The Rams are headed into their second preseason game on Saturday, Aug. 22, and Sean McVay still hasn’t settled on what he wants to do with Stetson Bennett.
Bennett opened the Rams’ first preseason game at quarterback last weekend and played just the first two series before rookie Ty Simpson took over and finished the game. That led some fans to read the situation as a sign that Simpson had moved ahead of Bennett, but that’s not necessarily how the Rams are viewing it.
McVay has made it clear he’s still weighing his options, and this week of practice will help him decide whether Bennett gets on the field again in the next preseason game. If Bennett sits, that could point to him being the Rams’ backup for now rather than Simpson.
Back in Athens, Kirby Smart delivered a much more reassuring update on starting center Drew Bobo. There were whispers after Georgia’s first fall scrimmage last weekend that Bobo had injured a finger, but Smart told reporters on Wednesday that Bobo is healthy and was a full participant at practice on Tuesday. Smart didn’t spell out exactly what happened during the scrimmage, but the message was clear enough: there’s no concern right now.
That’s good news for Georgia, because Bobo is a major piece of the offense this season. He was also named to the AP Preseason All-American second team, which only underscores how important he’s expected to be.
The Bulldogs also picked up plenty of preseason recognition from the SEC coaches. Georgia had 11 players named across the three Preseason Coaches All-SEC teams, with Earnest Greene, Drew Bobo, KJ Bolden and Ellis Robinson landing on the first team. Nate Frazier, Lawson Luckie, Dontrell Glover, Elijah Griffin and Raylen Wilson were on the second team, while Gunner Stockton and Gabe Harris made the third team.
Georgia also earned four selections to the Associated Press Preseason All-American teams, a sign that expectations remain sky-high. Now the Bulldogs will try to back that up with a deep playoff run for the first time in four years.
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 🡒]