Draft Watch: Florida vs. Georgia (Jack, FL)

10.31.09 @ 3:30 PM Eastern on CBS

1) Tim Tebow: Stock Up/Stock Down – There’s no question Tebow’s stock is down, although no one can question his talent—he is an amazing college football player who could break Herschel Walker’s all-time SEC rushing touchdown record this coming Saturday in Jacksonville, ironically against the Dawgs. Even though Walker did it in just three seasons, it’s impressive for a quarterback to surpass the legendary runner regardless of how many more games he’s played. But we’ve seen great college quarterbacks do little to nothing playing on Sundays, and Tebow could fall under that category. He is not a polished passer. Sure he completes some nice passes; he isn’t awful, but he simply doesn’t look like an NFL passer. This season his numbers have taken a major dip, and he is coming off a game where two of his passes were returned for touchdowns by the Mississippi St. Bulldogs’ defense.

2) First Gator defender off the board – Depending on who decides to leave early, senior MIKE Brandon Spikes could be the third Gator defender to hear his name called in April. The most talented Florida defenders are defensive end Carlos Dunlap and cornerback Joe Haden. At 6’ 6” and 290 pounds, Dunlap is an absolute beast coming off the edge. His combination of size and athleticism at the end position is unparalleled in college football, which is why many scouts will have Dunlap rated as the top defensive end if he declares. The same could be said of Haden should he decide he is ready for the NFL once his junior season is over—the 5’ 11” Maryland native is as talented as any cornerback in the nation. Haden took his lumps as a true freshman, but has developed into one of the game’s top cover corners. Spikes, who is listed as “probable” after leaving the Arkansas game with a groin injury and sitting out last week’s contest versus Mississippi State, still figures to go in the first round, but it will more than likely be in the bottom half.

3) Georgia’s best defense prospect is – There are several names to choose from, starting with defensive tackles Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins, followed by linebacker Rennie Curran, cornerback Brandon Boykin and safety Reshad Jones. Right now, neither Owens nor Atkins has been their most productive interior lineman—that would be Kade Weston. Boykin is just a sophomore, while Jones is still a better athlete than he is a football player. That leaves us with Curran, Georgia’s stellar outside linebacker. He is undersized and is limited to playing in a four-three defense where he can be protected by his defensive line. Nevertheless, he is an outstanding football player and his speed, recognition skills and tackling ability don’t need protecting. Curran’s 72 tackles are 29 more than Jones, who is second on the team. Curran may not have the upside of Atkins or Jones, but he is certainly a good enough football player to play at the next level.

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media

CFI Countdown: #8 Georgia Bulldogs

2008 Record: 10-3 (SEC 6-3)
Bowl Game: Won Capital One Bowl vs. Michigan St. 24-12
Location: Athens, Georgia
Stadium: Sanford Stadium (92,746)
Head Coach: Mark Richt
Overall: 82-22 (9th season)
@ Georgia: 82-22 (9th season)
Link to UGA Football Page

There are no number one rankings or Heisman favorites. There aren’t nearly as many magazine covers, and there isn’t a potential number one overall pick in the NFL Draft. But none of that means this group of Dawgs can’t be better than last year’s bunch. This year’s team won’t be as flashy and doesn’t have the same potential, but they should be a tougher, more physical team.

When the Bulldogs Have the Ball

Offensive Coordinator: Mike Bobo (3rd season)
Scheme: Pro Style Offense
Starters Returning: Seven
Key Losses: QB Matthew Stafford, RB Knowshon Moreno, WR Mohamed Massaquoi

