Bradley’s Buzz: For 2010, SI has Tech 8th, UGA 22nd
Will Georgia again outrun the Yellow Jackets in 2010? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
You’ll never guess who’s No. 1 in SI.com’s college football power rankings for 2010. Actually, you will. Alabama is the easy choice, same as Florida was easy in preseason 2009. (And who was preseason No. 1 in 2008? Why, Georgia.) But the top spot isn’t why we’re here. It’s to focus on the locals, both of which appear in Andy Staples’ Top 25.
Georgia Tech is No. 8. Georgia is No. 22. I’d say that’s too high for the former, about right for the latter.
I reserve the right to amend my opinion in light of developments — if, say, either one finds a defensive coordinator, or if Herschel Walker forgoes his MMA dreams to reclaim that fourth year of collegiate eligibility — but I’d say, as of Jan. 14, 2010, that Tech will dip slightly in 2010 and Georgia will rise a bit.
My take on Tech: It won’t be bad on offense — quoth Paul Johnson: “I’d be stunned if our B-back doesn’t gain 1,000 yards next season” — but Demaryius Thomas is the irreplaceable part, not Jonathan Dwyer. Given the nature of his offense, Johnson isn’t apt to find another receiver half as good as Bay-Bay. (Johnson inherited Thomas, it must be noted, from Chan Gailey.)
The defense will surely benefit from a new coordinator, but not many defenses can lose its two most gifted players and spike upward in production. Through these long-range lenses, I can see Tech winning nine games next season and finishing second to Virginia Tech in the ACC Coastal.
One word of caution, however: The Coastal is going to be tough. Three other teams are included in Mr. Staples’ rankings: Virginia Tech at No. 9, Miami at No. 14 and North Carolina at No. 18. And the Jackets must play two of the three on the road.
As for Georgia: I could see the Bulldogs winning nine games if things break right. The offense could be terrific if Georgia finds a quarterback. One note: The past two times Mark Richt has entered a season with a new quarterback, his teams have finished 9-4 and 8-5. And I’m thinking Aaron Murray (or Logan Grey, or Zach Mettenberger) won’t quite have the impact Matthew Stafford did at the end of 2006.
Loading ...The defense lost a big-timer in Rennie Curran, but Marcus Dowtin should fill that tackling-machine role. At issue is how fast the new coordinator, assuming Georgia finds one, can make a difference. My guess: Soon, but not overnight.
Mr. Staples has only one SEC team rated above Georgia in the SEC East: Florida is No. 11. Only two SEC West teams are in the Top 25 — LSU is the other, at No. 23 — and Georgia doesn’t play either. If Richt can find the right quarterback and the right coordinator, the door is open. But I, as suggested in yesterday’s post that was loved by one and all, see South Carolina as the team primed to give the Gators the hardest run.
Oh, and if you’re wondering which team will win at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 27, here’s your final score:
Georgia 27, Tech 24.
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584 comments Add your comment
Charlie is Strong
January 14th, 2010
7:43 pm
Well, Mark. It “seems” you continue to be disengenious. But it also “seems” to be working for you so don’t think you are wrong about everything. Just like any good coach…keep on doing what you do…until the other guy stops you.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:44 pm
and how is uncle herschel, buck, jimmy, scott, mike, jeff, chris, wayne, nat, ray? have i gotten to him yet?
SEC FAN
January 14th, 2010
7:45 pm
Mark Bradley are you on the take or just trying to keep you job with controversial articles??? YOU ARE WRITING ARTICLES TO TRY TO INFLUENCE RECRUITING. YOU AND KIFFIN HAVE THINGS IN COMMON.
Enlightened
January 14th, 2010
7:45 pm
After reading the (overly optimistic?) comments by the Technerds, I now know why Ga Tech’s 4 Junior stars went to the NFL. They would probably
have not been able to start on next Year’s top ten team. Are y’all
really that naive? Can you say rebuilding year? You’d better hope
Nesbitt stays healthy or its going to be a very long season
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:45 pm
charlie, mark’s not disengenuous, he just equivocates.
bamaguy
January 14th, 2010
7:45 pm
Vol fans: Do you think you kinda deserve this for the cavalier way you treated Coach Fulmer? You traded steady, reliable and loyal to UT through and through for “Hollywood” Kiffin.
I have this image of Fulmer in a recliner, drinking a beer, watching ESPN and the campus riots while listening to Toby Keith sing “How do you like me now”
Opinion
January 14th, 2010
7:45 pm
nope, keep going willie………………………….
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:46 pm
offense or defense?
Another Mark
January 14th, 2010
7:48 pm
Winning 8 or 9 after 11 is overly optimistic? Hmm. I said we’re going to miss the four guys no doubt. But there’s a lot of other players returning that have played a lot. 8-4 instead of 10-2… I don’t see the overly optimistic there. Of course Nesbitt’s health is important. That’s a given.
Jackets2010
January 14th, 2010
7:48 pm
Bamaguy Saban really gave u a deal.
