HOOVER, Ala. -- To the surprise of no one, a poll taken of the assembled press members at SEC Media Days showed Alabama as a runaway favorite to win the SEC West and the SEC Championship game in Atlanta. Slightly more surprising was the preseason prediction that Georgia would repeat as the SEC East champion.
Georgia has plenty of talent. With Aaron Murray, Keith Marshall, Todd Gurley and a crop of talented receivers and offensive linemen, the Bulldogs could have one of the best offenses in the nation. But South Carolina and Florida field a lot of talent as well. Plus, Mark Richt and Todd Grantham have to replace 11 defensive players lost to the NFL, including first-round picks Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree along with two cornerbacks, two safeties, both nose tackles and a crew of linebackers and defensive ends.
Everyone knows Georgia can move the ball and score points. The question is: can they keep their opponents from scoring more?
Defensive end Garrison Smith is not concerned about replacing the talent and athleticism lost last year.
It is the lack of experience that worries him.
“Leadership is critical,” Smith said. “It is important for the older guys to tell the younger guys what to expect and what’s expected. But we have a lot of great young guys -- a young safety, Tray Matthews, who is very physical and aggressive, (redshirt freshman defensive end) John Taylor, (redshirt sophomore DE) Sterling Bailey -- we’ve got so many really good ones it’s impossible to name them all. I believe that this season we’re not going to have one or two outstanding players that we talk about; it’s going to be everybody.”
That remains to be seen. Georgia’s defense will be tested early against Clemson, and Smith understands how intimidating that inaugural trip to Death Valley will be to the young guys.
“It’s a hostile environment, no doubt,” he said. “But that’s where the older players have to step up and coach the younger guys, telling them, ‘Look, this is not going to be like a high school game, it’s going to be intense.’”
Everything will be new for many of the Georgia defenders, including trips to Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Auburn and Jacksonville for the Florida game, as well as the home hoopla that will surround matchups against LSU, South Carolina, Missouri and Kentucky.
How will they bond? And when will they gain the confidence to stop looking into the stands and dial in on the offenses they face?
“Well, right now they’re very hungry for starting jobs and for playing time,” Richt said of his defensive unit. “We’ve got a lot of guys fighting to make the travel squad. Defensive players have to play special teams too, so there is a huge role for them. I think they’re lean and fast. What we need to do now is point them in the right direction. There is no chance for complacency with this defensive team.”
Comparisons to last year’s defense that dominated the East are inevitable, and will be almost certainly unfair.
But even the head coach has noticed one marked difference.
“I don’t know if our defense has any swag yet,” Richt admitted. “You have to earn that on the field. I think they’re hungry and in good shape. And I think they’re ready to get after it. Hopefully as we play in games over time they will gain that swag.”
Smith agreed.
“We’ve got a long way to go. This camp is going to be real important. As far as workouts are concerned, we’re already bonded, we’re tight and there’s no animosity or anything.”
Then Smith shook his head and added, “Dudes are just waiting on camp. They can’t wait to get out and play.”
