5 biggest questions the Georgia Bulldogs face heading into opening week

Nov 30, 2013; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs safety Corey Moore (39) and cornerback Sheldon Dawson (2) tackle Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets running back Robert Godhigh (25) during overtime at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Georgia defeated Georgia Tech 41-34 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1 – Can new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt patch together an effective secondary?

Tray Matthews, Shaq Wiggins and Josh Harvey-Clemons are gone, and they’re not coming back. While this might be a good thing for the Bulldogs in the long run, it did leave some major holes and concerns for a brand new defensive coordinator.

Now Pruitt is faced with fielding some young inexperienced players, or players who have been shifted over from other positions, such as strong safety J.J. Green, who was moved out of the crowded running back group and already sits first on the depth chart.

But there is some experience left in the secondary. Starting free safety Corey Moore has been very dependable for the Dawgs, but rather unspectacular. Senior cornerback Damian Swann will return to try and atone for what was a disappointing 2013 by his standards, although it could be said that much of his struggles had to do with a certain coach.

The rest of the secondary is littered with players who spend much of the last few seasons either on the scout team or the bench, and have yet to be tested in real SEC game action.

The talent is undoubtedly there, but will they be able to come together in time to face some big-time offenses early in the season? Practicing against the UGA receiving corps certainly helps, but nothing can replace actual game experience.

What Georgia does have going for them is Pruitt himself. If anyone can mold this unit into a solid secondary, it’s the guy Georgia stole from the national champion Florida State Seminoles, Jeremy Pruitt.