The Bulldogs have won 10 or more games in three of the past four years, twice capturing the SEC East crown. This season they’re looking for even more. Georgia hasn’t won the SEC since 2005, but with 13 returning starters, the Dawgs will be early favorites to retake the East from Missouri.
Offense
How you beat the Bulldogs: With a new starting quarterback and a new O-coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer, teams should bring as much pressure as they can and make whoever earns the starting job as uncomfortable as possible. Redshirt sophomore Brice Ramsey (333 yards and 3 TDs last year) is the early favorite for the spot, but don’t rule out redshirt freshman Jacob Park or junior Faton Bauta. “We believe in running the ball and having a great balance in the passing game,” coach Mark Richt says. “We’re going to be a team that can throw the ball well when people pack the box, and when they try to stop the passing game, we’ll be able to run it well.
Defense
How the Bulldogs beat you: Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt will try to frustrate opposing offenses with his terrorizing trio of outside rushers: Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd and Lorenzo Carter combined for 15½ sacks, 25 TFL and 59 quarterback hurries in 2014. Georgia’s secondary, which returns three starters, also improved tremendously in Pruitt’s second year, especially with takeaways: The defensive backfield had 15 of Georgia’s 16 INTs and forced 6 fumbles (recovering 3 of them). The Bulldogs led the SEC and were tied for fourth in the FBS with a turnover margin of plus-16.
also create pressure for Georgia’s inside linebacker unit, which loses longtime starters Ramik Wilson and Amarlo Herrera (225 combined tackles last year).