Georgia football: Slow starts not always the worst

Even though Georgia football is the No. 3 team in the country, the Dawgs aren’t perfect. One of the biggest issues is the slow starts to games. However, slow isn’t always the most terrible thing.

Remember the saying “slow and steady wins the race?” Well, some fans don’t believe so when it comes to Georgia football and how it starts games.

Now I will admit that against Vanderbilt, Arkansas State, Notre Dame, and Tennessee, the offense and defense both came out flat.

However, when a team averages 42.80 points a game and holds opponents to 10.8, why are fans complaining?

Yes, starting flat against a team like Alabama or Clemson could get you a loss quick. This statement could ring true to playing the smallest opponent, as well.

At the same time, you can argue that football games are four quarters. It’s not how you start but how you finish, and well, Georgia’s finishing games and doing it dominantly.

So with all the talk about whether or not slow starts are bad or just something Georgia fans are worried about, I went back and looked at each game since 2017.

2017 Season

It all started with Appalachian State when Georgia led 7-0 after the first quarter. We know that is when Jake Fromm began his legacy, and it was history after the opening period.

Remember when Georgia traveled to Notre Dame? The Fighting Irish and the Dawgs were tied 3-3 after the first quarter. Georgia trailed 10-7 at halftime. We all know how it finishes, but it was indeed a slow start.

The Dawgs only led by 14 at half time against Samford and Vanderbilt. Missouri and Georgia got locked at 14 after the first quarter. Georgia only led by seven against South Carolina at half time.

Then came Auburn, the first matchup that year. Georgia led 7-6 after the first quarter, and well never got into it. The following week against Kentucky, Georgia led 7-6 after the first quarter.

In the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech, the Dawgs only led 7-0 after the opening quarter.

Then came the second matchup against Auburn, and well, the Tigers struck first and led 7-0 after the first quarter. Georgia woke up and handled its business and then faced off with Oklahoma in the Rose Bowl.

Oklahoma 14-7 after the opening quarter then 31-17 at the half. Talk about a slow start for Georgia. But once again, the Dawgs finished the game and won in double-overtime 54-48.

Now comes the title game against Alabama. It was scoreless after one, and then Georgia burst out to a 13-0 lead at the half. So for once, the Dawgs came out and were red hot. Well, Alabama did its thing and defeated Georgia 26-23.

So in 2017, of the 15 games, 10 of them Georgia led by 14 or less or the Dawgs were trailing before halftime.

2018 Season

In 2018, Georgia played in 14 games and finished 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the SEC. Once again, the Dawgs fell flat to Alabama. However, let’s look at how many games Georgia started slow.

Through the first three games, the Dawgs came out hot and on fire, but then again, two of those teams were Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee. South Carolina was also in there, and well, Georgia went into Columbia and handled business.

However, then came the other Columbia, the one in Missouri. After the first quarter, it was tied 7-7 and 20-7 at half time. Granted, that’s a 13 point advantage, but still.

Last year against the Vols, Georgia only led 7-0 after the first quarter. Then the Dawgs pulled away and easily beat Tennessee, but it was still close after one.

Against Vanderbilt, Georgia led 7-3 after one and 21-6 at halftime. Georgia traveled to Baton Rouge next and well was scoreless the entire first half while LSU jumped out to a 16-0 lead. The Bayou Tigers beat Georgia 36-16, and well, the Dawgs offense was almost obsolete.

Florida came ready to take on the Dawgs as well. Georgia led 13-7 at halftime, but eventually pulled away and defeated the Gators for the second straight year.

The Dawgs only led Kentucky 7-0 after one quarter and 14-3 at halftime. Against Auburn, well, the Tigers led 7-3 after the first quarter, then, of course, Georgia had a 17 point second-quarter and pulled away quickly.

Shoot even UMass hung in there with Georgia through the first quarter as the Dawgs held a 14-7 lead. In the rivalry game against Tech, the Dawgs only led 14-7 after the opening quarter. Georgia then put 24 points on the Yellow Jackets in the second quarter, and it was over.

Georgia held a 7-0 lead over Alabama in the SEC Championship Game after the first quarter. Then both schools scored 14 in the second, giving Georgia the 21-14 advantage. What happened after that? Well, we all know Georgia’s offense fell short on more than one level.

In the final game of the year against Texas, Georgia’s offense stuttered again. Texas led 10-0 after the first and 20-7 at half time.

So of the 14 games, 11 of them were close in the first half. This slow start seems to be what Georgia does. Why start games hot if you know your offense can score points quickly, and your defense can make the key stops?

Why?

There are a few reasons the Dawgs come out flat at times. One of those reasons is that Georgia could be trying to figure out what opponents are doing on offense or defense. Sometimes it takes a few series to see, and once that happens is when Georgia takes over in the game.

However, if you think about it, Georgia’s offense isn’t like Alabama’s or Clemson’s, never has been. Georgia’s methodical in their offensive game plan with a heavy dose of running and sprinkling the passing game throughout.

Smart often uses the, it’s not a sprint but a marathon reference, and it goes perfectly with these slow starts. Georgia knows that the defense will get the stop if the Dawgs opponent stops the offense.

If the slow starts were an issue then Georgia would have been in trouble a while ago. I will say there have been a handful of games that because of the Dawg’s slow start it resulted in a loss, but there are far more games when Georgia pulls away and inputs its will on opponents.

I remember when fans complained about the lack of long drives and how Georgia needed to slow it down. Now that Georgia can march down the field, drain minutes off the clock, and score points, it’s too slow of a start.

Slow starts aren’t always negative. Sometimes it takes a full half to get the train rolling. As long as Georgia’s offense doesn’t stop scoring and the defense gives up more points, these slow starts should be something to appreciate.

If the wins keep coming and impressively like it has, I’ll take a slower start.