Two-A-Days: Georgia Bulldogs

For the past two weeks, we've gone team by team looking at the SEC and the rest of Georgia's opponents in our Two-A-Days series. Now, we've reached the final post.

All along I've been asking you for some questions with plans to do a Georgia mailbag… but while I got some good inquiries, I felt the mailbag would fall short of giving a balanced look at where Georgia stands. I'll still get to it… but I think we'll save it for next week.

Then I thought about doing a straight position-by-position analysis of the roster, but it's Friday, it's been a long week, and that didn't seem like much fun.

And then I started reading about the mass confusion on when "Ghostbusters 3" might finally start filming and I got an idea…

Why don't I rip off one of my favorite bits from Bill Simmons' ESPN columns and use some quotes from one of the all-time great movies to help breakdown the current status of Georgia's football team?

Brilliant, right?

OK, maybe not so brilliant, and definitely less than original, my standards aren't that high during the offseason.

So, with that, I give you the "Ghostbusters" breakdown of Georgia's spring…

Ray: "Hey, Dean Yeager! Are you moving us to a better office on campus?"
Dean Yeager: "No, you're being moved off campus. The Board of Regents has decided to terminate your grant. You are to vacate these premises immediately."
Ray: "What?"
Peter: "This is preposterous. I demand an explanation."
Dean Yeager: "This university will no longer continue any funding for any of your group's activities."
Peter: "But the kids love us!"

To Mark Richt. Like it or not, the hot-seat talk is out there, and no matter how preposterous it seems now, it's only going to get louder if Georgia doesn't take a step forward this year. On the bright side, Richt seems to have taken every one of the complaints fans have made in the past few years and addressed them one by one this offseason. No more Willie Martinez, Jon Fabris or John Jancek. No more soft defenses. No more directional kicking. No more playing the seniors over superior younger players. Instead, it's healthy competition, deep kicking, focusing on fundamentals, playing to the team's strengths, aggressive schemes and an accomplished new defensive coaching staff that has changed the personality of the Bulldogs' D already. So, do I believe the hot seat talk? Definitely not… yet. But Georgia did lose five games last year. Richt did fire three assistants and was able to offer his new DC the richest contract for any assistant ever at Georgia -- and a three-year deal to boot. The East is winnable this year but there isn't a single player left on the roster who was a part of the last SEC title team at Georgia. And with the economy being what it is, another ugly season could start hitting the school's pocket book in a bad way. And then that temperature gets turned up. So while Richt deserves kudos for the work done so far, this spring was just the start.

"Ray, when someone asks you if you're a god, you say 'Yes'"

To Aaron Murray. With so much of Georgia's success riding on his arm this season -- including 10 returning starters on offense -- he doesn't need to be a god, but it wouldn't hurt to act like one. His performance during his first 13 months at Georgia has met with nothing but ringing endorsements, but the first time he was asked to really show his stuff in front of the fans -- the first time he was asked if he was a god, so to speak -- he looked average at best. So the next time Murray's asked to step up… he needs to say, "Yes!"

Ray: "I think we'd better split up."
Egon: "Good idea."
Peter: "Yeah... we can do more damage that way."

To Washaun Ealey and Caleb King. It took half-a-season before Georgia's coaches realized these two tailbacks were the key to a revitalized running game. Now they'll enter the season behind a veteran O line as co-No. 1s on the depth chart, and the question is… just how much damage can they do? King was banged up throughout much of the spring and has had some problems with injuries throughout his career. Ealey turned some fans off by taking a swing at teammate Nick Williams in the G-Day game and has gained a bit of a reputation for stirring the pot. So there are some questions… but if they can perform anywhere close to the way they ran against Georgia Tech last season, all the worries about the young QBs might seem inconsequential.

Dana: "You know, you don't act like a scientist."
Peter: "They're usually pretty stiff."
Dana: "You're more like a game show host."

To Orson Charles. Georgia has four tight ends on its roster that could probably start for half the other teams in the SEC, but it's Charles, who certainly isn't as stiff as the typical tight end, who rose to the top of the depth chart. After posting 23 catches for 374 yards and 5 TDs as a true freshman, Charles took his already impressive work ethic to the next level this offseason -- even training with the ROTC -- and looks poised to become one of the biggest tight end threats in the country in 2010. He just doesn't act like a tight end…

Ray: Symmetrical book stacking. Just like the Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947.
Peter: You're right, no human being would stack books like this.

To A.J. Green. Because no human being can make catches like him. And if he stays healthy for 13 (and maybe 14) games this year… look out. The Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947 will pale in comparison.

Ray: "You know, it just occurred to me that we really haven't had a successful test of this equipment."
Egon: "I blame myself."
Peter: "So do I."
Ray: "Well, no sense in worrying about it now."
Peter: "Why worry? Each one of us is carrying an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on his back."

To Georgia's wide receivers. On a unit that was already thin, the late change of heart by Da'Rick Rogers before national signing day and the spring injuries to Marlon Brown and Israel Troupe were more than enough to wonder how the depth at the position would hold up this fall. But there's nothing Georgia can do about it now, so the Dawgs will go to battle with Brown, Troupe, a rejuvenated Kris Durham, freshman Michael Bennett and two improving prospects in Tavarres King and Rantavious Wooten. So add that to Green, and there's certainly enough talent there for Georgia's passing game to be very dangerous, but we won't know for sure how much the lack of depth might hurt until the season gets going. Just don't cross the streams.

"This magnificent feast here represents the last of the petty cash."

To the offensive line. It seems like every year there are more questions on the O line. In 2007, there was no experience. In 2008, the experience all got hurt. In 2009, things were supposed to be better, but when Trinton Sturdivant went down, things went pear-shaped quickly, and it took more than half the season to get it figured out. But now… now things appear to be figured out, and not a second too soon. With Clint Boling, Chris Davis and Josh Davis all seniors -- and Cordy Glenn potentially NFL-bound if he turns in a season as strong as some of his coaches think he might after a spectacular spring -- this particular incarnation could represent the last of Georgia's chances to have a dominant line for the next few years. With Sturdivant, A.J. Harmon and Tanner Strickland all missing the majority of the spring, there wasn't much of an opportunity to develop the backups.

"OK, who brought the Dawgs?"... seriously, how bad are those special effects?

"Personally, I liked the university. They gave us money and facilities, we didn't have to produce anything! You've never been out of college! You don't know what it's like out there! I've worked in the private sector. They expect results."

To Todd Grantham. Georgia's new DC isn't just some fly-by-night coach who grew up in the college ranks and has never been truly pushed to maintain his job. He's worked with Frank Beamer and Nick Saban and coached for more than a decade in the NFL, where yes, they expect results. While Willie Martinez certainly had his success stories at Georgia, his credentials don't come close to the impressive resume Grantham brings with him, and the Dawgs' new DC is already impressing his players, his fellow coaches and Georgia's fans with him immense understanding of defense.

Winston: "We have the tools, and we have the talent."
Peter: "It's Miller time!"

To Grantham's players. While Georgia's new DC has had the ears of his players so far, the question remains -- does he have the right players. Yes, Georgia has the tools and the talent, but with a new 3-4 defense, what it doesn't have is a single player specifically recruited to play in this scheme. Now, some of the returning roster -- guys like Cornelius Washington and Abry Jones -- fit perfectly already. But for plenty of others, particularly at linebacker, there are some big questions. So while Grantham would be hard-pressed not to make strides defensively this year, it may still be a year or two before it's really Miller time.

Here's hoping the 2010 season turns out a bit better than "Ghostbusters 2." "He's got Carpathian kitten loss... he misses his kitty."

Janine: "Do you believe in UFOs, astral projections, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, telekinetic movement, full trance mediums, the Loch Ness monster and the theory of Atlantis?"
Winston: "Ah, if there's a steady paycheck in it, I'll believe anything you say."

To Scott Lakatos and Warren Belin. While Grantham brought in the NFL mind-set, his two new assistants bring plenty of focus on the fundamentals to go supplement the impressive resume of the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator. And while the fundamentals seemed to be a tough sell throughout the past few years, Belin and Lakatos appear to have done a nice job of convincing their new pupils to believe… and the end result might be some impressive paychecks at the next level.

Egon: "I think this building should be condemned. There's serious metal fatigue in all the load-bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it's completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighborhood is like a demilitarized zone."
Ray: "Hey, does this pole still work?"

To Georgia's defensive line. After the departures of three senior defensive tackles -- all of whom were drafted in this year's NFL draft -- it might seem like the line should take a big step back and could be quite a mess this year. And that still may be true. But like Ray finding the fireman's pole, there are still a few reasons for excitement. Kwame Geathers looked like a new man this spring, slimmed down and very strong at the nose position. DeAngelo Tyson has two years of apprenticeship under his belt, and Rodney Garner thinks he's ready to take a big step forward. Justin Anderson didn't participate this spring, but he did swap sides of the football and I've heard a handful of rumblings that the coaches think he could be an absolute terror at nose, too. Add to that the fact that Kiante Tripp has finally found a home and gotten a chance to play and the fact that Abry Jones is my personal pick to be one of Georgia's break-out stars this year and maybe that unit that looked to be a shell of last year's D line could actually be a pretty impressive group.

