“Our concern is how are we going to hold up at the point with big people?”

We all know Kirby wants a lot more size on the d-line than he inherited, but, honestly, I’m a little surprised at the math:

As we speak – on campus today – the Bulldogs only have four defensive linemen who check in at over 300 pounds – Trenton Thompson, John Atkins, DaQuan Hawkins and Julian Rochester, whose status for the opener remain unclear following his arrest in April on a felony charge of having a weapon on campus (a bb gun) and destruction of property.”

While that number will increase by two when Michail Carter and Tyler Clark arrive with the rest of Georgia’s freshman class on June 1, that’s not going to do much to alleviate Smart’s fears until the Bulldogs can add more depth via recruiting.

If you’d have asked me before I read that how many 300+ pounders Rocker would be coaching this season, I’d have said half that.  Granted, three of those are true freshmen.  What’s the over/under on how many of them redshirt?

22 Comments

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22 responses to ““Our concern is how are we going to hold up at the point with big people?”

  1. Dawglicious

    1.5

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    • Man, it’s gonna suck watching that 150-pound kid try to shed blocks. 🙂

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      • Sh3rl0ck

        Luckily they are red-shirting the top half. The guy on the field is only 150 lbs, but it is hard to block the guy at 3’1″. He is also under the qb’s vision. Kind of like the opposite of this guy.

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  2. Zero will redshirt in my opinion. At this point, everyone except a QB and offensive linemen should enter college and expect to play. No, I don’t think Jacob Eason should redshirt.

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    • W Cobb Dawg

      Agree. And it’s not just about player’s weight or size. Most of this years DL players are going to be freshmen and sophmores anyway. We undersigned DLs in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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      • Yep, I imagine Smart, Tucker and Rocker told all of those guys to get themselves ready to play significant, meaningful minutes this fall. The summer workout period is going to be big for these guys to develop stamina and technique.

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      • Cojones

        Yep, WCD, and we had the highest scoring SEC Offense during a couple of those years and one of those years had the most injuries on O of any CFB team except FU. How do we explain those data points factored into less O-line recruits?

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  3. I don’t think we have enough red fabric to cover even one of those kids for a redshirt. I say a big fat 300+ lb ZERO.

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  4. @gatriguy

    I blame McGarity for the lack of depth.

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  5. AthensHomerDawg

    IDK… I thought the last Trend in defensive lines was quick agile and get to the ball to deal with the hurry up offense.
    I think I remember reading here that Boise State’s small D line was going to get pile driven by our larger O line …not so much.

    Oh and that 11:00 am Outback Bowl. Undersized Georgia against the mammoth Wisconsin lines and the Great Dane!
    Now that was a proper ass whipping!

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    • dawgtired

      Two games that are on the opposite ends of the spectrum…one that is a favorite and one a nightmare.

      I would not have known that this group…
      Michael Barnett
      Jonathan Ledbetter
      Justin Young
      Julian Rochester
      Keyon Brown
      DaQuan Hawkins
      Trenton Thompson
      …would be considered a depth problem until Kirby told me.

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      • Atticus

        Atkins too

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      • lakedawg

        Several teams would love to have this problem with guys listed above.

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      • Agreed. We are not at Alabama’s level regarding DL depth but a good 85% of college football would love to have this depth problem.

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      • Cojones

        Some of yall haven’t grasped the “Don’t throw me in the Briar Patch” concept of mental gymnastics to throw opponents off. Kirby will be downright ragging these players and the fans until we are 7-0 and then he’ll say “Can’t rest on your laurels and “Gotta keep diggin’ to be whatever we were destined to be this year.”.

        For you uninitiated grumblers, it’s called “Po-mouthin’ “. It’s the only remedy to keeping expectations low while reaming the ass of every team you face. Next week, The Old Fart’s Pedantist” will have a discussion on “Snakebit”, the antithesis of po-mouthin’.

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  6. UGA85

    This problem of lack of depth has been some years in the making. Last year’s group of leaving defensive linemen was large and should have been foreseen. I’m not sure why we didn’t recruit more in the past to fill this obvious area of need, but it will certainly be a juggling act now to keep everyone healthy and fresh for the season.

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  7. Barry Wynn

    BBGun, get serious!

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  8. Macallanlover

    DL is the biggest concern I have with the 2016 team, and is the depth part that worries me most. Sounds like our ILBs looked pretty good in the Spring but the remainder of the defensive front may be in for a long season. If Rocker can work some magic, the rest of the defense should be able to keep games close. Offense is all about Chubb’s ability to contribute before mid-season, big if, but a big upside if he can. Just can’t get by the DL though.

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