Phil Steele: Georgia Bulldogs ‘could very well run the table’ this year
If you missed it, you’ll want to hear what college football analyst/publisher Phil Steele said when asked on ESPN to name an off-the-radar team that could have a big season.
He initially mentioned Oklahoma, his pick to win the 2010 national title despite losing five games last season.
And then he mentioned someone else:
“If I was going to pick another one out of the stack there,” Steele said Friday on ESPN’s College Football Live, “I would have to say the Georgia Bulldogs. I think they’ve got a shot of even winning the SEC East and could very well run the table.”
Wow. Whoa. Run the table?
Steele doesn’t go so far as to predict the Bulldogs will do it, mind you. In fact, he has them No. 19 in his preseason rankings. But I’m pretty sure he’s the first to utter on national TV the possibility of an undefeated season for the 2010 Dogs.
Phil Steele’s College Football Preview magazine is always packed with information. Here are a few morsels pulled from his two-page preview of Georgia in this year’s edition (the abbreviations are his way of conserving space to cram in more info):
- “The 17 total QB int [last season] were the most at UGA since 1984.”
- “Surprisingly heading into ‘07 UGA had just one 1,000 yd back since ‘92!”
- “UGA had a pair of 100 yd rushers vs GT (Ealey and King) but just three 100 yd efforts all year and I look for significant improvement.”
- “Figgins returns and Green is back to full health making UGA my #2 receiving corps in the NCAA.”
- “The [offensive line] unit has an amazing 155 career starts (counting Justin Anderson who moved to the DL in spg) which is #1 in the FBS (my #1 OL unit).”
- “Even with the loss of their star [linebacker], provided this unit stays healthier, it should be stronger.”
- “This [defensive backfield] is a less exp’d unit and my biggest concern on the 2010 team.”
Interesting stuff once again, Phil Steele.
Also:
Click here for our latest UGA notebook, with items on new up-close basketball seats, fretting the Gators and the future of Foley Field.
And please follow @ajcuga on Twitter for Bulldogs news and notes.
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537 comments Add your comment
college is forever
May 31st, 2010
4:05 pm
http://collegelunchboxes.com Watch for big things to happen this year, Check out the UGA classic tin lunchbox great for Fathers Day. Go Dawgs!!!
gt#1
May 31st, 2010
4:06 pm
Another pre-season championship….45-42..hahahahahahahaha Go Jackets! We run the SEC.
Reality Rules!
May 31st, 2010
4:09 pm
UGA’s loaded on O and D and may run the table—Steele is right. Ga beats Florida and Tech easily, goes 11-1 and plays Bama for the SEC title. These Dawgs are back baby!!!! Murray—the real deal, much better than brantley!
Our O-Line Rocks
May 31st, 2010
4:10 pm
Loving the big bruisers upfront. Lot of future NFL guys on this O-Line. Loving the 12 sacks, loving the 250 yards a game over the last 5 games. Loving the 155 games of experience and the depth and cross training skills of this O-Line unit.
Bama ran the ball well last year, that’s what it takes to dominate the SEC. I don’t see anybody stopping this O-Line, even if they stick 8 in the box, like Ga Tech did, you might see King or Ealey gone for 75 yards.
O-Line is the key.
Paul "ManBoobs" Johnson
May 31st, 2010
4:13 pm
Serious question for the blogosphere. Should I spend my Summer watching game film and doing coaching clinics or make some serious coin doing lap dances at the local gentleman’s club? If you got ‘em, flaunt ‘em I say. Just trying to make use of my assets. However, I am not sure how this would be received among the Jacket faithful? Thoughts?
Steve
May 31st, 2010
4:16 pm
OL, if it stays healthy, I agree it is the best in America I know of. Disagree with the recieving corps – and learning a new “D”, I don’t know. I do agree with the Secondary, suspect at best – I think “D” will be an overall weak link, but headed in the right direction under Grantham. “O”, extremely good, sure wish we had one more proven Reciever behind Green – I know Brown, Wooten, Charles, King, and that 6th year senior will be good – but probably not great. I see us 8-4, maybe 9-3 – and moving in a great direction. I think Richt is correct in speaking of a 5 year plan for a NC. Evans – give us a patsy schedule for once!
