Rapid Reaction: No. 3 Georgia dominates Oregon in first test of title defense
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Five first-round draft picks off the defense. Fifteen total draft picks, a modern-day draft record. The exodus of a defensive coordinator that led the nation’s best defense in 2021, who, conveniently, was the head coach on the opposite sideline.
If you were worried about how Georgia would respond in Week 1 of its national title defense, you can put those fears aside for the time being.
No. 3 Georgia easily defeated No. 11 Oregon 49-3 on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Classic, answering a number of questions about their 2022 team in the process.
We won’t burden you with a lot of play by play here. The important part to know is that the Bulldogs scored on all 6 of their possessions with starters in the game, then continued to click on offense when backup quarterback Carson Beck and others entered the game.
They allowed a lone field goal on defense in the first half and intercepted Bo Nix on back-to-back Oregon possessions. They beat the Ducks in a variety of ways, finding a groove – and a lot space – in the mid-range passing game, then opening things up down the field. Quarterback Stetson Bennett spread the ball across the field to 8 receivers, and the Bulldogs had 7 completions of 20 yards or more.
The point: Georgia still looks comfortably in the mix to defend its national title.
Here are a few takeaways to remember from this first game show of force.
Don’t let the score overshadow this key play
In the first quarter with Georgia leading the Ducks 7-0, Nix tossed the ball downfield in hopes of getting his team back into the game after a slow start. Instead, true freshman Malaki Starks made an acrobatic interception to regain possession for the Bulldogs.
Starks, a highly-recruited player with plenty of anticipation coming into the game, played the ball perfectly, twisting his body and high pointing it for as good an interception as you’ll see.
Georgia already had a talented secondary, if lacking in depth. Add Starks to the mix, however, and a potential question mark becomes much more settled. This play set Georgia in motion, and it didn’t look back.
Stetson Bennett’s numbers
Earlier this week, I made the case for Bennett as a bang-for-you-buck Heisman Trophy candidate. After this opening performance, people can take notice simply for his on-field accomplishments.
Bennett looked like a true quarterback, not a bus driver. He completed 25-of-31 passes for 368 yards and 2 touchdown passes. He rushed for 1 more. He held firm in the pocket, with help from some great pass blocking, and moved around well on the few occasions he faced a rush.
If this is what the super senior does against a No. 11 team with a talented defense, you can expect his numbers to continue to skyrocket throughout the season.
You can start that Heisman Trophy bandwagon right now. It’s leaving the station.
Don’t ignore the offensive line
As just mentioned, the Georgia offensive line was impressive. It was expected to be a talented unit, but if the Bulldogs can get this level of performance on a weekly basis this offense is going to be very difficult to stop.
Bennett regularly had plays of 4 or 5 seconds – a lifetime in the pocket – to scan the field and find one of his host of weapons. And he didn’t miss.
It may be hyperbole after one week against a team that may or may not have been ranked a little beyond its overall abilities, but the offense looked like a well-oiled machine that could give opposing defenses fits all year.
