Will Fewer Stars, Lower Expectations Lead to Better Team for Georgia?

A year ago at this time Georgia was King of the Mountain. Of course, Bulldog fans know how that power struggle ended.

Georgia fell victim to the fourth-toughest schedule in the country, it needed more than two superstars in quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno to keep pace with rival Florida, and there were questions concerning the toughness of its defense.

While the Bulldogs -- the best team over the past 10 years in the SEC -- still won 10 games, including their bowl, the season was largely considered a disappointment.The expectations are a notch lower this year since nobody in their right mind is picking anyone but Florida to emerge from the SEC as a national championship contender.

"It's been a big difference this season," defensive tackle Jeff Owens said Thursday during SEC Football Media Days in Hoover, Ala.

"Before last season, it was, 'Georgia this, Georgia that.' Hype can get to you and that was a factor with last season. The past is the past. We went 10-3. That's not a great season, but good enough. Good enough to win and, to win 10 in the SEC, that's an accomplishment."

Of course, the Bulldogs, who just might be under the radar when it comes conference favorites, still have set their sights high this season. Mark Richt, who is heading into his ninth season and finds himself the dean of SEC coaches in terms of longest tenure at a current school, believes his team understands that is must depend on the entire roster to succeed.

"Everybody expected us to win 'em all (last year) because we had these two guys that everybody considered stars, and maybe subconsciously our guys thought,'We can count on these guys,' " Richt said.

"Now that they're gone, I think our team understands the only chance they have is to play together, work together, earn it as a team. I think they've done a great job of buying into that, preparing throughout this off-season for that type of season."

Yet, that type of season will start in the hands of senior quarterback Joe Cox, who finally gets his turn to shine after Stafford departed early to come the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions. Cox, one of just three senior starters on offense, has started one career game (redshirt freshman season in 2006 against Ole Miss) to go with 432 career passing yards and five touchdowns.

While Cox, who will turn 23 in November, has embraced his role as a team leader, he echoes Richt's statements of togetherness and team unity. Still, there's also no denying last year's offensive production. The Bulldogs ranked first in the SEC in pass offense (277.7 yards per game), second in total offense (426 ypg), third in scoring offense (31.5 ppg), fifth in rush offense (148.3).

'I have stepped into my role as a leader of this team. I am right where I want to be," Cox said.

"I've worked hard and a lot of guys look up to me and are ready and willing to follow me. Obviously, there is pressure. But it's not something I think about. The success of this team is not all on my shoulders. There are 10 other guys that get the job done as well. I won't carry the team. We'll work together. And that is where our success will come from, the team."

Richt believes Cox is prepared to be Georgia's starter, saying, "When it comes to quarterback play, in my opinion, you need to have an accurate passer, you need to have a great decision maker, you need to have a young man who can handle the pressure of the job, because there's a lot of pressure that comes with that job, and you need a guy who can lead.

"And Joe really personifies all those characteristics."

A.J. Green should give Cox a dependable receiver on the edges and the offensive line, anchored by center Ben Jones, could be dominant. However, the biggest question mark must might be at running back, where Moreno, a 1,000-yard rusher, also bolted early for the NFL and was a first-round selection of the Denver Broncos. Georgia just might use the committee approach in the backfield with sophomores Caleb King and Richard Samuel and others.



The Bulldogs' defense returns six starters from a unit that ranked sixth in the SEC in total defense (312 yards per game), sixth in rush defense (122) and eighth in pass defense (189.7). Linebacker Rennie Curran and safety Reshad Jones, the Bulldogs' top two tacklers, are back to lead the way.

Considered one of the country's best road teams, Georgia will need to continue that magic from the get-go at Oklahoma State Sept. 5. Its non-conference schedule isn't for the timid and also features Arizona State at home and Georgia Tech on the road. Then there's the three-week midseason stretch against LSU, at Tennessee and at Vanderbilt.

While it might be asking too much for the Bulldogs to contend in the SEC East against the Gators, that kind of smack talk stirs Georgia's emotions. The Bulldog have heard the chatter, too, and they certainly remember last season's tumble from atop college football's highest peak.

"It has really brought our team together," Cox said.

"With people telling you, 'You won't be as good,' you turn it around and use it on the field and in the locker room. When someone tells you, 'You can't do something,' it motivates you and you better yourself. We preached about that a lot this off-season."

The Bulldogs also preached that the entire team, not just one or two individuals, has to make plays and come up with ways to win.

"The star of our team this year is our team," Owens said.