Ray: "What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff."
Peter: "Exactly."
Ray: "Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!"
Egon: "Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes…"
Winston: "The dead rising from the grave!'
Peter: "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

To Justin Houston. OK, there are some serious concerns at outside linebacker with the lack of depth behind Houston and Cornelius Washington. But assuming he can stay healthy, there's no telling how much damage Houston might cause. In just 10 games last season, Houston finished second in the SEC in sacks -- and that was before he moved from defensive end to OLB and before he was given the green light to make opposing QBs crap their pants in Grantham's new blitz-heavy defense. If Houston can stay on the field this season, there's every reason to believe that for opposing offenses, it'll be human sacrifice, fire and brimstone… mass hysteria.

"We've been going about this all wrong. This Mr. Stay Puft's okay! He's a sailor, he's in New York; we get this guy laid, we won't have any trouble!"

To Richard Samuel. OK, perhaps I'm stretching this analogy a bit, but for as much as fans cringed every time Samuel was handed the ball last year, there seems to be a universal feeling that he's not such a bad guy anymore. See, he was just a sailor in New York… or a linebacker in the SEC, at the very least. He wasn't getting his needs fulfilled on the offensive side of the ball, but things could be very different now. Unfortunately a concussion at the end of spring practice meant fans didn't get their first look at Samuel in his new role on G-Day, and there's a good chance he still could redshirt. But for a player as talented as Samuel, if things go right, he can definitely do some damage.

"She's not my girlfriend. I find her interesting because she's a client and because she sleeps above her covers -- four feet above her covers. She barks, she drools, she claws."

To Brandon Boykin. With the ups that Boykin has, would it surprise anyone if he slept four feet above his covers, too? A stud on special teams last year, Boykin was also probably Georgia's most consistent defensive back, too -- which is saying something considering he was the lone first-year starter of the group. Yes, Boykin got burned a few times, but that was under the old system without much help and without much experience. Now, he's a year older, a year wiser and has a group of coaches anxious to turn him loose and let him use those impressive ball skills to bark, drool and claw a few opposing receivers.

"Gozer the Traveler will come in one of the pre-chosen forms. During the rectification of the Vuldrini, the traveler came as a large and moving Torg. Then, during the third reconciliation of the last of the McKetrick supplicants, they chose a new form for him: that of a giant Slor. Many Shuvs and Zuuls knew what it was to be roasted in the depths of the Slor that day, I can tell you."

To Georgia's secondary -- and maybe a few linebackers. In the last few years, many of Georgia's DBs have knows what it was to be roasted by SEC receivers, I can tell you. It's been ugly, with big plays happening far too frequently and the likes of Bryan Evans and Prince Miller nowhere to be seen as receivers jogged downfield for a score. Grantham and Lakatos hope this year will be different, and it certainly could be. In the secondary, Georgia is ripe with talent. Boykin, Bacarri Rambo, Jakar Hamilton, Nick Williams, Branden Smith and incoming freshman Alec Ogletree all have NFL potential, and players like Vance Cuff and Shawn Williams had impressive enough springs to turn a few heads, too. Add that to Lakatos' new approach with waves goodbye to face guarding and says hello to playing the ball, shrugs off leaving receivers to run free and employs a physical approach at the line of scrimmage… and all of that adds up to what could be a pretty darn good defensive backfield. But there's a difference between spring hype and fall production, and when you add to it the increased coverage responsibilities of the linebackers, there's still work to be done before the rectification of the secondary.

Peter: "Ray, pretend for a moment that I don't know anything about metallurgy, engineering, or physics, and just tell me what the hell is going on."
Ray: "You never studied."

To Darryl Gamble, Akeem Dent, Clint Boling and all of Georgia's seniors. On offense, things should run fairly smoothly, but there are always worries when your QB hasn't ever taken a snap in a college game. On defense, things get much more troubling as the new 3-4 scheme is a mystery to everyone -- even the seniors. Add to that a bunch of new faces in starting jobs, veterans lining up at new positions, and no senior leaders with the types of credentials that Jeff Owens or Rennie Curran had last year and the biggest question of the offseason might be just who will step up to help ensure that, once fall camp opens, everyone has a decent enough understanding of metallurgy, engineering and blitz schemes.

Dana: "There is no Dana, there is only Zuul."

To Georgia's fans. I know it's been a rough couple of years, but boy have some fans been grouchy this offseason. Hey, things are pointed in a good direction, right? New QB, new DC, focus on the fundamentals, no more directional kicking… There will no doubt be a few reasons to be angry once the season starts, but for now, it's probably a good time to stay calm and relaxed rather than turning into demonic dawgs.

"I make it a rule never to get involved with possessed people…. Actually, it's more of a guideline than a rule."

To any players inclined to tip back a few too many this offseason. Since the regular season ended, there have been five arrests and three players dismissed from the team already. After taking a big step forward in the off-field-image department last year, it's been a turbulent couple of months at Georgia as Mark Richt waved goodbye to Zach Mettenberger and Montez Robinson -- two players who might have played key roles this season, both at positions without much depth. Their losses will have an impact at some point, but make no mistake, the real impact is that Richt isn't messing around anymore. Forget the "guideline" stuff. Staying out of trouble is the rule now… and fans need to hope they've seen the last of the off-field problems for a while.

Ray: "Where these stairs go?"
Peter: "They go up."

To the SEC East. The term "wide open" will be heard quite a bit this offseason and well into the fall, and the reason is that Florida, dominant for much of the past half-decade, is expected to take at least a small step back, meaning there's a chance for Georgia or South Carolina to climb the stairs to the top of the division. Of course, those teams have a few question marks of their own, too.

Peter: "Nimble little minx, in't she?"
Egon: "We're gonna go full stream."
Ray: "Aim for the flat top."

To Florida. After all, that Corch Meyers is a nimble little minx, ain't he? Sure, Tim Tebow is gone. And so is Charlie Strong. And so is Aaron Hernandez and Riley Cooper and Brandon Spikes and Joe Haden and Carlos Dunlap… but Florida can't be taken lightly, and there's every reason to believe that the game in Jacksonville will still be the line of demarcation between Georgia reaching its potential in 2010 and another ultimately disappointing season.

Janine: "You're very handy, I can tell. I bet you like to read a lot, too."
Egon: "Print is dead."

To me. Here's to hoping I still have a job this time next year.

That's it for now. Have a great weekend, and I'll have a full mailbag for you early next week.

Two-A-Days: Recruiting

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 17th installment, in which we take a closer look at Georgia's recruiting.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

We've taken a detailed look at the spring practices around the SEC, but of course the other big shorelines of spring involve recruits. Here's a quick look at Georgia's commitments so far:

David Andrews (OL, Norcross), 6-2/275/***
Devin Bowman (CB, Rossville), 6-0/175/***
Chris Conley (WR, Dallas), 6-3/180/****
Amarlo Herrera (LB, College Park), 6-1/224/****
Christian LeMay (QB, Matthews, NC), 6-2/200/****
Corey Moore (DB, Griffin), 6-1/195/****
Chris Sanders (S, Tucker), 6-1/185/****

Of course, while there are seven names on the books now, there are plenty more to go. So for information on how Georgia's recruiting season is unfolding, I talked to Dawg Post's Dean Legge. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: The 2010 recruiting class was among the worst -- at least in terms of the rankings -- of any during Mark Richt's tenure. How much of that was a one-year blip due to the coaching transition and the underachieving record? Do you get the feeling that recruits are viewing Georgia any differently this year than they have in the past?

Dean Legge: There is certainly momentum for Georgia in recruiting right now. Christian LeMay's commitment to Richt and company on Friday, I think, solidified that thinking. On the other hand, the 2010 class was scattered. Recruiting is about developing relationships over the long haul, and that was the problem, it seemed, with the 2010 class. Too many players were taking close looks at out-of-state schools. It was a difficult process for Georgia to get out from under. They did a great job of recruiting Da' Rick Rogers, but didn't close the deal when it came down to it. I don't think the coaching change hurt or helped either way with the 2010 class, but the lessons of that class have clearly left their mark on Richt and the Bulldogs. You have to have high-level football players to win in the SEC, and that means you need to recruit them hard to get them.

DH: Speaking of the coaching changes, I'm guessing in a short time period, most recruits didn't know quite what to make of Todd Grantham and his 3-4 scheme before signing day. What has been the feedback you've heard from the top defensive recruits this year about Georgia's new defensive staff and scheme?

DL: Most recruits who will play in the front seven of the defense are excited about the defense because they know a couple of things about it. 1.) Todd Grantham is an NFL guy, and he is running it. A lot of the better-known defenses in the NFL teams run it - like the Patriots and Ravens - and prospects want to do what works in the NFL because they want to play there one day. 2.) Alabama got a lot of recognition about running the 3-4 on the way to the national title. 3.) Players want to play in a system where they can make plays and the 3-4 allows for that more of that than a 4-3 does.

DH: Obviously the QB situation has been talked about quite a bit of late. Do you feel that Georgia has failed in recent years to properly time its recruitment of QB prospects, and how do you envision this year's class of QBs to look? Will Christian LeMay be the only signing for 2011 at the position?

