By sadlerdawg Jan. 22, 2008
As for the upcoming year, I expect big things from our Dawgs. It's funny, before this past season, we were all discussing our projections for the future and I posted that I was looking for 10-2 in 07 and 08 would be our NC year, and I still believe that. While I may have gotten lucky with 07's prediction, I fully believe we have the talent to run the table in 08.

The challenge I see for the coaches will be to find that fine line between confidence and arrogance and make sure the players walk it each and every week. I still think we got a little cocky after spanking OSU and that's what did us in against USC.

I don't see minor injuries playing much of a role, I think we have excellent backups at every spot.

I think Coach Martinez has finally found what is necessary to make a defensive BEAST.

The schedule is the biggest stumbling block I see. Not just ours, but the easier schedules of the likes of Southern Cal and the OSU and the usual suspects.

08 probably won't be the same as 07 with the top teams losing every week, so we are going to have to run the table, only lose 1 close one at the most. I think good checkpoints will be our first off week and after LSU. If we are 5-0 by our bye week (before UT), and we should be, we should have great confidence going into the meat of the schedule. Then, if no bad breaks happen, and we beat LSU in the bayou (which we should), I think the momentum will be unstoppable.

Luckily, most of the players this year will be back, and they will know the agony of just missing out on the NC, and they will remember the perils of not being prepared for EVERY game. I'm really looking forward to the season, and I expect Coach Richt will bring us home the hardware he, and the team, and the entire Dawg nation, so richly deserves.

Editor note: I moved this from another thread to see if we could get a discussion going. steve

sadlerdawg, first off as before . . . really good post. You covered all of the areas that I personally think are of utmost importance if UGA is going to be in contention for the National Championship.

Seem to remember you predicting a good season for the Dawgs, and with the exception of one major slip in my opinion (Vols)it was a heck of a year. South Carolina came to play, we did not enter the Tennessee game ready to play. One persons opinion.

Totally agree with the arrogance/confident statement. That is probably one of if not the most important factors going into any game. Your example of OSU is a very good one. Speaking again for myself, OSU scared the you know what out of me. They had some serious talent on that team, and it was the beginning of the year in which many of us were unsure of what UGA would do against a team with that much talent. Once past that hurdle, you are totally correct, the cockiness slipped in and that was the undoing of our team at that point.

The last three years of recruiting competition have favored UGA in a lot of areas and it has allowed many positions to have true competition between the participants. The difference between starting and substituting is really close. We did slip on the offensive line in recruiting the year before, but through skilled coaching and bringing in some talent, we ended up with this being one of our strongest areas. Comments like the one made to Trinton Sturdivant about playing at the next level, that is coaching.

I am a big proponent of running the "Tampa 2" and while a lot of folks try to incorporate this into their schemes, it is very difficult. My apologies to Coach Martinez, he and his associates have done what I thought was impossible in that short amount of time. If the upcoming defensive line has the strength and speed to put pressure on the QB, the "2" is a really great scheme to employ. Causes a lot of interceptions, and with the speed at linebacker and in the defensive backfield, just really makes UGA tough to beat.

Far as the schedules of other teams, I have come to expect that. Somewhere along the line others are going to realize that football is played in places other than California and Ohio. I won't bring up the Ohio State Buckeye record against Southeastern Conference competition. Think that one speaks for itself.

Truth be told . . . LSU, Florida are two tough hombres. Playing in Louisiana, tough. The game in Jacksonville will be played a million times in the media prior to the kickoff. Last year in the end zone, Georgia said . . . . enough of this. Florida you can bet will focus on this game, more than any other. Ticket prices for scalpers, out of sight . . . . This will be one of if not the top rated game on TV, schedule wise. There will be a lot of eyes on the Red and Black.

This year we of UGA are going to see as much talent assembled on the Dawg Squad as ever before. Let me correct that, more talent than UGA has ever had, and that speaks well for the people responsible for bringing Coach Richt to Athens. A man of honor, and a intense fire in his belly. Go Dawgs!

Steve, excellent move on this post, sadlerdawg is a true Dawg.

I agree, great post by sadlerdawg. First and foremost we need to get the Tn. monkey off our back. It really bothers me how they've pushed us around the last couple of years. No excuses, we need to lay an old fashioned whuppin on them. I believe our great coach has this game circled.
Actually, I think we handle Florida this year, I won't say easily but I think we make a statement with this game that the tide has turned. LSU will be tough. Our entire schedule is tough.
I think our coaches will have the pedal to the metal. We are as talented as we've ever been. We can expect the best from every team we play. I wouldn't want it any other way.
This is the year when we start making the plays when the pressure's on. Winning is contagious and these kids have had a taste of what the future holds. Great things in '08.
Go Dawgs!!!!!!!!!!