Bulldogs’ offensive line still sorting things out

It doesn’t look like Greg Pyke will make another move unless he absolutely has to.

Georgia’s starting offensive line remains in flux as the coaching staff begins to figure out which players it wants in the starting lineup. Pyke, Isaiah Wynn and Brandon Kublanow are guaranteed to start. Heading into August, Kublanow, Georgia’s starting center, was the only one set at a position.

But head coach Kirby Smart made it sound like Pyke, who moved from right guard to right tackle during spring practice, will remain at his new position if he can help it.

“He’s not going to go back in at guard right now because we’re short at tackle more than we are guard,” Smart said. “We’ve got more guards that we think we can play winning football.”

Pyke played the past two seasons at right guard before making the move to tackle once offensive line coach Sam Pittman joined Smart’s staff. After a standout sophomore season in 2014, Pyke had his ups and downs as a junior, which included being benched from the starting lineup against Kentucky. He’s still considered one of the best offensive linemen as reporters covering the conference voted Pyke to the All-SEC media first team in July.

With Pyke set at right tackle, that means Smart believes both Dyshon Sims and Lamont Gaillard will be fine as the top two guards, with one caveat. If Isaiah Wynn stays at left tackle, Sims will start at left guard and Gaillard will be the right guard.

But the plan during the preseason is to get Wynn reps at both left tackle and left guard — to not only keep Wynn up to speed at both positions but to get both Tyler Catalina and Kendall Baker needed first-team reps at left tackle.

“We’re hoping the first practice that about 60 percent of (Wynn’s) snaps are at tackle and 40 percent of the snaps are at guard, which forces our hand at the tackle position, to have some guys rotating there,” Smart said. “All those guys are going to get work here on the offensive line. The way the practice works, everybody gets reps but Isaiah Wynn is the swing guy. Greg stays out there on the island. The guards stay inside and we work Wynn back and forth, with Catalina and Baker working that tackle spot when Wynn’s not there.”

Wynn is quite possibly the only lineman on Georgia’s roster who can play all five positions. Wynn’s flexibility allows Smart and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney some added time to figure out which group will work best together.

Smart and offensive line coach Sam Pittman took a trip during spring practice to see Catalina at his home in Massachusetts, indicating that there are plans to, at minimum, give him a shot at starting. If Catalina proves he’s worth starting at left tackle, Wynn’s ability to move back to left guard will make it an easy decision.

“Isaiah’s amazing, really a freak athlete,” Kublanow said. “He’s extremely athletic, has amazing feet and great hands. He’s really a big part of our team. He can play any position.”

Wynn said he has gained anywhere from five to 10 pounds this offseason and now has his weight up to 288. He’s not concerned about moving around to multiple positions this preseason, especially considering he played both left tackle and left guard during the 2015 season.

“I don’t think it could hurt me at all. It can only help me,” Wynn said. “It can be beneficial to my other teammates.”

This story was originally published August 1, 2016 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Bulldogs’ offensive line still sorting things out."