Georgia Football: Burning Questions Ahead of Spring Practice

Tuesday marks the beginning of the 2015 season as the Bulldogs begin spring practice. There’s a lot of optimism from fans coming into spring practice, just like any other year. But there will be some questions the Bulldogs will need to address when spring practice begins.

There are a lot of changes with the team this season, and it’s essential that everyone is on the same page so the Bulldogs can reach the goal of winning the SEC in December. But if the Bulldogs don’t have a successful spring, then the fall won’t be as great as it could and should be.

So here are some burning questions ahead of spring practice.

Who Will Emerge as the No. 1 Quarterback?

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The biggest burning question has to be who will emerge as the No. 1 quarterback.

Since Mark Richt has been the head coach for the Bulldogs, the quarterback position has never been a real issue. But this could be the first time in a very long time when the position is wide open.

Last season, Brice Ramsey got a good amount of experience as he took over for an injured Hutson Mason in the Belk Bowl. But he hasn’t separated himself from the rest of the group, because Faton Bauta and Jacob Park have just as much talent.

Bauta is more of an option-style quarterback, but he’s the senior member of the group. And Park has the least experience, but he can make all the throws and is very athletic.

With a new quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer at the helm, he will have his hands full this spring and this fall in terms of deciding the depth at quarterback.

Can Keith Marshall and A.J. Turman Stay Healthy?

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Back in 2012, Keith Marshall turned heads with his speed and quickness. But the last two seasons has been a struggle, because he’s has been battling a nagging knee injury.

But this year, Marshall is finally healthy, and he has a chance to take some snaps away from Nick Chubb and Sony Michel if he can have a productive spring.

A.J. Turman is in the same boat as Marshall in terms of injuries. He has yet to see the field in an actual game, but he’s shown he can be a solid back, as he had a very strong G-Day game last year.

Both Marshall and Turman can really bolster an already-strong position if they can stay healthy throughout spring practice.

Who Will Be the Next Two Inside Linebackers?

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 With Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera gone, there will need to be two strong inside linebackers to step up to the plate and be leaders on defense.

Based on experience, Reggie Carter and Tim Kimbrough are the two guys who look like they can fill in the big shoes. They will likely enter spring practice as the two starters, but UAB transfer Jake Ganus will also make some noise.  Ganus made a lot of plays with the Blazers last year, and if he can adjust to the playing style of the SEC, he can be a very nice addition for defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt.

Then there’s freshman Natrez Patrick, who enrolled in January. Patrick can play inside and outside linebacker, and he should get plenty of looks at both positions in spring practice and fall camp.

Can the Offense Continue to Be Strong with Three New Coaches?

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The coaching staff for the Bulldogs has been stable for the last 14 years. There have been some changes here and there, but there has been nothing as drastic as it has been this upcoming year.

The Bulldogs lost three offensive assistant coaches, including offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who took the head-coaching job at Colorado State. That leaves the Bulldogs with three new coaches, and the one who stands out is offensive line coach Rob Sale.

The offensive line for Georgia was dominant last year as they were able to protect Mason and open holes for Chubb and Michel. With four starters returning, Sale faces a lot of pressure to have the same success Will Friend had in 2014. If that doesn’t happen, then the offense will take two steps back, and that could lead to a very long season.