After a long time away, Georgia will return to the practice fields on March 21 to begin spring practice for the 2017 season.

The new season brings renewed hope for success in Kirby Smart’s second year as head coach. Not only will Smart now have 13 games of experience to draw upon, but he will also have a talented defense, a potent run game and a quarterback who should take another step in his development.

There is no clear-cut favorite in the SEC East this season. Georgia is the trendy pick and might have the most talented roster. If the Bulldogs are going to take the next step and make a return to Atlanta, they will need a strong spring.

Here are 10 storylines for UGA fans to track over the coming weeks.

1. Jacob Eason’s growth and quarterback competition: The sophomore quarterback is easily one of Georgia’s most important players for 2017. Eason showed potential as a true freshman, but his game still needs improvement. He will get some nice competition from Jake Fromm this spring. Fromm, a highly-touted recruit in his own right, has earned rave reviews from nearly everyone who’s watched him play and could challenge Eason more than some expect. That’s exactly what Georgia needs.

2. Changes on the offensive line: Many of the Bulldogs’ offensive problems last season can be partially traced to poor offensive line play. Smart and his staff went to great lengths to address those issues on the recruiting trail, bringing in six linemen with the size Georgia desires. Isaiah Wynn and Lamont Gaillard are the team’s two returning starters, which means there will be a lot of competition this spring. Ben Cleveland, D’Marcus Hayes and Isaiah Wilson are three to watch, but this is a fluid situation that the coaches will be focused heavily on.

3. The pecking order in Georgia’s crowded backfield: With Nick Chubb and Sony Michel returning for their senior seasons, the Bulldogs suddenly have one of the deepest backfields in college football. That’s obviously a good thing, but it will be interesting to see how the staff uses all of their backs. Obviously, Chubb and Michel will get the majority of the touches, but Brian Herrien, Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift have plenty to offer. The spring should provide a glimpse into how Georgia will handle this rotation.

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Brian Herrien (35) runs the ball for a touchdown against the North Carolina Tar Heels during the second quarter of the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game at Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

4. Depth for the defensive line rotation: It’s easy to forget just how young Georgia was on the defensive line last season. Nose tackle John Atkins was the lone upperclassmen on the two-deep depth chart, and three freshmen received significant playing time. That youth and experience bodes well for the future, and the Bulldogs are adding two new defensive ends to the mix in Robert Beal and Malik Herring. Smart will have some nice depth to work with next season, but it would help if a couple of those young defenders stand out this spring.

5. Incorporating new players in the secondary: Georgia returns many of its key pieces, but there are several important newcomers who could factor into the mix. The most notable are safeties Richard LeCounte III and DeAngelo Gibbs, the Nos. 2- and 4- rated safeties in the 2017 class, according to the 247Sports Composite. Either player is a possible candidate to take over the STAR position that Maurice Smith manned last season, but they should, at the very least, provide quality depth as they gain experience.

6. Production from the wide receiver corps: Some of Eason’s struggles last season can be attributed to the wide receivers, and vice versa. Drops plagued Georgia’s offense in the first half of the 2016 campaign, but Eason also missed some open receivers and failed to consistently deliver the ball on time. Increased chemistry should help that, but Georgia needs more from its receivers. Terry Godwin still has great potential, but his sophomore campaign was disappointing. Jeremiah Holloman and Mark Webb are two intriguing newcomers who will add some much-needed height. With Isaiah McKenzie gone, however, the Bulldogs need to find a go-to playmaker for Eason.

Oct 17, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Terry Godwin (5) runs against the Missouri Tigers during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Missouri 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

7. Special teams: A seemingly-endless concern for Georgia fans is special teams. The unit made strides at the end of last season, but it’s still an area that needs improvement. Punter Marshall Long is coming off an injury and his rehabilitation is something worth monitoring. Rodrigo Blankenship earned the starting job last year, but the Bulldogs have brought in an unusual amount of veteran kickers. David Marvin and Cameron Nizialek, two graduate transfers with a year of eligibility remaining, certainly add intrigue at the position. Finally, Georgia must find a way to replace McKenzie in the return game. That’s no small task, as the shifty receiver had six career return touchdowns.

8. Injuries: Every team hopes to head into the summer relatively healthy. The Bulldogs will already be without star linebacker Roquan Smith, and they certainly don’t want to see other key players miss time. This isn’t something that teams can control, but it’s always a big storyline for every program.

9. Off-field issues: Like injuries, issues off the field and put a dent in a team’s plans. Unfortunately, Georgia is already dealing with a couple. Trenton Thompson, one of the Bulldogs’ top defensive players, withdrew from school due to a medical issue and will miss spring practice. He could return as early as this summer, but his future with the program remains up in the air. Recently, Riley Ridley was arrested for possession of marijuana. The Bulldogs are also losing backup quarterback Brice Ramsey and defensive back Reggie Wilkerson due to transfer. Ramsey’s greatest impact came as a punter last season, and Wilkerson wasn’t in line for a big role.

10. The atmosphere in Smart’s second season: After becoming Georgia’s head coach, Smart was extremely busy in the following months cementing the recruiting class, filling out his coaching staff and rallying the fan base. In addition to all of that, Smart was trying to make his mark on the program. Throughout the fall, Smart compared changing a program’s culture to steering a large ship: It’s not something that can be turned around quickly. Now with a full offseason, Smart’s ship should be much further along. He was brought in to help Georgia become a legitimate Playoff contender on an annual basis. This spring will provide a look at the culture he wants to establish.

William McFadden covers the University of Georgia for Saturday Down South. For news on everything happening between the hedges, follow him on Twitter @willmcfadden.