The All-University of Georgia NFL Roster (Offense)

Okay, a couple of days ago I updated the status on every former University of Georgia football player now playing professional football in the National Football League, Canadian Football League or Arena Football League; plus a few others not playing at all.

Now, I thought it would be pretty neat to put together a 53-man roster (same as the NFL limit) of former Georgia players. With 117 schools competing in the NCAA Division I-A (last time I checked that was the number), plus numerous smaller schools sending players to the NFL, it is hard to fathom one could hypothetically assemble an NFL-caliber roster of players from just one college. However, you can do that with Georgia.

You can have a better NFL team of ex-Miami players (never say graduates when you are talking about former players of the U). Heck, that might be a Super Bowl-caliber team if Miami had a better former quarterback in the NFL than Ken Dorsey. But most schools could not even field a starting alumni lineup of current NFL players.

Georgia fields a defense that I believe any NFL team would trade its talent for straight up, but the offense does not measure up. I think David Greene can manage a game at this point of his NFL career, but he would need a great deal of talent around him to win, which this offense does not supply.

Here is the offensive side of my 53-man roster.

QB (3)
Starter: David Greene
Reserves: D.J. Shockley, Eric Zeier
The Skinny: Greene is probably the starter, although the more talented Shockley may eventually succeed him in a year or two. Have you heard that one before? As for the third-team slot, it came down to Zeier and Quincy Carter. Well, Zeier had a decent six-year NFL career, where he was a part-time starter and solid No. 2 quarterback. Unfortunately, he retired after the 2000 season. Carter started a couple of NFL games as recently as 2004, something neither Greene or Shockley has done. In fact, neither has taken a regular-season snap at quarterback in the NFL. But the only way Carter makes this team is if you think he can be a starter. Remember that Carter was cut from the CFL last season. If he is not the starter, do you really want Carter mentoring your young quarterbacks? Zeier would trade in his slacks and Polos for one more year in the NFL in a second. Carter may prefer driving a train than being a reserve.

RB (5): 2 TB, 2 HB, 1 FB
Starters: TB Musa Smith, FB Mack Strong
Reserves: HB Verron Haynes, HB Patrick Pass, TB Garrison Hearst
The Skinny: Smith had a great preseason and starts until he is injured, with an over-and-under of three games before he is out based on his history. Haynes will start the year as the third-down back but move into the starter's role after Smith is hurt. Haynes is currently the No. 2 tailback in Pittsburgh, but he simply is not talented enough to be a starting tailback in this league. Strong made the Pro Bowl last season as one of the top blockers in the league. Pass starts at fullback for the Patriots but actually does numerous things for that team. Hearst said recently that he is unofficially retired. Basically, he is staying in shape hoping someone calls. This team will. We need his breakaway speed, something he still has much more of than any of these other four backs. The other option is Robert Edwards, who plays with Montreal in the Canadian Football League.

WR (5)
Starters: Hines Ward, Reggie Brown
Reserves: Randy McMichael, Fred Gibson, Terrence Edwards
The Skinny: Ward, the reigning Super Bowl MVP and a four-time Pro Bowl selection, gives us a legitimate No. 1 WR. Brown, who starts with the Eagles, is a solid No. 2. Afterward, the pickings are slim. Therefore, McMichael, who has beefed up to 240 pounds but has a natural playing weight of about 225, moves over from tight end. Of course he can also line up at tight end, giving the offense more flexibility. Gibson is on the Dolphins' practice squad. Edwards, who plays with in the CFL, wins the last spot on the roster over Bryan McClendon, who was cut from the Bears' training camp.

TE (3)
Starter: Ben Watson
Reserves: Jermaine Wiggins, Leonard Pope
The Skinny: There is still plenty of talent and depth at this position after McMichael moves to receiver. All three remaining tight ends are starters on their respective NFL teams. Watson is the most complete player of these three, while Wiggins is the best receiver. Pope will be a valuable red-zone option.

OL (9)
Starters: LT Adam Meadows, LG John Stinchcomb, C Jonas Jennings, RG Max Jean-Gilles, RT George Foster
Reserves: T Bernard Williams, T Dennis Roland, G Steve Herndon, C Russ Tanner
The Skinny: This was the hardest starting lineup to decide. Jennings is the best player on this unit and can play any position. He is among the top dozen starting left tackles in the NFL. It is hard to move your best player away from his natural position, particularly when left tackle is the most important position on the line. But this came down to getting the best five on the field. If Matt Stinchcomb was still able to play, he would start at center. Unfortunately, his career is over due to injury. John Stinchcomb plays RT for the Saints but has experience at guard. Meadows is a reserve tackle for the Broncos after coming out of retirement but was very successful for many years guarding Peyton Manning's blindside for the Colts. Herndon has not played in two years but is the best option as a reserve guard. Williams, who I still believe can pass block on the NFL level, may replace Meadows in the starting lineup. No piss tests on this team.

K: John Kasay
The Skinny: Still one of the NFL's better field-goal kickers but no longer has as strong a leg for kickoffs.

SN: Brian Jordan
The Skinny: Not playing in the NFL, but Jordan was an outstanding snapper last season for Georgia. He probably has not lost his touch.