Were there questions about the Georgia pass rush? Were they answered Saturday in the the Bulldogs’ 42-20 win against Florida in Jacksonville?

Even after a game in which the defense was credited with 3 sacks and 10 quarterback hurries against Gators signal-caller Anthony Richardson, the questions loom large. The Bulldogs will face their stiffest test next Saturday against Tennessee, an offense that is arguably the nation’s best with a quarterback who has an inside track to the Heisman Trophy ceremony in New York.

What the Georgia defense has done thus far is great – it’s top-10 in every major category. Passing yards, rushing yards, total yards and scoring – the Bulldogs rank among the nation’s best. However, they entered the Florida game ranked No. 125 in the nation in sacks, and that’s been explained in a variety of ways.

They affect the quarterback even though they don’t register many sacks. The overall results render the total number inconsequential. The ends justify the means, after all.

Right?

Thus far, that’s been the case. Georgia affected Richardson over and over on Saturday, forcing him into throwaways, intentional groundings or scrambles for a handful of yards. The Bulldogs recorded the highest number of sacks in a game this season, but there remains the question of what an elite quarterback can do if given the second-chance opportunities when escaping the pocket.

After all, Richardson wasn’t terrible.

Georgia bottled up the Gators quarterback in the first half, but he got on track in the 3rd quarter and briefly had his team within striking difference of the Bulldogs. He finished with 271 yards passing, his second-highest total of the season, many coming when he escaped the pocket and made the Georgia defense pay.

And the missed opportunities on those plays were many.

So, how will that translate against Tennessee? Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker completes 70 percent of his passes and has well more than 2,000 yards. His touchdown-interception ratio is among the best in the country, and the Vols offensive front is in the top quadrant in the country in keeping its quarterback’s jersey clean. He will be the best quarterback Georgia has faced to this point in 2022 and likely the best it will face all season.

Merely forcing the quarterback out of the pocket won’t be good enough.

As good as Georgia’s defense has been, as much as the overall statistics resemble last year’s all-time unit – it must play better and get home against Hooker on Saturday against Tennessee. Holding off the upstart Vols will start with putting the opposing offense behind the sticks, forcing it into passing downs and allowing its talented secondary to do the rest.

Some good news for Georgia: Jalen Carter has returned from injury. He had only one tackle against Florida, but his presence will give Tennessee pause about running the ball between the tackles. Jamon Dumas-Johnson didn’t record a sack against the Gators but he had one of his best games of the season with 5 quarterback hurries.

Clearly Tennessee will have offensive success against Georgia. For fans to think any differently means they’re living in a bubble of delusion. The Vols are without doubt one of the country’s best and will have moments when they give the Georgia defense fits.

The key will be how well Georgia can limit opportunities. Can they force long-yardage situations? Can they force Hooker into a bad throw? Can they make him just a little more uncomfortable than he’s been throughout the season.

Alabama didn’t, and the Crimson Tide paid. To win the game, remain No. 1 and stay on the inside track to winning the Southeastern Conference, the Georgia defense will have to do better.