Georgia Football: 5 takeaways from Miss. State win.

Special teams improvement is staggering.

One thing Kirby Smart talked a lot about this season was how he wanted to see an improvement in special teams. It was a unit that kind of struggled last season, especially after punter Marshall Long was injured late in the season. In fairness, it’s hard to have a good unit when you have a backup quarterback punting for your team.

2017 is a totally different story. Rodrigo Blankenship had more good than bad moments in 2016, but I agreed with Kirby’s decision not to just give him a scholarship after last season. Well, he beat out a Graduate transfer this offseason in David Marvin and he looks all the better for it. He has fully earned the scholarship he was given before the Notre Dame game and his performance today showed why. He was perfect in kickoffs and point afters and hit a dead certain 49-yard field goal.

Blankenship’s improvement has been fantastic, but he’s not the only kicker who has made a difference. New punter Cameron Nizliack has been absolute money for Georgia this season. Right now, Georgia is 4th in the entire nation in terms of net punt yards. Nizliack is averaging just under 45 yards a punt, which is a huge increase on last year.

The coverage is also so much better. Right now, opponents have returned punts a total of minus 4 yards on Georgia punts. MINUS FOUR YARDS. Shane Beamer is a name you don’t hear a lot in this coaching staff but he deserves a lot of credit for this season. His unit has quietly become one of the best in the entire nation.