Back a few weeks ago many Georgia fans weren’t liking the idea of this early season bye week. After starting the season off with three less challenging teams, fans were ready for some competition to see where the team is at.
Georgia found that much-needed competition in week four against Notre Dame. A team that Georgia has beaten the three times they’ve played in history now. Georgia finally had a fourth-quarter game, where they had to face some type of adversity leading up to that final moment where the Dawgs were able to take a knee and end the battle. Georgia went into halftime with a 3 point deficit to Notre Dame, who managed to put up 10 points on the Georgia defense and hold the offense to only a touchdown. It wasn’t a deficit to be scared of and to start fearing what might happen if you lose. Georgia was still in the fight going into the third quarter, they just had to make slight adjustments to their gameplan. Georgia ended up beating Notre Dame in a historic, intense, loud atmosphere in Sanford Stadium. In front of 93K Georgia beat Notre Dame 23-17. Now after four weeks of football, the Dawgs are already dealing with injuries to some of their best players. Georgia went into the Notre Dame game without sophomore cornerback Tyson Campbell who was held out by a foot injury that occurred during the Arkansas State game. Just minutes into the Notre Dame game, Eric Stokes made a tackle that tweaked his ankle because of faulty footing. Stokes was held out for majority of the game until the deciding down for Ian Book and the Irish offense. When asked about the seriousness of Stokes injury, Kirby Smart said this, “If you told me the one spot you couldn’t afford to lose somebody at that point, it was that one,” Smart then said this, “Came back in the game and played later. I just don’t know if he was 100 percent or not. It was a tough call to put him back in there, he wanted to go back in.” From what Coach said, it doesn’t sound like too serious of an injury for Stokes and he is expected to be back for the Tennessee game in two weeks. The same cannot be said for Tyson Campbell, as he is a day-to-day situation as of right now. Georgia did have a chance to show why it has done such a tremendous job in recruiting, as we saw redshirt freshman Divaad Wilson and JUCO transfer DJ Daniels step up and play some key snaps on defense for the Dawgs. Wilson ended up catching an interception and returning it for 11 yards, while Daniels played well in coverage and broke up the final pass of the night for Book. Cornerback wasn’t the only area of concern for Georgia going into the game, as starting right tackle Isaiah Wilson has been sidelined with an injury since the Wednesday practice leading up to the Murray State game. Wilson is dealing with a lower-leg injury and was able to play some snaps at right tackle late in the game last Saturday. This bye week is coming at a great time for Wilson as he will be able to have two full weeks of practice before making his expected return to his right tackle spot against Tennessee. But Georgia didn’t make it out of the Notre Dame game fully healthy upfront as left guard Solomon Kindley went down with a lower-leg injury which forced him out for the rest of the game. Kindley was seen in a boot and on crutches for the remainder of the game. It is not known to this point when he will return. It will be key for Georgia to figure out its injuries upfront as they’ve shown some weakness in pass protection. Notre Dame had some very early success getting in the face of Jake Fromm, as they brought speed and power off the edge. Georgia had a hard time getting to the edge before someone was in our backfield. Justin Schaffer replaced Kindley in the game and if Kindley will be out for an extended period of time, it is possible we see Schaffer start at that position. With Georgia finally coming to the ‘meat’ of their schedule this bye week cannot come at a better time for the Dawgs as they will be able to rehab some of the nagging injuries and get back to 100 percent. Georgia will be taking on Tennessee in Neyland Stadium in two weeks. Some fans are already planning to rename the stadium to “North Sanford.” Which is a reference to the expected UGA takeover, that has been seen in many different places like in Nashville and South Bend.
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With the eyes of the nation on Dooley Field in Sanford Stadium, Georgia passed a very early test in their quest to the National Championship game.
