Yes, despite the distractions caused by multiple off-field arrests — one of which came from the athletic director of all people — the University of Georgia will still field a football team this season that most believe will contend with the best the SEC has to offer.

There are, however, plenty of hurdles and the always-juicy “coach on the hot seat” storyline hanging over the Bulldogs, as they hope to do much better than a trip to the Independence Bowl in 2010.

Mark Richt has been the dean of SEC coaches for two years now ever since Tommy Tuberville departed Auburn after the 2008 season. That’s not exactly the most ideal place to be, especially in the
SEC, where coaches are regularly fired after winning seasons and their “bodies of work” are typically ignored.

The firing of athletic director Damon Evans, who was arrested for driving under the influence last month, will likely have little effect on Richt’s standing with Georgia. What his team – loaded with talent at certain positions but littered with question marks at many other important ones – is able to accomplish against a largely favorable schedule will likely have a direct impact on whether he returns for 2011.

His fate could fall on the arm of Aaron Murray, Georgia’s new starting quarterback who has yet to throw a pass in a collegiate setting.

Murray will have no other choice but to succeed, as he might be one of the most irreplaceable players on the team. Replacing Joe Cox, the only departing offensive starter from 2009, Murray is currently backed up by Logan Gray, who wants to move to wide receiver, and true freshman Hutson Mason.

Promising redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger, who threw two touchdown passes in Georgia’s spring game, was kicked off the team in April because of his March 7 arrest for underage consumption and possession of alcohol, possessing fake identification and disorderly conduct-obstruction.

A.J. Green, in likely his last go-around at Georgia before he departs as a projected top-five selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, will give Murray a big, reliable 6-foot-4 target. Orson Charles (374 yards, two touchdowns in 2009) and Kris Durham, who missed 2009 with a torn labrum, also should provide reliable options. Redshirt sophomore Tavarres King, Georgia’s No. 2 receiver, will miss at least the first game of the season as a result of his arrest last week for underage alcohol possession.

Washuan Ealey will also be there to relieve Murray’s nerves. Ealey emerged out of Georgia’s crowded backfield as a true freshman last season, running for 717 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore with experience and loads of talent, he could be one of the SEC’s best ball carriers in 2010.

The offensive line is anchored by tackle Clint Boling, who, like Green, is a projected first-round selection in 2011. This group that took its lumps in 2008 when it was scarily inexperienced is now one of the SEC’s best and should serve as the team’s backbone.
The defense, after an atrocious 2009 campaign, is now backed by former NFL defensive line coach Todd Grantham. Grantham brought the same 3-4 defense his Dallas Cowboys ran last season to Athens this spring, which served as the adjustment period Grantham and Richt both hope is over by the time practice starts in August.

“You can tell he came from the league,” safety Nick Williams said in a Sports Xchange article. “You can tell he’s used to coaching grown men.”

The Bulldogs are down five defensive starters from 2009, and they come in some very valuable places. While the majority of the secondary that allowed an SEC-high 23 touchdown passes in 2009 returns, Georgia is now without last year’s SEC tackles leader (linebacker Rennie Curran) and two big defensive tackles (Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens).

Linebackers Marcus Dowtin (57 tackles) and Justin Houston (35 tackles, 7.5 sacks) will be looked upon for leadership in 2010. Reliable backup Cornelius Washington is now a starter at outside linebacker and could be in position to thrive in a 3-4 scheme.

Tailback Richard Samuel and offensive lineman Justin Anderson were both converted to defense before the spring as a means of providing depth to a unit that still could struggle just as much as it did in 2009.

“He’s about like the rest of the guys,” Richt said of Samuel’s switch to linebacker. “They’re all kind of lost.“

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