The Dogs and the draft . . .
Thought you might like to talk some NFL draft today. . . .
Any questions about whether Matthew Stafford would be the No. 1 pick were answered at 11 p.m. Friday, when the UGA QB agreed to (very) lucrative terms with the Detroit Lions. So he’ll be the first Bulldog in 56 years to go No. 1. And just the fourth Bulldog ever to go No. 1. And the highest-paid rookie in NFL history. I’d say his time in Athens proved quite rewarding, even without a championship.
Here’s my latest story, written in the wee hours of the morning, on Stafford-to-Detroit.
OK, let’s move on.
Stafford knows where he’s going, but quite a few of his former Georgia teammates are eager to find out today and tomorrow.
Next up will be tailback Knowshon Moreno. The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter has Moreno going No. 31 to Arizona – the next-to-last pick of the first round – in his mock draft. Many other mocks have Moreno going No. 21 to the Philadelphia Eagles. Philly would please Moreno, who is from New Jersey. Moreno, by the way, has the same high-powered agents as Stafford, Tom Condon and Ben Dogra.
Next: receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. He’s seen as a possible second-round pick, perhaps to the in-need-of-receivers Chicago Bears at No. 49.
Then: cornerback Asher Allen. He surprised some people when, like Stafford and Moreno, he opted to leave school early for the NFL. He hopes to go in the second round, although that might be a bit fast. There have been rumors the Falcons might be interested at some point.
After Allen, it’ll be real interesting to see where DT Corvey Irvin and LB Dannell Ellerbe go. Irvin had a strong senior season, on the field and as a locker-room leader. Ellerbe, slowed by a knee injury last season, has drawn interest from the Dallas Cowboys, among others.
And: We’ll be watching to see if FB Brannan Southerland’s injury-curtailed senior season costs him a spot in the draft and if safety CJ Byrd and/or others will be picked late.
From start (Stafford) to finish, the draft should be interesting from a Georgia perspective.
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
95 comments Add your comment
Reality
April 26th, 2009
10:45 am
so you agree that the ACC is a better football conference than the SEC because the ACC has more top ten 1st round draft picks…..that’s true isn’t it
Tim Tucker
April 26th, 2009
12:13 pm
Enter your comments here
The draft worked out well for all three UGA players who entered early — Stafford No. 1, Moreno No. 12 and today Asher Allen was picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the third round, No. 86 overall.
Larry
April 26th, 2009
12:14 pm
Reality…you skew the numbers in the ACC’s favor because there is absolutely no argument as to why the ACC comes close to being considered a big six conference anymore. Why don’t we just say the top 3 picks – 2 SEC players, 1 ACC; or the top 12: 4 and 4; or the first round: 8 SEC players, and 5 ACC…etc. The SEC can talk trash because it is the most difficult league in America. The ACC needs to be removed and replaced by the Mountain West. The ACC is a joke and you obviously suffer from an inferiority complex. Keep being an idiot!
Dawg watch
April 26th, 2009
12:22 pm
Actually, Larry, there were NO ACC players taking in the top 3…The ACC is the biggest joke of a league. To mention them in the same breath as SEC shows that Reality is really Imagining…
DawgGirl32
April 26th, 2009
12:37 pm
Uhhh guys….games are won on the lines. That’s why we “had all this talent and didn’t win a championship.” When you don’t have an o-line or d-line……you don’t win. Period. Why does this always turn into an SEC vs. ACC battle?
Cuz
April 26th, 2009
12:52 pm
To answer your question DawgGirl it is the old male my Dad can beat up your Dad debate. And I agree with your spot on analysis. I remember weeks before the games wondering if we would be able to patch together a D or O line in time for a game. I was amazed and still am, at the work of our line coaches last year.
Tim Tucker
April 26th, 2009
12:53 pm
Five Georgia players drafted through three rounds. DT Corvey Irvin became the fifth, taken by Carolina with the 93rd overall pick. His strong senior season obviously paid off.
Cuz
April 26th, 2009
12:59 pm
Now waiting for Ellerbe. Tim do you remember how many UGA players were drafted last year? I remember it being an off year.
Thanks for the beat blog, it was missed. Say hey to Chip for me if you see him.
Motown Joe
April 26th, 2009
1:42 pm
That was surprisingly big money Detroit(aka the Ford Family) put up for Stafford. Much more than the Falcons put up for Ryan who came with significantly more experience as a college QB.
One thing is very clear for Detroit:
the Stafford draft will ultimately MAKE or BREAK that franchise. If Stafford lives up to the $70+ Million hype, it might just rescue that very troubled franchise. If Stafford is not, then it will be remebered as the single worst, and most expensive mistake in NFL history from which Detroit will never financially recover.
BTW, is there anyone in Detroit, other than the Ford Family, that can now even afford to go to Lions games?
Lastly, just for the record, does anyone have an example of the NFL’s #1 draft pick with a QB, that actually turned out well?
