Picking the All-Donnan/Richt team
To mark the Dawgs having won at least eight games a year since 1997, the nation’s longest such streak, Jeff Dantzler of Athens’ AM 960 the Ref and his afternoon co-host, Chris Brame, assembled their all-star team from those years under Jim Donnan and Mark Richt for Bulldawg Illustrated.
Their offense has D.J. Shockley at quarterback, with Robert Edwards and Knowshon Moreno as the running backs, Hines Ward and A.J. Green as the wide receivers, Leonard Pope at tight end, and Jon Stinchcomb, Matt Stinchcomb, Max Jean-Gilles, Nick Jones and Fernando Velasco on the line.
Their defense features David Pollack and Charles Grant at end, Richard Seymour and Johnathan Sullivan at tackle, Boss Bailey, Odell Thurman and Kendrell Bell at linebacker, Champ Bailey and Tim Jennings at the corners, and Sean Jones and Thomas Davis as the safeties.
Their placekicker is Brandon Coutu, the punter is Jonathan Kilgo, the kickoff receiver is Fred Gibson and their punt returner is Damien Gary.
That’s a pretty dynamite team, though I’d have to differ and put David Greene at quarterback, Gordon Ely-Kelso at punter and I’d add a fullback: Verron Haynes. Having to leave Musa Smith off is tough, but that just shows how rich the Dogs have been at tailback in the Donnan-Richt years.
So what do you think? Is there someone else who belongs on the list? Matthew Stafford? Billy Bennett? Tony Taylor? Greg Blue?
Elsewhere, Bleacher Report ranks the individual defensive and offensive units for 2009 (UGA’s offensive line is seen as third best) and puts them all together to come up with the Overall 11 Best 11s, with the Dogs tied for No. 9 with Notre Dame and West Virginia. Florida and USC are ranked as the top two, followed by LSU, Alabama, a tie between Virginia Tech and Texas, then Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, and the three-way tie featuring UGA.
Meanwhile, in its SEC preview, Bleacher Report sees the Dogs beating South Carolina, Arkansas, Arizona State, Tennessee, Vandy, Tennessee Tech, Auburn and Kentucky. It predicts no losses but sees the games against Okie State, LSU, Florida and Georgia Tech as toss-ups. That’s certainly more optimistic than some other recent predictions. Who says the 2008 Dogs aren’t getting any respect?
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135 comments Add your comment
RAMBLE ON!!!
June 4th, 2009
1:46 pm
Reggie Ball, 1st team QB
SimpleDawg
June 4th, 2009
1:47 pm
DJ over David Greene ???? No way college football’s all-time winningest QB isn’t the 1st Team QB. The rest of the team looks just about right.
With all of the talent Donnan had he should’ve a lot more games.
Quimpcy is on the local all-blotter team as QB….also as quarterback.
Marco
June 4th, 2009
1:48 pm
Neither D.J. Shockley nor David Greene can sniff Matthew Stafford’s jockstrap as a QB. Billy Bennett might edge out Kotu, or maybe not.
J Smurf
June 4th, 2009
1:49 pm
I believe I’d go with Randy McMichael over Pope, and Tim Wansley over Tim Jennings.
GeoffDawg
June 4th, 2009
1:50 pm
Greene at QB is a no-brainer and while Tim Jennings was indeed a baller, at his diminutive size, it’s hard to believe we can’t do better at corner. Jamie Henderson for one or what about Paul Oliver? He did own Calvin Johnson.
Red Clay Hound
June 4th, 2009
1:51 pm
Will Witherspoon maybe?
JWS
June 4th, 2009
1:51 pm
How can you possibly pick DJ over Greene? That’s completely stupid.
Also, I love Green and think he will earn his reputation as one of our best WR’s all time, but wasn’t Terrance Edwards an alltime leader in the SEC?
Trip
June 4th, 2009
1:53 pm
Reggie Ball owned Calvin Johnson
TopDawg
June 4th, 2009
1:56 pm
I agree with simple Dawg at teh qb spot, no way you can leave off David Greene. (aka the “Silent Assasin” as I like to refer to him as) Also can Marcus Stroud not get any love here, hell he should make the team just for his SI cover. And I think Jermaine Phillips got the shaft here too, he played for both coaches and started that long line of hard hittin sfties that followed: Thomas Davis, Sean Jones, and Greg Blue, who’s middle shoulda been Black &! And I think I’d like Billy Bennett to kick, that guy was crazy. Oh, and I think Asher Allen might have been the mst physical and nosey corner I have ever seen. That’s all I have to say about that.
OZZFEST
June 4th, 2009
1:56 pm
Yeah, you gotta go with Reggie Ball…without him just think how the 2004 ,2005 & 2006 seasons would have ended up.
