Georgia Football: Depth Chart Analysis, Complete 2015 Preview and Predictions
When it comes to the Georgia Bulldogs and the 2015 season, the goal is the same as it is every year: Win the SEC East, and everything else will fall into place.
UGA has a chance to do it, as it was picked as the favorite to win the SEC East by media members during SEC media days. The Bulldogs have an experienced offensive line, a talented running back, two of the best linebackers in the country and an improving secondary.
However, the one position that is in question is quarterback as the coaching staff is still trying to figure out who will be the starter on opening weekend. Whoever wins it will have a ton of pressure to deal with because he will be the leader of one the more talented teams in the country.
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In this piece, we will break down everything you need to know about the 2015 Bulldogs in this season preview.
Coaches
| Head Coach | Mark Richt | 15 |
| Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks | Brian Schottenheimer | 1 |
| Defensive Coordinator/Secondary | Jeremy Pruitt | 2 |
| Running Backs Coach | Thomas Brown | 1 |
| Tight Ends Coach/Offensive Special Teams Coordinator | John Lilly | 8 |
| Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers Coach | Bryan McClendon | 7 |
| Offensive Line Coach | Rob Sale | 1 |
| Inside Linebackers Coach/Defensive Special Teams Coordinator | Mike Ekeler | 2 |
| Sam Linebacker and Star Coach | Kevin Sherrer | 2 |
| Defensive Line Coach | Tracy Rocker | 2 |
The coaching staff for the Bulldogs will look different from what it has been in the past, especially on the offensive side of the football.
The most noticeable new hire on the coaching staff is Brian Schottenheimer. He’s the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and he has the task of maintaining what Richt and Mike Bobo have built the last few years.
Another new coach on offense is former UGA running back Thomas Brown. He will coach the running back this season, and he previously coached at Wisconsin, where he helped Melvin Gordon have a career season.
Jeremy Pruitt returns as the defensive coordinator for his second season. The defense improved with Pruitt last year, but he knows it can be better. He will have his entire staff from last season back, so that should help the defense take another step in its progression.
Head coach Mark Richt is entering his 15th season at Georgia. He has accomplished a lot during that time, but the quest for a national title is something he wants to get to before he calls it a career.
What to watch for on offense
| QB | Brice Ramsey | Greyson Lambert |
| RB | Nick Chubb | Sony Michel |
| WR (X) | Malcolm Mitchell | Kenneth Towns |
| WR (Y) | Isaiah McKenzie | Reggie Davis |
| TE | Jeb Blazevich | Jay Rome |
| LT | John Theus | Aulden Bynum |
| LG | Isaiah Wynn | Lamont Gaillard |
| C | Brandon Kublanow | Hunter Long |
| RG | Greg Pyke | Thomas Swilley |
| RT | Kolton Houston | Kendall Baker |
| K | Marshall Morgan | Patrick Beless |
| KOR | Isaiah McKenzie | Reggie Davis |
| PR | Isaiah McKenzie | Reggie Davis |
Last year, the Bulldogs had the No. 1 scoring offense in the SEC, scoring 41 points per game. This was with offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, who is now the head coach at Colorado State.
With Schottenheimer taking over as offensive coordinator, the offense shouldn’t change too much. And the reason is Nick Chubb, who rushed for 1,547 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns as a true freshman last season.
Chubb has the size (5' 10", 220 lbs), speed and balance a coach would want in a running back. He was the team’s most valuable player last season, and he will be this season if he stays healthy. Sony Michel and Keith Marshall are strong backups for Chubb, but they have had health issues, especially Marshall, who suffered an ACL injury in 2013 and has never been the same since.
"Nick Chubb! #GATA #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/HHsSvJInR6
— SicEmDawgs.com (@SicEmDawgscom) August 26, 2015"
The receiver position is a question mark because of health as well. Malcolm Mitchell suffered a torn ACL at the start of the 2013 season and had a not-so-stellar 2014 season because of it. Mitchell is healthy now and is poised to have a great 2015 season. Isaiah McKenzie has the inside track at starting at the other receiver position. He was dangerous on special teams with three touchdowns. He looks to be the same threat on offense. Jay Rome, Jeb Blazevich and Jackson Harris make up the tight ends. All three can block, and all three have solid hands.
The offensive line could be the best in the SEC. Greg Pyke, Kolton Houston, John Theus, Brandon Kublanow and Isaiah Wynn make up the starting five. Kublanow started at guard last season, but he’s making the transition to center. Wynn was a center during spring ball, but he is now back at guard, which is his natural position.
The area of concern on offense is the most important position: quarterback. Brice Ramsey, Faton Bauta and Greyson Lambert have been battling all fall camp. It might come down to Ramsey and Lambert. Ramsey has the makeup of a SEC quarterback, while Lambert has the experience. This battle will likely be decided after the first game of the season.
What to watch for on defense
| DE | Sterling Bailey | Trent Thompson |
| NT | John Atkins | Chris Mayes |
| DE | Josh Dawson | Jonathan Ledbetter |
| SAM | Leonard Floyd | Lorenzo Carter |
| JACK | Jordan Jenkins | Davin Bellamy |
| MIKE | Reggie Carter | Leonard Floyd |
| WILL | Tim Kimbrough | Jake Ganus |
| BC | Aaron Davis | Reggie Wilkerson |
| LC | Malkom Parrish | Tramel Terry |
| LS | Quincy Mauger | Jonathan Abram |
| RS | Dominick Sanders | Jarvis Wilson |
| P | Collin Barber | Thomas Pritchard |
Under Pruitt, the defense improved, but it still wasn’t where it wanted to be. The defense was sixth in the SEC in rushing yards allowed, and the reason the Bulldogs lost three games last season was because they could not stop the run.
