The changes were numerous and the story lines aplenty when Georgia hit the practice field for its first practice of the spring Thursday.

NICK WILLIAMS

Defensive players were adjusting to three new coaches, a new scheme, and some were adjusting to new positions.

The offense was even going through an acclimation process.

“We’re installing a new defense, so it’s not only new to the defensive players, but it’s new to the offensive players and the offensive coaches. In the spring, its offense versus defense so you’re kind of doing battle every day,” head coach Mark Richt said. “It’s just different from being so comfortable. Let’s face it: for the last eight or nine springs, it has been the same defense, and Coach Bobo has been here the whole time. He knows exactly how the defense was going to line up, and now everybody is learning it on both sides of the ball.”

Added Brandon Boykin: “I was talking to [Zach] Mettenberger and he was saying how he didn’t know what was going on with the movement, so that’s pretty fun being able to confuse people.”

Although the players had worked with their three new defensive coaches all offseason, Thursday was the first chance to hit the field and start getting in the positions they had watched on tape of the 3-4.

“I got a chance to walk around the field a little bit and observe our new coaches do their job and I thought they were locked in and they were very decisive about what they were doing,” Richt said. “They all looked as if they had been working together for quite some time, so I was impressed with that. I think all our coaches are good teachers and good motivators, but to see the new guys do it felt good.”

With the new responsibilities and new positions, coaches had to be patient on the first day, emphasizing the fundamentals.

“It was just a calm, cool feeling because it was the first day,” said defensive end Abry Jones. “It wasn’t as much yelling. They were getting on us, but it was pretty much like they’ll get on us, but we know it’s your first day so they weren’t really riding us.”

Throughout Nick Williams’ first two seasons at Georgia, the coaching staff has struggled to find a position for him, flipping him back and forth from safety to linebacker. And Williams finally has a home now, making the permanent switch to safety.

“I was excited. When I heard I was back at safety, I was like ‘Yes.’ I liked linebacker, it was OK, but I wasn’t big enough, and I knew that,” Williams said. “But I was going to play it regardless, so when coach told me I was going back to safety and that was my permanent spot, I was like that’s good I can get into the playbook, learn it and get better.

“It wasn’t hard switching back. My backpedal is still right, but I just have to lose a little weight because I’m about at 223, 224, so I’m going to lose a little weight.”

The switch means Williams will be fighting for one of the two vacated starting safety positions left by Bryan Evans and Reshad Jones.

“I see it as one open position because [Bacarri] Rambo has his locked,” Williams said. “He has his locked, he’s ready to go.”

Adjusting to position changes can be a difficult proposition.

Despite the change in scenery, the players seem to be taking it in stride.

Jones said he felt “more comfortable” at defensive end. Demarcus Dobbs said he liked that the defensive ends didn’t have to worry about containment since that is now the outside linebackers responsibilities. Though, Dobbs said it was an adjustment period being over the offensive guards now instead of offensive tackles. Justin Houston, now an outside linebacker, said all of the outside linebackers were excited about the position change because of how much they’d get to rush the passer.