Robert
June 4th, 2009
1:56 pm
I like Greene at QB too, but who knows what DJ could have done with the amount of time Greene played. Also Gordo at punter. AJ Green, yes, but perhaps presumptuous since he has only played one season.
Robert
June 4th, 2009
1:59 pm
McMichael over pope.
MiltonDawg
June 4th, 2009
2:00 pm
Greene for QB. Agreed on Jermaine Phillips & Greg Blue.
TopDawg
June 4th, 2009
2:01 pm
O and if we’re talkin line backers I gotta give a shoutout to Adrian Hollingshed. Just for his clutch performance against LSU in 98 I think was, and on 2nd thought, Stafford’s the best qb to come Sanford Stadium. That howitzer, (hopefully I spelled that right), he carried around disguised as right arm solves that. Absolute cannon. And even tho Tony Taylor didn’t do much in the pros he was great at UGA, especially against tech. There are gonna be a bunch of past players that read this list and ask “WTF?”
Stats
June 4th, 2009
2:02 pm
Greene over Shockley, Marcus Stroud over Sullivan, Ben Watson at tight end, Billy Bennett at kicker
Petrino Hater
June 4th, 2009
2:05 pm
I have to make two changes. Matt Stafford at QB and Marcus Stroud at DT. I know everyone and their brother loves D. Greene, but honestly, there is a reason he was never anything above a practice squad QB in the League and Staff was the #1 pick. You put that team together and give Stafford and Greene that OL and weapons and Stafford shows you why he was picked when he was picked.
I love Greeny as much as the next guy, but I’m also a realist. With that team, Stafford trows for 4,000 yds and 30 TDs. Green throws for 2800 – 3200 with 20 TDs. Just being real…
Otto
June 4th, 2009
2:05 pm
QB lineup 1st Green 2nd DJ 3rd Bobo 4th Stafford
Blue gets one of the safety spots.
GeoffDawg
June 4th, 2009
2:07 pm
Watson, McMichael, Stroud, Allen, Southerland, Phillips, Witherspoon all deserve honorable mentions.
Simple Really
June 4th, 2009
2:10 pm
Billy Bennett was a guitar strumming, metro sexual choke artist. Anyone here remember the LSU game at LSU?
uuugh.
June 4th, 2009
2:13 pm
With that line and those receivers I want Stafford at QB. Given a better line, I think Stafford would have been every bit as good as David Greene and he is my very close second. Greene could march down the field but for big back-breaking plays I like Stafford…even if a few more of those back breakers are coming back the other way!
I don’t know how you leave Blue out either. MoMass…and T. Edwards (as a freshman anyway) have to be at least mentioned at WR. Leave Ward off the list at WR…he was more of an all around stud rather than a true receiver in his time at UGA.
Come to think of it it seems like the list makers weighted what they have done since leaving Athens just as heavily as their play there.
Herschel Talker
June 4th, 2009
2:20 pm
Who cares? What a dumb topic. Do you think Gaytor fans are setting all-time teams because they won 8 games a season? Can we focus on bigger and better?
Otto
June 4th, 2009
2:20 pm
Brannon Southerland needs to be mentioned as well for FB.
Bryan G.
June 4th, 2009
2:20 pm
It’s kind of hard to leave Tony Taylor and Tony Gilbert off the team.
I think Shock had a great year, but it was one year. Greene would have to be the starting QB. I mean, ya know, if Quincy wasn’t available.
angrystarfish
June 4th, 2009
2:22 pm
BLLLUUUEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AJ Green is a little presumptive. Dont ruin the kid. Shockley at QB. Also, I dont care if he’s on the kick team or not Fred Gibson can kiss my a$$
angrystarfish
June 4th, 2009
2:29 pm
How about a Donnan / Richt hall of shame team:
Q Carter, Jasper Sanks, Martrez Milner, Inman, Andy Bailey, Brandon Miller, . . . just naming a few
Larry
June 4th, 2009
2:29 pm
I know he had a less than stellar senior year, but what about Brannon Sutherland at Fullback? He did it all and extremely well. The QB question I would have to answer with Greene having a razor thin edge over Stafford. Clearly, Stafford was the better pure QB and Greene booted one here and there; but, overall, Greene was the leader and the one who took the Dawgs to their greatest victories.
Ben
June 4th, 2009
2:31 pm
Billy Bennett over Coutu for sure. I mean, isn’t he the SEC career leader in scoring? (Or was?)
Also, I think I’d have to take Jermaine Phillips at one of the safety positions. He was such a beast. Greene at QB as well. The one that I’m also a little sad about leaving of is Verron Haynes at FB.