Even though Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno left with a combined three years of eligibility remaining, there is confidence that the offense could be better in 2009, and that might not be such a crazy idea. In senior quarterback Joe Cox they have the ideal replacement for Stafford. Now obviously, Cox doesn’t have the same fastball, but his arm is good enough and he has really stepped up as the leader in Athens according to all accounts. Replacing Moreno’s running and energy might not be easy, but sophomores Richard Samuel and Caleb King don’t lack for talent. There may not be one superstar back, but when was the last time Georgia didn’t field a deep and talented stable? A big reason for the good feelings is a healthy offensive line, especially if sophomore tackle Trinton Sturdivant can come back 100 percent after missing all of last season. He was impressive as a true freshman starter at left tackle in 2007. Other players with All-SEC potential include sophomore center Ben Jones and junior guard/tackle Clint Boling. This group is deep and talented—a weakness from last season has become a strength. If you are looking for a potential superstar on offense look no further than sophomore A. J Green, who made an impression around the SEC as a true freshman last season. Green is fast and capable of stretching the field with the size to go up and get the football in traffic—he’s a dynamic playmaker that will be near impossible to stop one-on-one. Senior Michael Moore has big-play potential as well, and there are high hopes for red-shirt freshman Tavarres King.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) SS A. J. Green (SO), 2) OT Trinton Sturdivant (SR), 3) OT/OG Clint Boling (JR)

When the Other Team Has the Ball

Defensive Coordinator: Willie Martinez (5th season)
Scheme: Multiple 4-3
Starters Returning: Six
Key Losses: CB Asher Allen, LB Dannell Ellerbe, DT Corey Irvin, DE Jarius Wynn

Last season the feeling was that Georgia would have one of the best tackle tandems in the SEC, if not the nation. Then Jeff Owens went down for the season with an injury in the season opener and Geno Atkins had a lackluster season...time for take two. Owens, a medical red-shirt after the injury, has a second crack at his senior season and the hope is Atkins, who many thought would leave early, will play up to his potential. There is also quality depth behind the two seniors. They also lacked a premiere pass rusher a year ago, which they hope will be rectified by sophomore Justin Houston, who brings big-time ability. Leading the linebacker corps is junior Rennie Curran from his WILL position—he is undersized but boy can he fly, and he packs a wallop when he gets there. Junior Akeem Dent, a solid tackler, mans the middle, with SAM Darryl Gamble very capable in coverage. Senior Marcus Washington is yet another player working his way back from injury. At cornerback, senior Prince Miller returns, with sophomore Brandon Boykin ready to step in for the departed Asher Allen. Allen was among the SEC’s best before declaring for the draft, but Boykin could even better. The most talented player on the Georgia defense, and maybe the entire team, is junior safety Reshad Jones. A wise decision was made when he decided to return to Georgia—good news for the Dawgs and Jones. As talented as Jones is—his size and speed combo is as impressive as any defensive back in the nation—he still needs to work on his understanding of the game.

Top Pro Prospects: 1) SS Rashad Jones (JR), 2) LB Rennie Curran (JR), 3) DT Jeff Owens (SR)

The Schedule

It will be an interesting September in Georgia and it all begins in Stillwater as they travel west to take on the Oklahoma St. Cowboys. A win there will send a message that this season, the Bulldogs will fulfill their potential. They follow that up with consecutive SEC games—South Carolina and at Arkansas—before closing the month out with Arizona St. between the hedges. If September is interesting, then October is downright enthralling. It starts off with a home game versus LSU and ends in Jacksonville against Florida. Those two tilts sandwich road tests at Tennessee and Vanderbilt. The also play border rival Auburn and visit in-state rival Georgia Tech in November. Wow—that schedule is a doozie.

Pivotal Point

Get healthy and stay healthy, particularly in the trenches. It seemed like every week the Dawgs threw out a different starting five along the offensive line, which is no way to win football games in the SEC. Line play on each side of the ball needs cohesiveness, no matter the talent. Sturdivant, Boling, Jones, and sophomore Cordy Glenn are all projected among the best at their respective positions. Last year Stafford and Moreno didn’t lead them to the Promised Land, in part because of the woes up front. This year they could win because of the line. The same could be said on defense—Atkins and Owens make everyone better.

CFI Final Analysis


The 2008 Bulldogs didn’t handle having a bull’s-eye placed on them with a pre-season number one ranking well. (Not that 10 wins is a bad season.) They were the hunted. Now, they are the hunter. Can they pull off the upset in Boone Pickens Stadium? Can they stack up with the Bayou Bengals? Take a deep breath—could they knock off the Florida Gators? Will they reclaim their status as top dog in the Peach state? It says here that headman Mark Richt and company will relish that role and have a better season than people think.

