Georgia Football 2014 – Better, Worse or about the Same?

OFFENSE

Georgia should improve offensively this season, but one has to remember how injuries really took a toll during the 2013 season. Had Georgia stayed healthy last year, I think it would’ve shattered some records. That being said, Todd Gurley – perhaps the best running back in America – should be 100% healthy and Keith Marshall, one of last season’s casualties, has nearly recovered from his ACL tear.

Georgia has depth at receiver, with Chris Conley, Malcolm Mitchell and Michael Bennett in the starting rotation. Tight end depth is a bit thin. Redshirt Senior QB Hutson Mason will replace the great Aaron Murray and knows the offense. Mark Richt and Offensive Coordinator Mike Bobo have tremendous confidence in Mason. He has a plethora of weapons. If Georgia stays healthy, watch out.

Georgia QB Hutson Mason

DEFENSE

The defense should be better because Georgia upgraded their coaching staff. Jeremy Pruitt has replaced Todd Grantham and has declared, after Spring practices, that no one – including incumbants – have a starting spot guaranteed.

Todd Grantham, who left for a sizable pay-bump at Louisville, ran a complex defensive scheme that never seemed to gel during his 4 season in Athens. Pruitt, the ex-Florida State coordinator, runs a much simpler scheme. He is also getting back to a more traditional 4-3 defense opposed to Grantham’s 3-4 which was built around a huge nose tackle. Pruitt wants his defensive guys to be leaner and quicker.

Key players are linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd who are terrors off the edge. Senior defensive end Ray Drew is poised for a breakout season. The Dawg’s down linemen are huge. Georgia has some questions in the defensive backfield, but the talent is always present in Athens. Regardless of the questions left unanswered after the Spring game, Dawg fans are very bullish on Pruitt, who is a proven championship caliber coach.

Georgia 2014 – Better, Worse or about the same as last year?

Georgia should improve upon their 8-5 (5-3 SEC) record, which is a disappointment by Georgia standards. Georgia is not afraid to play quality out-of-conference opponents and gets Clemson “Between the Hedges” right out of the gate, then a tough road game at South Carolina.

The conference schedule sets up well, with no LSU or Alabama. The Mizzou game in Columbia on October 11 will be a tough test before Georgia takes on Florida in Jacksonville and hosts Auburn in mid-November. If the defense gels sooner than later, Georgia should win the SEC East. I’m calling for a 10-2 season with an appearance in Atlanta for the SEC title.

Dave Damian of Dawg Sports provided the information for our Georgia Football 2014 Spring Wrap Up.  For more Bulldogs  football information, commentary and analysis, you can follow Dave & Dawg Sports on Twitter @dawgsports.