DL: Well, you've had great to outstanding starting quarterbacks at Georgia for probably 85% of the snaps during Mark Richt's career, so they have done a good job in recruiting and developing a top signal caller. With that said, quarterback is a difficult position to recruit because only one quarterback plays at a time. It is always best to have two (or more) quarterbacks ready to go, but today kids want to play... now. They don't want to wait. As soon as they see that another player is going to eclipse them at quarterback, they leave. It happens all over college football. Georgia, like nearly every other program in the country, has struggled to keep backup quarterbacks happy. This is a conversation that is really only relevant if the starter is not performing, which has been rare at Georgia, or if the starter has been hurt... even more rare. Coming into the spring Georgia had the deepest quarterback chart in the SEC, but things move fast. Signing a quarterback each season is important, and I don't think we will see another recruiting season where Georgia does not sign a quarterback. The truth is that Matthew Stafford scared a lot of other quarterbacks away from Georgia because they knew he would be the starter. Likewise, Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger did the same thing. If Murray develops the way most people think he will, Georgia might struggle to sign another high-level signal caller because it looks like Murray is about to start for the next four years, and highly-touted Christian LeMay will scare off other quarterbacks in this recruiting year and next year (and maybe the year after that), too.

DH: While Georgia's 2011 class is starting to come together, by early summer last year, the Dawgs had the vast majority of their commitments already accounted for. Has the pace of commitments been slower this year on purpose, and is there an advantage to that? And of the players who have committed already, who stands out to you as the one or two guys most likely to have an immediate impact?

DL: Two things are a little different this season. 1.) The State of Georgia is very talented at the top of the list, and those players are taking recruiting very, very slow. 2.) The snowball effect took over last year... kids started seeing spots taken up, and they didn't want to be left out, so they jumped on board. That same thing could happen in the coming weeks.

As far as a player who could have immediate impact is concerned... the problem for the 2011 class as far as that is concerned is the 2009 class. Young players like Orson Charles, Aaron Murray, Branden Smith, Washaun Ealey and Rantavious Wooten helped fill the cracks at Georgia and will be starters over the next two to four years. That leaves a smaller area for players in this class to have an impact on the program. However, and this is a big however, Georgia needs a killer receiver. A.J. Green will likely not return for his senior season, and someone (it would have been Da'Rick Rogers) needs to be the top talent at wide receiver. That is a spot were Georgia needs to convert in the 2011 class.

DH: Given the current roster and the list of commitments already accounted for, where do Georgia's biggest needs still rest? Who should fans keep an eye on at those positions as the Bulldogs' top targets?

DL: Wide receiver is the biggest area of need at Georgia now. They needed to sign an elite quarterback, and that will happen with LeMay. But he will need a top playmaking receiver to get the ball to. As far as who to spotlight and recruit hardest, it is clear that with LeMay's decision to come to Georgia, that Spartanburg's Cheron Peake is the top talent Georgia needs to sign. If Georgia can sign Peake and Columbus running back Isaiah Crowell along with either or both Thomasville's Ray Drew or Monroe's Stephon Tuitt they will have the pieces to make a serious run at the national title during those players' careers in Athens. Georgia needs to sign seven of the top ten players in Georgia... they are doing well so far this season, but need to continue to recruit with passion and close the door on other programs.

DH: And one bonus question: Having seen most of the 2010 class in action, who would you predict to be the breakout stars -- both this season and in the longterm?

DL: Newnan's Alec Ogletree is going to play in the NFL. He's the best overall player Georgia just signed, and considering the depth at safety he will be able to work his way into playing time rather than being thrown in. In terms of long term potential, Jacksonville's Brent Bennedict could be an All-SEC performer two or three years from now, if he stays healthy. Southwest DeKalb's T.J. Stripling could be the player with the most potential of the class, however. He will add size over time, but has already shown playmaking abilities which are a good indication of future production potential.

Many thanks to Dean for the insight. If you've got a few extra coins jangling around in your pockets, his Dawg Post site is the go-to place for recruiting information on Georgia, and well worth the investment.

So, while everyone is still basking in the afterglow of LeMay's commitment, what areas are you still most concerned about? Which recruits have caught your eye that you're hoping Georgia can reel in by signing day 2011?

NEXT UP: Our UGA wrap-up.

Two-A-Days: Around College Football

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 16th installment, in which we take a big-picture look at the national landscape of college football.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

We've spent the past two weeks sifting through the offseason stories at each of the SEC schools along with Georgia's other non-conference competition and gotten an overview from ESPN's Chris Low of big-picture SEC stories. But as a nice coda to all this, I figured we'd look at some of the issues in college football nationally, too.

To help us with that, I chatted (via email) with Bruce Feldman, a senior writer at ESPN the Magazine and the proprietor of a fantastic blog on ESPN.com covering all things college football.

Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: Obviously Alabama is the favorite for a repeat national title. But from what you've seen so far this spring, who are the most likely teams to unseat the Tide? What intrigues you about them?

Bruce Feldman: The teams that I think have a good shot at making a BCS run this year are: Ohio State, Texas, Boise State and Miami. Or at least that's the rest of my preseason top 5 at this point.

I think Alabama has a lot to be excited about: great coach with a veteran staff; balance and experience on offense with three great skill position guys (Mark Imgram, Trent Richardson, Julio Jones), a solid O-line and great talent at each level of the D in Marcell Dareus, Dont'a Hightower and Mark Barron with a lot of rising stars in the secondary, where Saban is as hands on as any head coach. Plus, their main competitor in the SEC-- Florida -- will take a step back since the Gators lost so much key leadership on both sides of the ball.

DH: Boise State and TCU made history last year by both making a BCS game. Both should be tough again this year, but who do you see as the most likely candidate(s) from the non-auto bid conferences to make a run at the BCS?

BF: Boise State has the best shot. The Broncos will open the season in the preseason top 6 and get a chance for validation with the Virginia Tech game on the road. Obviously, if they can win that game, they're close to a lock for a BCS bowl. I think TCU will get one too. The offense should be even better since QB Andy Dalton is finally going to have the same offensive coach for consecutive seasons.

DH: Lots of coaching changes around college football following last season. Of the new head coaches in new places, who has had the easiest transition this spring, and who has the toughest job ahead of them?

BF: Even though it was one of the most tumultuous transitions initially, I think Lane Kiffin and USC actually have the easiest transitions. Kiffin's staff, scheme-wise is about as close to what the Trojans had under Pete Carroll as you can have. Kiffin also walks into a situation with a budding star QB in Matt Barkley and an experienced O-line. The nucleus of Kiffin's USC staff comes in tact from his previous regime and they take over a program that a lot of people internally felt needed some new energy. The other thing is all of their toughest opponents have to come to USC this season.

The guy who follows Kiffin, Derek Dooley, has the toughest transition. Whoever was coaching UT this fall was going to have big holes in their starting line-up. Making matters even worse, Dooley lost the only solid experienced O-linemen the Vols expected to have in 2010. The QB will be a first-time starter. And on defense, they lose their two best players, Eric Berry and DT Dan Williams. They do have a few cupcake games in their non-conference schedule but I think it's possible they might not even win six games.

DH: The SEC has four straight national championships and has had two BCS reps in each season. Do you see that power structure shifting a
bit this year though?

BF: I don't. Alabama's the hot school in college football and think they're the team to beat. Obviously sooner or later someone else from another league is going to break the streak. But I still expect the SEC to remain as the best conference in college football. The league just has too many great coaches and resources.

DH: How big of a storyline do you see conference expansion being this season? How realistic is it that we're on the verge of a major shakeup in the college football landscape, and what are the biggest implications if that happens?

BF: I think it's a huge storyline because it does have the potential to impact every program in major college football. My guess -- and that's all it is because I don't think even the conference execs know much right now -- is that something with the Big Ten happens in June and then the Pac-10 maneuvers to add two other programs.

***

Many thanks to Bruce for taking time to help us with this. Be sure to check out his blog on ESPN.com, which you can find HERE. It's an excellent resource for college football material.

So, do you agree with how Bruce sees the 2010 season unfolding? Who do you see as the potential surprises and disappointments of the upcoming season?

And don't forget, we'll be wrapping up Two-A-Days with an in-depth look at Georgia, so if you have questions you want answered, leave them in the comments section here or send me an email at dhale@macon.com.

NEXT UP: Georgia recruiting on Friday morning.

Two-A-Days: Around the SEC

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 15th installment, in which we take a look around the SEC.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

So we've talked to the beat writers from every team in the SEC, and we've chatted with the beat writers from Georgia's three other FBS non-conference opponents. But that was all more of a micro-view of what's in store for the Bulldogs this year.

As we wind down Two-A-Days, I wanted to also take more of a big-picture look at college football. Later this afternoon we'll talk about the national landscape, but for now, I turned to ESPN's SEC blogger Chris Low for an around-the-horn look at the conference as it stands at the end of spring. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: Ryan Mallett seems pretty well established as the SEC's leading QB at the moment, and Greg McElroy is coming off a national title. Beyond that, however, there are a whole lot of question marks. Georgia and Florida look like they've got talented prospects, but we haven't seen much (or any) of John Brantley or Aaron Murray. LSU and South Carolina looked to have established QBs, but Jordan Jefferson and Stephen Garcia haven't exactly endeared themselves to their coaches. Tennessee, Auburn, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Kentucky, Vandy... they look up in the air. So... is there a QB problem in the SEC right now or might we see a few of these ambiguous situations turn into major strengths by the fall?

