In another uneven performance on Saturday in Nashville, Georgia knocked off Vanderbilt 37-20. It was a disappointment for some who had hoped that last week’s blowout of Kentucky was a sign the team had outgrown its tendency to play with its food against lesser opponents.

No such luck.

The Bulldogs gave up a 49-yard touchdown pass to begin the game, falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter. And after they had appeared poised to run away with the game, they settled for field goals and turned the ball over to allow the Commodores back within 10, 30-20, before finally putting the game to bed in the final minutes.

That’s some of the bad news (more on that later). Now for the good:

Georgia had another game with over 500 yards of offense. It allowed just 219. Outside of some big plays, it was mostly stingy, and it had arguably its best rushing day of the season.

All is not quite right with the Bulldogs. But it’s not quite wrong either. There are plenty of games left to improve on the flaws.

Player of the Week: RB Daijun Edwards

It was an extremely strong showing for Edwards, who set a career high with 146 yards on 20 carries and had a late score to put the game. On a day when Georgia once again lost Kendall Milton to injury, Edwards showed that he can shoulder the load for a team desperate for consistent runners.

Milton played great, gaining 53 yards and a touchdown on 5 carries, before suffering an injury, and Cash Jones added another 65 on 3 carries. But it’s Edwards who is going to have to be the bell cow, and he’s shown again that he is up to the task.

Freshman of the Week: K Peyton Woodring

It’s becoming a bit cliché, but Woodring is Georgia’s most impactful freshman right now. He was again perfect on 3 field goals and 4 extra points. Since missing 2 field goals against South Carolina, Woodring is 8-of-8 on field goal attempts and 20-of-20 on extra points.

Biggest surprise: Georgia outgained in yards per pass

Vanderbilt averaged 6.9 yards per pass to Georgia’s 6.7. It’s not a big difference and certainly not a big concern. It is surprising, though, considering the Bulldogs’ big play ability and the success quarterback Carson Beck had through the air.

It’s more a sign of the big plays that the Georgia defense allowed to Vanderbilt. A bit more on that in a minute.

Biggest concern: Brock Bowers’ injury

This is really the only thing that matters from this game. Georgia got a win, and as long as it continues to win it will have a chance to achieve all of its goals at the end of the season. But to do that, it is going to need the best player in the country.

Bowers hurt his left ankle on an awkward tackle at the tail end of a 6-yard pass in the second quarter. He left the game, hobbling to the locker room, and did not re-enter the rest of the way. After the game, it was reported X-rays had come back negative, which has to be a good sign for the Bulldogs.

They have a week off next week before playing Florida, so the timing couldn’t be better. The hope is that he doesn’t miss any time. Georgia needs him for it to be at its best.

Developing trend: Big plays allowed

The Georgia defense gave up a 49-yard touchdown pass from Ken Seals to London Humphreys to open the scoring on Saturday, and it’s another instance of a breakdown on the defense. There have been far too many of those this year.

But here’s something encouraging: It was a problem last year, too.

The Bulldogs were 81st in plays of 60 yards or more allowed in 2022, 78th in plays of 50 or more, 86th in plays of 40 or more.

It’s a scary trend, especially when you’re taking the eye test into account. Still, they struggled last year and found a way to succeed anyway. Considering they only allowed 219 total yards on Saturday, it’s worth considering that a similar trend is in place.

Key stat: 4 interceptions for Tykee Smith this season

Smith has had a few breakdowns on defense this year but has by and large been a great asset to the Georgia defense. He now has 4 interceptions this year. He isn’t going to sniff the team single-season record of 12 set by Terry Hoage in 1982. But it’s great production nonetheless.

First impression about Week 9: vs. Florida (in Jacksonville, Fla.)

Georgia gets a bye next weekend before the annual showdown with the Gators in Jacksonville. This will be a test for the Bulldogs simply by virtue of the rivalry. With that said, this matchup isn’t close. Expect Georgia’s offense to open it up against a Florida defense that was greatly exposed a couple weeks ago by a Kentucky team Georgia held to 7 points.