Georgia's most inexperienced position group is at receiver entering the 2019 football season, but Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart doesn't seem to be complaining.
Smart has lamented the youth, but he also has praised the potential that was apparently evident again Saturday in Sanford Stadium during the team's second scrimmage this preseason. The closed scrimmage consisted of 135 plays, with Smart pointing out that several huge gains came from the receivers.
"Last scrimmage, it seemed like some of the backs out of the backfield had some big plays, but it was the wideouts as a group today," Smart said during a news conference. "(Lawrence) Cager had one. George (Pickens) had one. Tyler (Simmons) had one. Trey (Blount) had one. We had several guys have explosive plays.
"Explosive to me is well over 12 or 13 yards. Kearis (Jackson) had a big one. We've seen great balance on the explosive plays."
The Bulldogs must replace three receivers from last season who are now in the NFL - Terry Godwin, Mecole Hardman and Riley Ridley - as well as Jeremiah Holloman, who was dismissed from the team earlier this summer. Pickens was a five-star 2019 signee who made a one-handed grab during last weekend's opening scrimmage.
"There has been progress," Smart said of the receivers. "I think you can always do more, and that is what we're trying to do. I am very pleased with that group's effort, toughness, resiliency and pushing through contact toughness.
"There are some balls that should have been caught that weren't today, but that's probably always going to be the case."
Smart said Saturday's scrimmage was much more spirited than last weekend's, which he now refers to as the worst practice of this preseason. The Bulldogs will take Sunday off before having a light practice Monday.
Senior defensive linemen David Marshall and Julian Rochester are splitting time between practicing and working with athletic trainers as they return from surgeries, while freshman inside linebacker Nakobe Dean is "a little banged up" and sat out the scrimmage as well. There were no significant injuries Saturday.
Georgia's defensive line is full of veterans, but Smart is curious to see how that group shakes out.
"There are a lot of guys rolling, and there is no one dominant player," Smart said. "There are a lot of good, solid players. We may roll out there with six seniors who have played a lot of football - Michael Barnett, Michail Carter, Justin Young, Tyler Clark, Julian Rochester and David Marshall.
"As far as the younger guys, they aren't where the older guys are yet. You can't be. They just can't physically jump into that mold yet. Travon (Walker) is the one new guy who has a chance to help us the most this year."
Smart said the Bulldogs could start turning their attention to Vanderbilt, the team they'll visit to open the season on Aug. 31, as soon as Thursday.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.