Chris Low: This is like the third straight year where there's been a lot of uncertainty at the quarterback position. Back in 2008, it was sort of Matthew Stafford, Tim Tebow and everybody else. Everybody else had a lot of question marks. Last year, supposedly it was just Tebow and Jevan Snead and no one knew what to think of someone like Greg McElroy. It's been par for the course in this league that there's been a couple of stable situations and everybody else is going into the season a little bit blind.

The guy I think will break out and be a marquee quarterback this year is John Brantley at Florida. He's as pure a passer as Florida's had in a long time, and he's really played well in the last two springs. Last spring, Tebow didn't play a lot, and Brantley worked a lot with the first team. I think Brantley would be my first choice to really break out this season, and I think they're going to really tweak that offense around him. There's going to be much more emphasis put on throwing the football than in the past.

To me the most intriguing situation in the league is at South Carolina. You have a guy in Stephen Garcia who improved his numbers pretty significantly last year from his redshirt freshman year. If you look up just the SEC-only stats from last year, he had better numbers than almost any guy in the league, better than Tebow's numbers. Ryan Mallett's the only guy who had better numbers. But his coach, Steve Spurrier, is so down on him right now as far as his commitment and his work ethic, and he's telling everyone he might play a true freshman in Connor Shaw if he comes back in August and he feels like he's better. Maybe he's trying to motivate Garcia. Maybe he's really had it with Garcia. But to me, that's a pretty precarious position to be in. At every other position, you have the firepower to maybe make a run for the first time in ages, but you're looking at the prospect of maybe playing a true freshman at quarterback.

I think Chris Relf might be the most improved quarterback at Mississippi State. He had a really good spring, he's improved his passing, he's 240 pounds and a real good running quarterback. He really puts a lot of pressure on the defense with his ability to run, but he improved his passing this spring. I think he'll be even more effective this year.

DH: Lots of coaching changes around the league this year, including two head coaches (Tennessee and Kentucky) and a bunch of new coordinators (Georgia, Florida, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss) and staff shakeups everywhere except Auburn. From your travels this spring, who seems to be fitting in the best so far?

CL: Georgia, what they did bringing in Todd Grantham, he has extensive experience in college and the NFL, knows that 3-4 defense inside and out, coached with Nick Saban and coached it the whole time he was in the NFL. His approach is getting after the quarterback, hitting the quarterback, pressuring the quarterback, disguising coverages, disguising blitzes, getting into his head and doing anything they can to attack the quarterback. That will be their calling card this year, and they're going to be more aggressive. Now, do they have the personnel right now to do everything he wants? I think he's a little concerned about his depth at corner and whether they have enough outside linebackers.

But they'll be more aggressive, take a few more chances and be more multi-faced in how they come after the quarterback and where they come from. If you go back and watch last year how many times Alabama blitzed Javier Arenas from the cornerback position -- I think he ended up with around five sacks. I think they're going to do more of that at Georgia this year and really put the offense in bad situations. So I like Grantham and that defense, but they are going to have to recruit to it, and they'll probably need to have at least one more year to get the guys.

One other situation like that -- I like Dan Mullen's hire of Manny Diaz as his coordinator. The combination of him and Chris Wilson, the defensive line coach who came over from Oklahoma, Mississippi State up front this year will be a lot more active and a lot better.

DH: Spring practice is often a lot like spring training in baseball -- everything seems promising until the games actually start. But from what you've learned this spring, what two or three storylines do you think will actually have a major impact this fall?

CL: I think the quarterback situation at LSU is going to be big. Jordan Jefferson did not have a great spring. They thought he would. Everybody thought he would take that shot and run with it, and he didn't. In fact, almost everybody at LSU will tell you -- if not so much publicly -- but Jarrett Lee played at least as well, if not outplayed him this spring. And Lee's the guy that threw 16 interceptions two years ago, and seven of them went for touchdowns the other way. So it's going to be really intriguing if they get into that first month of the season -- and remember, they play North Carolina to open the season, who will be outstanding on defense, and they play West Virginia a couple of weeks later -- if they don't play well offensively and Jefferson struggles with his decision making, I think you're going to see Jarrett Lee out there. It'll be interesting to see how he's received. He was sort of the whipping boy, but Les Miles told me he would not be hesitant to play Lee.

I think the whole Urban Meyer, Florida thing -- what is the deal? He was there for practice, there for recruiting, and he hasn't been around much since. He had the whole blow-up with the reporter. He hasn't said a whole lot. Has he changed as a coach? Is he going to give up special teams, which has sort of been his baby? If not, will he be as involved? Just what is the post-I'm going to quit, no I'm going to take a leave Urban Meyer going to look like? That's one of the shorelines that everybody is waiting to see how it plays out.

DH: Tim Tebow, Rolando McClain, Eric Berry... some of the biggest stars in the SEC are off to play on Sundays, so who did you see this spring that you think has a chance to step up to that star status and become a household name in the fall?

CL: I don't know that Marcel Dareus was a household name to start the season last year at Alabama, but he ended up being the defensive MVP of the national championship game. But he only started four games last year. He wasn't even a full-time starter for Alabama. So he'd be my first guy. I think he's the best defensive lineman in the SEC. He's a top-10 draft pick next year.

I think Tauren Poole at Tennessee, the running back. I think he'll be the next 1,000-yard rusher at Tennessee. He never really got a chance last year to play, but in every scrimmage they had this year, he had a long run. He's a really tough, hard-nosed runner, and I think he'll have a big year.

I think Kris Durham at Georgia. Teams are still going to shadow A.J. Green everywhere he goes, but talking to Mike Bobo, Durham has had a really good spring, and they really feel like Durham has come on and will break out and can become their No. 2 receiver this year and have a big year. He's a guy to watch, certainly.

After that, two more guys I think will be that type of player: Russell Shephard at LSU will become more of a household name this year now that he's a full-time receiver. I think they're going to get him the ball. And DeVonte Holloman, South Carolina's sophomore safety, I think will be one of those guys that everybody knows who he is when this year's over. I think he and Stephone Gilmore back in that defensive backfield will be a pretty wicked combination.

DH: Alabama and Florida have played in the past two SEC title games and, despite some major changes, appear to be the favorites again. You have them atop your SEC power poll, but who might be poised to step up and grab a division title if the Tide or Gators take a tumble?

CL: Well I don't rank them by division, I rank them 1-12. I have the West teams all ranked ahead of Georgia because I think the West has sort of moved past the East and is a little stronger top to bottom. Now, I don't know if it's the case that they won't have more losses, but that's not how I do the poll right now. I think that Auburn, LSU and Arkansas are all a little bit stronger right now than Georgia, but not a lot, and I think Georgia probably stands as good a chance as anybody to unseat Florida than anybody in the West can unseat Alabama.

I think if Georgia gets good play from Murray and he stays healthy and they're able to eliminate some of those big plays and some of those games that plagued them on defense last year when they gave up 35, 45 points, I think Georgia will be right there to challenge Florida. I think Florida is going to lose a couple of games this year. I think everybody in the East will have at least one conference loss this year, and it might be one of those years where everybody has two.

So I'd go with the Bulldogs in the East, and in the West, I just think it's so close between Arkansas, Auburn and LSU, it's basically whoever gets the breaks, whoever stays healthy and whoever's quarterback situation works out the best. Even then I'd say Arkansas has a little bit of an advantage because Mallett is the best quarterback in the league, but they haven't proven that they can stop anybody on defense. So that's the big divide they have to cross this year.

***

Big thanks to Chris for taking so much time out to provide some really interesting insight from around the league. You can read his SEC blog for ESPN HERE, including his spring wrap-up of Georgia HERE.

So… fair to see Alabama and Florida as the favorites again? Who do you see as the best of the rest? Which story lines are you most interested in following through the spring? And who do you see as the burgeoning stars in the SEC?

And don't forget, we're wrapping up Two-A-Days tomorrow with a look at Georgia. So if you have some burning questions you want answered, here's your last chance. Send them to me at dhale@macon.com.

NEXT UP: A look at the national scene later this afternoon.

Two-A-Days: Colorado Buffaloes

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 14th installment, in which we take a closer look at the Colorado Buffaloes.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

Colorado in a flash:

Head Coach: Dan Hawkins, fifth year
2009 Record: 3-9 (2-6 Big 12)
2009 Stats: Total offense, 314.33 ypg (12th Big 12, 104th nationally); Total defense, 363.00 ypg (7th Big 12, 57th nationally)
Coaching Changes: Ashley Ambrose takes over for Greg Brown as DBs coach, Brian Cabral takes over all linebackers after the departure of OLBs coach Bob Foster. Robert Price takes over as receivers coach.
Starters Returning: Offense (8), Defense (7), Special Teams (1)
Key Player Losses: LB Jeff Smart, LB Marcus Burton, S Ben Burney
Big Games: @ Cal (9/11), @ Missouri (10/9), @ Oklahoma (10/30), @ Nebraska (11/26)
Non-Conference Slate: Colorado State (9/4), @ Cal (9/11), Hawaii (9/18). Georgia (10/2),

How long has it been since Colorado made its trip to Athens? Well, Matthew Stafford was a true freshman who had to be pulled from the game in favor of redshirt freshman Joe Cox in order for the Dawgs to pull out a win. So needless to say, a lot has happened both in Athens and Boulder since then.

