick. We had a big interception called back. Florida got away with countless penalties.

It was Alabama vs. Georgia all over again.

In both games, Georgia found every way possible to lose the game. They didnt necessarily play bad.

Georgia outscored 'Bama 30-10 in the second half of that game. Georgia outgained Florida yesterday by 20 yards.

What happened?

As frustrating as it may seem, it's like it was all meant to be.

It was a helpless feeling.

We still have a shot at an 11-2 season, which would match last years campaign.

But for some reason, I really miss last season.

But in times like these, you gotta' pick your head up. You have to look at the positives. Georgia is having another good year. This isn't something we haven't seen before.

Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno could return next season. We could get back Trinton Sturdivant and Jeff Owens. This team may still be coming together.

So before you guys get down on yourselves, realize we have a chance at an 11-2 season.

And remember, there is always next season. Maybe when we score vs. the Gators next season, we storm the field? Just a thought.

I am so disappointed over the result of the game yesterday. College football fans live for those moments, when the big stage arrives, and you're team has the opportunity to show the world how great they are.

And yet, when that moment comes, you're team doesn't even show up. It is a gut wrenching feeling.

Georgia-Florida Preview: 2008 Game May Be the Biggest One Yet

Michael Foster — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 07:46:32 -0400

It's that time of year again! In Bulldog country, there are three main fall-winter holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the World's Largest Outdo...wait, sorry—the Florida-Georgia game!

Lets just do as the players and coaches are APPARENTLY doing: Put the memories of last year's game aside.

Even negating the "Swamp Stomp," as I like to call it, this game still has huge implications!

In the 18 years I have been alive, and the roughly 12 years of Georgia football that I can recall, there has never been a time when both Florida and Georgia have been so equally hot!

Florida, in my opinion, looks like the best team in the country right now. By now, it's been proven impossible to stop the Florida offense. Georgia can only hope to slow it down.

The likes of Percy Harvin, Jeff Demps, Chris Rainey, and Brandon James make it extremely difficult to contain this offense. Georgia will not be able to contain these guys in space, so the crucial objective for the Dawgs in this game will be to disrupt plays early, at the line of scrimmage.

That might be a tough task for a Georgia team who has struggled to pressure the quarterback this year. The Dawgs haven't blitzed much this season, but they might have to take the risk a handful of times Saturday to try to create some big plays on defense.

If Georgia tries to sit back against this team, like they did vs. LSU, they don't stand a chance.

However, Georgia's offense has been seriously overlooked by many as we head into this game.

Who leads the SEC in passing? Matthew Stafford. Who leads the SEC in rushing? Knowshon Moreno. Who leads the SEC in receiving? A.J. Green.

...and apparently Georgia "doesn't have the firepower to keep up." Yeah right!

Add in a maturing offensive line, much as they came together last year, and veteran target Mohamed Massaquoi, and Georgia has plenty of firepower.

SEC games are known for defense, but expect another shootout in Gainesville.

Whichever team has the fewest fundamental errors should win the game.

I don't think Florida is gonna run over the Dawgs, and I don't see Georgia winning in a blowout. But I am going to end on a biased note and pick Georgia to win 35-29

Keys to the game for Florida: Get their playmakers the ball in space, but at the same time, control the clock.

Keys to the game for Georgia: Don't try to trick anyone! Gimmicky screens and nifty bells and whistles may fool some people, but they won't fool Florida. Slam the rock up the middle and give Stafford the opportunity to make plays with Green and Mo Mass.

This game means the season for both teams. If Georgia wins, they will have the opportunity to head into Atlanta with an 11-1 record for a rematch with Alabama. If Georgia can handle business vs. the Tide, they may just sneak in a trip to Miami.

If Florida wins, with Vanderbilt and South Carolina left, they could easily throw enough dominating scores on the board to book a national championship appearance as well.

This might just be the biggest Florida-Georgia game ever!

GO DAWGS!

The Catch Heard 'Round Atlanta

Michael Foster — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:05:55 -0400

It was starting to turn into the usual afternoon in Atlanta on Sunday, with the Atlanta Falcons bracing for another loss. At first there was hope, with the Falcons dominating the game and making play after play. Then came the taste of dissapointment, every fan here in Atlanta knows so well, as the Birds shot themselves in the foot countless times.

Finally, in true Falcons fashion, we gave our opponent the game.

That's how things go in Atlanta, and you cant kid yourself as a Falcons fan, to say we couldnt have expected less from our team. Lets face it, we are used to losing.

We are used to taking unexpected, and gut wrenching blows as soon as things start to look good.

We got swamped in our only Super Bowl. We lost the face of the franchise (and plenty of bilboards). Last year, twice, we lost the broadcast of the game. Time and time again Falcons fans have lost hope. Did we really expect anything more from the Falcons on Sunday?

"Nope. Game over. We lost again. Lets head for the exists, preferably before these last 11 seconds are over, so we beat traffic."

Thank God for those 11 seconds.

Has there ever been a more incredible finish in Falcons history? The Falcons had the ball, after the return, with just 6 ticks on the clock. Its common knowledge, that there isnt a single down field pass play that lasts less than 6 seconds, right? Wrong!

The traditional Falcons way would have been to chuck the ball down field, have it batted down, walk sulkind with our heads down towards our cars, and prepare for the same result or worse next weekend.

But these aren't the traditional Falcons, and the likes of quarterback Matt Ryan and coach Mike Smith, were not going to follow the traditional ritual. They decided to have it their way.

As the ball was snapped, and we all stared towards the end zone, half of us might have missed the quick heav towards the sideline about 30 yards down field. The pass caught everyone by suprise.

