Tag: georgia offensive line

Projecting Georgia’s starting offensive line ahead of spring practice

UGA football returns an experienced, physical offensive front

The Georgia offensive line should be a team strength in 2024. The Bulldogs return experienced seniors in Tate Ratledge and Xavier Truss, who both could have entered the NFL draft.

Georgia did lose center Sedrick Van Pran and right tackle Amarius Mims to the NFL draft. Van Pran’s experience and consistency will be tough to replace. Georgia got a taste of life without Amarius Mims throughout the 2023 season because he missed several weeks with an ankle injury.

Ultimately, Georgia returns three starters from its offensive line and should have one of the best offensive line units in the country. Georgia’s offensive line returns an impressive amount of depth, so the Bulldogs have several good options in the event a starter suffers an injury. In recent seasons, Georgia has rotated the offensive line to keep players fresh.

What five players do we project to start along Georgia’s offensive line entering spring practice? Who are Georgia’s top depth options behind the starters?

Projecting Georgia’s starting offensive line

Who do we project to start at every position on Georgia’s offensive line?

The Georgia Bulldogs should have one of the best offensive lines in the country again in 2023. Georgia’s ability to pass protect and establish the run is a major reason the Bulldogs have won back-to-back national titles.

Georgia returns all three starters from the interior of the 2022 offensive line. The Bulldogs also return offensive tackle Amarius Mims, who is a first-team All-SEC selection. Overall, Georgia has four offensive linemen on the All-SEC team. The offensive line should remain a strength of Georgia’s in 2023 thanks to all of the returning experience and talent.

Who do we project to start at every position on Georgia’s offensive line?

Georgia OL Tate Ratledge talks Bulldogs offensive line battle

“We have a lot of competition going on. [We’re] just competing every day and with a lot of depth”

One of Georgia football’s biggest questions for the 2023 season is along the offensive line.

The Bulldogs lose starting left tackle Broderick Jones and starting right tackle Warren McClendon to this year’s NFL draft.

Starting center Sedrick Van Pran elected to delay turning pro and will be back as the anchor up front, along with starting left guard Xavian Truss and starting right guard Tate Ratledge.

Ratledge, a rising redshirt junior, spoke on the changes along the Georgia offensive line after a spring practice session last week.

“We have a lot of competition going on. [We’re] just competing every day and with a lot of depth, I think one of Coach Searels’ goals is to find a starting five and then find a backup group where there’s not much drop-off. I think right now we do a lot where everybody gets a lot of reps, so there’s no telling [who will play where]. People are getting a lot of reps every practice.”

Rising junior Amarius Mims is a key contender at right tackle. The former five-star prospect saw action as a reserve in 12 games in 2022.

Ratledge mentioned Mims has a different mindset so far this offseason.

“He’s gotten very mature with how he goes about things, just coming into practice, not really taking plays off and things like that,” Ratledge said. “[He’s] just going out there and grinding every day and just really stepping into the shoes that he’s got to fill.”

Rising redshirt junior Austin Blaske and rising redshirt freshman Earnest Greene are battling for the left tackle spot. Blaske appeared in nine games last season and Greene missed the season due to injury.

There is plenty of time to make decisions of how the offensive front will look for the Bulldogs. The talent is there but finding continuity is the challenge.

Ratledge says the impact of the returning starters is helping the process.

“I think we have a couple guys that have been through it and know what to do, can really help the young guys come along and kind of take people under their wing and kind of show them the way.”

You can catch the Dawgs live from Sanford Stadium in the annual ‘G-Day’ game scheduled for April 15.

 

UGA offensive line deserves credit for dominant season, CFP performance

The Georgia offensive line was superb in pass protection all season

The Georgia offensive line deserves a lot of credit for its role in helping the Bulldogs win back-to-back national championships. Last year, Broderick Jones stepped into the starting line up against Will Anderson and Alabama and helped turn the tide in Georgia’s 33-18 win.