The Georgia Bulldogs were challenged for the first time this season with some adversity. The number 3 ranked Bulldogs, took on the number 7 ranked Irish of Notre Dame in a primetime matchup. The Bulldogs rebounded from a 10-7 deficit at halftime to go on and win a fourth-quarter game 23-17. It wasn’t the blowout that the media blew it up to be. It was a game that Ian Book and Irish can be proud of, as they took Georgia to the limit. Notre Dame had a chance to win the game in the last minute after the Irish defense stopped the Georgia offense from scoring a touchdown then settling for a field goal. Then the Irish came up with a stop to force the Dawgs to punt. Ian Book didn’t get the ending that he wanted, as he scrambled backward under pressure and chucked the ball downfield would be batted away by the Georgia defense on fourth down. It was a game to be proud of if you were Jake Fromm as he was able to overcome a slow start offensively and lead Georgia to a big victory early on in the season. Fromm threw for 187 yards and 1 touchdown on 20/26 throwing for Georgia. Fromm managed the game very well as he was able to overcome the speed rushing of Notre Dame. Fromm was able to adjust from the quick passing to sitting back in the pocket and letting the play develope. Fromm also contributed on the ground with 15 yards on 2 attempts for Georgia. The biggest run of the night was the 9-yard run that was marked just short of the first down marker in the fourth quarter. Georgia ended up settling for a field goal on fourth in short after a courageous play from Jake Fromm. D’Andre Swift was the engine for Georgia as he played a great game on the ground with 98 yards and a touchdown with 18 carries. Brian Herrien was right behind Swift with 42 yards on only 8 carries. It was very surprising for many as Georgia only gave carries to its top two running backs. White, and McIntosh noticeably didn’t receive carries. As of the time of writing this, it is expected that the people of Twitter have voted Lawrence Cager for Top Dawg of the Week. Cager deserved it with a good performance, as he had 82 yards and one impressive back-shoulder touchdown catch on five catches total. Demetrius Robertson delivered after missing last week with a nagging injury. D-Rob got 48 yards on 4 catches as he is making his presence known in each game. Many fans will be talking about the absence of Pickens who was targeted a couple of times but both were contested and he couldn’t make the plays. It was a great game for Cager as he stepped up big for Georgia. The win did not come without its losses as Georgia lost starting left guard Solomon Kindley would leave the game with a lower leg injury and wouldn’t return to the game. Georgia went into the game without Tyson Campbell and left with Eric Stokes being banged up after a tackle very early on in the game. Stokes tweaked his ankle and was held out for the majority of the game until the final drive of the ball game for Notre Dame. It was a tale of two halves for the Georgia defense after the struggled in the first half with a freshman tight end that connected Ian Book very early on and proved to be a playmaker for the Irish. The Dawgs would rally in the “junkyard” and would force three punts for Notre Dame at the start of the second half. A big game for Jr Reed the senior safety as he played very well in coverage and made some key tackles for the Dawgs. Reed brought havoc with him on the field and unleashed every bit of it on Notre Dame. Reed finished off an incredible performance with an interception that would add to 7 tackles, and 3 pass breakups. Reed is the first unanimous Top Dawg of the Week! With corner becoming a concern for Georgia very early on in the game with two injuries to their top guys. Georgia needed someone to step up, and Divaad Wilson did just that with an interception, which he returned for 11 yards. Wilson created a spark for the Dawgs defensively that they would use for the rest of the game. Tae Crowder led the team in tackles with 9. On a day where the special teams unit struggled with a muffed punt return that set Notre Dame up for the game’s first touchdown and two bad punts by Jake Camarda. Rodrigo Blankenship was the lone star for Georgia’s special teams unit as he was 3/3 on field goals and made all extra points. The fans provided a great atmosphere inside of Sanford Stadium that will go down in history as the best performance ever from the fans in any stadium. Georgia will not be totally satisfied with this win as they still have a lot of things to improve before the end of the season. But they will celebrate for the next 24 hours then move onto the bye week. We have a ball game in Athens! Notre Dame came into sold-out Sanford Stadium and has putten up a fight with their versatile offense, and quick defense. Ian Book has found a way to overcome the Georgia pass rush as he has hooked up with his playmakers.
The Georgia defense lost starter cornerback Eric Stokes to an ankle injury early on in the game. Stokes has yet to return to the field of play. With Tyson Campbell not being dressed out for the game, it pushes everyone up a spot on the depth chart. DJ Daniels the junior defensive back has been shaky in coverage, he played well early then got a pass interference called on him which sent him downhill with some tough plays being made on him. Notre Dame has taken advantage of the young corners that Georgia is being forced to use because of injury. Offensively for the Dawgs, it has been a slow start as they haven't been able to find an explosive play yet. Georgia struggled early out of the gate with the Notre Dame speed rush off the edge. Notre Dame has done a great job stopping the quick plays in the passing game that Georgia has used for explosive plays. The Dawgs need to get back to pounding the opponent in the run game. Utilizing the talent of the running back stable will open up the passing game for Fromm and will force Notre Dame to ease off the pressure off the edge. The Georgia defense needs to find a way to cover the Notre Dame tight end who has been a playmaker for Notre Dame so far. It will be crucial to take away Book's favorite target so far. “Heros have graced the field before you. Men with hearts, bodies, and minds, for which the entire Bulldog Nation can justifiably proud. The tradition for unbridled excellence demonstrated by these individuals and many others spans more than a full century. And now a new breed of bulldog stands ready to take the field of battle. To assume the reigns of the Georgia program. To continue that tradition. Understanding that there is no tradition more worthy of envy. NO institution worthy of such loyalty, as the University of Georgia. As we prepare for another meeting BETWEEN THE HEDGES, let all the faithful Bulldog rally behind the men who now wear RED and Black, with two words. Two simple words that express sentiments of the entire Bulldog Nation………
Go Dawgs!”
