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Along with putting his stamp on the program and developing a new culture, coach Kirby Smart has several areas to address in order for Georgia to improve in 2016.
5. Who will step up at receiver? WR Malcom Mitchell’s departure leaves a big void in the passing game that Terry Godwin won’t be able to fill by himself. Reggie Davis showed flashes of becoming a deep threat, but was inconsistent. Jeb Blazevich could provide a boost at tight end, but averaged just more than one catch per game, with only one touchdown this past season. Isaiah McKenzie is another option, though his speed is needed to cancel out his size and durability.
4. Replacing the void at linebacker. Jake Ganus, Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins were the backbone of the Bulldogs defense as three of the team’s four top tacklers. Floyd and Jenkins led the team in sacks. Davin Bellamy, Lorenzo Smith and Roquan Smith are among the former top-notch recruits expected to step in.
3. Finding continuity along the offensive line. The graduation of OT John Theus opens questions about how the offensive line, shuffled at midseason, will be aligned in 2016. By all accounts, the line improved at the end of the season, but now with new position coach Sam Pittman, one of Smart’s celebrated hires, the question is who will play where.
2. Culture, drug policy, facilities, staff. All of the things that surface for championship programs, like Alabama and Clemson paying their support staffs big money, will quickly become a proud selling point or continued bone of contention for the program. Smart has said the drug policy, widely considered the strictest in the SEC, will remain the same and it’s not in his control to change it. The long-awaited indoor practice facility — Georgia is the last SEC program to build one — is moving forward. How Smart addresses these issues, and prevents them from becoming a distraction, will play a big role in determining his success.
1. Quarterback. No matter who is quarterback, improvement will be needed at a position that at times in 2015 showed promise, but was inconsistent. The comparisons to 2006 will continue as Jacob Eason, Greyson Lambert and Brice Ramsey compete to become the consistent starter after a season in which a clear-cut starter never emerged. How fast will the coaches pull the starter and go to the backup? To a certain extent, this could come down to playcalling and how new offensive coordinator Jim Chaney adjusts to his personnel, including the star running backs.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
