But this is a good read by Weiszer on the top story of spring practice - the offensive line. With Theus and Burnette coming off surgeries and missing most of the spring, Mark Beard stands the most to gain.
The 6-foot-5, 302-pound Beard said he doesn’t know how the line will look when Theus returns, but wants to prove to coaches that he can be the guy at left tackle.He said a year in the system after arriving from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College gives him a better understanding of the playbook and thinks that makes him more competitive at left tackle.“I know they can trust me on the field,” he said.
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Bobo said coaches liked how Beard came on in the second half of the year, including in starts against Auburn and Georgia Southern when Burnette was sidelined.
“Beard is a very good athlete,” Richt said. “You have to have enough athleticism to play tackle. You’ve got to be able to pass protect and then you’ve got to be long enough, you’ve got to be tall enough. Sometimes guys with shorter arms can’t hardly pass pro on the edge by themselves. Then you’ve got have the knowledge and Beard is just so much farther along now than he was.”The line has come a long way since this time last year. Having a couple backs that can make yards with their legs only helps to build confidence too. Adding some depth this spring can help the coaches (and the fans) breathe a little easier.
