Georgia is staring at a tricky test in the secondary, and Kirby Smart knows it.
However the Florida Gators sort out their quarterback situation on Saturday, Georgia’s defensive backs are going to have to handle a passing game that has more than enough bite to complement a strong ground attack. Florida ranks fourth in the SEC in total offense, powered by a reliable rushing game led by star running back Jadan Baugh, but the Gators are also fourth in passing efficiency. Add in the return of receivers Vernell Brown and Eric Singleton, and Florida finally has its full wide receiver group available for the first time since game one.
That puts plenty of pressure on Georgia’s back end. The Bulldogs can’t afford a lapse from the safeties or corners, because Florida has the pieces to challenge them vertically and make explosive plays through the air.
The availability of KJ Bolden remains uncertain, which could leave Georgia leaning again on Ja’Marley Riddle at strong safety. Riddle didn’t have his cleanest outing against Auburn, but Smart said this week that the East Carolina transfer is still trending up.
“Ja’Marley’s improving. He plays more strong safety than anything else.
He's very intelligent. He has good instincts and he communicates really well.
So he continues to improve coming off a very significant injury to end last year. He's improved with every week.
He improves every day in our system, understanding how to do things, and he's got good competition around him including Rasean Dinkins, including Kyron Jones, Zion Branch. I mean, all those guys, Todd Robinson, they've all improved and they continue to get better.”
Georgia’s corners will need to be sharp too, and Smart had praise for Ellis Robinson as the Bulldogs prepare for what could be their toughest challenge yet on the outside.
“Yeah, Ellis is a competitor. He’s really driven to be good at what he does and he works hard at it.
It's important to him that he does things the right way and plays with the right technique. He likes to have chances to make plays on the ball and cover people.
He has a good mindset about the position that giving up a play is not the end of the world. He can erase it quickly and move on to the next, and that's a good trait to have at his position.
So I’ve been really pleased with his effort and the things he's done.”
In Other News...
Georgia Backfield Just Got An Encouraging Chauncey Bowens Update
Georgias backfield has been waiting on Chauncey Bowens, and there is at least some encouraging movement after a two-game absence. The running back has been dealing with an injury described as being between the toes, and his return to practice this week offered a sign that the recovery is heading in the right direction. He has been working through agility drills, which is a step forward for a group that has had to keep adjusting without him.
Bowens still is not cleared for full contact or game action, so the Florida matchup appears to come too soon. Even so, the fact that he is back on the field at all gives Georgia reason to think he may factor in later this season, depending on how the injury responds over the next stretch. For a team trying to manage depth in the backfield, that kind of progress matters, even if the finish line is still a little ways off. [Read more 🡒]
Georgias Auburn Loss Exposed A Problem Kirby Smart Cant Ignore
Georgias home loss to an unranked opponent was the kind of setback that can linger well beyond one Saturday in Athens, especially when the details point to self-inflicted damage. Costly penalties and turnovers helped drag the Bulldogs into an avoidable defeat, and even with some bright individual performances, the overall picture was hard to miss for Kirby Smart and his staff.
Freshman receiver Craig Dandridge gave the offense a spark with a team-high 88 receiving yards, while linebacker Raylen Wilson turned in a busy day with 10 solo tackles and a sack. Still, the most jarring number belonged to Auburns Byrum Brown, whose 115 rushing yards topped Georgias entire ground game, a mismatch that underscored a problem the Bulldogs cant afford to shrug off as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Are Suddenly Eyeing Sanford Stadium For A Huge Reveal
Georgia fans have spent the day trying to decode a simple butterfly image posted by the athletic departments official social media accounts, and the lack of explanation only added to the buzz. In Athens, even a vague tease can turn into a full-blown guessing game, especially when it appears tied to Sanford Stadium and the kind of announcement that could bring a different crowd to campus for a big fall reveal.
One theory making the rounds points to a concert by Grammy-nominated artist Noah Kahan, with the butterfly imagery echoing what is on his tour website and a countdown timer adding to the speculation. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but the clock is clearly ticking, and Georgia fans will not have to wait long to find out whether the tease is about football, music, or something else entirely. [Read more 🡒]