The talk of a national championship run in 2008 was understandable. The Bulldogs finished with an 11-2 record, closing as one of the nation’s hottest teams, and wound up ranked No. 2 in the final APpoll and third in the final USA Today/Coaches poll. Moreover, the Bulldogs will be returning 15 of the 22 starters from the Sugar Bowl squad that rolled up a 31-point victory over Hawai’i.
Georgia coach Mark Richt doesn’t mind having his team mentioned among the nation’s elite. In fact, he welcomes it. However, he knows that any run for an SEC or national title begins with the Bulldogs’ spring practice drills.
“If guys want to start talking about it out in the open, then they have to understand there is a lot of responsibility that goes with it,” Richt said. “They have to understand that those type of seasons don’t happen by accident. They happen because you pay the price, mainly with hard work.”
The Bulldogs got off to a slow start in 2007, losing twice (both in the conference) in their first six games. But similar to the end of the 2006 campaign, the Bulldogs righted the ship with seven consecutive victories. Included in that run was a victory over Florida and the Sanford Stadium “blackout” game in which they knocked off Auburn. Georgia also sported the black jerseys in its Allstate Sugar Bowl victory.
“We hit our stride at the halfway point of the season,” Richt said. “The players responded to the things we asked them to do, and I responded to the things they asked me to do. There was a lot of drama, a lot of excitement and a lot of passion. It was an emotional year, but it was a fun year.
“I think (2007) was exciting for our fans and our players. I think we got a taste of just how close we might be toward getting that ultimate goal. I do think that we’re going to have a more veteran team than we’ve had in awhile, and I think we’ll have some good depth. We hope we’re ranked fairly high preseason. I think we’re going to return a very good football team.”
The following is a position-by-position look at the Bulldogs heading into spring practice:
QUARTERBACKS: The Bulldogs check into the spring with talent, experience and potential among their signal-callers.
Matthew Stafford (pictured right) (6-3, 237, Jr.) entrenched himself as Georgia’s quarterback and as a team leader, triggering the powerful offense last season that averaged more than 375 yards and 32 points per game. Stafford hit on 194-of-348 passes for 2,523 yards and 19 touchdowns, bouncing back from a rookie campaign in which he had seven touchdowns and was picked off 13 times.
Joe Cox (6-1, 208, Jr.) has been a valuable reserve for the Bulldogs, showing the ability to come off the bench and keep the offense clicking. Coaches remember his fourth-quarter, two-TD-drive performance off the bench to beat Colorado in 2006. Coming this spring will also be the first live-action look at Logan Gray (6-2, 180, RFr.) after his redshirt campaign. Jonathan deLaureal (6-2, 213, RSo.) also returns.
RUNNING BACKS: The return of one of the nation’s most explosive backs in 2007 has the Georgia faithful recalling why Georgia has been called “Tailback U.”
Knowshon Moreno (5-11, 207, RSo.) burst on the scene last year, rolling up 1,334 yards and scoring 14 touchdowns. His yardage figure was second-best among freshmen in school history (trailing only Herschel Walker’s 1,616) and ranked fourth-best in Southeastern Conference annals. He had a five-game span in the middle of the season in which he rushed for 766 yards and nine touchdowns. Following the year, Moreno was chosen as the SEC Freshman of the Year, named First-Team All-SEC and was a consensus Freshman All-American.
Highly touted Caleb King (5-11, 212, RFr.) will enter the mix this spring and should complement Moreno. The Bulldogs also will take a look at Kalvin Daniels (5-10, 182, So.), early enrollees Richard Samuel (6-2, 215, Fr.) and Dontavius Jackson (5-10, 190, Fr.), and Cortney Newmans (5-9, 220, RFr.). Helping pave the way for Georgia’s tailbacks will be a veteran group of fullbacks. Brannan Southerland (6-0, 240, Sr.) scored five touchdowns last season on just 17 carries, was automatic on short-yardage plays and was a punishing blocker. Shaun Chapas (6-2, 236, RSo.) and Fred Munzenmaier (6-2, 233, RSo.) each saw valuable time on offense and on special teams in 2007.
TIGHT ENDS: Traditionally, this has been a strength for the Bulldogs – and 2008 appears to be no different. First-year tight ends coach John Lilly will be surrounded by players who have taken plenty of snaps.
Tripp Chandler (pictured left) (6-6, 263, Sr.) ranked third on the team last season with 21 catches for 283 yards and two touchdowns. Bruce Figgins (6-4, 254, So.) had a touchdown among his three receptions. Aron White (6-4, 228, RFr.) will enter the mix after his redshirt season. NaDerris Ward (6-5, 255, RSo.) also returns after seeing most of his action on special teams.
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