The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bulldogs’ O-line reloads after 2021 reshuffling
This story is part of a 10-part series that looks at each Georgia position group daily until the Bulldogs open spring practice March 15. Up next: Special teams.
Alabama has garnered ATHENS — a lot of headlines — unflattering though they could be perceived for — how the Crimson Tide may have lost the national championship game to Georgia only because of its injuries before and during that contest. Without question, that was a factor in the outcome.
But so was the Bulldogs’ ability to overcome the many injuries UGA encountered on offense all season. Nowhere was that more crucial than its offensive line:
■ Junior Warren Ericson, set to start at center, broke his hand in the first scrimmage of preseason.
He’d get work there, switching to snapping the ball lefthanded. But, ultimately, he ended up playing guard, because …
■ Redshirt freshman Tate Ratledge suffered a Lisfranc fracture in his right foot on Georgia’s first offensive series of the season against Clemson. Ratledge had created the most buzz of all the linemen in preseason while winning the job at right guard.
■ With Ratledge out, Ericson went in at right guard against Clemson with his hand still wrapped in a brace. Georgia won 10-3. Ericson would start the next 14 games at right guard.
■ Starting left tackle Jamaree Salyer had to leave the Oct. 9 game at Auburn with a right ankle injury, then played with it in the next two games. Finally, after getting relieved regularly by Broderick Jones and struggling through Georgia’s 34-7 win over Florida, Salyer was shut down by the Bulldogs.
■ Salyer did not play in the next four games. The redshirt freshman Jones got his first career start against Missouri, and the former fivestar prospect from Lithonia would start the next three games as well. The Bulldogs went 4-0 and averaged 46.2 points in those games.
■ Salyer returned for the SEC title game against Alabama but was far from healthy. He split time with Jones the rest of the way. Salyer projects as one of the top 10 linemen to be selected in next month’s NFL draft.
Georgia players did not mention the O-line injuries when quarterback Stetson Bennett was sacked three times and intercepted twice in their SEC title-game loss to Alabama. They also did not mention them as confetti fell from the ceiling of Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Jan. 10.
Looking ahead:
■ Returning starters: C Sedrick Van Pran (6-4, 310, RSO.), G Warren Ericson (6-4, 305, Sr.), G Tate Ratledge (6-6, 320, RSO.), T Warren Mcclendon (6-4, 300, RJR.)
■ All eyes on: Broderick Jones, Amarius Mims
■ Outlook: Why do we list four returning starters from an offensive line that is losing two senior starters to the NFL draft? Ratledge would’ve started all season last year had he stayed healthy, and Ericson started the last 14 games of last season and may or may not start any this coming season. But the array of talent and experience that is coming back on Georgia’s offensive front is what makes this a particularly intriguing group. Jones is not listed as a returning starter, though he started four games last year and may be the Bulldogs’ best overall offensive lineman. What’s fairly certain is Jones will start at left tackle. That was made evident in the national championship game. When Georgia put the 6-4, 315-pound Jones in at left tackle and moved Salyer inside to guard, the Bulldogs got the ball moving in the fourth quarter as it outscored Alabama 20-9. Having started games 9 through 12 at left tackle while Salyer was sidelined, Jones is experienced. The real intrigue is going to be on the right side of the line. Mcclendon has been a block of granite at right tackle, starting the last 25 games and playing 84% of the snaps at that position the last two seasons. But, like Salyer, his NFL future might be inside. And the Bulldogs are looking for ways to get 6-7, 330-pound Mims into the mix..