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
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
9:23 pm
YES, YES, YES
UA Alum92
January 14th, 2010
9:23 pm
Coach Saban isn’t going anywhere. He’s 59, just won the NC, and finally has the total control over a nationally prominent program he’s worked his entire career to obtain. Any ascertation to the contrary is simply secreted hope and jealousy. I know his history, but he’s finally where he wants to be with the control he requires and the results he demands.
I would hope that before fans of other schools starting shooting arrows, they would have their own house in order.
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
9:24 pm
The cooler it at the Richt’s….right where you left it
CBB1
January 14th, 2010
9:26 pm
Reality Check is DEAD ON. I would like to see that Tech offense get beat up week in and week out by the defenses of FL, AL, Auburn, LSU, SC, TN and even Kentucky. The QB wouldn’t make it through the season with all the hits.
Jacket 56
January 14th, 2010
9:27 pm
Wondering who you are “carrolltondawg & bremen dawg”? I live in Carrollton myself & go to church in Bremen. Anyway, Tech @ #8 is probably a bit high but not too far off. Dwyer, even though very talented, probably won’t be missed as much as people may think. Jackets have a stud coming in Drummond, who redshirted this year. Defense will be much improved. Better LB’s, better DT’s and more experience and depth at DB. By the way, for all you saying we will probably take a step back, weren’t there alot of people saying that about 2009? Why do people continue to underestimate Paul Johnson. Facts are Facts, this guy can coach. It may not always be pretty, but he just knows how to win. Last time I checked, that’s all that matters.
Tech's mythical NC in 90 and geography
January 14th, 2010
9:28 pm
Tech tied North Carolina that year 10-10 I think but I know that they tied.
Miami Herald proclaimed Miami the NC
Atl Journal & Constitution AND the Macon Telgraph proclaimed ga tech as NC
Denver Post Dispatch, Chicago Tribune, Omaha Telegraph?? proclaimed Colorado as the natiional champion and the NY Times also proclaimed Miami as the 1990, NC.
If you in 1990 lived in Fulton County AND Dekalb County for sure, you thought tech was the um, ah champion of something. They were weren’t they???
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:28 pm
Just remember folks, GT ends up better than the preseason rankings. UGA ends up worse than the preseason rankings. Look at the last two years…
As for dwyer leaving: Anthony Allen can easily fill in, and get 1300 yards. Yes, JD was a stud, but his talents weren’t used to their max in this offense. He had east-west speed, but was used for dive plays 95% of the time. Also, defenses sold out to stop him. No defense will be selling out to stop Anthony Allen, which actually opens up our offense even more next year.
As for losing two defenders: we lost 3 DLs to the NFL last year, and still won more games.
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:30 pm
Hey CBB1, hate to burst your bubble, but Nesbitt survived the ACC Coastal, which is better than your hyped up SEC East.
jojatek
January 14th, 2010
9:34 pm
Incredibly overrated by SI. We can absorb the losses on offense (particularly with this offense). Defense is where we will really be hurt, regardless of who we hire as DC. 9 wins is probably optimistic, but one of them will certainly be Georgia… by 3…
CBB1
January 14th, 2010
9:35 pm
Hey Technophobia,
And his one loss was to who??? Mark Richt. Don’t even think that winning 3 games in a row only ONE time since 1964 is an accomplishment. And that came against Donnan who is on ESPN now. It is not even worth it to argue with you about who the better program is and ALWAYS will be. You know it and so do all the wishful thinking Techies. Tech will never beat UGA more than 2-3 times every 10 years.
Once again. How many GA Tech victories over UGA since 1964?—-12!!!!!
PLEASE. If you went to Tech, you can figure what that losing percentage is.
Hey, AU alum 92
January 14th, 2010
9:37 pm
You keep believing that about your boy Saban. Sure he is happy and contented living near Moundville and riding by the old VW dealership that used to belong to Paul Bear Bryant and shopping at now closed Gayfer’s and McRaes. Sure he is happy fine dining on Valentines with his wife at Shoney’s on Hwy 82 or Cici Fil A. Sure he is. Dreamland Bar BQ is gourmet dining, I know.
You believe that good friend. Win it all again and Saban bolts to new challenges and THAT is what keep his juices flowing. He is a competitor and a ground breaker, not an old time southern jobs program kind of coach, that stay and stays like Bowdon or Dooley or JoePa, or Shug the Yug Jordan. or some others. Those days are looooooooooooooooog gone.
Bame is a fine school and I’m a happy Bulldog for y’all.
