University of Georgia Athletics
2003 Fall Football Outlook
June 11, 2003 | Football
June 11, 2003
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
The Bulldogs are coming off a 2002 campaign in which they won the program's first Southeastern Conference championship since 1982, finished ranked No. 3 in the nation and capped a 13-1 season with a win over Florida State in the Nokia Sugar Bowl.
Winning the SEC is tough enough to do, but winning after such a lengthy drought may be even tougher. But now that the Bulldogs have done just that -- "taken the lid off," as Richt likes to say -- they believe they can be perennial contenders.
"There won't be another 20-year drought for this program," said defensive end David Pollack, the 2002 SEC Player of the Year. "We've started something. We didn't reach the national championship game (in 2002), but you've got to crawl before you walk. This is just the first step in getting Georgia back on the national map."
According to Richt, the key for the Bulldogs will be to build off of their success.
"We've got to continue to work hard," the 2002 SEC Coach of the Year said. "We've also got to feed off the attitude of expecting to win. You get to where you feel like you can win every single time out. I hope we are beginning to have that kind of belief."
The Bulldogs were hit hard by graduation and early NFL entrees, but they still return plenty of firepower. There are seven returning starters on defense, three on offense and four among the specialists.
The 2002 Georgia defense tied for third nationally recording 29 scoreless quarters. In fact, in the final seven games of '02, the Bulldog defense allowed a total of just 31 points in the second half. The Bulldogs will be anchored by Pollack and all four starters from the secondary -- cornerbacks Decory Bryant and Bruce Thornton and safeties Kentrell Curry and Sean Jones -- along with two more starters (end Will Thompson and nose tackle Ken Veal) as well as 14 additional lettermen. But for the first time since 1979, the Bulldogs will have to replace all three starting linebackers (All-America Boss Bailey, Tony Gilbert, and Chris Clemons).
"Our goal is to create a better defense through knowledge," Georgia defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said. "We want to develop and get better every day."
The 2002 Georgia offense led the SEC in scoring (32.1 ppg) and in passing efficiency (138.9). But the Bulldogs return only All-SEC quarterback David Greene, tight end Ben Watson and flanker Fred Gibson as starters. However, there are 17 lettermen back, including a handful that have made starts in the past. A key factor in success for 2003 will be replacing all five starting offensive linemen. Place-kicker Billy Bennett, a consensus All-SEC player last year and legitimate All-America candidate, returns to lead the group of specialists.
"We've started something. You've got to crawl before you walk. This is just the first step in getting Georgia back on the national map." |
Richt, 21-5 in his first two seasons in Athens, came away from the spring drills in March and April feeling good about his team.
"This spring, we really wanted to do the things we do every spring -- teach fundamentals, the basic themes for the offense, defense and kicking teams, compete hard against each other, compete offense versus defense, and have our guys compete for their positions," Richt said. "I think this spring we found out who's reliable, who we can count on, who's ready to play. We had a chance to find out a lot about the players and still continue to get the basics."
Georgia also hopes to again be one of the nation's best in special teams in 2003. Last season, the Bulldogs set a school record in blocking five punts and four field goals. The nine blocks led to 40 points (5 TD's and PAT's, one FG, one safety). In fact, five different Bulldogs blocked a punt last season and all return in 2003 (Jones, Davis, Brown, Pollack, Bryant). Georgia also returned both a punt (Gary) and kickoff (Gibson) for TD's.
Here is a position-by-position breakdown of the Bulldogs:
QUARTERBACKS
The Bulldogs boast experience, versatility and depth at quarterback. David Greene (6-3, 230, Jr.) has been spectacular in his first two seasons as a Bulldog. Greene was named consensus First-Team All-SEC after leading the league in passing efficiency in 2002. He passed for 2,924 yards and 22 touchdowns -- both third best in Georgia history -- and was named the MVP of the SEC Championship Game. For his career, Greene has thrown for 5,713 yards -- fourth best in school history -- and 39 touchdowns -- second best in the Bulldog record books.
The much-anticipated debut of D.J. Shockley (6-1, 195, RSo.) was worth the wait. Shockley added an extra dimension to the position with his scrambling and escape-ability. Despite missing four games with a broken foot, he threw for 415 yards and five touchdowns, including one in the Nokia Sugar Bowl, while rushing for 107 yards and two touchdowns.