College Football Insiders Top 25 Countdown:
The Next 25 (26-50) Plus 18 Bowl Teams
#25 West Virginia Mounainteers
#24 Tennessee Volunteers
#23 Clemson Tigers
#22 Pittsburgh Panthers
#21 Michigan St. Spartans
#20 Utah Utes
#19 Oregon Ducks
#18 Florida St. Seminoles
#17 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
#16 Boise St. Broncos
#15 North Carolina Tar Heels
#14 Penn St. Nittany Lions
#13 Mississippi Rebels
#12 Oklahoma St. Cowboys
#11 California Golden Bears
#10 Iowa Hawkeyes
#9 Virginia Tech Hokies

Photos Courtesy of SEC Sports Media

CFI Radio: Tailgate Show - Bowl Previews

THE TAILGATE SHOW - THURSDAY DECEMBER 18, 2008

***Click to Listen to THE TAILGATE Show***

5:00 - 7:00 PM EASTERN

Are you ready to go bowling? Let us get you ready for the College Football Bowl Season. Plus a Heisman recap and around the nation in college football. Special Guests: Butkus Award Winner AARON CURRY of Wake Forest, Georgia LB RENNIE CURRAN, DE GEORGE SELVIE of South Florida, Southern Miss LB GERALD MCGRATH, BYU RB HARVEY UNGA and Troy head coach LARRY BLAKENEY. Hosted by College Football Insiders Founder Daniel Mogollon. 2 Hr.

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media

Game of the Week: Georgia vs. Florida

THERE’LL BE NO love lost between these two bitter rivals this Saturday, as Florida will try to avenge a humiliating defeat to the Bulldogs last year in which several Gators took exception to what they considered to be a contentious touchdown celebration on the part of Georgia. If that weren’t enough to spice up this SEC showdown, this game will also likely decide the winner of the conference’s Eastern Division while also having national championship implications.

When the Gators Have the Ball

COMING OFF YET another stellar performance in Florida’s whitewash of Kentucky last week, quarterback Tim Tebow is tailor made for coach Urban Meyer’s offense. Last year’s Heisman Trophy winner orchestrates the spread-option like a true maestro, giving defenses fits with his ability to score both with his arm and his feet. Tebow’s 6’3” frame belies his elusiveness as a runner. The junior has a good arm, but doesn’t always throw the most catchable ball. Florida’s cadre of talented receivers is also the source of quite a few sleepless nights for opposing defensive coordinators, starting with Percy Harvin. Despite being hampered by a heel injury during the past two seasons, the 5’11” speedster is a home run threat every time he touches the ball at both the running back and wide out positions. This open-field dynamo combines 4.3 speed with a dose of wiggle ability that makes many defenders miss. Louis Murphy is no slouch either, in fact, after a slow start to his collegiate career, the 6’2” playmaker has developed into a force that is toasting cornerbacks on downfield routes. Murphy’s 18 receptions for 292 yards and four touchdowns this season would be significantly higher across the board in a more pass-oriented attack. Florida’s running backs are weapons in their own right. The undersized, but speedy Jeffrey Demps and Chris Rainey are cut from the same cloth. Rainey can start and stop on a dime, and then explode as he runs downfield with exceptional balance and vision. Demps’ unmatched pure speed makes him a dangerous chess piece that can be used in a variety of ways. The freshman will become even better once he improves his patience and change-of-direction tendencies. Tight end Aaron Hernandez has filled in admirably for the injured Cornelius Ingram. Left tackle Phil Trautwein is a strong run blocker with excellent technique.

