Yes, I’m back in the blogging saddle again … Otis, I need a musical palate cleanser (not really).
In the famous words of Allen Iverson, it’s time to talk about practice. Here’s the link to remind you of The Answer’s response to missing practice:
Our Georgia Bulldogs open spring practice in Athens later today to start preparations for the new & improved 2024 football season. As usual, the team has a number of high profile departures for the NFL and the portal and additions from the consensus #1 overall recruiting class and transfers into the program. Finding leaders and integrating the new guys into the culture are the 2 big picture things the Dawgs need to accomplish this spring. Here are a couple of things I’ll be on the watch for from media practice reports or “insider” rumors:
Who is going to step into the big shoes of Sedrick Van Pran-Granger?
SVP-G’s NFL departure leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the offensive line and in overall team leadership. I assume Jared Wilson gets the first shot as the quarterback of the offensive line with a lot of help from Carson Beck with adjustments. I would assume Drew Bobo is going to get a look here for depth. The bigger issue is who is going to provide the voice Sedrick has for the last couple of years in the locker room. The natural answer to that question is Beck as well, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Xavier Truss step into that vocal leader role as the seasoned veteran in the OL room.
Raising the level of DL play
The play of the defensive line took a step back in 2023 and must get back to the Georgia standard if the Dawgs plan to play deep into January. Stackhouse & Brinson return to elevate their potential draft stock, and plenty of young guys look to break out in 2024. Mykel Williams on the edge needs to return to the true game wrecker he showed especially late in 2022. The key for this group overall is to improve the run defense back to the norm where we forced teams to abandon all hope of generating anything consistent in the run game. I hope to see a Big Baby Jordan Hall or Jamaal Jarrett stepping into that anchor in the middle of the defensive line.
Can the young DB recruits make a splash?
The 4 blue chip DB early enrollees look like future stars with Ellis Robinson & K.J. Bolden looking like potential 1st round selections, Demello Jones as a future kick returner combined with lockdown corner, and Ondre Evans as another long corner who fits Kirby & T-Rob’s prototype. I’m assuming all 4 will find the field as special teams contributors, and Robinson in particular is going to push the more experienced corners for meaningful minutes. At a minimum, I expect to see Robinson on the field when we go to money/dime packages as a slot corner. The future is so bright got to wear shades.
It’s time to start hearing uncensored Kirby on the microphone across South Campus and the pads popping.
What do you guys think?