The Georgia 3-2-1 Report is brought to you by Aaron Overhead Doors, who has expanded their service area exponentially. Those folks cover more ground than Amtrak
Three Observations
3. Run the damn ball, Monken. Georgia finally has the creative play-calling and offensive concepts the pitchfork crowd wanted to see implemented in Athens. But the lack of wide receiver play and inaccurate passing from Stetson Bennett caused Georgia to get behind the sticks (as Coach Donnan says on the Watch Along) on first and second down when UGA has ineffective pass attempts. Going forward, Georgia needs more patience in the running game. Two years ago at Kentucky, the Dawgs’ tight ends controlled the edges and cut off the backside pursuit. They established the point of attack so that D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield ran for 271 yards on 34 carries. Don’t tell me that James Cook and Zamir White can’t have a big day, to say nothing of Kendall Milton.
Justin Rowland of CatsIllustrated pointed out that UK plays a lot of zone and that Missouri pounded them. Larry Rountree and Tyler Badie of Mizzou put up 178 yards on the Wildcat defense last week. Kentucky is without one of its best interior defenders as well. So run the ball, don’t turn it over, sprinkle in play-action so our Brent Rollins doesn’t beat his head on the wall, and keep the chains moving. Once you get a lead, see how new quarterback Joey Gatewood responds to defensive pressure.
2. Prepare your defenses. Speaking of the defense, Georgia has to regroup on that side of the ball after that awful performance against Alabama. Granted that was the No. 1 offense in the land, but who would have thought UGA’s perimeter play would hurt the Dawgs so badly? Yes, Georgia turned the ball over three times, but I checked and there is no rule that says a defense can’t stop an opposing offense after a turnover.
Kentucky is going to get movement upfront with its offensive line, but Georgia can counter with good tackling in space and limiting the easy, explosive plays. With Terry Wilson out, defensive coordinator Dan Lanning can dial up different fronts, pressures and coverage looks to confuse backup quarterback Joey Gatewood.
Georgia will have a man-to-man fight in the trenches as Kentucky prides itself on being a big, tough, physical team. So does Georgia. This is a chance for the Dawgs to take those punches, reclaim their identity, and demonstrate this is an elite defense.
1. New kids on the block. As we hit the halfway point of the season, it’s time to look at how all those top players from that No. 1 recruiting class are faring. Five-star Kelee Ringo has not played. Nor have we seen much of five-star offensive tackles Broderick Jones and Tate Ratledge. Speedster Arian Smith is progressing well but is not ready to return, but when he does, watch out.
So some of UGA’s most heralded freshmen have had little impact. The same can be said for a pair of quarterbacks who transferred in and who were the talk of the summer. But some new names are making big splashes.
Warren McClendon has stepped up at right tackle and established himself. That solves a major issue Georgia was having earlier in the season. Five-star tight end Darnell Washington held down the fort until FSU transfer Tre McKitty was healthy. Those snaps were huge in building up Washington’s experience at this level of football. I expect him to continue to develop as UGA is running a lot of two and even three tight end sets. He could be wide ass open on play-action if UGA runs the ball as I expect it to (see above). Jermaine Burton has been inconsistent but you have to be excited about his future. He has helped to fill the hole left by the injury to Dominick Blaylock. Kendall Milton was hampered in fall camp but is now back to full strength. He can be that every-down back who can handle a heavy workload.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter is exactly who we thought he would be. He is set to get more and more reps and will become a consistent force on defense. And kicker Jack Podlesny has been a pleasant surprise. He has been terrific so far and UGA will need to make those clutch kicks down the stretch that felt automatic with Rodrigo Blankenship, but are far from automatic in reality.
Two Questions
2. Which Kentucky team will we see? Kentucky has been as bipolar this season as a stripper at the end double shift. This was a team that was getting SEC East title discussions after winning nine games last season. Granted, such talk came from Kentucky sportswriters but give them a break as they just discovered the Wildcats play something besides basketball. Kentucky was routed by Auburn, lost to Penny Lane of Ole Miss but then turned around and slammed Mississippi State and Tennessee. Most everyone expected the Wildcats to drub Missouri but the Tigers humiliated Kentucky by playing keep away. UK completed four passes in that game. Four.
So will UGA see the Kentucky defense that gave up seven points to Tennessee and MSU combined or will Georgia face the defense that gave up 71 points to Auburn and Ole Miss? Joey Gatewood will take over for Touchdown Terry Wilson this Saturday. How will that change the offense? Gatewood, the Auburn transfer, is a big quarterback with a big arm. And UGA has about as much luck with backup quarterbacks as Taylor Swift has with boyfriends.
1. Who will be available to play? With an extra week to heal up before the Kentucky game, you’d think the Bulldogs would be really healthy when they face the Wildcats. That is not the case. Linebacker Monty Rice is still dealing with an ankle injury, so it’s good that Dan Lanning got Quay Walker a lot of reps against Alabama. You are going to need Walker against a potent Wildcat rushing attack. He’s going to do well. Wide receiver George Pickens was “dinged up” according to Kirby Smart so we are not sure if he will play. There are rumors of a pulled pectoral muscle. If Pickens is out, and we are told he is, look for more playing time for Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Matt Landers. Right tackle Owen Condon is progressing in his MCL recovery, but if UGA needs to replace Warren McClendon at any point, I’d look for Xavier Truss to come in. We don't believe that Kenny McIntosh will be 100 percent healthy. We are told he will not play this weekend either. Another tailback had a stomach bug but is fine now. Still UGA should have enough tailbacks to get the job done, but being without playmakers like Pickens and McIntosh still stinks.
