Looking Ahead to '09: Georgia Bulldogs May Be Down, but Don't Count Them Out

The Georgia Bulldogs got quite a blow this week when they lost Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to the NFL. However, believe it or not, the Bulldogs have bigger problems than that. The potential for a seven-win season does exist, as the '09 schedule is not pretty; they open at Oklahoma State. Seems like the beginning of a long season if you ask me.

However, let’s break it down, look at some of the key positions, and see what we Dawg fans have to look forward to in '09.

Quarterback

Joe Cox will have his shot. No doubt about that. He’s been there the longest and has the most experience in the system. He has to be itching to prove what he can do; let’s hope he’s up to the task, as there really aren’t any suitable replacements should he go down to injury or not pan out.

In his three short appearances this year, he played well. However, those appearances were usually against the second string defense, long after the game was over; he was usually restricted to the task of handing off to the runner.

Nonetheless, Cox did come out of Independence High School as a highly touted QB, so I trust that his skills are better than advertised. If he can simply limit his mistakes and be a smart and efficient QB, he should be fine. Stafford left some big shoes statistically, and no one is expecting Joe to fill them.

Should he fail, Logan Gray would be next in line; considering the fact that we had this one fielding kickoffs and punts, I don’t really suspect he is a viable No. 2. Again, this does not take into account the arrival of either Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger, either of whom could be a factor come Spring.

Wide Receivers

For all the hype and accolades that young A.J. Green has amassed this past season, he has to give a tip of the hat to Mohammed Massaquoi. If not for his presence on the other side, teams may not have allowed A.J. to get as many yards as he did.

After A.J.’s breakout game against Arizona State, teams seemed to take notice of his ball skills; he was targeted less in the final six games than in the three that followed the ASU game. He still managed to maximize his touches, but you have to figure that he won’t sneak up on anyone next year.

Also gone will be Demiko Goodman and Kenneth Harris, which means the senior leadership of this young unit will be Kris Durham and Mike Moore.  Moore had a standout game against Michigan State and may figure to be an important part of the Georgia offense heading into next year.

Someone will need to step up big time if A.J. figures to continue his maturation as one of the fiercest wide receivers in the SEC.

Running Backs

I know, I know, everyone loved Knowshon. Believe me, he made an impact on the Bulldog Nation. However, this is one position where we do have a lot of talent.

Caleb King, who fell out of favor after a missed block assignment landed Stafford on the turf in the Florida game, will look to become the first option in the Bulldogs' run game. He’s big on talk, but so far, he hasn’t been able to deliver in the way that Knowshon did. Perhaps the knowledge that this job could be his to give will inspire big things from him next season.

If not, we have Richard Samuel to lean on. At 6'2", 215, he is definitely one of the biggest backs on the squad. He could just as easily be a linebacker as a running back. He’s not going to be receiving any balls out of the backfield like Knowshon did, but he runs with power and doesn’t mind taking a hit.

Considering King’s penchant for injuries, don’t be surprised to see them both logging significant time next season.

Offensive Line

Imagine what Stafford could have done with this line next season? They were young and inexperienced this year and still only gave up 15 sacks. Joe Cox should have plenty of time to throw next year if he sees fit.

It would be nice if the Bulldogs could enter the year with a healthy offensive line. They often lose big-time players early and have to supplement with young players. The benefit of that is the added depth it gives to the offensive line.

If Sturdivant and Vance are both available to play next year, the run game could be vicious. It will be interesting to see how things pan out for Searles and the Bulldogs next year.

All in all, I don’t see doom and gloom for the Bulldogs next season, but it will be a hard row for them to hoe. If Tebow does return, the Gators will be the favorites to run wire-to-wire next year. However, that said, you can never count out the Bulldogs.