Georgia Offense Takes A Step Forward, Defense Takes a Step Back
One step forward, two steps backward is the best description of Georgia’s performance against Mississippi State. In the first start in over 14 months of Daniel’s career, he provided the Dawgs with the spark needed on offense. The exceptional arm strength gave Georgia a true ball distributor.
Daniels was the star for Georgia on offense as he showed an impressive debut performance in the freshly minted black jerseys. The precision of JT in the quick game as a passer built the confidence earlier on for the redshirt sophomore. It was the explosive vertical passes that impressed most in his debut.
Daniels would finish the game with over 400 yards and four touchdowns while completing 28 of 38 passes with no turnovers in an efficient debut. His ball distribution saw eight different receivers record a reception.
While the passing game was on point for Georgia, the run game was the Georgia offense’s weakness. The offensive line struggled to move the huge Mississippi State defensive line, as the Bulldogs clogged Georgia’s running lanes.
Despite the talent of Zamir White, James Cook, and Kenny McIntosh at running back, Georgia only gained 12 yards on the ground. Averaging just 0.6 of a yard per carry.
Jermaine Burton, the talented freshmen who flipped his commitment on signing day from LSU to the Dawgs, recorded a career night with 197 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions. Burton came just 3 yards short of breaking the 200-yard mark, which was last achieved by Tavarres King. Eighty-seven yards and a touchdown on only eight receptions for George Pickens in his first game back since Alabama.
Offense ruled the day for Georgia as they finished the game with 31 points as they overcome a lackluster defensive performance.
Georgia’s defensive strategy of dropping eight players into coverage while only rushing 3 defensive linemen let up 336 yards and a touchdown to true freshman Will Rogers at quarterback for MSU.
The Georgia defensive line struggled to pressure Rogers with only three linemen. Georgia’s lackluster performance in the first half made it even more confusing as to why changes were not made in the second half.