Dogs and Pokes: Underrated vs. overrated?
In rating five teams that preseason estimations may have overrated and five that might prove to have been underrated, Rivals.com senior college football writer Olin Buchanan has put an interesting spin on the Sept. 5 season opener in Stillwater. Georgia is one of the teams he pegs as “possibly underrated” and Oklahoma State makes his list of “possibly overrated” programs.
His advice on the Bulldogs: “Don’t take them too lightly. Georgia has posted at least 10 wins in six of the past seven seasons and should have another strong year.” He thinks the offensive line “could be among the nation’s best with Trinton Sturdivant back in the lineup” and says wide receiver A.J. Green “could gain superstar status this season.”
Defensively, “tackle Jeff Owens is back from injury, and he, Geno Atkins and Kade Weston provide an outstanding rotation.” The linebackers are solid and while “the secondary needs to get better,” he says, “at least there are good athletes to work with in the defensive backfield.” The Dogs have a demanding early schedule, but “if the Bulldogs get through that, the Top 10 beckons — maybe even the top five.”
His capper goes into territory that even the most optimistic Dogs fan is probably hesitant to enter: “Three times in the BCS era, teams won national championships the season following an NFL draft in which their previous quarterback was the first player selected overall (Tennessee, LSU and USC). Could Georgia make it four?”
As for Okie State, Buchanan says, “No doubt, there are reasons to expect a big season in Stillwater. Dez Bryant is the best receiver in the country. Kendall Hunter is an explosive running back. Zac Robinson is a third-year starter at quarterback. Russell Okung could be the first offensive lineman taken in next year’s NFL draft.”
The problem, he says, is that all those players are on offense. “The defense could bring the Cowboys down like an anchor. Don’t forget that six opponents scored at least 28 points against the Cowboys last season, and that they were among the nation’s worst in pass rush and pass defense. Six starters return on the defense, but only one in the secondary.”
There are some questions about the offense, too, Buchanan says. “Remember, the Cowboys bogged down when Bryant was hurt in the fourth quarter of last year’s 42-31 Holiday Bowl loss to Oregon.”
Of course, Georgia allowed an opponent to score more than 35 points five times last season. And the bulk of the Dogs’ offensive production came from players no longer on the team.
And there’s no doubt Buchanan is swimming against the media stream here, as the Cowboys have been annointed as a preseason juggernaut by most national analysts.
But then the Dogs know how that can turn out.
Talking to UGA fans about the upcoming match, I haven’t been able to get a consensus yet. Quite a few are marking down the opener as one of the Dogs’ likely losses, feeling that Georgia just won’t be able to stop the Cowboys’ offense while our own rebuilding offense might not be ready to keep up that early in the season. Other Dogs fans are resistant to the hype surrounding the Pokes and smell another Boise State or Hawaii. Overrated, in other words.
What do you think?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
212 comments Add your comment
Alabama John
July 25th, 2009
10:47 pm
I am an OSU alum and went to the last UGA-OSU game. The game was pretty close in the first half, but the big differences between that game and the upcoming one are:
QB – Bobby Reid – highly rated OSU QB was afraid to get hit, hence he didn’t opt to run when he had huge holes. Now we have Zack Robinson, who will definitely run it given the chance.
Defense – OSU did pretty well containing UGA in the first half, but ran out of gas. They were thin – No redshirts, even had offensive players that converted to defense due to lack of players and talent. No longer – Gundy has brought in some quality speedy defensive players and now have quite a few good ones that have been redshirted. The defense will play better.
The UGA fans treated us very good (which makes me think, most of the trash talking UGA bloggers don’t actually go to the games). For those who go to Stillwater, hope you’re treated wonderfully. Everyone should enjoy supporting their teams and that includes the visitors. I won’t be there, but will be watching.
I hope that the UGA coaches and players are as easily fooled by the insanity in these Blogs about how superior they are in every way. Remember that no matter how well it’s cooked “CROW” is very hard to digest. All teams are 0-0 for now. What happened over the last 20 or 40 years will not win or lose this game.
I know UGA has a tradition of great teams and OSU doesn’t. It starts somewhere and with some game. This could be the one. Look past OSU and you will have the opportunity to eat some of that “CROW”. Same for OSU. One advantage that OSU has is that the UGA tradition is better in football that ours, which will not cause us to overlook UGA.
