Georgia football: 4 things we learned from spring practice and G-Day
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What we learned this spring
Spring practice and G-Day are in the books, which officially brings us to the doldrums of the offseason. Now all that stands between us and the 2018 Georgia football season is the long, long summer. But before we move on with the offseason, we need to take a moment to recap a bit of what we learned from spring practice and G-Day.
So here are four things we learned about Georgia football this spring:
- Secondary and defensive line depth are the team’s greatest concern. Earlier this spring, Georgia coach Kirby Smart noted two of his greatest concerns about this team. One was the secondary not stepping up and the other was a lack of depth on the defensive line. The secondary assuaged some of those concerns with a 3-interception performance at G-Day, but a strong spring game showing isn’t enough to erase all worry. Likewise, the defensive line was solid at G-Day, and by all indications it has performed well in practice. It’s just light on numbers, which could be a major problem for team that fancies itself a national title contender.
- Wide receiver is one of the deepest positions on the team. Smart has been complimentary of the receiving corps this spring, especially the second team. At G-Day, backup receivers such as Matt Landers, Ahkil Crumpton, J.J. Holloman and Trey Blount showed out and gave us a taste of what Smart’s been experiencing in practice. Between the proven, steady hands — Terry Godwin, Mecole Hardman, Riley Ridley —and this promising crop of newcomers, this is the deepest group of receivers Georgia has had in quite a while.
- Monty Rice looks like the next star of the linebacker corps. It’s way too early and way too presumptuous to call Rice the next Roquan Smith, but he is setting himself up to replace Smith as the heart of Georgia’s linebacker corps. Rice finished G-Day with a team-high 14 tackles, and earned a helping of praise from Smart. Everyone accepts that there will be drop-off at inside linebacker without Smith, but Rice may make that drop off less precipitous than we once thought.
- Justin Fields isn’t ready to take over quite yet. At G-Day. Fields showed why he was rated the top recruit in the Class of 2018, going 18-for-33 passing for 207 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He made some good decisions and put plenty of balls right on the money, but as Smart noted, he did it against the second team. Fields didn’t do anything to the perception that he’s a future superstar, but he also didn’t do anything to start a QB controversy. His time will come, just not quite yet.
"This is about as good as you can do it."@justnfields' first TD pass as a Georgia Bulldog. pic.twitter.com/xj7Hchs1bt
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 21, 2018
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ICYMI: G-Day edition
There was more news and notes to come out of G-Day than you could shake a stick at, so I’ve provided it all right here. Let’s see how many tabs your browser can handle.
- Georgia records biggest 2018 spring game crowd in SEC, second best ever for G-Day
- What Smart said after G-Day Game on Saturday
- LOOK: Georgia’s SEC Championship rings are here and they’re spectacular
- 5 standouts from Black team’s win over Red team in G-Day Game
- Smart has made even a dull spring game at Georgia a big deal
- Georgia, Smart make G-Day feel like more than spring scrimmage
- LOOK: Nick Chubb and Sony Michel wear each other’s jerseys to G-Day
- G-Day is fun, but it’s not always a good indicator of Dawgs’ coming season
Recruiting roundup: G-Day
G-Day is one of the biggest recruiting days of the year for Georgia football. Check below for DawgNation’s recruiting coverage of the spring game, including a gallery featuring the top prospects in attendance.
- Nation’s No. 3 safety Lewis Cine breaks down his G-Day trip
- Georgia hosts Deion Sanders’ sons for visit
- Florida legend Emmitt Smith reps Georgia on G-Day as son visits Bulldogs
- PHOTOS: G-Day recruiting gallery
Dawgs on Twitter
Go Dawgs ! pic.twitter.com/W5VYK1l9OI
— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) April 23, 2018
Thank you Dawg Nation !! pic.twitter.com/wVRMTmXoPt
— Coach Kirby Smart (@KirbySmartUGA) April 22, 2018
My new dude!! UGA pic.twitter.com/vzSENjsguu
— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) April 21, 2018
I just want to thank all of the Dawg fans for coming out and supporting the team yesterday! Best fans in the country by far! #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/VcM3tIHcmH
— Justin Fields (@justnfields) April 22, 2018
Good dog
Me all Monday.
Sometimes I’m coordinated, sometimes I’m not 🎾
🎥: long.coat.max (IG)#mydogiscutest #germanshepherd pic.twitter.com/yvW5yWjn5Z— My Dog Is Cutest (@mydogiscutest) April 21, 2018
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