Even though it wasnt like Michael Jenkins was going to catch it! And even if he did, he wasnt going to get it out of bounds with 1 second on the clock!

Most fans in Atlanta would tell you its more likely that the new and suffering WNBA Atlanta Dream win a game, than it is for a miracle play to happen like that.

However, in a sports town where great things seldomly occur, never mind perfect plays occuring, there was a "perfect play!"

Ryan dropped back, slung a ball immediately towards the 30 yard line (just around Jason Elam's range) and Michael Jenkins made the catch.

All with one second left!

Elam came on, kicked the game winner, and sent the entire team and fan base into a state of euphoria I have not seen before.

The Falcons are now 4-2, tied for the division lead, and waking every football fan in Atlanta back up again. Had the Falcons not done the unthinkable in those 11 seconds, the fans would be giving up on them again. Just another day at the office.

So, this all gets me thinking. Is there a more defining moment in Falcons history? For other franchises, theres plenty of classic plays and games that would throw this moment on the shelf. But, in Atlanta, we don't have that kind of history.

If the Falcons can keep winning games, you might start seeing this replay week in and week out.

And who knows?

Maybe, with this new team, and this young quarterback, we can finally start a history of our own. Imagine, the first chapter reading, "The Catch Heard 'Round Atlanta!"

Falcons Bring New Attitude to Sports in Atlanta

Michael Foster — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:57:12 -0400

The city of Atlanta, despite popular belief, tries so hard to be considered a professional sports town.

As a native of Atlanta, I wont lie, I cant help but to notice the overwhelming advantage college sports have over professional sports in Atlanta. And in the past year, professional sports here have shot themselves in the foot.

The primary areas of interest down here are Georgia and Georgia Tech football. Then you have the Atlanta Braves, usually. And then its a toss up.

But let me review the reader on how awful professional sports have been here in Atlanta.

Our most popular team this season was the 37-45 Atlanta Hawks. They made the playoffs, and played three amazing games here at Philips Arena.

The Braves just had their worst season since I have been alive, by far. The next best thing would be considered to be the Atlanta Thrashers, but people down here didn't even know sports could be played on ice for the longest time.

But in 2002, I couldn't help but notice how the city of Atlanta embraced the Atlanta Falcons. Arthur Blank came in, and said "I will not rest until I bring a Super Bowl ring to the city of Atlanta." (Just for note Arthur, everyone gets one.) Michael Vick came in, and so did a winning attitude. After the Falcons 9-6-1 2002 campaign, the entire town got Falcon fever!

I, personally, love Falcons football, and I will once in a blue moon not watch or at least listen to the game. I think I share the sentiment with a lot of fans down here in believing that our hearts were broken into pieces with all that unfolded with the franchise over the past year!

Seeing a role model for every kid in the city all of a sudden going to jail? Seeing a coach literally quit on his team!? I couldn't believe it!

From 2002-2006, every fan here thought we had a Super Bowl caliber team. Seeing the team fallout was emotionally exhausting. Sundays weren't fun anymore—not only did we lose Vick, but losing the basis of the franchise in players like Warrick Dunn, Rod Coleman, Grady Jackson, and Alge Crumpler had me questioning a lot. Even seeing D'Lo Hall leave hurt! At least he was fun to watch.

The Falcons came into this season with absolutely no expectations. Magazines were picking us to go 4-12, 2-14, a handful had us at 1-15. I even saw 0-16!

The fan base disappeared. The Falcons failed to get two games on TV last season. I didn't even know it was possible to not make local television. And, the home opener this year vs. the Detroit Lions barely made it on TV!

But I found the time, and the commitment to watch the Falcons this preseason, and I started to immediately notice something...different. I knew the team was full of youth—young guys who haven't made names for themselves. On top of that list was a rookie QB in Matt Ryan. I knew starting rookie quarterbacks was a bad idea, I thought this scenario would just be too tough.

Our replacement at cornerback for DeAngelo Hall...Brent Grimes, a 5'8", sub 200-pound cornerback from Shippensburg? Is that like a city in Europe? Apparently, its a college.

But Ryan and, especially this guy Grimes have been really impressive.

Fans immediately starting watching this guy at corner, and you started to hear "wows" in the stands again. You know that same sound you got when Vick ran for eight seconds behind the line of scrimmage. Grimes was leaping around and playing like a man possessed. But, I thought one thing when I saw Grimes, "He plays like a kid." This guy has passion!

I got the same vibe from Matt Ryan. He would get really bug eyed! You could see him thinking, "Holy crap! I'm in the NFL?!" I began to pick up on the youth of this team, and how it had energy!

Half the time I didn't know the guy's names, but I knew they were loving it out there! You could see it on Mike Smith's face. You could see it on the player's faces. It was only preseason, but these guys were having fun.

Good thing the Falcons sold out and got on TV for their home opener vs. Detroit, because it was worth watching. The Falcons have done way more than expected so far this season.

You don't even know how important it was to have two HUGE home wins in front of that crowd in Atlanta. Those games were so fun to watch, and I would pay top dollar to go watch them play. The team fought so hard on the road. And then, this week they won in Green Bay?!?! Matt Ryan are you kidding me?! This is awesome!

All of a sudden Matt Ryan looks like a veteran. Michael Turner leads the NFL in rushing, Roddy White is third in the NFL in receiving, and John Abraham leads the NFL in sacks.

But here's the primary reason why the Falcons are worth watching again: They are playing hard, and playing to win!

There aren't any extraordinary stories in the media anymore. There aren't players having run-ins with the law. The players are working hard, staying quiet, being professional, but laying it all out on the field.

I don't care if Atlanta loses the majority of their games this year, with a team rebuilding and learning as they go, the level of passion and intensity they are playing with, is worth watching in itself.

