Chubb comin’. Part of me still can’t believe that he’s back. May he have the kind of season he deserves.

Chubb and Michel on the field together. September 2015 offered a tease of a very effective combination. Michel proved he could more than handle the tailback position after Chubb’s injury, but Chubb in the lineup afforded Georgia the opportunity to make Michel’s versatility a headache for opposing defenses. We might not see this combination in the opener, but it won’t be long until we do.

McKenzie’s development. You haven’t heard much about Isaiah McKenzie during the preseason even as the receiver position looms as a big unknown for the 2016 team. I don’t know enough to say that’s good or bad, but more attention has been paid to the next wave of receivers and even the newcomers. McKenzie’s reputation as a return man stands on its own – can he develop into a reliable and productive receiver?

Sanders flourishing. Dominick Sanders became one of the standouts to emerge from the 2014 shakeup in the defensive backfield due to his penchant for creating turnovers and long returns. Now as a veteran in a system with which he should be very comfortable, can he take the next step?

A healthy Jeb Blazevich. A strange vague “tired leg” injury led to a slump in production after a promising freshman year. The disappearance of the TE in last year’s offense makes us forget the exciting potential Blazevich showed in 2014 and what he has to bring to the passing game. With a deeper roster and a coordinator likely to deploy multiple tight ends, we look for a healthier Blazevich to re-emerge.

An uneventful October. Since 2012 or so the month of October has tested the faith of even the most loyal Bulldogs. Horrible injuries. Team discord. The Gurley suspension. Jaw-dropping losses. Georgia will play their most important SEC East games in October, and that’s enough to worry about. If they can go into those games without the drama of recent seasons, that alone should be reason to smile a little.

A win over Tech. It’s true that Mark Richt posted a dominant record over Georgia’s rival and never lost in Atlanta. But he was only 2-2 against Paul Johnson in Athens. Kirby Smart must make a strong stand for the home field in his first outing against Tech.

Watching it come together for Eason. There’s no telling when or even if it will happen. Reports show that there’s too much potential to keep off the field, but does that mean Eason can lead the team as a first-year starter? Will there be a moment this season when it clicks that this is now Eason’s team? It’s not a perfect example, but Alabama went through the first part of last season with some of the same indecisiveness at quarterback. It took a benching and even came in a losing effort, but Jake Coker leading the comeback against Ole Miss was the moment when he gained the respect of the offense, and Alabama was a different team the rest of the season.

Receivers emerging from the committee. Even Godwin has something to show before he’s the go-to guy. Tight ends will help, but a couple of receivers stepping up will make life much easier on the quarterback. It will also make things easier for Chubb and the tailbacks if defenses can’t sell out against the run. There’s more than one way to stand out: we’ve seen McKenzie on sweeps, and freshmen like Simmons or even Hardman could contribute in the ground game. With that ground game expected to be the focus of the offense, don’t underestimate the importance of blocking by the receivers. Few long runs happen without key blocks downfield.

The Pittman effect. He might not yet have the depth and physical attributes he wants in his offensive linemen, but we can’t wait to see what Sam Pittman can do with the talent available to him. Even a gifted athlete like Chubb is held back by sub-standard line play. If Pittman can work some magic, Georgia’s offense should take a big step forward.

Disruptive middle linebackers. Georgia has enjoyed some steady MLB play recently with guys like Ogletree, Herrera, Wilson, and Ganus. The departure of Tim Kimbrough left a void, but preseason reports on Patrick and Smith have been encouraging. This athletic duo along with the experienced Carter could be among Georgia’s leading tacklers and hopefully improve Georgia’s interior pass defense.

Confidence in Jacksonville. Georgia had a nice three year run behind Murray, but the last two Cocktail Parties have been program-shattering disasters. Worse, those lopsided losses came against a coach on his way out and a first-year coach without his starting QB. No more whining about the location or the weather – one of the biggest cultural changes Smart can make is to take back this series.

Young defensive linemen. Depth on the defensive line has been a concern since the 2015 season ended, and it was a priority during recruiting. The Dawgs missed out on a couple of top targets meaning that Georgia could afford few busts among those they did sign. Rochester, Clark, Carter, and Marshall could all play this year, and we’ve heard good things about the group. Trenton Thompson is an emerging star, but he’ll need help from these guys.

The end of the directional kickoff. Special teams made some huge plays for Mark Richt over his 15 years, but some of the decisions were just head-scratchers – none moreso than the flirtation with directional kickoffs. We don’t know how Smart, with input from Beamer, will approach the entirety of special teams, but it would be a nice start for kickoffs to reach the endzone much more often than not.

10 wins. It’s why we made the change, right? Put another way: if Mark Richt were still the coach, what would your expectations be? Smart deserves some latitude to build his program with a new coaching staff, but with so many positive things happening during the offseason and a promising recruiting class coming together, it would be a shame to take a step backwards. Georgia has won at least 10 games in 4 of the last 5 seasons. Can Smart pull things together quickly enough to keep that going?

The 2016 team coming into its own. The quarterback position might not be settled even after the first game. It looks as if Chubb is back, but Michel will be limited early if he plays at all. Even the kicking jobs are up in the air. It’s going to be a little while before the team has all of its weapons available, and what we come to remember as the 2016 team might not take shape until well into the season. The point at which that happens and how well the coaches can find temporary answers until more permanent answers reveal themselves will determine how well the Dawgs navigate a tough early schedule and whether they emerge from the first half of the season as contenders.