I've heard some say; Every team has this fantasy, after they lose a lot of great players after a wildly successful season, that they are just going to 'reload' with players that are just as good. So to 'reload' instead of 'rebuild' is always what a program that had success the previous season thinks is going to happen. Some have told me that it's just wishful thinking for most anybody, with the exception of a very few programs; Maybe Bama, Ohio St and USC etc. considering our success last season that we can just 'reload' and keep rolling, after losing Chubb, Michel, Carter, Smith, etc.

Truthfully, there is some truth to what folks say about this sorta thing. I think every program likes to look at incoming recruits and say, 'man, they're just as good!' But with us, I just don't think it's 'wishful thinking' to think we don't have the studs to plug in and keep on winning...a few cases in point...

Anyone who don't think Swift is going to be a star, didn't watch him play as a true freshman.
Walker may not have started over Carter or Bellamy, but had better stats. Leading the team in TFL and had 5 sacks. No reason to they'll be a drop off at OLB, is there?
There's a doom and gloom about losing Thompson off the DL, but truthfully, aside from coming on strong during the POs, he wasn't just spectacular all season. Ledbetter and Carter and Marshall have all been equally as impressive and throw the transfer from ND in the mix who was a starter and tell me what's to be afraid of in the front seven?

So.....reloaded? Well, when you bring a recruiting class with over a dozen 5 star recruits, that would have any program claiming that they can plug in some young guys keep on keeping on.

That's my opinion on the matter....thoughts?

What the great programs do is blowout most teams on their schedule. We did that last year-why is that important, because when you are up 14-0 in the the 1st quarter, you can give your backup players meaningful snaps against the other teams #1's, and that playing experience does wonders for the younger backups the next year-they are not just sophomores or juniors, they are seasoned players ready for a bigger load of work. That is why you recruit, recruit and recruit more, you become loaded with depth, the young guys wait their turn to START but have been getting a lot of work before their time comes-so when that day comes, they not only step in but many times stand out.

Every team annually reloads as they fill their 85-man scholarship roster, but for UGA the replacements are more than warm bodies or prospects needing a few years of S&C/nutrition/development to become impact players:

2016: scholarship players avg. 3.58 stars (out of 5)
2017: scholarship players avg. 3.77 stars (out of 5) - 4th best in FBS (behind Bama, Ohio St, and Southern Cal)
2018: scholarship players avg. 3.86 stars (out of 5) - 3rd best in FBS (surpassed Southern Cal)

While talent is very important, quality experience also plays a role. With that said, where did UGA upgrade/downgrade from last season to this one?

QB:
- lost 2016 5* Jacob Eason to transfer (Washington), 4* Brice Ramsey to graduation, 2* walk-on Stetson Bennett to transfer
- returns 14-game starter Jake Fromm (12-2)
- added 5* early enrollee Justin Fields
- Bottomline: if Fromm/Fields stay healthy, then UGA upgraded; however, if they both get hurt then Dawgs will be scrambling to find a 3rd QB to finish out the season

RB:
- lost 5*s Sony Michel & Nick Chubb to graduation/NFL
- returns 5* D'Andre Swift, 4* Elijah Holyfield, 3* Brian Herrien
- added 5* early enrollee Zamir White (had ACL surgery on 30 November 2017) and 4* James Cook
- Bottomline: not as strong as 2017; D'Andre Swift rushed 8x for 21 yds vs. Oklahoma/Alabama and missed most of spring practice w/ a groin injury; Holyfield/Herrien didn't have a carry vs. OU/Bama; will Zamir White be at full strength in September 10 months removed from knee surgery? Cook is talented but too light to be a threat between the tackles

WR:
- lost 4* Javon Wims to graduation/NFL
- return 5* Terry Godwin, 5* Mecole Hardman, et al.
- added 4* early enrollee Kearis Jackson, 4* Tommy Bush
- Bottomline: Wims flashed great hands last season on 50-50 balls, but Dawgs upgraded w/ the newcomers and hire of WR Coach Cortez Hankton (former NFL WR and Vanderbilt WR Coach) compared to James Coley (former QB)