Rickaroo
May 31st, 2010
4:17 pm
UGA undefeated…hahhahahhaha…OMG…I can’t stop laughing….that’s the biggest laugh I’ve had in months.
Really Mr Steele?
May 31st, 2010
4:19 pm
(input team) could run-the-table. Another astuted comment from an “expert”.
Many teams would need LOTS of miracles, but since the games are NOT played on paper or in Steele’s magazine, couldn’t ANY team “run-the-table” and win all of its games?
I’d like to see the sales figures for Steele’s magazine in Georgia for 2009 & 2010 based on what he has said/predicted — sales will easily triple or more in 2010.
Ben
May 31st, 2010
4:21 pm
No Chance.
Gatorbait 17-3
May 31st, 2010
4:21 pm
“COULD” AND “GOT A SHOT” are such big words and we all know what happened
in the 08 pre-season. Ranked #1 and finished with 3 losses and where blasted
by the Gators. Even Richt’s very best teams lose to the Gators—-his 2 SEC championship teams both lost to the Gators. You better understand, until you get better coaching, you have on a 1 in 7 chance of beat the Gators. (it will be 21 and 3 after this
year….ie 7-1)
georgia george
May 31st, 2010
4:23 pm
I see Florida at 6-6 in 2010.
They play 5 top 25 teams.
They lost 9 nfl players, most of their offense, no Strong, lost several coaches, gonna be a tough couple of years ahead for Meyer with a different QB 3 years in a row, but should get better in 2012 after the new QB is in his 2nd year.
Paul "ManBoobs" Johnson
May 31st, 2010
4:24 pm
Rumor has it that the upcoming issue of JUGS magazine is predicting that GT will repeat as ACC Champs. AJC, where is the love?
urkiddingright
May 31st, 2010
4:24 pm
Good to see crack smoking in the sports world has not stopped.
The Real World
May 31st, 2010
4:25 pm
Very Very Funny!
Wright
May 31st, 2010
4:26 pm
i agree, undefeated with this schedule, isn’t far fetched.
Look at richt’s record against opponents:
s. car 7-2
ark 5-0
ga tech 8-1
aubrun 4-0
florida in big rebuilding mode, lucky to win 5 SEC games, losses to alabama, lsu at least.
Kool Aid Drinkers Club
May 31st, 2010
4:27 pm
Paul Johnson has set a goal to get in shape through this fall. Says he will lose 45 lbs. Asked why 45 and he says 45 – 42 are good #’s. Mark it down !
hedgepruner
May 31st, 2010
4:30 pm
What will really hurt the dellusional fan base in athens is when Tech wins again between the hedges and Paul Johnson gets the upper hand & uglay ends up in another mediocre bowl game….while Tech again finishes higher in the polls ….Mark Richt will start to hear the fans go ballistic and start thinking about another place to coach…THWG
San Antonio Josey
May 31st, 2010
4:30 pm
Look for Florida to lose all of its’ October games.
Alabama-lose
LSU- lose
Miss St- lose
georgia-lose
THEN they lose to South Carolina AND Florida State with Christian Ponder.
6 losses.
DJ
May 31st, 2010
4:30 pm
Ole Geezer, seriously comparing 1979 – 1980 to 2009-2010? Is Herschel Walker coming back to school this fall? That’s the only way.
DJ
May 31st, 2010
4:31 pm
Oh I get it, it will be one of Herschel’s other personalities.
Gatorbait 17-3
May 31st, 2010
4:35 pm
Hey Reality–whata smoking? Murray NEVER thrown a pass in college game, and please tell me what he learned watching Cox-it was painful.
Brantley on the other hand has played and learned from the greatest QB in a generation for two years.
Even in mop up duty, against live action, I’ll put up his stats against the best practice sessions Murray has had.
