Newsstand previews have Dogs in Top 20
First day back from Italy, I saw one of the sure signs of impending summer: preseason college football preview magazines on the newsstands.
Not surprisingly, the Dawgs don’t have the lofty expectations of last year at this time, when they were the consensus preseason No. 1 team, but both Lindy’s Southeastern 2009 Preview ($6.99) and Sporting News College Football ‘09 ($7.99) see them in the Top 20.
Lindy’s puts UGA at No. 17, right behind the Trade School. Florida is, of course, No. 1 and other SEC schools ranked include LSU (6), Alabama (7) and Ole Miss (9). The Dawgs’ opening opponent, Oklahoma State, is ranked No. 10.
The magazine’s assessment of Georgia includes a cheap shot quote from an anonymous SEC coach (who sounds like he probably was one of those who lost to Mark Richt last year). He says last year’s UGA team might have been “kind of soft. They never knocked you off the ball or blocked that well.”
Lindy’s sums up the 2009 Dawgs by noting their “ambitious” schedule and saying: “The ‘wow’ factor [Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno] is gone, but eight or nine victories in the regular season seems reasonable for a stable program that never takes an off year in recruiting.”
Rennie Curran is UGA’s only preseason All-American in Lindy’s, making the second team defense. Lindy’s ranks A.J. Green (who’s on the cover for this region) at No. 6 among wide receivers (with Alabama’s Julio Jones at No. 3 and Okie State’s Dez Bryant at No. 1). Ben Jones is ranked No. 6 among centers, Clint Bolling is No. 5 at offensive guard, Geno Atkins is No. 8 among defensive tackles, Curran is the No. 4 outside linebacker and Reshad Jones is No. 12 among safeties. UGA has the second best offensive line, Lindy’s reckons, and its recruiting class is ranked No. 6.
The same rankings are used in a companion publication, Lindy’s Football 2009 College Preview ($7.99).
The Sporting News preview, which has Joe Cox and South Carolina’s Stephen Garcia on the cover of this region’s edition, ranks UGA at No. 15. They also have Florida at No. 1, with Ole Miss at No. 5, LSU at No. 8 and Alabama at No. 13. Oklahoma State is ranked No. 10 and Georgia Tech is No. 11. Curran is a third-team All-American.
SN’s “fearless forecast” trashes this year’s No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, saying “Georgia won’t miss Matthew Stafford. Good riddance to his 33 career interceptions in a Georgia uniform. New quarterback Joe Cox isn’t going to win games by himself, but he won’t hurt the Bulldogs like Stafford did.”
Sounds like Stafford ran over this guy’s dog. And like the writer never watched Georgia play over the past two seasons.
Overall, the Sporting News has UGA finishing second in the SEC East and projects the Dawgs in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, giving them a B+ grade and commenting that Georgia has “stacked defensive and offensive lines. … A.J. Green might be SEC’s best receiver. … Always better when not hyped in preseason.”
Can’t argue with that.
Anyone think preseason rankings of No. 17 or No. 15 for the Dawgs are way off the mark or are they about right?
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149 comments Add your comment
Saint Simons.
May 30th, 2009
8:57 am
I may say 45-42 all the time (yes, it’s childish), but I still respect the Dawgs…
follow the money trail
May 30th, 2009
9:19 am
Tech fans are so tiresome. OK, you won last year. We got it. The only reason you talk so much trash is because you know after this year you won’t be able, and I for one will be much better off for not having to read your immature drivel.
savanadawg
May 30th, 2009
9:23 am
I’ll tell you this. I think coach WM should leave Mr. Washington (LB) and Mr. Gamble (LB) at DE. Let the young stud (LB’s) have the middle and Boykin @ CB and Cummings at safety. Be afraid, very afraid.
