Spring game: April 16, 4 p.m. EDT

The Kirby Smart coaching era is set to begin in Athens, and the new Georgia coach will have his hands full this spring putting his own touches on a football program that has gone 10 long years without an SEC Championship.

Among his many chores, Smart, who succeeds Mark Richt, will need to see what cards he’s been dealt and assess the Bulldogs’ talent. Changing a culture at any program doesn’t come easily.

Questions at quarterback, tailback, special teams and along the offensive line will be among the first priorities for Smart and new offensive coordinator Jim Cheney.

The Dawgs have never lacked in talent, but consistently putting it all together on Saturday afternoons has proven to be a challenge in recent years. Smart was hired to change all that, and that transformation begins this spring.

THREE BIG QUESTIONS

1. Will injured tailback Nick Chubb be ready for the Sept. 3 opener against North Carolina?

A video posted on social media recently showed Chubb sprinting on a treadmill. Recent comments by Smart to an Atlanta sports radio station, however, have painted a pessimistic picture about the chances of Chubb’s return in time for the game against the Tar Heels.

Georgia fans had to be disheartened to hear the new coach use words like “tentative” when describing Chubb’s ongoing recovery while also talking about making a sound decision with Chubb’s best future interests in mind. Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee injury against Tennessee last fall, could miss a significant part of this season as well.

The Dawgs will be in capable hands with Sony Michel if that is the case, but they will miss Chubb’s ability to consistently run inside with power. Brendan Douglas and incoming freshman Elijah Holyfield will also contribute in Chubb’s absence.

2. When will the Jacob Eason era begin?

It’s not if the prized freshman quarterback takes over this season as much as when.

Eason was the crown jewel of a strong recruiting class and his presence has been eagerly awaited by the Georgia faithful for some time now. Incumbent Greyson Lambert could begin the season as the starter, but he’s just keeping the seat warm for Eason, a former five-star recruit.

The Dawgs will face three ranked teams – North Carolina, Ole Miss and Tennessee – within the season’s first five weeks, so Smart could try to gradually ease Eason into the starting role. But those plans could change, however, should Eason, who is already enrolled in school, impress this spring.

3. How shaky is Georgia’s kicking game?

It’s been 10 years since the Dawgs entered the season without a scholarship kicker, so Smart has every right to be more than a little concerned.
Redshirt freshman Rodrigo Blankenship hasn’t exactly impressed either Smart or the previous coaching staff, leading Smart to suggest that a walk-on or a transfer could be handling the kicking chores for his team this fall. Sophomore William Ham, a preferred walk-on in 2014, is back on the team after sitting out last year and could also be an option.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH

  • QB Jacob Eason: The former high school All-American and five-star recruit is the most celebrated prospect the Dawgs have had in years. Necessity could force him into the mix early, but Eason is a cool customer who takes confidence from his big arm.
  • TB Elijah Holyfield: The son of former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield could see early playing time in relief of Sony Michel as Chubb continues to recover from a season-ending knee injury. Fast, but not lightning quick, Holyfield is a strong interior runner with excellent vision.
  • P Marshall Long: The North Carolina native and former Virginia Tech commit was a high school All-American and could be the answer for a struggling Bulldogs punting game.
  • DT Julian Rochester: The former high school All-American and four-star recruit enrolled in school early and stands an excellent chance to start at nose guard. His 6-foot-5, 321-pound frame should plug things nicely in the middle.
  • TE Isaac Nauta: The former five-star recruit will give Eason a reliable target for a few years. Nauta, who enrolled in school early, runs extremely well and has soft hands.

OFFENSIVE STARTERS TO REPLACE

  • WR Malcolm Mitchell
  • LT John Theus
  • RT Kolton Houston
  • FB Quayvon Hicks
  • C Hunter Long

Inconsistent play along the offensive line was among the chief disappointments in 2015, so much so that the previous coaching staff reshuffled the line for the season’s final three games.

New offensive line coach Sam Pittman has a lot of bodies to choose from, but will need to find the right mix so that the unit can develop the chemistry it needs to open holes for Georgia’s backs and protect whichever quarterback is under center.

Freshman Riley Ridley, the younger brother of Alabama wide receiver Calvin Ridley, has blazing speed and should give the Dawgs the immediate deep threat they’ve lacked in recent years to stretch defenses.

DEFENSIVE STARTERS TO REPLACE

  • LB Jordan Jenkins
  • LB Leonard Floyd
  • DE Sterling Bailey
  • LB Jake Ganus
  • DE James DeLoach
  • NG Chris Mayes

No returning starters along the defensive line means that a lot of new faces will have to develop in a hurry.

Rising Trenton Thompson arrived with a lot of hype last year, but saw just limited playing time as a freshman. He’ll have to raise his game because he will be expected to help carry the Dawgs up front — and the Dawgs struggled at times last season against the run.

Replacing linebackers Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd and Jake Ganus won’t be easy at linebacker, but the Dawgs have great depth at this position and should be in pretty good shape with the return of David Bellamy and Reggie Carter. Junior Lorenzo Carter is a freakish athlete, but has been a disappointment so far.

Smart and new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will need him to get better in a hurry.

Rising junior free safety Dominick Sanders is back to anchor a deep secondary after registering six interceptions to earn first-team All-SEC accolades last fall.

TOP RETURNERS BY CATEGORY

Top returning passer: Greyson Lambert (1,959 yards in 2015)
Top returning rusher: Sony Michel (1,161 yards)
Top returning receiver: Terry Godwin (379 yards)
Top returning tackler: Tim Kimbrough (67)
Top returning pass rusher: Davin Bellamy (3 sacks)
Top returning pass defender: Dominick Sanders (6 interceptions)

POSITION OF CONCERN: QUARTERBACK

Quarterback is not the only position of concern, but it is the most visible.

The growing likelihood that the Dawgs could be without injured tailback Nick Chubb for at least the early part of the season and perhaps longer means that Georgia simply has to get more productivity from the passing game.

It’s just a matter of time before Eason unseats Lambert as the starter, but Smart will have to decide when that time is.

A front-loaded schedule could tell the tale for the entire season. It’s doubtful that Smart feels confident enough that Lambert could beat North Carolina, Ole Miss or Tennessee without a potent ground game to shoulder the offensive load. But it’s also risky to throw Eason to the wolves too quickly, too.

There’s no easing into the Smart era — and how he navigates the early stretch and quarterback competition will go a long way to determining how successful Year 1 is.