BTW, OSU has lost one of it’s better offensive players in tight end Brandon Pettigrew, but there’s good backup. Let’s see how the game plays out. Then we’ll see who is dilusional and who isn’t. I don’t have a prediction, only hope OSU comes out on top. Why wouldn’t I?
cowboys_r_us
July 27th, 2009
9:08 am
I feel OSU is rated about right and UGA is underrated. As an OKSt. fan, I’m very nervous about this game. UGA is definitely a talented team who is going to make this game VERY challenging. One thing I’ve read alot and think isn’t quite clear is that OSU’s offense isn’t really comparable to OU, Texas Tech or Missouri. OSU has been statistically the most balanced offense in the country the last 2 seasons. While there is alot of talk of passing offenses in the Big 12, OSU’s features the run game. You can be sure that OSU is going to run the ball ALOT in this game, because that’s our “bread and butter.” Of course, you will see alot of passing as well, but the real reason that Dez Bryant had the opportunities to make his receptions was the running game bringing in the defense. This game could be a time-of-possession battle. With all the talk of UGA’s offensive line strength and that also being the case for OKst., I’m guessing you could see alot more smash-mouth football than most people believe. That being the case, I think OSU’s defense will look better than you expect. The short HB screens, bubble screens, hitches, and intramural looking plays that Texas Tech and Missouri ran gave our defensive backs alot of trouble. We had the majority of our problems because we couldn’t get in the backfield quick enough to pressure the QB – especially against OU and Texas Tech. That being the case, I think we’ll stand a much better chance against Georgia of slowing the run and forcing Cox to pass the ball. AJ Green’s playmaking ability could give our DB’s alot of trouble and make this thing interesting. I’m looking forward to seeing this game. Should be a electric (bowl-type) atmosphere and should be a close game. I’m picking OSU by a touchdown. Btw, ignore ‘Trade School Junkie’, he doesn’t show the type of class that I think you’ll find from the majority of OSU’s fanbase. Good luck and enjoy your time in Stillwater…
OSU fan
July 27th, 2009
1:44 pm
Wow!! So much passion!!
This will be a great game. I don’t think either will necessarily dominate. It should be a lot of fun – for both teams.
Georgia will replace stars with up and coming stars. There is always a lot of talent and it just need time to retool after loosing so many key players.
For OSU, this is new territory. Never has OSU had so much talent and been so deep. They truly are challenging elite teams. Only time will tell if when we loose our stars, will we be able to simply roll in the new talent or rebuild.
As for the game, I do believe OSU will win, but it will be a good game.
OSU’s offense, which typically starts out slow and builds over the season, is better prepaired this season. OSU will score 24+ on everyone this season. That is not a boast but supported by the last 2 seasons with much the same talent. And as far as the bowl game, if you did not watch it, Hunter was injured, Bryant got injured, and Robinson tore a muscle in his shoulder. And they still scored!
OSU’s defense will be better. The backfield is raw but talented. The front is as deep as it has ever been – and that speaks to some wonderful talent from recent years, including Antonio Smith (with his new $35m contract). Are any as good as he, maybe not, but overall we are better.
If I were to hazard a guess, because of home field and such: OSU 35-24.
I hope both teams are in the top 5 by year’s end.
AFCM (Oklahoma City)
July 27th, 2009
11:21 pm
I think many are taking Oklahoma State too lightly; OSU seems to fare well at home. However, I will concede the perspectives introduced here and I can certainly envision Georgia taking a page out of Texas’ book. For those of you who are unfamiliar, reference the past few times Texas has visited Stillwater. Most often, OSU jumps out to a big lead only to find someway to blow it in the fourth quarter. With that said, as a fan of college football, I can’t ask for much more than a game of this caliber in early September. Well, there is OU/BYU.
Cheers!
AF
July 28th, 2009
10:03 am
Having lived in both Stillwater and Athens I can’t wait for this game and believe I am as impartial as this discussion comes. I think Georgia is the better team and if this game was played in October they would win regardless of where it was played. It being the first game of the year in OK I think Ostate has the advantage. Ostate will jump out early with the veterans then UGA will fight back in the second half but fall just short.
The original blog was a great question and I think Ostate is slightly overrated and UGA is just about where they should be. It doesn’t make a difference because both have juggernauts in their conference that will keep them away from national considerations.
The truth
July 29th, 2009
1:09 am
Here’s the reality dawg fans: Oklahoma State returns players who have accumulated 5,500 career yards RUSHING the ball. Hunter is over 2200, Robinson over 1500, Toston over 1500, Beau Johnson had 300+ last year. Our third string rb last year had more yards than caleb king. OSU also returns a veteran offensive line, will start 5 seniors, and one of them is projected as the best LT in the NFL draft. There are also experienced backups. The OSU line is expected to be either the best or second best in the big 12. In addition to all this, we have several new RB’s coming out of redshirt…6′3 230 lb Kye Staley a 4* recruit, a powerback running a 4.5 40…Dexter Pratt 5* RB 6′2 225, travis miller, a 4.3 speedster, jeremy Smith, one of the top ten RB’s in the nation last year in HS, and David Paulson a GA fullback who turned down the dawgs at the last minute to come to OSU. Every single one of these guys turned down SEC programs to come to OSU.
