Surge of optimism

How many of you are tired of hearing how hard the schedule is going to be?

I had a surge of optimism today when I looked at the new depth chart. And it has nothing to do with the fact that our O-Line will gel, or Moreno, or Stafford, or an arsenal of young running backs, or the excitement of our receiving corps, or the depth at tight end. Or anything to do with the offense, especially when you look at a starting lineup that reads ...

Sr-----So-Jr-So-Fr-So--Sr----Jr
----------------Jr-------------------
----------------So-------------------
----------------SO-------------------

It's the defense, stupid! While the paper scared the crap out of me, saying Evans has passed Prince at starting corner, I look beyond that to the leadership we have on the "No Name Defense". The 1972 Dolphins had the "No Name Defense" because Griese, Csonka, and Mercury Morris were such offensive stars. Much like the Dawgs of 08.

In contrast to the offense...
-------------So-----Sr----------------
Jr---------So----Sr----So-----------Jr
------------Sr-Jr-Sr-Sr---------------

Give me one DE who steps up, (with our front 2, wouldn't someone have to?) and this defense really has some terrific potential. The storyline for this year, I believe, will be how UGA came in with all this offensive hype, but won a championship with Junkyard Dawg D.

The downside, of course, being even if the O is as good as advertised, the numbers won't be crazy good because I really don't think they will have to be.