University of Georgia Athletics
Bulldogs Begin Challenges Of Spring
March 21, 2017 | Football
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
Georgia football coach Kirby Smart spoke often of challenges Tuesday. He talked a lot about competition and challenges during his news conference prior to the Bulldogs' first practice of the spring.
Smart spoke of challenging his players during winter conditioning — getting guys fitter and stronger than they were a year ago — and challenging the team to get better this spring, both on the field in practice and in meetings.
"I've talked to the players extensively about sustainable focus because that seems to be, with a young team, especially with the group we had last year, a lot of freshmen and sophomores playing, their ability to focus for long periods of time," Smart said. "A one-hour meeting, two-hour practice, that's been a point of emphasis for us."
He also spoke of the challenges his Bulldogs face in the weeks ahead, like rebuilding an offensive line that lost three starters, and going through spring practice with only three quarterbacks.
For the veterans, one challenge they won't face this spring is the unknown that they encountered a year ago, when it was their first spring with Smart as the head coach and the rest of the new coaching staff, as well as learning new systems.
Tight end Jeb Blazevich described learning offensive coordinator Jim Chaney's system as like taking three additional classes: "And you'd be tested every single day. ... I'm very thankful that we don't have as much learning — there's still a lot of learning to do but we don't have as much as last year."
Linebacker Natrez Patrick said he had his own challenge this offseason and spring.
"Individually, my challenge was basically just taking control of the defense and being a leader on the defense," he said.
The most glaring positional challenge is at offensive line, where the Bulldogs lost center Brandon Kublanow (38 career starts on the offensive line), right tackle Greg Pyke (36 career starts) and left tackle Tyler Catalina (started 12 games in 2016, his only season at Georgia).
Georgia returns starters Isaiah Wynn and Lamont Gaillard: Wynn started 11 games at left guard last season and one at left tackle, while Gaillard started all 13 at right guard. Where they play in 2017 remains to be seen, though Gaillard will start the spring at center and Wynn at left tackle, though Smart said Wynn will "keep swinging," getting time at other spots, as well.
Dyshon Sims, who started two games at left guard in 2016, will be with the first unit, while Aulden Bynum will be at right tackle. The right right position, Smart said, "is really just completely up for grabs," with Solomon Kindley and Ben Cleveland in the mix there.
Georgia will also have to work to find replacements at receiver and in the return game for Isaiah McKenzie and Reggie Davis. McKenzie led the Dogs with 44 receptions and seven receiving touchdowns (as well as two rushing), and his 633 receiving yards were 236 more than anyone else on the team. Davis had a quiet 2016 receiving with nine catches for 111 yards.
"It's the same thing as the offensive line, there's a lot of opportunity and a lot of open spots available," Blazevich said of the receiver positions. "We don't know who that guy is. I know there's a bunch of receivers out there that can do it. I have faith in pretty much everyone we've got, that they can be that guy."
McKenzie averaged 10.7 yards per punt return last season, with a touchdown, finishing his career with five total punt returns for scores. Davis handled most of the kick returns and averaged 21.1 yards.
At quarterback Georgia has returning starter Jacob Eason, spring enrollee Jake Fromm and walk-on Sam Vaughn, that's it. The challenge isn't necessarily in running the first, second and third units, but in the sheer number of passes the guys will be throwing in practice. That's why Brice Ramsey, who is transferring, is sticking around to help out this spring by throwing passes in drills.
Eason threw for 2,430 yards as a true freshman in 2016, with 16 touchdowns, eight interceptions and a completion percentage of 55.0. Smart said he's been impressed by Eason's physical development this offseason.
"I got to see him run, jump, move, do all of the physical traits of a quarterback," he said. "I think he's in better shape, I think he's moving around better. I thought as the [2016 season] went on, he got more comfortable being mobile in the pocket. I saw that in the offseason conditioning program. I was like, this guy is a lot better athlete than we give him credit for."
One area that Smart hopes isn't a challenge is complacency for the returning starters.
"I challenge our coaches each year, each day, to change up the drills, to change up the environment. Do something different every day that they have to respond to, because that's what they'll see in the game," Smart said. "We don't want them getting comfortable at all. We want to challenge our players, especially the ones we have returning, because my biggest fear is a guy thinking that 'It's okay because I've started. I've done enough. I'm not hungry.'
"They should be hungry and should be motivated to win games, to win the (SEC) East, to be the best player you can be. ... We don't have anybody that has arrived."
Blazevich said the culture that's in place shouldn't allow complacency to be any kind of an issue.
"I don't think any of the coaches would allow that," the rising senior said. "I think just culturally we never allow good to be great, great to be good enough."
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