Ugafan
June 4th, 2009
2:32 pm
Terrence Edwards has to be on this list. He is the all-time leading wr in UGA/SEC history. The only 1000 yd wr in UGA history. ENOUGH SAID!
ghost dawg
June 4th, 2009
2:33 pm
Matt at qb, no one could do what he could. 1st NFL pick wasn’t for nothing
Brent
June 4th, 2009
2:35 pm
Billie Bennett has to make the list. Couto was an incredible kicker, but it is all relative. If Bennett was not as solid as he was, we probably wouldn’t have won as many we did during those years. Remember…we could get down to the red zone like it was no one’s business, but always had to convert for the field goals.
Plus to the earlier comment of his “choke artist” status…do you remember the Alabama game in 2002…the ‘man enough’ game. I would say that was pretty damn good!
Denver Dog
June 4th, 2009
2:39 pm
Reggie Brown and maybe Chan Gailey.
Alex
June 4th, 2009
2:40 pm
You got to put Greg Blue at LB!
Voice of Reason
June 4th, 2009
2:43 pm
I don’t see how Joe T III doesn’t make this list. A shame I say.
Brian
June 4th, 2009
2:51 pm
As good as Stafford was at UGA, there was a reason Greene became the winningest QB in NCAA history…he was an extremely smart QB. Obviously he doesn’t have the physical tools Stafford has. He knew when to make the throw, and when to eat it and live for the next play. Stafford tried to use his arm too much, IMO, and it got him and the offense off the field too many time without any points. Lest we forget, Greene is the one with the SEC championship.
Show stroud some love
June 4th, 2009
2:54 pm
You can’t spell UGA without S T R O U D. What about some Antonio Cochran as well. Dude was a beast on the Defense
Corrine Brown
June 4th, 2009
2:55 pm
GRADULATIONS to both Corches
Mr. Height
June 4th, 2009
2:57 pm
Billy Bennett, Tim Wansley, and Marcus Stroud are the only replacement i would use.
Fools Gold
June 4th, 2009
2:59 pm
Too bad and no matter what players are there at UGA under Donnan or Richt, those two clowns still couldnt win a MNC!
Jim Doannan as in Doans Pills
June 4th, 2009
3:01 pm
I won 4 straight bowl games something Markie boy hasnt done yet.
Dink
June 4th, 2009
3:01 pm
Pretty good list Bill but I too have to wonder, DJ over David?
Go Dawgs!
polskidawg
June 4th, 2009
3:03 pm
Ben Watson any day over Pope. Pope was very good, but Ben was a complete player – smart, great route runner, great blocker, great hands.
oh, and Greene over D.J. though I understand the argument.
Otto
June 4th, 2009
3:05 pm
Brian, I agree with your post which is why Stafford is 4th on my list
Mr. Height
June 4th, 2009
3:05 pm
Quincy was bad and D.J. showed why he should have been the starter during Green’s last year.
OZZFEST
June 4th, 2009
3:08 pm
Anybody who doubts the poser of Antonio Cochran needs to talk to Jeremy Lewis. AC flattened him in practice one day and the dude gave up football.
Dawg92
June 4th, 2009
3:09 pm
Jermaine Phillips could put a lick on a WR.
Reggie Brown was possibly the best athlete during that time.
Spike
June 4th, 2009
3:17 pm
Terrance Edwards, Mo Mass, and Musa Smith.
nitwhitedawg
June 4th, 2009
3:18 pm
Dawgs will lose 4 games: Florida, LSU, OK State and Ga Tech and maybe Ark… This will be the year we see if Richt is a Contender Coach.. Remember, he is the coach that Redshirted NS Moreno….. Again, Richt has had his chances to win his BCS NC at uga, his time is over, better coaches at other teams along with them recruiting in our state, with players leaving early… And not to mention the passive defense we play will take a toll on the dawgs for years too come: Richts a great coach, but he does not have the IT Factor, the Urban Meyer Factor or the Les Miles Factor, or the Nick Saban Factor…. He is not mean enough to win big…. I have money ridding on it and I will win, just like I said Tom Glavine and Smoltz would never pitch for the braves again..
BurbankDawg
June 4th, 2009
3:21 pm
The lack of Rennie Curran in this topic makes me sad. Granted, that is a tough LB corp to crack, but still…
Chamblee Dawg
June 4th, 2009
3:22 pm
Brandon Cox gets my vote for 1st team QB.
DawginLex
June 4th, 2009
3:24 pm
Nit wit,
Why don’t you stick to the topic? Rambler, the first person to post on a UGA blog is a nerd? Speaks volumes of your obsession with what you want to be-a winner.
Tony Taylor has gotta be on the team just for his TD against Tech alone. Greene then Stafford at QB. All else is good.