It starts with the defensive line. Sterling Bailey, John Atkins and James DeLoach have plenty of experience, but they are not game-changers. That’s why the Bulldogs are hoping highly recruited Trent Thompson can be the impact player they’ve been looking for. Jonathan Ledbetter is another young defensive lineman to watch. He enrolled early to join the team during spring practice.
The linebackers are the strength of the defense. They are led by outside linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd, who are both great at rushing the passer and making plays from sideline to sideline. Tim Kimbrough and Reggie Carter are the inside linebackers. They played a good amount last season, and they can be just as consistent as the previous inside linebackers, Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson. Lorenzo Carter is another linebacker to watch. He made a name for himself last season with 4.5 sacks as a true freshman. He can play either inside or outside.
"Two #UGA players make the Coaches' preseason all-#SEC team. OLBs Leonard Floyd & Lorenzo Carter. pic.twitter.com/437AD8qquo
— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) August 25, 2015"
The defensive backs improved last season because it was more stable. Quincy Mauger is the leader of the group, while Dominick Sanders has strong ball-hawking skills. Both players had a combined seven interceptions. Aaron Davis is a cornerback that started slow last season, but he got better as the season went on and ended the year with one pick and five pass breakups. Malkom Parrish will likely start at the other corner, but he is being pushed by Tramel Terry, who was recruited as a receiver.
Injury news
| Justin Scott-Wesley | Knee | Unknown |
| Christian Payne | Leg | Unknown |
| Jonathan Ledbetter | Undisclosed | Unknown |
The Bulldogs come into the start of the season relatively healthy. The one major injury they have had was to Justin Scott-Wesley, who suffered a knee injury during practice, and his career could be over, according to Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald. Scott-Wesley was looking to start at receiver this season, but three knee injuries the last two years have kept him from seeing significant action.
The other two injuries of note are fullback Christian Payne and defensive end Jonathan Ledbetter. Payne has a leg injury, and Ledbetter’s injury is unknown, according to Seth Emerson of DawgNation.com.
X-factor
On offense, Isaiah McKenzie could be the deep threat the Bulldogs have been looking for the last two years.
McKenzie only had six catches for 67 yards last season, but he made an impact on special teams with two kick returns for touchdowns and a punt return for a touchdown.
According to Jake Rowe of 247Sports, McKenzie has great hands, which is good for him because he’s fast and explosive. If he can stretch the field, the offense will be more dangerous than it was last season.
On defense, Trent Thompson could be the defensive lineman that could make an impact right away. Rowe said Thompson has impressed his teammates with his work ethic and not taking plays off. Thompson will be part of the defensive line rotation this year, and he could be a starter as the season rolls on.
"Trent Thompson says he's not at #UGA to 'stand out. I’m just putting in the effort' http://t.co/DUdk03doT5 pic.twitter.com/xGwZz5HTO2
— ABH Sports (@abhsports) August 13, 2015"
2015 schedule
| Sept. 5 | Louisiana-Monroe | Athens |
| Sept. 12 | Vanderbilt | Nashville, Tenn. |
| Sept. 19 | South Carolina | Athens |
| Sept. 26 | Southern | Athens |
| Oct. 3 | Alabama | Athens |
| Oct. 10 | Tennessee | Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Oct. 17 | Missouri | Athens |
| Oct. 24 | BYE | |
| Oct. 31 | Florida | Jacksonville, Fla. |
| Nov. 7 | Kentucky | Athens |
| Nov. 14 | Auburn | Auburn, Ala. |
| Nov. 21 | Georgia Southern | Athens |
| Nov. 28 | Georgia Tech | Atlanta |
Make-or-break games
The first test for Georgia will be a home game against South Carolina on September 19. The Gamecocks have beaten the Bulldogs two of the last three years, and Steve Spurrier will likely have some tricks up his sleeve for the contest.
Two weeks later, the Bulldogs host Alabama for the first time since 2008. The Crimson Tide have beaten Georgia the last two meetings, and this could be an early preview of the SEC title game.
Tennessee is the following week, and this will be the Bulldogs' toughest road contest of the year. The Bulldogs will have to play their best football to beat a Vols team that is on the rise.
The Florida game is on Halloween, which is not a good thing for the Bulldogs. Despite winning three of the last four against the Gators, this game will have some twist and turns nobody would expect.
The Bulldogs travel to Auburn on November 14 for the Bulldogs' final road and SEC game of the year. The Bulldogs blasted the Tigers last year, but the Tigers are projected to win the SEC this year. This could also possibly be another preview of this year’s SEC title game.
Prediction
In a previous article, I predicted the Bulldogs would lose only one game. They are by far the most talented team in the SEC East, and they should not have any issues taking care of their opponents in their division.
Alabama and Auburn will be tough matchups, but the Bulldogs will face the Crimson Tide at Sanford Stadium. And despite the love for Auburn, the Bulldogs should have more firepower to steal one in the Plains.
The quarterback issue will be something to watch this season, but because of the experience at the other positions on offense, whoever is starting at quarterback just needs to not make mistakes.
This team has the tools to make a run to the College Football Playoff. If they play consistent football, the Bulldogs could have a magical season.
Overall Record: 11-1
Conference Record: 7-1
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