JP25 - #1 GEORGIA

Georgia is the trendy pick, but that’s because this is the best team in the nation. They also happen to play one of the toughest schedules in recent memory. Will the Dawgs be able to handle the gauntlet and make it to the national championship game? I believe the difficult schedule will keep them focused throughout the season and prepare the team for the spotlight when it shines brightest in the National Championship game.

OFFENSE
Whoa, what a backfield. Knowshon Moreno is arguably the best running back in the nation, and if Matthew Stafford continues his maturation he might be considered the best quarterback prospect for the NFL. There are no ifs ands or buts about Brannan Southerland though – he’s the best fullback in college football. A thunderous blocker and sneaky goal line threat, Southerland played a big role in the emergence of Moreno last year by paving big holes for him to run through. Unfortunately Southerland will miss the first five weeks of the season rehabbing a foot injury.

Moreno was a revelation in 2007. Not only did he produce like one of the best backs in the country (1,334 yards, 14 tds), but he displayed confidence and leadership far beyond his true freshman status. Moreno stepped right into a leadership role and he’ll continue to provide a spark with his full-throttle running, much the way Adrian Peterson did at Oklahoma. Filling in for the departed Thomas Brown, an underrated backup (779 yards, 10 tds), is redshirt freshman Caleb King. King is a speedy back with exciting potential, and since Richt likes to use two running backs he’ll see plenty of action.

Stafford continues to be one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the nation. He has a great arm that is capable of making all the throws in the book. He still has accuracy problems at times, but the improvement he made his sophomore season leads me to believe he’s on the right track to becoming a star. He’s already got a commanding presence in the huddle and the team responds to him well. Look for Stafford to really break out and become a star in 2008 as he leads his team in the hunt for a national championship.

The offensive line suffered a major blow a couple weeks ago when left tackle Trinton Sturdivant tore up his knee. Sturdivant was already establishing himself as an anchor on this line after starting all 13 games a year ago as a true freshman (the first to do so at Georgia since 1989), but he will be forced to miss the season rehabbing the knee. That leaves only two returning starters, both of whom are sophomores. This is now an area of concern, but Georgia still has enough talent on the roster to field a solid O-Line.

The receiving corps has been an area of mediocrity for a couple years now in Athens. Mohamed Massaquoi is a senior now and the most likely to become a go-to threat. The tight end spot at Georgia has been a position of strength under Richt, but Tripp Chandler is a step down from the others who have played here recently. It would be nice if one of the other veterans stepped up to provide Stafford more reliable targets so there isn’t as much pressure on highly touted incoming freshmen A.J. Green and Tavarres King to produce right away.

DEFENSE
Georgia suffered an ever so slight step back in defensive production in 2007, but they still managed to be a top 15 group. With 9 returning starters the Bulldogs D should regain their spot among the elite in college football.

The strength of the defense is where the strength of all great teams lies – up the middle. Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens are one of the best defensive tackle duos in the nation. Atkins is extremely adept at getting into the backfield (7.5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss) thanks in large part to the multiple blockers required to keep the powerful Owens from doing the same.

Middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe is simply one of the most under-appreciated players in college football. Despite leading Georgia in tackles (93) and making plays all over the field (12 tackles for loss), he still didn’t receive any All-Conference recognition. That will change this season because Ellerbe will continue making plays, and since the schedule is so difficult, most of these plays will be made on national television.

Rennie Curran is another true freshman who played his way into the starting lineup in ’07. Curran’s tremendous speed made an immediate impact, so imagine what he’ll be able to do over a the course of a full season as the starter. Curran and Ellerbe, along with Akeem Dent make up what should be one of the most athletic, productive groups of linebackers in the nation.

The loss of defensive end Marcus Howard, who terrorized Colt Brennan in the Sugar Bowl last year, leaves a void. The pass rush has never been an issue for Richt though, so I expect that production among Roderick Battle, Jarius Wynn, and Jeremy Lomax will meet the lofty standards. Coaches seem to think Wynn, a JUCO transfer a year ago, will provide the biggest boost.

With Asher Allen, Reshad Jones, C.J. Byrd, and Prince Miller returning in the secondary, the Bulldogs will field their most experienced secondary in years. Cornerback Thomas Flowers is the only loss from the unit, but he was beat out by Miller in the starting lineup by the end of last year anyway. Allen and Jones are great players who will keep the Georgia defense as strong against the pass as the front seven is against the run.

Overall this is one of the most athletic defenses in the land. There is more speed in this unit than any other school can claim, and they are a year more experienced this year. This is a championship defense.

KEEP AN EYE ON
Blockers on offense. With the injuries to Trinton Sturdivant and Brannan Southerland, and a demanding schedule, it will be up to their replacements to pace the offense through a rough early-season schedule that includes road games against Arizona State, South Carolina, and a home date against Alabama.

RISING STAR
Dannell Ellerbe. For some reason, Ellerbe isn’t a star yet. He should be though, and he’ll prove it this season. He’s one of the best the SEC has to offer.