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EARLY
BIRD 2007 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2006 |
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GEORGIA
BULLDOGS |
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OFFENSE
- 7 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 7 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Joe Tereshinski-QB, Mario Raley-WR, Martrez
Milner-TE, Ken Shackleford-OT, Nick Jones-C,
Michael Turner-OG, Daniel Inman-OT |
DEFENSE:
Ray
Gant-DT, Quentin Moses-DE, Danny Verdun Wheeler-SLB,
Jarvis Jackson-MLB, Tony Taylor-WLB, Tra Battle-ROV,
Gordon Ely-Kelso-P |
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Receiver/Defensive
Back |
If
Massaquoi & Co. can get
the ball delivered consistently,
they are capable of big things.
The secondary only loses Tra
Battle, so that unit should
again finish in the top 20 for
pass defense (5th in ’06). |
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Offensive
Line/Linebacker |
Inman,
Jones and three others vacate
the OL, leaving a group of Green
underclassmen who will have
to learn quickly. Brandon Miller
is the only LB left with starting
experience, or much experience
at all. |
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RB
Kregg Lumpkin |
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DE
Charles Johnson |
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* DEPTH CHARTS were only designed as a simplistic
gauge for listing players that departed and players
that received the most playing experience (consistent
starters). NationalChamps.net recognizes the importance
of missing personnel data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming recruits, back ups
and alternates. Their coverage will begin with our
full 2007 Preseason Preview due out this coming
spring. |
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GEORGIA
2007 DEPTH CHART
Returning Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Matthew
Stafford-So |
Joe
Cox-So |
FB |
Brannan
Southerland-Jr |
.. |
RB |
Kregg
Lumpkin-Sr |
Thomas
Brown-Sr / Danny Ware-Sr |
WR |
Mohamed
Massaquoi-Jr |
Demiko
Goodman-Jr / Mickey Henderson-Sr |
WR |
A.J.
Bryant-Sr |
Kris
Durham-So / Kenneth Harris-Jr |
TE |
Tripp
Chandler-Jr |
.. |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Fernando
Velasco-Sr |
.. |
C |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Chester
Adams-Sr |
.. |
OT |
.. |
.. |
K |
Brandon
Coutu-Sr |
.. |
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DEFENSE |
DE |
Charles
Johnson-Sr |
.. |
DT |
Jeff
Owens-Jr |
.. |
DT |
Kade
Weston-So |
.. |
DE |
Marcus
Howard-Sr |
.. |
SLB |
Brandon
Miller-Sr |
.. |
MLB |
.. |
.. |
WLB |
.. |
.. |
CB |
Paul
Oliver-Sr |
Asher
Allen-So |
CB |
Ramarcus
Brown-Jr |
Bryan
Evans-So |
ROV |
.. |
.. |
FS |
Kelin
Johnson-Sr |
.. |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
Many
saw the fall of this SEC East giant coming
when they returned only 10 starters in ’06.
But few thought that a Mark Richt offense
could struggle like they did. We all know
it starts up front, but Richt gets to rebuild
again as five key upperclassmen depart (after
three left last year). 2006’s marginal
OL was a huge reason the Bulldogs struggled
to achieve the nation’s 77th-rated
total offense – last season’s
incoming No.1 pro-style QB Mark Stafford
was constantly harassed after being thrown
into the fire right away, and the ball carriers
barely earned four yards per try. Contrary
to the popular notion that Stafford will
again underachieve, we feel Richt will coach
the Dallas-native up this offseason. This
kid will learn from his mistakes –
he is too good not to with Richt bringing
him along. Really, all he has to do is not
lose games with so much available at the
talent positions. Mohamed Massaquoi, A.J.
Bryant and Ken Harris can burn foes deep
and also earn YAC galore. With Lumpkin and
Brown pounding the rock inside, these WRs
will continue to get open. But it all starts
with replacing the OL, and the fresh faces
there will dictate whether the Dawgs can
get back into the SEC East race or not.
The nation’s No.9 total defense looks
to return seven starters, but they are mostly
up front or in the secondary. Another way
of looking at it is that they lose three
of their top four tacklers as well as All-American
end Moses Quentin. DEs Charles Johnson and
Marcus Howard will be fine, as will Owens
and Weston inside. But LB Brandon Miller
needs help to secure the corps, so first
it’s wide open competition in spring
and then trial-by-fire for whoever earns
the slots. The DBs, too, should be fine,
even with the loss of All-SEC Battle. So
should the entire D, which will again keep
UGA in games when the offense sputters.
All the Bulldogs need is to find some consistency
on offense to again challenge for their
division half and return to the nation’s
top 10.
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GEORGIA
2007 SCHEDULE
9-1
Oklahoma State
9-8 South Carolina
9-15 Western Carolina
9-22 @ Alabama
9-29 Mississippi
10-6 @ Tennessee
10-13 @ Vanderbilt
10-27 Florida @Jacksonville,
FL
11-3 Troy
11-10 Auburn
11-17 Kentucky
11-24 @ Georgia Tech
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