ATHENS — Kirby Smart will be back behind the microphone on Thursday, ready to answer questions and talk about his No. 1-ranked Georgia football team.

Here are five burning questions for the ninth-year Bulldogs head coach:

1. Carson Beck’s leadership

Has Beck become the more assertive, charismatic leader Georgia needs to lead an offense full of new playmakers? The talent and working knowledge of the playbook is there.

2. Defensive line havoc

Did Nazir Stackhouse and Warren Brinson have the sort of offseason that would indicate they are ready to step up and retiring the Bulldogs’ defensive line to dominance? These two veterans will also be relied upon to set the bar high with their practice tempo.

3. What has Travaris Robinson brought?

Stealing Robinson from Alabama to make him UGA’s co-defensive coordinator was thought to be an offseason coup, as the Tide players all raved about the intensity and teachings of this Will Muschamp protege and former Auburn All-SEC safety.

4. Offensive explosion

Smart said in the spring that it was “time to let the cat go play” in reference to turning an experience Beck loose, but is the supporting cast ready to keep up with Beck’s checks and Mike Bobo’s uptempo packages?

5. Injury updates

What are the statuses ofsafety Malaki Starks (shoulder), linebacker Smael Mondon (foot) and defensive linemen Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (foot) and Jordan Hall (lower leg) on defense?

How close are tailback Branson Robinson (knee) and quarterback Ryan Puglisi (knee) to being cleared to play?