Georgia Football: Bulldogs' 2015 Offseason Checklist

With summer approaching, the Georgia Bulldogs are getting closer to kicking off the 2015 season in September. And with this being the offseason, the players are getting into shape for when fall practice begins in August. The coaches are preparing for fall practice as well, but they are also working hard on the recruiting trail.

The goals are set for the Bulldogs to have a successful 2015 season. They were able to do some good things in 2104, but they were not satisfied after the win over Louisville in the Belk Bowl. In order for them to win the SEC and have a chance to reach the College Football Playoff, there will be some things they need to get done in the offseason.

Here’s the offseason checklist for the Bulldogs.

1. Get Healthy

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Injuries have hurt the Bulldogs over the last two seasons, specifically at the wide receiver and running back positions.

The three biggest injuries have been wide receivers Malcolm Mitchell and Justin Scott-Wesley and running back Keith Marshall, as they all suffered ACL injuries in 2013, and even though they were able to get on the field in 2014, the injuries still lingered for all three.

Mitchell, Scott-Wesley and Marshall took part in spring drills this April, and all three should be 100 percent by fall camp.

Those three will be important to the Bulldogs offense in 2015, but in reality, the team will need not only those three, but all of their key players to be 100 percent at the start of the season if they want to be SEC champs.

2. Find a Starting Quarterback

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This could be on top of the checklist, because for as good as the Bulldogs' running backs and the offensive line are, they need a signal-caller to make everything go.

Redshirt sophomore Brice Ramsey got the most snaps with the first team this spring, but junior Faton Bauta and redshirt freshman Jacob Park are two guys that are right on his tail.

All three bring something different to the table, so head coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer will have to make a tough decision.

It will come down to who is more mentally ready, as well as who the team can get behind quickly. Hutson Mason and Aaron Murray were good leaders for this team in the past. Ramsey, Bauta and Park will need to mimic those qualities to not only have a chance at the starting job, but to be successful at it.

3. Find a Center

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The quarterback position is not the only one on offense that is in question. With the David Andrews gone, the center position is also up for grabs.

Sophomore Isaiah Wynn got the majority of snaps during spring practice, but senior Hunter Long and junior Brandon Kublanow (who is the starting guard) also got some good looks by the coaches.

All three will get more looks during fall camp, as the coaches need to be sure they have a player that is comfortable with making all the calls and snapping the ball consistently. Based on the talent of the three, this position battle could me more intriguing than the quarterback competition.

4. Get Trent Thompson Going

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The 2015 signing class is getting ready to make their way to Athens to make the Bulldogs stronger. But if there is one player that the coaches want to get ready and have them see a good amount of minutes this season, it would have to be defensive tackle Trent Thompson, the No. 1 recruit in the country, according to 247Sports.

Jonathan Ledbetter (an early enrollee) was very productive in the spring practices, and he will see a good amount of playing time this fall. That is what the coaches are expecting from Thompson as well. Thompson is strong, quick and athletic, which are the qualities needed to play the defensive end position in the 3-4 scheme.

Because of Thompson’s abilities, it will be hard to keep him off the field this fall. However, the coaches need to be sure that he is mentally and emotionally ready—because SEC opponents can and will eat him alive if he is not careful.

5. Find Leaders on Offense and Defense

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In 2014, Mason, Andrews, linebackers Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera and cornerback Damian Swann were all looked at as leaders for the Bulldogs. Getting leaders to step up for this year's team is huge moving forward. There will be quite a few young athletes playing on Saturdays, and they will need the juniors and seniors to guide them when things are not going their way.

Senior linebacker Jordan Jenkins is good candidate because he has a lot of experience and his play has gotten better each year. Senior defensive end Sterling Bailey is another guy that needs to be a leader. The defensive line is young, and his experience will help guys like Ledbetter and Thompson get ready for the SEC.

On offense, the line is very experienced, so seniors John Theus and Kolton Houston will be looked at as leaders. Both players have been steady the last couple of years, and their battles with SEC defensive linemen will help the skill players be more efficient.