Somebody queue up Queen's under pressure. NO position will be under more pressure this season than the Defensive end spot of the Georgia Bulldogs. Last season the unit didn't have a force ala QMo, Charles Johnson or even Marcus Howard. And if you were expecting the pressure on the opposing QB to come from the middle of the line, the hopes took a hit when Jeff Owens crumbled in the first game against Ga Southern.
Flashes of greatness popped through from the DE spot with Justin Houston and Rod Battle and DeMarcus Dobbs, but it was never enough and the team fell to 10-3 when it could have gone 12-1 (they were losing the Florida game regardless, but the Bama game and the Tech game could have been reversed with a pass rush).
Justin Houston looked like he could be THE MAN to flip the situation until he got suspended for the first three games for being an idiot. Great, that's only the Okie State game and the SoCar game. THANKS!
But Jeff Owens is coming back. Will that be enough?
DEFENSIVE END POSITION...
DeMarcus Dobbs and Rod Battle to start the year, then Justin Houston when he returns. Dobbs showed some good hands with a nice couple of interceptions and Battle, if he can stay healthy should offer some depth. Houston looked sharp in the spring game and might have that Marcus Howard-like quick step to the QB and could still lead the team in sacks even after his return. Kiante Tripp moves to DE now after TE, DT, OT, QB (just kidding on the last one, but he's played about 98 positions during his stay at Georgia). Throw in Brandon Wood and Jeremy Longo and you have the makings of sheer numbers. (I feel this is like the running back position. Just take all of the numbers and throw them against the wall and keep whomever sticks, like they do with pasta). Don't sleep on Cornelius Washington, the red-shirt frosh and Neland Ball from the roster last season and the newbies Kwame Geathers (if he is eligible this season) and Montrez Robinson, Indiana's Mr. Football last season. If those two can offer ANYTHING along with Houston and Washington, this unit might get back to the Pollack-Moses-Johnson-Howard days when Tebow and Brandon Cox and Colt Brennan hated playing Georgia.
Now, about that dt position. This ONCE AGAIN should be a strength for the Dawgs. Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins BOTH should have been first round picks in the 2009 draft but both came back and will be first rounders in 2010. Geno has a non-spot motor and Jeff Owens might become the Shockley of this team, the leader everyone looks up to because he put the team before himself and you can ALREADY picture the Gameday specials on him week one and then the LSU week when both LSU and UGA are undefeated...(positive thinking there). Throw in Kade Westin (a beast in New Jersey high school history but has really failed to live up to his HIGH HIGH billing) and DeAngelo Tyson and you have a nice two-deep. You want another name? OK. Richardo Crawford. Now, about those freshmen, Abry Jones and Derrick Lott. Those two might not see much of the field, but Jones was a strong high school player that needs to add a bit of weight to really be a tackle and Lott needs A LOT more weight to convert to DT. Lott was more of a rush end/LB at North Cobb and I am surprised he is being converted to tackle. But I trust CRG and CMR and CWM...wait, CWM is a nice guy with a good scheme, but do I trust him? Yes. I will say I do. I think his scheme was good last year, he just didn't have the horses and a few of his players (two of which are now gone, with the third still there) didn't want to make the sound play, just the big play. Two are gone and let's hope the third has grown up. (Reshad Jones, you know who you are!)
Sorry about that tangent. Honestly though, the numbers, if they stay healthy are encouraging. They didn't lose anyone up front and everyone else is just one year more in the system so hopefully that means they are stronger and more comfortable in the system. They know where they are supposed to be and should get a boost with Owens back. If the team can weather Houston's suspension and be 3-0, Houston should give a nice boost and be fresh when the meat of the schedule arrives. The first game will be key and the speed Georgia has will hopefully be enough to subdue the Pokes. Just push enough interior and maybe the ends can get after Zac Robinson. Geno and Kade and Jeff should bottle up Hunter enough and if Georgia can make the Cowboys one-dimensional, the back seven should be able to triple Bryant and escape with a win.
But I wish Houston was available for that trip to Stillwater. The ends will be under pressure and let's hope that the interior can release the pressure valve. If not, my prediction of 10-3 (9-3 with an Outback win) will come true. I'm hoping more for an 11-1 trip to the Sugar Bowl to face Boise State/BYU.
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