Only the words of Larry Munson can sum up what this weekend is all about for the University of Georgia. This weekend is about pride, tradition, and culture. This Georgia coaching staff has faced a lot of hype and a lot of criticism from the media and fans. This Georgia team already has its fair share of doubters, as many still don’t believe the Dawgs will end the 39 years-long wait for a National Championship. Back in 2017, Georgia faced Notre Dame on the road with a freshman quarterback who would be making his first collegiate start after replacing the injured Jacob Eason in the first quarter of the season opener. That freshman led the Dawgs with great composure as he set up the field goal that would eventually win Georgia the ball game. That same freshman ended up contributing to a season that saw the Dawgs return to the National Championship game and fell just short of winning it all. Now the tides have changed. Notre Dame will be making the trip to Athens to take on the number 3 ranked Bulldogs who have hopes of returning to the National Championship and taking care of some unfinished business. From the moment that the CBS music plays as they do a flyover view of the stadium and the time the ball is kicked off. Georgia puts their whole season on the line in one of the biggest games of the year. Offense The Georgia offense started the season off slow as they showed a weakness in the passing game as they struggled with a young receiving core. Now after two straight weeks of the brilliance of Jake Fromm and playmaking from many guys on the receiving core. It is time for the critics to be silenced for the rest of the year. Jake Fromm, will be playing Notre Dame after two years of experience in College Football. After those two years, he has shown to be one of the best in college football. Not many have his poise, intelligence, and a love for football. Fromm is an extension of the coach on the field, as he is a leader of men and has the intelligence to know where the play will be made, and when a bad play may occur. Fromm will likely to be asked to be the same quarterback he has always been. Fromm will continue to make checks at the line of scrimmage and put Georgia in the best situations to make plays. While dropping back in the pocket and delivering accurate passes for gains. The ground game is where the real depth lyes on this team. Georgia will be led by D’Andre Swift as he will look to light up the Notre Dame defense like the flashlights held up by every Georgia fan before the fourth quarter. Swift’s ability to carry the ball out the backfield and catch passes out of the backfield makes him a very valuable weapon for Georgia will have Notre Dame worrying about every play. Brian Herrien is a man to watch against Notre Dame, he always seems to show up in the spotlight when given chances. With his combination of speed and power, he will be the power back and short-yardage back. One name that is being mentioned everywhere is George Pickens. Even NFL analysts are starting to mention his name after some of the plays he has made in his short time in Athens. Pickens is the go-to option for Fromm in big play situations. The question is for Pickens, is whether he will be able to be “Pickin TDs” against a top 25 team in Notre Dame. Demetrius Robertson is a guy to watched, although he is dealing with a nagging injury he has shown to be a consistent option for Fromm. If D-Rob can put it all together in a game like this, it would be a huge boost. The Georgia offensive line has been working out some kinks in pass protection but has seemed to figure it all out. With Isaiah Wilson still questionable to return for this game, it is expected that Cade Mays will stay at right tackle and Ben Cleveland at right guard. It is possible that Wilson sees limited snaps this weekend against Notre Dame. But I wouldn’t risk his long term availability if he isn’t 100 percent. Defense A unit that has fallen out of the spotlight this season is the defense as everyone has their sights set on the offense. The Georgia defense has been playing with a newfound chip on their shoulders along with high energy The defense is flush with talent, as there has been a freshman invasion along the depth chart as most starting spots are still being battled for, week to week. Georgia will be looking to cause more and more havoc, especially this week as Notre Dame will be the first true test for a Georgia defense that has played well so far. Notre Dame has a mobile, accurate quarterback who has no problem staying in the pocket and throwing it, while also being able to get out and scramble if he sees nothing down the field. Dan Lanning will need to dial up smart blitzes along with strong coverages for the Georgia secondary. The Georgia front seven will be tasked with containing Book and making him throw it downfield and give the secondary a chance to make a play. If Georgia can contain and get after Book then the Notre Dame offense will completely be shut down. June 25th, 2014 the University of Georgia announced a home-and-home series for the 2017 and 2019 season. Ever since then Georgia fans have been counting down the days until the Fighting Irish make their way down to Athens into Sanford Stadium.
