5 Questions for UGA in 2010

Tim Tucker of the AJC

Like much of the country, Georgia's football program is hoping for a better year in 2010.
Here are five that leap to mind:

1. Who’ll take over at quarterback?

For a second consecutive season, Georgia will open the season with an unproven, untested quarterback. But this time the starter probably will be a redshirt freshman and will not be a fifth-year senior.

Aaron Murray and Zach Mettenberger have been prepping for what should be a spring-practice battle to succeed Joe Cox in an offense that returns its other 10 starters. Rising junior Logan Gray also could be in the competition, but his ongoing consideration of a possible position switch indicates he’s not in the forefront of the quarterback picture.

The 6-foot-5 Mettenberger, from Watkinsville, has the stronger arm of the two freshmen, while the 6-1 Murray is more mobile and well-known for bouncing back from a broken leg to lead his Tampa high school to a state championship.

“They are two guys who come out and compete every day at practice,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said recently. “It’s going to be a fun spring.”

After a 2009 season undermined by turnovers, Richt said the quarterback competition might swing on how the candidates protect the ball.

“They want to do something great to win the job,” Richt said, “but they also have to understand that ultimate respect for the football ... is a big part of the job description.”

2. How will Todd Grantham transform the defense?

After allowing 34 or more points in 10 games over the past two seasons, Georgia needs a new start on defense. And it's getting one.

There's a new defensive coordinator in Grantham, coming to Athens after 11 years in the NFL. There will be at least two other new defensive coaches. There will be a new scheme, Grantham's 3-4 replacing the 4-3. There will be at least six new defensive starters, replacing those lost to graduation and the NFL draft.

The defense is almost a blank canvas.

"I look forward -- not only myself but with the people we bring in -- to developing an aggressive style of defense that all Bulldogs fans across the country can be excited to watch," Grantham said Friday. "If you ask me to describe the type of defense I want, I can tell you I want big, physical, aggressive players and guys that want to be relentless every play."

3. Can the late-2009 improvement in the running game provide a foundation for 2010?

As the Bulldogs left the field after their Independence Bowl victory over Texas A&M, Bobo excitedly asked a reporter: "How many yards rushing did we have?" The answer was 208, all but 28 in the second half.

The biggest difference in how Georgia started the season (4-4) and how it finished (4-1) was vast improvement in the running game. After averaging 3.4 yards per carry in the first six games, Georgia averaged 5.5 yards per carry in the final seven games.

With the team in transition at quarterback and on defense, the running game appears the best bet to build around for 2010. Washaun Ealey likes the sound of that after finishing his freshman season as part of a strong tailback tandem with Caleb King.

"We had a lot of success running the ball," Ealey said. "I hope we do a lot more of it in the future."

4. What position changes will be made?

Richard Samuel was the starting tailback for the first six games in 2009 but never really found his stride falling far behind the King-Ealey tandem by late season. Richt has acknowledged the possibility of moving. Samuel to linebacker but has been noncommittal on the idea.

Samuel, who played both running back and linebacker in high school, said recently that he expects to remain at running back but is open to a move.

“I liked both positions equally,” he said. “It’s hard to pick.”

As for Gray’s long-rumored move from quarterback to wide receiver or safety, Richt has said coaches “want to respect what he wants to do,” whether that’s battling for the quarterback job or trying a different position.

A few other position moves are being considered, but Richt resisted revealing them yet. “There’s going to be some thought about [those possibilities] as a staff,” Richt said. “What you want to do ... is get everybody in the right spot to have the greatest chance of success.”

5. Will 2010 be the last season at UGA for A.J. Green?

At a Bulldog Club meeting early last year, someone asked Richt if he thought Green would play four years at Georgia. Richt laughed and said he was just glad football players, unlike basketball players, can't turn pro after their freshman season.

Green will be a junior in 2010 and will be eligible to enter the 2011 NFL draft. So the odds are that Georgia fans have one more season to enjoy the mega-talented wide receiver.

As good as Green has been in his first two seasons, a nagging groin injury bothered him all of 2008 and two late-season injuries -- a bruised lung followed by a separated shoulder -- sidelined him for 3-1/2 of the final four regular-season games of 2009. Georgia would love to see what he could do in 2010 if healthy from start to finish.