For the first 30 minutes against Auburn on Saturday, the play of Georgia’s offense closely resembled recent efforts against Kent State and Missouri. That is to say it was unimaginative, often unproductive and chock-full of missed opportunities in the passing game.

The 2022 update that seemed possible from coordinator Todd Monken’s group – which scored at will against Oregon and South Carolina in early-season blowouts – instead has looked nothing like one of the nation’s best ever since. And it appeared for much of the first half at Sanford Stadium as if it would be more of the same.

Then something happened.

The Bulldogs scored 28 points in the second half to pull away from Auburn for a 42-10 win. Quarterback Stetson Bennett completed passes that had eluded him and his receivers. The running game found big holes to collect chunks of yardage and 6 rushing touchdowns overall.

While Auburn isn’t exactly Alabama, that second half could offer a blueprint to get Georgia back on track for the rest of the season.

Lean on the running game

This isn’t rocket science.

I’m a part-time sports writer whose preferred sport growing up was baseball. Put me in a huddle and ask me to call a play, I’m mostly drawing on water-cooler talk and Madden video game playbooks. But I think there’s no longer any question: Georgia needs to be a run-first offense.

Yes, the passing game worked early this season and running was less successful. Monken attempted to use his quarterback’s skill set and the presence of a pass-catching back as an extension of the running game. But everything in the offense essentially ran through Bennett.

And while I am still incredibly high on Bennett’s abilities as a runner, passer and overall leader, he is not Bryce Young.

I’ll say it again:

Stetson. Bennett. Is. Not. Bryce. Young.

Offensive success in the 3rd and 4th quarters against Auburn offers clear evidence that Bennett’s best passing results from an established running game. Georgia had success in the first few games going the opposite direction because it was a newer approach and, in my opinion, probably caught defenses somewhat off guard.

When Kent State and Mizzou schemed for that, the attack had far less success. When Bennett struggled Saturday in the 1st half Georgia established a much more potent running game on the legs of Daijun Edwards, Kenny McIntosh and Branson Robinson.

And after that the passing game flourished. Bennett threw for 183 yards in the final 2 quarters. He turned to numerous options and the offense displayed a similar rhythm to the one that turned heads early in the season.

Now, was this a 1-week fix or can the running game be as consistent as it appeared Saturday? Time will tell. If it can, it makes Bennett that much more dangerous as a quarterback.

Because …

Bennett is a top-tier passer when he isn’t the focal point

Look, there have been many words wasted in trying to pin down what Bennett is as a quarterback. I think I’ve concluded it’s a futile exercise.

He’s been called a walk-on … a backup … a Heisman contender … overrated. He’s been deemed much better and much worse than all of that. What he is, though, is Georgia’s quarterback, and that’s all coach Kirby Smart needs him to be. Here’s what that means:

It doesn’t help the offense to pretend Bennett is a high-flying quarterback who can hit 40- and 50-yarders in his sleep. Those highlights are for Young or C.J. Stroud or Hendon Hooker.

Despite that, Bennett can be very effective doing what he does best: leaning on his ground game, drawing defenses in and then making them pay by connecting with Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers. McConkey is showing flashes of his earlier self after a really bad couple of weeks.

When Bennett moves the pocket and uses his legs he can (a) buy time for a receiver or (b) head upfield and outrun defenses. That gives the offense another gear.

That happened against Auburn.

Minimize mistakes

A final point: This year’s Georgia offense still makes too many mistakes and misses too many opportunities. It happened again Saturday with Bennett overthrowing wide-open receivers on deep routes.

This is not to say Saturday’s performance was all sunshine and roses. The offense was, at times, not good. Again.

The point, though, is that it found a rhythm that was missing for a few weeks. That could right the ship going forward.

Considering the Bulldogs still missed opportunities to put the game away early, there’s a positive sign to be found. With the experience of players like Bennett, McConkey, McIntosh, Edwards, Bowers, Darnell Washington and more, just tightening up those last few items can get the offense humming again.

It’s too talented not to.