‘Power’ ranking sees four SEC teams ahead of Dogs
ESPN.com’s Chris Low has unveiled his preseason SEC power rankings and the Dogs, ranked second last year, drop to fifth this time around. Florida, as you’d expect, is No. 1, and also ahead of Georgia are Ole Miss, Alabama and LSU. After UGA it’s Arkansas, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Auburn, Kentucky and Mississippi State.
Low likes Florida for obvious reasons. He says Ole Miss’ “combination of a franchise quarterback like Jevan Snead and perhaps the deepest defensive line in the country makes them one of the favorites this season,” though he wonders how they’ll handle all the hype. Alabama’s defense, he says, should be one of the best in the country, and while their offensive line won’t be as good, “stud receiver Julio Jones is the great equalizer.” He thinks sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson will be the key to LSU’s success, adding that new defensive coordinator John Chavis “has reinvigorated a defense that went belly-up last season, and the Tigers’ secondary will be scary good.”
Low’s summary of Georgia: “Mark Richt has ’em right where he wants them. Nobody really expects Georgia to contend for the SEC championships this season, which means we might want to look out for the Bulldogs. Remember 2005? The Georgia coaches think first-time quarterback starter Joe Cox, a fifth-year senior, will be the least of their problems, and the offensive line should be the strength of the team. The big question: Can Willie Martinez’s defense tackle better and get back to playing championship defense?”
Low’s summary of the Dogs is pretty much on the mark. And I know that Georgia lost most of its offensive production from last year and its defense remains a big question mark. But I don’t believe all three of those SEC West teams will prove to be stronger than Mark Richt’s Dogs and I especially am skeptical of all the preseason hype for Ole Miss. Yes, they finished strong last year and one of their wins was over Florida. But they also have question marks on defense, particularly in the secondary. The biggest thing going for them besides Jevan Snead is a cushy schedule, and I don’t think that should count in a “power” ranking.
As for the others ahead of Georgia, Alabama will be good. How good depends on an inexperienced quarterback. And I wouldn’t take it for granted that Chavis can work miracles that quickly with an LSU defense that was pretty shaky last season.
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64 comments Add your comment
Saint Simons
August 10th, 2009
2:01 pm
((((( 45 42 ))))) hahahahahaha
Taint Simons
August 10th, 2009
2:03 pm
LOL. Saint I love it!
Taint Simons
August 10th, 2009
2:04 pm
I love how your always the first to read the UGA blog. Not much going on with Tech huh?
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:06 pm
Seems about right to me! GO DAWGS!!
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:08 pm
Sounds about right for pre-season. By October we should know where we stand with the rest of our SEC brethren.
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:09 pm
Hi Imposer, what did you have for lunch?
L-Dawg
August 10th, 2009
2:09 pm
GLORY GLORY TO OLE’ GEORGIA!!!
GREAT TO BE A FAN AND NOT A HATER!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sic Em'
August 10th, 2009
2:10 pm
GO
G
E
O
R
G
I
A
BULLDOGS!!!!
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:12 pm
L-Puppy,
where is your alter imposer ego, 55K stadium…..
Jackets are best, and dawgs are the rest!! boys rule and girls drool!
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:12 pm
Please disregard the imposer at 2:08. Thank you
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:14 pm
Please disregard the imposer at 2:12. Thank you
Try selling out a 55,000 seat stadium.......
August 10th, 2009
2:14 pm
***** FREE Tech football ticket with purchase of Magic the Gathering collectors set, which already includes a free trial version of the new World of Warcraft!!! *****
SELL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:15 pm
Please disregard my flatuance at 2:14. Thank You
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:18 pm
I am losing track, how many people are claiming to be me. Wow I have a fan club, whodda thunk it.
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:18 pm
Imposer you just dont give up do you. 2:15 IMPOSER
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:20 pm
2:18 me I would never use the word WHODDA. Or Azz
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:25 pm
The word azz no, I would not. If you really want to be me, go back and read more of my posts. I use the Yogi Berra reference quite often. I also do not quote times if that will be a help to you. Thanks for being such a fan.
