Georgia is about to find out a lot more about its offense on Saturday.
For most of the season, the Bulldogs have been able to lean on a schedule that hasn’t offered much pushback. That changes when Oklahoma comes to Athens with one of the best defenses in the SEC and a struggling offense that has done little to help its own cause.
The Sooners have had a rough time on that side of the ball. Quarterback John Mateer isn’t seeing the field, and Oklahoma is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry on the ground. In the SEC, the Sooners sit last in yards per game and have scored the second-fewest points in the league.
But the defense is the reason this game has a chance to feel different.
Oklahoma has given up the second-fewest yards per game in the SEC, trailing only Georgia, and its 7.7 points allowed per game ranks fifth-fewest in the FBS. The Sooners are also allowing just 3.5 yards per play, which is fourth-fewest in the country.
"They get off blocks. They strike you,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said.
“They play with unbelievable pad level, and really an intensity that's unmatched in terms of the way they play. You see it on tape.”
That front is the headliner, but the pressure comes from everywhere. Eli Bowen and Courtland Guillory give Oklahoma a solid cornerback pairing, Peyton Bowen brings ball-hawking ability at safety and Reggie Powers and Kip Lewis are both physical at linebacker.
Still, the deepest part of the defense is up front. David Stone is one of the top interior linemen in the country, and Jayden Jackson gives Oklahoma a strong partner at nose.
“I'm really excited for the challenge,” center Drew Bobo said of Stone and Jackson. “I mean, they're both really good players. They play really hard and they're very disruptive on defense in the middle.”
Stone’s availability for this matchup is uncertain because of injury, but Oklahoma’s line rotation has plenty of bodies behind him. Taylor Wein, PJ Adepoju, Danny Okoye, Wyatt Gilmore and freshman Jake Kreul all give the Sooners options to keep coming at Georgia.
“To be honest with you, there's not a guy on their defense that comes in, and they rotate guys, that doesn't play with great pad level and great effort,” Smart said. “When you turn on the tape, they run to the ball like they're in elite shape."
That presents a real test for Georgia’s offensive line, which did not exactly have its cleanest day against Arkansas. The Bulldogs allowed five pressures on nine drop backs when the Razorbacks didn’t blitz, and Gunner Stockton was sacked three times.
Arkansas also spent the day in 2-high shells, trying to keep Georgia from beating them over the top. The Bulldogs still ran the ball effectively, but Oklahoma looks more willing to crowd the line and force a tougher fight in the trenches.
That said, the Sooners do leave a crack in the armor. Missed tackles have been an issue, with Oklahoma’s 44 missed tackles ranking as the third-worst rate in the FBS. That could open the door for Georgia to create a few explosive plays if it can break free from the first defender.
Even with that flaw, this is still the biggest defensive challenge Georgia has seen so far. It has the makings of a low-scoring game between the hedges, though Georgia’s offense has put up the most points in the country this year, so the Bulldogs may still have enough firepower to make Oklahoma’s strength matter less than it should.
In Other News...
Kirby Smart Gave Georgia Fans A Pregame Moment Worth Remembering
Before Georgia took the field against Oklahoma, Kirby Smart and several Bulldogs made sure the afternoon started with something bigger than the matchup in Athens. They spent time with Liora Haynes, a 10-year-old fan and leukemia survivor, giving her high-fives and sharing several minutes with her family as she got a full Bulldog experience.
It was the kind of pregame scene that tends to linger long after kickoff, especially on a day with so much attention on the 3:30 p.m. EST start. For Georgia, the moment offered a reminder that some of the most memorable parts of a game day can happen well before the first snap. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Fans Will Love How Nick Chubb Is Being Sent Off
Nick Chubbs NFL run officially came to an end this week, and the way Cleveland is handling it should resonate loudly back in Athens. After eight seasons in the league, including seven with the Browns and a final stop with the Texans, the former Georgia star announced his retirement and signed a one-day contract with Cleveland so he could retire as a Brown.
The Browns also plan to honor him at their upcoming home opener, a fitting sendoff for a back who built a career around production and toughness. For Georgia fans, it is another reminder of how much Chubb meant at every level, from his college days with the Bulldogs to a pro career that left its mark in rushing yards and touchdowns, even as his final chapter now gets its own proper curtain call. [Read more 🡒]
Georgias Biggest Oklahoma Question Could Change The Entire Game Plan
Nate Fraziers status has become one of the key things Georgia is watching as it turns toward Oklahoma, with the running back still listed as questionable after limping off the field in the previous game. Kirby Smart has sounded optimistic about where Frazier stands, but Georgia has not gone so far as to confirm he is fully healthy, which keeps a cloud over a spot that has carried real weight in the offense this season.
Georgia does have the kind of running back depth that can soften the blow if Frazier is unable to go, but there is no getting around his importance as the teams leading rusher. If he is limited or unavailable, the Bulldogs may have to lean into a different version of their game plan, one that asks more of the rest of the backfield and changes how they approach one of their biggest tests ahead. [Read more 🡒]