Tim Tucker
April 26th, 2009
1:54 pm
Cuz,
You’re right, last year was an off year — just four UGA players drafted, none before the fifth round. Last year’s UGA draft picks:
DE Marcus Howard (5th round, 161st pick), Indianapolis Colts; TB Thomas Brown (6th round, 172nd pick), Atlanta Falcons; Chester Adams (7th round, 222nd pick), Chicago Bears; PK Brandon Coutu (7th round, 235th pick), Seattle Seahawks).
Joey
April 26th, 2009
1:57 pm
5 UGA players in the first 5 rounds… 10-3 with that talent? Will be interesting to see what this year brings us with no projected top three rounders (excluding soph AJ Green).
GA-CPA
April 26th, 2009
1:58 pm
motown:
the bigger question is…will stafford’s contract be paid by any of the billions in federal bailout money being handed out to Ford Motors?
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2009
2:09 pm
Unless it changed this weekend, Ford Motor Company has not received any federal bailout money.
MP
April 26th, 2009
2:14 pm
Every season is new and different but Dawg fans can’t really be too excited with the holes to fill. A team that had this many players drafted that just couldn’t get it done. If the dawgies were pre-season #1 last year, they will have no more than 7 wins this year. In fact there is a chance they may not win 6 and that’s truly an amazing thing.
reebok
April 26th, 2009
2:23 pm
tech fan here…first, i’m not sure it’s accurate to say that the SEC is better than the ACC in football, since I THINK the ACC won the season series between the conferences…tho it is accurate to say that the SEC had 2 teams better than anyone in the ACC in Bama and Florida. second, i congratulate Stafford and Moreno for going so high in the draft, but I’m not sure why that makes Dog fans want to shoot their mouths off at Tech fans…after all, even with those 2 studs, UGA lost to GT in Athens. And finally, condolences to all in the UGA community on the shootings in Athens this week. I hope the shooter is apprehended w/ no further loss of life. See you on the Flats in November…
RxDawg
April 26th, 2009
2:31 pm
I’m proud of Mohamed, way to go man. Your a class act and will be a welcomed member to the NFL.
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2009
2:55 pm
MP, who are the six teams that will beat UGA and why?
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2009
3:17 pm
Joey I think you are overlooking a few boys this season. J. Owens and R. Jones are going to be projected in the first 3 rounds for sure. I’d be surprised if G.Atkins wasnt. Possibly K. Weston in a later round. V.Vance maybe.
That seem to be our group of NFL hopefuls this season.
Too bad “all that talent” that only went 10-3 didnt have the next set of NFL players able to help much this year , eh?
tim
April 26th, 2009
3:29 pm
the reason uga does not win championships is because all of your big time draft choices are all out for themselves and really have no concept of team and tradition hence no championships. They might get drafted high and give the uga fans some small bragging rights, but what have they done for the trophy case? Just look at tebow a projected 2nd or 3rd rounder next year. Who would you rather have as your college qb? Just a thought.
Oledawg
April 26th, 2009
3:42 pm
That’s my Dawgs! Five % of the first 100 DivI (119 teams) players taken speaks well for UGA and recruiting. All from different positions, all class act people and players, all coached by differing position coaches. Coaches and players never looked better at Georgia. Hope all the rest get taken as they should in this draft.
I’m with you, RxDawg. I think Mohamed will do quite well in the NFL.
Cuz
April 26th, 2009
3:55 pm
Thanks for the kind words reebok concerning the tragedy in Athens. This transcends the innerstate rivalry. You won’t catch me dawging Tech. Y’all won the game last November as far as I am concerned. I hope the Stafford to Johnson teamup works out to make all of us proud. Time will tell.
I am still amazed we went 10-3 with the patchwork lines put together on a weekly basis. Did anyone on either line play the same position the whole season, maybe Geno? I know the O-line was pick a name out of the hat for position every weekend.
Mohammed will surprise some people in the NFL.
raider nation
April 26th, 2009
4:52 pm
motown makes an important point. we thought Jemarcus Russell from LSU was our “franchise” guy. what a bust! Sadly, nothing but an exorcism of Al Davis will save us now. Also, good for Stafford for getting great money. But can someone tell me how he is worthy of substantially more money than Matt Leinart, Heisman trophy wiunner QB from USC? The answer is…Stafford isnt. So, IMHO Detroit can kiss their azz goodbye as a franchise. And, when they do, they can take Cleveland with them.
Preston
April 26th, 2009
4:54 pm
How many techies got drafted? I’ve only seen one. I see another long winning streak coming. Glad we got that once in a while loss to them over with in 08′.
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2009
4:55 pm
I think that’s called inflation.
HH
April 26th, 2009
5:06 pm
Evidently a lot of pro teams thought UGA had some quality football players. If there are so many in a bulldog uniform, kind of makes one wonder about Richt, Willie & Bozo. Wonder how high they’d go in an NFL draft of college coaches?