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:37 pm
Wow, CBB1, another UGA historian. How’s all those wins since 1964 helping you now? Apparently the polls don’t give a sh1t that you beat tech more than you lost to them. The polls say we are better now.
Ask Notre Dame how their football history is helping them now. LOL.
What does GT stand for??? in the NBA??
January 14th, 2010
9:40 pm
G un T oters it is or Go Taliban U. or Go Terrorist U.
hahahahahha 30-24 and we are gonna do it for about 8 or 9 more years in a row to your next 5 coaches.
Goooooooooooooo Dawgs. !! Sic em !!
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:41 pm
Anyone else notice that the “A She She” has more ranked teams then the SEC in 2010 SI rankings (5-4)? Maybe we should be calling the SEC the “S she she”…
Also, ACC Coastal: 4 ranked teams. SEC East: 2 ranked teams. LOL.
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:42 pm
I think UGA stands for “U Get Arrested”….
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
9:43 pm
Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego aka Mark Bradley?
Current Events at GT
January 14th, 2010
9:43 pm
Forget history ………………..Current events at Tech today say that tech ain’t got no D coach either. Ours attempts were with beauty queens like KS or Chavez, Foster and tech’s were with TWICE FIRED losers like groh who passed.
Arthur MacBride
January 14th, 2010
9:44 pm
U Grandstand Always
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
9:46 pm
Right here.
CBB1
January 14th, 2010
9:46 pm
I agree with UA Alum 92. I don’t see Saban going anywhere else. What program is much better than AL? TX and FL would be a lateral for him. He may end up back in the pros to try and make up for his failure with the Dolphins, but I doubt it. I would like to see it happen as a UGA grad, but I doubt he goes anywhere. He will have his down years like FL, TX, OK, USC. No school can stay on top forever. UGA and Richt can’t help it that they are in the same conference with the two best coaches in ALL of college football-Saban and Meyer.
We need to worry about getting better with penalties, turnover, turnover margin and quit worrying about every other team out there. If we improve on that and get a new strength and conditioning coach-Van Halanger needs to go-then everything will fall into place and we will start beating FL and TN more and start winning the SEC East again like the early to mid 2000’s. Van Halanger still thinks it is 1996 at FL State. Our strength and conditioning program is very, very weak. Getting beat by Kentucky 2 out of the last 4 years is bad.
JACK IT
January 14th, 2010
9:47 pm
UGA:30
TECH:24 hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha thats all that matters!
UA Alum92
January 14th, 2010
9:47 pm
“Hey UA Alum,” I agree Coach Saban is all about challenges and competition, but that’s about it. Tuscaloosa is not exactly the end of the Earth and he is from West Virginia and coached at Toledo and Cincinnati, so the bright lights of the big city have exactly been his calling. With all the national media attention, I’m pretty sure he has all the exposure he wants. And with his salary, if he wanted to summer on the French coast, I’m sure he could.
The reality is that he is a very private person and Tuscaloosa offers a bit of anonymity. Read the Forbes article last year where he was named the “most powerful man in college football?” Well, he is.
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
9:48 pm
Mark, how does the depth look for Tech as far as redshirts and incoming freshmen? Will it be as simple as “plug and play”?
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:48 pm
LOL, Current Events. Comparing Al Groh to Smart? LOL. Kirby was a friggin running backs coach 4 years ago.
Groh won a Super Bowl, was an NFL HC, and UVA HC, and 2 time CoY in the ACC. Kirby couldn’t shine Groh’s shoes…
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
9:49 pm
thought you had abandoned the blog
Kentucky Boy
January 14th, 2010
9:49 pm
WE run this state!!!!
And don’t ever forget it…
34-27
76-68
CBB1
January 14th, 2010
9:49 pm
Hey GT Joe,
OK, go back only 19 years to 1990 when you guys won the NC. How many times have you beaten UGA? FIVE!!! That is a 26% winning percentage. Anyway you slice it and dice it, we OWN you and you KNOW it.
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
9:50 pm
Just like you abandon me on the weekends Willie?
Tech men actually read SI
January 14th, 2010
9:51 pm
Who reads SI anyway??? Check out the FINAL rankings in 2010 and tech will be again in the Boise Bowl on that blue shag carpet. HAHAHAHAHAHA
UGA? Well, we will know how we are doing in about 8.5 months and we look forward to it …….year in and year out UGA fans and grads know that we will always be good. For example over the last 13 years in a row UGA is the ONLY school to post 8 + wins per year. Count up tech’s please. Sad.
SI is only trying to sele magazines along the eastern seaboard from Maine to Miami, where 60% of the US population lives. Who cares?? Sports Luustrated is still in business??? Print media too.
