The Preseason Prediction

I'm baaaaaack!!!!! No, not Manny.... Me motherfuckers..... I have been out of the game for a month, busier than a one legged man in a but kicking contest. But, after surviving the sports black hole that is the summer months, it is nice to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. The SEC Media days are upon us, and it is good! Its nice to be able to turn on ESPNU and not see College Lacrosse (nothing against College Lacrosse).

With so much to catch up on, I think that I will start with recruiting. UGA is straight tearing it up! Not only is it nice to see that Richt has apparently opened a pipeline to the state of Florida, but he still monopolizes the state of Georgia. A few of my last post, I compared the offensive players that are starting to accumulate in Athens to weapons of mass destruction. This year's class is defensive heavy. Headed up by the 2 5-star guys, Smith and Ogletree, this class is shaping into something special. The common theme, is speed, and lots of it. With Branden Smith's sub 4.3 speed already on campus, you have got freakish athletes joining him on the defensive side next summer. Lets take a look and see what we got:

• TJ Stripling- 6'6"/215lbs/4.55 40- needs to bulk up a little to play DE, but could also play OLB.
  
• Nickell Robey- 4.38 40- cousin of Carlton Thomas. Head coach of Frostproof says Robey is a slightly better athlete
  
• Jakar Hamilton- 6'1"/198 lbs/ 4.5 40- Could be the sleeper pick-up of this class as the best JUCO player in the nation.
  
• Alec Ogletree- 6'3"/212 lbs/4.6 40- People call him the next Thomas Davis. He will flat out take your head off.
  
• Deon Rogers- 6'2"/ 194 lbs/ 4.50 40
  
• Derek Owens- 4.48 40
  
• Demtre Baker- 4.45 40
  
• Marc Deas- 4.50 40
  

These are just a few of the defensive guys that will be suiting up here shortly, and they all can flat out fly. Speed is the best defense of what Urban Crier is trying to accomplish in Gainsville, and with what Paul Johnson is trying to accomplish on the Flats. Mark Richt has obviously recogonized this, and is loading up on it.

As for the up coming season, I couldn't be more excited. I think that Joe is going to be fine. He has AJ Green, the best receiver in the SEC, a stable of running backs, and a very seasoned OL. The defense will be much improved, and extremely hungry to make amends for what happened last year. Lets be honest, we as UGA fans don't remember the bowl game, we remember watching all of the terrorists and nerds run out of our stadium with smiles on their pimpled faces. Although there has been much ado made over the schedule, I embrace it. It makes every week exciting, and all games will be televised, which is always a plus. The bye week falls the week before the cocktail party, which always works out nicely for us, and the majority of our tough games are at home. I think it plays out rather nicely. My preseason prediction is 11-2, with another Capital One Bowl appearance.