I know it's early...

by UgaBulldog14 on Dec 3, 2008 8:43 AM EST Comment 5 comments

but, from the defensive side of the ball, we're still damn young. The class listed for each returning player is what they'll be next year.

Noteworthy Players Leaving : Jeremy Lomax DE, Corvey Irvin DT, Jarius Wynn DT

Noteworthy Players Returning : Roderick Battle DE (SR), Demarcus Dobbs DE (JR), Geno Atkins DT (SR), Kade Weston DT (SR), Neland Ball DE (SO)

Also take into account Jeff Owens. I'm not 100% but I'd assume he redshirted and will be back next year. Maybe someone else knows for sure.

Noteworthy Players Leaving : Dannell Ellerbe LB, Marcus Washingon LB

Noteworthy Players Returning : Rennie Curran LB (JR), Akeem Dent LB (JR), Darius Dewberry SR (LB), Darryl Gamble LB (JR), Justin Houston LB (SO), Marcus Dowtin LB (SO)

Again, not sure on Marcus Washington, and for some reason the roster I'm looking at had Justin Houston at LB. I'll just leave 'em there, but I'm pretty sure he should be listed at DE.

Noteworthy Players Leaving : Ramarcus Brown CB

Noteworthy Players Returning : Asher Allen CB (SR), Bryan Evans CB (SR), Prince Miller CB (SR), Vance Cuff CB (JR)

Safeties

Noteworthy Players Leaving : CJ Bryrd S

Noteworthy Players Returning : Donovon Baldwin S (SR), Reshad Jones S (JR), Quintin Banks S (JR)

That's not taking into account some of the players we have yet to see that have big expectations. All of these players will either be soph or freshmen next year depending on whether or not they were redshirted this year. :

AJ Harmon DL 6'5 328

DeAngelo Tyson DL 6'2 300

John Knox S 6'2 200

Bacarri Rambo DB 6'0 195

Sanders Commings DB 6'2 195

Makiri Pugh DB 6'0 190

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some disagreement

Prince Miller returning to the defense is not a good thing. He is a terrible corner that has been getting beat all year and the only way the receiver drops it is if the quaterback under or overthrows them. He might be good for the special teams though if they finally put him on it again.
Justin Houston is a DE now because of injuries to the D-Line but they could decide to move him back to linebacker because that is his natural position he was recruited for.

by EMAN09 on Dec 3, 2008 10:41 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I respectfully disagree...

Our biggest liability in the secondary is not Prince Miller… it’s #3, Bryan Evans. Evans was the man who was not only beaten, but torched, in virtually all of the worst coverage breakdowns we had all year. Prince Miller might have caused pass interference penalties and exhibited poor tackling, but Evans was rarely even close enough on those big plays to think about getting a penalty (or a tackle). It got so bad that, by the time the Tennessee game had rolled around, the opposing teams had started to figure out that #3 was the weak link the chain, and kept continuously picking on him (with great success).

Finally, the coaches took him out of the starting lineup, and he saw playing time primarily as a backup towards the end of the season.

And against Tech, Evans proved he could not only get smoked against the pass, but the run, as well. Evans was the one that was supposed to be covering Roddy Jones on 2 of his long TD runs.

I can only hope that Bryan Evans finds a way to improve his coverage in the offseason, because we need a good secondary to compete in these games.

by vineyarddawg on Dec 3, 2008 11:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, as I was writing my initial post

I was thinking someone would point out that it isn’t too comforting having Prince Miller and Reshad Jones back.

But look at what Florida’s D has done from last year to this year. Their D was TORCHED by Michigan last year and (according to my friend, a Michigan fan) it should’ve been even worse if it weren’t for some turnovers Michigan had.

And now look at ‘em. Another year of experience can’t do anything but help.

I’d rather have a bunch of starters returning who haven’t played well but have played over a bunch of guys I’ve never seen touch the field.

by UgaBulldog14 on Dec 3, 2008 2:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs