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Updated: Mar. 11, 2005
Surrounding players key to Shockley's success
By Chris Low, Special to ESPN.com
D.J. Shockley finds himself front and center as Georgia heads into its second week of spring practice.
That's OK, though. He wouldn't have it any other way.
Dual-threat QB D.J. Shockley has passed for 967 yards and run for 329 at Georgia.
This is his chance to be the man after watching, waiting and wondering the last three seasons as David Greene passed his way into the record books as the winningest quarterback in Division I-A history.
Any question about Georgia's chances of competing for the SEC championship next season invariably gets back to whether Shockley can get it done as a full-time quarterback -- not just a specialist.
The easy answer: Yes, with the right help.
The players surrounding Shockley on offense next season will have as much to say about the Bulldogs' success as anything else will.
"I like D.J. knowing that he's the man, but he also doesn't have to be a hero on every play," Georgia coach Mark Richt said.
The best news for Shockley is that Georgia returns its starting offensive line from a year ago intact, and there also appears to be some depth.
Junior guards Bartley Miller and Josh Brock are back after redshirting last season because of shoulder injuries. Miller and Brock were both starters during the 2003 season. They still have a ways to go physically before making a case to rejoin the starting lineup, but both are practicing this spring.
Some have suggested that Georgia's offense might resemble something out of Richt's Florida State days, when Charlie Ward was freewheeling his way to the Heisman Trophy.
Richt, though, insists the Bulldogs won't be putting in a brand-new offense just for Shockley. In fact, most of what Georgia runs will be familiar to the Bulldogs' fans. The difference will be that more plays will be called to suit Shockley's run-pass skills.
"I think there will be more movement of the pocket, more bootlegs and laterals to put more pressure on the defense," Shockley said.
Rarely should he be in a position where he has to throw. The Bulldogs boast the deepest stable of running backs in the conference.
Three of their most dynamic weapons on offense will be running backs -- Thomas Brown, Danny Ware and Kregg Lumpkin.
Brown and Ware are splitting time with the first team this spring. Ware is also trying his hand at fullback, along with Lumpkin, who missed all of last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Lumpkin will ease his way back onto the field this spring.
Ideally, Richt would like to use his running backs interchangeably in two-back sets similar to the way Auburn did last season with Carnell Williams and Ronnie Brown.
As important as anything this spring will be how well Shockley bonds with his new receivers. Gone are Reggie Brown and Fred Gibson. Waiting in the wings are several players who've proven very little at the college level.
Sean Bailey, Bryan McClendon, A.J. Bryant, Mario Raley, Kenneth Harris and Demiko Goodman aren't exactly household names.
"We have a lot of young guys, and we all need to step up because we have some big shoes to fill," said Bailey, who had 14 catches for 224 yards and three touchdowns last season.
Though the Bulldogs might not be swimming in proven playmakers at wide receiver, they do have the best tight end in the league. Leonard Pope emerged from the shadows last season to become an All-SEC performer. He averaged 19.3 yards per catch and had six touchdown receptions.
"We've got plenty of weapons," Shockley said. "It's just on me to get them the ball in places where they can make plays."
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