Georgia Bulldogs Football 2008 Midseason Report

Michael Foster — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:25:34 -0400

Let's be honest, nobody expected Georgia to win all of its games this season. Even with its No. 1 ranking, many were not hesitant to throw the red flag.

Georgia won its first two contests, 45-21 and 56-17, only to drop to the No. 2 slot. A 14-7 "bloodbath" in Columbia really had some people worrying, as Georgia dropped again to No. 3. Even a decisive victory in the desert against Arizona State couldn't get Georgia back to the throne. But, out of all of the teams on the SEC slate, I don't think anyone saw Georgia slipping this early in the year.

The 41-30 loss to Alabama definitely hurt. Despite a solid second half from the Dawgs, in which they outscored the Tide, 30-10, there isn't a soul in the world that wont be reminded of this game in the future and think of the first-half score, 31-0. For any SEC team, falling behind by a 31-0 score is unacceptable.

Georgia did not look like the No. 3 team in the country last weekend; the Bulldogs didn't even look like a top 25 team. But, the Dawgs played extremely well in the first four games, and an SEC East title hasn't become a faint possibility yet.

Before any Georgia player, or fan panics, remember the Dawgs started the season with a 16-12 loss to South Carolina and a 35-14 loss to Tennessee last year. Remember when they fell behind to the Vols, 35-0? Georgia rebounded to play some of the best football we have seen from it in years, and finished the season ranked second.

The difference being, when they fell behind by 35, they apparently lacked "heart." Georgia showed the heart against Alabama, despite the loss. You could see it in the players' faces.

As Prince Miller fielded a punt, and began darting down the sideline, you saw it. Every player on the UGA sideline was jumping up and down and waving their towels like I have never seen before! This team has the will to win, and should have a fantastic second half of the year.

The schedule is tough, but Georgia knows it controls its own destiny. If Georgia can finish the season with an 11-1 record and win the SEC title game, you will see it in Miami come January. Here's a quick diagnosis of each aspect of the team:

Passing

Matthew Stafford has been everything we expected him to be. He has completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 1,193 yards. An even more impressive stat is seven touchdowns to one interception. This team definitely likes to throw the ball more than last year, and Stafford has been as solid as can be.

Running

Knowshon Moreno is actually on track to fall short of his rushing total from last year. His production, however, is nowhere near down. Moreno is averaging 6.3 yards a carry, and has found the pay dirt 10 times! A more spread-out and pass-happy offense, coupled with having Caleb King and Richard Samuel on his heels, has definitely dropped the load off No. 24.

Receiving

A much-improved and impressive area! A.J. Green has emerged into one of the top receivers in the country. Yeah, we all saw his costly fumble in the infamous "Blackout," but Green has wowed everyone in the country. He's notched 22 grabs for 388 yards and three touchdowns.

Mohamed Massaquoi has been a consistent target as always, with 18 grabs and 228 yards, along with two scores. And how about Michael Moore, who has emerged as a bigtime slot receiver? He has really impressed in making players over the middle.

The biggest note on receiving, though, is the lack of playing time for guys like Kenneth Harris, Walter Hill, and Tavares King—all three due to injuries.

We havnt seen much from the tight ends, either, and that area has taken some injuries to the belt, as well. Offensive lineman-turned-tight end Kiante Tripp will be wearing No. 83 vs. Tennessee on the Oct. 11.

Offensive Line

It's a shame to see the chemistry really took a step back here from a year ago, but the silver lining here is the Dawgs were developing a new lineup up front last year, too. We can only hope they get the same results, and improvements, that they got in 2007, and hopefully that turns into a more balanced offense.

They definitely miss Trinton Sturdivant. This line is big and talented, though, and we can expect them to be great in the next few years.

Defensive Line

Man, do the Dawgs miss Marcus Howard! Injuries to Jeff Owens and Roderick Battle have definitely hampered the pass rush, as well.

Geno Atkins, as preseason All-SEC candidate, has definitely struggled to push the front without Owens next to him. We only heard great things about Jarius Wynn, a senior, this offseason. However, Wynn has struggled at the end.

The bottom line is this defensive line is struggling, and it is making it difficult for the secondary. Georgia can get pressure with the great linebackers, but a solid pass rush from the front four would be great!

Linebackers

Awesome area here. Rennie Curran is emerging as one of the best linebackers in the country, and seems to make every tackle. Especially in the 'Bama game. He plays with a ton of heart and intensity.

Dannell Ellerbe, a preseason All-SEC pick, has been quiet. Ellerbe was injured early in the contest vs. Alabama, and could miss time. Akeem Dent and Darryl Gamble have been solid, as well. Overall, a strong area for the Dawgs.

Secondary

A lot of struggles in the secondary from Georgia this year. Asher Allen has shown he's a sure tackler, and I'm guessing a solid cover corner, considering not many balls have been thrown his way.

Bryan Evans, the other corner, has gotten beat countless times on the other side. Reshad Jones has been solid at safety, and C.J. Bryd has been relatively quiet. However, the lack of pass rush has forced Georgia's secondary to play very conservatively.

I honestly blame this secondary play on the pass rush. It's hard to cover a guy for five seconds or more!

Special Teams

I dont think freshman Blair Walsh is a question for Georgia anymore. Hes a talent. Georgia is getting a lot of yards on punt returns, as well.

A Tribute to Larry Munson: Longtime Georgia Announcer Calls Final Game

Michael Foster — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 17:00:28 -0400

There are 119 major college football programs in the United States. For the fan nation of 118 of those teams, the loss of Larry Munson may not hurt. Granted, people from every town and state you can think of have given their respects to the retired radio announcer, but I cant think of one 'Dawg fan who won't truly miss Larry Munson.

