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David Pollack predicts wholesale changes at a key position group at Georgia ahead of Auburn
By Keith Farner
Published:
Georgia coach Kirby Smart has mentioned a couple times this week that the problems the Bulldogs faced in the first half at Arkansas last week were not all on the quarterback position. ESPN analyst David Pollack has outlined one area where Georgia will likely make wholesale changes this week ahead of the Auburn game.
Pollack gave right tackle Warren McClendon credit for helping turn around the protection against Arkansas.
“Warren McClendon is the right tackle for Georgia now, guarantee you he’s the starter,” Pollack said on the CFB podcast with Herbie, Pollack and Negandhi. “The right tackle (Owen Condon) for Georgia was struggling, getting destroyed, getting beat. They didn’t have an answer. Really struggled at pass protection big time. Warren McClendon comes in, plays the rest of the game, is the highest-graded guy. He was unbelievable at right tackle. Settled everything down. Gave the quarterback time.”
Pollack then discussed that Georgia re-tooled its offense from last season, between departures to the NFL, and moving positions, there are only two starters back at all, much less the same position. Pollack said he would change right tackle, center and left guard from last week ahead of the Auburn game.
“I think this line immediately becomes better, I think they will do that,” he said. “I think there are answers on this offense. Stetson Bennett gave them the best chance to win this past week because everything around him was going run. When you talk about 10 penalties and all the stuff that went bad. (D’Wan) Mathis is still the long-term guy that gives you by far the most upside. Bennett can win you games, JT Daniels by the way is cleared to play football. It’s going to be interesting.”
Pollack said his first impression of the game is that Auburn would win, but upon second thought, he said Georgia’s defense gives the Bulldogs a chance against a questionable Auburn offensive line.
“I think they are elite, I don’t think Auburn’s is this year,” Pollack said.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.