This article was originally published with The Red & Black on August 4, 2015 and can be found here.

A good offensive line is like the roof of a house: you don’t realize its importance until it’s not there. Then problems come pouring in.

Georgia had few issues with its offensive line in 2014. The Bulldogs had solid blocking most the year, particularly for its run game. Georgia’s running backs finished the season ranked 11th in all of Football Bowl Subdivision with nearly 258 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Hutson Mason also had plenty of time to throw, as the team allowed only 17 sacks in 13 games.

Last season was a successful one for Georgia, but the team has a huge piece to replace in the middle of its line.

Center David Andrews graduated from Georgia. He played in 50 games during his four-year run with the Bulldogs and was a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, given to the country’s top center, in 2014. Andrews was a durable center for the Bulldogs, and his departure creates some real uncertainty.

Fighting to start at center is junior Brandon Kublanow and sophomore Isaiah Wynn. Wynn was training to replace Andrews last season while playing in 11 games for Georgia. Kublanow started every game as the Bulldogs’ left guard, but his intent since the end of 2014 has been to start at center. Kublanow was listed as starting center on the depth chart released in mid-July, while Wynn was the starting left guard. Kublanow will start the fall practices as the first-string center.

Center and left guard may be questionable, but there’s no moving John Theus from left tackle. Theus has been a force at tackle since his freshman year back in 2012, and last year was much of the same for the Jacksonville, Florida native. He started all 13 games for Georgia and was rewarded for his success, earning an honorable mention spot on the AP’s All-SEC squad. Theus, like Andrews, has been a constant for Georgia’s offensive line, and there’s no reason to think the script will shift in 2015.

Greg Pyke will line up at right guard once again. He settled in as a regular starter for Georgia in the season opener against Clemson last season. Pyke played well in his sophomore season and ended the year by being named to the AP’s second-team All-SEC squad.

At 6-foot-6 and 313 pounds, Pyke fits the necessary measurements of a guard in the SEC. It’s up to him to make the stats match his body’s potential.

Kolton Houston is Georgia’ right tackle for 2015. Houston became a bit of a celebrity two years ago when ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” reported about his inability to get cleared to play due to a lingering drug in his body from a surgery in high school. He finally became eligible that fall and made six starts. Houston topped those numbers last season with 13 starts and was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA. He was named Offensive MVP of Georgia’s spring practice and appears ready to end his collegiate career on a good note.

Georgia has enough experience on the offensive line to excel. These linemen have talent behind them in the form of sophomore running back Nick Chubb and whoever becomes Georgia’s starting quarterback. Their job is to give Chubb holes to run through or provide enough time for him to make something out of nothing. Junior Faton Bauta or sophomore Brice Ramsey should be able to succeed at quarterback as long as the line does its part.

If the offensive line plays like it did last year, it may make for a special season for Chubb and the entire team.