TE:
- lost 4* Jeb Blazevich
- returns 5* Isaac Nauta, 4* Jackson Harris, 4* Charlie Woerner
- added 4* John FitzPatrick and 4* Luke Ford
- Bottomline: unit only caught 22 passes in 15 games last year so was grossly underutilized in the passing game; hopefully, OC Jim Chaney picking up TE duties (from departed Shane Beamer) while handing QB duties to James Coley; upgraded

OL:
- lost 4* LT Isaiah Wynn to graduation/NFL, 3* Aulden Bynum to graduation, 4* Pat Allen & 3* Chris Barnes to transfer
- returns 4* LG Kendall Baker, 4* C Lamont Gaillard, 4* RG Ben Cleveland, 4* OT Andrew Thomas (RT-->LT), et al.
- added 5* early enrollee OT Cade Mays, 5* Jamaree Salyer, et al.
- Bottomline: while UGA will miss Wynn, as a unit they upgraded and may be one of the best in the nation this fall

DL:
- lost 5* DT Trenton Thompson to graduation/NFL (UDFA), 3* NG John Atkins; 3* DT signee Tramel Walthour (academics)
- returns 4* interior DL Tyler Clark, 4* Jonathan Ledbetter, et al.
- added 4* Notre Dame grad transfer Jay Hayes, 3* DT Jordan Davis, 4* DE Azeez Ojulari (tore ACL on 24 November 2017), 4* DT Devonte Wyatt
- Bottomline: Clark & Ledbetter are studs, but the unit needs more elite players (Tray Scott watch) if UGA is to win a CFP National Championship; no upgrade/downgrade w/ this unit imo, same as last season

LB:
- lost 4* Roquan Smith, 5* Lorenzo Carter, and 3* Davin Bellamy to the NFL; 4* Reggie Carter to graduation
- returns 4* Natrez Patrick, 4* D'Andre Walker, and a bunch of backups
- added 5* Adam Anderson, 4* Otis Reese, 4* Quay Walker,
- Bottomline: lost too much experienced talent to consider this an upgrade; while 4* Monty Rice impressed me in the G-Day game and D'Andre Walker should have a breakout year, I'd consider this unit a downgrade from 2017 (albeit w/ huge upside as they gain experience)

DB:
- lost 4* CB Malkom Parrish, 3* S Dominick Sanders, former walk-on Aaron Davis, 4* CB signee Nadab Joseph (academics)
- returns 3* CB Deandre Baker, 3* S J.R. Reed, et al.
- added 5* CB Tyson Campbell, 4* CB Chris Smith 4* CB Divaad Wilson (tore ACL on 24 March 2018)
- Bottomline: upgrade in talent, but lost 3 seniors that played a lot and were crafty; imo, overall upgrade once the replacements (e.g., S Richard LeCounte, 4* Mark Webb, 3* Tyrique McGhee) gain experience

Special Teams:
- lost punter Cameron Nizialek to graduation
- returns 3* PK Rodrigo Blankenship, returner Mecole Hardman, walk-on gunner Prather Hudson, et al.
- added Murray State graduate transfer punter Landon Stratton, 3* punter Jake Camarda
- Bottomline: Nizialek is a big loss (avg. 45 yds/punt last season); it remains to be seen if former UGA/NFL PK Kevin Butler will continue to have a role w/ UGA's special teams in 2018; imo, Camarda/Stratton will be adequate replacements for Nizialek (Marshall Long, Bill Rubright, Michael D'Angola didn't look up to par during the G-Day game); promoting Scott Fountain to full-time Special Teams Coach (replaces Shane Beamer), Kirby's special team's emphasis, and the infusion of talent into special teams makes me think this unit will be an upgrade if Camarda/Stratton can avg. >42 yds. per punt

AFD...as usual, great analysis!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/colleges/dogs-smart-to-be-in-spotlight-as-sec-media-days-continue/2018/07/17/c91c6b26-898d-11e8-9d59-dccc2c0cabcf_story.html

Georgia reloads for another championship run under Smart
By Charles Odum
17 July 2018

http://lastwordoncollegefootball.com/2018/08/08/georgia-bulldogs-reload-not-rebuild/

Georgia Bulldogs' Reload, Not Rebuild
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