Larry Munson, to me, defines football before anything else. Why, you ask? Before I knew the likes of Herschel Walker, Buck Belue, Lindsay Scott, Champ Bailey, David Greene, or anyone else, I knew Larry Munson. I associated Larry's voice with football, because he was the first taste of football I got.

My earliest memories of Georgia football weren't from a big-screen TV, or a party, but at the age of 5 or 6, sitting in the passenger seat of my dad's rundown van. Maybe taking a trip back from the Home Depot or a day at the park, the windows down, wind blowing in my face.

The sun was out, and shining off all of the cars and trees as we drove. And to complete that perfect Saturday afternoon, the radio was turned on...with that fuzzy, extremely low quality buzzing sound you get, and that scratchy voice...I immediately associated with the sounds of a football game.

I was 5 years old. I didn't know who was playing, I didn't know how long the field was, I didn't know where the game was coming from, but I knew that voice...and every time I heard it, I knew it was football.

As I grew up, just like any other Georgia boy in the south, I couldn't help but enrich myself with the passion and enjoyment of Georgia football. You had to to be accepted as family. I learned the game, I learned the history, and the tradition. I learned to love the Red and Black, and to hate the color Orange.

And eventually, I figured out whose scratchy voice that was on the radio. It was Larry's.

Now, at the age of 18, I get goosebumps whenever I hear a call of his. Whether it's Lindsay Scott's scamper in Jacksonville, Butler's kick, or even the "hobnail" boot, I get goosebumps! I wasn't even around for half of Larry's great calls, but nothing gets you more excited for football than listening to him.

Before Knowshon, Stafford, Shockley, Greene, Pollack, or Champ...Georgia football to me was simply that perfect Saturday afternoon, in the car, listening to Larry Munson. To me, and I'm sure most of Bulldog nation, Larry wasn't just a part of the game, he represented it—and not just Georgia football, but the game itself. None of it could be represented better than through the words of Larry Munson.

GONNA MISS YOU LARRY! I HOPE YOU CAN ENJOY GEORGIA FOOTBALL WITH US FOR MUCH LONGER!

Georgia Bulldogs Looking Pretty, so Why All the Criticism?

Michael Foster — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:45:07 -0400

The Georgia Bulldogs have received a lot of criticism the past few weeks and have fallen in the polls despite their undefeated record. This undefeated record features two home blowouts and two wins in hostile road environments.

Despite those facts, a lot of "experts" and pollsters who cover college football believe the Dawgs have "problems" all over the place. Stafford is "struggling," Knowshon doesn't look as "flashy," and the defense is getting "gashed."

The real problem here is these so called "experts" aren't used to having Georgia ranked No. 1. The usual poll looks something like USC, Ohio State, Oklahoma...you know the drill. But Georgia?

The Dawgs looked awesome at the end of last season, and fortunately for them the top layer of teams last season kept losing. That's how Georgia started No. 1 this year. It was because the pollsters had no other team to turn to.

So as this year began, and some of those teams who "fell off" last year started winning big, the pollsters immediately gave them the nod. USC (who lost to Stanford) and Oklahoma (who lost to WVU) quickly jumped back to their "usual" spots.

On top of this, critics have been nitpicking every mistake Georgia has made. If you read on their performance only, according to these football gurus, you would think they lost their past two games.

For all you style point suckers up there telling UGA they aren't as good, here are some stats that will make you eat your words. You claim the SEC is the best conference in football correct?

Well, Matthew Stafford is leading the SEC is passing with a 152.6 rating. Tebow has some ground to make up. Stafford has five touchdowns and ZERO interceptions. How about that for "struggling"! Oh, he also is passing for more yards a game than anyone in the SEC with 919 yards total.

Knowshon Moreno, despite his apparent drop in the Heisman race, has nine touchdowns in just four games! Add 455 yards rushing and a 6.6 YPC average to that.

We also have a receiver. A.J. Green leads the SEC in yards receiving, and he has only been the primary target in one game. Green has 16 catches for 300 yards and two touchdowns.

Our offense, the one that has been "flat," is averaging 450 yards a game.

Oh, and our defense allowed four yards rushing...on 19 carries vs. Arizona State this weekend! Georgia has the number one rush defense in the SEC to boot. The Sun Devils racked up 212 yards, as opposed to UGA's 461!!

Yet a 27-10 victory isn't pretty enough for the college football world.

So here's a message to all of the critics out there if you think we don't play "pretty." Remember we played vs. South Carolina's No. 1 ranked defense...and by the way, we won! We played in the scorching desert and crushed Arizona State.

And also, just for reference, the Dawgs are 4-0...I dunno if that means anything...

Georgia Starts Strong in 2008: Game One Analysis

Michael Foster — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:08:14 -0400

The No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs opened their season with a bang and a bark Saturday afternoon (a new bark to be exact!) as they handled the FCS powerhouse, and in-state foe, Georgia Southern 45-21 between the hedges.

For any followers, the 45-21 victory may not look as good on paper as the 52-7 blowout USC put on Virginia, or the 43-0 romping over Youngstown State by Ohio State. However, looking beyond the score, the Dawgs showed plenty of bright spots on offense and defense as they cruised to a 38-0 lead.

As for the score, it actually should have been expected from all of us here in Bulldawg country. The Dawgs averaged an allowance of 21 points a game last season and averaged just around 45 per game in the second half of the year. A typical performance from Georgia against the Eagles, right?

Despite the score, the offense was extremely efficient, and the defense was for the most part very solid.

As I said in my season schedule preview last month, the Eagles had a good offense coming in, and I was not surprised at all by the 21 points allowed by the Dawgs. 14 of those were scored in the fourth quarter against our backup defense.

