Three biggest questions for Georgia Bulldogs on defense this spring
We’re less than a week out from the start of spring practice for Georgia, and the Bulldogs have lots to be excited about. Considered the consensus top-ranked team in Way-Too-Early polls, Kirby Smart’s squad is the favorite to bring home a third National Championship in four seasons. That won’t be easy with a tougher schedule and an expanded College Football Playoff, but there’s few teams as talented as UGA entering 2024.
With all that there is to be excited about, there still are things that need to be addressed in order to achieve everything that’s wanted in Athens. Doing so starts this spring. DawgsHQ takes a look at the three biggest questions on each side of the ball, continuing on defense.
ICYMI: Three biggest questions for Georgia Bulldogs on offense this spring
How does the defensive line develop? Do the returning veterans take strides?
The Bulldogs bring back a pair of veterans up front with the decisions made by Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson both to return to Georgia for another season. There’s also Christen Miller and Jordan Hall who contributed at times last season. UGA’s defensive line seemed like it slacked a little bit last season, but it would have been hard to been up to par with the groups before them that featured the likes of Jordan Davis, Devonte Wyatt, Travon Walker and Jalen Carter. The Dawgs still don’t necessarily seem like they have a first-round talent, although Hall was a five-star and could have that potential. That just means that development is going to be necessary for all four of those named – along with South Carolina transfer portal pickup Xzavier McLeod and redshirt freshman Jamaal Jarrett. Strides need to be taken across the board because depth was an issue last season, and having just four primary options on the interior of the defensive line will result in similar issues arising in 2024.
Who emerges as the top options in the secondary?
Georgia has three starting spots that are coming open with Kamari Lassiter, Javon Bullard and Tykee Smith off to the NFL. That creates openings at each of the three positions in the secondary (cornerback, safety, STAR) and means that the Bulldogs will have to have players step up across the board. Cornerback seems the easiest to identify the top options with Julian Humphrey playing quite a bit down the stretch of last season before he got hurt and Daniel Harris seeing an extended look in the Orange Bowl. Daylen Everette should continue to own the spot he manned last season, and it won’t come as a surprise to see a rotation of sorts. Moving back in the secondary to safety and STAR, All-American Malaki Starks has one spot locked down, but beside him there are openings. Joenel Aguero is one that has to be considered both at safety and STAR while the veterans David Daniel-Sisavanh and Dan Jackson have the most experience. JaCorey Thomas, Justyn Rhett or Kyron Jones could make moves as they continue to develop, and the same is true for Alabama transfer Jake Pope. In the mix of all these defensive backs, don’t forget about five-star freshmen KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson either. Point being, there’s tons of talent in the Georgia secondary, and there should be little concern about the capability of those that end up on the field. Putting the right pieces in place is the challenge, and that’s one that starts this spring.
What difference does it make for Georgia on the edge moving Mykel Williams? How involved are the others as well?
We may not truly know the answer to this question until the fall once we start to see the Mykel Williams move in action, but Georgia’s pass rush seems to be trying to get better. The Bulldogs have affected quarterbacks in the past. They just haven’t gotten to them and taken them down all too often with no individual having more than 5.0 sacks the last two seasons. Williams was the sack leader on the second of the back-to-back National Championship winning teams. He was a freshman then and seemed to take a step back as a sophomore. However, moving him from defensive end to outside linebacker should open the door for him to rush the passer more freely. Furthermore, it may show a new emphasis for the Bulldogs as they try to get guys like Damon Wilson involved. Chaz Chambliss is still around as a run defender, and I am left to wonder how much Williams/Wilson play on early-downs. Could Williams have his hand in the dirt then before becoming a stand up edge rusher in passing situations? I’m very interested to see how this plays out.
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