Georgia Bulldogs: UGA preseason position previews
Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp on Thursday, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. After examining Georgia’s offensive and defensive position groups, we complete the series today with the Bulldogs’ special teams units.
Perhaps no area on Georgia’s roster is more unsettled than its special teams units as preseason practice approaches.
The Bulldogs lost a Ray Guy Award winner in punter Drew Butler, a record-setting Lou Groza Award finalist in kicker Blair Walsh and the 2011 Paul Hornung Award winner -- a prize given to the nation’s most versatile player -- to Brandon Boykin, who handled the majority of kickoff and punt returns last season.
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp Thursday, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. We finish our look at the defense today by examining the Bulldogs’ secondary.
Where do you start when assessing Georgia’s secondary entering preseason camp?
Is it the five defensive backs who left the team since the end of last season, four of whom either chose to transfer, quit the team or were dismissed? Is it the three senior starters -- All-America safety Bacarri Rambo and cornerbacks Sanders Commings and Branden Smith -- who were either arrested or ran into other disciplinary issues during the offseason?
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp Thursday, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. After examining the offensive positions earlier this week, we shifted to the defensive line yesterday and today will examine the linebackers.
Jarvis Jones could probably be a millionaire by now. But instead of bolting for the NFL after a standout sophomore season where he led the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss, the Georgia outside linebacker decided his game still needs work before he turns pro.
In fact, he didn’t even submit his name to be evaluated as a possible early entry draft candidate. The All-American junior made up his mind early to return as the centerpiece of what could be one of the nation’s top college defenses.
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp on Aug. 2, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. After examining the offensive positions earlier this week, we turn now to the defense, starting today with the defensive line.
Rodney Garner has to be sleeping as well these days as he has in years.
When Georgia’s defensive line coach looks over his prospective starting lineup, he sees all seniors -- and all three seem poised for a big year from both a leadership and production standpoint.
Rodney Garner has to be sleeping as well these days as he has in years.
When Georgia’s defensive line coach looks over his prospective starting lineup, he sees all seniors -- and all three seem poised for a big year from both a leadership and production standpoint.
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp on Aug. 2, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. We finish our look at the offense today with the offensive line after covering quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends earlier this week.
Perhaps the loudest questions related to Georgia’s potential shortcomings concern the offensive line -- and position coach Will Friend is making sure his players are aware of that trend. Bulldogs offensive coordinator Mike Bobo believes outsiders’ criticisms of the line’s capabilities has fueled the rebuilding group in its preparation for the upcoming season.
“I feel good about the group,” Bobo said. “I think there’s a closeness among them. They’re fighting together. You’ve got the whole world talking about them, how it’s up to them, so they’re bonding together and Coach Friend’s driving them and that makes them tighter. I think they’ll be ready to go this fall.”
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp on Aug. 2, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. We turn our attention today to the tight ends after covering quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers earlier this week.
In one offseason, tight end went from one of Georgia’s most veteran, established positions to one with the least experience. But it’s hardly the source of the greatest concern.
With Jay Rome -- ESPN’s top-rated tight end recruit in the class of 2011 -- coming off a redshirt and Arthur Lynch ready for an increased role, the Bulldogs still believe that the tight end can play a consistent role in their passing game.
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp on Aug. 2, we will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. We focus today on the wide receivers after featuring the quarterbacks and running backs earlier this week.
The good news for Georgia’s overall health at receiver is that Malcolm Mitchell is still on the roster. The bad news is that the star sophomore will apparently spend as much time playing defense as offense -- and that’s after he plays cornerback for the majority of the first two games while the Bulldogs deal with depth issues in the secondary.
Georgia’s coaching staff still plans to utilize Mitchell at wideout -- he was an SEC All-Freshman team member after emerging as the Bulldogs’ leading deep threat last season -- but it is evident that they also must develop their other weapons at the position.
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp on Aug. 2, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. We focus today on the running backs after featuring the quarterbacks Monday.
Considering that former walk-on Brandon Harton is Georgia’s top returning rusher, it seems somewhat surprising that the Bulldogs and their coaches are not more concerned about the state of their running game.
The Bulldogs are in a fairly uncertain position following Isaiah Crowell’s dismissal and Carlton Thomas’ departure, but the general attitude toward the backfield seems to be more curiosity than anxiousness. Maybe that’s because two players who couldn’t seem to stay on the field are now gone. More likely, it’s because they like the potential that freshmen Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley bring to a tailback group that already includes veterans Ken Malcome, Richard Samuel and Harton.
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Editor’s note: With Georgia set to open preseason camp Thursday, Aug. 2, DawgNation will break down each position group and the storylines to watch in August. We begin the series today with the quarterbacks.
As long as Aaron Murray stays healthy -- and the junior has certainly been durable throughout two seasons as the starter -- Georgia’s quarterback setup for 2012 seems simple.
Murray, a record-setting All-SEC pick last year, is the clear-cut starter. Hutson Mason, a junior whose passing ability has Georgia’s coaches convinced he could someday replace Murray as the starter, will redshirt. And redshirt freshman Christian LeMay looks to become Murray’s primary backup.
As long as Aaron Murray stays healthy -- and the junior has certainly been durable throughout two seasons as the starter -- Georgia’s quarterback setup for 2012 seems simple.
Murray, a record-setting All-SEC pick last year, is the clear-cut starter. Hutson Mason, a junior whose passing ability has Georgia’s coaches convinced he could someday replace Murray as the starter, will redshirt. And redshirt freshman Christian LeMay looks to become Murray’s primary backup.
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David Ching
David Ching came to ESPN.com in 2011 after six years covering UGA for the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer and Athens (Ga.) Banner-Herald. He lives in Athens. Email him at davidchingespn@gmail.com.
Radi Nabulsi
Radi Nabulsi joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering the University of Georgia for Rivals.com for four years and for the UGA Athletic Association since 1993. Nabulsi is a graduate of the University of Georgia's Grady College of Journalism and lives in Athens. He can be reached at radinabulsiespn@gmail.com.
Kipp Adams
Kipp Adams joined ESPN.com in 2011 after covering University of Georgia football and basketball recruiting for five years at Rivals.com. He lives in Sandy Springs, Ga., and enjoys spending time with his two sons. He can be reached at kippadamsespn@gmail.com.