AltamahaDawg
May 30th, 2009
9:31 am
I’ll take a more experienced, and deeper thus fresher later in the game, O-line and ANY RB, over Moreno trying to get it over the line on his own skill every time. It was obvious later in the year that we didn’t even need to try to punch it in down close, even with Moreno. We knew it, they knew it. I don’t really think losing Moreno is going to be the big factor there.
And Walsh was something like the 3rd best FG% kicker in the SEC last year, behind only a couple of very experienced upper classman. He was also perfect on PAT. He missed a few FG, he was a freshman, and admitted he wore down a bit late in the year. I would think he had as good of a first year as our last 2 PK superstars. He’ll be solid enough this year.
CHARLOTTE DAWG
May 30th, 2009
10:10 am
Unfortunately, I think what Tim posted at 8:41AM is right on the money.
But have all these sports pundits forgotten about what LSU did to Tech last year? How can there still be such bravado from the Sports community, the tech fans, and the tech coaches? I don’t think Tech will be a push over anytime soon, but Mark Bradley predicting them to go 10-2 and go to a BCS game is a bit of a stretch. PJ knows more than I do but I also can’t see how confident he is after what an average LSU team did to his boys on the grand stage. It is just my last impression of Tech(thank god or else I’d always remember the embarrassing loss where we handed them the game with two turnovers.)
I am more comfortable and agreeable to the preseason rankings of Tech and Georgia this year. They are fair and realistic, and Tech probably should be a few points higher than Georgia since they beat us. Doesn’t bother me at all.
But if I had to guess which team would not live up to expectations, I would pick Tech over Georgia. The pundits and some of their stupid, blow hard fans are setting them up rather badly in my opinion. I know some logical, unobnoxious, respectful Tech fans that are not at all convinced that this year will be prosperous for them.
And is there a possibility that Georgia and Tech could ever meet in a bowl game b/c they each won their conference?(won’t happen this year but the question still remains.) I’m not sure that has ever happened but I know Florida and FSU played twice one season. It would be awesome to beat tech twice in one year. A close second to winning the BCS.
dawes
May 30th, 2009
10:15 am
on ascale 1 to10 a j green is a 10 jones 1s a 4
Cuz
May 30th, 2009
10:35 am
I remember my Grandpa telling me about the 1957 UGA-Tech game. He said he took out ads in the local paper every week. The ad said:
7-0!!!!hahahahahahahahaha
Pi$$onaDAWG
May 30th, 2009
11:07 am
Cuz so, your Grandpa had a Job, Money, and an Education. So, what happened to you? Pizza Deliver didn’t pay enough for you to run and ad for your 7-0? HAHAHAHAH!!! Make some more money and get and ad to say how many UGA players do get a degree in 8 years. That should be cheap.
murfdawg
May 30th, 2009
12:10 pm
I don’t remember all the UGA fans ranking the Dawgs #1 last year. What I remember is the lame,misinformed sportswriters putting the Dawgs #1. As an old school fan, I usually put more stock in a teams offensive line(like Bamas last year)defensive line(like LSU). Then I look at the skill positions(qb and rb). And last but not least, look at the schedule. Yes, UGA did finish #2 in 2007 and things looked promising for 2008. But looking at everything that happened in preseason, I thought UGA finished about where they were supposed to. However, the way they got there was not the way I predicted.
So for all the Techster, gators and Bama fans, here is the official PRESEASON forecast for the Dawgs.Offensive line will be made up of Juniors and Sophs(maybe 1 sr). This is too young to be the best in the sec.Defensive line and linebackers will be very good.Skill positions will be too young an untested in SEC play and lack the wow factor(maybe Washaun has it). The schedule is really tough. OKST is tough, and the trip back from Stillwater makes the USC game that much tougher. LSU is always a physical game and that makes UT a trap game.Auburn in Athens is not an easy game to win regardless of who is coaching AU. Then the GT game is just a nuisance game to the players. And they play like it. All this adds up to a realistic look at 4-8 poss 6-6. Now you have it and this is the Official Bulldog Preseason Prediction.
