Georgia’s first fall scrimmage last Saturday brought back an ugly memory the Bulldogs would rather leave buried: dropped passes.
That’s the kind of issue Georgia can’t afford if Gunner Stockton is going to take the next step and help push this offense toward a deep playoff run. But according to DawgNation, the scrimmage produced a string of miscues in the passing game, with wide receivers Isiah Canion, Kaiden Prothro, Talyn Taylor and Sacovie White-Helton all credited with drops.
The problem wasn’t limited to the receiver room, either. Tight ends Jaden Reddell and Elyiss Williams were also reported to have had drops.
It’s not hard to see why that would set off alarms. Last Sunday, Kirby Smart reportedly told the pass catchers the team was “going to start counting dropped passes”.
Georgia has been here before. The Bulldogs led the FBS with 36 drops during the 2024 season, and the concern now is that the same weakness is showing up again before the real games even begin.
That matters even more because this is supposed to be a season where Georgia opens up the passing game. Last year, only 39 percent of the Bulldogs’ passing yards came on throws more than 10 yards downfield, a number that ranked 126th out of 134 FBS teams. The staff wants more explosive production through the air, but that plan gets a lot harder if the offense can’t count on routine catches.
“Through the spring practice and these six practices, we've talked about pushing the ball downfield, being aggressive, and you learn what you can and can't do,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said.
There’s also a personnel wrinkle here. Zachariah Branch, who was such a dangerous yards-after-catch threat, declared for the NFL draft after 2025, so Georgia is looking for explosive plays without leaning on that same kind of weapon. If the receivers and tight ends are dropping balls in practice, that search gets tougher.
Stockton, meanwhile, is working with a largely new group of targets and still sharpening his own downfield game. That combination can be volatile if the drops continue.
Confidence slips. Timing goes.
The quarterback starts forcing things. And Georgia has already seen how fast that can snowball.
The 2024 offense never really found a true No. 1 receiver, and this year’s group appears to be searching for the same answer. The Bulldogs need that similarity to stop there.
There is some obvious good news. It’s still mid-August, which means Georgia has time to clean this up before it matters.
And the running game should give the offense a sturdier foundation than it had a year ago. In 2024, the Bulldogs had the second-fewest rushing yards per game in the SEC.
This season, they return most of the core from the 2025 group that finished with the fourth-best rushing attack in the conference, and that unit could keep getting better.
Still, for Stockton and the passing game to make the leap Georgia wants in 2026, the drops have to disappear. The Bulldogs cannot afford another season near the top of the FBS in that category, or even anywhere close to it. That cleanup job is now one of the most important parts of fall camp.
In Other News...
Georgia Has A Quarterback Battle That Could Matter More Than Fans Think
Gunner Stockton is back in line to open his second season as Georgias starting quarterback, and the more immediate question in Athens may be who is ready to step in behind him. Redshirt sophomore Ryan Puglisi and redshirt freshman Ryan Montgomery are both in the mix for the backup job, giving the Bulldogs a competition that could matter more than it might seem in August.
Kirby Smart has liked the way the quarterbacks have progressed, and Stockton has taken fewer reps this year so the younger arms can get more work. Puglisi and Montgomery still have limited game experience, which makes the upcoming scrimmages especially important as Georgia tries to sort out the depth chart and find out which of them is most prepared if the Bulldogs ever need a second option. [Read more 🡒]
Glenn Schumann Keeps Surfacing In Jobs Georgia Fans Dread Losing Him To
Two years ago, North Carolina had Glenn Schumann on its radar as a possible head coaching hire, a reminder of how often Georgias defensive coordinator keeps popping up in the coaching carousel. The Tar Heels went in a different direction and ultimately hired Bill Belichick, but the interest underscored what Schumann has become in Athens: one of Kirby Smarts most valued assistants and a rising name in the sport.
Florida made him a lead candidate for its head coaching job this past offseason, another sign that Schumanns profile keeps climbing even without a move yet. Smart responded by extending Schumanns contract, a clear effort to keep him in place, though the expectation around the industry is that a head coaching opportunity is likely coming at some point. [Read more 🡒]
Georgias Defensive Line Is Setting A Tone Fans Will Notice
During the second week of fall camp, Tray Scott said Georgias defensive line has brought the kind of physicality and work ethic that usually shows up once the season starts tightening up. No one player has separated himself yet, but the group has given the Bulldogs a steady edge in practice, with Elijah Griffin, Gabe Harris, Jordan Hall, Josh Horton, Xzavier McLeod and Joseph Jonah-Ajonye among the names drawing attention as the staff watches the rotation take shape.
Scott also pointed to the way the room carries itself, crediting a shared leadership culture that helps the unit stay organized even as freshmen get their first taste of fall camp. That matters in Athens because the standard up front has been set high for a while, and the recent NFL success of Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter only reinforces what Georgia expects from that position group every year. [Read more 🡒]