INSIDE SLANT
Georgia will find out quickly what life will be like after quarterback Matthew Stafford and running back Knowshon Moreno.
After losing its top two offensive players to the first round of the NFL Draft last April, the Bulldogs open the season at Oklahoma State. The Cowboys, unveiling their latest expansion to Boone T. Pickens Stadium, are ranked ninth in the AP poll and 11th in the USA Today coaches poll.
"They've been kind of pointing to this season for the last couple years, opening a brand new stadium," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "I think they're charging $100 a ticket. I think it's the highest preseason start for Oklahoma State.
"So they're going to be off the chart when it comes to enthusiasm and excitement and expectations towards their season."
For Georgia, it begins a difficult non-conference schedule that includes a home game against Arizona State and a road game at rival Georgia Tech. It will be a tough season considering that Stafford and Moreno, both underclassmen, will be difficult to replace.
"We might have bit off more than we should have," Richt said.
"I think the plan was never to have three BCS opponents. We did say, after the 12th game was added, we would add try to add a BCS opponent outside of the Southeast Region. We decided to do that. Just because of the scheduling, it so happened the only way it would work, with some home and aways with Arizona State and Oklahoma State, it had to happen all in this year. But I doubt that happens again anytime soon."
The Bulldogs, ranked 13th in both polls, will turn the offense over to redshirt senior quarterback Joe Cox. Cox will have talented sophomore receiver A.J. Green to throw the ball to, but the Bulldogs will need to find a rushing threat to replace Moreno.
Meanwhile, Georgia's defense, which gave up 24.5 points per game last season, should get a stiff test from Oklahoma State's high-octane offense. Behind the trio of quarterback Zac Robinson, running back Kendall Hunter and receiver Dez Bryant, the Cowboys averaged 40.8 points (ninth in the country) and 487.7 yards of offense (sixth) last season.
"This offense is very highly rated, and they have a veteran bunch," Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran said.
"We've played (teams) that were highly ranked before, like in the Sugar Bowl against (Hawaii's) Colt Brennan. I feel like this is another game where we get the chance to set the tempo and show that we are a defense that is focused and that is disciplined and can make plays."
NOTES, QUOTES--The heat is on Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. In 52 games under Martinez, Georgia's defense has given up 30 or more points 11 times. Martinez's predecessor, Brian VanGorder, led a defense that allowed 30 or more points just once in the previous four seasons. Georgia coach Mark Richt has been exceptionally loyal to Martinez, but the public outcry to let him go may be too great this season if the Bulldogs have another poor season on defense.
--A Georgia media guide typo listed its game against rival Georgia Tech as a 42-42 tie. Tech beat the Bulldogs 45-42.
--In an effort to create a sense of urgency in practice, Georgia had its first- and second-team offense face the scout team in practice down 21-0 when the scrimmage began. The scoreboard read, Oklahoma State 21, Georgia 0. In the second half, Georgia rallied to win 27-24.
SERIES HISTORY: Georgia 3-Oklahoma State 0 (last meeting, 2007, 35-14 Georgia)
SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: Georgia's strength could be its offense line. The Bulldogs return eight players up front with starting experience. It will be interesting to see how left tackle Trinton Sturdivant returns from a knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2008 season. If Sturdivant returns to his 2007 form, it will give new starting quarterback Joe Cox plenty of time to throw. Georgia will adopt a running-back-by-committee approach to replace Knowshon Moreno, through redshirt sophomore Richard Samuel has emerged as the frontrunner due to Caleb King's hamstring problems.
SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: The good news is that 10 of Georgia's 11 projected starters are juniors and seniors. The bad news was that Georgia's defense was unable to pressure the quarterback last season. The Bulldogs went from first in the Southeastern Conference in sacks in 2007 to 10th last season. A big factor was the loss of senior DT Jeff Owens to a knee injury in the first game of last season. If Owens regains his form, Georgia should get to quarterback more frequently this season.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We have more leaders on the team, on the defense. All great football teams have great leaders, and that's going to be what defines our season." -- Georgia senior DT Jeff Owens.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNELTHIS WEEK'S GAME: Georgia at Oklahoma State, Sept. 5 -- Georgia begins a new era in one of the marquee matchups of the first week of the college football season. Georgia fans will find out right away if the offense can be as productive without Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno. The Bulldogs figure to need plenty of firepower to keep pace with the talented Cowboys' offense.
KEYS TO THE GAME: The Bulldogs will need to get stops early and often against Oklahoma State's offense to keep the crowd out of the game. On offense, Georgia can't ask senior starting quarterback Joe Cox to do too much. Look for Cox to manage the game while Georgia runs the ball behind its big, experienced offensive line. That also will help keep Georgia's defense fresh and Oklahoma State's offense off the field.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
QB Joe Cox -- Cox has patiently waited his turn behind Matthew Stafford and will finally get his chance as a fifth-year senior. With just one career start, Cox will get a stiff test to start the season at Oklahoma State. Cox is a leader in the huddle, but does he have the arm to make big throws in a hostile environment?
RB Richard Samuel -- Samuel had an excellent fall and could emerge as the running back to replace the departed Knowshon Moreno. A redshirt sophomore, the 6-foot-1, 218 pound Samuel has an excellent combination of power and speed and should benefit from running behind an experienced Georgia offensive line.
WR A.J. Green -- Coming off a freshman season in which he had 963 yards and eight touchdowns, much is expected of Green this season. But Green may face more double-teams due to the departure of WR Mohamed Massaquoi.
DT Geno Atkins -- Atkins will look to build on a junior season in which he got to the quarterback often. With 32 quarterback hurries last season and eight career sacks, Atkins will be a leader on the Georgia defense this season.
ROSTER REPORT:
--S Quintin Banks has missed the past two weeks of practice with a knee injury and is doubtful for the season-opener at Oklahoma State.
--TE Bryce Ros has ended his career due to a chronic foot condition. Ross, a redshirt freshman, has suffered from chronic degenerative changes in his right big toe joint. Georgia has asked the NCAA for a medical exemption to allow Ros to remain on scholarship.
--S John Knox has transferred to Georgia Military.
Previous Report: 04/27/2009
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