FLADAWG
April 26th, 2009
5:21 pm
The outstanding performance of UGA players in the draft proves the point that many of us Dawgs were saying last year. We know these guys have talent so why did Bama & UF & etc stomp ‘em? Lousy OC & DC Coaching. The injuries on the O Line don’t explain the very inconsistent play (at best) by the D.
Tim Tucker
April 26th, 2009
5:49 pm
Jarius Wynn to Green Bay in Round 6. Wonder if Ellerbe and/or Southerland will go in Round 7.
dawgster
April 26th, 2009
6:53 pm
Hey G8TR, yea your gators are doing pretty good right now, so crow if you might, but please when things turn around and they will, maybe not this year, but Tebow will graduate as did Hershel with the dawgs, and you never know what the future will hold, and yes I know about Brantley, he may be good, but is no Tebow and as was true for the dawgs, you don’t replace that kind of player every year or decade, they will allways be good ones, but not always that special player that puts you over the top..Anyone that follows football knows that things go in cycles, so please enjoy it while you can, and then lets hear from you when things are not so great at gator country, I think the biggest thing about your gator egos is that you believe you are invincible, maybe you are, but when all is said and done and if you avoid major injuries that can happen at anytime to any team. then you might be on top again, but he lets play the season anyway….
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2009
7:22 pm
A case could be made that the injuries to the O-line did have a negative affect on the defence in several ways. But more to your point, the D-line, really the front 7, had just as many if not more injuries than the O-line. That doesn’t expain anything either though I’m betting.
Tom
April 26th, 2009
7:27 pm
What do you get if you add Jarius Wynn’s and Knowshon Moreno’s Wonderlic scores?…..
Vance Walker’s.
Give it Up
April 26th, 2009
7:42 pm
Altamaha-ha: Still playing with the injury theme, eh? I TOLD everybody you wouldn’t let it go.
What are you planning on crying about this year ? Got any ideas yet ? Better start thinking on it, if you’d like to repeat as COTY (Crybaby of the Year). Winning the first 2 years of this very prestigious award will be stunning! (I’ll be impressed.)
Really, I hope the Dawgs do well this year, because I think Cox deserved a shot before now, but I do look forward to seeing what you choose to cry about this year.
BTW, use “defense” and “effect” next time.
Saint Simons
April 26th, 2009
7:55 pm
45-42!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahahahha
BigMike
April 26th, 2009
8:43 pm
45-42, 45 chili dogs tech guys serve, 42 million Stafford’s gauranteed!
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2009
8:54 pm
Altamaha-ha is a actually the name of a legendary serpant-like creature, reputed to lurk in the dark waters of the lower part of the river. Most likely it’s some kind of Acipenseridae. I see you have read about it. BTW what part of my last post did you disagree with? (aside from the typos, which is very manly of you to point out).
RichtNoGood
April 26th, 2009
10:07 pm
So all these UGA players went in the draft, many in the first 3 rounds…what did UGA do with them again? I this is exhibit A that Mark Richt is not a good game day coach. He had all this NFL talent on his team for how many years and did what with it? Pathetic.
Old GT Nut
April 26th, 2009
11:13 pm
All those first round draft picks, and the mutts still couldnt beat a bunch GT Freshman and Sophomores, with no passing game. 45-42. ROTFLMAO.
AltamahaDawg
April 26th, 2009
11:25 pm
Come to think of it, it is pretty bad when your seniors only beat tech 3 out of 4.
BigMike
April 26th, 2009
11:58 pm
Don’t brag, your yewllowmaggots who got drafted did give up 42, and 38 in there last two games!
Doris Brown
April 27th, 2009
12:47 am
Demiko Goodman signed a FA contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Give it Up
April 27th, 2009
3:11 am
Alt: Use “serpent” next time. And BTW, I’m posting at 3 AM, but don’t confuse me with BullDawg……
I know this looks bad, but honestly, I’m just up for a drink of water. Hope you guys have a good year. (really)
Give it Up
April 27th, 2009
3:13 am
P.S. I guess I’m gonna have to look up “Acipenseridae”
Give it Up
April 27th, 2009
3:26 am
OK, I looked it up. And I will have to give Altamaha his props. Altamaha-ha IS a legendary fish of the sturgeon family that, the story goes, lives in the Altamaha river. Haven’t read it all yet, but have to get back to bed.
Cuz
April 27th, 2009
9:25 am
Time to wait for the camp invites for Southerland and Ellerbe. Two teams will get two guys that can play at the next level for less dinero.
AltamahaDawg
April 27th, 2009
9:57 am
Might turn out to be a better deal to sign as free agents.
The Dogs and the draft . . . | UGA Sports « Canine Den
May 3rd, 2009
6:50 pm
[...] View the entire post by clicking here [...]