Why Orson Charles could be the key to a SEC Championship?

When people think of the Georgia Bulldogs and their upcoming season many things come to mind. How will Grantham's new defense play? Who will be the starting quarterback? Can King and Ealey both surpass 1000 yards for the season? Will AJ Green be able to stay healthy all year?

If any number of these questions turns positive, it could steer the Bulldogs to Atlanta for a shot at the SEC Championship. The player though that will have the biggest impact and help the team the most as a whole will be Orson Charles. Why, you ask?

Lets take a look at Charles stats from last year first. He finished with 21 catches for 366 yards and 3 TDs in only 3 starts. What was really impressive about these numbers was that he averaged 17.4 yards per catch and the only TE to have a higher average was Leonard Pope with 19.4 yards per catch in 2004. Charles has the ability to stretch the field and make big plays at any time. 

When teams are lining up against the Bulldogs this year they will most likely have to deal with Charles and Aron White both in the lineup. It would not surprise me to see the Bulldogs use a lot of formations that utilize the two of them on the field at the same time to create mismatches. When the Bulldogs use these formations don't be surprised if the defense uses a safety on Charles and a LB on White. This could help to have some one-on-one coverage with our receivers or cause some holes in the zones.

If Charles can establish himself as a serious threat to the defense in terms of the passing game, this could mean huge numbers for Green and King. As I was stating earlier if the defense feels they have to cover Charles with a safety then this can open up the receivers down field and create the matchups that we want. When you have Green one-on-one with any corner in the NCAA, Green is going to win that battle 90% of the time. If the defense decides to let a linebacker run with Charles, the offense should take that all day.

Closing thought ......you have to remember pending Aaron Murray win's the QB competition, the last time these two played a full season together, Charles caught 75 passes for 21 TD's. So they know each other pretty well and should make for a great duo.

Bulldogs show interest in 2012 RB

The Bulldogs are showing interest already in a 6'3" 209 lb sophomore RB out of Seffner, FL. Matt Jones is a going to be a large back probably finishing his high school around the 220-225 lb range. He compares himself to Brandon Jacobs. Jones has said that the Bulldogs were first to show him interest but not the only team:

"Georgia and South Carolina are the two that has been showing the most interest. Georgia has told me they plan to offer me. They are the first to say that and that is something I will remember later on in my recruitment."

Jones was a big fan of Knowshon when he was in junior high and loved to watch him on Saturdays:

"Georgia is a team that was one of my favorites when I was younger. Knowshon Moreno is one of my favorite running backs. I liked watching him at Georgia and how he set the tone for the offense. I was definitely focusing on that when I saw them play,"

With Jones being exactly four years behind Washaun Ealey the Bulldogs could already be thinking that they have found his replacement.

QB Duel Almost Underway

The Bulldogs offense one would think should be one of the better offense's in the SEC next year with 10 starters returning. The only problem with this is that the one starter that graduated was QB Joe Cox. Most Bulldog fans were not sorry to see Cox go. He was anything but consistent last year. With that said their is a pretty good QB duel setting up for this spring between Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray. If you ask the coaching staff it is a three way race with Logan Gray also in the mix. I for one would be shocked if Logan Gray is named the starter. If you ask most Georgia fans they are under the impression that Murray is the front runner right now. Murray had this to say about the starting position:

"I view it is it's anyone's job to win right now. I'm looking forward to the spring and it's my goal to get that position. I'm going to try and work as hard as I can, work as hard as the other guys because I know they're going out there trying to do the same, We're all friends, we're not enemies, we hang out, we go out together to eat. There's no hatred, but we're all going out there to win the position."

 Murray in the fans minds will be the starting the QB come the opening game in September. However, most UGA fans should not count out Mettenberger just yet. Mettenberger has the stronger arm of the two but it is his accuracy and footwork that coaches are concerned about. He has been working on his footwork and accuracy since he enrolled in Georgia early last spring and according to the Mettenberger he has improved:

"I've never felt I was an inaccurate passer. People have also said I'm a gunslinger, but that' also inaccurate, I definitely feel I can throw as good and as accurate as anybody. It all goes back to my footwork, but I feel my footwork has gotten just as good as the other guys, if not better."

Whoever wins the battle should feel pretty good about his surrounding cast. The Bulldogs have an offensive line that has been together for two years now and the top receiver in the SEC. Orson Charles some believe good become the best TE in the SEC this year now that Aaron Hernandez of Florida is heading to the NFL. Plus with Washaun Ealey and Caleb King in the backfield, who would not want to be the starting QB.