Icon SMI - Georgia Bulldogs

Up next in SDS’s series of off-season improvements is the Georgia Bulldogs. The Dawgs came back strong in 2011 after losing the first two and winning the next 10 in a row to eventually punch their ticket to Atlanta; however, they were beaten by LSU for the SEC championship. In the bowl game, the Bulldogs also blew a second half lead against Michigan State.

So, there are obviously improvements to be made. One important improvement needs to be made along the offensive front in the trenches.

Georgia: Offensive Line

The position that needs the most rapid improvement is the offensive line for several reasons, most notably that three full time starters’ positions are vacant entering 2012.

We’ll start with the three Georgia main stakes on the line in 2011 in tackles Cordy Glenn and Justin Anderson and center Ben Jones. All, however, were seniors and are now gone.

Let us remember that Jones played nearly every snap since the 2008 season, and replacing his and Glenn’s leadership is obviously the biggest obstacle to overcome.

Dallas Lee, Chris Burnett and Kenarious Gates all played significant minutes this past season at guard and should return next year, barring any suspension or injury this spring; however, they’re not exactly penciled in to be starters, either. There will be significant competition among the three.

Gates played tackle and guard a year ago, and he will compete with freshman Watts Dantzler for playing time next year.

At tackle, Georgia is looking at Dantzler, Xzavier Ward, Austin Long and Zach DeBell all competing for playing time. All are young and virtually inexperienced; however, you have to start somewhere. This is a good nucleus of young talent, though. Long looks to be very good, but injuries have held him back since he stepped foot on campus.

Adding into the mix of a talented recruiting class that inked linemen John Theus, Mark Beard and Greg Pyke, there is a ton of depth and competition to make both Georgia better and the players better. Of those three, Theus could earn some playing time in his freshman season. All three are of significant size.

Even though Georgia was 5th overall in the SEC in rushing during 2011, the numbers were skewed somewhat against good defensive teams. The Dawgs averaged 172.7 yards per game during the season; however, against LSU, Georgia only managed 78 yards on the ground, and only 51 yards against Michigan State.

The SEC is a line of scrimmage league, and right now, Georgia needs to find some big ugglies to step up and fill some immediate needs along the offensive front. There is, however, the talent and the bodies there to make it a successful transition.