quote:
UGA's offense is going to be unreal this year. 10 starters returning on a very balanced offense that can pound you with the run game and then go no huddle spread on you just as well if they feel like it. There is no one player you can focus on shutting down. There is no weak spot. A 4th year starter at QB, all 5 linemen returning, an All American at HB, and a stud WR. It's about as good of an offense as you can imagine. The defense will have some growing pains, but if Richt can't win a national title with this crew, he likely never will.

I certainly agree with you there. It really isn't about 1 stud receiver, though. I truly think, in the end, the best thing about the offense is that Murray has about 10 receivers ( including 2 TEs that can block and catch) that he is VERY comfortable playing pitch and catch on any down. When you add in the two TBs that are also excellent receivers, that is a helluva job for any defense to defend.

The depth on the offense brings up another point for me, though. Unless UGA just gets wiped out by injuries, this is the first year that UGA will be fielding anything like a true 85 scholarship team in at least 2-3 years. By the SEC CG UGA was in the upper 60s in the number of true scholarship players that were available (and this number includes redshirts that were being held out unless absolutely needed.) This team was able to sign over 30 players in this past class and still was 2 short of the 85 limit. This year's defense may not be as experienced, and possibly not as talented at a couple of positions, but Jesus at least they will be able to rotate so you don't have the DL playing nearly the entire 60 minutes. I think this is why most UGA fans believe that the defense could be better statistically this year. It will also help that half the defense will hopefully not be missing the first four games.

Oh, on the Mett vs. Murray comparison. All I can say is that what truly separated them when both were in Athens was always the mental aspect of the QB games. Murray can certainly get hyped up for big games and lose some accuracy, but he is also an excellent reader of defenses. You just haven't seen it half the time because he has often been running for his life behind some thin OL s where even some talented guys were really playing out of position. Hell in 2011, I am pretty sure UGA was playing 4 OGs and a center most games. Think of is this way- Murray will likely become one of the best QB in SEC history- at least statistically this year, but he was willing to spend his break in Oklahoma to help himself get better. I have no idea what Mett did, but I certainly didn't hear about him seeking out other avenues to improve himself.

Oh, one more thing to add- last year was the first year Murray had an elite run game going for him. Hell, they clinched the SEC East in 2011 with no scholarship RBs on the field....

This post was edited on 7/20/13 at 7:34 pm