RECAP: Damn Good Dawgs from Georgia's 23-17 win over Notre Dame
Notre Dame came to town seeking their 1,000th program victory, and a chance to solidify themselves as a potential playoff team for the second straight season. Not to mention, considering the way Michigan and USC have looked this season, there's the potential that Georgia might be their lone ranked opponent on the schedule.
So, needless to say, a lot was on the line for Brian Kelly's squad going into the contest and with a bye week to prepare, they gave Georgia all they could handle.
As we do every week here on SI's Bulldog Maven, we ran down the experts and got their Damn Good Dawgs from the 23-17 victory over the Fighting Irish:
Brent Wilson: (DB) Divaad Wilson
Notre Dame tried to take advantage of a short-handed secondary that Georgia was forced to play with this week due to injuries to Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes. When playmakers go down, you have to have other guys step up, and that’s exactly what Divaad Wilson did.
When it seemed like neither team had the advantage, Wilson picked off Ian Book and gave Georgia the spark they needed. While it only led to 3 points on offense, the interception was the beginning of the end for the Irish.
Wilson also came up with 3 tackles, including a couple of key 3rd down stops. Wilson was a pest to Notre Dame, causing havoc all over the field, and that’s why he’s this week’s Damn Good Dawg.
Georgia ILB, Tae Crowder
Jamey Goodman: (ILB) Tae Crowder
This game provided shining moments for several UGA players so I had to do some thinking here. The more I thought about it the easier it became. My focus kept going back to one player. Tae Crowder.
Crowder, a 5th-year ILB who took the long road to playing time. A high school WR that converted to RB that finally found his role at Inside linebacker. Not only has Tae settled in as a starter he has also stepped up as a leader both on and off of the field. Against Notre Dame, Crowder may have provided his best work.
Tae led the Dawgs with 9 tackles, including 1 for a loss. He also led with a team-high in run defense (73.5) and tackle rating (83.1) stopping Notre Dame on pivotal drives to help The University of Georgia secure a victory in front of one of the most electric crowds to ever grace a football stadium. Tae's performance landed him at the top of the stat sheet and it also netted him my DGD of the week! Enjoy the bye week and as always Go Dawgs!
Jordan Jackson: (DB) J.R. Reed
My Damn Good Dawg this week is senior safety, J.R. Reed. Reed was a heat-seeking missile against the Fighting Irish. He was all over the field making seven tackles, which placed him second on the team behind linebacker Tae Crowder. He essential in helping the Georgia Bulldogs hold Notre Dame to only 46 yards on the ground.
J.R. Reed was equally as important against the pass, leading the Dawgs with three passes defended. One of these includes a play that was nearly a game-ending pick-six. Speaking of interceptions, Reed did come away with one of the Georgia Bulldogs two takeaways through the air.
The turnover created by Reed was critical. It came with 11:11 left in the 4th quarter and led to a UGA field goal and a 20 point lead. After the interception, J.R. put on the savage pads and celebrated with an intense look, as the Georgia faithful went berserk in Sanford Stadium. This could be a signature moment for the 2019 season when all is said and done.
J.R. Reed dons the Savage Pads
Brooks Austin: (WR) Lawrence Cager
Look we talked about it yesterday on the Bulldog Maven, the addition of Lawrence Cager to this receiving corps was essential this offseason. He excels in all the areas needed to be a great outside receiver at Georgia.
You better be able to block, you better be big, and you better be able to catch 50/50 balls, primarily the back-shoulder fade. And what did Cager do on Saturday night? Displayed each and every one of those traits to the tune of 5 catches, 82 yards, and a key touchdown late.
But Kirby Smart doesn't just put performance-based expectations on the elder-statesmen of the Georgia program. As Kirby says, how are you impacting your teammates? Well, during an altercation between D'Andre Swift and a Notre Dame defender on Georgia's key scoring possession, it was Cager who kept Swift from getting a personal foul.
Yeah, it's awesome that Lawrence Cager is impacting the box score, but for Georgia's program, the impact on his teammates is more important.
