Georgia’s path against Oklahoma starts up front, and that’s where the game can tilt quickly if the Bulldogs don’t get things sorted.
Protect Gunner Stockton
Pass protection remains a live issue after the Arkansas game, when Kirby Smart pointed to it as an area that needs work following Stockton’s three sacks in the win. Georgia is still blending veteran experience with younger pieces along the line, and the group is also adjusting to newly promoted Phil Rauscher as the offensive line coach. If Stockton keeps feeling heat, Georgia may have to tighten up its offense and lean into safer, more predictable calls - exactly the kind of setup that lets the Sooners attack the carrier.
Establish run early
Mike Bobo likes to build from the ground game, so Georgia’s backfield setup makes sense with Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens. The Bulldogs showed what that approach can look like against Arkansas, rolling up 254 rushing yards.
Frazier left that game early because of a potential injury, but Bowens gives Georgia another option to keep the run game moving. If the Bulldogs can get that going right away, they can control the tempo, string together drives and put stress on Oklahoma’s defense.
Pressure
On the other side, Georgia’s defense has to make life miserable for Oklahoma. The Sooners come in at 2-1, and getting them behind the chains with consistent pressure would go a long way toward limiting their scoring chances.
Georgia has lived in that territory for years, and this season hasn’t changed that reputation. If the Bulldogs can keep pressure on, they can force John Mateer into mistakes.
Win the red zone
Long drives won’t mean much if they end in field goals. Against an SEC opponent like Oklahoma, Georgia needs touchdowns when it gets inside the 20.
Stockton’s ability to make plays and run gives the offense another layer in those situations, and the Bulldogs have to cash in when chances come. The same goes for the defense: Georgia needs to make Oklahoma settle for field goals instead of touchdowns.
That swing from seven to three points can decide a game in a hurry.
Start fast and intense
Georgia also can’t wait around to find its rhythm. The Bulldogs need a strong opening and the same edge from the first snap through the fourth quarter.
Being a fourth-quarter team helps when a comeback is needed, but in the first SEC home game, Georgia needs to set the tone early. Winning physically on both lines right away would help the Bulldogs control the pace and make Oklahoma react to them instead of the other way around.
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 🡒]