5 questions for UGA football

Georgia football coach Mark Richt turned 50 last month and quickly pointed out, "Today's 50 is yesterday's 40. I feel a lot younger than 50." Perhaps his energy reflects the three new members of his defensive staff as the Bulldogs seek to bounce back from an 8-5 season.

Here are five questions concerning Richt's 10th spring in Athens:

1. Will a quarterback emerge?

Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo have no timetable in naming a front-runner or a top two, and each has said the race could continue into preseason camp. Logan Gray threw for just 31 yards and was intercepted twice last season as a redshirt sophomore, while Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray redshirted.

"We think they're talented, and we know there are going to be some mistakes," Bobo said. "We've just got to do a better job of managing that position and managing those mistakes this year, where last year we probably didn't."

Quarterback has been settled for the Bulldogs in seven of the past eight springs, 2006 being the exception with Joe Tereshinski, Blake Barnes, Joe Cox and Matthew Stafford competing. That race wasn't decided until 13 days before the season opener.

2. How will the front seven adjust?

New defensive coordinator Todd Grantham could play a lot of players at various positions until he finds what he likes.

He expects his outside linebackers to be edge rushers with the athletic ability to tackle in space and occasionally drop into short-area coverage. He wants his inside linebackers not to rush as much but to have more range due to coverage responsibilities. And he wants his defensive ends to be bigger, thicker players who are more physical at the point of attack.

That's what he wants to fit into his 3-4 scheme, but does he have it?

"Coach Grantham has a vision for what this defense is going to look like," Richt said. "We've got enough of the right body types to play this defense. We're at least two deep with guys who can play at these positions."

3. What about the secondary?

New defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos has one starter back, albeit a good one in cornerback Brandon Boykin. Bacarri Rambo got a ton of time as a backup strong safety last year, and junior college transfer Jakar Hamilton has his sights on the free safety spot.

Branden Smith is the favorite to start opposite Boykin, but what can be expected of the new-look secondary? Versatility, for starters, especially at safety.

"We would like to have safeties play both strong and free," Richt said. "We don't want one always playing the run or the deep middle."

4. Can Washaun be Knowshon?

Knowshon Moreno had consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons for the Bulldogs in 2007-08, and Washaun Ealey would have had one as a freshman last year with a better start. Ealey didn't play in the first four games but averaged 111 yards in the last six, which is why there is substantial hype for the sophomore-to-be this spring.

"We're expecting a lot from Washaun as a total football player," Bobo said. "We liked him from day one when he stepped on campus, and then he had that dislocated elbow or something with his elbow that kept him out of practice for two weeks, and that set him back. We went in a different direction, but it became evident that he needed to give us something in the running game.

"We thought he would be a spark, and he gave us that spark. He's done a great job this offseason. He is growing up, and we look forward to him continuing what he did last year."

5. Will stout special teams develop?

Georgia returns the top kicking tandem nationally with punter Drew Butler and kicker Blair Walsh, and the Bulldogs are coming off a dominating special-teams showing against Texas A&M in the Independence Bowl. Former defensive ends coach Jon Fabris was responsible for overseeing most of the special teams on game days but was fired in December.

Richt said receivers coach Tony Ball still will oversee kickoff returns, while running backs coach Bryan McClendon will work with the punt-return unit and new inside linebackers coach Warren Belin will head the kickoff coverage. Tight ends coach John Lilly will coach the punt team again and will add the responsibilities of coordinating special-teams meetings and practice time.

Should Georgia improve its punt and kickoff coverage, this could be the strongest area on the team.