This is part two of a pivotal game for the Bulldogs as this will be the first test of the season for Georgia. After three weeks of games for Georgia, they have espaced without any major season-ending injuries other than a few minor injuries that have held Isaiah Wilson out for a couple of weeks. Georgia had its first practice of the week as they prepare for this big game against Notre Dame. Isaiah Wilson returned to practice today, and before practice Coach Smart said, “I’ll be able him a little bit today,” It is a big win for the offensive line as Georgia will be getting back their starting right tackle who was battle-tested throughout his redshirt freshman year for Georgia at right tackle. Wilson was seen wearing an ankle brace on his right ankle. But in bad news for Georgia, it was noted that sophomore cornerback Tyson Campbell suffered a right foot injury in the game against Arkansas State. Campbell was not seen at practice on Monday which is going to start some speculation about the availability of the sophomore defensive back who has shown improvement show far this season. If Campbell is limited on snaps or is completely ruled out for Saturday’s game then it is expected that Divaad Wilson the redshirt freshman could replace him on the depth chart. Wilson has shown strides so far. Wilson was sidelined for the majority of his freshman season with a knee injury, he returned to practice for the bowl game, which is where he saw his only action of the season. Wilson played in the Sugar Bowl and showed some potential to be a lockdown for the Dawgs in the secondary. In some other good news, all three of the receivers that were hurt were spotted at practice Monday. Jackson still had a cast on his hand and he isn’t expected to play this weekend as it can be challenging to catch a ball with a cast. Simmons had a shoulder brace during practice, and Robertson was seen with an athletic tape running up and down his leg. A memorable game for both teams as both fans united for a great cause, as the Sanford Stadium was turned pink as both fans wore pink, in honor of Wendy Anderson, the late wife of Arkansas State Head Coach Blake Anderson, Wendy passed away on August 19th, 2019. A tough end to the offseason for Coach Anderson, as the passing of his wife, is something not many can deal with while continuing to work.
A tremendous amount of respect between both sidelines and both sets of fans. A game that was being overshadowed by some because of the highly anticipated Notre Dame that will take on Dooley Field in Sanford Stadium next Saturday. Georgia Offense A great day for the barking Dawgs on offense. The Georgia offense was spearheaded by Junior quarterback Jake Fromm who came out of the doghouse hot! Fromm put on a great performance with 279 yards with 3 touchdowns on 17/22 with an average of 12.7 yards per attempt. Fromm didn’t miss too many passes today as he was on point with 17 passes being completely out of the 22 thrown. A few of those incomplete passes were just overthrown by Fromm, which some could’ve been touchdowns. Stetson Bennett came in for Georgia as the second-team quarterback. Bennett is getting early, much needed snaps. Stetson played well as he passed for 109 yards with 9/10 throwing. It is nice to see the second-team quarterback get some snaps just in case anything does happen to Fromm we know what we have in our second team. D’Andre Swift contributed once again for the Dawgs with 76 yards on the ground on 9 attempts along with 64 yards and a touchdown on 2 receptions. Brian Herrien showed once again why he is the power back for Georgia, as he trucked his way to a touchdown. Herrien rushed 25 yards on 4 carries with 1 catch for 4 yards through the air. James Cook and Kenny McIntosh both showed why they are at Georgia, as Cook rushed for 51 yards on 3 carries with 1 touchdown. Cook did contribute receiving with 17 yards on 2 catches. The freshman McIntosh came in and provided a spark for the Dawgs in the second team, as he ran a 62-yard touchdown. McIntosh ended the game with 67 yards on four carries for Georgia. Dominick Blaylock has made the most of the second team opportunities as he showed for the second week in a row what makes him so special. Blaylock led the Dawgs receiving with 112 yards and 1 touchdown on 4 catches. Blaylock’s touchdown was a 60-yard touchdown for the freshman. Another freshman, in George Pickens, played well with 84 yards on 4 receptions for Georgia. The freshman are starting to step up for Georgia on both sides of the ball. Lawrence Cager was the only other Dawg to catch a touchdown on the day. The Georgia offense put on a show in a dominant 55 point performance as they just keep barking in Sanford Stadium. Georgia Defense The Georgia defense played a shutout today, as they were dominant as they let up 220 total yards with only 43 yards of that being rushing. Tyler Clark came up big for the Dawgs early in the game with a big sack that ended an Arkansas State drive early on in the game. The freshman safety, Lewis Cine wore two jerseys today 8 and 28. He also came up with the only turnover of the game with an interception which he returned for 15 yards. It was a “Junkyard” performance for Georgia as they shutout the last of the weaker opponents. A great day for Defensive Coordinator Dan Lanning, and Kirby Smart. A great day as both fans honored Wendy Anderson by wearing pink in her honor. Georgia ended the day with a great win and is able to start focusing on Notre Dame for next Saturday that will be a primetime game on CBS. It is being rumored that College Gameday will be hosted in Athens next week, as it will be a great game. There were a lot of great performances Saturday inside of Sanford Stadium but there were really three players who stood out from the start. Saturday night on Twitter, I posted a poll for fans to vote on who they think should win Top Dawg of the Week after the week two performance against Murray State.
