The University of Georgia Bulldogs will begin 2012 spring practice next week for what figures to be a very important season for Mark Richt. True, Richt just appeared in the SEC Championship game and received a contract extension, but, in all honesty, does that mean he is truly safe in the crazy world that is the SEC? Phillip Fulmer appeared in the 2007 SEC title game, only to fall to LSU, and Fulmer was gone following the 2008 season. Hmmm.
The Bulldogs won ten straight games on year ago but enter the 2012 season on a two-game losing skid after dropping the SEC championship game as well as the bowl game. There are six burning questions entering the 2012 season. Why six? ESPN has the Dawgs ranked No. 6 in one preseason poll.
1 Can Georgia learn to step on the throat and finish teams off? So many times last year the Dawgs jumped out to an early lead only to have to hold on and fret against an overmatched team. The Dawgs should have blown out Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Kentucky, but barely won. Georgia also watched early leads disappear against Boise State, South Carolina, LSU and Michigan State. Can Mike Bobo call up enough plays to ice games down the stretch? Can the running game move the chains and chew up the Sanford Stadium clock? Two new faces at running back and what sounds like a re-focused Isaiah Crowell could be the missing ingredients. Otherwise keep a roll of TUMS in your pockets, Bulldog Nation.
2 Will Malcolm Mitchell be able to make the switch to defensive back? A few weeks back I said that more Malcolm Mitchell was a good thing, as long as playing defense didn’t interfere with his health and ability to play offense. Well, it appears as though Mitchell is now a full-time defensive back with the recent suspensions and whatnot. Mitchell was a force in high school as a defensive back. I have no reason to think that he won’t be able to recall his prep days as a corner. He may actually be even better over there, and that is a scary thought for every other SEC East foe.
3 What will the offensive line look like in 2012? Good questions. A few pieces return but you may be looking at asking a true freshman John Theus to play immediately as well as redshirt freshman Zach DeBell. Kenarious Gates has played multiple positions and could start out at left tackle with Theus on the right side. Watts Dantzler got some action last year as did David Andrews. Otherwise you have Dallas Lee, Kolton Houston, Austin Long and Chris Burnette, players with various degrees of experience.
4 Can Jarvis Jones follow up his amazing first year on the field in Athens? The 2011 All-American will likely see more double-teams but remember that will just open up the other side for Cornelius Washington, Ray Drew, Jordan Jenkins, Garrison Smith, Abry Jones... you get my point.
5 Will Georgia miss its punter/kicker combination? As much as everyone was screaming for someone other than Blair Walsh to go kick in the second half of the season, he will be missed. Many expect Marshall Morgan to come in and immediately win the starter’s job, but senior Jamie Lindley could push the freshman. As for punter, true freshman Collin Barber was given a scholarship. As a punter. Think about that.
6 Can Georgia live up to expectations? The last time Georgia entered the year with any sort of hype, the Dawgs were smoked in Sanford Stadium by Alabama, thumped in Jacksonville by Florida and suckerpunched by Georgia Tech in Athens. The Dawgs will not face any of the SEC West’s big three next year and will get a reprieve from South Carolina until a bit later on the schedule. Georgia should be looking at an 11-win season. Anything less and Richt’s collar may start to draw a bit tighter.
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