Joe Tereshinski III (6-3, 211, RFr.) sat out last season, but he was valuable to the Bulldogs as the scout team quarterback. In fact, Richt commented several times last season how Tereshinski helped the Bulldogs' defense get ready for upcoming games.
RUNNING BACKS
The decision to go to the NFL a year early by Nokia Sugar Bowl MVP Musa Smith leaves the Bulldogs young at tailback.
Tony Milton (5-10, 200, RSo.) was Smith's primary backup last season as he rushed for 314 yards and proved to be a powerful blocker on blitzing defenders. Milton started against Kentucky when Smith was out with a broken thumb, and he responded with 18 carries for 78 yards. Milton's clutch late run of 25 yards against Tennessee sealed the victory in that contest. Tyson Browning (5-8, 160, So.) saw action in 12 games as a true freshman, rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown. Ronnie Powell (5-11, 216, Jr.) was used sparingly at tailback, while Michael Cooper (5-11, 223, RFr.) sat out last season as a redshirt. Albert Hollis III (5-11, 194, Jr.) is continuing rehabilitation following a major knee injury suffered in the spring of 2001 but hopes are high that he may be able to go full contact in the fall.
At fullback, the Bulldogs no longer have unsung hero J.T. Wall or Braxton Snyder, but Jeremy Thomas (5-11, 249, Jr.) gained valuable experience as a reserve last season. Christopher Hickman (5-11, 248, RFr.) sat out the 2002 campaign as a redshirt, but the coaches are excited about his potential.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Terrence Edwards, the SEC's all-time leading receiver, may be gone, but the Bulldogs still have plenty of firepower at flanker and split end.
Last season, Fred Gibson (6-4, 196, Jr.) pulled in 43 passes for 758 yards and four touchdowns, all of which ranked second on the team behind Edwards. Damien Gary (5-10, 178, Sr.) had his season interrupted by acute compartment syndrome in his left leg, but he still had 27 catches for 254 yards and four touchdowns. Gibson and Gary also scored touchdowns as the Bulldogs' primary kickoff and punt returner, respectively. Also at flanker, the Bulldogs have Bryan McClendon (5-11, 172, So.), who made strides as a freshman, and Jarrett Berry (6-4, 211, Sr.), who is coming off a knee injury that cost him the final 11 games last season.
Michael Johnson (6-3, 220, Sr.) and Reggie Brown (6-1, 195, Jr.) return to anchor the split end slot. Johnson had 373 yards and two touchdowns on 28 catches in 2002, but none was bigger than his last-minute scoring grab on fourth and 15 that lifted Georgia past Auburn and clinched the SEC East title. Brown added 23 grabs for 296 yards and two scores. Mario Raley (6-0, 175, So.) earned playing time last season as he showed consistent progress. Cedric Haywood (6-1, 183, RFr.) will enter the mix after sitting out last season.
TIGHT ENDS
The Bulldogs expected to be without Benjamin Watson (6-3, 255, Sr.) in 2003 after he announced his intentions to enter the NFL after his junior season. But Watson reconsidered a few days later, and he will return as one of Georgia's leaders not just on the offensive line but for the entire squad. Watson, one of Georgia's strongest players, had 31 catches for 341 yards and three touchdowns in 2002. Veteran Robert Brannon (6-4, 245, Sr.) is also back, along with Michael Turner (6-4, 248, So.), who saw limited playing time as a backup in 2002. Highly regarded Martrez Milner (6-4, 255, So.) will join the group after a redshirt season.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Georgia will be in the unique position of having no juniors or seniors on the offensive line. The Bulldogs will be young after losing a senior-dominated group from 2002 --including all five starters as well as two additonal seniors -- but several of the returning players gained valuable experience last season.
Russ Tanner (6-4, 290, RSo.) logged time as the reserve center in 2002, and he the top candidate there. At split guard, the Bulldogs have Josh Brock (6-3, 295, So.), along with Ryan Schnetzer (6-3, 296, RSo.). The split tackles are Daniel Inman (6-7, 315, RFr.) and Dennis Roland (6-9, 309, RSo.). At tight guard are Bartley Miller (6-4, 304, So.) and Reggie Weeks (6-4, 295, RSo.). Highly regarded Max Jean-Gilles (6-4, 348, So.) saw action in every game last season and is expected to hold down the tight tackle position, with Roland as the reserve.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Led by the 2002 SEC Player of the Year and a pair of Freshman All-Americans, Georgia returns a solid group up front.
