Georgia Football: Week 4 Spring Practice Stock Report

With Georgia’s annual G-Day just more than a week away, here’s the latest on the Bulldogs' spring practices.

News from Week 3 

As the reinvigorated Georgia defense continues to shuffle around under new coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, one piece of the puzzle removed himself from depth chart consideration this week.  Paris Bostick, a 6'1", 217-pound outside linebacker, elected to transfer. 

Bostick redshirted in 2013 as a freshman and has not yet announced his future destination.  According to Logan Booker of Bulldawg Illustrated, Mark Richt said the player's decision was mutually agreed upon, adding, “He has a positive future in football and we wish him all the best in attaining his goals in football and in education.” 

In other news, senior offensive lineman Watts Dantzler continues to be sidelined following a concussion last week.  His absence is noteworthy as he’s one of a host of players contending for two yet unsettled guard positions.

Position Battles 

Along the offensive line, Dantzler, Brandon Kublanow, Greg Pyke and Mark Beard continue to duke it out for starting guard positions.  

According to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald, offensive line coach Will Friend gave a less than glowing assessment of the situation.  “Nobody’s kind of stepped up and said they want to be the guard yet,” Friend said.  “We’re not performing the way we need to inside right now.” 

Meanwhile, the defensive backfield continues to be a revolving door of sorts.  According to Seth Emerson of Macon’s Telegraph, a number of alterations to the depth chart were noticeable—at least for Thursday’s practice. 

Walk-on Aaron Davis, a redshirt freshman, started at the cornerback position opposite Damian Swann (a two-year starter and a senior).  J.J. Green cross-trained with the safeties (as opposed to his normal spot with the cornerbacks), where Brendan Langley (also a cornerback prior to this week) is beginning to excel as well. 

Additionally, sophomore Tray Matthews has reestablished himself as a starter at safety.

Storylines for Week 4 

Next week, Georgia holds its annual spring game at Sanford Stadium.  In many ways, that scrimmage will be fans’ first chance to see a new-look defense and a reminder of Georgia’s offensive prowess. 

A few questions that need to be answered on the defensive side of the ball: 

• How quickly are players adapting to Pruitt’s simplified—but still aggressive—scheme?
• Who will emerge as a lockdown corner other than Damian Swann?
• Will J.J. Green settle as a cornerback, safety or at the star position?
• How fast can Pruitt’s lighter defensive line play?

While the regular season is still a long way off, the more questions that can be answered next week, the better—at least as far as fans are concerned.  After all, the Bulldog faithful want to be encouraged that the volatility caused by former defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s departure for Louisville, and the jubilation surrounding Pruitt’s arrival, will ultimately be for the betterment of a struggling defense. 

On the offensive side of the ball, a starting rotation needs to emerge along the line.  Cohesion will be as important to this unit as anything, and chemistry will only be built after a starting lineup is set. 

And of course, the spring game will give fans an opportunity to see Todd Gurley run the football again and watch Hutson Mason distribute the ball to his many weapons.  But no news is good news for this prolific offense as Georgia can ill-afford another rash of injuries.