The real stats you need to look at are 38-0 and the 535 yards Georgia racked up against the Eagles over the course of the game. Matthew Stafford looked better than he ever has, completing 13-21 passes for 275 yards and two scores in about three quarters' worth of work.

Stafford's decision making was spot on, and his throws were to the right guy and accurate every time. He did, however, miss a wide-open touchdown in the corner to Mike Moore, but first game excitement fits as a good excuse there. Backup Joe Cox put together some good time as well, completing four of six passes for 48 yards and a touchdown.

The running game was its usual and expected self, as the Dawgs compiled over 200 yards on the ground. Knowshon Moreno may not come up on the leaderboards for stats this week, but his eight carries led to 59 yards and a touchdown hat trick.

Moreno showed off his amazing agility on a nifty 13-yard run to start the game and scored on a 24-yard touchdown run with no legs (cramps). He also added two catches for 53 yards.

The stars of the day might have been two freshmen. Caleb King got his first action at UGA with 12 carries for 95 yards. King showed some impressive cutting ability in the open field, but he definitely had trouble at times finding a hole.

The other freshman who impressed was A.J. Green. Though he only had two catches, Green showed off some great speed and jumping ability. He had a pretty "Calvin Johnson-esque" touchdown grab late in the game that wowed the 70,000 fans who decided to stay that long in the heat.

There wasn't a ton of production from any one receiver on the day, but starters Kris Durham and Mohamed Massaquoi both notched three grabs. Durham had the play of the day with a 61-yard touchdown catch and run in the second quarter. Green, Israel Troupe, Michael Moore, Kenneth Harris, and Demiko Goodman saw the most action at wide receiver during the game.

No one had any complaints about the offensive line, which is a great thing considering what those five guys have gone through. Georgia allowed one sack, and it was clearly a coverage sack. Stafford and Moreno both were very pleased with the line and the way they held up. We can only hope that they can withstand SEC-caliber defensive fronts.

One thing I was very impressed with was the play calling. The offense was clearly mixing things up well, throwing out of the I-Form downfield and running well out of the gun. They looked to keep GSU on their heels all day. Despite Richard Samuel's fumble that turned into a turnover (on his first carry at UGA! Samuel had six carries for 34 yards), the offense impressed me.

The defense looked absolutely outstanding in the first half of the game. GSU could barely move inches in the first quarter. Granted, the Eagles had a case of the drops, especially on their first two possessions, but there did not seem to be any confusion on defense.

The Eagles did have some chances in the red zone, throwing an interception to Dannell Ellerbe and missing a field goal. They definitely had some bright spots on offense as the game went on and managed to tie the Dawgs in second half production, 21-21.

I would usually be concerned with the 21 points the Eagles put up, but considering we scored so fast throughout the game, GSU got a lot of chances and touches with the ball on offense. I think if Georgia ran the ball and played a bit more conservatively, they could have easily shut out the Eagles.

Also, the Dawgs played plenty of youngsters on defense early and often throughout the game. It definitely felt like a preseason atmosphere. Linebacker Marcus Downtin and defensive backs Brandon Boykin and Vance Cuff got plenty of playing time. Downtin was impressive with six tackles from the outside linebacker spot.

The bad news of the day was catastrophic. DT Jeff Owens, a preseason All American candidate, was lost for the season with a torn ACL. I think many Georgia fans left the stadium more worried about Owens than they were excited about the score or the new Dog.

On the bright side, Corvey Irvin led the team in tackles and had a sack as he filled in for Owens. Hopefully Irvin can have a solid year and put to rest any questions about the D-line. Freshman DeAngelo Tyson found some playing time along the D-line as well. Tyson was very highly recruited and could also help fill the void left by Owens.

Jarius Wynn, who started at DE in replacement of the sackmaster Marcus Howard, also looked very impressive. Jeremy Lomax, on the other hand, had two offsides penalties in a row and might be on the bench a little more than he wants to be next weekend.

The star on defense was Reshad Jones, who showed off some great ball skills in coverage and displayed his amazing hitting ability. Jones also returned a punt in relief of Asher Allen and took it over 20 yards. Jones looks to be the next big thing on the defense.

Special teams looked great. Freshman placekicker Blair Walsh hit a 53-yard field goal on his first attempt as the UGA kicker! Brandon Coutu? Who's that?

Asher Allen showed off some nifty moves returning punts, along with Jones and quarterback/athlete Logan Gray. The Dawgs averaged 21 yards per return on punts.

Overall, the Dawgs looked awesome on offense and defense, but I think what we will be looking for next weekend is a sexier final score. Shutting down the Central Michigan offense is quite a task...so they say.

We will learn much about the Jeff Owens-less defense next weekend as they take on Dan LeFevour and the high-octane offense of the Chippewas.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: 2008-2009 Schedule Preview

Michael Foster — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:11:07 -0400

In the second half of my Georgia Football 2008-2009 preseason analysis, I give you an in-depth look at the Georgia schedule, including a projected rundown of how I THINK the schedule will pan out for Georgia (that area of the article, of course, will be completely biased).

I'm sure you have all heard the saying, "With great power comes great responsibility." That phrase applies perfectly to the Georgia football team.

Georgia brings tons of talent to the table, along with a lot of people's number one votes. But talent and preseason rankings don't matter when you can't lay it all on the line every Saturday and win games.

Georgia will be tested week in and week out this season in one of the most daunting schedules they have ever faced.

Here's a quick rundown of the 12-game regular season.

Aug. 30 Georgia Southern

Sep. 6 Central Michigan

Sep. 13 @ South Carolina

Sep. 20 @ Arizona State

Sep. 27 Alabama

Oct. 11 Tennessee

Oct. 18 Vanderbilt

Oct. 25 @ LSU

Nov. 1 vs. Florida (Jacksonville, FL)

Nov. 8 @ Kentucky

Nov. 15 @ Auburn

Nov. 29 Georgia Tech

And now, a preview of each matchup.

