Spring Practice Primer: Georgia Bulldogs
This time last year Mark Richt was on everyone’s hot seat as his team had underperformed in the seasons following the 2007 Sugar Bowl win over Hawaii. This year the Dawgs are one of the nation’s preseason Top 10 teams and they return talent all over the field for a squad that has its eyes on the SEC Championship and getting back to the BCS spotlight. Stability at quarterback and a defense to match have folks in Athens ready for the start of spring.
Stability Factor (1 = chaos; 5 = rock solid): 5
All is well in Athens both on and off the field as Georgia has talent, has confidence and given the situation at Florida, is not looking up to Gainesville for the first time in a while. Mark Richt is set; no more weird rumors of quitting and moving to Honduras or taking the UNC job, CMR is set for a good few years in red and black and the boys in the silver britches have shown solid growth on both sides of the ball after the 2010 disaster that was.
Under the Microscope: Isaiah Crowell
850 yards out of a true freshman in the SEC is quite a respectable feat in the general sense of things at the running back position. However, Crowell is under the microscope on account of the nagging injury woes that seemed to plague the kid. Missed two games, only carried the ball five total times against Kentucky and Michigan State and seemed to take himself out of games when folks would have liked to see him keep pushing.
There’s competition in town and the kid who has had a few, minor, off the field issues will have to bring his A-game if he wants to get a stranglehold on the starting running back spot.
Locked and Loaded: Quarterback
Aaron Murray was, by most every measure, the SEC’s second best quarterback a season ago, behind just Tyler Wilson of Arkansas pass happy team. Entering his junior season he is “the” guy in Athens as Murray has proven that he can get it done in every way for Richt’s
team. He’s got a good feel for what Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo want him to do and he is excelling in their scheme.
But the Dawgs aren’t just locked and loaded at the starter spot they have a solid battle of two capable players for the second spot as Hutson Mason and Christian LeMay are both campaigning to get into that two slot for Richt. With Murray as the known commodity look for these two stand out recruits to get plenty of reps to help develop depth at the quarterback position.
Jockeying for Position: Offensive Line
The Bulldogs lose three starters from this year’s offensive line including Cordy Glenn so there are holes to fill and bodies to do it. With a quarterback who will need time to throw and a stable of running backs looking for holes here is where the attention of the coaching staff should be in order to setup for some success next season.
Name to Know: Keith Marshall
Keith Marshall was on everyone’s radar during his recruiting process until ultimately Georgia sealed the deal and brought the North Carolina kid from Millbrook High in as an early enrollee. Marshall is talented, he’s a hard worker and he’ll have a shot at climbing the crowded Georgia running back depth chart. If he comes in and is “as advertised” at worst he’ll give the Dawgs a serious one-two punch at the position but with Crowell’s injury issues the new kid on the block could see himself rise to the top of the heap with a solid showing.
Spring will be a success if…: The Dawgs can get out of spring without mishap
Player arrests have befell Georgia in the last few weeks as both Sanders Commings and Branden Smith found themselves in the police blotter. Georgia’s school policy dictates the suspension of both but what that means for the spring will be interesting. Getting two experienced starters some work before sitting them to open the season is a good move but the Dawgs and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will also be able to grow some secondary depth as they work the guys who will be starting the season into the rotation more. Ultimately all mishaps; on and off the field, must be avoided for the Bulldogs to come out of the spring successful. That means no more arrests and no injuries so that this team, already everyone’s favorite to win the East, is ready to rock and roll come August.
