Well now its official: Georgia QB Matthew Stafford and RB Knowshon Moreno announced today that they will be entering April's NFL Draft. Both players are considered top 2 prospects at their positions. Many analysts predict Stafford could be the first pick overall (Detroit Lions), with Knowshon expected to go by the middle of the first round.In three years, Stafford threw for 7,731 yards and 51 touchdowns. His 25 touchdowns this season set a new school record. As a starter he went 27-7, with three bowl wins. His best game statistically came in this year's loss to Georgia Tech, where he threw for 407 yards and 5 touchdowns. He has a rocket arm and is solidly built, but he's fairly inconsistent and hasn't appeared willing to change his game to fix any mistakes he'd made as a younger player. He still throws interceptions, he still makes poor decisions, and he still takes a while to get going in many games. Coming out he looks similar to Jamarcus Russell, so let's hope his NFL career doesn't go sideways like his.
Knowshon's two years (redshirt Sophomore) were well spent. Last year, his splitting time with Thomas Brown did not hinder his ability to put up big numbers. He rushed for over 1300 yards and 14 touchdowns both seasons, and never lost a fumble. He never fumbled at all, in fact. Knowshown had 18 total touchdowns this season, bringing his career total to 32. Knowshon's biggest game came last year against Troy, when he ran for 196 yards and 3 touchdowns. He scored three TD's three times this year as well.Oh boo hoo. Let's think about this for a second. Are we that much worse without them? Lost 3 games this year, 2 last year. This isnt like losing Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart. Or Vince Young. Or DJ Shockley even. Let's think about what Stafford and Moreno accomplished. They beat Florida last year (so did Michigan), they didn't lose a bowl game (lets put aside Hawaii's BCS legitimacy last year), and they finished #2 in the BCS rankings last year (which you dont get a trophy for, or anything for that matter). I'm not puting down their talent. They're both incredible talents. Knowshon was our best player. And it will be interesting to see how successful they can be at the next level, but what legacy have they left behind? What great moment will go down in Georgia lore as the symbol of their time here? Knowshon's highlight reel or jukes, jumps and spins? Stafford's 25 touchdowns? Shockley won the SEC. So did Greene. This is Georgia football, people. When the best your two superstars can get you is a two-loss season and no division titles, its hard to imagine that we can do much worse when they're gone.
Looks like Joe Cox is the frontrunner to be the starter next season (which is good), and Caleb King and Richard Samuel will fill in for Moreno at tailback. Luckily for us, these may be our two deepest positions. With two young guns in waiting behind Cox, next season is looking a lot better than what we had in 2006.. but another ten win season is completely within reach.
Well, if our schedule wasn't ridiculously hard.
2 comments. Leave Your Own!:
We may have lost 95% of our offensive output from 2008 but we retain a great team (hopefully more heathy and in less trouble) and a dedicated coaching staff (they may have interviewed elsewhere but they turned down big bucks to stay with Richt).
Our rising stars have a lot to show and i have a lot of faith in them. I better, because we will dancing with the Big 12, PAC 10, and ACC whilst still married to the SEC next year.
well of course we lost most of our offensive output. our starting QB and RB are gone. this isnt like a WR left and suddenly we're screwed. this is college, every 3-4 years, these bastards leave, we just reload and throw some other highly touted recruit out there to do the job. if our schedule wasnt insane next year, i would see no problem with us winning 10-11 games. we're georgia for crying out loud. but as it is, lets hope for 9?
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