Houdawg
May 30th, 2009
1:26 pm
Hey Huh? Pretty much agree with the game-by-game assessment. Thinking maybe one of those L’s vs SC or LSU could be a W. But, a key to ‘09 is to get out of Stillwater with a W …. if not, all bets are off on what kind of season it might be.
Cuz
May 30th, 2009
1:27 pm
P, I used my UGA Ag degree to do a lawn service instead. I aspire to be a Pizza delivery guy though. I don’t remember us beating Tech by 7-0, that was two years before I was born. We did beat Tech 51-7 when I was at UGA. Lindsay Scott caught a bomb on the first play for a touchdown. The Athens Banner Herald headline said, “BOOM ONE PLAY, CALL IT A DAY!” Pretty funny stuff don’t you think?
Orlando Dawg
May 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
If the O-line and D-lines are healthy, UGA will surprise everyone and be much better than last year. The running game will be better with wider gaps to run through and Cox will have time to throw. Cox probably won’t win many games with his arm; but he won’t throw costly interceptions( a la Stafford) trying to fit the ball into tight spaces.
The D will be better with Owens back and that will help the DE position because our opponents will have to double him leaving one-on-one on the outside.
As an avid Dawg fan, I don’t concede anything to any team. I sure hope the players aren’t sitting around predicting 8-4 or 10-3. I bet the UF players think they can win every game. Their fans don’t see anyone every beating the gators. With our recruits, team, and program; we should expect to win every game…period!!
Oledawg
May 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
Hey, Tiny tim- Green was a freshman last year, soph next year, then his junior year has to be played before he is draft eligible. That means that he and Brown will play on the same field for two years. Every team in the country will salivate over that combo plus throwing in our last recruit from Plant City just for fun won’t hurt. Now, if you can imagine the impact of White with his athleticism and game experience, our new smallish runner, Thomas, along with new recruit WR and runners, you have the makings of a great team for this and coming years. Defensive end has two new pluggers, who with the 2-deep experienced lines can possibly contribute this year …..what is there not to like? Barring the injuries we had last year, we are set up for a great year, not a “good” year. I’ve intentionally left out the names of line and D backfield stars(and they have new recruit backups of high caliber and promise) in order that you can fill in the blanks.
I’m feeding off some bloggers here and realise that my whole team perspective is being reinforced by many who see these things as well. I saw one fan “idiot” put in 14-0. After blogging my thoughts, seems maybe that fan’s IQ has grown considerably.
GO GIT’EM DAWGS!!
Oledawg
May 30th, 2009
2:14 pm
Orlando Dawg- This is getting scary if you look at the times of our blogs.
TechFan
May 30th, 2009
2:28 pm
As long as Richt is the coach, the Dawgs will be soft. He’s no Paul Johnson.
OldTimer
May 30th, 2009
2:31 pm
Anybody tried on one of those Russian wives yet?
BS Patrol
May 30th, 2009
4:21 pm
OldTimer, I volunteer for the job.
OleMiss?
May 30th, 2009
4:31 pm
No way Ole Miss finishes in the top 10.
Roddy Jones
May 30th, 2009
6:23 pm
Has anyone seen my Spanish book? I need to look up the translation for “burrito”.
Lew Hege
May 30th, 2009
6:51 pm
A WR’s ability is based on who throws to him? You gotta be kidding!
Chiefdawg
May 30th, 2009
8:39 pm
Dawgs won’t make the top 20. They will probably lose 5. Lose to Tech again and Mark Richt will be on the hotseat and wel he should be.
AltamahaDawg
May 30th, 2009
9:04 pm
Which 5?
