2. Georgia offense will need to step up to contend
Despite going 10-3 in 2015, the Georgia offense was lackluster in the final year of the Richt era. Once Heisman hopeful running back Chubb tore his knee up in Knoxville on the first play from scrimmage, Georgia resorted to a dink-and-dunk passing game to try to move the chains under then offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s watch.
Georgia was able to get to back-to-back 10-win seasons due in huge part to the great defense in place by former defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt. Pruitt had one of the deepest linebacker groups in the nation and had his secondary playing at an elite level in 2015.
With Pruitt leaving Athens for Tuscaloosa to replace Smart on Nick Saban’s Alabama staff, Georgia may lose a step or three defensively in 2016 under new defensive coordinator Mel Tucker. Georgia will also lose three key playmakers in their front seven in Leonard Floyd, Jordan Jenkins, and Jake Ganus to the NFL Draft.
At this stage of Georgia’s offseason program, Smart feels that the offense is actually ahead of the defense after G-Day. While Georgia will return great weapons all across the gridiron on offense and three starters on the offensive line, will Chaney have the quarterback he needs to best run his offense?
Lambert has a high floor, but a low ceiling as an SEC starter. Ramsey has great arm talent, but has looked erratic under center in limited action. Perhaps it will end up being Eason who gives a Murray-level boost to the new offense at Georgia in 2016?
Next: 1. Undeniable arm talent unlocks Chaney's offense