Georgia’s path against Florida this weekend might come down to something simple: get the run game rolling early and let everything else open up from there.
The Bulldogs are in control of their own fate when it comes to reaching the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff, but another loss would make both of those goals a lot tougher to secure. Florida is good enough to beat Georgia, yet the Bulldogs still come in as the favorite. That edge only matters if Georgia uses it the right way, and the clearest path is by leaning on the ground game from the opening snap.
That’s where Mike Bobo enters the picture. Georgia’s offensive coordinator already has a reputation for wanting to run the football, and this is one of those Saturdays where that instinct should be front and center.
The Bulldogs don’t need to wait around to test Florida’s defense through the air. They need to make the Gators deal with the run first.
Georgia has the kind of ground attack that can work on just about anybody. Even without Chauncey Bowens, who is getting healthier, the Bulldogs still have three backs who can create big plays when they get the ball. If that run game is functioning early, the passing game should become a whole lot easier to unlock.
Once Georgia gets into its play-action package, the pressure shifts fast. Florida’s defense could be in real trouble if it has to keep respecting the run all day, because that’s how the Bulldogs can force the box to tighten. When that happens, Gunner Stockton and Georgia’s receivers get their chance in one-on-one coverage.
That’s a matchup Georgia can live with.
Stockton has taken a noticeable step forward with his arm this season. The Auburn game two weeks ago was the exception, not the rule, after he threw two interceptions.
Outside of that, he has been excellent. But he’s at his best when he feels settled, and Auburn seemed to rattle him a bit after he took a big hit on the first play and had to deal with a game that was more competitive than most expected.
The formula is straightforward: give Stockton a solid run game, keep Georgia ahead of the chains, and let the offense breathe. That helps any quarterback. It opens up more of the playbook, keeps the defense guessing, and makes play action far more dangerous.
Bobo has at times let Stockton throw early and often this season, but after what happened against Auburn, it would make sense to start with the run against Florida and build from there. That approach would help Stockton settle in, and it could set up the passing game to hit harder as the game moves along.
So expect Bobo to lean on the run early, even if some fans think Georgia already does that plenty.
In Other News...
Georgia Backfield Just Got An Encouraging Chauncey Bowens Update
Chauncey Bowens is back on the practice field for Georgia after missing the past two games with an injury described as being between the toes, a small but tricky issue for a running back who relies on his feet for just about everything. His return to agility work is at least a step in the right direction, and it gives the Bulldogs a little more optimism about the depth of their backfield as they move deeper into the season.
Even so, Bowens still has not been cleared for full contact or game action, which makes his status for the upcoming Florida game pretty straightforward. Georgia is expecting him to sit out again, but the important part is that he is back in motion and trending the right way, with a possible return later this season still in play. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Are Suddenly Eyeing Sanford Stadium For A Huge Reveal
Georgia fans had little to go on Tuesday except a butterfly and a whole lot of curiosity. Georgias official athletic social media accounts posted the image without explanation, and that was enough to set off immediate speculation around what Sanford Stadium might be getting next.
One theory quickly gained traction: an upcoming concert by Grammy-nominated artist Noah Kahan in Athens. The imagery on Kahans tour website appears to line up with the post, and a countdown timer has only added to the buzz. For now, the official answer is still waiting at the end of that countdown, which is exactly the kind of mystery that gets a college town talking. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Faces A Florida Worry Fans Didn't Want This Week
Georgias week-to-week injury watch got a little busier heading into the Florida game, with the Bulldogs official report listing six players across different statuses. Safety KJ Bolden is questionable because of a lower right leg injury, and wide receiver Isiah Canion and running back Chauncey Bowens are also in that same category, leaving Georgia with a few spots on the depth chart worth monitoring as kickoff approaches.
The more concrete part of the report is the group ruled out, which includes safety Tyriq Green, outside linebacker Amaris Williams and wide receiver Thomas Blackshear. Florida has its own uncertainty at quarterback, with Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. both listed as questionable, adding another layer to a matchup that already carried plenty of intrigue on both sidelines. [Read more 🡒]