Game 1: Georgia Southern

The Bulldogs will open their season against the Eagles of Georgia Southern on Aug. 30 in Athens. For those of you who don't live in Georgia or aren't familiar with football in the area, this game has somewhat of a rivalry feel to it. There are already tons of Facebook groups floating around my page reading "Go Eagles, beat the Dawgs!" or "Cut Down the Hedges! UGA vs GSU!"

Those GSU fans begin to drool whenever they see a powerhouse target like Georgia on their schedule, and don't think the Eagles will be going into Athens lacking confidence (especially after everyone saw Michigan fall to App State last year!). Also, let's not forget the Eagles are a perennial powerhouse in the FCS (formerly I-AA).

As much confidence as I have that Georgia will win, I wouldn't be suprised at all if GSU puts some points on the board. The last time these two teams played, Southern got off to an early 7-0 lead and almost fought back into the game late. The final score from that 2004 matchup was 48-28.

The Dawgs will win this one, but the Eagles are no pushovers.

Game 2: Central Michigan

This is another powerhouse vs. cupcake game that really intrigues me. Central Michigan, as much as we may sometimes forget what their nickname is (Chippewas?), aren't a pushover team either.

Central Michigan ran away with the MAC championship last year, and as much as the MAC may come across as the worst conference in college football, the Chippewas may just be a top 50 team.

The Chips are led by star quarterback Dan LeFevour, who accounted for 27 passing touchdowns and 19 rushing touchdowns last year (watch out Tebow!). LeFevour is more proven than our own Matt Stafford. Central Michigan has plenty of speed too and likes to run out of that spread offense we are starting to see so much of.

Once again, this is an early game that Georgia cannot ignore, and it may produce way more points than people think. I'll say Dawgs win here, but LeFevour and his receivers might be able to make that defense look silly at times.

Game 3: @ South Carolina

You are kidding yourself if you don't see this matchup as an annual rivalry game. Though South Carolina isn't "officially" one of Georgia's rivals, this game has produced some heated battles over the past few years. Losing to Spurrier last year at home definitely added some fuel to the rivalry fire as well.

Remember the 2002 game, where the deciding play was a point-blank interception by David Pollack? What about 2004? The Dawgs fell behind to the Gamecocks 16-0 at Columbia, setting up an awesome fourth-quarter touchdown pass from David Green to Reggie Brown to complete a 20-0 run and the 20-16 win.

This always has potential to be a great game, and this year should be no different. Don't be suprised if SC "blacks out" Williams-Brice Stadium (they have had black jerseys way longer than we have).

Game 4: @ Arizona State

Here's the "biggun"—Georgia vs Arizona State, Matt Stafford vs. Rudy Carpenter, and SEC vs. Pac-10. This game is regarded by many as one of the top inter-conference matchups of the season, and it will answer a lot of questions about Georgia's talent.

I strongly think that the result of this game will be an important factor towards the end of the year. A deciding win in Tempe could justify the toughness of the Bulldogs against the rest of the nation, and maybe cut them some slack if they were to trip up in the tougher part of the SEC schedule.

Beating Arizona State may leave some room for Georgia to lose vs. LSU, Florida, or Auburn and still sneak into the national title game.

But before you get ahead of yourself here, I can't wait to see the Georgia front seven take on the horrid Arizona State offensive line.

Game 5: Alabama

Even though Bama has fallen into a slump lately, Georgia cannot take this game lightly. Georgia nearly lost to Alabama last season, falling behind 23-20 in overtime vs. the Tide in Tuscaloosa before pulling out the win.

Alabama returns the experienced and always overlooked J.P. Wilson at quarterback, and an electric tailback in Terry Grant. However, Georgia is 3-0 vs. Alabama in the Mark Richt era and won in decided fashion against the Tide last time it was between the hedges.

A cherry on top of this matchup will be the potential of seeing A.J. Green for Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama on the field at the same time. Jones and Green were regarded as the two best receivers in the country coming out of high school.

Game 6: Tennessee

Another game that definitely has that rivalry feel to it, despite it not being considered one.

Check that. This is a rivalry game, and I'm sure every Georgia fan would give a valued possession to see Georgia kick Tennessee's tail this year.

The Dawgs have suffered some painful losses to Tennessee the past two years. After taking a 17-0 lead against Tennessee at home in 2006, the Dawgs blew the lead and lost 51-33! Last year's 35-14 loss hurt just as much.

This will be a different Tennessee team however, led now by Jon Crompton and a new spread offense. Tennessee tailback Arian Foster is still a force that Georgia needs to contain if they are going to win. Get ready for a blackout on this date too!

Game 7: Vanderbilt

Our favorite team to schedule for homecoming weekend, the Vanderbilt Commodores, come to town to take on the Dawgs this year. However, after the past two seasons, Georgia probably won't be messing around preparing for the 'Dores.

The last time Vanderbilt came to town, homecoming was spoiled by a last-second field goal that defeated the Dawgs. It took some luck and a fantastic kicker to beat Vanderbilt in Nashville last season.

Vanderbilt returns both Chris Nickson and Mackenzi Adams at quarterback and has a solid defense.

If Georgia can play to their potential, which we all hope is the case, this game will be a walk-through. However, it's going to take the same amount of focus it takes to beat any other SEC team.

If Georgia is lulled to sleep on homecoming week, they could easily slip up in front of their hometown fans for the second time in a row (and it would hurt much more if it happened this year, with all of the championship implications.)