One Prediction
Things are not going to change, but they will be different. Look, I know some of you need to see a change at the quarterback spot with the same intensity that you need to change the channel when political ads start playing. But just like those cerebellum-melting home invaders, the current situation for this team is being distorted through over-simplification and agenda-pushing.
Your quarterback is not a Leprechaun who hates puppies. He’s a talented signal-caller whose legs have saved many a play when the protection broke down. His multiple dives into the endzone show a desire to win at any cost. He had one bad half after orchestrating 24 points against Alabama, and some of his receivers didn’t help.
"But can Stetson Bennett beat Alabama for an entire game and not just one half?"
That is a fair question. Yet it doesn’t matter. Because to get there, you have to beat Kentucky. And Florida and four other teams. You can’t overlook the upcoming contests. Remember South Carolina last year? So UGA fans can hate that Justin Fields is not in Athens. They can rage at the sky that JT Daniels is not the savior many hoped he would be. We can gnash our teeth and curse the gods and weep, but none of that will change what UGA has to do going forward.
Accept who you are. Adjust to what you can execute. Win six games. THEN play Alabama without Jaylen Waddle.
There is no way the defense will play as poorly as it did against the Tide the first time. After six more games, the offense will have an identity, one that includes more play-action, bootlegs, bubble screens and fewer dropbacks. Bennett actually graded out okay versus Alabama. Not great, but he was graded higher than anyone in the secondary that the Tide torched. You can say that Bennett won’t lead you to a victory over the Tide, but can you really expect to beat Bama with the secondary getting abused like a rest stop bathroom? Can Bennett shore up an ineffective pass-rush against Alex Leatherwood?
It will take an entire team to beat Alabama, not just replacing the scapegoat.
P.S. Be sure to tune into the Watch Along show tomorrow at 11:50 on your tablet, phone or computer. Coach Donnan will be breaking down the game in real time. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ugasports?sub_confirmation=1
Also, if you would leave a nice review on Apple for our UGASports LIVE podcast with Coach Donnan, I'd really appreciate it. Apparently that affects how many times it is "suggested" by their algorithms or something. Can't hurt to lie just this once and say you like it.
Three Observations
3. Run the damn ball, Monken. Georgia finally has the creative play-calling and offensive concepts the pitchfork crowd wanted to see implemented in Athens. But the lack of wide receiver play and inaccurate passing from Stetson Bennett caused Georgia to get behind the sticks (as Coach Donnan says on the Watch Along) on first and second down when UGA has ineffective pass attempts. Going forward, Georgia needs more patience in the running game. Two years ago at Kentucky, the Dawgs’ tight ends controlled the edges and cut off the backside pursuit. They established the point of attack so that D’Andre Swift and Elijah Holyfield ran for 271 yards on 34 carries. Don’t tell me that James Cook and Zamir White can’t have a big day, to say nothing of Kendall Milton.
Justin Rowland of CatsIllustrated pointed out that UK plays a lot of zone and that Missouri pounded them. Larry Rountree and Tyler Badie of Mizzou put up 178 yards on the Wildcat defense last week. Kentucky is without one of its best interior defenders as well. So run the ball, don’t turn it over, sprinkle in play-action so our Brent Rollins doesn’t beat his head on the wall, and keep the chains moving. Once you get a lead, see how new quarterback Joey Gatewood responds to defensive pressure.
2. Prepare your defenses. Speaking of the defense, Georgia has to regroup on that side of the ball after that awful performance against Alabama. Granted that was the No. 1 offense in the land, but who would have thought UGA’s perimeter play would hurt the Dawgs so badly? Yes, Georgia turned the ball over three times, but I checked and there is no rule that says a defense can’t stop an opposing offense after a turnover.
Kentucky is going to get movement upfront with its offensive line, but Georgia can counter with good tackling in space and limiting the easy, explosive plays. With Terry Wilson out, defensive coordinator Dan Lanning can dial up different fronts, pressures and coverage looks to confuse backup quarterback Joey Gatewood.
Georgia will have a man-to-man fight in the trenches as Kentucky prides itself on being a big, tough, physical team. So does Georgia. This is a chance for the Dawgs to take those punches, reclaim their identity, and demonstrate this is an elite defense.
1. New kids on the block. As we hit the halfway point of the season, it’s time to look at how all those top players from that No. 1 recruiting class are faring. Five-star Kelee Ringo has not played. Nor have we seen much of five-star offensive tackles Broderick Jones and Tate Ratledge. Speedster Arian Smith is progressing well but is not ready to return, but when he does, watch out.
So some of UGA’s most heralded freshmen have had little impact. The same can be said for a pair of quarterbacks who transferred in and who were the talk of the summer. But some new names are making big splashes.