This year, Georgia’s offensive front absolutely dominated TCU in the national championship. For a second straight year, Georgia leaned on a former five-star recruit, who had not been starting, in key moments throughout the College Football Playoff. In 2022, the Dawgs relied on Amarius Mims after the usual starting right tackle, Warren McClendon, suffered a knee injury in the SEC championship.

The 2022 Georgia offensive line was particularly effective as pass blockers. Broderick Jones, Xavier Truss, Sedrick Van Pran, Tate Ratledge, and company allowed just nine sacks in 15 games this season. In 2022, Georgia attempted 492 passes, which means that the Bulldogs allowed sacks on 1.8% of passing plays or approximately every 55 pass attempts.

PFF pointed out Georgia’s dominance against TCU and claims the Dawgs only allowed three pressures. Quarterback Stetson Bennett was barely touched in Georgia’s championship win.

Georgia’s offensive front gave Stetson Bennett just enough time to pass, despite being in obvious passing situations, in the Dawgs’ CFP semifinals win over Ohio State.

Georgia had its best offensive attack in a longtime (or maybe its best offense ever) thanks in large part to the offensive line. Georgia scored 44 rushing touchdowns and averaged 501.1 total yards per game in 2022.

The Great Wall of Georgia brought physicality, toughness, and a championship in the first year under offensive line coach Stacy Searles. Georgia’s quarterbacks stayed clean and were rarely flustered by the opposing pass rush.

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Georgia Bulldogs OL transfers to SMU

The Georgia Bulldogs lost some depth along the offensive line when Owen Condon announced his transfer to the SMU Mustangs football program.

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Owen Condon has transferred to the SMU Mustangs football program. Condon has played in 22 career games for Georgia across four seasons.

The 6-foot-7, 310-pound senior out of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, should have more opportunities for playing time at SMU. Condon faced stout competition along the offensive line at Georgia.

He played in 14 out of 15 games for UGA in 2021, but primarily had a reserve role after starting the 2020 season opener against Arkansas. Condon will hope to start for SMU. Condon is a former three-star recruit from Bishop McGuinness High School.

Former Georgia offensive lineman Owen Condon during the Peach Bowl. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

The Bulldogs are losing a pair of offensive line starters in Jamaree Salyer and Justin Shaffer to the 2022 NFL draft. Georgia will reload with elite offensive line talent like Broderick Jones, Amarius Mims, and more.

Owen Condon announced his transfer to SMU via his Twitter account:

We wish Condon luck at SMU. He is transferring a little bit closer to home and should have a big role for the Mustangs in the American Athletic Conference.

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How good was Georgia’s OL under former coach Matt Luke?

UGA’s front under Matt Luke…

Georgia’s offensive line coach for the last two seasons, Matt Luke, elected to step down shortly after the Bulldogs’ national title citing family reasons.

You might hear Dawg fans who are thankful for Luke’s departure, but the reality is that UGA’s front under the former Ole Miss head coach was one of the best in the SEC.

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Luke also helped build a wall of talent. While in Athens, Luke was involved in the recruitment of two five-star and three four-star lineman, including Broderick Jones (5), Amarius Mims (5), Tate Ratledge (4), Aliou Bah (4) and Earnest Greene (4).

While I wouldn’t be worried about coach Kirby Smart finding a quality replacement for Luke, his impact on this Georgia team was undeniable and that UGA front was a big part of the Bulldogs’ national title.

Here are a few names to keep an eye out for as Smart and staff look for a new captain up front.

 

Projecting UGA’s depth chart at offensive tackle

The Georgia Bulldogs need a good performance out of their offensive line in 2021.

The Georgia Bulldogs need a good performance out of their offensive line in 2021. Quarterback JT Daniels isn’t the most mobile athlete, so the offensive line’s protection of him will be critical, especially in week one against Clemson’s talented defensive line.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart and offensive line coach Matt Luke has built up some quality talent along the offensive front. The Dawgs should have a strong running game again in 2021.

