Georgia Football: 5 reasons why the Bulldogs will be contenders in 2017

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:25 p.m. ET

Fansided, Erich Hilkert/FanSided via Saturday Blitz

Georgia football is heading into year two with Kirby Smart and here's why the Bulldogs will be top SEC contenders in 2017.

The Georgia Bulldogs have underachieved in recent years, but there are compelling reasons to believe the team has a legitimate chance to win the SEC East this season. Whether or not the team could win the SEC outright remains to be seen—the East hasn't won since 2008.

Georgia and Florida appear to be the strongest East teams from a defensive standpoint. Florida has won the last three contests in the rivalry. Obviously, if Georgia wants to win the East, beating Florida would be a big step in that direction.

Georgia has several strategic advantages over Florida and other SEC East opponents: a superior running back stable, a strong-armed quarterback, plenty of experience returning and a more favorable schedule.

Truthfully, Georgia's offensive line is worrisome enough to hold the team back from winning the East.

Georgia quarterback Jacob Eason has a chance to develop into one of the SEC's top quarterbacks this season, but he needs better play from his offensive line. For Eason to show off his arm strength, he needs time to throw the ball. Conversely, he will need to settle for passes to his check down receivers more instead of favoring the home run ball.

Let's take a closer look at the five reasons why Georgia will be a contender in 2017.

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb (27) runs for yards during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

5. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel

Alabama may have a deeper stable of running backs, but it's hard to top Georgia's tandem of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Chubb is a workhorse back, while Michel is an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield.

Chubb had a monster freshman season in 2014, finishing second in the SEC in both rushing yards (1,547) and carries (219). His 7.1 yards per carry average was second, too, next to then-teammate Todd Gurley (7.4).

Chubb began 2015 with strong performances in the team's first five games before sustaining a gruesome season-ending injury against Tennessee. He ranked No. 1 in yards per carry (8.1) and despite playing less than half the season, finished 11th in the SEC in rushing yards (747). Chubb returned in 2016 for a decent season. He finished sixth in the SEC in rushing yards (1,130), although his yards per carry average fell off considerably (5.0).

Sony Michel isn't on the same level as Nick Chubb, but he did a reasonable job shouldering the load after Chubb's injury in 2015 and works wonderfully as a complimentary back. He rushed for 1,161 yards in 2015 and finished 2016 with 840 yards. Michel was fifth on the team with 22 receptions.

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart talks with member of the defense including linebacker Lorenzo Carter (7) during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

4. Experience

According to college football guru Phil Steele, Georgia returns an estimated 17 starters, which ranks third in the nation and tied for the most in the SEC with Kentucky.

As Steele points out, experience is often associated with an improvement in overall record. Certainly Alabama's defense in 2016 was a testament to the power of experience. The Crimson Tide received a huge boost when a number of draft-eligible players opted to return in 2016 for one last shot at a championship.

The last time Georgia made it to the SEC Championship, the team returned 15 starters from the 2011 team that went 10-4. The 2012 Bulldogs were a C.J. Mosley tipped pass away from a crack at the National Championship.

Last season, Tennessee was the early favorite to win the East and one of the biggest reasons was experience. The Volunteers returned 17 starters from the 2015 squad that went 9-4.

Apr 22, 2017; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs black team quarterback Jacob Eason (10) passes against the red team during the Georgia Spring Game at Sanford Stadium. Red defeated Black 25-22. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

3. Jacob Eason

Questions remain as to whether or not Jacob Eason will remain the team's starting quarterback. While early enrollee Jake Fromm is a talented true freshman who played well in the spring game, the starting job is Eason's to lose.

Eason has a year of experience as a starter. If Greyson Lambert started last season and Eason merely earned some backup snaps, this competition would likely be much tighter.

However, as former Georgia head coach Jim Donnan pointed out on The Paul Finebaum Show, Eason has significantly more reps than Fromm and should be considered "way ahead" of Fromm at this point.

Eason's freshman year was filled with spectacular moments, as well as head-scratching moments. Eason threw for 2,430 yards, 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions. His 55 percent completion rate is neither great nor terrible.

The jury is still out on Eason, but there is plenty of room for optimism. Bulldogs fans may remember Joe Cox pushed Matthew Stafford. Cox didn't have anything resembling the physical gifts of Stafford, but he had a high football IQ and challenged Stafford to become a better quarterback. Fromm may have the same impact on Eason.

Sep 19, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks tight end Jerell Adams (89) is tackled by the Georgia Bulldogs defense after a catch during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

2. Defense

Kirby Smart's defense was the team's strength in 2016, even if it took a slight step back from 2015. Georgia finished 2016 ranked 16th in total defense, good for fourth in the SEC behind Alabama, Florida and LSU.

The team is absolutely loaded at linebacker, similar to Smart's best defenses at Alabama. Lorenzo Carter should be one of the team's leaders after finishing tied for the team lead in sacks with five, and the unit also includes Roquan Smith, Natrez Patrick and Davin Bellamy.

The Bulldogs are strong outside of the linebacker unit, too. During the last two years, safety Dominick Sanders has the highest number of interceptions with nine (Teez Tabor was second during the span with eight interceptions). The secondary doesn't have as much established contributors but has plenty of young talent.

The odds are good Georgia's defensive unit will improve in year two in Smart's system.

Apr 22, 2017; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs mascot UGA shown on the field during the Georgia Spring Game at Sanford Stadium. Red defeated Black 25-22. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

1. Schedule

While Florida opens the season in Arlington against Michigan, Georgia plays Appalachian State. As Tennessee fans will attest, the Mountaineers should not be overlooked, but represent an easier task than the Wolverines. Sure, Georgia faces Notre Dame in week two in South Bend, but the Fighting Irish are coming off an abysmal 4-8 season and the Bulldogs have a tune-up game for preparation.

While Tennessee opens the season against Georgia Tech, the Vols face both Alabama and LSU out of the SEC West. Florida faces LSU and Texas A&M from the SEC West. Georgia faces a slightly easier tilt with Auburn and Mississippi State.

As for season-ending nonconference rivals, Florida faces Florida State, while Georgia plays Georgia Tech and Tennessee plays in-state SEC foe Vandy. While both of these games have been easy wins in the past, neither team prevailed in 2016.

Granted, the schedule difficulty is only a matter of degrees, but coaches will take any advantage they can get, no matter how minor.