ATHENS — Georgia players are still shaking off the shockwaves of a regular-season loss, likely reminding themselves that all their goals are ahead of them.
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Great write-up, Mike, and thanks for the "other teams to look at" portion….very concise!
Go Dawgs!
Yes, Georgia can make the playoff with 2 losses. Doing something when they get there is another matter.
To be a legit contender UGA need 2 dominant skill players on offense: WRs and/or RBs who average nearly 100 yards a game. Oregon, Bama, Texas, Miami, Ohio State and Tennessee have this along with QBs as good as Beck. (Michigan has a great RB but a horrible QB.) As disappointing as the OL and WR play has been, UGA's not even trying to establish a workhorse RB or RB duo like previous title teams Michigan, Clemson, LSU and Bama is mystifying. Especially since the WR and pass blocking not being world beaters are precisely why UGA should lean on their RBs more i.e. get a thunder and lightning thing going with Etienne and Robinson. Instead the RBs are getting 7 to 12 carries a game. Carson Beck is the 3rd leading rusher with only 50 fewer yards than the #2 RB, and Beck is no D.J. Shockley (UGA's last actual dual threat QB).
Not just offense. Bama knew that UGA can't generate pressure without blitzing and exploited that by attacking the outside running lanes and single coverage downfield that the blitzing opened up. Yes, UGA made some adjustments in the second half, but they were so effective because Bama is in its 4th game with a new coaching staff AND most of the guys on their 2 deep are either portal additions or underclassmen. That won't be an issue with the other contenders or in a Bama rematch.
No, Etienne and Robinson aren't Chubb and Michel. Leaning on them still gives UGA a better chance than pretending that they have WRs like Bama 2020, LSU 2019 or Clemson 2018. Running the ball more also keeps their defense off the field. Finally Luckie, Delp and the other TEs need to focus on blocking because they aren't helping UGA as pass catchers.