See you in December in Athens….bring that ape nesbitt.
Bring “Slap me in the face” CPJ too, as he will get another dose of Whhhhhhhhoooooooosh, there goes Caleb. “Hit him” CPJ screamed at Washuan blew by his fat,jowly face.
30-24 and I am still laughing.
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:51 pm
That’s great CBB1. Why don’t you remind the pollsters of that, cause they obviously don’t remember your historical domination over GT. If the pollsters knew that, maybe UGA would be in the top 10 too…
Or maybe that sh1t doesn’t matter this year? Hmmm…
Happy Bulldog
January 14th, 2010
9:51 pm
Saban might not stay at Bama, shows your I.Q. if you think he goes back to the pros.
pjm
January 14th, 2010
9:52 pm
Tech will 2010 version of 2009 Ole Miss. Decent but overrated
KY Boy
January 14th, 2010
9:52 pm
34-27, and I thought YA’LL ran Georgia… HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!
2001-2008 UGA Average Ranking #10
January 14th, 2010
9:53 pm
Better schedule in 2010. Only 4 tough games.
Over Richt’s 1st 8 years, if you add up all the final rankings (80), divide by the number of years (8 years), gives you an average ranking of #10 over 1st 8 seasons.
Never had 2 bad seasons (8 wins) in a row.
Both times Richt has a bad year in the past (2001 & 2006–both 8 win seasons), he followed it up with either an 11 or 13 win season.
So, 2010, either 11-2, or 13-0, top 10 final ranking.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
9:53 pm
no more honey. remember, i’m unemployed.
chazzo
January 14th, 2010
9:53 pm
My God. We are already talking rankings for next season? We haven’t even got past the Super Bowl. Baseball hasn’t even headed to FL. The average Tuscaloosan hasn’t even shakin’ off the hangover yet. It is ridiculous at best at the beginning of the season.
JEFF
January 14th, 2010
9:54 pm
Who’d ever thunk it! UNC, IN FOOTBALL, mind you, ranked ahead of UGa, Tn., Auburn, LSU, et al.
willie martinez
January 14th, 2010
9:54 pm
and you sit back and are entertained (but not grin) at the going on you provoked.
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
9:54 pm
Tech coaches are high on the redshirts. And the highest-rated Tech commitments are all on defense.
Gatorzzz
January 14th, 2010
9:54 pm
Dumb dogs… Hey, if you guys beat us 14 times in a row, you’ll finally be tied with us since 1989!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
9:55 pm
CRAP, now I won’t be able to go to the Tech games with my bff.
Chief Inspector Dreyfuss
January 14th, 2010
9:55 pm
RIDICULOUS!!
Mark Bradley
January 14th, 2010
9:56 pm
I don’t grin. Remember?
CBB1
January 14th, 2010
9:56 pm
GT Joe,
Who even cares about preseason rankings anyway? I don’t. I hope you guys are ranked ahead of us next Thanksgiving so we can burst your bubble like last Thanksgiving. Not even worth discussing anymore with you since you can’t face reality. UGA is a better football program just like the SEC is a better conference than the ACC. How many National Championships has the ACC won the last 10 years? ZERO. How many NC has the SEC won the last 10 years? FIVE, including the last FOUR!!
GT Joe
January 14th, 2010
9:56 pm
2001-2008: Yet another delusional UGA fan. LOL. History is irrelevant homeboy. The polls have you BARELY cracking the top 25, with all that talent. It’s sad.
Gen Neyland
January 14th, 2010
9:57 pm
Cutcliffe…BTW, anybody watching Vandy-UGA Ladies..?
Dawg Days
January 14th, 2010
9:57 pm
” At least we beat Florida when we have a good team”
So this poster is saying the Dawgs have only had a good team 3 years out of the last 20 years? I don’t agree with that.
“HAHAHAHAHAH Florida is toast when he leaves 20 minutes after signing day is over.”
Get real buddy, Meyer or no Meyer Florida is going to be fine and we are going to have to beat them year in and year out if we want to win titles.
Chief Inspector Dreyfuss
January 14th, 2010
9:57 pm
i’m really torqued you missed the lane the magic dragon limerick earlier. it was one of my best.
private plane watching
January 14th, 2010
9:57 pm
Can we monitor flights from KSU to Athens?
willie martinez's wife
January 14th, 2010
9:58 pm
That’s what I hear Mark. I think Tech has alot to look forward to on defense…..obviously, it can’t get much worse. Competition for new positions will make the D better, I think. I know a little about D because of my Willie. Well…..on second thought….maybe not.