On a day that saw the Georgia offense up 56 points, and the defense contributed with a scoop and score by JR Reed. Georgia blew out Murray State with a final score of 63-17. The defense played well other than some blown coverages. The Dawgs wrecked a lot of havoc on a fast pace Murray State offense that didn’t have the answer to a powerful front seven of Georgia. Offensive Top Dawg of the Week: George Pickens Former longtime Auburn commit, and now a true freshman for the University of Georgia, George Pickens is starting to show why he was so special coming out of high school. Georgia fans have been crying for a breakout performance from one of the receivers after the Vanderbilt game, and they sure did get that in week two. George Pickens was the go-to target for the Dawgs on offense as he racked up 78 yards and 1 touchdown on 4 receptions. It all started with an impressive one-handed catch for Pickens that picked up 11 yards for the Dawgs. It looked like something you would see on a video game but every bit of that catch was real. The next offensive possession, Pickens ran a fly route and hooked up with Fromm on the play that saw Pickens make another impressive catch, which was a nice diving catch by the freshman. The drive ended with none other than a touchdown pass to George Pickens. An impressive performance for a freshman in only his second game at the collegiate level, he showed why he was so successful in high school and starting to show how he could be a force immediately for Georgia this season. Pickens is a Top Dawg! Defensive Top Dawg of the Week Defensively this one could’ve gone to anybody because there were a lot of Top Dawgs out on that field when the Dawgs were on defense. But one guy really stood out from the rest, one freshman stood out from the rest. The number one overall prospect from the 2019 recruiting class, Nolan Smith burst onto the scene against Vanderbilt where he almost got a sack but the Vandy quarterback got back to the line of scrimmage. Smith came into week two with a point to prove, in front of Vince Dooley and a soldout Sanford Stadium and on Dooley Field, Nolan Smith collected 3 tackles, 1.5 sack, and 1.5 tackles for a loss. Almost every play that he was in he was close to hitting the quarterback. Murray State didn’t have an answer to the edge rusher that combines speed and power to get after the quarterback and be a game-breaker for the opposing offense. A great performance from another true freshman who showed why he deserves to be here. Nolan Smith is a Top Dawg! Dawg Bone Performers Once a tradition that set in place by former UGA Head Coach Mark Richt, the “Dog Bones” which was “A Sign of Excellence.” Players would be able to earn a white bone or a black bone that would then be stuck on the back of their helmet as a symbol of “excellence.” That tradition has now faded from Athens and the helmets worn on Saturdays by the Dawgs. Top Dawg Blogging is all about tradition, culture, pride, excellence, etc. Now in our weekly Top Dawg Awards, we will be recognizing players that were close to winning Top Dawg of the Week, as our Dawg Bone Performers. Eli Wolf The grad transfer from Tennessee has come into the Georgia program and has made an impact with his hard work and leadership. All that work in practice showed Saturday against Murray State in his first game at home as a Bulldog. As a junior tight end at Tennessee Wolf recorded 30 yards and 1 touchdown on 5 catches. Some players will pick up that stat line in one game, but that was the season stat line for Wolf. Now a grad transfer at Georgia it was his time to shine. Wolf recorded 73 yards on 4 catches in an impressive performance against Murray State. Wolf was targeted early on for Georgia as he made two catches in a row, the second one ended up as a fumble which was recovered by Murray State. But instead of quitting on himself and getting down on his abilities, Wolf finished off a performance on a high note as he recorded two more receptions. Eli Wolf was praised for his ability to open up the run game with his blocking and now he is being praised for his ability to destroy defenses over the middle with his route running and his hands. Zamir White After sustaining one ACL injury it is hard to come back and be the same person you were before you got injured. Zamir White suffered a torn ACL in his senior season of high school. White ended up coming to Georgia for his freshman year and after being cleared for spring practice, he tore his other ACL. Two ACL injuries are enough to make some people quit sports altogether especially if you are a running back and haven’t even played a single snap of College Football. His nickname is “Zeus” for reason and just like Zeus the greek god would, he would come back even stronger. Zamir White redshirted his freshman season and rehabbed his injury. His hard work paid off with a 51-yard performance rushing on only 5 carries against Vanderbilt in his first collegiate game. The hype was really coming into week two of the season, and fans were wanting more of Zeus. Zamir White added to his story by leading Georgia in rushing with 72 yards and one touchdown on 8 carries. White put up a performance that you wouldn’t expect from a guy coming off two ACL surgeries. White was also crucial in pass protection as Coach Smart complimented a play where White picked up a linebacker and “He picked up a blitzing linebacker in the A gap and smacked him right in the jaw,” as Smart said at his post-game press conference. JR Reed