Georgia shifts first-team offensive line, position group could be in flux into August

Georgia’s offensive line underwent a bit of a tweak last week during practice.

Isaiah Wynn, who started spring practice at left guard, kicked out to left tackle. Lamont Gaillard, who has been the backup center, worked in at first-team right guard. Dyshon Sims, who was the first-team right guard for three weeks, moved to left guard.

Kendall Baker, the starting left tackle, moved to second team. Brandon Kublanow stayed at center and Greg Pyke remained at right tackle.

Sure, it’s a bit of a change for the offensive line. But it’s unclear whether this movement was done just to get Wynn and Gaillard needed reps, or if this is a new lineup the Bulldogs could be working with.

Head coach Kirby Smart did say that this group performed better in Saturday’s scrimmage than the previous first-team unit. That alone could be enough for Smart and offensive line coach Sam Pittman to rethink the original plan.

"It was more productive," Smart said. "Why, I can’t tell you. I’ll reserve judgment until I watch the tape. We were able to run the ball and throw the ball."

Whatever Georgia does with its offensive line in the final week of spring practice may not matter, however. Rhode Island graduate transfer Tyler Catalina will compete for the starting left tackle spot the minute he steps on campus. If he earns it, Wynn will shift back to left guard. Presumably Sims would move back to right guard and Baker could wind up battling Pyke at right guard. And then there’s the possibility Pyke could wind up competing back at right guard if he doesn’t wind up starting at right tackle.

The offensive line will be in flux from now and until August. As of now, Smart saw improvement with the tweaked first team, which has evidently piqued his interest.

"The last scrimmage it was a very poor pass (protection), very bad," Smart said. "(Saturday’s) scrimmage, it was much better. But we did try to run the ball more. When you run the ball more, it protects those tackles. They’re not on the island. But we did have a better pocket today. We blocked better. It was a different five up there. If it was because Isaiah was there and Gaillard was at guard, it may have been because we ran it better. But certainly it was more efficient. The quarterbacks, I stand behind them during the scrimmage and I could see down the field. Last time it was chaos in there."

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Georgia shifts first-team offensive line, position group could be in flux into August."