Well, put it this way – even if Richt produces one, it doesn’t sound like we should put much stock in it. Especially when it comes to the defense.
Sophomore outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who led the Bulldogs with 6.5 sacks last year, seems sure to start, but Richt wouldn’t name any in the third week of April.
“I’m not going to sit here and say that for sure anybody on defense right now,” coach Mark Richt said. “I’m not 100 percent sure.”
If a depth chart does come out, Richt made it seem like it will be far from concrete.
“I’d be shocked to get a lineup anytime soon,” he said. “Even when camp starts, we’ll line them up but I would think it will move around before we settle on it.”
Ekeler won’t even commit to calling Wilson and Herrera starters.
Inside linebackers coach Mike Ekeler was asked about his presumed starters, first-team All-SEC pick Ramik Wilson, who had 133 tackles last season, and Amarlo Herrera, who had 112 tackles.
“No. 1, they’re not starters,” Ekeler said. “That’s jumping the gun right there.”
He said others are competing for starting jobs and the position will add incoming freshman Detric Dukes for preseason practices.
“Shoot, who knows?” he said. “It’s open competition. The culture around here, Coach Pruitt is going to get it exactly the way he wants it. Guys are going to play their tails off. They’re going to do it the right way and guys who want to do it are going to be a part of that are going to say, ‘Giddy-up, let’s roll.’”
It’s not much clearer on offense. Between the injuries, the uncertainty on the offensive line and the lack of separation at the backup quarterback spot, it’s no wonder that Bobo says, “I’m confident in one guy right now and that’s Hutson Mason.”
At least there’s one.
Any doubt this staff appreciates that new NCAA guideline where there are eight mandatory hours each week of strength and conditioning this summer, and that can also include film study? Or that it will milk those hours for all they’re worth?
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UPDATE: However…
Friend said he has six to seven players “that I know for sure that I can get ready to play a game with right now.”
Center David Andrews, tackles Theus and Houston and right guard Greg Pyke are in position to start. Others in the mix are backup tackles Mark Beard and Watts Danztler and Kublanow, a guard.
Theus could play left or right tackle and Houston right tackle or left guard.
“We’ve just got to figure out the best five,” Friend said.
Get The Picture 
Makes sense on D. New staff comes in, opens up competition to find out what they have. To keep everyone motivated through the summer, said competition will appear open for each position until sometime in the fall. Meanwhile, guys (please, dear LORD) work their tails off in the summer…
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I like that Pruitt is keeping things close to the vest. All you have to do is look at what Jordan Jenkins said he did last summer knowing he had a starting job wrapped up in the fall to know something wasn’t working.
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+1.
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Bobo must’ve forgotten #3 as a sure starter along with Mason..Gurley stirs the drink
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Gurley’s still not 100% healthy.
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Right. This summer is big for Gurley.
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No complaints about our RBs, but Gurley at 80% is still better than the rest of the pack.
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He’s saying he’s only confident in Mason at QB. I’m pretty sure he’s confident in #3.
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Judging from all I’ve read this spring (post Richt pep talk) Gurley has worked his tail off and is in tip top shape heading forward..Hoping he gets a good push by the rest of the stable, but Gurley is no doubt the man..Also, absolutely love Pruitt’s approach in TRULY opening all positions for competition..Man this Kool Aid that I shouldn’t be drinkin tastes mighty good! Sic ‘Em Dawgs!!!
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This is quite the culture shift. We’ll have to wait and see if the players embrace it and work hard or not. Sometimes the sense of entitlement can be real strong. Don’t be surprised if there are a few transfers because of this.
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+1. Could be. So be it.
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So not to take this actual football thread down a familiar path, but I love the idea the the NCAA basically just traded extra trail mix or cream cheese for 8 more hours of mandatory coach supervised time per week during the summer.
Let them eat cake, damn near literally.
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Do it for the children!
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Like you say, Bluto, a depth chart wouldn’t mean much.
Personally, I think every position should be open, every year, throughout the offseason, and then battle them out the first week or two of Camp. Lord knows, we’ve had enough entitlement issues, and all the problems that go with it. It’s healthy to keep competition open whenever you can, IMO. For many reasons.
Good to see Ekeler underscore what I’ve been saying about the culture, and Pruitt’s ongoing effort to address it. It’s nice to have a direct confirmation of that, because unless the culture issue is addressed, the job will not get done.
We’ve been talking, lately, about how bad it really is, even though it’s better now that it was 2 or 3 years ago, which was better than it was 2 or 3 years before that. It won’t be easy, destroying the current culture and establishing a healthy one. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. But it’s essential to success, and it’s apparent that Pruitt knows that, and intends to implement a healthy culture, sink or swim, and regardless of any potential losses.
To me, it’s a relief. A relief to know the message has been sent, and it has steel behind it. I’ve been writing about our culture issue since early 2008, and extensively since late September 2008, when I first coined the term “cancer”.
And that’s exactly what it was. It’s much better now, but still needs that last treatment, that last move, and the DC was the only one that could really do it. Grantham didn’t, and it had a lot to do with his lack of success. Pruitt is not going to make that mistake.
So I think this is great news, and EXACTLY what this program needs.
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Off-season workouts and the desire to get on the practice field will dictate whether the culture has changed.
The number of August injuries will tell us this before the first game.
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Interesting point.
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I don’t want to argue with anyone about how good Todd Gurley is because I think he is excellent, in many ways. But this season is very important to TG because as well thought of as he is by UGA fans, national media, and NFL scouts, he isn’t a lock for the #1 RB in next year’s draft. There are a few RBs that are just a half step behind him so another injury plagued season, or a fall off in his stats, could cost him a lot of dough in the draft. NFL backs are already seeing their stock fall in contracts, and the draft money has already taken a hit with the new players’ agreement guidelines. I expect him to come out and play his butt off in 2014 for that very reason, we will all be happy if he does that.
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+1. Well said.
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