Brantley combined stats for 08 and 09 are 54 for 65 (71%), with 10 TD passes and 1 INT. His QB rating is off the chart at 178.95—-oh yea, I’ll take Brantley against your high school boy all day long
harold
May 31st, 2010
4:36 pm
WELCOME TO THE ADVENTURES OF ” THE TWILIGHT ZONE!” GEORGIA HASN’T BEEN TO THE TITLE GAME IN HALF A DECADE. GEORGIA IS 20-12 IN THE SEC THE LAST FOUR YEARS & NOT EVEN BEEN TO ATLANTA. GEORGIA IS AVERAGE LIKE TENNESSEE, SOUTH CAROLINA, AND OLE MISS. IF GEORGIA RUNS THE TABLES I WILL LEAVE THE COUNTRY AND WON’T RETURN TO THE UNITED STATES FOR A YEAR!
Al
May 31st, 2010
4:36 pm
Georgia just got a lucky schdule this year, all you can say.
They don’t really even play anybody until Oct. 30, the 9th game of the season. Oh, you call Arkansas and South Carolina competition? Come on.
Georgia only plays 1 top 10 team the whole season. Last year was 4 of em’.
Arkansas & Auburn are the only teams on the schedule who can score a lot of points. Arkansas might be a closer game because they match up best and get Georgia’s defense early, but since Arkansas & Auburn don’t play defense, Georgia should go 6-0 against Arkansas and 5-0 against Auburn.
RxDawg
May 31st, 2010
4:37 pm
Paul, a little nystatin powder applied to effected area twice a day oughta do the trick.
Gatorbait 17-3
May 31st, 2010
4:37 pm
georgia george
you’re going to deal with Brantley for TWO YEARS, not just next year.
Get use to it—-losing as usual.
edsel
May 31st, 2010
4:39 pm
Florida’s QB Bentley? Charleston Southern & Florida International stats? He played Div 2B in high school. He’s never started a SINGLE game against a tough team in his entire LIFE!
But Florida has a lot more probems than a QB that’s never been tested in high school or college. Mainly, Strong’s gone and the 9 NFL players. They also have no running game, they ran 4 running plays to their backs in the SEC championship game.
Gatorbait 17-3
May 31st, 2010
4:40 pm
You folks must still believe in the tooth fairy with all this wishful thinking.
James Brown
May 31st, 2010
4:40 pm
I’m sure you’ll be missed, harold.
Ole Geezer
May 31st, 2010
4:41 pm
Look closer at what I said. The offensive line only gave up 12 sacks and is getting 250+ a game over the last 5 games. And Ealey is at almost 6 yards a pop. Yes, that’s Herschel like production.
Gatorbait 17-3
May 31st, 2010
4:43 pm
Hey edsel, you think like your name sake lasted in the auto market————-Florida will out rush Georgia agian this year, just like last year. They have 3 different backs that out
rushed your two boys.
Deonte Thompson
May 31st, 2010
4:45 pm
Tebow wasn’t even a real quarterback. He couldn’t hold Brantley’s jock.
Captain Jack Sparrow
May 31st, 2010
4:49 pm
Arrrh
I believe that Mr. Steele has had a little too much of the rum down below the deck to drink
Percy Harvin
May 31st, 2010
4:51 pm
cough cough cough
nick103179
May 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
One, Two , Free…the “gaytor” comments may have something to do with your coach holding Tebow in his mouth until the swelling went down…just saying.
edsel
May 31st, 2010
4:52 pm
You guys need to tell Meyer how good his rb’s are, since he only called 4 running plays for them in the SEC Champiosnhip game against Alabama. He’s the coach, and he disagrees.
4 running plays for less than 20 yards–too funny.
SHUGA MAN
May 31st, 2010
4:55 pm
One,two,fi,fo,five……..The Gaytors have the tradition of Wake Forrest and the Ego of Notre Dame. Remember the Arkansas Game? Remember Spikes helmet getting knocked off in the UGA game? This is the classless stuff you pathetic lizards are all about. UGA has and always will have a winning record in every sport and you know that . You and the rest of the pathetic Gaynation are ruining the integrity of college football.
georgia george
May 31st, 2010
5:01 pm
Richt’s record is 9-0 against 2 out of 3 of the top 25 ranked teams on the schedule(Ark/Aub).
Florida will lose to Alabama & LSU, so Georgia wins the SEC East, even if they lose to Florida, the only good team on Richt’s schedule he doesn’t have a dominating record (S. Car/Ark/Aub/Ga Tech).
