Perhaps the most established aspect for Georgia going into spring practice was the Bulldogs’ offensive line, where four starters – and several experienced hands – return.
Also returning, left guard Solomon Kindley said, is a characterization that most canines might not care for.
“We call it having the mange,” Kindley said Thursday at the end of the team’s eighth practice. “Like a dog with mange. If you’re a dog with mange, that means you’re ready to play, you’re ready to attack.”
Kindley, who started all 14 games for Georgia in 2018, said that the “mange” phenomenon has been in existence since coach Kirby Smart – whose charges will hold their first scrimmage of the spring Saturday -- took over the program four years ago and added the description as more than just a slogan.
“That’s our motto in our room,” he said. “If you don’t have the mange and aren’t ready to play, you can’t be in our room.”
When asked what area of the game the offensive line, which includes returners Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson at the tackles and Kindley, Cade Mays and Ben Cleveland at guard, needed the biggest upgrade, Kindley said, “The offensive line wants to improve mostly our pass-protection because everybody knows we’re a very good run team, so our main thing is to improve on pass protection, and I think we’re doing a good job of that.”
The only spot on the line that seems to be in question as spring practice winds down is who will play center. Thomas said Thursday that he sees Trey Hill “stepping up at center.”
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