The first off week of the season is upon us. We’ve made it through a quarter of the Georgia Bulldog schedule, but I’d personally like to see more than just 12 games. 13 is good, 14 is better, and I’d trade my 1986 Masters Sunday Tee Sheet to see more than that. Well, I probably wouldn’t make the trade. But I wouldn’t mind seeing UGA in a 15th game. And to do that, I’m gonna need to see changes. Because I’m worried a few things are going to cost us in a couple of the big games we have upcoming. And even
in an off week, we can Munson, so here’s what does worry me about the 2025 Georgia Bulldogs so far:
1. This is going to be an exercise in stating the obvious, but I think it is prevalent enough to beat the horse at least one more time: the offensive line. The competition is only going to get stronger, deeper, and more dangerous. Our remaining foes and rivals now have tape on the existing problems, and they will scheme around that. Bama, Ole Miss, Florida, even Georgia Tech can exploit the known if the problems on the line aren’t resolved.
It appears that the underlying issue is early season injuries, thus making unplanned substitutions, and breaking up the chemistry and communication a line must have to succeed consistently in game play. It also hurts practice. The key is balancing health vs. reps in practice to develop that teamwork and bonding to understand if the guy on your left is going to pick up the blitzer or is going to go out wide for that speed rush, or even as basic as which gaps and which guard pulls every play.
And we need to watch pass protection closely. Early season stats (passing yards, completion %) are good, but when defenses get stronger like they will in SEC play, the pressure will test this line. Micah Morris and Drew Bobo need to pull these guys together, especially with the other veteran Earnest Greene out or limited.
2. Ball security. By and large the 2025 Georgia Bulldogs are not turning the ball over. The Nate Frazier fumble, and the blindside of Stockton aren’t frequent, but they are drive killers and can flip the momentum. This is costly if we get into another shootout like we had in Knoxville. Or against Alabama last year.
Georgia QB Gunner Stockton hasn’t thrown a pick yet, but he’s flirted with a few and it is going to happen at some point. Remember what throwing interceptions did for Carson Beck’s reputation last year.
Also, injuries affecting continuity on the O-line can contribute to miscommunications which in turn lead to turnovers – either from rushing Stockton’s throws, getting hit as he throws, or the sack/fumble we saw last week. With the parity across college football, which seems to be manifesting itself very much this season in the Southeastern Conference, Georgia cannot afford to play sloppy and give away scoring opportunities. We have enough problems of leaving points on the board in the red zone, but I’ll leave that for another time.
3. Preventing explosive plays. The Georgia defense has only given up 1 long running play this season, but has also allowed 6 completions of over 30 yards. In all of 2024 (14 games), they gave up 17. But in 2023, it was only 12. Similarly, in 2024 the Bulldogs saw 16 runs of over 20 yards, but only 8 in 2023, only 5 in 2022, and a measly 3 in 2021. This just isn’t the dominant defense we became spoiled by.
In the Week 3 game vs Tennessee, Chris Brazzell II (Tennessee WR) had 177 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns — including big plays: 72-yard, 14-yards, 56-yards. I’d like to believe Coach Kirby Smart when he categorized these defensive gaffes as “correctable”. That the staff work on defensive backs picking up the ball and defending it. I believe him, and would like to believe he’s right that those were the exception to the rule.
But if the front 7 aren’t getting consistent pressure, we’re going to see some very good quarterbacks pick the UGA secondary apart. Again. Without that havoc in the backfield, there will be even more chunk plays, even more long drives, and even more acid reflux from watching the Bulldogs on defense.
Call me crazy, just don’t call me late for dinner. Let us know in the comments what you’re feeling about our Georgia Bulldogs with a full quarter of the season in the books. And as always…
GO ‘DAWGS!!!