Warren McClendon has stepped up at right tackle and established himself. That solves a major issue Georgia was having earlier in the season. Five-star tight end Darnell Washington held down the fort until FSU transfer Tre McKitty was healthy. Those snaps were huge in building up Washington’s experience at this level of football. I expect him to continue to develop as UGA is running a lot of two and even three tight end sets. He could be wide ass open on play-action if UGA runs the ball as I expect it to (see above). Jermaine Burton has been inconsistent but you have to be excited about his future. He has helped to fill the hole left by the injury to Dominick Blaylock. Kendall Milton was hampered in fall camp but is now back to full strength. He can be that every-down back who can handle a heavy workload.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter is exactly who we thought he would be. He is set to get more and more reps and will become a consistent force on defense. And kicker Jack Podlesny has been a pleasant surprise. He has been terrific so far and UGA will need to make those clutch kicks down the stretch that felt automatic with Rodrigo Blankenship, but are far from automatic in reality.
Two Questions
2. Which Kentucky team will we see? Kentucky has been as bipolar this season as a stripper at the end double shift. This was a team that was getting SEC East title discussions after winning nine games last season. Granted, such talk came from Kentucky sportswriters but give them a break as they just discovered the Wildcats play something besides basketball. Kentucky was routed by Auburn, lost to Penny Lane of Ole Miss but then turned around and slammed Mississippi State and Tennessee. Most everyone expected the Wildcats to drub Missouri but the Tigers humiliated Kentucky by playing keep away. UK completed four passes in that game. Four.
So will UGA see the Kentucky defense that gave up seven points to Tennessee and MSU combined or will Georgia face the defense that gave up 71 points to Auburn and Ole Miss? Joey Gatewood will take over for Touchdown Terry Wilson this Saturday. How will that change the offense? Gatewood, the Auburn transfer, is a big quarterback with a big arm. And UGA has about as much luck with backup quarterbacks as Taylor Swift has with boyfriends.
1. Who will be available to play? With an extra week to heal up before the Kentucky game, you’d think the Bulldogs would be really healthy when they face the Wildcats. That is not the case. Linebacker Monty Rice is still dealing with an ankle injury, so it’s good that Dan Lanning got Quay Walker a lot of reps against Alabama. You are going to need Walker against a potent Wildcat rushing attack. He’s going to do well. Wide receiver George Pickens was “dinged up” according to Kirby Smart so we are not sure if he will play. There are rumors of a pulled pectoral muscle. If Pickens is out, and we are told he is, look for more playing time for Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Matt Landers. Right tackle Owen Condon is progressing in his MCL recovery, but if UGA needs to replace Warren McClendon at any point, I’d look for Xavier Truss to come in. We don't believe that Kenny McIntosh will be 100 percent healthy. We are told he will not play this weekend either. Another tailback had a stomach bug but is fine now. Still UGA should have enough tailbacks to get the job done, but being without playmakers like Pickens and McIntosh still stinks.
One Prediction
Things are not going to change, but they will be different. Look, I know some of you need to see a change at the quarterback spot with the same intensity that you need to change the channel when political ads start playing. But just like those cerebellum-melting home invaders, the current situation for this team is being distorted through over-simplification and agenda-pushing.
Your quarterback is not a Leprechaun who hates puppies. He’s a talented signal-caller whose legs have saved many a play when the protection broke down. His multiple dives into the endzone show a desire to win at any cost. He had one bad half after orchestrating 24 points against Alabama, and some of his receivers didn’t help.
"But can Stetson Bennett beat Alabama for an entire game and not just one half?"
That is a fair question. Yet it doesn’t matter. Because to get there, you have to beat Kentucky. And Florida and four other teams. You can’t overlook the upcoming contests. Remember South Carolina last year? So UGA fans can hate that Justin Fields is not in Athens. They can rage at the sky that JT Daniels is not the savior many hoped he would be. We can gnash our teeth and curse the gods and weep, but none of that will change what UGA has to do going forward.
Accept who you are. Adjust to what you can execute. Win six games. THEN play Alabama without Jaylen Waddle.
There is no way the defense will play as poorly as it did against the Tide the first time. After six more games, the offense will have an identity, one that includes more play-action, bootlegs, bubble screens and fewer dropbacks. Bennett actually graded out okay versus Alabama. Not great, but he was graded higher than anyone in the secondary that the Tide torched. You can say that Bennett won’t lead you to a victory over the Tide, but can you really expect to beat Bama with the secondary getting abused like a rest stop bathroom? Can Bennett shore up an ineffective pass-rush against Alex Leatherwood?
It will take an entire team to beat Alabama, not just replacing the scapegoat.
P.S. Be sure to tune into the Watch Along show tomorrow at 11:50 on your tablet, phone or computer. Coach Donnan will be breaking down the game in real time. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/ugasports?sub_confirmation=1
Also, if you would leave a nice review on Apple for our UGASports LIVE podcast with Coach Donnan, I'd really appreciate it. Apparently that affects how many times it is "suggested" by their algorithms or something. Can't hurt to lie just this once and say you like it.
