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Georgia football: How 5 preseason predictions played out, some still pending
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Georgia football: How 5 preseason predictions played out, some still pending
Raise your hand if you had Stockton finishing in the Top 10 of the Heisman Trophy voting ahead of the likes of preseason favorites Arch Manning, DJ Lagway, LaNorris Sellers, Garrett Nussmeier and Cade Klubnik.
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I just hope we keep finding ways to win and ultimately bring home another Natty!! Go Dawgs!!
There Is no doubt that Branch has been a welcome transfer addition to our WR group, but he is only ranked #73 in total receiving yards. There are no other Dawg receivers in the Top 200. Next season it will be imperative that we pickup some elite talent in that group from the portal, because we are losing our best receivers after this season.
I’m raising my hand, Mike. I saw Gunner play a game in HS, and account for 7 touchdowns. I remember thinking, this kid knows how to get the ball in the end zone. I knew Bobo would figure out an offense that Gunner could thrive in. Next season, Gunner will be sensational.
Well done @MikeGriffith !
Now let’s take it to the next level and open a can of whupass on those Rebs and move on to the semis!
GATA!!!!
Go Dawgs!
@MontanaDawg
The WRs - and TEs - are not the issue. They are frequently open. Instead the issue is that Gunner Stockton can't reliably get them the ball in certain areas of the field without risking turnovers or incompletions. This was also an issue with Stetson Bennett IV, especially in the 2021 season when he barely had 200 passing yards a game. Stockton is actually taller and with a better arm but not as experienced - he is younger than SB IV was when he was benched for JT Daniels in 2020 - and the group at WR/TE doesn't have Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Darnell Washington, George Pickens or AD Mitchell. There is a difference between "guys who can get open" and "guys who were 1000 yard receivers in the NFL as rookies." Delp and Luckie, for example, will get drafted and have good NFL careers but they're nowhere near Washington, let alone Bowers.
UGA decided that it was better to avoid turnovers, sacks and 3 and outs by focusing on the passes that Stockton can regularly complete than to try to spread things out to more WRs and TEs in more areas of the field. It's worked: Stockton has 71% completions with only 5 INTs against a tough schedule. I am also not 100% certain that Branch is going to enter the NFL draft. In 3 college seasons he has 151 catches for 1560 receiving yards and 8 TDs. Justin Jefferson had 111 receptions for 1540 yards and 18 TDs in 2019 alone and didn't lead his own team in receiving (Ja'Marr Chase did). Not an anomaly: Malik Nabers did the same for LSU in 2023. Getting away from LSU, Rome Odunze had similar numbers for Washington in 2023. Branch's numbers would have made him 3rd in receiving yards for USC this year, and that's with the USC duo playing in fewer games. Add in his height and weight, allegedly 5'10" and 185 lbs, and it is impossible to see him getting drafted before the third round.
Yep...me too. Simply because of the tools available to him...and, the Defense behind him. I wasn't counting on the offensive line situation. But, I was...and, am...confident in the consistency of Kirby's coaching staff, resolving those issues.
Besides...."pass blocking" is the easiest to teach & learn, for the talented and coordinated. Lol. And, UGA's loaded with guys like that.
I also wasn't counting on Stockton being so powerful toting the rock, in CFB. He's got game on the ground...and that was a pleasant surprise, to me.
IMHO...we already knew he was intelligent, cause he stayed at UGA. And, we knew he could sling the football. His legs separated him from the pack...and helped negate the blocking deficiencies early on. That's what saved him...and, put him on the Heisman radar.
Merry Christmas to all the Dawg fans! I've gotten everything I wished for...healthy and happy friends and family. The Dawgs positioned well for another Naty certainly was high up my list...lastly, getting Harris and Young back in the lineup would complete my wishes. May God bless you all and protect our soldiers and first responders.
Go Dawgs!!!
@randomsportsfan…interesting take and valid points. I don't dispute that Stockton is not an elite passer, but he did throw for 289 yards against the Rebels back in October, including (9) completions to Delp and Luckie. Of course, most of those passes (26/31) were short and screens. Yes, I know Kirby realizes that we need to limit exposing Gunner to being forced to pass the medium to long ball, but I do think he has proven he is capable when he has time. But that's also why it's imperative we can run the ball, so Gunner is not having to force the ball into tight windows and have errant throws. But he's gotten us to the playoffs, so just like Stetson, he's leading the team in the best way he knows how.
I hope you are right about Branch. We certainly could use him next year. We didn't recruit hardly any WRs this year - maybe just got one guy in the '26 Class.
I’m looking forward to seeing CJ Wiley and Talyn Taylor develop into the receiving weapons that will torment their opponents in ‘26. So much growth, development, and maturity can happen from one year to the next at their age, one or both could emerge as the best in the SEC. They have the speed, size, and talent necessary for becoming world class, along with a 5th year senior QB to feed them the ball. Might we get a preview of them in the CFP?
GO DAWGS!
Man, I sure you hope you are right on Wiley and Taylor. Elite skill players just don't come to UGA, I guess due to money. Scares me for next year.
Man!...I forgot all about Taylor and Wiley. Whatcha wanna bet.…Bobo throws em a Dawg Bone during the CFP. UGA always gives the up 'n comers a little action in the Bowl games. Gives em just enough seasoning, to marinade over the offseason. Lol
Go Dawgs! Skit em.