And that is one of the very few guarantees the Bulldogs can make in '11.
Yes, Georgia possesses a very good, perhaps (one day) great, quarterback in Aaron Murray. Yes, the Bulldogs have some known quantities (and strengths) at other positions -- defensive back Brandon Boykin, tight end Orson Charles, offensive lineman Ben Jones and defensive end DeAngelo Tyson spring to mind, along with perhaps the best kickers in the nation. But, beyond that, the one thing Georgia possesses most is question marks.
That's not to say the answers won't be positive, but until the season gets underway, there are simply too many unknowns to make a solid prediction on the upcoming campaign.
Granted that's a copout on my part, but I really believe that this year's team is too much an unknown quantity to predict, and there are too many variables at play.
For instance, the offensive line -- the group of guys supposed to protect Murray's backside -- could feature a very strong starting five. Beyond that, however, several inexperienced back-ups should earn significant playing time. Youth in the trenches usually equals bad things in the Southeastern Conference. But the Dogs will have some veterans to help nurse their pups along, as well as feature a couple of sizable backs to help protect Murray in the pocket -- and Murray also has the athleticism to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs.
But that's only scratching the surface.
The wide receiver corps will feature just one established contributor in Tavarres King. The remaining rotation owns plenty of athleticism and size, but much of it will be young, and players like Marlon Brown will have to step up and fill starring roles when it is unclear whether they are ready for such responsibility.
The running back position is in a similar quandary -- though true freshman Isaiah Crowell has the type of talent to make an immediate impact.
That's not even taking into account the defense, which appears to have the bodies to excel in its 3-4 scheme -- though few of those bodies have played together or in starting roles.
The Bulldogs now boast enough size at defensive tackle to demand double teams and clog space against the run game -- a feature Georgia sorely lacked in 2010. But despite the promise of Kwame Geathers and John Jenkins, neither has really proved it on the field in the SEC yet, and Jenkins is battling a preseason injury.
Georgia also has a potential playmaker ready to step in and start at linebacker in Jarvis Jones. But Jones hasn't played since sustaining an injury at USC two years ago (though he is now healthy, and reports of his practice play are beyond glowing). And the other impact player at the position -- Alec Ogletree -- will be in his first year at linebacker since moving up from safety.
Don't get me wrong; there is plenty of reason for optimism in Athens these days. The much-heralded Dream Team recruiting class is showing in preseason practice that it may be as good as advertised. And there is ability already in veteran positions -- but is there enough? Injuries are a fact of life in football, and what will happen when some of those freshmen, inevitably, get thrown into the fire?
With Georgia's early season schedule featuring two of its toughest games -- South Carolina also comes to Athens on Sept. 10 (and if you don't think Boise State is worthy of respect, you are in for a rude awakening) -- some of the youngsters may be forced into action sooner rather than later.
With all that in mind, I have a hard time seeing a huge bounce back season for the Bulldogs in 2011.
I believe Georgia has the talent in place to compete week-in and week-out in the SEC. I also believe the program has made some necessary changes in other key areas that should pay dividends (strength and conditioning for instance). I'm just not sure that those moves will pay off completely in 2011 -- 2012 is another story. That said, if the Bulldogs battle and give a good account of themselves in every game, would an 8-4 record be considered another letdown?
That's the real question. With all the talk of coach Mark Richt's seat and just how "hot" it may be, I think it's premature to state that Richt must get the Dogs back into the Georgia Dome come December. I could be wrong, but I think it's a very real possibility Georgia fans will be discussing that very issue come January, because eight wins seems about the right number for Georgia right now. (That's not a prediction, by the way, just a guess.)
Of course I could be totally off; these Bulldogs may well storm into the SEC title game this season. But right now there are simply too many questions to answer for the Dogs to feel they have put themselves back into upper echelon and reclaimed the swagger so often flashed from 2001-05.
Georgia wide receiver Tavarres King
http://accesswdun.com/article/2011/8/241305