Spring Practice Countdown: Tight tackles

Each year spring practice is the best indication of the depth, starters, and players at each position on the team. Even with Georgia’s personnel losses due to graduation and the NFL, the Bulldogs are strong at many positions, and tight tackle is one of them. Like the rest of the offensive line, it is one of the strengths of the Bulldogs going into this spring, but depth could be a problem at tight tackle.

2004 Starter: Dennis Roland (12 career starts)

Roland will start in 2005 and will be depended upon as a leader for the offensive line. A “project” a few seasons ago, Roland has developed into a pretty good tackle. A good example of this was his performance against Wisconsin’s Erasmus James in the 2005 Outback Bowl. James was held quiet nearly all day. Daniel Inman (23 career starts), the starter at strong tackle, no longer serves as Roland’s backup, that spot now belongs to sophomore Chester Adams. He is the player in need of most development on the line this spring, not because of a lack of skill, but because of the depth at tight tackle.

Tight tackle and center are the only two positions on the line that do not have a likely starter back in 2006 or an experienced player already waiting in the wings to take over. Adams will likely start in 2006 so what he does this spring will go a long way in how good he will be when it’s his turn to start.