To catch us up on where the Buffaloes stand now, I turned to Denver Post beat writer Tom Kensler, who covers CU.

David Hale: The quarterback competition was obviously the big headline of the spring. How did the QBs perform this spring, and is the competition between Tyler Hansen and Cody Hawkins likely to continue well into the fall?

Tom Kensler: The philosophy of Colorado coach Dan Hawkins has always been to open up all positions each spring. Hawkins and offensive coordinator Eric Kiesau continually answered reporters' questions about the quarterback "battle" by saying junior Tyler Hansen and senior Cody Hawkins (son of the head coach) were pretty much in a dead heat, and that naming the starter for next season won't be made until August drills. Don't believe it. Hansen, who is an exceptional scrambler (Bulldog and NFL fans old enough to remember might compare his elusiveness to Fran Tarkenton) and has the stronger arm, was the starter for the last seven games in 2009. There is no reason to believe that would change.

DH: What kind of progress did the O line make this spring? Last year, the group allowed 44 sacks -- most by far in the Big 12. Is Ryan Miller's spring injury a concern, and is Nate Solder good enough to lead a turnaround for the unit?

TK: Building a solid offensive line has been a tedious process since Dan Hawkins arrived in December, 2005. It has taken a lot of patience. Colorado had only six available offensive linemen during Hawkins' first spring practices (2006), but finally there is some depth. And there's some talent, too, led by towering senior left tackle Nate Solder (6-9, 300) and junior guard Ryan Miller (6-8, 310). Both are considered pro prospects -- especially Solder, who has good enough feet to have played tight end during his first two years on campus. Miller underwent arm surgery in the spring but should be fine. This won't be the best offensive line in the Big 12, but it's no longer among the worst.

DH: Bigger story this spring: The continuing woes of the running game, including more injury problems for Rodney Stewart, or the emergence of Michigan transfer Toney Clemons in the passing game?

TK: When healthy, Rodney Stewart is one of the best running backs in the Big 12. He got banged up in the spring but nothing serious. Stewart is one of those "recruiting is not an exact science" stories. He was lightly recruited out of Columbus, Ohio, but found a home in Colorado. Stewart is quick and there's not a lot of wasted motion. He's just 5-6, 175 pounds, but is among the strongest players on the team with a 400-pound bench. He will take on tacklers and often wins the battle. Trouble is, there is little depth behind Stewart. Four running backs were signed in November and a couple will need to help. As for Clemons, signs point to him being one of the nation's most successful transfers. A former national top-100 bluechipper from the Pittsburgh area, Clemons signed with then Michigan coach Lloyd Carr and, without complaining, he played behind two future NFL receivers as a freshman. As a sophomore, Clemons didn't like how he was being used under new coach Rich Rodriguez and decided to leave. He looks like a future pro - good size (6-2, 205), excellent speed, great hands and lots of savvy.

DH: Colorado loses its top two linebackers from last season in Marcus Burton and Jeff Smart. Did anyone step up this spring and appear ready to fill the void?

TK: Linebacker is a concern but position coach Brian Cabral, who played with Mike Singletary on the Chicago Bears' 1985 Super Bowl championship team, said his worries were eased by the spring play of senior Michael Sipili in the middle (Mike position) and sophomore Jon Major at the Will. Sipili, a hard-nosed Hawaiian of Samoan decent, earned freshman All-America mention in 2006. But he was suspended for 2007 after being involved in an off-campus incident and has struggled to regain his early form. Cabral is hoping this is his breakout year. Same for Major. Named a 2007 Parade All-American in suburban Denver, Major promptly suffered a torn ACL early in his first CU August drills and redshirted in 2008. Soreness lingered in the knee last fall and he saw only spot duty, but, now fully healed, Major shows the quickness and hitting ability that made him a highly regarded recruit. There are no concerns at outside linebacker, where senior B.J. Beatty has a great motor and will be one of the team's best players.

DH: It has been a rocky road for Dan Hawkins so far at CU. How crucial is this season for his survival, and did this spring give you a sense that the Buffs might be ready to turn the corner?

TK: Many Colorado fans (and media members) were surprised that Dan Hawkins was retained following last season's 3-9 disaster. Given a fifth year without a winning record (his second team, in 2007, finished the regular season 6-6 but lost to Alabama 30-24 in the Independence Bowl), Hawkins may need a bowl appearance this season to continue on. This appears to be Hawkins' most talented squad, with 16 returning starters, but the price of poker has gone up. Not only is there more pressure, but Colorado faces a tougher schedule. Non-conference foes include Georgia and California, along with the always tough rivalry game with Colorado State. And games against the best teams of the Big 12's North Division (Missouri, Nebraska) are on the road.

DH: Bonus Question: Any advice on food, entertainment or general Boulder trivia for Georgia fans planning their travel schedule for the fall?

TK: When looking for dining possibilities, there is no reason to leave Boulder's Pearl Street Mall. It's one of the nation's most famous and picturesque pedestrian strolls, lined with interesting shops and good eats. For fine dining, Frasca Food and Wine (Italian) has been ranked among the nation's best restaurants, and Flagstaff House offers spectacular views. For the casually inclined, Old Chicago is a popular watering hole that has good pizza and pasta. Try Juanita's and Rio Grande for Mexican Food. Colorado is famous for its microbrews, including the Walnut Brewery, which serves Boulder Beer products and has excellent food. Other good dining choices include Jax Fish House, Pasta Jay's and the Boulder Chophouse.

***

Great stuff from Tom and a fantastic primer on both Colorado and Boulder. (I don't know about you, but I'm already excited for the trip!)

You can read Tom's CU coverage HERE or check out his blog HERE.

Oh, and when I asked Tom for some "general Boulder trivia" he was also happy to provide. So while you discuss Georgia's date with the Buffs in September, chew on this one: Boulder was the imaginary location for what memorable TV sitcom?

And don't forget, we'll be wrapping up Two-A-Days with an in-depth look at Georgia, so if you have questions you want answered, leave them in the comments section here or send me an email at dhale@macon.com.

NEXT UP: A big-picture look at the SEC on Thursday morning.

Two-A-Days: Arkansas Razorbacks

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 13th installment, in which we take a closer look at the Arkansas Razorbacks.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

Arkansas in a flash:

Head Coach: Bobby Petrino, third year
2009 Record: 8-5 (3-5 SEC), beat East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl
2009 Stats: Total offense, 427.31 ypg (3rd SEC, 20th nationally); Total defense, 401.15 ypg (12th SEC, 89th nationally)
Coaching Changes: OC Paul Petrino left for the same job at Illinois, and Garrick McGee was promoted to take his place, with Bobby Petrino still calling plays. Offensive line coach Kirk Botkin also departed, replaced by Chris Klenakis, who comes from Nevada. Kris Cinkovich takes over as receivers coach. Former Tennessee assistant Steve Caldwell takes over as defensive ends coach for Kirk Botkin.
Starters Returning: Offense (9), Defense (7), Special Teams (2)
Key Player Losses: RB Michael Smith, OL Mitch Petrus, DT Malcolm Sheppard
Big Games: @ Georgia (9/18), Alabama (9/25), Auburn (10/16), LSU (11/27)
Non-Conference Slate: Tennessee Tech (9/4), Louisiana-Monroe (9/11), Texas A&M (10/9), UTEP (11/13)

Arkansas' offense was downright scary last year, but so was the defense for a much different reason. Ryan Mallett's return and Bobby Petrino's history make the Hogs a trendy pick in the SEC this year, but there is still much to be done before Arkansas is ready to pass Alabama out west.

So, how far were the Hogs able to go this spring? For that, I turned to Brandon Marcello, the Razorbacks beat writer for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: Ryan Mallett is high up on plenty of draft boards and coming off an impressive season a year ago, but he missed all of spring practice with a broken foot. I'm not sure this is a fair analogy in the least -- but are there any concerns that his second season in the SEC could involve a step back as it did for fellow transfer Jevan Snead at Ole Miss? How has Mallett's injury progressed and do you see any hangover effect as he gets into shape for the fall?

Brandon Marcello: I think there is always that thought and belief out there that Ryan Mallett could take a step back. In fact, you may see that with his numbers this season as I believe the Razorbacks are going to need to run the ball more this season to have more success. It's easy to forget that Mallett was in his first season as Arkansas' signal-caller last year, and while Mallett certainly has all-world ability, we should remember that was the first time the SEC teams and coaches had seen Mallett. Now they've had a year to adjust, so the junior very well could have diminished numbers in 2010.

All that aside, I do not see him taking a step back like Jevan Snead at Ole Miss. The offense at Ole Miss is nothing like the one at Arkansas, and many know that the Rebels' offense is not necessarily a haven for quarterbacks. Bobby Petrino is an offensive coach, and he's worked with quarterbacks most of his coaching career. Additionally, all signs point to a healthy recovery from the broken toe in Mallett's left foot. The worry was that Mallett would gain unneeded weight during his recovery, but he's actually stayed healthy and maintained his arm strength in workouts.