At one defensive end position will be David Pollack (6-3, 278, Jr.) who led the SEC with 14 sacks and 23.5 tackles for loss and ranked third on the team with 102 tackles in 2002. He was named First-Team All-America by The Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America as well as the SEC Player of the Year. He also was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Award which goes annually to the nation's outstanding defensive player. Marcus Jackson (6-2, 255, RFr.) and Marquis Elmore (6-4, 262, RFr.) are in the mix behind Pollack as they come off redshirt seasons.
At the other end, the Bulldogs return veterans Will Thompson (6-3, 240, Jr.) and Robert Geathers (6-3, 270, Jr.), both of whom have starting experience, along with redshirts Quentin Moses (6-5, 250, RFr.) and Preston Pannell (6-5, 240, RFr.).
In the interior defensive front, Kedric Golston (6-4, 295, So.) and Darrius Swain (6-2, 325, So.) both earned Freshman All-America honors in 2002. Backing up Golston at nose are Gerald Anderson (6-2, 325, RSo.) and Ken Veal (6-1, 305, Sr.), who played his best football late last season. Joining Swain at tackle are highly regarded redshirt Ray Gant (6-2, 278, RFr.), Dale Dixson (6-2, 280, RFr.) and Darrell Holmes (6-2, 280, RSo.).
LINEBACKERS
The Bulldogs must replace all three starters from last season, including the team's leading tacklers Tony Gilbert and Boss Bailey, both of whom were taken in the 2003 NFL draft.
Thomas Davis (6-1, 220, RSo.) made four starts last season as he shuttled between linebacker and safety, and he now is the top candidate at Sam linebacker. Georgia also has Arnold Harrison (6-3, 224, Jr.) at the position. Junior college transfer Odell Thurman (6-1, 225, So.) and Derrick White (6-2, 223, RSo.) and are at the Mike slot along with Chris Shaw (6-2, 210, Sr.). Thurman was one of the spring's biggest surprises earning the number one position heading into the fall. In the annual spring G-day game, he recorded seven tackles and returned an intercepted pass for at TD. The Will position will be manned by Tony Taylor (6-1, 220, So.) and Derrick Holloway (6-4, 228, Jr.), both of whom recorded significant playing time in '02.
SECONDARY
This experienced, talented group will be a strength for the 2003 Bulldogs and has a combined 72 career starts.
All-SEC rover Kentrell Curry (6-1, 198, Sr.) led Georgia last season with four interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown. Georgia also has Greg Blue (6-2, 200, RSo.) at rover who has seen significant playing time.
At free safety, the Bulldogs return Sean Jones (6-2, 212, Jr.) who recorded 91 tackles, fourth-best on the team. He also had two interceptions, a fumble recovery and returned four punts for 75 yards against Auburn en route to earning SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Georgia also has Olaolu Sanni-Osomo (6-1, 195, RFr.), who is coming off a redshirt season, along with Tommy Wilson (5-10, 210, Jr.).
Bruce Thornton (5-11, 195, Sr.) and Tim Jennings (5-8, 164, So.) are back at one cornerback position. Thornton had 43 tackles and two interceptions, including a pick he returned for a touchdown to swing momentum in Georgia's favor in the Nokia Sugar Bowl victory over FSU. Jennings, a Freshman All-America and Freshman All-SEC performer, had three interceptions (including a touchdown return) and 32 tackles. B.J. Fields (5-11, 182, RFr.) and converted running back Mike Gilliam (5-7, 175, RSo.) add depth to the cornerback spot.
At the other corner, the Bulldogs return Decory Bryant (5-11, 195, Sr.), who has 18 career starts and had 46 tackles and an interception last year. Georgia also has DeMario Minter (6-0, 185, So.) and veteran Kenny Bailey (5-11, 197, Sr.), both of whom have game experience.
SPECIALISTS
Place-kicker Billy Bennett (5-8, 175, Sr.) garnered Third-Team All-America honors in 2002 after converting 26-of-33 field goals and all 52 of his extra-point attempts. His 130 points rank first in school history and second all-time in the SEC for a single season. Georgia also has Gordon Ely-Kelso (6-1, 212, RFr.) at kicker.
Snapper Brian Jordan (6-1, 222, RSo.) returns after a solid 2002 campaign.
Ely-Kelso and Lee Jackson (5-9, 181, RFr.) are Georgia's top candidates at punter.
Gary and Jones return as punt returners, while Jennings, Gibson and Bryant are back as kickoff returners.
| |