Remember, Georgia does NOT play Alabama or LSU in 2010 or 2011, Florida plays them both in 2010 & 2011.
Captain Jack Sparrow
May 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
Arrrh
The Gatards are on a downtrend thats why Meyer wanted to quit
his buddy Nick has brought the Tide back now he cant be on Espn to do another commercial
Tech and their wanna be coach Johnson and the middle school option veer is laughable whats laughable is the Tech fans think that crappy offense is something
Dawggrowl
May 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
Yea, right……….
georgia george
May 31st, 2010
5:18 pm
Florida’s QB Bentley will only play for 1 year.
If he does great, he’ll go pro.
If he does bad, he’ll be benched again.
One, two, free, fo, fi, them der Gator don't take no jive!
May 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
Children, children, children. Is this what Dawg Nation has become. I’d be plain embarassed if I was an alumnus of UGA.
We’ll see how many of you homophobic puppies are talking trash after the annual beatdown in Jax. For the rednecks, annual means yearly…..not that thing your wife won’t let you do!
BD
May 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
Phil Steele knows that most ofyou mutts are gonna sprint out to your car, speed to the nearest Wal Mart, and buy up every copy of his magazine. Hell, he does it to y’all every year. He should send y’all a card from his lake house y’all are paying for by buying his craptastic magazine.
It’s like Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown. You mutt fans fall for it every year.
Gatorbait 17-3
May 31st, 2010
5:22 pm
See ya, ya’ll are just pathetic, no facts just wishing and hoping as usual.
georgia george
May 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
Anybody seen Florida’s 2011 football schedule?
Look at this, in Ocdtober they get:
ALABAMA, lsu, aUBURN AND gEORGIA
Then they have to play Georgia, South Carolina, and FSU.
Likely, 7 top 25 ranked teams on their 2011.
See why it’s going to be a nice run for Georgia and see why Meyer will quit again before his 6th year?
poopdawg
May 31st, 2010
5:23 pm
Little harold, make it 5 yrs. I love to see the anti- UGA bloggers sweating . If your not then why take the time to write the crap. Phil Steele wrote it not UGA fans. He covers his butt by making predictions then having his sleeper picks.
georgia george
May 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
If UGA gets to the SEC CHAMP, they’ll see Bama, Auburn, or Ark.
Richt’s record is 12-1 against those teams.
murray county mystic
May 31st, 2010
5:31 pm
UGA fans = idiots….you better beat LA-Lafayette first..PS: Steele said the same thing about you a couple of years ago; never saw the UGA team photo with the crystal trophy. Did see the LSU (x2), Florida (X2), and Bama teams next to the trophy. Back in 1980, that crystal footabll was still made out of coal….hahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!
zeke
May 31st, 2010
5:35 pm
L O L!!!!!!!!!!! USC 42- UGA 10
JB
May 31st, 2010
5:38 pm
OK, rank ugay at #19 but they can run the table?? That is funny as hell…Hey, remember 2 years ago when ugay was preseason #1 and how did that work out? They have no where the team they had with stafford and company that year, not even close!! I bet they lose to south carolina, ark mallet is capable of hanging 45 on the dawgs, i don’t care where its played and likely ugay loses that one. The gators game will be another bow out and they will lose to auburn as well. I would say if there is a game ugay fans will overlook it’s miss st and the spread offense. They scored on everyone and played the gators tough for 3 quarters! Hell, GT beat miss st worse than florida did! The Gt game will be 50/50.. a toss up. This team will lose at least 4 GAMES, Another crappy season for ugay again. ‘RUN THE TABLE”…That is the funniest thing i have read in a loooong time!!!
DAWG H8TER
May 31st, 2010
5:39 pm
Who keeps the stats at Jawja, certainly not your athletes.Alabama,Auburn,LSU,Fla,Tenn all have Nat’l
Championships in the past 2 decades. Jawja is the dallas cowgirls of the SEC, such a huge payroll for their athletes, but nothing but hype and heartbreak. The dawgs attract the athletes that they do because they have trouble reading and writing! Please, don’t pat yourselves on the back for that!