One of the biggest questions for Georgia football’s defense coming into the 2019 season was if they could consistently pressure the quarterback. After their first game, we have a much better idea about both.
I have been very critical of Georgia football’s pass rush from last year. It was inconsistent at best and only consisted of one player, D’Andre Walker.
He had 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hurries, 5.5 more sacks and ten more quarterback hurries than the next player. Coming into this season, I expected the coaches to look into getting more out of the pass rush.
After the Vanderbilt game, there looked to be a lot of improvement.
Multiple players were pressuring the quarterback. Even though there was just one sack, by Azeez Ojulari, the Bulldogs did pressure the quarterback a total of six times in the game.
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According to GeorgiaDogs.com, Adam Anderson, Jermaine Johnson, Devonte Wyatt, Tyler Clark, Michael Barnett, and Monty Rice each had one quarterback hurry.
Young added a pass breakup, while Clark and Adam Anderson each got a hit on the quarterback.
Last season the defensive line combined for 19 quarterback hurries. Jonathan Ledbetter had four, Tyler Clark had four, Julian Rochester had three, Jordan Davis had three, Malik Herring had three, and Devonte Wyatt had two. Saturday night the defensive line had three, a good start.
The pressure was not just coming from the defensive line, but from the linebackers also. That’s a big change from last year as the linebackers brought the majority of the pressure. The linebacking corps combined for 42 of the defense’s total 69 pressures.
The one player I feel stuck out was Azeez Ojulari. He looked near unblockable all night. It did not show up on the stat sheet, but he was constantly beating his guy and moving Neal off his spot. Ojulari is in line to be the next dominant pass rusher for the Bulldogs.
The exciting thing is, this pass rush hasn’t even reached its full potential. Georgia’s next two games against Murray State, and Arkansas State should give Nolan Smith, Trevon Walker, and Jermaine Johnson a lot more snaps.
Getting them involved and going early will take this pass rush to another level.
The SEC is on notice, hide your quarterbacks, these Dawgs are hungry, and they want to eat. They will be feasting in your backfield and taking no prisoners.
The Junkyard Dawgs are about to be unleashed, and that is bad news for any quarterback brave enough to suit up for the opposing team. Georgia’s pass rush is back and only getting started.
The only thing left to say is SIC ‘EM!