Georgia coaches have the difficult task this week of paring down the depth chart to a more manageable number.
To this point, multiple players have gotten multiple snaps at several positions. But with the opener against Clemson less than than three weeks away and a game plan to be installed, the Bulldogs are moving quickly toward identifying the players who are actually going to play. Coaches decisions will come Wednesday night in the hours following the final preseason evaluation scrimmage.
“We won’t make any bottom-line decisions on redshirts or anything like that but we’ll have a better idea of where we are,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
A look at key decisions being made on the offensive side of the ball. The defense will be covered Wednesday.
Quarterback: Aaron Murray and Hutson Mason are unchallenged as No. 1 and No. 2, but a pretty good battle has emerged over the third quarterback spot. Quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo indicated true freshman Brice Ramsey has made headway in this competition and that he wouldn't hesitate to pencil him in even if the ultimate intention is to redshirt him. More likely, though, Christian LeMay or walk-on Parker Welch will be counted on to take over in the case of an emergency.
Bobo: “They’re all competing and pushing for that spot. Each day, one guy’s been No. 3 and the next day another guy’s been 3. … Right now they’re all competing and trying to move up that depth chart.”
Tailback: Who will be the first man in after Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall remains one of the most heated competitions of camp. Walk-ons Brandon Harton (senior) and Kyle Karempelis (junior) remain the most likely to play next but three true freshmen are vying for snaps as well — J.J. Green, Brendan Douglas and A.J. Turman.
Bobo: “J.J. Green has made a lot of plays for us. He’s not the biggest guy (5 foot 9, 183 pounds) in the world, but when he’s touched the ball, he’s been good for us. He’s been productive. The two that just came in (Douglas and A.J. Turman) are conscientious kids and I think they’re picking it up.”
Tight end: The position is solid with senior Arthur Lynch and the talented Jay Rome back in the fold. But Rome has been sidelined the last week with an ankle sprain and won't be back for Wednesday's scrimmage. That has led to increased reps for true freshman Jordan Davis, a championship hurdler in high school who has put 21 pounds (now 232) on his 6-4 frame since arriving June 3 and is grasping the Bulldogs' playbook.
Bobo: “Any time you get reps over and over, that’s going to help (Davis) in the long run. Right now, he’s swimming and thinks he’s lost and thinks he’s never going to get it. But I’m real pleased with him and how he’s coming along.”
Offensive line: What was expected to be a quiet camp at a position that returned all five starters has been anything but. Between regained eligibility (Kolton Houston), injuries (David Andrews, Chris Burnette) and physical and emotional development (Watts Dantzler, Xzavier Ward, Greg Pyke), the Bulldogs have been mixing and matching. They'll take at least 10 or 12 linemen on the road but rarely do more than eight ever get on the field. So the battle to be among the last three will be vigorously debated between Dantzler, Ward and Mark Beard.
Line coach Will Friend: “We kind of have a good idea right now, but we’re going to give them two scrimmages. We’ll approach this one Wednesday like it’s a game and hopefully put enough pressure on guys to see how they will handle pressure situations. Then we’ll go from there.”
Receivers: The challenge here is in paring down the number of players who have the ability to play, which appears to be pretty much everybody. The Bulldogs have 15 wideouts in camp and a few of the new arrivals have made it difficult for Bobo and position coach Tony Ball to decide on a rotation. Specifically, freshman Reggie Davis, junior college transfer Jonathan Rumph and redshirt freshman Blake Tibbs have presented arguments for being in the mix. But there aren't a lot of snaps to go around with experienced veterans such as Michael Bennett, Chris Conley, Malcolm Mitchell, Rhett McGowan, Justin Scott-Wesley and Rantavious Wooten all ready to roll.
Mitchell: “It’s going to be hard for Coach Ball and Coach Bobo to decide who to play and who not to play. Before the freshmen, you’ve got eight guys who all have experience and have made plays in games. I think we’ve got six or seven guys who have scored touchdowns in SEC games. But I’m sure they’ll pick the right people.”
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