Georgia football: Secondary might be the group that determines how great Dawgs’ season can be

Because they’re often out on an island, cornerbacks probably get too much criticism when something goes wrong. That’s the nature of the game, and the best guys in the secondary always have short memories.

A bad play? Well, just move on to the next one.

That’s especially true at Georgia, where the secondary got plenty of praise for the plays they made all year, but took a ton of heat when things went wrong, especially late in the National Championship Game loss to Alabama in January.

How far No. 3 Georgia goes this season — and how full the trophy case gets — will depend greatly on the secondary. There are reasons for concern, most notably:

• Who starts at the other cornerback spot from preseason All-American Deandre Baker?
• Who makes plays at safety and is there enough depth there to hold up all season?

Baker is the star of this group, of course, and how great this unit will be will start with him. He’s not perfect, but he’s pretty special. Many think he’s the best cornerback in the country, and you won’t get an argument here. Or there, at Pro Football Focus.

Deandre Baker leads the CBs in our 2019 NFL Draft prospect rankingshttps://t.co/CQWDInyMou pic.twitter.com/h8afJGjz1L

— PFF College (@PFF_College) August 15, 2018

There were plenty of fingers pointed at Georgia’s secondary a year ago, but rarely at Baker. He was the best they had, no doubt, and he’s the best they have this year, too, a feel-good story about a former 3-star recruit Mark Richt signed out of Miami Northwestern who has emerged as a star. Early in camp, coaches wanted to see more from the veteran leaders, including Baker, and they’ve responded.

“Those veterans that we asked more of, they have done more,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said after Saturday’s practice. “They did more in this scrimmage, but that was true in the last scrimmage as well.”

Filling that other corner spot that’s a concern. It has to work.

As of now, all eyes are on 5-star recruit Tyson Campbell, who has superstar written all over him. Is he ready? That’s a big question. He might need to be, especially since versatile defensive back Tyrique McGhee is out of the mix for a month or so with a foot injury.

“We’re honing in (starters at cornerback and star) but I don’t know if that questions been answered,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said after Saturday’s practice. “Today I thought we gave up fewer play down the field. Can I tell you the starter is going to be opposite Bake? I really can’t. Not right now.

“But I can tell you that Tyson Campbell played much better than he did last time. (Eric) Stokes played well. Mark Webb, back healthy, played well.  The ‘Star’ position is probably completely unsettled. There’s still plenty of competition there.

McGhee suffered a foot injury suffered in the first scrimmage, and that’s a tough start to the season. He’s expected to miss a month, and that messes with the rotation for sure. McGhee is versatile, and has played in 27 games his first two years, mostly at the Star position, but he plays corner and safety as well and will be missed.

“Safety depth is still a concern,” Smart said. “The injury to Tyrique hurt that, because he was playing there, not star. We’ve got to continue to develop safeties, that’s for sure.”

Smart loves what he’s seen from Stokes, who is getting better every day.

“(Stokes) has gotten a lot better. Everybody knows he has speed, and he was not very highly  recruited,” Smart said. “He came into camp, he was so raw. Fast, but raw. Corner was not a natural position for him. But Coach (Mel) Tucker has done a hell of a job developing him. To his credit, he listens in the meetings, takes notes in the meetings, learns in the meetings and then he takes what he learns out to the field.

“He’s made himself a better player. Not all our players have done that. Is he a starter? I don’t know that yet, but he’s had a good camp.”

With the start of the season less than two weeks away, all the answers will come soon. Through the good and the bad of camp, there’s one thing that Smart hasn’t wavered on. He’s loved the commitment.

“What I’m pleased with is the character and effort that they’ve shown, especially on those 100-degree days when we’re out there working,” Smart said.

Tom Brew

Tom Brew is an award-winning journalist and author who is covering SEC football for Saturday Down South.