GEORGIA OPERATES A DEFENSE that’s strong versus the run despite the absence of standout defensive tackle Jeff Owens, who’s recovering from a season-ending ACL injury. This linebacker-driven unit has a plethora of difference makers at the position, including Darryl Gamble, who filled in for Dannell Ellerbe last week and played a key role in his team’s dismantling of LSU. Gamble returned two interceptions for touchdowns and recorded a career-high 13 tackles. Outside linebacker Rennie Curran is another key component who uses his remarkable lateral quickness to close in on opposing ball carriers and thwarts any hopes of a big running play. This sideline-to-sideline enforcer leads the Bulldogs with 69 tackles and three sacks. Justin Houston and Demarcus Dobbs are a pair of promising defensive ends who both chipped in with one sack each last Saturday. Dobbs in particular, has displayed flashes of greatness, with the mobility and all-out intensity that makes him an invaluable member of this defense. Corey Irvin and Geno Atkins do all the run-stuffing dirty work at defensive tackle. Irvin is second on the team with six tackles for a loss. Georgia’s secondary isn’t quite up to par, as evidenced by the fact that they’ve allowed 13 touchdowns passes and have only eight pickoffs even though they haven’t faced any top-level quarterbacks to date. In last week’s game, the Bulldogs allowed four passes of 20 yards or more. Cornerback Asher Allen is the headliner of this defensive backfield. The 5’10” junior is a complete player adept at forcing fumbles, blitzing quarterbacks, and also providing tight coverage.

When the Dawgs Have the Ball

BLESSED WITH AN immense throwing arm, quarterback Matthew Stafford is perhaps the best pure passer in the nation, but his production hasn’t always been at the same level as his skill set. Stafford’s pedestrian statistics are due in large part to coach Mark Richt’s conservative game planning. But against Florida this week, the future pro will probably be called upon to throw quite a few deep outs to keep pace with Florida’s high-octane scoring machine. What’s been most notable about Stafford lately is how he’s improved as a pocket passer by keeping his eyes downfield despite being surrounded by a chaotic mass of pass rushers. The reason for that hellacious pass rush is due to Georgia’s young offensive line that’s been plagued by injury. In the past two games, however, this makeshift unit has come together, allowing only one sack of Stafford. In the past two weeks, that same offensive line, led by true freshman center Ben Jones, has paved the way for the spectacular exploits of Knowshon Moreno. The sophomore has gained 335 yards on only 44 carries during that stretch. The New Jersey native’s 4.4 speed, vision, instincts and relentlessness have made him an unstoppable weapon that continues to get better as the season wears on. At wide receiver, A.J. Green has provided the Bulldog attack with a playmaking component they’ve lacked at the position in recent years. The 6’4” freshman may still be undisciplined in his route running at times. He more than makes up for that with his one-of-a-kind agility and body control, which along with his excellent hands, allow him to come down with a number of long receptions along the sidelines. Mohamed Massaquoi is more of the possession type with at least one catch in 29 straight games. Tight end Aron White has loads of potential and finally showed signs of his physical gifts by making a 48-yard grab last week.

THE UNQUESTIONED LEADER of Florida’s defense is middle linebacker Brandon Spikes, who sets the tone with his toughness and instincts, which allow him to quickly flow to the ball carrier and drop back in coverage. While he may not be as fast as some other top players at his position, Spikes has a knack of always putting himself in the best position to make a play. His partner in crime, A.J. Jones, is an aggressive outside linebacker who makes plays all over the field and is one superb hitter. Jones is physical at the point of attack and has good feet and agility to get around blockers. The real star of this defense, however, is Florida’s intense defensive end Jermaine Cunningham. His quick first step and feline quickness off the edge make him a load to contain as a pass rusher. But for all his skill in pressuring quarterbacks, the junior must improve in playing the run. Fellow end Carlos Dunlap is a freakish 6’7”, 290-pound defender with 4.7 speed. Dunlap’s long arms help him disengage from blockers and his noteworthy quickness enables him to run down plays from the backside. Talented cornerback Janoris Jenkins remains probable to start in this week’s contest. The Gator coaching staff hopes to have his unique anticipatory skills and exceptional closing speed at its disposal as they try to contain Matthew Stafford and company. Heat seeking missile Major Wright excels at knocking down passes and laying the wood from his safety position.

Final Analysis

LOOK FOR FLORIDA to put up some quick points in this ball game and force the Bulldogs to play catch up. Georgia’s 80th ranked offense will put up a valiant effort, but won’t be able to muster enough points to have a chance in this SEC battle. Tim Tebow is primed for yet another masterful performance.

Prediction: Florida 41 Georgia 27

Photo Credit: SEC Sports Media