After losing to Auburn 6 years in a row, you’d have paid him 10 mil a year to get the program back to the NC level and beat Auburn.
Agreed?
juvenal
January 14th, 2010
7:49 pm
#1Q:when the opponents stack the line, will Nesbitt learn how to spot & throw to an open receiver, on the run? will we have somebody that can,when he’s having one of his brainfog games?
frank james
January 14th, 2010
7:49 pm
Well I just heard that Mac Brown is going to Michigan, Rich Rodriguiz is going to Hawaii, Bob Stoops is going to Army, Houston Nutt is going back to Arkansas, Petrino is going back to the Falcons, Jim Trussell is going to UCLA, Charlie Strong is going back to Florida, Urban Meyer is going back to Utah, Nick Saban will coach the Dallas Cowboys this weekend, Jimbo Fisher is going to Syracuse and Lane Kiffin is going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers if his daddy will go with him.
Man I can’t keep up with College football anymore.
Opinion
January 14th, 2010
7:50 pm
Defense
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:50 pm
frank, dont forget that Mark will be caoching at kennesaw state
Mo Betta
January 14th, 2010
7:51 pm
bamaguy – why dat wuz real funny ’bout fulmer in his easy chair and that toby keith fella. yo makin me smile.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:51 pm
ok, frank ros the linebacker, terry hoage the rover. already named the starting defensive backfield.
CHARLOTTE DAWG
January 14th, 2010
7:52 pm
IS SI ON DRUGS?
Who in their right mind would pick the Jack-ettes at 8 when they are losing 4 of their studs; 2 on a d that was already pathetic. VT will be better and FSU will be on the rise hopefully.
Did they not notice how an average Georgia team beat them in their best, most magical of years? Did they not that PB&J’s vaunted offense has only scored 10 points in the last 2 bowl games on the big stage when they play a quality defense? Their 2 minute drill should be on SNL!
Perhaps they are putting them at 8 b/c they know the ACC is garbage. IDK.
Not saying Georgia will be that great next year as we will struggle early, probably losing in Cola b/c of our new QB. But the Dawgs have top 10 talent on both sides of the ball and should be pretty darn good towards the end of the year…which does not bode well for the nerd herd/taliban.
Everyone involved with Tech’s “ranking” at SI needs to go pee in a cup….LIKE NOW!!!!
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:52 pm
almost forgot about eddie meat cleaver weaver
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:53 pm
joe cremmins
where's HERSCHELL
January 14th, 2010
7:53 pm
cbb1 cpj is 1-1 against Miami and 2-0 against FSU . just get your facts straight before you run your mouth
frank james
January 14th, 2010
7:54 pm
willie – I had not heard that. Is that Mark Bradley? I know Coach Richt turned down that job. Oh are you really going to coach on the blue turf?
Mo Betta
January 14th, 2010
7:54 pm
frank james – yo fohgot me, Mo Betta! Where be i goin? why the nummer of people yo got travlin’ gonna drive up gas foh evry body, i’m tellin ya!
Opinion
January 14th, 2010
7:54 pm
Nope, his name is Keith Hall he was a walk on in 79, won a scholarship and played on Defense during the 1980 and 81 seasons, probably not a starter but Dooley liked him enough because he was a terror on the scout squad.
Cracker Jacket
January 14th, 2010
7:54 pm
Will be a down year for Jackets…too many great players leaving and too many question marks. Georgia has a chance to be very good if one of their qb’s become a David Greene. Florida will be down big time..8 wins at best! Vols will be bad too but they will be getting a better coach than the joke who left for Hollywood!
Opinion
January 14th, 2010
7:55 pm
he might of started in 81 i think
juvenal
January 14th, 2010
7:56 pm
besides, si picked uga#1 2 years ago..
Tom
January 14th, 2010
7:57 pm
Richt is really screwing around on the DC search. He put the focus on Smart; so Kirby his sweet time. CMR needs to get someone in place to start recruiting. National signing day is Feb 3rd. CMR would be wise to play Aaron Murray or Mettenburger, but not Gray.
30-24 NERDS. Where is St. Simons these days?
frank james
January 14th, 2010
7:58 pm
Mo Betta – with that dialect I believe you are going to LSU!
Preseason number 1 Alabama
January 14th, 2010
7:58 pm
Its good to be back on my throne. And since you asked the answer is yes. Yes it is good to be the king.
Mo Betta
January 14th, 2010
7:58 pm
charlotte dawg – i aint peein in no cup but i think yo under estimatin those tek boys. they aint no top ten team but they sure gotta chance to win sum games next year’n. i think yo dogs is also gonna surprise some folks and will be top 15 by the end of this year. you member Mo Betta told ya so!