A senior safety for Georgia that is becoming a big leader on the Georgia defense. Reed is very overlooked by many in College Football and even Georgia fans don’t notice just how good Reed is for Georgia. Reed is a guy that goes about his work very quietly as he just locks in and goes straight to work. Reed made a big play today after Mark Webb caused a fumble by a big hit, Reed scooped up the loose football and took it to the house. Reed had 4 tackles with a .5 tackle for a loss. Reed is a player to watch in the secondary as he is going to be a playmaker in the secondary for Georgia. Jermaine Johnson The freshman had a great day against Murray State as they were able to get a lot of playing time after the starters came out early in the second quarter. Jermaine Johnson a JUCO transfer is a junior this season for Georgia. Johnson showed the ability and talent that got him here. Johnson got the first sack of his collegiate career, along with having four tackles and one for a loss. Johnson has a lot of potential to be a starter for the next two years here at Georgia and if he can put it all together he could be a force for Georgia off the edge alongside of Nolan Smith. Welcome to the “Junkyard!” It was an electric afternoon in Athens, with a soldout crowd inside of Sanford Stadium, it was a befitting way to kick off the season at home for the Dawgs. Not only was it the home opener for Georgia, but it was also ‘Dooley Day’ in Athens as well. The Dooley Field in Sanford Stadium. The Georgia great was met with thousands of fans, friends, family, players, coaches, and none other than Uga. Just minutes before the Dawgs took the field to kick off the week two matchup against Murray State. Coach Dooley was honored for his long and great service he made to the University of Georgia, and the community of Athens. The Dooley Family was surrounded by captains from every team that Dooley coached in his time at Georgia. It was a moment for the ages! Georgia Offense The Georgia offense came out hot, as they were looking for a bounce-back after a lackluster second-half performance against Vanderbilt. Questions were asked of the Georgia air attack as the offense struggled to put the ball through the air in the second half. The offensive line had trouble with pressure which led to avoidable hits on Jake Fromm. We learned Wednesday night that sophomore right tackle Isaiah Wilson suffered a lower-leg injury in a “thud” play in practice. Wilson was replaced by sophomore Jamaree Salyer who ended up starting the game for Georgia, then after the second offensive possession, which ended with a punt because of a sack on third down. Salyer did not come back out with the first-team line. Jake Fromm silenced his critics for the next week as he came out on a mission this week to prove the media wrong. Fromm threw for 166 yards and 1 touchdown, throwing 10/11. Many pointed out last week that Fromm’s yard per completion was too low, well his average this week was 15.1. In a game that he only played for a quarter and ¾, the Georgia passing game was electric as they opted to spread the ball around and even get the tight end involved. D’Andre Swift and Brian Herrien led the Dawgs ground attack with the first team. Swift rushed for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns on 6 carries. Herrien had 31 yards and 1 touchdown on 5 carries. Zeus! Zamir White led the Dawgs rushing as he ran for 72 yards and 1 touchdown on 8 carries in his Sanford Stadium debut. Kenny McIntosh the true freshman got some looks with the second team as he showed promise with 61 yards on 9 carries. James Cooks was a big contributor today, as he was more of a slot-back for the Dawgs. Cook ran for 30 yards on 3 carries today. One of the biggest questions coming into this game was about the Georgia receivers. Well, those questions will be turned into the hype around this young group of talented players. True freshman and highly touted recruit George Pickens led the Dawgs receiving with 78 yards and 1 touchdown on 4 receptions. George was “Pickin” the ball right out of the air today. One of the biggest surprises of today's game was the performance from grad transfer Eli Wolf, who had 73 yards and 1 fumble on 4 receptions. Wolf received praise last week from fans with his ability to open up the run game. But this week he will be praised for his ability to open up the middle of the field. Another true freshman shined on the receiving core, as Dominick Blaylock made his debut for Georgia with the second string, as he picked up 48 yards and 1 touchdown on 3 receptions. Blaylock showed promise for things to come at the slot receiver. James Cook the all-around beast for Georgia picked up 27 yards on 2 receptions. Cook is finally being used in the right role for the Dawgs, Coley is looking to use him with screens, sweeps, and lining up in the slot. Demetrius Robertson caught his second touchdown of the season, as he contributed with 21 yards on 3 receptions. Stetson Bennett showed why he was being praised by his teammates during camp. Bennett composed himself well as he made an appearance with the second string despite the interception, Bennett played well. Bennett threw for 124 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9/13 throwing. He also picked up a 1-yard rushing touchdown for the Dawgs. The offense played well in a dominant performance which saw their starter play for no longer than a half. Georgia was spurred on by a 35 point second quarter that put the Dawgs firmly in front. Georgia Defense
