What I Learned (or not) from SEC Media Days.

I've intentionally refrained from blogging about the feeding frenzy that is SEC Media Days, for 3 reasons:

1) It's easy to read too much into what gets said, which usually isn't very newsworthy anyway- For those of you who missed it, CMR still doesn't know who'll be atop the QB depth chart on September 2, thinks we have a lot of talented athletes at WR who need to step up, and enjoys calling the plays on offense. Is there anyone who didn't know all this on June 1, 2006? Of course not. With the notable exception of Steve Spurrier, no coach ever says anything at media days that they don't say at every booster club stop during the summer. In today's age of internet fueled instant information overload, I can go on the Dawgvent and find a recap of what CMR said about Jeremy Lomax's new hair style at a Bulldog Club Meeting in Flovilla within 12 hours of the event. I also don't want to be one of those folks parsing phrases like a madman looking for clues from coaches who are doing their best not to give out any. For example, I do not believe the fact that CMR opted for the texas toast at dinner Friday night helps Matt Stafford in the QB race. His decision to go with a mustard-based sauce on his BBQ at Saturday's lunch, however, implies that Joe Cox is not going to transfer. At least in my opinion.

2) It's hard not to be redundant- Those of you who read this blog (both of you) know that I cannot sing the praises of Dawgbone.net highly enough. Those of you who know me outside the blogosphere know that it's really better for all of us if I don't sing anything, praises or otherwise. But if you look at the list of links they've done an admirable job of compiling, you'll realize that there really are only so many nonstories that the state's beat writers can coax out of one press conference. And . . .

3) Blogging takes time I could otherwise spend reading- Yeah, that's right. I've read every blessed word that's come out in the past week. Why? Because I'm a football junky, and the end of July is the height of my Jones for pigskin. That being said, here are some observations I've made since the dust cleared on this annual fling.

Joe Tereshinski will not be going quietly. People forget that prior to the Florida game JTIII did some admirable mop up duty, completing 25 of 49 passes for 371 yards. They also forget that CMR has said more than once that he wants someone to manage the game, not take over the game at quarterback. He's also said, specifically regarding Stafford, that he won't play anyone on potential alone.

Whoever plays quarterback will be fine. As CMR pointed out, it's not like we don't have options. At least one guy will step up. Which one is anybody's guess. But let's harken back to the last time Georgia had a legitimate QB battle. It was before Richt's first season in Athens, when everyone wondered whether he would play redshirt Freshman David Greene or go with stable, steady Cory Phillips. Phillips of course had passed for a bajillion yards in Donnan's last season, presumably while Quincy Carter was hiding in the concourse eating whole bags of cheetos tossed on top of keylime pies while nursing his "injuries". Greene won the job and never looked back. Will JTIII be the next Cory Phillips? Maybe, maybe not. I for one have confidence that the guy who plays best during the week will be the one under center on Saturday. Maybe that's why, like CMR, I'm not so much anxious as I am curious about how this race will turn out.

By the way, if you thought you sensed some lingering resentment in that last quip about Quincy Carter, you'd be right.

The offensive line is underrated. I say it every year. We could put a trained capuchin monkey under center and win 8 games if we have an experienced O-Line. This line is experienced. Yeah, I know we lost 3 starters (4 if you count both Russ Tanner and Ryan Schnetzer). I know Nick Jones is moving over to center, again. But, as I also say every year, the preseason pundits make a mistake when they count "starters" instead of "players". The difference of course is that you can only start one guy at any position, but you can get significant game experience for several, so that the distinction between the two is almost meaningless. Guys like Zeb McKinzey and Ken Shackleford don't have starting experience, but they've logged a lot of snaps. Michael Turner has played more snaps in big SEC games than many "starters" other teams will be returning. Fernando Velasco started in 2004, redshirted to create some separation at guard, and is now back. Daniel Inman, in addition to being 3 to 1 to rip someone's arms off before he leaves Athens (a quality I much admire in a lineman, by the way), is a three year starter. Chester Adams may not be spectacular at tackle, but he's solid and experienced enough. While we may be slim next year, this year's group does not worry me one bit. If we're able to work Kevin Perez in for some meaningful snaps at guard and John Miller likewise at tackle, that would just be gravy.
I know, this guy may not have David Greene's game management skills or D.J Shockley's wheels, but I guaran-damn-tee you he won't throw five picks against South Carolina either. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

An easy schedule is a joy forever. Or at least until we figure out who'll be under center. This year's early schedule breaks very well for us. If we make it out of Columbia without spitting the bit, don't take Ole Miss too lightly on the road, and elicit the usual flood of excuses from Tennessee players after another Athens no-show, we may very well be 8-0 going into Jacksonville again. I for one would be ecstatic if that's the case.

The defensive ends are overrated. Not in terms of individual players, but as a group. Quentin Moses is in fact a beast. So is Charles Johnson. After that things start to get a bit sketchy. CMR has been very complimentary of Marcus Howard in the offseason, but I for one will have to see a guy that size play as an every down DE in the SEC to believe it. Jeremy Lomax has been banged up and is still trying to put weight on a lanky frame. I still think there is a reasonable chance that Brandon Wood works his way into the rotation, especially if Lomax or Howard gets banged up. Scratch that. When they get banged up.

South Carolina scares me, but not that much. And not just because of all the dimly lit trailer parks. Also because we always get into a much closer game than we should over there. That said, South Carolina is returning next to nothing on defense, which is usually where they give us fits. I've never been so happy to see a guy declare early for the draft as I was when Ko Simpson left. I know Spurrier is supposed to be a malevolent genius, but until somebody other than Sidney Rice steps up at receiver and the offensive line class he brought in last year grows up, I'm not that worried about the offense. Blake Mitchell simply does not scare me at quarterback. Chris Smelley has been all but knighted by some fans in Lesser Carolina, which is interesting given that he came out of Tuscaloosa and both Bama and Auburn passed on him. At least their runnin game will be better because, hey, it couldn't get worse. I think it will be close, but look for the chickens to fold in the second half just like they always do. (By the way, that last line was the cue for you gamecock fans to flood the comments section with misspelled screeds about how your coach beat us while he was the coach at the flagship university of the most talent rich state in the country, and about how you almost beat us last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. Oh, and to make phallic references about your cheesy mascot. I didn't want you to miss this opportunity.)

Look for more random observations later as we inch closer to the start of fall practice. I find that's when most of the real news comes out.