2012 Offensive Line Suggestion

Depending on who returns for the 2012 season, Georgia could field a very interesting team overall.  Assuming no NFL departures, we return 7 starters on offense and 9 on defense. We lose 3 offensive linemen and Figgins on offense plus Tyson and Boykin on defense.

The biggest question mark for the 2012 season will be the offensive line and special teams.  The biggest specific area of concern is offensive tackle.  It's damn bad luck when your program loses three elite left tackle recruits in three consecutive classes.  Sturdivant was injured, Benedict was lost to rehab related arguments and Long isn't an offensive tackle following his injuries.

The OT prospects for 2012 are:

-- J. Theus - True Freshman (terrifying)
-- W. Dantzler -- playing mop up minutes as a FR
-- K. Gates -- currently a guard
-- Z. DeBell -- currently injured
-- Unnamed Juco -- statistically likely to be fat and/or dumb

I really wish the coaches would consider bulking up Artie Lynch a bit more and trying him at OT.  He's already 275 lbs with great feet.  Adding another 15 pounds isn't asking that much.  Move him before the bowl game, and he would have time to learn the position.  Besides, UGA has a good history of moving high school and college tight ends to the offensive line.

We would be thin at TE, but it's a dramatically easier to find tight ends than offensive tackles.  Especially considering we have plenty of plays that call for zero tight ends in the formation, but no plays that call for less than two offensive tackles.

What's in it for Artie?  NFL tight ends make a helluva lot less in the NFL than OTs.

Player utilization wins.

PWD