Sic Em'
August 10th, 2009
2:26 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! EVERYBODY must see this!!! It’s the Golden Dome Live Blog, about Sonny Perdue taking his furlough….. but look at the first comment!!!!!
http://blogs.ajc.com/gold-dome-live/2009/08/10/govs-staff-announces-furloughs-perdue-already-too-his/
Mikey
August 10th, 2009
2:26 pm
I believe it’s imposter Cuz…although you could make a case for an imPOSER too…
My heterosexuality a fluke!
August 10th, 2009
2:28 pm
Mike T.
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:30 pm
Old Buck has got to be mad. Jeff Gordon just got knocked out of the race. He is probably watching with Davey Allison.
L-Dawg
August 10th, 2009
2:31 pm
Georgia, Georgia,
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I’m say Georgia
Georgia
A song of you
Comes as sweet and clear
As moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
I said Georgia,
Ooh Georgia, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you
Georgia,
Georgia,
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind
I said just an old sweet song,
Keeps Georgia on my mind
GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Class of '98
August 10th, 2009
2:33 pm
Methinks if UGA played Ole Miss on a neutral field next week, Vegas would have it as a “pick ‘em”. Too many folks who think they knew what they’re talking about but really don’t, know that we lost Stafford and Moreno, but couldn’t tell you who Trinton Sturdivant and Jeff Owens are if their life depended on it.
Not saying Chris Low is that way, but I’ve run into lots of them.
We’re gonna be good.
dawgystyle
August 10th, 2009
2:40 pm
Gotta love it. You can almost smell the football in the air. That is unless you go to yeck and all you smell is homeless folks feces in the bushes. Nice campus tickle pile masters (especially you saint simons- i have never in my life ran across someone with less of a life- you should be the posterchild for GT athletics.
Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
2:40 pm
L-dawg, I just heard that one played on a baby grand down in the Subway. It was nice to see all the non-Georgians applaud the young man who perfomed it. Moonlight through the pines. Makes me homesick, well the weather is cooler here though.
Will
August 10th, 2009
2:41 pm
I have been to several practices over the years but I can’t remember when I have ever seen a bigger, faster and more athletic group of dawgs. This mornings practice was amazing to see & CMR has stockpiled talent everywhere. The defense looks ferocious folks! Big hitters everywhere! The secondary is going to be a major upgrade from last season, as well the LB’s where we are really 3-deep with talent galore. Marcus Washington is going to be a beast folks….. The first team O was barely able to get a play off when he was in there. MW has the talent of Brandon Spikes, all he has to do is stay healthy. He will get a ton of pt at DE as well because CWM wants him on the field so badly. If you like defense guys…this will be your team for sure.
PS…. The O has some work to do. AJ is a man-child among children however. I think he has a chance of getting 1500 this year and I’m not kidding. I see Troup and Moore on the other side doing very well but Brown adds another dimension with that size. He is not the athlete of AJ’s caliber but he is going to be a good one. Wooten is pretty quick and so is King. To be honest it’s hard to gauge these guys because AJ is so much bigger and faster. It’s kind of crazy to see.
Renegade
August 10th, 2009
2:44 pm
We will be a better team this year than last. Mark it down. Both lines will be considerably better, which will be key. Remember ALA’s lines last year? Cox will manage the game, get the ball the the playmakers. Our defense will be much improved with more speed at corners. In fact, I can see a lot of similarities between the ALA team of 08 and our team in 09. We still have to beat FLA though.
mcdawg
August 10th, 2009
3:12 pm
not a problem-just one game at a time
TheItalianDawg
August 10th, 2009
3:14 pm
Renegade,
we might lose 2 games but we will beat Florida..
GeoffDawg
August 10th, 2009
3:15 pm
Ole Miss has the deepest DL in the country after losing first round pick Peria Jerry? You don’t see anyone writing that about the Rebels very often.
GeoffDawg
August 10th, 2009
3:17 pm
With all theses Cuz’s on the board, I feel like I’m at a Catholic family reunion.
