Why Beating Georgia Still Requires Perfection
Georgia is undefeated; ranked top two in the major polls; first in the SEC in scoring defense, and second in scoring offense. The Bulldogs are undoubtedly one of the best teams in the nation again this season; one of the few true national championship contenders.
Yet, something is off. Through eight games, the Bulldogs have trailed in as many games this season (2) as they did all of last year (15 games). They've had frustratingly slow offensive starts at the beginning of the year which caused it to need second-half comebacks to defeat South Carolina (2-6, 1-5 SEC) and Auburn (4-4, 1-4 SEC). The defense is susceptible to an occasional explosive play.
Georgia sounds like a vulnerable team, which is why Florida and Kentucky were popular upset picks. However, instead of being humbled in front of the nation, the Bulldogs slaughtered Kentucky 51-13, and overwhelmed Florida 43-20. Georgia hosts No. 12 Missouri this week, and it already appears as though the folks who picked the Dawgs to get upset before have learned their lesson.
So, what is it about this Georgia team that makes it so hard to beat? Why is good not good enough to beat the Dawgs?
Georgia doesn't make inexcusable errors
Georgia is well aware of its shortcomings; inexperience is a plague at some positions, and injuries are a blight on others. In response, the Bulldogs are laser-focused on reducing mistakes to an absolute minimum.
They lead the SEC with a mere 34 penalties and 38.12 penalty yards per game. Georgia fans have seen just as many solar eclipses in the last four games as they have false starts and offsides penalties. Holding calls and personal fouls are mitigated as well. All the while, Beck has just four interceptions on the year and the team has only lost four fumbles
Georgia doesn't shoot itself in the foot, which puts pressure on opposing teams that can't match Georgia's talent, depth and conditioning. This brings out the next reason why good isn't good enough to beat Georgia.
Carson Beck Throws for a completion on the road vs Vanderbilt / Photo Brooks Austin
Georgia is a fourth-quarter team
With their talent, the Bulldogs are going to be competitive every week as long as they aren't making critical errors. It takes a similar performance out of an opponent to put Georgia on the ropes. Auburn committed just one penalty when it lost to Georgia 27-20. Kentucky, meanwhile, committed five penalties including two personal fouls in the first half in a 51-13 blowout.
Keeping them on the ropes is a different problem because Georgia has a deeper and better-conditioned roster than perhaps everyone else in the country. When other teams wear out, Georgia's endurance wins out. And when a player is gassed, the Bulldogs have the breadth of talent to sub in an equally talented backup.
Yeah, Georgia has arguably the most talented roster in the nation. Quarterback Carson Beck is on track for 4,000 yards; tight end Brock Bowers has already reached legendary status; Malaki Starks and Javon Bullard - two unique safeties - create a near-unbeatable duo; and that coaching staff is as loaded a group as the sport has ever seen.
Cutthroat Defense
Sure, this defense is currently 127th in Redzore scoring allowed. When teams get into the redzone, they seemingly have success. The only problem for the opposition? Teams don't get into the redzone very often against Georgia. Georgia has allowed the fourth fewest amount of redzone possession in the country. The reality of Georgia's defense this year is that most teams are dying out inside the 20s before they can even reach the endzone. If you score against Georgia, as per usual, you earned it via a lengthy drive that required near perfection and a few explosives.
Other Georgia News:
- Georgia's Remaining Schedule - Who Could Be The Troublesome Game?
- Player Profile: How Can Oscar Delp Contribute to Georgia's Success?
- Reminder of What Georgia Has With Delp, Luckie, and Spurlin
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