This is a powerful running game you are encountering in Stillwater. OSU has talent at TE and WR too…both YOuman and Mosely (who will play) gained significant experience last year while pettigrew was injured. Mosely turned down Tennessee for OSU, he is no slouch. Other than Bryant, OSU has a host of recievers, most coming out of redshirt…Justin Blackmon is expected to be a force. Justin Horton is a 6′4 230 lb 4.5 hybrid guy from Louisiana…Isaiah anderson and Hubert Anayim are our speed guys, 4.4. Anderson has been timed at 4.28 in the 40. Adrian Richardson 6′4, 4.4. another player expected to emerge. Finally there is our late JC recruit Dameron Fooks 6′3 210 who turned down UCLA for OSU.
So yeah, we have weapons other than dez bryant. It’s foolish to base expectations of this game on how OSU closed the season versus OU and Oregon. Kendall Hunter was injured prior to the OU game, played verses OU injured, and then had knee surgery before the Oregon game. Zac Robinson and Dez Bryant were both injured in the middle of the Oregon game.
OSU will be powerful on offense. The big question mark in this game is the OSU defense. The OSU defense has talent and experience. The DE’s chinasa and jones were both 5* recruits. On the interior, derek burton and Swanson Miller were highly recruited. The youth up front is maturing and after a second year in the program Miller is expected to be a dominating force on the DL. We return all of our LB’s going two deep. Lavine and Sexton are all-league caliber players. Perrish Cox at one corner is an NFL pick. The other corner is a concern but there are highly recruited guys ready to step in. The same can be said for our safeties who are all young but were 4 and 5 * recruits. Victor Johnson and Markelle Martin spurned Oklahoma to come here. Most importnantly Lucian Antoine nicknamed the punisher is coming back from an injury.
Expect to see a powerful, bruising running game. OSU will have too many weapons to stop, probably will rack you for 500 yards plus. The question in this game is whether or not UGA can keep up. Can a quarterback with less than 500 career yards lead a cadre of rb’s with less than 500 career yards to victory on the road against a qb with 6000 career passing yards leading a running game featuring 5500 career rushing yards?
UGA may have a nice defense, but it is nothing OSU hasnt seen before. Last year on the road a healthy Kendall hunter put up 160 yards on Texas. OSU put up 460 yards on an OU defense that held florida to 24 points. etc.
You will NOT be shutting OSU down, not even close. OSU will be a dominant team this year. I expect OSU to ram the ball down your throats and use bryant and the other wr’s as blockers. Mark it down. we will run right over you.
The truth
July 29th, 2009
1:25 am
The difference, acfm, is that UGA doesnt have colt mccoy or vince young at quarterback. if joe cox was the qb on those texas teams, OSU wins those games. UGA also doesnt have the rb’s texas had in the past. UGA is staking all of its hopes on a single player, aj green, and praying that a bunch of freshmen and sophomores with little college experience or none at all will get it done, and on the road in a very tough stadium against a veteran team. even on defense osu returns ten of its top 12 tacklers. I just dont see this being a close game. It is very rare for even a highly recruited HS player like marlon brown to record huge stats in his first game. Dez had one reception in his first game, for eight yards. Later on in the year he exploded for 155 yards against NFL pick aqib talib. But first game jitters, unfamiliarity with the road and the new qb usually hurt inexperienced offensive players.
Cowpoke: Dogs should be ‘scared’ | The Junkyard Blawg
July 29th, 2009
10:30 am
[...] checked in recently on the piece I wrote a couple of weeks ago on whether the Cowboys were overrated and the Dogs underrated, and confident Okie State fans are [...]
The truth
July 29th, 2009
10:57 am
I’m not nervous about this game at all, I am more concerned about playing Houston the next week. Houston has an experienced offense that can keep up with our offense. Georgia doesn’t. I think OSU will win this game by several touchdowns. Probably something along the lines of 52-17.
POKE
August 7th, 2009
3:29 pm
TRUTH wrote – The OSU defense has talent and experience. The DE’s chinasa and jones were both 5* recruits.
———————————————————————
Come on dude. Get your facts straight. Your hyping up the team, but with some false info. Those guys were 4 star recruits at best. When OSU gets a 5 star recruit it will go worldwide.
POKE
August 7th, 2009
3:30 pm
TRUTH wrote – The same can be said for our safeties who are all young but were 4 and 5 * recruits.
————————————————————————
Once again OSU has not signed a 5 star recruit. Also you are leaving off one important name from that defense. BILL YOUNG. The new DC. His schemes will be the reason that OSU is better on D.
Charles Preuss
September 5th, 2009
7:42 pm
Well the game is over and the crying towels are out. This was a very physical game. I thought in the second half Georgia defense got tired and slowed down a little. Ostate was fresher and was flying to the ball. Ostate defense made good solid tackles….and Georgia did too. I would say that Ostate offense played a sloppy game….too many penalties. Special teams played a bid part in Ostates game. Defense was the best I