BigMike
May 30th, 2009
9:46 pm
Are people forgetting that Stafford was the #1 ranked QB in the nation. Joe Cox was at #6 a year before that. This isn’t chop liver we are putting behind the center, but the key to this offense is going to see if Mike Bobo can make the nessesary ajustments to fit Cox. A beefed up more mature Richard Samuels will make Caleb better or get him off the field, and this C. Thomas kid is going to be a match-up nightmare on play action. Bring your corners up, and risk getting beat, keep them back and try to make linebackers keep up with Thomas. UGA is going to beat teams with short to intermediate routes, and big receivers who can hurt you on the fly, or in the short post range. As someone who has played ball at the next level, this team will be that 1998 UT team.Don’t worry Bulldog nation, this will be a team much better. When teams don’t no what to expect they can’t prepare for you. Stafford and Moreno made it easy, because teams knew 50% of the offense went through them, and another 10% to Massaquoi. OSU, and US of Carolina,Wll be pivotal, but beaten. And the worse thing you can have in football is a bunch of young talent building up steam beleiving they can.
Cuz
May 30th, 2009
11:30 pm
I look at the 2009 Bulldawgs and I see a team that has been told by the media that they won’t compete. The stars have left the sky. No way you can play with the big boys of the SEC. Just get ready for those lonely Sundays with an ice bag and watch your old pals play for the money and all that comes with it. Just roll over, play dead and be happy with the bowl with the ugly blue field.
Que the Underdawg theme song.
These guys can read. Old Mother Hubbard is not the coach. Mark Richt did not leave the cupboard bare. Even if you drink the Bobo and Martinez are the worst assistants ever Kool-aid, look at what we have on the field. As much of an idiot as I am, I could coach this team to an 8 win season and I just think I know football. If we win only eight, that means the injury bug is back. If we open up a can of Raid on that bug, we win ten again and Mark Richt looks like the second coming of, uhhh… Mark Richt, yeah that’s where I was going.
Give me more Okie State kudos. I hope they have Game day there. I want to hear how they will compete for the MNC because this is their year. All that talk would put a smile on the old bald guy’s bloody head.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not predicting an MNC or even a SECC. I am just saying that the obituary for the 2009 Dawgs has been written too soon. I think the team will write their own column and in the words of Mark Twain, “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
bigdawg
May 31st, 2009
12:33 am
Whine whine whine, gripe gripe gripe!! Is that all we do? WHOEVER thinks we are losing to USC needs help! OSU will prove all we need to know: if we can play d like we did against Mich St, we will be pretty good. I mean I could throw the ball to A.J., and with Travarres King at wr too we have some weapons. Backfield is young, but all of them can play. Dawgs should be fine. We( minus Florida) scored points last year, but the d was poor. OSU runs fun and gun styled offense so if we can hold them under 21, we can compete in the SEC. Also they are breaking in their newly expanded stadium so it should be a SEC-like crowd to get Cox ready for communications with lots of noise. Dawgs will beat OSU btw 31-17, then beat USC 21-13 (it’s always close). GO DAWGS!
athensdawg
May 31st, 2009
9:16 am
We are soft…..we have been soft ever since BVG left.
Until we toughen up, we will be 10-3,9-4 forever…with the occasional loss to someone we should hammer on a regular bases.
But then again….save the 5 year flash of brilliance in the Vince Dooley era, that is just about all we ever have done…..
buckeye
May 31st, 2009
9:34 am
hey bill heads up. the ajc has been hacked. somebody photo shopped your photo.
surely you cant be THAT ugly. although when you think about it. most dog fans ARE that ugly.
btw f…. the dogs.
go buckeyes
turkey
May 31st, 2009
9:45 am
All I hear about is replacing Stafford and Moreno but it was the defense that was the problem and the defense will continue to be the problem in 09.
AltamahaDawg
May 31st, 2009
10:06 am
WOW athensdawg, that 87 in a row!
Saint Simons
May 31st, 2009
10:44 am
45-42!!!!!!! hahahahahhhahaahhahahahahahahahahaha
KJ
May 31st, 2009
11:08 am
“btw f…. the dogs.
go buckeyes”
Given your team’s pathetic record against SEC opponents, you’re the only one getting “effed” around here, chump.
