HOOVER, Ala. — Georgia football fans must continue to parse tea leaves and make their own estimations after Kirby Smart's first SEC Media Days appearance on Tuesday in Hoover, Ala.
Not that Smart stonewalled the assembled throngs -- the first-year head coach resembled a comfortable veteran -- but variables at play, including both at quarterback and running back still have weeks to play out before Smart will be comfortable making any concrete statements.
"Although spring ball went well in terms of players being responsive to the new coaches, it's the next six weeks that will determine the outcome of our season and success of our season," Smart said. "These next six weeks are the focal point for us moving forward."
That will certainly be the case for an offense facing critical questions at key positions.
The recent injury to running back Sony Michel has cast even more doubt on a position already in question thanks to Nick Chubb's knee rehabilitation. And now Michel could miss significant chunks preseason camp, leaving questions as to who will receive the bulk of carries in the Bulldogs' season opener against North Carolina in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 3.
"That's a tough situation. Who would have thought at this point in time both guys would be on the sideline rehabbing?" Smart said. "Nick is progressing really well. Nick is working hard. I repeat that every time I talk. He's doing everything with the rest of the team as far as summer workouts. That may change when we go to pads. He's not going to go out there and do everything right away as far as tackling and scrimmaging. Ultimately he's got to gain confidence in that knee back, and he's taking the right steps in that direction."
Meanwhile, Michel, who broke his forearm in an ATV accident was only released from the hospital on Friday.
"Kind of a sad injury, very upsetting for him. He's probably in the best shape of his life," Smart said of Michel. "I don't know the expectation for Sony, if he'll be back or not (for the season opener). We'll know a lot more when we get closer to the season. A lot of that injury is how does the muscle repair itself round that plated bone. That will be a big part of it."
Depending on Chubb's and Michel's status, the Bulldogs could be relying on a running back corps that now features just one SEC-tested back in senior Brendan Douglas -- a career back-up with 715 yards rushing in three seasons. Sophomore Shaquery Wilson and freshmen Tae Crowder, Brian Herrien and Elijah Holyfield -- the latter two 2016 signees -- will provide depth and could be thrust into potential playing roles as fall camp progresses.
As to who will be handing any of those backs the ball? Well, that too is still very much in the air, as highly-touted freshman Jacob Eason competes with returning starter Greyson Lambert (senior) and back-up Brice Ramsey (junior). Though while Smart said that seniority was not a requisite for success, he also noted that he is looking for more than just talent.
"Notice I didn't say exactly what you said, where we're going to play the best player. We're going to play the best player that gives us the best opportunity to win football games. And I don't know who that is. If I knew, I promise you, I would tell you," Smart said. "I would give you the information. But I don't know that. And I think that a lot of those 28, 29 practices that we're -- we have will tell us that. I mean, practices we're able to have to show the improvement and leadership that each guy has."
Each will take his chance to show at glimpses of that leadership ability -- on which Smart harped -- over the course of fall camp and the scrimmages included.
"I've sat through a lot of meetings the last few years at the University of Alabama making that same decision. I think a lot of that is how he, that person, affects the rest of the offense. Does he make every player on the offense better? That's hard to measure," Smart said. "You know, that's a decision you got to make subjectively as a coach. (Georgia offensive coordinator Jim) Chaney and I will sit down and we'll make that decision hopefully sooner than later."
With so much riding on those decisions there is little reason to think Smart will come to it quickly, which in itself could be a comfort to Georgia fans -- even if they are starving for some concrete information.
