How Does Georgia Prepare For 2021 While Finishing Strong?

Georgia Bulldogs fans learned to expect being in contention for a national title. Now, with those hopes off the table, how should they prepare for 2021?

Sitting with two losses at this point in the season doesn't bode well for the Georgia Bulldogs. Many are clamoring for the Bulldogs to openly punt on this season, but if anything is known about head coach Kirby Smart, the team will go down swinging until the end.

However, it would be foolish not to prepare for the 2021 season to some extent. There are obvious limitations that the Bulldogs can't overcome this season, so the question remains: how can Georgia compete this year while simultaneously setting a foundation for the years to come?

It starts with the passing game. The expectation remains that Georgia will be picking a starter for the rest of the season, and when quarterback Brock Vandagriff enrolls in the spring, the competition will begin again. No matter how talented anyone is, all young players require a friendly scheme to get acquainted with the college game. 

It's paramount that before Vandagriff arrives on campus there be a firm grasp of exactly who and what is in place in the quarterback room and the only way to do that is to play both JT Daniels and Carson Beck at some point this season. The in-game evaluation at the quarterback position is more valuable than anything that can be simulated in practice. 

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken will spend time this offseason trying to find ways to incorporate Vandagriff's ability to make big plays into the offense while remaining safe. This is a task that can be largely accomplished this year with a starter such as D'Wan Mathis or Daniels in place and emphasizing the ground attack. It might sound strange, but the running game is the key to the passing game.

During the second half of the season, many expect tailback Zamir White to garner most of the touches on offense, which should put him into the national spotlight. Couple this with the fact that Kendall Milton will come back fully healthy next season, they could combine to produce the most explosive backfield in college football.

Throw in Vandagriff's legs, and there will be secondaries playing man coverage on the back end. That should lead to many play-action shots for Vandagriff, but it is all dependent on how the offense can execute these concepts toward the end of this season. If they can succeed with this design, they can have the offense as a "shell" and then take out whichever starter they hand-pick and insert Vandagriff, assuming he is the quarterback moving forward.

Health on the offense can't be undervalued. Next year, the Dawgs return Dominick Blaylock and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint from injury, two players who can be molded into some of the country's most dangerous players. Jermaine Burton is also expected to gain plenty of valuable experience this season with injuries at the position. So, we could see three potential breakout candidates in the wide-receiver room for Georgia.

On the defensive side, it will be all about how they can replace their impact seniors. Losing safety Richard LeCounte will be a significant loss for this Bulldogs defense, and the expectation is that the Dawgs will replace LeCounte's impact by committee. No one on the roster can partially replace LeCounte's ability, but they can in pieces. Chris Smith and Lewis Cine will be a part of the equation. Safety Major Burns will gain valuable experience over the final four games of the season. It isn't too far fetched to imagine soon-to-be freshman David Daniel getting some snaps.

As for the rest of the defense, three-year starting linebacker Monty Rice will likely head to the NFL, defensive tackle Jordan Davis could also be off to the NFL. Cornerbacks Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell have also been mentioned as top NFL Draft prospects. Georgia has relatively solid depth at corner and linebacker, but the potential loss of Davis would be crucial. He's the pre-eminent nose tackle on the team and he's been irreplaceable on this defense for three straight seasons. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, who has committed for 2012, could be asked to replace Davis quickly upon arrival in Athens. 

This 2021 recruiting class will play a pivotal role in the team's success as soon as next season, and regardless of what happens, Smart can be expected to start working now.