A funny story to share here is when Petrino visited Mallett in the hospital after the surgery to check in and to also go get the quarterback some food. He asked Mallett what he wanted from a menu, and Mallett surprised Petrino by picking a healthy item — chicken without mayonnaise.

It may sound small, but Petrino says that showed him that Mallett has matured since he arrived on campus in 2008.

Mallett is hovering at about 232 pounds right now, and coaches would like to bulk him up to near 240 for the fall. He should also be cleared to participate in voluntary drills in June.

DH: I don't think anyone will question Arkansas' explosiveness on offense, but there are some key changes on that side of the ball. Paul Petrino left for the OC job at Illinois, so Garrick McGee was promoted to O coordinator. O line coach Mike Summers was replaced by Chris Klenakis, who did some impressive work with Nevada's running game last year. How have the new guys fit in, and what changes might be in store with the coaching shake-ups?

BM: You're going to see the Pistol offense quite a bit next season. The coaches at Arkansas call it the 'Shot," and they did run it a bit last season but mainly with the passing game. The hope is that with Chris Klenakis on staff, the Hogs can learn to run the ball with more success out of the formation. Klenakis helped install the Pistol at Nevada in the past and he's worked with Coach Petrino in the past. In fact, this coaching staff has a heavy Petrino flavor as he has coaching connections with most of his assistants.

The loss of Paul Petrino, I believe, was huge in the offseason and it may have been a contributing factor to the off-game the receivers had in the Liberty Bowl. Paul was the best assistant on the staff last season, and the job he did improving the receivers was remarkable. Garrick McGee was a natural choice to become the offensive coordinator, even if Bobby Petrino is the one calling the plays. Many believe McGee is on his way to being a head coach somewhere within the next two seasons.

The running game has been as big a focus as anything this spring, and it may have cost Arkansas' passing game a tad. Bobby Petrino believes the passing game took a step back. It's up to Kris Cinkovich to improve the receiving corps, which features three of the top pass-catchers in the SEC — Joe Adams, Greg Childs and Jarius Wright.

Defenisvely is where the most improvement can be seen with the hiring of a new assistant. Steve Caldwell is molding Arkansas' defensive ends into a team strength, and DE Jake Bequette was a menace off the edge in the spring. Watch out for that group next season, as Arkansas began to see more production from the ends near the end of last season. The hiring of Caldwell, who coached some of the best at Tennessee, was a great addition and one Petrino has been working on for a while. You may remember that Petrino came after Caldwell to be his defensive coordinator in 2008, but Caldwell passed and stayed at Tennessee.

DH: Obviously it's the defense that worries most Arkansas fans, and for two straight seasons under Bobby Petrino, it's been pretty bad. Beyond the coaching changes, have you seen anything this spring that would lead you to believe the unit can be revitalized this coming season?

BM: The cornerbacks and, as mentioned above, the defensive ends, have improved. I think the key next season is the return of Isaac Madison, who was out all last season with an injured knee, at cornerback. His addition and the improvement of rising sophomore Darius Winston has given the Hogs some needed depth and production at corner. For the first time since this staff has been here I heard the term "lockdown" when describing the coverage by the cornerbacks at times this spring.

The move of Rudell Crim from cornerback to strong safety has also helped. He's now the fastest safety on the team and his move late in the spring proved fruitful in the latter practices, when the defense became disruptive. In fact, the defense snagged seven interceptions in one practice.

The weakness is linebacker, where the depth is almost non-existent. Bret Harris showed promise as a backup. Jerry Franklin was in the weight room for most of the spring by Petrino's orders, but will be counted on next season. There's also Jerico Nelson to look at there, who seems to never come off the field. The Hogs may count on freshmen for depth, including newcomer Braylon Mitchell.

DH: Georgia fans won't soon forget the shootout in Fayetteville last year in which Arkansas' secondary made Joe Cox look like a Heisman candidate. How much has Arkansas really improved that secondary this season after the unit finished 99th in the nation in pass defense a year ago?

BM: As mentioned above, the move of Rudell Crim over to strong safety was needed and provided some added production. Darius Winston hit the weight and film rooms hard this offseason. His big weakness was, well, his upper body weakness. He was man-handled at times last season, but was stronger on the field this spring. I recall one example when he threw the much larger Greg Childs to the ground while fighting for the ball during a scrimmage. That opened some eyes.

The problem, though, is that they need to be more consistent. They'll play the short game well and have improved on halting yards-after-the-catch, but they're still weak stopping the big play. We saw it in the spring game when the two defenses gave up 10 plays of 25 yards or longer, including an 88-yard run by backup quarterback Brandon Mitchell.

It remains to be seen. The good thing for Arkansas fans is that the defense did improve as the season went on last year. In fact, if not for the defense in the Liberty Bowl, the Hogs could have been 7-6.

DH: Forgive me for another Ole Miss comparison, but like the Rebels last year, Arkansas seems like the chic dark-horse pick this season. What's the attitude among the players and coaches to all the offseason love? Has it been a motivation or have coaches worked to maintain underdog status in the locker room?

BM: Bobby Petrino does not like the underdog role. He has embraced the high expectations and has made it no secret that he wants to win an SEC championship this season. He's told the media this and it's the talk in the locker room nearly every day.

It's easy to label someone the "darkhorse," when that team's offense is sexy. The passing game is fun to watch, the receivers are physical and fast, and with Ryan Mallett's star power, it makes the pick so much easier for the national guys. Lost in all this is the need for improvement from the running game and defense. Arkansas was a quick-strike offense last season, but they need to be able to run the clock and improve in short-yardage situations.

And we all know they need to improve leaps and bounds on defense to be a contender for a BCS game.

Even so, there was improvement this spring and the coaches think the pieces are in place for a special season.

One thing is for certain, it's going to be fun to watch Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn and LSU battle it out in the SEC West next season. It's going to be the toughest division of any power conference out there.

***

Many thanks to Brandon for the analysis. You can read his Arkansas blog HERE, check out his Arkansas videos HERE or follow him on Twitter HERE.

So, what say you guys? Should Arkansas really be a chic pick for an SEC West title? Or do you think those defensive deficiencies will be too much to overcome? And just how concerned will you be for the Hogs visit to Athens in September?

And don't forget, we'll be wrapping up Two-A-Days with an in-depth look at Georgia, so if you have questions you want answered, leave them in the comments section here or send me an email at dhale@macon.com.

NEXT UP: Wrapping up Georgia's opposition with a look at Colorado this afternoon.

Two-A-Days: ULL Ragin' Cajuns

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 12th installment, in which we take a closer look at the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

Louisiana-Lafayette in a flash:

Head Coach: Rickey Bustle, ninth year
2009 Record: 6-6 (4-4 Sun Belt)
2009 Stats: Total offense, 361.75 ypg (6th Sun Belt, 76th nationally); Total defense, 404.33 (4th Sun Belt, 92nd nationally)
Starters Returning: Offense (5), Defense (8), Special Teams (2)
Key Player Losses: DE Hall Davis, OL Brad Bustle, RB Undrea Sails, TE Luke Aubrey
Big Games: @ Georgia (9/4), Oklahoma State (10/8), @ Troy (10/16), @ Ole Miss (11/6)
Non-Conference Slate: @ Georgia (9/4), Oklahoma State (10/8), @ Ohio (10/30), @ Ole Miss (11/6)

There will be plenty mystery on the field at Sanford Stadium when Georgia opens the 2010 season on Sept. 4, not the least of which will involve the Bulldogs' opponent. So, to get some background on ULL, I turned to Joshua Parrott, who covers the Cajuns for The (Lafayette) Advertiser. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: ULL knocked off Kansas State last year and played a close game against Illinois two seasons ago, so it's not unreasonable to assume that the Cajuns can be competitive with some of the bigger-conference teams. Do the players approach these games differently than they would a Sun Belt game? What's their confidence level like looking ahead to an opener against Georgia?

Joshua Parrott: No, the players and coaches don't really prepare any differently than they do for a Sun Belt Conference game. But they do understand that it's an opportunity to make a statement on a national level. The win over Kansas State opened a lot of people's eyes and could have been a springboard to bigger things to come, but the Cajuns couldn't get past that six-win hump. Their confidence is high going into the Georgia game. The entire coaching staff remained intact - only the second time that's happened under coach Bustle. Almost the entire starting defense is back. Some key offensive weapons return. A few newcomers will likely get on the field right away. Past players thought they had a chance against Kansas State and Illinois (both two years ago) and some of the bigger-name programs. The current players KNOW it's a possibility because they made it happened against a Kansas State team that would have played in a bowl game if not for a scheduling mistake that left them with two DI-A games.

DH: Georgia will be trotting out a new starting QB and a brand new defensive scheme in its opener against ULL. Do the Cajuns' coaches see this as an opportunity to potentially exploit some early jitters by the Bulldogs and make it into a more competitive game than we might think? How much -- if at all -- has UGA been talked about already?