Game 8: @ LSU

Here is where things really get tough. Georgia's three-game SEC Powerhouse Tour (essentially) begins in Baton Rouge against the defending SEC/National Champs. A win down in Death Valley would do a lot for the championship hopeful Dawgs.

LSU isn't quite the same monster they were last year though. The Tigers will be without Matt Flynn, Ryan Perrilloux, Jacob Hester, and Glenn Dorsey. Starting for the Tigers will be inexperienced Jarrett Lee, who at this time last year probably didn't expect to ever play as a starter at LSU.

If the Tigers are still clicking and winning week in and week out, this game will have huge SEC and National implications, but the Tigers are in more ways than not rebuilding (tell that to Les Miles and Tiger nation though).

Game 9: vs. Florida (Jacksonville)

"The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," or as we are told to call it, "The Florida-Georgia game...or Georgia-Florida game," has potential to be one of the biggest college football games in years.

If you think last year's game was great, I bet you can't wait to see this one. This game will likely decide the SEC East, and both teams could easily be ranked as high as No. 1 and No. 2 when it comes around.

Tim Tebow will probably tell you all about the Georgia defense, and it likely won't be a happy story. Georgia dropped Tim Tebow seven times in last year's game and made Mr. Heisman look like Mr. Hopeless.

Okay, that might be an overstatement, but every Georgia player and fan will tell you they are very proud to have watched the eventual Heisman trophy winner spend half of the game sprawled out on the Alltel Stadium turf. I've even seen bumper stickers reading, "Honk if you sacked Tebow!"

Oh, and as for the game, get there early. Kirk and Lee will be there!

Game 10: @ Auburn

Don't expect the Tigers to return any favors and "blackout" against the Dawgs this year (Orange or Blue-out maybe? No?), but do expect Jordan-Hare Stadium to be electric come kickoff. The last two times these bitter rivals met, the Dawgs handed it to the Tigers, winning 37-15 at the plains and 45-20 in the blackhole.

Georgia will be getting their first look at dual-threat quarterback Kodi Burns and the spread offense, but they are more than familiar with the stellar running back trio that consists of Ben Tate, Brad Lester, and Mario Fannin. If the Dawgs can keep those three guys in check, they could shake and rattle Burns all day.

If Georgia can complete the three-game sweep of LSU, Florida, and Auburn, they will likely be playing in the SEC title game, and will have a very realistic shot at the national title.

Game 11: @ Kentucky

Another road game for Georgia, this time in Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington, KY. Georgia doesn't have the best memories of that place, considering the stunning loss they suffered two years back to the Wildcats. Don't think Stafford has forgotten that dreadful day.

Knowshon Moreno doesn't remember it though, and he probably won't have his mind on much more than rushing for 200 yards against the Wildcats defense. Let's face it—after that brutal four-game stretch Georgia has to endure, a game vs. a rebuilding Kentucky team will be nice.

Kentucky does have some stars, including All-SEC-contending defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon.

Georgia should win in Lexington, and a final conference win will be plenty important to them, especially in the traffic-packed SEC.

Game 12: Georgia Tech

Georgia will be getting a look at Georgia Tech's new triple option offense. This game has the potential to be a disaster for Georgia Tech.

Tech does return a solid defense, but the problem lies in the offense of the Yellow Jackets, where Paul Johnson's new scheme has been nothing but disaster so far in Atlanta. Tech has a very unproven receiving corps and hasn't had a consistent quarterback in a while. Tech will have to count on Jonathan Dwyer and the other tailbacks having an awesome game if they plan on winning.

Keep in mind, Tech hasn't beaten Georgia since 2000. Hopefully someone in Atlanta tells Paul Johnson how bad the Jackets want it.

Georgia Bulldogs Football: An In-Depth Preview of the 2008-2009 Season

Michael Foster — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:49:40 -0400

The Georgia Bulldogs roll into the 2008 football season with a lot of momentum, and a lot of pressure to be great.

The Dawgs finished their 2007 campaign on a seven-game winning streak that included 42-30 and 45-20 shootout victories over archrivals Florida and Auburn.

Last year was supposed to be a rebuilding year for the Bulldogs. Instead they grew into a national powerhouse and barely missed a shot at a seemingly improbable National Title.

Heading into the fall, Georgia returns Heisman hopeful and breakout sensation Knowshon Moreno, the rocket arm of Matthew Stafford, and a fast and furious defense. Ask anyone in the country who the most talented college football team is heading into the season, and they might just tell you the Bulldogs of Athens.

However, with a schedule that could see a game versus a ranked opponent week in and week out, the road to Miami will be a rough and brutal one.

Georgia has all of the tools needed to climb that mountain though. Ignore coach Mark Richt's comments on "this being a different team from last year's." Georgia is absolutely stacked with talent.

The offense will feature the "semi" pro spread offense of Mike Bobo. Bobo likes to mix all sorts of screens and misdirection into an offense that was originally a pro style system.

Leading the offense will be Matthew Stafford, who showed that could improve over time when he turned his 7:13 (TD:INT) ratio into a 19:10 in 2007. Stafford has a solid winning record as a starter as well. Despite his less than impressive stats, Stafford may have the strongest arm in college football and is learning to run the offense rather than show off his talent.

Even if Stafford is efficient, his stats will never be off the charts because of the offense he plays in. So, a word of advice: Just pay attention to his wins and losses (then he might seem pretty darn good).

Toting the rock for Georgia will be the sophomore sensation Knowshon Moreno. Moreno was a Kno-show in Athens before he was Knowshon, and Georgia fans were more excited about Caleb King at this time last year than No. 24. 1,300 yards later, Knowshon has become a celebrity and a household name across the nation, as well as a probable Heisman contender.

