Georgia looking for more from experienced defensive line

On a third-ranked Georgia team that doesn’t look to have many flaws, the defensive line has work to do to be considered the same championship quality of other position groups.

“We need to play as a unit,” nose guard Michael Barnett said. “You can only be as strong as your weakest link. If everybody’s strong, I feel as a unit we’re going to flourish.”

Georgia’s defensive linemen are the shadow of the players that they go up against each day in practice.

Plenty of accolades have poured in this summer for Georgia’s vaunted offensive line.

Preseason All-American nods for Andrew Thomas and Solomon Kindley. Preseason All-SEC props for Thomas, Kindley, Isaiah Wilson and Ben Cleveland.

For the defensive line? Well, senior defensive tackle Tyler Clark is a third-team preseason All-SEC selection.

“The one area in which they’re just not quite on the same level as Alabama and Clemson is along that defensive line,” analyst Greg McElroy, the former Alabama quarterback, said on ESPN’s College Football Live. “Identifying some key playmakers up there will be huge for that defense’s growth.”

Two candidates to become those playmakers are Clark and sophomore nose guard Jordan Davis.

Clark is listed as the No. 10 senior interior defensive lineman by NFL draft analyst Dane Brugler of the Athletic.

Clark had a breakout game in the Rose Bowl win in the 2017 season with five tackles and a pair of tackles for loss and a sack.

He finished with 41 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2 ½ sacks that season but those numbers dipped to 31 tackles, four tackles for loss and a sack last year.

“I didn’t do as well as I know I could,” Clark said. “I can say I just started feeling myself too much and it got in my head and it just took me out. But I’m going to be back this year.”

Thomas named Clark this preseason as the defensive lineman who was jumping out to him the most in practice.

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“He’s just a vet,” Thomas said. “He understands what we’re doing. He’s pretty quick off the ball and strong.”

"Tyler Clark is becoming more of the player everybody thought he was," Kindley said.

Davis’ production as a true freshman was an encouraging sign last year. He started four games late in the season, making 25 tackles with one and a half sacks.

“Jordan Davis is in the best shape I’ve ever seen him in right now,” said Cleveland, an offensive guard.

Georgia lists Davis at 6-foot-6 and 330 pounds.

“He’s so deceivingly fast,” offensive lineman Cade Mays said. “To be as big as he is, not to mention that’s another thing, he’s huge, he’s a fridge out there. But as fast as he is, it’s almost freakish.”

Clark is one of six senior defensive linemen in a deep group. Only one other is on the watch list for the Senior Bowl—defensive tackle Julian Rochester. Another senior, Barnett, could start ahead of Davis at nose guard. The other seniors are defensive ends David Marshall and Justin Young and defensive tackle Michael Carter.

“There’s a lot of guys rolling,” coach Kirby Smart said. “There’s not one dominant player on that defensive front or defensive line. There’s a lot of good, solid players. A lot of experience.”

Said Barnett: “I think everybody is trying to be that difference maker.”

Rochester is working his way back from offseason surgery for a torn ACL. Marshall, is also returning after surgery for a Lisfranc injury to his foot. He had six tackles in six games before missing the final eight games of the season.

Marshall clearly will play at less than 100 percent health wise.

“Wherever I’m at,” Marshall said. “We’ll see next Saturday wherever I’m at.”

Junior defensive end Malik Herring started his first game against Georgia Tech, making a career high five tackles and finished the season with 23 tackles and a sack and a half.

“He’s growing, he’s getting a little tougher,” Smart said in May. “He’s learning how to play the game and play more snaps. He’s really been a role player up to this time. He potentially now becomes a guy in the rotation that plays more.”

Georgia has four true freshman defensive lineman, but only five-star defensive end Travon Walker figures not to redshirt. Georgia’s depth should allow Zion Logue, Bill Norton and Tymon Mitchell to play four games or less.

As for the 6-5, 290-pound Walker, “You don’t see too many guys fly around how big he is,” said Marshall, who he has known since middle school in Thomaston. “He’s an athlete….He’s going to help the team pretty good.”

Smart said junior defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, who had seven tackles in the Sugar Bowl, “has played really physical and played well.”

Justin Young is a fifth-year senior who Smart called “the product of a program.”

The defensive end played in just one game last season and has eight career tackles but could see increased snaps.

“Very rarely do you find a guy that's a fifth-year senior that gets better every single year, because what happens is a guy comes out for the draft, guy transfers, guy plays four years because he didn't get red-shirted,” Smart said. “J is a unique guy in that he's stronger than most of the guys. He's been in the weight room for five years. He's more mature and understands the defensive system. There's a lot of value in having seniors.”