Mo Betta
January 14th, 2010
7:58 pm
Gold Jacket
January 14th, 2010
7:58 pm
GT should go 9-3.. maybe 10-2. Key game will be VT. Will most likely be a night game, which will be tough. As far as replacing our talented 4… S.Hill should (needs to get in the weightroom)add some muscle 10-15 lbs. D. Drummond at B-back ( I’ve heard is big and bad) 6′3″ 245 Solid with a 4.55 -40. Nesbit will have another solid year. Off.will do well. Young guys on the D-line need to step up and take charge. LB and secondary should be solid. Hope we get a DC that knows what they are doing. CPJ is a smart man, whoever he picks for the job will be good.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
7:59 pm
frank, its between the blue turf and the blue hose at presbyterian.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
8:00 pm
opinion. initials and i will get it.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
8:01 pm
yes, Keith and i graduated high school together. still a counselor at CCHS?
Mo Betta
January 14th, 2010
8:01 pm
frank james – yo right on dat. i’s right here in da bayou fixin some collards and frog legs right now i tellin ya.
Alabama Jack
January 14th, 2010
8:01 pm
dagws continue to be irrelevant
frank james
January 14th, 2010
8:02 pm
Willie – I would go to the blue hose, at least your real legs won’t be blue. By the way if Cutcliff goes to Tenn. who would get the Duke job?
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
8:02 pm
i still remember a great hit Keith layed on a south carolina qb in 1980.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
8:03 pm
frank, i’ve been blue since i got canned.
CHARLOTTE DAWG
January 14th, 2010
8:03 pm
Cracker Jacket,
At least your not drinking what the others are. So good for you.
Tech fans saying the loss of their 4 studs won’t hurt is about as delusional as we were last year saying we wouldn’t miss a beat after Staff and Moreno left.
Take it from us: it matters and those NFL caliber athletes from your squad will certainly be missed. I’ve never seen a running back as big as Dwyer with such moves(wish he went to Georgia) and quickness. Allen is a big bruiser and should do well, but he ain’t Dwyer.
Nesbitt is the offense. He’s an incredible athlete..after he leaves, the Jaybo Shaw’s of the world take over b/c let’s face it….NFL caliber players are not going to want to play for PJ’s offense.
Still, Tech could easily win 9 games next year being in the ACC. Georgia hopefully will have around that number as well(hoping).
But #8? What kind of ghetto dope are they smoking up there?
Opinion
January 14th, 2010
8:04 pm
yeah he’s still at CCHS, not coachin BBALL anymore though
frank james
January 14th, 2010
8:05 pm
Mo BettaI- tell you what I have to go that way recruiting and I will come by and have some of them collards and frog legs. I have to go recruiting for a good wataboy down that way.
FullMetalJacket
January 14th, 2010
8:05 pm
The Jackets may never own the Dawgs as thoroughly as they did during Dodd’s reign, but neither will Jacket fans define their lives solely in terms of a football game played at a university (sic) they never attended against a better university they also support with their tax money. It would be pathetic to point out that Tech owns the longest win streak in the series…just as pathetic as UGA clinging to a single NC almost 30 years ago as evidence of their elite status.
Delbert D.
January 14th, 2010
8:06 pm
8th, 9th, 14th and 18th for the ACC Coastal? Only if the SEC gets disenfranchised and is force to forfeit all games. I’d say Tech has a half-decent shot at the top 15, but I’m not believin’ in Miami or UNC.
Shreveport Sam Smart
January 14th, 2010
8:06 pm
Ummmm, if Georgia is so wonderful and top tier, why do they persist in comparing themselves with Tech, a team they all state is inferior to them. Could it be that if they compare themselves against the top teams in their own conference that it’s a massive laugh for everyone involved? Georgia vs. Florida? Hardy-har-har. Georgia vs. Alabama? Makes me almost BLACK OUT thinking about it. Georgia vs. LSU? Those refs, those refs.
If I were a fan of the gaggers I’d celebrate Kiffin being gone more than anything else, he doled out the biggest can of asswhup on y’all this year!
FullMetalJacket
January 14th, 2010
8:07 pm
Tech won’t be as high as #8 next year, I fear, but then UGA probably won’t crack the top 25 again next year either….that is why I said both schools should take the SI poll and run.
bamaguy
January 14th, 2010
8:07 pm
Saban was and is a bargain. I hope they double his 4M salary to 8M, and that shouldn’t be a problem because Alabama football is projected to make a 50M profit this year.
Mo Betta
January 14th, 2010
8:09 pm
well mista james, we gots plenty of wateh i’m tellin ya! so you’ns come right on over when ya can, you hear? and don’t mind those city folks tellin ya dat dem froggie legs taste just like dem chikens — dang frog legs taste like frog legs i’m tellin ya!!! yo welcome anytime, yessah, anytime.
frank james
January 14th, 2010
8:09 pm
FullMetalJacket – Not many UGA fans keep bringing up the 80 championship, it is always our enemy that does. Heck we don’t have to live that year over and over. But when you had the best college football player to ever play it is good to remember all that he did for UGA. Just like what Coach Dodd did at Tech. He was a heck of a coach and a better man.