Moreno doesn't bring 4.3 speed or wrecking ball-type power to an offense, but he has a forever-running motor and is the definition of "football player." Ironically enough, his favorite sport to watch is basketball, but we won't get into that.

Behind Moreno will be the highly talented Caleb King. King hasn't seen the field in a long time, considering his horrific leg injury during his senior year at GACHS. But despite being crippled and probably getting outrun by six-year-olds, King was one of the most valuable signees UGA has had in a while.

This year we will finally get a look at his talent. King brings more breakaway speed than Moreno does and should be a great changeup tailback.

Also in the young backfield will be freshman Richard Samuel, who was a two-way star in high school and could become a star at either running back or linebacker/safety at UGA, and the shifty legs of freshman Dontavious Jackson.

Brannan Southerland is well known in Athens for being a great fullback, no matter how much the country neglects him. The value of Southerland might become clear in the early weeks of the season due to an injury he suffered in the spring. Southerland should be on the field for the Arizona State game in Tempe, but until then expect Shaun Chapas to block for Moreno and King.

None of the receivers have established themselves at UGA yet, but this may be the most interesting position on the team. Senior flanker Mohamed Massaquoi is extremely talented but hasn't had the stats to back that up in recent years. Massaquoi, however, did become UGA's go-to guy in big play situations towards the end of the year. He is ready to have a breakout final year.

After Massaquoi, the question arises: Do you go with experience or talent? If you choose experience, you get the tall and lanky Kris Durham, the speedy Demiko Goodman, senior Kenneth Harris, or junior Mike Moore—none of whom have established themselves as solid starting receivers.

If you choose talent, you get the choice of highly recruited high school phenoms Israel Troupe, A.J. Green, or Walter Hill. These four guys have impressed the players and coaches, but none have seen a hint of real college football action. Green is the fan favorite to play the other WR position, but he might need to hit the weights and sit a year before taking on the SEC.

The tight end is Tripp Chandlers, the senior from Woodstock, GA, and an established pass catcher and favorite target in big situations.

The offensive line will be young but won't be inexperienced. Tackle Trinton Sturdivant and guard Clint Boling came in as freshmen last year and started to get more press than NFL prospects Chester Adams and Fernando Velasco. Chris Davis will start at center, where he started most of last year when Velasco was out.

The other tackle position should go to Kiante Tripp, a converted defensive tackle. Vince Vance, at 6'8", 320, will be a tower at the other guard position. The line has done some shifting but has plenty of talent.

The defensive line will be anchored by defensive tackles Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins. Owens, who played in the shadows of great defensive linemen like Marcus Howard, Quentin Moses, and Charles Johnson, will finally get his shot in the spotlight. Many football experts have taken note of Owens, as his name is starting to come up on a lot of preseason All-American lists.

Atkins came on halfway through last season as a sophomore last year and spent tons of time wreaking havoc in opponents' backfields.

The defensive ends are questionable. As of now, Rod Battle and Jarius Wynn are expected to start on the edge. Battle will be a two-year starter, while Wynn should be finding his first substantial playing time.

Because of the ongoing nickel scheme Georgia likes to run against spread offenses, the top two linebackers you need to know about are Rennie Curran and Dannell Ellerbe. Ellerbe heads into the season as the leader of the defense and has star potential.

Rennie Curran, in more ways than not, is the "Knowshon" of the defense. Despite his youth, Curran plays like a missile shooting into the backfield to break up runs. He has the speed to run laterally and shut down anything. Both guys are around 6'0" and 230 pounds—Curran a bit smaller, Ellerbe a bit larger—but both are all-SEC worthy defensive studs.

The cornerback position will be lead by Asher Allen, heading into his junior year. Allen, despite all of the hype, hasn't proven himself as a shutdown corner yet. However, what we have seen from Allen is amazing speed, agility, and athleticism as a part time corner, nickelback, and return man for UGA last year.

The other corner position should go to the small but physical Prince Miller. Despite his 5'8", 190-pound frame, Miller has a great radar and can defend the ball in the air very well.

The rover will be senior C.J. Byrd, who was recruited as an athlete and will be finding his first full time starting job. The other safety spot should go to Reshad Jones, who is the most athletic of the group, and has potential to be a great one here in the future.

Finally, on special teams, you have the second-year starter at punter in Brian Mimbs. At kicker, Georgia will be bringing in highly-recruited Blair Walsh to replace NFL draftee Brandon Coutu. Walsh missed two extra points in his high school all-star debut, but he has the leg to replace Coutu. Let's just hope he can hit the side of a barn.

Asher Allen and Ramarcus Brown should assume return duties.

With all of that said, here are UGA's projected starters:

QB - #7 Matthew Stafford

TB - #24 Knowshon Moreno

FB - #36 Brannan Southerland

WR - #1 Mohamed Massaquoi

WR - #16 Kris Durham

TE - #86 Tripp Chandler

T - #77 Trinton Sturdivant

G - #60 Clint Boling

C - #63 Chris Davis

G - #72 Vince Vance

T - #75 Kiante Trippe

DE - #99 Jarius Wynn

DT - #95 Jeff Owens

DT- #56 Geno Atkins

DE - #41 Rod Battle

LB - #35 Rennie Curran

LB - #33 Dannell Ellerbe

CB - #2 Asher Allen

S - #9 Reshad Jones

S - #5 C.J. Byrd

NB - #3 Bryan Evans

CB - #23 Prince Miller

K - Blair Walsh

P - #32 Brian Mimbs

PR - #2 Asher Allen

KR - #2 Asher Allen

Key reserves: Caleb King, Tavarres King, A.J. Green, Demiko Goodman, Kade Weston, Akeem Hebron, Bryan Evans