Joel Klatt Believes Three SEC Programs Can Take Down Georgia
Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs have been the supreme power in the SEC for the past two seasons. Losing only one game in the past two years, no one has challenged the Dawgs. Joel Klatt is a voice college football fans typically see in the Big Ten conference but is well respected in the media. In a recent episode of his show, "The Joal Klatt Show," he explains the three, but really "2.5" teams Klatt believes can take down Georgia.
Klatt started the segment speaking about Georgia stating how "the biggest question in the SEC is 'Can anybody beat Georgia?'" He then states how the Dawgs won't "be threatened" in the 2023 season "until they go to Neyland November 11th." This is seemingly true, as the SEC East seems fairly weak compared to Smart's championship squad.
Klatt also has questions about Georgia, his reasoning being "complacency and distractions." But, he also noted how he "doubts" complacency will set in because of "competition from within." Smart and his staff have loaded their roster with premiere talent, surrounding their program with competition not only on game days but during practice. Eventually, practice must translate onto the game field, and Klatt believes there are only "three, maybe 2.5, sorry Tennessee, but you only get a half nod," that could take down Georgia.
Klatt starts with Alabama being one of the teams to topple Georgia. "This is going to be a deep team that should be very good defensively. I think they're going to be a hungry team - I think this is a team that could overachieve. The question mark for me is going to be at QB and WR." Teams who have been able to beat the Dawgs or play them closely before were teams who could pass the ball well, such as 2019 LSU or Ohio State in the semifinals last year. Klatt stated how he doesn't "believe in" Bama's wide receiver corp this season compared to previous years.
He then goes on to explain how Tennessee had the best offense last year, but it is "simple." Georgia will have to travel to Knoxville for the game this year, as Klatt noted earlier of it being their first threat of the season in 2023. In the last season, the Dawgs were tested early in the game by the Vols but prevailed victorious. Klatt stated how Tennesse has potential, "but do I believe they could beat Georgia? Not really."
Georgia defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins (93) during Georgia’s game against Tennessee on Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (Photo by Tony Walsh)
Klatt then gets to the team he thinks "can actually beat Georgia, and that's LSU." The team the Dawgs beat handily in the SEC championship game in 2022. But they are not a team to sleep on. Klatt explains his reasoning as to why Lsu can beat Georgia by stating this.
"LSU now has depth; they've now gone through a season in transition under Brian Kelly. They've got their quarterback back, they've got wide receivers on the outside. remember, they threw it for, geez, 500 yards in the SEC Championship game. I get it. Georgia was up handily, and LSU was just pitching it around the lot. But they've got experience at quarterback, they've got experience at wide receiver, their defense should be better, Brian Kelly is a very good football coach. This is a team I would be leery of. I think LSU has got some serious potential."
Although LSU did throw the ball very well, they turned it over a lot through the air as well. Kirby Smart has also noticed how teams have taken advantage of a secondary that traditionally hasn't been the strength of their defense. So, he and his staff went on the hunt on the recruiting trail and bolstered the depth and talent in their secondary. It may be hard to find a weakness on Georgia's roster now.
Other Georgia News:
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- George Pickens Can Be a “Top Guy in the League,” According to Steelers QB
- Preseason All-SEC Teams Released
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