Georgia's 2017 football season ended in heartbreak against Alabama inside Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
For Bulldogs tight end Charlie Woerner, heartbreak occurred the game before.
Used as an early weapon in Georgia's Rose Bowl appearance against Oklahoma, the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder suffered a leg injury that prevented him from finishing the 54-48 double-overtime topping of the Sooners. The setback also relegated him to the role of spectator against the Crimson Tide.
"I was pretty bummed out," Woerner said in a recent news conference. "It really sucked watching and knowing I could have been out there to help the team."
The nephew of former Georgia All-America defensive back Scott Woerner entered last season's playoff drive with six receptions for 79 yards, with his sophomore regular season highlighted by a 50-yard catch in the 53-28 win over Missouri. In the first quarter of the Rose Bowl, however, Woerner was targeted four times and caught three passes for 21 yards.
Which made the injury all the more frustrating.
"I was having a blast out there," he said. "I was having a fun game, and then I obviously got hurt and couldn't finish it out."
Woerner's nine catches last season matched the output of fellow 2016 tight end signee Isaac Nauta, whose sophomore year included 114 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Jeb Blazevich, who was a senior last season, and Jackson Harris had two catches each at a position that often got overlooked due to the 1-2 punch of running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel and the receiving talents of Javon Wims, Terry Godwin, Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman.
Georgia's tight ends are hoping to be more active in the passing game this season, especially now that third-year offensive coordinator Jim Chaney has shuffled the role of overseeing quarterbacks to assistant James Coley and now heads up the tight ends.
"That's definitely the anticipation in that room," Woerner said. "Maybe if we bring him some cookies and sweet tea, he'll get us the ball more this year, but it's been great learning from him. Being in the room with him all the time is really letting us get inside his head."
The Bulldogs held their seventh of 15 spring practices Tuesday afternoon, working out for more than two hours in shoulder pads and shorts.
Now or never
Senior inside linebacker Juwan Taylor played in all 15 games last season, getting his lone career start in the 45-14 win at Vanderbilt. He had a lost-yardage stop against the Commodores and is taking his final April on the field in Athens quite seriously.
"For me, this spring is like do or die," Taylor said after Tuesday's practice. "That's how I'm taking every practice, because this is my last year. Previously, I didn't have as much playing time, and this is my opportunity to showcase my talent."
Webb on defense
The Bulldogs have worked with a first-team defense of Julian Rochester, Jonathan Ledbetter and Tyler Clark up front; Taylor, Natrez Patrick and D'Andre Walker as the linebackers; and J.R. Reed, Richard LeCounte III, Deandre Baker, Tyrique McGhee and Mark Webb in the secondary.
Webb was a 2017 receiver signee who moved to defensive back last September, getting most of his action on special teams.
"We're going to have to count on him and some of the younger players to grow up," Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart said. "The one unique thing about Mark is he's a good tackler, and that is not always a great trait for some corners. He's physical. He's a good tackler, and he really wants to learn the defense."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.