Can Georgia’s offensive line avoid poor performances this season? Last year, the offensive line and running backs surprisingly could not establish the run against Mississippi State. Georgia still beat Mississippi State, but the Dawgs needs to be able to run the ball effectively against each of their opponents this year.

How does Georgia’s depth chart stack up at offensive tackle?

Georgia football OL named among top players in CFB

This Georgia lineman will be high on NFL draft boards next spring…

We are just 17 days away from Georgia’s season opening matchup versus Clemson on Sept. 4 in Charlotte.

Bleacher Report has released a list naming the best returning college football players for the 2021 season. First on the list is Georgia senior guard Jamaree Salyer.

Oct 27, 2018; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer (69) works out prior to the game at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

David Kenyan wrote,

“Jamaree Salyer, a 5-star lineman in the 2018 class, has showed off fantastic versatility at Georgia. After logging backup snaps at four positions as a freshman, Salyer earned a couple of starts at right tackle in 2019. Last year, he opened nine of UGA’s 10 games at left tackle and shifted to left guard for the Peach Bowl against Cincinnati. And in 2021, he might be the starting center. Salyer has developed into an exceptionally reliable blocker whom Georgia can move around to fill whatever need is most pressing. There’s a strong chance he’ll land All-America recognition this fall.”

Salyer decided to return for his senior season when he could have been a NFL draft pick this spring. His return not only helps solidify Georgia’s front, it gives the Dawgs a huge leadership presence in the locker room.

This year Salyer earned the 2021 Dick Copas Leadership Award given by the UGA student-athlete advisory committee on top of earning preseason All-SEC honors, All-American honors from Phil Steele and second-team All-American honors via Walter Camp and Pro Football Focus.

Salyer’s versatility will land him on top of NFL draft boards next spring. The Atlanta native has played right tackle, center, left guard and most recently left tackle all at a high level of production.

 

Georgia football Twitter reacts: OL Jamaree Salyer is returning

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer is returning for another season at the University of Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer is returning for another season at the University of Georgia. His return gives Georgia a big boost in offensive line experience. Salyer has logged 36 appearances in his college football career.

Salyer came to the University of Georgia as a five-star offensive guard recruit out of Atlanta, Georgia. Salyer started at left tackle for the first nine games of the 2020 season and then played left guard in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Salyer played high school football at Pace Academy with Andrew Thomas for three seasons before coming to Georgia. Salyer will hope to be as well regarded as his high school teammate when his career in Athens is over. Salyer is technically a junior, so he could comeback for another season.

Here’s how Georgia football Twitter reacted to the news (announcement among the reaction):

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Georgia football’s Trey Hill enters 2021 NFL Draft

Junior Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Trey Hill is entering into the 2021 NFL Draft. Hill was a key starter at UGA.

Junior Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Trey Hill is entering into the 2021 NFL Draft. Hill began the season as the only returning member of Georgia’s starting offensive line. The Houston County High School product helped Georgia weather the storm and helped the Bulldogs put together some impressive offensive line performances as a unit.

Trey Hill is 6 feet, 4 inches, and is one of the best centers in the 2021 NFL Draft. Impressively, No. 55 has already graduated from the University of Georgia. He is truly a man on a mission.

Hill was named second team All-SEC following his impressive 2019 performance. Unfortunately in 2020 his season was cut short due to injury. Georgia got a preview of how life would be like without Hill in the Peach Bowl. The Bulldogs struggled to consistently run the football against Cincinnati.

Offensive line coach Matt Luke may have his hands full once again in terms of replacing elite talent. Offensive guard Ben Cleveland is also entering into the NFL Draft. Justin Shaffer, a senior, additionally faces an NFL Draft decision.

Trey Hill came to Athens as a four or five star recruit depending on the scouting service and has easily lived up to his touted billing. He announced his decision to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft via his Twitter account:

Congratulations to Trey Hill. He was a rock during his time at Georgia. He has the ability to play right away in the NFL. He’s currently projected as a third round draft selection.

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