We’ve talked QBs and the lines of scrimmage so far. Let’s finish up with some thoughts on the guys that get all the glory on a Saturday afternoon between the hedges – the guys who play in space.
RBs, TEs & WRs … Oh, my
Could Trevor Etienne be the next great back in the tradition of RBU? The transfer from Hogtown appears to have all the tools to flourish as a running back in the Monken/Bobo offense. He has good speed and open field talent and can catch the ball out of the backfield. He looks to me like a Kenny McIntosh type of back with a little more James Cook wiggle. #1 isn’t alone (and, hopefully, available for Clemson) with plenty of raw talent behind him. The Robinsons (Rod & Branson) are two loads that will remind people of Elijah Holyfield with their physique and straight ahead power. Rod has a turf toe injury, and Branson is returning from a serious knee injury, so who knows how much they will be available for Saturday. The wild card is freshman Nate Frazier based on rumors coming out of fall camp. How much he plays depends on how quickly he picks up pass protection.
While quite not the same as Herschel, who is going to follow in the footsteps of one of the truly great all-time Dawgs, Brock Bowers? Everyone forgets Oscar Delp had a higher recruiting ranking coming out of Forsyth County than did the Napa Wunderkind. Delp is definitely not as dynamic with the ball in his hands as #19 was, but he is bigger and more of a traditional in-line tight end. Stanford graduate transfer Ben Yurosek comes in to battle for playing time spelling Delp and as the first tight end in 12 personnel. He had success for the Cardinal and must have been an attractive target for recruiter extraordinaire, Todd Hartley. Lawson Luckie appears to be the next great athletic Georgia tight end who can stress defenses in the middle of the field. Promising freshmen Jaden Riddell and Colton Heinrich will likely get snaps as early as the Tennessee Tech game. Needless to say, the cupboard isn’t bare.
There’s plenty of talent on the wide receiver depth chart, but I can’t wait to see what Dom Lovett is going to do along with Dillon Bell. By the end of the season, Lovett had established himself as a problem for defenses in the slot. Bell quietly became the Swiss Army knife of the Georgia offense compiling at least one TD rushing, receiving and passing. Anthony Evans, Arian Smith, and Colbie Young figure to be the 3rd receiver in various packages when the offense goes to 11 personnel and down and distance. Transfers London Humphreys & Michael Jackson should get the opportunity to contribute early and often. According to the rumor mill, Cole Speer has been making waves on offense in addition to his significant contribution to special teams. Freshmen receivers Sacovie White & Nitro Tuggle will find the field at times this year.
ILBs, CBs & safeties … GATA!
C.J. Allen was so good throughout the year last year that he sent a Butkus Award candidate and All-American to the transfer portal. Allen runs and hits and has a feel for the game that remind this guy of Nakobe Dean and Roquan Smith … all that and he’s only a true sophomore. Smael Mondon returns as a lynch pin of experience in the middle of the defense as a multi-year starter and a Butkus Award candidate himself. Jalon Walker will be on the field as an edge rusher on passing downs and will play a lot of meaningful snaps both inside & outside. Glenn Schumann has stacked the inside linebacker depth chart with blue chippers including 3 future stars as freshmen this year. Every one of them will rotate into games at various stages, and they all will likely have some role on special teams.
Daylen Everette leads the corners (including the Star/Nickel) into 2024. The junior took some lumps last year as the corner opposite Kamari Lassiter along with Tykee Smith as lockdown defensive backs. In my opinion, #6 was unfairly judged by many in Dawg Nation last year as a first year starter in a secondary that had NFL talent at every position. He’s a Kirby Smart and T-Rob prototype at 6’1″ that can run. The opposite corner will be either be true sophomore Daniel Harris or redshirt sophomore Julian Humphrey. I’m guessing they will both play a lot on Saturday, and Clemson is going to try to go after whoever is playing opposite Everette. Former 5-star Joenel Aguero seems to be the next great star/nickel following the aforementioned Smith and Javon Bullard. I don’t think there’s a higher compliment Kirby gives someone in that role as he did with Joenel … he sees the ball and hits the ball. The absolute wild card here is how long can any of these guys hold off super-recruit Ellis Robinson … he’s the defensive version of Jeremiah Smith (or maybe Smith is the offensive version of Ellis Robinson). I sound like a broken record, but the depth at corner is stunning.
Finally, Malaki Starks is one of the nation’s best players regardless of position, and I believe Starks is the nation’s best safety entering this season … yes, that includes Caleb Downs. He is the unquestioned leader of the Georgia defense and is a consensus 1st team pre-season All-American. If he stays healthy, he will be in line for multiple post-season awards for both on and off-field activities and a very large paycheck as a 1st round selection in April. Who starts opposite of Starks on the back line of the defense is anyone’s guess, but my money is on Dan Jackson as a guy who is athletic, knows the defense, and has the trust of Starks. JaCorey Thomas or Bama transfer Jake Pope could also win that job. Regardless, everyone will be watching to see when K.J. Bolden (wearing Champ Bailey’s #4) steps on the field either at safety or possibly at star. He and Ellis Robinson are likely the 2 future anchors of the Georgia secondary.
