Are the easy wins gone? That’s the question Georgia must ask itself heading into 2007. For the first time since 1974, the Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they lost to both Vanderbilt and Kentucky. Their SEC record of 4–4 was the worst of head coach Mark Richt’s six years, and guess what? Kentucky and Vanderbilt will be better; Tennessee is making a determined push back toward relevance; Steve Spurrier is coaching at South Carolina; and Florida is the defending national champion.

It should be one heck of a year in Athens.

There are exclamation points — most notably the return of a more seasoned Matthew Stafford. The sophomore quarterback appears headed for greatness. There’s the revolving and reloading stable of running backs, and a defense that’s loaded with talented players.

There are also question marks. The offensive line is inexperienced, the wide receivers are underachieving, and the defensive ends and most of the linebackers are just flat gone.

“A lot of the excitement is the unknown,” Richt says. “You’re sitting here like, ‘Golly, how’s it all going to come out?’ I feel like we have enough talented players across the board to compete.”

Quarterbacks
After starting three different quarterbacks in 2006, the Bulldogs have their man. Stafford has it all, including too much confidence. The former standout schoolboy from Texas threw 13 interceptions while starting eight games as a true freshman. He had three three-interception games in 2006 but seemed finally to embrace offensive coordinator Mike Bobo’s motto — “Sometimes you have to punt, and there’s nothing wrong with punting,” Bobo says — down the stretch. Stafford had one interception the last three games of the year. His improved comfort level with the system and ability to work all spring and preseason as the unquestioned starter could make for a spectacular season in which the cannon-armed quarterback sets himself up for Heisman Trophy consideration in 2008.

Running Backs
Georgia’s offensive backfield isn’t getting any less crowded. Would-be senior Danny Ware left early for the NFL because there were too many mouths to feed for his liking, but two more backs are waiting in line to take his place. It starts with seniors Kregg Lumpkin and Thomas Brown. Both have career averages of 4.9 yards per carry and are above-average SEC backs, and solid citizens as well. However, there’s still no home run threat in the Bulldog backfield; Georgia did not have a run for more than 40 yards against a I-A opponent last year. Redshirt freshman Knowshon Moreno and true freshman Caleb King (if he has recovered from a broken leg suffered his senior year of high school) will step into the backfield, and both have a reputation for making the big play Georgia sorely lacks. “If one guy is hot, we’re going to hopefully this year give him the ball and keep giving him the ball,” Bobo says. “They all would like it 20 times, but I think it is a good changeup to keep them fresh. We haven’t done bad here the last few years rotating running backs.” The best player in the backfield is also the most overlooked. Junior fullback Brannan Southerland is a devastating blocker and last year became the first fullback since 1957 to lead the Bulldogs in scoring — bulldozing his way to 10 touchdowns.

Receivers
As much as any group in the SEC, Georgia’s wide receivers pass the look test. Senior A.J. Bryant (6'2", 200 pounds), junior Kenneth Harris (6'3", 205) and sophomore Kris Durham (6'5", 193) all are crafted like sports cars. The problem is they, along with junior Mohamed Massaquoi and seniors Sean Bailey and Mikey Henderson, fail the hands test. “You’d think we’d be a little more settled at that position after last year, but I can’t say we are,” Richt says. Bailey returns after missing 2006 due to a knee injury and should be solid. Massaquoi is the leading returning receiver, but the most potential in the group belongs to Bryant, whose self-confidence issues have held him back the last three years. If Bryant has the right mindset, Stafford will make him a star.

2007 Schedule
S. 1	Oklahoma State	W
S. 8	South Carolina	W
S. 15	Western Carolina	W
S. 22	at Alabama	*
S. 29	Ole Miss	W
O. 6	at Tennessee	*
O. 13	at Vanderbilt	W
O. 27	#Florida	*
N. 3	Troy	W
N. 10	Auburn	*
N. 17	Kentucky	W
N. 24	at Georgia Tech	*
	#Jacksonville, FL
Games in bold represent swing games. W or L indicates a projected win or loss.

Offensive Linemen
The key to Georgia’s spring, Richt says, is the fact it was able to bring in five new offensive linemen in time to participate in spring practice. His point is illustrated by the fact that two of them — true freshman Trinton Sturdivant and junior college transfer Scott Haverkamp — look like starters heading into the fall. Sturdivant is the projected starter at left tackle, although junior college transfer Vince Vance will have a say in that during preseason camp, and Richt seems surprisingly at ease with a newcomer playing his most important offensive line spot. In fact, Richt is more at ease overall than he expected to be about his line. “The last 11 (spring) practices, that same five played every single snap,” Richt says. “By no means is that a set-in-stone lineup right now, but they deserve to be the front line.” Senior center Fernando Velasco may follow in Nick Jones’ footsteps by moving to the position for his final year and shining.

Defensive Linemen
SEC teams don’t generally start defensive ends who weigh 220 pounds, but the Bulldogs will this year. In fact, senior Marcus Howard, a converted linebacker, is their most proven playmaker at the position. “Ask any of these guys and they’ll tell you, hardly ever does he get knocked off the ball, hardly ever,” defensive ends coach Jon Fabris says. “I don’t care (if he’s facing) 300-pound guys. You don’t have to be King Kong to play this game, you really don’t.” Still, opponents will run at Howard. Junior college transfer Jarius Wynn likely will fill the starting spot opposite Howard. In the middle, the stalwart Jeff Owens will line up beside rising star sophomore Kade Weston, a mammoth 6'5", 315-pound talent with NFL potential but lagging fundamentals.

Linebackers
Georgia’s most experienced player at the position, senior Brandon Miller, has been moved from the strong side to the middle, so this group feels brand new. They want to act like it, too, hoping to build a reputation for speed and aggression. For now, though, they are known for that word coaches hate most — “potential.” Miller and fellow projected starters Dannell Ellerbe and Darius Dewberry could be the most athletically gifted linebackers in the SEC, but they have yet to prove they can make their production match their talents. Miller’s move to the middle means he won’t have to come out of the game in nickel package situations and can use his size (6'4", 257) to jam running lanes.

Defensive Backs
Having produced three straight All-America safeties earlier this decade, Georgia was building a reputation as a school with a defensive secondary to be feared. But after too many key breakdowns over the last two years, it’s the Bulldog fans who are doing the worrying. Cornerback Paul Oliver is the best player in the group and has a chance for an All-America year if he retains the focus he showed from the end of his sophomore season through last year. On the other side, redshirt sophomore Bryan Evans is trying to hold off even younger competition — primarily true sophomores Prince Miller and Asher Allen. Senior safety Kelin Johnson must assume the leadership role in the secondary, while the spot opposite him should be filled by C.J. Byrd. Watch for redshirt freshman Reshad Jones to be in the lineup by season’s end.

Specialists
The Bulldogs had to know last year was going to be a tough one when their kicker was injured. All-America candidate Brandon Coutu was lost for the season while practicing an onside kick two days before the Tennessee game. It’s no coincidence Georgia lost four of its next five games. Coutu returns 100 percent healthy this year as the nation’s top pro kicking prospect. UGA legacy Drew Butler, son of Bulldog great Kevin Butler, will enter this fall trying to win the punting job.

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