The talk throughout the offseason was about causing more “havoc” and they did that well today. It was a game dominated by freshman defensively. True freshman edge rusher Nolan Smith had his breakout party in Athens as he was a nightmare in the backfield. Smith recorded 3 tackles, including a 1.5 sack and 1.5 tackle for a loss. Mark Webb led the Dawgs in tackling with 6 and had one TFL along with a forced fumble on a big hit, that was scooped and scored by JR Reed. LeCounte recorded five tackles, Monty Rice with 4, Jermaine Johnson had 4 and was responsible for a .5 sack on the stat sheet. Azeez Ojulari and Travon Walker both combined for a sack on the day as well. The Dawgs had 6 sacks on the day, in an impressive performance by the defense. Georgia gave up 10 points defensively as Murray State capitalized as on a pick-six that was thrown by Stetson Bennett the second-string quarterback for Georgia. Georgia will be looking to move on as the 24 hour goes into effect the moment that the clock hits triple zeros. Georgia will be playing Arkansas State at home next week in another matchup that Georgia will be favored mightily. The experimenting on offense is sure to continue as Georgia is still trying to find their guys in the passing game. We will see more of the same defensively, as Georgia needs to fix the problems in the secondary that led to two touchdowns by Murray State. It’s Friday in Athens and we’re one day away from the home opener in Athens. The 2019 season started great for Georgia, as they traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to take on the Commodores of Vanderbilt. Georgia steamed rolled the Commodores in a 30-6 victory on the road.
The Dawgs are back in Athens this weekend for the first time this season. But this weekend means a lot more to Dawg fans as it is the debut of Dooley Field inside of Sanford Stadium. Yes, Georgia will be honoring the legendary head coach Vince Dooley, by naming the field after him and his family. Vince Dooley and his family are expected to be in attendance this week as it is a great weekend for Georgia. Georgia Offense After an electrifying first half, many expected the Dawgs to continue the ground and pound of Vanderbilt. Georgia ended up scoring three field goals in the second half, as it was a less than impressive second half for the Dawgs offensively. Questions are still being asked about the talent of Jake Fromm, the Junior from Warner Robins, Georgia, who is coming into this game with a young and inexperienced receiving core that didn’t put it all together last week. Critics of Georgia have blamed the inefficiency on third downs last week on Fromm and his young receivers. With Notre Dame on the horizon, I don’t expect much to change offensively with the gameplan. Georgia will look to dominate an inferior Murray State defense with the run game that did damage on the road last week. Fromm will get his moments but, likely, he will only play a half of football if the offense can put up points. I expect Fromm to get his shots early on in this game, and I don’t see him throwing the ball more than 15 times. D’Andre Swift led the Dawgs offensively last time out as expected for a potential Heisman candidate. Swift put up 147 yards on the ground with only 16 carries but did not find the endzone. It is not likely that we see Swift for more than a quarter, as Georgia doesn’t want him to eat up meaningless carries in an early-season game. Brian Herrien is the man to watch on the ground this week as he only had 12 carries last week, and rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown. Herrien has been waiting for his turn for the past three seasons and the time is now. James Cook, Zamir White and potentially Kenny McIntosh will get carries. Zeus had five carries for 51 yards and is becoming more of a fan favorite, I am sure we will hear a lot Zeus chants throughout the game. Now the biggest question that will need to be answered this game is about the receivers. Georgia will have a big game next Saturday in Athens, and they will need to know their guys out wide can handle the pressure. A lot of the receivers showed promise in their first game guys like Lawrence Cager, Demetrius Robertson, and Matt Landers. George Pickens was fouled out of a touchdown and is expected to have a big game this weekend. Those four are the guys I am expecting to see come out and lead this young group of receivers. All four of them have the talent to help win games at the University of Georgia, they made some plays last week and we need to see more out of them this week. Kearis Jackson the redshirt freshman who was the second string slot got injured in the last game, as he broke his hand/wrist and is out for this game. Freshman Dominick Blaylock is expected to suit up and take his place behind D-Rob. The Georgia offensive line suffered it’s the first injury of the season in practice this week, as sophomore right tackle Isaiah Wilson suffered a lower leg injury in practice this week and is expected to miss extended time. Sophomore right guard Cade Mays is expected to slide over and start at that position tonight. Mays has shown his ability to be a versatile piece that plays all over the line if needed. Mays has a mean streak that you don’t want to get in front of. Another name to watch is Jamaree Salyer, a sophomore who is returning this weekend from an undisclosed lower-body injury that held him out for over a week. Salyer could get some reps at tackle if they decide to switch