SEC East Preview – Georgia Bulldogs

It looks like Georgia head coach Mark Richt has yet another talented club in Athens, GA, but can he produce results this season that will make the Bulldog fans happy and simultaneously remove his name from some talk that he could possibly be on the hot seat?

The Bulldogs have finished the past two seasons second and third in the SEC East, making way for the new kids on the block, the Missouri Tigers, to make a splash in the SEC. Since that great 2012 SEC Championship Game (which some would say was the actual national championship game), the Dawgs haven't quite lived up to the standard that most Georgia fans expect, so if they again don't win the division for a third consecutive season, will change make its way to Athens sooner rather than later?

Offense

Offense in college football now hinges on the play of the quarterback, and unfortunately for Georgia, they will have one of the least experienced quarterbacks in the conference. With the departure of Hutson Mason after last season, the Bulldogs will most likely rely on the arm of Brice Ramsey, a top 10 pocket passer coming out of high school in 2013. He was able to see some playing time last year, but it was all in mop-up duty. He has the arm strength and accuracy to be a productive player, but we all know this is the SEC and those elite defense know how to take advantage of each player's deficiencies.

So if you have an inexperienced quarterback, it's nice to have someone decent to hand the ball off to, and Georgia has one of the best back fields in the business in Nick Chubb and Keith Marshall. After season-ending injuries last season for both Todd Gurley and Marshall, Chubb was called on to shoulder the burden of the run game and he was absolutely spectacular. In just eight games that Chubb started, he managed to rack up 1323 yards, averaging 165.375 yards per game. If he can continue that pace of rushing, Georgia's run game should be just fine, especially with the return of Marshall for his redshirt junior season. And let's not forget about Sony Michel, a talented sophomore that will push for carries this fall. Michel managed to produce five touchdowns on the ground last year, so watch for him to improve that number this season.

Out wide, who is going to be the ones catching passes from Ramsey? That's a good question. We all know that 6'1" 195 lb senior receiver Malcolm Mitchell will be back, but the Dawgs lose their top two targets from last season in Chris Conley and Michael Bennett. Stepping up to fill the holes outside should be sophomore Isaiah McKenzie and junior Reggie Davis. McKenzie, a 5'8" 170 lb slot receiver, can make people miss in space, so don't be surprised to see some bubble screens to him early in each game. Davis's frame is closer in relation to that of Mitchell, so expect those two to split time at the X position.

As for the offensive linemen, this will be one of the most experienced group in the conference. They lost their center from last season, David Andrews, but return the other four starters in Greg Pyke, Brandon Kublanow, John Theus, and Kolton Houston. Add their experience with the skill of running backs Chubb and Marshall, and also use that experience as a crutch to develop Ramsey under center, and the Bulldogs may have themselves a potent offense this season.

Defense

Last season, the Dawgs' defense was a solid group, allowing only 20.7 points per game, good enough to rank 16th in college football. If Georgia can keep up the pace, they should undoubtedly be the favorites to win the SEC East.

Up front, the Bulldogs are a mess. There are a ton of talented players that may get some playing time, but who knows which ones will start. Some of the prominent names that you should keep an eye on is defensive end Sterling Bailey, nose guard Chris Mayes, and hybrid player Josh Dawson. All three of them are seniors this season, so expect them to make up the defensive line for the majority of snaps. Some younger players who you should watch are redshirt Lamont Gaillard, redshirt sophomore John Atkins, and incoming true freshman and number player in the 2015 recruiting class Trent Thompson.

Behind that group of talented linemen will be an experienced group of linebackers, led by standouts Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd. Floyd has underwent shoulder surgery, but he should be back at 100 percent come September 5. Joining those two on the field will be true sophomore Lorenzo Carter, redshirt sophomore Davin Bellamy, and we may see action from some of the freshmen in Natrez Patrick, Michael Barnett, and Chauncey Rivers. It's safe to say that the Bulldog linebacker corps is one of the best in the conference, if not in all of college football.

Their secondary may need some work this season, but new defensive coordinator and secondary coach Jeremy Pruitt has the skills to improve this squad. At cornerback, it's a toss up as to who may or may not start. As of now, it looks as if the upperclassmen Devin Bowman and Shattle Fenteng will get the nod, but expect some significant playing time from redshirt sophomore Aaron Davis and true sophomore Malkom Parrish. At safety, Dominick Sanders is the only guarantee as to who will start, and even still not sure if he'll be at strong safety or at the star position. Junior Quincy Mauger will most likely play beside Sanders deep in the defensive backfield, and don't think Pruitt won't play a freshman back there if need be, whether it be Johnathan Abram or Jarvis Wilson, both of whom were early enrollees this spring.

Special Teams

Marshall Morgan will retain his place kicking duties for the 2015 season. He was a solid kicker, knocking home 76.2% of his kicks last year, with a long of 53 yards. He's a solid option to get points if and when the offense sputters outs inside their opponent's side of the field.

Punting will be Collin Barber. He doesn't have the strongest leg in the world (averaged 39.29 yards/punt last year), but only averaged 3.1 punts/game, ranking among the lowest in college football.

McMoney's Prediction

The SEC East is not the SEC West, let's just go ahead and get that out of the way. Their schedule isn't exactly  "daunting," but I'd be a liar if I said it was easy. They host Alabama, Missouri, and South Carolina, and only have four true road games. Going to Knoxville will be difficult and traveling to Auburn will not be easy, but I think this team is better than last year's squad, and it wouldn't shock me in the least bit to see them lose only two games this year, and possibly only one should Auburn not pan out as everyone in the media is predicting.

I'll go with the more conservative pick with 10-2, but I'm toying with the idea of going with 11-1.

Okay, I'll stick with 10-2, and a berth in the SEC Championship Game.