Summary
As I wrote this and looked at the roster and the projected depth chart, the depth at the skill positions is jaw dropping. The pure athleticism at every personnel grouping will be tough for almost every team on the schedule to match. Are we going to miss Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey? Yes, but we still have the quality of players that we can go 11 or 12 personnel on offense at any down & distance and force teams to show their hand and, with Etienne or Frazier at running back, shift into an empty set against base defensive personnel. On defense, we are big, fast and athletic all over the field. Kirby built this defense around a group of athletes who can defend the width and length of the field. If the front 4 steps up their game this year, this defense could be very special.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.
This game will tell the tale of who steps up and who doesn’t. If we can establish the run game Saturday we will win this game. If Arian Smith can catch and the other receivers ball out then we win going away. We “must” establish a pass rush this year and stuff the run game. Can’t wait! Go Dawgs!
UGA football “D” needs/requirements for certain positions in CKS’s roster management evolve yearly, so goes the UGA football “O”, with this style/type for game planning, those need/requirement at specific positions are a must, that Brock Bowers/James Cook person has left an imprint on what that position is now at UGA football, ABC is a must for the “Big Machine That is Red & Black”…GO DAWGS!!
Defensive front is a concern to me. We MUST get better play from them this year. LB’s are going to be hell on wheels. Not really worried about the secondary, although they will need to grow up in a hurry.
If you have read my other posts in the series, my opinion is this team only goes as far as the defensive line’s return to national championship quality. It’s not about sacks (although that would be nice) … it’s about rushing defense.
Should klempzin game plan to run vs pass early on, we will see if the UGA football “D” staff is gonna use “D-line” to stand/hold up the opposition o line then let UGA football LB’s attack the gaps at the line of scrimmage might just be how the rushing defense is this year, take into consideration, injuries/rotation/1st game of the year, UGA football might be a bit vanilla on both sides…GO DAWGS!!
3leggeddawg,
I agree about the secondary, but it sure will help those guys if we develop a pass rush that does not allow the QB time to look around for a receiver. If you can’t stop the run in Coach Smart’s D you will not see the field at all. When you have to take out a LB to add another DB you are hurting the run stopping ability of your team, we saw that happen a lot last year. I hope that is not necessary this year.
If the front big guys can hold up and let the LBers work, we will be OK.
.
I’m anxious to see us have 100% on RB’s I’m guessing that won’t be till KY or Bama.
Delp looks like friggin Thor. He’s going to have DB’s making business decisions. LBs might not be able to cover him because of his size or Luckie because of his speed. Thats the 12 package.
As long as the season is now, managing injuries has become even more important. It’s reassuring to see so much talent all the way down to the third-string.
I’m not concerned, exactly, but am curious to see how the DL performs. We’re really spoiled because last year’s unit was perceived as a weakness when it was actually pretty good. But “pretty good” is a laggard on Kirby’s rosters. We’re spoiled.
Cash Jones could be our RB for Clemson and that’s probably enough. Love Dan Jackson’s experience but he can be a step slow and miss covering the edge. I’ll trust that’s been cleaned up. We’re ranked #1 for a reason.
Ole Dan is like “the Little Engine that Could”. He maybe a little slower or a little smaller but he thinks he can and he plays with his hair on fire.
69Dawg, Ole Dan will absolutely come up and bust some ass, love the way he hits people.
Seth reporting Roderick Robinson out for several weeks after undergoing toe surgery.
ugh.
Definitely expecting great things from these position groups, but WR is the great unknown. Sure would help if Arian Smith finished strong.
I keep hearing people talk about the defensive line and while I agree they have to be really good/great for us to have a great season I personally see it different from what I have seen posted here. To me the drop off lst year had as much to do with the inability to set the edge compared to years past. I do t think it will be a problem this year and think that makes the defensive front look a lot better.
As for running backs I don’t know why I keep seeing it that Cash Nones is who we will be relying on like it’s a fact. Etienne may or may not be out for the first game. We don’t know. Branson Robinson absolutely is playing. Nate Frazier is playing. The only guy we know won’t play is Roderick Robinson. The Cash Jones will be our running back stuff is from people who love to worry. That’s not being reported anywhere. Turf toe is one of the most wide open injuries as far as return date. Grade one is like a week or ten days, grade two is a couple of weeks, grade three is up to a couple months. Kirby is not going to tell anybody which one Roderick has so anybody acting like they know is talking out of their ass.
I can not wait for Saturday.
Kirby did say Rod had surgery on the toe.
I have no idea what Etienne’s status is, but I won’t be surprised if he plays. How much Branson R is ready to play is a wild card for Saturday.
I know he said he had surgery. He didn’t say anything else. So “Cash Jones is RB1.” or anything like that is Munsoning on steroids.
I agree
Kirby has suspended players before, at least for a half. Cash has experience. Hard to believe he’s not in the first half rotation.