Georgia Football: More Suspensions Leave Georgia's Defense Razor-Thin

The hits just keep on coming for Georgia's defense. 

According to Dean Legge of DawgPost.com, starting linebacker Alec Ogletree and starting safety Bacarri Rambo will be suspended at least two games to start the season, and could be suspended for as many as four games for violation of team rules.    

Ogletree broke his foot early in Georgia's opening-night loss to Boise State last season. Despite missing time due to injury, Ogletree managed to finish fifth on the team in tackles with 52 and third in tackles for loss with 7.5.

Rambo led the SEC in interceptions in 2012 with eight and was named to the Associated Press All-American team. This isn't the first time he has run afoul with head coach Mark Richt. Rambo was suspended for Georgia's season-opening game last season against Boise State.

Rambo's suspension leaves the Bulldogs razor-thin in the secondary to start the season. Safety Sanders Commings was suspended for two games by Richt following an arrest for domestic violence/simple battery earlier this year. Commings was recently sentenced to probation and counseling.

Branden Smith was arrested in Alabama for marijuana possession on his way to Florida earlier this month and is facing a suspension of his own. Defensive backs Nick Marshall and Chris Sanders were dismissed from the team this offseason, and Jordan Love and Derek Owens have left the team since the start of last season.

This means that six - and possibly even seven - members of Georgia's secondary that conceivably could be on the roster won't be available to start 2012.

Georgia has shifted wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell—arguably its best offensive weapon from a year ago—to defensive back this spring. At this rate, there will be more position changes in Georgia's future.

Georgia's first two games of next season are against Buffalo in Athens on Sept. 1, followed by a road trip to play Missouri in the Tigers' first ever SEC game on September 8. If Georgia fans weren't concerned about that Missouri game before the suspensions, the thought of playing James Franklin, T.J. Moe and that high-powered offense without at least three key defensive contributors should concern them now.

Follow @BarrettSallee