Dawgs looking strong says SI

So Sports Illustrated has picked UGA to be #1 entering the season, and I would have to agree. I know I am a homer, but if I am looking at the Dawgs v the other top 10 teams, the Dawgs have the fewest holes of any of the teams. The fewest warts of any of them.

Georgia's warts, the O-line is young (as it was last year), the DEs lost Marcus Howard(they lost both QMo and CJ the year before), the kicker is a freshman(so was Billy Bennett a few years back, same with Coutu). That's it. But look at...

#2 USC. Umm they are going with Dirty Sanchez as the QB? Because Mitch Mustain the Arkie transfer isn't as good as everyone in Springdale thought he was. Last time I checked, Dirty Dirty was losing games last year at USC, like the two pick performance against Oregon that cost USC the BCS title game. Oh well. I am sure the kid is MUCH better now...And could someone please point Joe McKnight in the general direction of a classroom? Also, hey can I send some flowers to Stephon Johnson for NOT coming to UGA. Because he did not, Knowshon did. And we know how that turned out.

#3Duh Ohio State University. Let's see, the Defense looks pretty tough coming back, despite the loss of Gholston to the NFL. Beanie Wells is back and they have Pryor in there as a Tebow to TB's Chris Leak, but let's not kid ourselves. If UGA is playing duh Ohio State in the BCS title game (which they won't because duh Ohio State will be knocked out after a trip to the Land of Troy this September. Throw in at least one Big 11 loss..) then UGA is assured of a crystal ball.

#4 Oklahoma. They have Sam Bradford coming back, but the D lost Big 12 defensive player of the year Curtis Lofton. The have a strong running game, I guess, but will the D be good enough in the big games? Stoops seems to have lost his touch now that Mike Stoops is in Arizona (but in that regard, Mike seems to have lost EVERYTHING out in Tucson)

#5 Flawrduh. Oh, I get it. They are PISSED about the Georgia endzone dance last season. Let me ask you this...why didn't you guys win the game then last year when you had a lead? Oh the offense will be bolstered by Rainey and Moody. OK, so you are going to take away what makes Tim Tebow Tim Tebow? And if Moody was so good, why is he at UF right now instead of still being out in USC land? As for Rainey, oh, so you are fast, but you are 5'9. Kind of small. Percy Harvin is fast too, and UGA contained him enough last season to win by 12. Listen, I realize that Florida is going to score a bunch. They'll have to. The defense, which was young last year is STILL young and the DLine is going to be anchored by true freshman Omar Hunter (I watched him at Buford. Why isn't he going to Notre Dame? According to one of his high school teachers, "Omar is a nice young man." She said and she just smiled when I asked how he was as a student.) and the secondary will have true freshman Will Hill as safety, quarterbacking the entire defense. So a defense with two youngersters up the middle? And they are supposed to stop Knowshon and Matt Stafford? But Urban, you keep getting angry at Mark Richt because he out-Meyered you.

#6 LSU. They have a true freshman and a transfer from Harvard competing for the starting QB spot. Done. Moving on...

#7 Mizzou. Chase Daniel is back, but the rusher Tony Temple is gone. Mizzou couldn't beat OU last season...twice. Why should I think they can this season?

#8 West Va. They have a scary QB/RB combo in White and Devine, but Bill Stewart at coach scares NO ONE! That was the funniest hire since Dennis Felton at UGA.

#9 Clemson. They have a QB and a great RB combo, but Tommy Bowden is still the coach (which BTW Klimpsen fans, you have ALWAYS wanted to get rid of him, but once Arkie came acallin' you freaked out and signed him to big money. Therefore, since you showed your true colors and didn't dump him when you could, you cannot put him on the hotseat this year when he loses a game to UNC or Duke or NCState, which he WILL. In fact, you can't complain about TB for the next three years. PERIOD.). Also, let's not forget that your DL took a hit with Merlin leaving and the OLine is a little weak if you ask me.

#10 Texas Tech. OK, so clearly this is a joke right? Texas Tech in the top ten? Really? These guys will go pass-happy ONCE AGAIN, but just beat them up like UGA did to Hawaii, and you can EASILY take them down. Leach should have JUMPED at another gig, because he will ALWAYS be the third best team in his own conference. But hey, if he has stability in Lubbuck and likes it there, why not stick around.

SO will the Dawgs fall to the jinx of SI? I don't think they will. I think the line holds up with all the returning talent they have, even if some are switching positions. Doesn't matter if you ask me. Trinton at LT is a rock. Chris Davis at right guard or Center, Vince Vance at RG if Davis is at Center and Kiante Tripp at RT. Throw in Clint Boling (a returning starter) and possibly Ben Jones the true frosh at center and this line will be good for the next three or four seasons. Just because they are mostly Sophs doesn't mean they are outstanding. Boling Sturdivant and Davis all played last year, as did Vance and Tripp. These guys will be OK up front.
The kicking situation is this...Brandon Coutu made some big kicks as a freshman kicker (See: GT game) so why wouldn't Blair Walsh be able to make the kicks. The kid has a HUGE leg, plus they have some other options if Walsh sputters.
The DEs, well they STILL have Lomax and Battle and Wynn and don't forget, they will be getting a HUGE inside push from Irvin, Owens, Atkins and Westin. Those guys all made Marcus Howard a star last year. Throw in the strong LB options RIGHT BEHIND THEM, and they will be fine.
THIS IS THE BEST D in Willie's time at UGA. It will be OK. Trust me, I'm a blogger.