Sunny Purdue
August 10th, 2009
3:22 pm
GO
S
A
I
N
T
S
I
M
O
N
S
F. St. Augustine Coppermaybe
August 10th, 2009
3:28 pm
UGA will surprise a lot of people this season. Yeah, I doubt they’ll go undefeated, but i can see this being a 10-win team.
dawgfanatic24-7
August 10th, 2009
3:29 pm
Bama will disappoint their fans this season.
ghost dawg
August 10th, 2009
3:31 pm
dawgs are very, very underestimated this year, lotta teams will find this out.
Fools Gold
August 10th, 2009
3:34 pm
My Clempson tater cuz dropped by the other night to tell me that the dawgs are gonna get killed by Okie state. This game is a must win for the dawgs period if they want national respect. I told my cuz that he better worry if yabber dabber will keep his job for 3 years while at clempsun. Im sure hope he is wrong and I am right…..
db
August 10th, 2009
3:47 pm
Bama is going to win it all.
Ga. Tiger
August 10th, 2009
3:48 pm
Hey Tech fans… Did your team get another ring to celebrate that SPANKIKNG my LSU Tigers laid on them in the eet-mor-chikin bowl on new year’s eve last year??
UGA Fans who think you’re really going to beat UF or LSU this season: Please share some of what you’re smokin’…
PeligroPero
August 10th, 2009
3:49 pm
The talent levels at UGA, LSU. ‘Bama and Florida are tremendous. There’s not much separation talent-wise between them. The difference is often in coaching. I don’t think OC Bobo or DC Martinez strike fear in any other head coaches hearts. They’re pretty good but not scary good.
Cuz in Minnesota
August 10th, 2009
3:50 pm
UGA will always own Tech! Book it!!
Commodor
August 10th, 2009
3:53 pm
Vandy will go 11-1, beat UF, win the east and the SEC championship and play for it all!
Mark it down!
More cow bell
August 10th, 2009
3:54 pm
MSU will stomp a mud hole in those bums in oxford and win by 4 TD’s.
godawgs
August 10th, 2009
3:57 pm
the media is so in love with LSU. they are always ranked so high up. people tend to forget that UGA has won the last three meetings against them, the last at their own house, and quite convincingly. oh well, i like when uga surprises people
jerry
August 10th, 2009
3:58 pm
Dawgs may have a 1980 juggernaught. You know, the one who’s qb was 1-14 in the Sugar Bowl. I mean a real ass-kicking, name taking juggernaught. And the real cuz needs to stop responding to this imposter and we wouldn’t have to slog through all that nonsense.
santa cruz dawg
August 10th, 2009
3:58 pm
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Let the Dawgs lay low in the hedges. Then they can jump up and bite. The much more talked about teams of the summer. aka OK State..
You win football games with great line play and the lines are really strong, on both sides of the ball.
Brian
August 10th, 2009
3:59 pm
I’m not an SEC or ACC person — I got a real education up in the Big 10 — but you wonder why people make fun of southern schools. Sic Em’, the correct way to write your name would be “Sic ‘em”. The apostrophe goes in place of the omitted letters, you idiot. You probably write ” 09′ ” instead of ” ‘09 ” too, don’t you?
BS Patrol
August 10th, 2009
4:02 pm
Doggies mid-second tier. About right. Annual proof that recruiting services are a hoax.
'Bama 1
August 10th, 2009
4:05 pm
Sounds like dawgfanatic24-7 is going to be the only one disappointed this season, when ‘Bama shows you what it’s all about!
gbp
August 10th, 2009
4:11 pm
Didnt Ole Miss lose four games last year? And two of those losses were against Wake Forest and Vanderbilt….granted they beat florida…and Texas Tech….but I just dont see them getting even close to Atlanta this year….dont believe the hype….watch out Ole Miss…good luck to the rebs….but it aint going to happen when you cant beat WEAK Forest and Vanderbilt….you gotta show up for every game in the SEC….
gratefuldawghead
August 10th, 2009
4:16 pm
Brain..We don’t care how you do it in the SLOW-10!
GO DAWGS!!!!