JP: Personally, I think the Cajuns can find a way to win all of their non-conference games in 2010 (at Georgia, Oklahoma St on ESPN2, at Ohio and at Ole Miss). Each of those teams lost some vital pieces from last year. The timing could benefit the Cajuns because it's the first game for a new quarterback and defense. Whether an upset is reality depends on whether the Cajuns play strong defense, generate some offense and win the turnover battle. The Bulldogs will face a fast, aggressive Cajun defense with eight returning starters. That unit can force turnovers and ranked among the national leaders last season in interceptions. That will be a challenge for a young college quarterback to handle. Georgia will still be a heavy favorite, but crazy things have happened in the past.

DH: Obviously most Georgia fans aren't particularly knowledgeable about ULL, so can you tell us a few names on each side of the ball to keep an eye out for?

JP: On offense, the Cajuns have been known for running the ball in recent years, but now they're much more balanced. Junior quarterback Chris Masson returns for his second year as a starter. He's a solid pass-first, run-second QB. Junior tight end Ladarius Green is a former basketball player and has the potential to be an All-American before he leaves school due to his play-making ability. Senior receiver Marlin Miller is fast but has to become more consistent game-in, game-out. The defense is led by senior linebackers Grant Fleming and Daylon McCoy and cornerbacks Dwight Bentley and Orkeys Auriene. Fleming shifts over to the middle for his final year after starting on the strongside and has pro potential. McCoy moved from safety a few years ago and is an undersized playmaker. Bentley and Auriene are strong cover corners and multi-year starters. The Cajuns play their best players on special teams, too. It's one of the reasons why they rank third nationally since 2002 in blocked kicks with 41, trailing only Fresno State (48) and Texas (46).

DH: Having seen ULL this spring, are there any major question marks we should keep an eye on when the fall rolls around that could dictate how competitive the opening game in Athens will be?

JP: The Cajuns definitely have some questions going into the fall. The offensive line lost two first team all-conference players (Chris Fisher and Brad Bustle) on the offensive line and a multi-year starter at left tackle. Ian Burks moves to center after starting three years at right guard, and Jonathan Decoster will be a four-year starter at right tackle. But the three other spots up front will be filled by new faces, including two sophomores. A number of veteran receivers are back, but someone has to emerge as a consistent threat to take the heat off Green and give Masson more options. The starting tailback job is open, with junior Julian Shankle trying to fight off three-star recruit Rob Walker, junior college signee Kevis Streeter and ex-Texas Tech commitment Aaron Spikes from Dallas. Offensively, the Cajuns have to score more points than last season (22.2 ppg). Some big-play guys need to emerge for that happen. The defense returns a lot but must find a way to generate a better pass rush and give up fewer big plays in key situations. Injuries at certain spots (quarterback Michael Desormeaux and linebacker two years ago; running back Undrea Sails, tight end Ladarius Green and both safety spots last year) have also played a role in late-season struggles over the past few years. The Cajuns have more quality depth now and hope to avoid similar injury woes this year.

***

Big thanks to Joshua for the insight on the Cajuns. You can check out his ULL coverage for the Advertiser HERE, read his blog HERE or follow him on Twitter HERE.

I'm guessing no one will be predicting the upset, but how confident are you that the Dawgs can treat ULL as a tune up and have the QB and the defense on a roll by the time they head to South Carolina in Week 2? What's the minimum margin of victory you'd need to see in order to feel confident following the Dawgs' date with the Cajuns?

And don't forget, we'll be wrapping up Two-A-Days with an in-depth look at Georgia, so if you have questions you want answered, leave them in the comments section here or send me an email at dhale@macon.com.

NEXT UP: The down-low on Arkansas on Wednesday morning.

Two-A-Days: Tennessee Volunteers

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 11th installment, in which we take a closer look at the Tennessee Volunteers.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

Tennessee in a flash:

Head Coach: Derek Dooley, first year
2009 Record: 7-6 (4-4 SEC), lost to Virginia Tech in the Chick-fil-A Bowl
2009 Stats: Total offense, 383.46 ypg (6th SEC, 60th nationally); Total defense, 318.77 ypg (5th SEC, 22nd nationally)
Coaching Changes: Craziness in Knoxville during the offseason. Lane Kiffin bolted town amid a sea of angry fans after just one year. He took much of his staff with him, including DC Monte Kiffin, D line coach Ed Orgeron, QB coach David Reaves, receivers coach Frank Wilson, OL coach James Clegg, RB coach Eddie Gran and DBs coach Willie Mack Garza. Derek Dooley, the former La Tech coach and son of longtime Georgia coach Vince Dooley, takes over the program. He fillled out his staff with Justin Wilcox as DC (formerly the Boise State DC), Charlie Baggett as WR coach, Chuck Smith as D line coach, Eric Russell coaching tight ends and special teams, Terry Joseph as DBs coach, Darin Hinshaw, formerly a receivers coach at Memphis, as the QBs coach, and Harry Hiestand, a longtime NFL assistant with the Bears, to coach the O line.
Starters Returning: Offense (4), Defense (7), Special Teams (2)
Key Player Losses: QB Jonathan Crompton, RB Montario Hardesty, DT Dan Williams, S Eric Berry
Big Games: Oregon (9/11), Florida (9/18), @ LSU (10/2), Alabama (10/23)
Non-Conference Slate: Tennessee-Martin (9/4), Oregon (9/11), UAB (9/25), @ Memphis (11/6)

Tennessee was the talk of the SEC last season -- although usually because of head coach Lane Kiffin's antics, but also after a mild resurgence in the standings. But as quickly as Kiffin took the conference by storm, he bolted, and things could get pretty ugly in Knoxville in Derek Dooley's first year at the helm.

A tough schedule and massive player departures have the Vols facing an uphill climb. To find out how far they may have come during spring practice, I turned to Wes Rucker, who covers Tennessee for the Chattanooga Times Free Press. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: Obviously Lane Kiffin caused quite a stir last spring. How was this year’s spring practice — and the overall mood in Knoxville — different under Derek Dooley?


Wes Rucker: It depends on whose mood you’re gauging. From a media perspective, we didn’t see as much this spring. Kiffin, for all his faults, let us watch anything we wanted last spring. Dooley only allowed us in for individual practice periods, and we didn’t see scrimmages. As a result, many of my readers were disappointed with the lower amount of insight I was able to provide. We’ll figure this out, though. We better, anyway, because I don’t see a lot of wiggle room with this regime. Dooley and Co. even stopped the Kiffin-era blasting of Lil’ Wayne during practice, which disappointed several players and at least one beat writer.


As far as the mood around town, I’d say that’s nervy. The attrition from three head coaches in three years has really taken a toll on UT’s roster. The Vols will only enter preseason camp with barely more than 70 scholarship players, and that’s assuming no one else transfers, gets injured during summer conditioning or fails to qualify academically. I think most fans will rally somewhat before the season starts — even Kentucky and Vanderbilt fans usually do — but a slow start would squash those good feelings in a hurry.

And the Vols' second and third games are against Oregon and Florida. So, uh, yeah...



DH: Somewhat related question: Will the Times Free Press be reimbursing you for your entree fee to cover practice?


WR: I’m proud to state for the record that I didn’t pay UT one penny to attend its coaching clinic and watch the final, pre-spring-game scrimmage. I hope UT never puts us in that position again, but if it does, I hope no one attends the next one.



DH: While there were plenty of reasons for Tennessee’s rejuvenation last year, I thought the dramatic improvement of Jonathan Crompton probably topped the list. This year, however, UT is back to square one at QB, and with the transfer of Nick Stephens, there’s not much experience on the depth chart. How do you see the QB battle playing out, and how big of a concern is it right now?


WR: Coaches and players, nearly to a man, thought junior college transfer Matt Simms — Phil’s son and Chris’s brother — was UT’s best quarterback for a majority of spring practice. But Tyler Bray, a lanky, 6-foot-6 January enrollee from California, had a much better performance in the Orange and White game. Simms wasn’t particularly spectacular in UT’s scrimmages, either, but Bray wasn’t much (if any) better.


The bottom line is precisely what you speculated. The Vols have returned to a familiar situation from the last few years — quarterback uncertainty. Dooley has said from the beginning that he wouldn’t rush a decision, and that he’d play both during the season until finding the right guy. He’d rather pick one in preseason camp and be done with it, but he’s not going to pick one just to avoid an in-season controversy.


Simms instantly became a popular figure in the locker room, and teammates love his presence in the huddle and savvy on the field. Bray is probably more talented and definitely has a stronger arm, but he should be getting ready for his high school prom right now. It’s definitely an interesting situation, especially following Stephens’ abrupt, unexpected departure.



DH: If Crompton was the spark for UT last year, surely the running game was the foundation. Now Montario Hardesty is playing in the NFL, Bryce Brown has left the team, and the offensive line has a ton of question marks after Aaron Douglas left the team and virtually all of last year’s starters gone. So, what did you see from the ground game during the spring, and does someone like Tauren Poole even stand a chance if the Vols can’t find some answers on the O line?


WR: I’ve said for three years that Poole was the real deal, and nothing I saw this spring disproved that. He’s a solid, all-around back who can generate yards by himself on the ground or in the passing game. He won’t lead the SEC in rushing or anything like that — there are some awfully dynamic runners in this league — and he’ll be running behind five new starters up front.