David
May 31st, 2009
12:45 pm
The Maggots best year is a Peach Bowl waxing to LSU and finishing WORSE than a down year at GA. GA took them for granted after pounding them in the fist half. Paul Johnson is agood coach that can do well in the ACC but the ACC sucks (see BCS record) and GA won’t ever have as many injuires as last year. Biggest issue for GA was when Van Gorder left (see Falcons D). Either the defense is much better like the end of 07 or Martinez is gone. But GT snuck up on eneryone last year. Not this year with that O line and pasty defense.
Paddy
May 31st, 2009
3:09 pm
If I get one more “Restraining Order”, I am going to kill somebody. And on another note, UGA is going to be really good IF, they can find somebody to run the ball. If not it will be just an average year.
jacket
May 31st, 2009
6:07 pm
hey kj did you enjoy our win ? sent yuse guys packing. i never saw so many ugly fans like those in the ugaf fan base.
maybe a jacket can tell me this. are ALL dawg fans trailer trash or just most of them?
even the women had stained teeth. the ones that they still had that is.
45-42.
you yellow jackets just gained a sidewalk fan.
and for the record…. we will play ugay home and away anyday of the year. of course we all know that sec teams dont play anybody difficult out of conference especially the dawgs.
go buckeyes
go jackets
Obama & Tech Suck
May 31st, 2009
8:05 pm
All you tech fans need to remember this, your defense sucks!!! yes you beat us 45-42 but you gave up 42 points and were lucky to win, then turn around and give up 30 plus to LSU. paul johnson might be the second coming of bobby dodd, but until you can compete with us(which means more than winning two out of every ten against us ) WE WILL GIVE YOU AS MUCH THOUGHT AS FLORIDA HAS GIVEN US !!!!! How lame is it that you have rings made with the score 45-42, did you save room on the other side of the ring for your chick fila bowl score ? GO DAWGS!!!!!
gp295
May 31st, 2009
8:09 pm
I think with talent along the bulldog can win 8 game, If the defense come to play like i think they can look out sec the fla. game can be closer than people will give credit too.
Bo Williams
May 31st, 2009
8:14 pm
I know this sounds negative, but many teams in the SEC (to include UGA) get undeservedly hyped and overrated. A perfect example of this was UGA being rated #1 at some point in the season in baseball. I believe they got hammered by a Ohio State team that turned around and gave up 32 runs to Fla State. That said, UGA has great football and has a chance to win it on the field most years. But their fans are often unrealistic and grab at straws, especially when it comes to recruiting.
bigdawg
May 31st, 2009
9:04 pm
Chill out all you buckeys (btw why the hell are you on a GEORGIA blog? Don’t you yanks have like a Brutus blog or I don’t know why Michigan leads the series by like 50 games blog?) because you may have knocked us out, but why don’t we play in our schools main sport of football and see who wins? Georgia (like most of the SEC already has) would own you yanks. I mean South Carolina, Florida, LSU, and UGA have all beaten you. So run your mouth about baseball and realize that in our two KEY sports we would crush you NUTS!
Fools Gold
May 31st, 2009
10:08 pm
Well that bus just stayed only a day longer in Tallahassee. It only prolonged the disillusionment for fans and agony of defeat to the suck eyes…. Now we wait for a big down year in UGA football. I told you so about the baseball team now just listen to me about the football programs big slide. Mutt fans really need to temper their expectations for this upcoming year.If you listen, the reality wont Sting as much!
Bama nation
May 31st, 2009
11:30 pm
BamaCLT,
Your opening post was just plain dumb. Please kindly do not continue to make Bama fans look bad. I’m a Bama fan also but what in the hell does your post about Julio being better than AJ have to do with anything, especially today’s blog?
82dawg
June 1st, 2009
12:05 am
17th and 15th sound about right to start the season to me. If Soft Willies’ defense hasn’t improved, however, 17th & 15th may be optimistic.
