At first glance, the Bulldogs could struggle with little returning starters, but the ones that they do have coming back look very good on paper.
Georgia returns just five starters on offense, but the five that return occupy vital positions for the team’s success. Quarterback Aaron Murray started as a redshirt freshman and after taking his lumps early, developed into perhaps the SEC’s best returning quarterback. Along with Murray, Georgia returns three starters along the offensive line that, like Murray, played as young guys and - after taking a beating in September - were solid by year’s end. Murray’s security blanket, tight end Orson Charles, also returns. This could be enough on offense, but what about on defense?
The defense is ready to make strides in 2011. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is hoping that his defense makes the proverbial second-year jump in his 3-4 defensive alignment. If the defense does show improvement, it will have to do so with a much younger cast.
Up front, Georgia returns ends Arby Jones and Deangelo Tyson and nose tackle Kwame Geathers. Linebacker, however, is an entirely different story - only Christian Robinson returns. Georgia may find itself with no choice but to lean on the “Dream Team” of recruits that were signed back in February. Ray Drew is an enormous and athletic player (6-5, 243 pounds) and could play outside linebacker or defensive end for Grantham’s defense.
The Bulldogs return the nation’s best pair of special teams specialists in punter Drew Butler and kicker Blair Walsh. It’s often difficult to measure the impact of having reliable punters and kickers, but it’s easy to tell when a team lacks them.
The schedule starts off tough with two early games against Boise State and then SEC tough-minded South Carolina. The Bulldogs avoid LSU and Alabama from the West and face only Tennessee on the road along with Florida in Jacksonville.
The Bulldogs will do much better than they did a year ago, but only time will tell if they are ready to go to a big-time bowl and save their coaches job.