Georgia Football: Roster Changes the Bulldogs Should Consider

The Georgia Bulldogs are starting to get their coaching staff in order, as former St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is now the offensive coordinator for the Bulldogs. The Rams offense did not light the world on fire, but Schottenheimer is a young guy who brings new ideas and energy to the Bulldogs.

With Schottenheimer at the helm, this could mean there could be some personnel changes with the offense. But the same thing can be said about the defense as defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt enters his second season with the Bulldogs.

Shaking the roster up to help the team in Athens get to where it wants to go in 2015 is not a bad idea. Here are some roster changes the Bulldogs should consider.

Jordan Jenkins to Inside Linebacker

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Because of the emergence of Lorenzo Carter, there’s a little outside linebacker controversy in 2015. Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd were the starters, but Carter came in when Floyd was hurt and made the most of his snaps.

Because Jenkins is not an outside rusher like Floyd and Carter, it would make sense to move him to inside linebacker. The Bulldogs do have some talented players coming up at the position, such as Reggie Carter and Tim Kimbrough, but Jenkins is the most experienced linebacker on the roster, and he’s knows how to play sideline to sideline.

Jenkins was third on the team with 70 tackles last year. The only two players who had more tackles than him were inside linebackers Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera.

Start Jake Ganus at the Star Position

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Jake Ganus was a standout linebacker at UAB last season with 70 tackles and six tackles for loss. But with the program now dead, Ganus will play for the Bulldogs for his final year.

With Damian Swann graduating, the Bulldogs will need someone to play the star position. Ganus can be that guy, and he can help players like Dominick Sanders and Quincy Mauger be better players in 2015.

When Swann played the star position last year, he was able to make tackles, notch a few sacks and force turnovers. Ganus was good at doing all of those things for the Blazers, which is why having him replace Swann makes complete sense.

Make Faton Bauta a Utlity Player

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As of right now, the Bulldogs' top two quarterbacks are Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta. But Jacob Park will be in the mix next season, and he probably has more talent than Ramsey or Bauta.

So what does that mean?

It means that Park will get a long, hard look at being the starter and should compete with Ramsey for the job. That will leave Bauta the odd man out, but he’s good enough to be a utility player because of his athleticism.

The Bulldogs should have Bauta be the emergency quarterback, be the backup fullback and also have him play tight end. Schottenheimer could use someone like Bauta because he can do a little bit of everything.

Isaiah McKenzie in the Receiver Rotation

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Isaiah McKenzie showed he can make plays on special teams with three returns for touchdowns in 2014. And due to the lack of consistent production at the wide receiver position this past season, McKenzie should get a shot at being part of the receiver rotation in 2015.

McKenzie is not the biggest of wide receivers (5'8", 164 pounds), but he has speed and he’s elusive, two traits that the Bulldogs lacked last season in terms of receivers.

With a new quarterback in place as well as a new offensive coordinator, it only makes sense for the Bulldogs to find a playmaker on the outside. Justin Scott-Wesley and Malcolm Mitchell should be healthy in 2015, but with those players being seniors, the Bulldogs need an up-and-comer to develop chemistry with the new quarterback.