KJ
June 1st, 2009
12:45 am
“hey kj did you enjoy our win ? sent yuse guys packing. i never saw so many ugly fans like those in the ugaf fan base.”
Sounds like someone got turned down by a few UGA coeds after the game. Are you a Tech fan or a suckeyes fan? Oops, doesn’t matter, UGA owns Tech, as well as the entire Big (sic) Ten.
“of course we all know that sec teams dont play anybody difficult out of conference especially the dawgs.”
I agree with you there, whenever an SEC team plays your suckeyes in a bowl game, it’s never difficult to mop the floor with your sorry azzes.
Ken
June 1st, 2009
8:13 am
I just hope that with every up down, every weight session, every 100 yard sprint the dawgs are thinking …. BEAT the bugs. That insane loss has to give them ample motivation.
To lose to a low-rent third rate program like GT has to have them fuming.. Especially the big men on the line.
go DAWGS !!!
Winder,GA Dawg
June 1st, 2009
8:23 am
I truely understand why GT fans blog here, their own blog is really damn dull. I ove how one win in this decade makes them a dynasty !! I guess we better watch out because the next thing you know, GT will be playing for the national championship (Oh wait, they don’t have split championships anymore !!!see 1990). I know we may not win the SEC this year, but we will kick GT’s ass !! Enjoy your once every seven year win!!! GO DAWGS !!!!!
Dawgone
June 1st, 2009
9:11 am
Are you the same Bill King that use to publish Beatlefan magazine?
bewilderedrider1974
June 1st, 2009
10:53 am
All due respect to the NATS, but if Georgia doesn’t lay a trememndous egg in the second half and Florida State holds on to the ball in the 4th, the Tech season would’ve been remembered for nearly losing to a I-AA school at home and would’ve been fairly unimpressive. Paul Johnson is a great coach and the offense is getting better, but the adulation for Tech may be a little too much too soon. Without that front four on defense, the secondary isn’t going to get to cherry pick like they have the past couple of seasons and Tech’s LBs are merely average. it won’t be offense you’ll have to worry about next season…people will figure our how to defend the spread and tech will struggle more this season than people will think.
shards1967
June 1st, 2009
11:52 am
I said it when Matt S. announced. He did nothing to elevate the UGA program. He inherited a team that was going anyway 9-3 or so, and he took us to around 9-3 or 10-3 however you want to score it. No cigars with Matt under center. See DJ Shockley.
Now, as far as No Show ………. I wish him well too. Good luck to both young men. No Show ws one of the most exciting backs in years at UGA but I can name 5 or 6 and not include walker that were JUST AS exciting and PRODUCTIVE.
Gliding Glenn Harrison, Garrison Hearst, Willie McClendon, Tim Worley, The guy from Houston that played for the NY Giants >>>Rodney Hampton, Jimmy Poulus, and more. yes, No Show was exciting but not in the top 4 or 5. Who can forget Sinkwich, and Trippi? BOTH starred in the NFL of their day. BOTH were considered to be Heisman material and one proved it>> Sinkwich.
We will get past Matt and No Show and forever cheer them on in the NFL, which i could cares less about. Our future is with the great young QBs that we have and the running back by committee that we have now. Our FBs will be more involved in both the running and the pass receiving game with Chapas and Metzenmier at F Back. We will be fine and maybe win 9 or 10 with this current cast of characters.
2010 should be a break thru year.
TMC DAWG
June 1st, 2009
8:08 pm
The keys to the season are , find a running back, defence must tackle better and the coaching staff has to get their heads out of their a— and get this team ready to play. I agree last years team WAS SOFT in alot of areas. No disipline no leaders no one holding others accountable. Everyone looks at Florida and yes they are the best right now,BUT take Tebow out of the equation and I wonder how far they go? WE need that kind of leadership, from the field to the coaching staff.
pizzahuttmutt
June 7th, 2009
8:57 pm
All techies beware.I might be delivering your next pizza.No tip required.Buy one get one free.