UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > May > 08
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Georgia, Florida have big advantages at QB
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I don’t think anybody who knows anything about football can question the importance of quarterback play. It’s not as important in college as it is in the NFL — check out some of the signal-callers that have won national championships — but strong, mistake-limited play out of the position is super significant nonetheless.
My brother and I were talking about this the other night and our conversation invariably led us to a discussion of SEC quarterbacks. Never mind the “who’s better?” argument between Florida’s Tim Tebow and Georgia’s Matthew Stafford. There’s no denying that Tebow has been better so far but we won’t have complete data on those two until they have completed their college careers and secured their fates in the NFL. Until then that’s all opinion and conjecture.
What everyone can agree on regarding those two is that they’re both pretty doggone good and certainly difference-makers for their teams. Which brings me back to the discussion with my brother.
The fact is, Stafford and Tebow loom above the rest of the quarterbacks in the SEC and are big reasons why their teams are so good. They’re going to be better than their opposition’s quarterback in virtually every game other than the one against each other. In fact, if you look at it closely it doesn’t appear to be a great year for quarterbacks in the league.
Starting in the Eastern Divison, Tennessee has to replace Erik Ainge and it’s doing it with a quarterback (Jonathan Crompton) who is coming off elbow surgery. Kentucky must find a replacement for record-setting Andre Woodson and South Carolina will break in a new signalcaller, which could be a good or bad thing considering Blake Mitchell’s enigmatic career. One of the Gamecocks’ best candidates, Stephen Garcia, is currently suspended from school because of his trouble with the law. Only Vanderbilt, which brings back the duo of MacKenzie Adams and Chris Nickson, is solidified under center, and neither one of them will have Earl Bennett to throw to.
On Georgia’s schedule from the West are: LSU, which will start either a transfer from Harvard or a redshirt freshman after the Ryan Perrilloux debacle; Auburn will not only break in a new starter at quarterback (Chris Todd or Kodi Burrns) but it will also be introducing an entirely new offensive scheme under new coordinator Tony Franklin; and Alabama, which brings back John Parker Wilson, a decent quarterback for sure but certainly not one that strikes fear in defensive coordinators. Advantage Georgia in those three tilts.
The rest of the conference: Ole Miss believes it will be upgrading from Seth Adams to Texas transfer Jevan Snead; Mississippi State appears set with Wesley Carroll; Arkansas has a go-to guy in Casey Dick but new coach Bobby Petrino pronounced it an open competition and has brought in quarterbacks from everywhere to join it. A recent NCAA decision to deny eligibility this season for Michigan transfer Ryan Mallet didn’t help matters.
The point is, as you can see, Georgia and Florida are in really good shape at quarterback and both have the requisite weapons around them required to make some big noise. The majority of the league, not so much.
What do y’all think? Am I overstating the significance of quarterback play? Is there one or two SEC guys out there that may turn out better than Stafford or Tebow? Let us hear your thoughts.
Also, check out where Mr. College Football has the Stafford-led Dogs and Tebow-led Gators in the TB Top 30.
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