out the line. Georgia Defense The defense has been out of the headlines for the past week as everyone is focusing on the offense. Defensively for the Bulldogs, they are shaping up to be an impressive unit as they held Vanderbilt to only two field goals in the victory a week ago. The defensive line is still a big question for the Dawgs as they have just shown a sample size of what they can do. Fans have been asking for more productivity upfront from the D-line and this is the game to do it for Georgia. Murray State likes to run the spread so that will create a lot of matchups upfront for Georgia. Senior leader Tyler Clark is one name to watch this week, as everyone is hoping he will create the havoc we’ve been waiting for. Freshman Travon Walker is another guy to watch as he earned his way onto the field during fall camp and showed promise in his first game as a Bulldog. Walker has shown his ability to stop run and rush the passer. He is a young talent for Georgia that doesn’t get talked about enough. Completing the front seven with the linebackers who have been one of the most talked-about positions so far on defense. The freshmen have come into the program and dominated the talk among fans. Edge rushers Nolan Smith and Jermaine Johnson showed promise against Vanderbilt, Smith almost got a sack last week but it was ruled a tackle as Vandy got back to the line of scrimmage. Look for Smith and Johnson both to get a sack this week, as Murray State will look to spread that ball around. At inside linebacker, we will see both Monty Rice and Tae Crowder as both are expected to be starting. Freshman Nakobe Dean is coming off an injury in fall camp, he did see some snaps against Vanderbilt and assuming that rehab is going well we could a lot more of him in the second half of the game. In the secondary for Georgia is the best position group on the field for the Dawgs defensively and they proved that with a dominant performance last week. Georgia gave up 110 yards through the air against Vanderbilt and didn’t give up a single touchdown. The secondary is expected to see a lot more passes this weekend as Murray State likes to put the ball up in the air. Eric Stokes and Tyson Campbell are expected to be top of the depth chart again at cornerback, with Richard LeCounte and JR Reed overtop as the two deep safeties. We should see a lot more of the second and third stringers this Saturday. I am very excited about the potential of seeing Lewis Cine and DJ Daniels. Both are new to Athens and are looking to make an impact. Daniels the junior college star is looking to break onto the scene in College Football, as he showed the ability to be a lockdown corner for the Dawgs. Cine, the freshman fresh out of high school was a highly touted safety out of Texas and has been someone Georgia fans want to see more. He is wearing the number 16 which is where the name “Lewis Sixteen” has come from. Prediction Home openers in Athens are always special and I don’t see any negative outcomes in this game. Georgia will continue to be 1-0 this week as they beat Murray State 59-3 in a great performance on both sides of the ball. I think we will see a lot of the second and third stringers in this game, but when you have recruited as well as Coach Smart and his staff have, it leads to confidence in your bench. I believe that we will see a good performance from second-string quarterback Stetson Bennett as he has received high praise from his teammates and coaches, and I think this is a great game for him to put it together on the field in front of a larger crowd. Georgia will steamroll Murray State in the home opener and will be one step closer to the ultimate goal this season. It was reported Wednesday night that starting right tackle, Isaiah Wilson suffered a lower leg injury in practice. It also expected that Wilson is out for an extended amount of time, that is going to hold him out of the Murray State game this Saturday, and against Notre Dame game in a week from Saturday.
After a 2018 season that saw the offensive line suffer some injuries to their starters, Georgia has proven to have depth along the offensive line. One of the breakout stars from last year, that proved himself after the injury of right guard Ben Cleveland, Cade Mays stepped to the plate as a true freshman and proved his worth. Mays has been in a very competitive battle with Ben Cleveland for the starting spot at right guard. Both played against Vanderbilt, and there wasn't any drop off between the two. It is expected that Mays will be making the switch from guard to tackle. Mays have proven to be the most versatile lineman on the roster for Georgia after camp in which saw him getting snaps at both guard and tackle. Georgia also has the option of starting sophomore offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer who suffered a lower-body injury near the end of camp which held him out of the Vanderbilt game. It is being reported that Salyer replaced Wilson at tackle in practice after Isaiah went down with an injury. In other injury news, it is expected that freshman linebacker Nakobe Dean is recovering well from his ankle injury that he suffered at the end of camp. Dean was limited in the number of snaps he took against Vanderbilt, he is probable to play this Saturday against Murray State in the home opener. |
Harrison Reno
Is the founder and author of Top Dawg Blogging. Harrison has been blogging for the past 4 years Archives
April 2020
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