First-year offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, who came to UT after five seasons with the Chicago Bears, said he’s “never even heard of anything like” replacing an entire front five in one year. Poole had no problem gaining yards against the Vols’ first-team defense this spring, though, and I think he’ll do the same this season. UT has some talent up front, but it’s young talent, so I think the Vols will struggle mightily offensively early before improving in October and November.



DH: Dan Williams and Eric Berry both became first-round draft picks. Monte Kiffin, the architect of last year’s D is gone, too. So what has been the impact of new DC Justin Wilcox, and who has stepped up this spring that he thinks could help fill the major holes left by Berry and Williams?

WR: Wilcox is a bright young coaching mind who might not be in Knoxville for too long. Friends who write for ESPN.com and Sports Illustrated told me I’d be highly impressed with the former Boise State defensive coordinator, and they were right. His outside-the-box thinking arrived at the perfect time for a program that must do more with less in order to succeed this season. Wilcox was 49-4 with two undefeated seasons and two BCS wins in just four seasons as Boise’s defensive coordinator, and his units led the WAC and ranked among the nation’s leaders in several statistical categories throughout his tenure.


The Vols don’t have tremendous depth defensively aside from the defensive end and middle linebacker positions, but their top 11 will be OK. No one player is capable of replacing Berry and Williams, but sophomore safety Janzen Jackson and big sophomore defensive tackle Montori Hughes are good young players who are also on track to making serious NFL money in the near future.


UT’s defense will be OK regardless, but it could be really good if a third defensive tackle and second cornerback step up in preseason camp. Scoring enough points will be another matter, despite having several solid wideouts and potential star tight end Luke Stocker in the receiving rotation.



DH: Aside from Kiffin, the biggest story from Tennessee last season might have been the incident involving three players allegedly robbing a convenience store. Already this offseason, defensive back Darren Myles has found himself in trouble off the field. What’s the approach that Dooley has taken to discipline, and how big of a concern is off-field behavior at Tennessee at the moment?


WR: Even good guys like Mark Richt occasionally struggled to keep 100-plus male college students in line, so I don’t think anyone should worry unless several incidents pile up in a short amount of time. The Vols have only had one documented incident during the Dooley era, and it didn’t involve illegal drugs or guns — or the double whammy combination of both — so I honestly don’t see any red flags there just yet. My stance will change if more incidents follow, but Myles’ alleged decision to become intoxicated and temporarily turn himself into a human hood ornament outside a sushi bar isn’t the worst story I’ve heard. If that’s the worst incident UT (or any other SEC program) has to deal with in a calendar year, that’s far from a nightmare scenario.


The relative lack of off-field trouble in the Dooley era hasn’t provided the coach many opportunities to show his disciplinary side, but we’ll see how he reacts to the inevitable problems that typically arise. I will say that I’ve been very impressed with the off-field character meetings he has with each class every week. Those meetings are designed to give the players basic information on not only how to avoid trouble, but how to handle simple tasks like signing apartment leases, avoiding credit card debt and paying bills on time.

***

Big thanks to Wes for some great insight into all the changes going on in Knoxville. You can read Wes's UT coverage for the Times Free Press HERE, follow his coverage on Facebook HERE or follow him on Twitter HERE. You can also catch Wes as host of "Inside Tennessee" on ESPN Radio's Knoxville affiliate (and subpar softball team) every weekday from 10-11 a.m.

So, what do you see as a fair prediction for Tennessee's season? They had a new coach and plenty of questions last season and still gave Georgia its ugliest loss of the season -- any chance for a repeat performance?

And don't forget, we'll be wrapping up Two-A-Days with an in-depth look at Georgia, so if you have questions you want answered, leave them in the comments section here or send me an email at dhale@macon.com.

NEXT UP: A look at Georgia's opening foe, Louisiana-Lafayette, this afternoon.

Two-A-Days: Kentucky Wildcats

Two-a-Days rolls on with our 10th installment, in which we take a closer look at the Kentucky Wildcats.

To read previous entries, click HERE.

Kentucky in a flash:

Head Coach: Joker Phillips, first year
2009 Record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC), lost to Clemson in the Music City Bowl
2009 Stats: Total offense, 331.54 ypg (10th SEC, 93rd nationally), Total defense, 359.69 ypg (8th SEC, 53rd nationally)
Coaching Changes: Head coach Rich Brooks called it a career, and offensive coordinator Joker Phillips, already the coach-in-waiting, steps in. Mike Summers, formerly of Arkansas, replaces Jimmy Heggins as offensive line coach. Former Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin steps in to coach receivers, while David Turner is Kentucky's new defensive line coach.
Starters Returning: Offense (5), Defense (7), Special Teams (1)
Key Player Losses: CB Trevard Lindley, LB Micah Johnson, LT Zipp Duncan, DT Corey Peters
Big Games: @ Florida (9/25), South Carolina (10/16), Georgia (10/23), @ Tennessee (11/27)
Non-Conference Slate: @ Louisville (9/4), Western Kentucky (9/11), Akron (9/18), Charleston Southern (11/6)

For years Kentucky was among the doormats of the SEC, but four straight bowl games earn Rich Brooks plenty of credit for turning around the program into a legitimate competitor in the East. This year, however, Brooks is gone, and coach-in-waiting Joker Phillips takes over a team in search of talent on both lines and a starting quarterback.

So, how's the search going so far? For that, I turned to Chip Cosby, who covers Kentucky for the Lexington Herald-Leader. Here's what he had to say...

David Hale: In terms of coaching changes, the one at Kentucky this year has to be considered among the smoothest you'll find. But what's actually been different this spring with Joker Phillips running the show?


Chip Cosby: For starters, the practices have been more up-tempo. Phillips doesn't believe in conditioning/wind sprints after practice. Instead, the players sprint from station to station in between drills. Phillips is also more hands-on than Brooks. Brooks would often stand back and let the coaches coach. Phillips is much more vocal and his presence can be felt more on the practice field.



DH: Mike Hartline started the season at QB last year then got hurt. Morgan Newton stepped in and made some nice strides down the stretch. So who has the edge in the QB battle as the spring winds down? Might we see both of them at times this fall?



CC: Hartline was the most consistent of the quarterbacks in the spring, especially in the early going. It appeared as if Phillips might even name Hartline the starter by the end of spring. But both Morgan Newton and Ryan Mossakowski closed the gap at the end, and after the Blue/White Game Phillips said the competition will continue through the fall. Newton needs to be more consistent with his passing. Mossakowski is still trying to get comfortable with the offense after sitting out last year following shoulder surgery, but I wouldn't count him out either. It wouldn't surprise me to see all three QB's play at some point in the fall.

DH: Whoever starts at QB will be working behind a much different O line this year, with four of five starters departing from last year's team. Which of Kentucky's likely replacements looked good this spring, and how much of a concern will the line be in the fall?


CC: The line will be more athletic but less experienced. Stuart Hines, the lone returning starter at left guard, could blossom into an All-SEC candidate. The coaches believe sophomore guard Larry Warford has NFL potential, as he goes 6-4, 335 with quick feet. The key will be the development of Chandler Burden, who moved from defensive end to try and replace Zipp Duncan at left tackle. Burden has size and athleticism; he just needs to pick up the system. Much like last year, run blocking figures to be a strength, but they struggled in pass protection this spring. This is still a work in progress.



DH: Kentucky lost a lot on defense across the board last year. Who impressed this spring that might step into the void left by the likes of Corey Peters, Trevard Lindley and Micah Johnson?

CC: Weakside linebacker Danny Trevathan showed the ability to be a playmaker in the spring. The Cats will be smaller and less experienced up front so may have to come with more pressure than they have in the past. This plays to Trevathan's strengths: He's 6-1, 225 and speedy. Defensive end DeQuin Evans led the team in sacks last year with six; he figures to be the anchor of the line. Senior tackle Ricky Lumpkin has the most experience, and redshirt freshman Mister Cobble had an impressive spring at tackle. Free safety Winston Guy will lead the secondary.



DH: Randall Cobb and Derrick Locke have the potential to be one of the best WR-RB combos in the league this year, but there are so many other questions on the defense, at receiver, on the line... even the head coach. So what's the feeling around Lexington this spring? Do they believe a fifth straight bowl game is in the cards or could this be a bit of a rebuilding year?



CC: The schedule is a little lighter this year, so getting six wins and going to a fifth straight bowl isn't out of the question. But it's far from a certainty. The Cats need to get things figured out on both lines, and the front seven on defense is a big question mark. But it's not so much how many wins UK gets. It's who they beat. If they get six wins but find a way to knock off South Carolina and/or Tennessee, I think the fans will consider it a good season. But if they go 6-6 without any real significant wins, there will be a sense of disappointment.

***

Many thanks to Chip for the great insight. You can read Chip's Wildcats coverage HERE, check out his blog HERE and follow him on Twitter HERE.

So this is the point in which I ask you guys your thoughts on Kentucky this season, and while I'm quite interested in that, if you'd like for the comments to devolve into a discussion of how awesome the name Mister Cobble is, I have no problems with that.

And don't forget, we'll be wrapping up Two-A-Days with an in-depth look at Georgia, so if you have questions you want answered, leave them in the comments section here or send me an email at dhale@macon.com.

NEXT UP: Tennessee on Tuesday morning.