Georgia football’s offense could really take off in 2021.
Last season was an odd one. Starting with spring and summer practice being canceled to all the games that didn’t get played because of the coronavirus. However, all of that is behind us and it is time to look forward to the new season that will be starting soon. Let’s start out by looking at where Georgia football’s offense should improve from 2020 to 2021.
According to SEC Stat Cat, Georgia football’s offense averaged 431.6 total yards per game, 249.6 passing yards per game, and 188.7 rushing yards per game for the entire year.
However, those numbers got a lot better after JT Daniels took over at quarterback for the Bulldogs. Over the four games that Daniels started, Georgia’s offense averaged 488.75 total yards per game, 310.75 passing yards per game, and 193.25 rushing yards per game.
Daniels completed 26 of his 38 passing attempts for 392 yards against Cincinnati. He also threw a touchdown and an interception. He was also sacked three times. Georgia football’s offense gained 450 total yards, 404 passing yards, and just 66 rushing yards against Cincinnati.
With Daniels at quarterback George Pickens was targeted 36 times. He caught 24 of those passes (66.67 percent) for 382 yards and four touchdowns. His average depth of target was 14.03 yards, while he averaged 10.61 yards per target and 15.92 yards per completion. Pickens had just 86 yards after the catch this season an average of just 3.58 yards after the catch.
Pickens wasn’t the only wideout showing out with Daniels as the helm. Jermaine Burton became a household name when Daniels showed that his deep ball was superior to those that came before him.
Burton was targeted 24 times by Daniels of which he caught 16 (66.67 percent) for 265 yards and two touchdowns. His average depth of target was 15.63 yards, while he averaged 11.04 yards per target and 16.56 yards per completion. Burton had just 59 yards after the catch this season an average of just 3.69 yards after the catch.
Kearis Jackson was another wideout that showed out with Daniels. Georgia football’s prime slot receiver was targeted 13 times by Daniels catching nine of them (69.23 percent) for 118 yards and one touchdown. His average depth of target was 8.92 yards, while he averaged 9.08 yards per target and 13.11 yards per completion. Jackson had 70 yards after the catch this season an average of just 7.78 yards after the catch.
Georgia football’s starting trio of receivers is one of the best in the SEC for 2021. That doesn’t even include Demetris Robertson and Arian Smith who combined for nine targets, seven of which were caught for 143 yards and one touchdown. Along with these two dynamic playmakers, Georgia will get Dominick Blaylock and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint back after injuries cut their 2020 seasons short.
Georgia has yet to use four-star receiver Justin Robinson or three-star receiver Ladd McConkey in a significant role and they just added three-star receiver, Adonai Mitchell, to the group. This receiving group could be one of the deepest Georgia has ever had.
Speaking of receivers, you can’t forget about Georgia’s group of tight ends, even if they do most of the time. Over the last four games, Georgia targeted its tight ends just 15 combined times or just four times a game.
Darnell Washington is 6’7″ 280, was targeted eight times over the last four games, he caught five (62.5 percent), gained 107 yards, averaged 13.38 yards per target, averaged 21.4 yards per catch, averaged 13.75 average depth of target, 41 yards after the catch, averaged 8.2 yards after the catch, and caught zero touchdowns (which is a crime). In short, Washington is a deep threat that is an absolute nightmare to cover. Monken has got to find a way to get him more involved in 2021.
John Fitzpatrick and incoming four-star Brock Bowers aren’t just chopped liver either. Point blank, Georgia football has got to start using their tight ends more often. It is criminal how much they go ignored. All the best offenses in the nation target their tight ends. If Georgia wants to get to their level they will have to start doing the same.
That brings us to the running back room, and as usual, Georgia football has one of the deepest in the country.
Zamir White led the way with 47 carries over the last four games. He gained a total of 270 yards while averaging 5.74 yards per carry. Of that 270 yards, 141 of it was gained before contact and 129 of it came after contact for an average of three yards before contact and 2.74 yards after contact.
White also broke 15 tackles, breaking a tackle on 31.91 percent of his carries. He also had just five negative plays while collecting 14 first downs, having seven explosive runs (ten yards or more), scoring three touchdowns, and having a success rating of 57.45.
Next would be Kenny McIntosh who had 28 carries over the last four games. He gained a total of 159 yards while averaging 5.68 yards per carry. Of that 159 yards, 38 came before contact and 121 came after contact for an average of 1.36 yards before contact and 4.32 yards after contact.
McIntosh also broke 20 tackles, breaking a tackle on 71.43 percent of his carries, which led the entire team. In fact, McIntosh was one of the most elusive backs in the entire nation last year. McIntosh had just two negative plays, while collecting nine first downs, having six explosive runs, scoring one touchdown, and having a success rating of 53.57.
Last but not least is James Cook who probably did the most damage with the least workload. Cook carried the ball just 16 times over the last four games. He gained 155 yards while averaging 9.69 yards per carry. Of that 155 yards, 123 came before contact and just 32 of it came after contact for an average of 7.69 yards before contact and two yards after contact.
Cook also broke five tackles, breaking a tackle on 31.25 percent of his carries, the lowest total over the last four games. Cook had two negative plays while collecting four first downs, having five explosive runs, scoring three touchdowns, and having a success rating of 68.75.
Before Kendall Milton‘s season was cut short he showed some great flashes of power, speed, and balance. Milton gained 192 yards on 35 carries averaging 5.49 yards per carry, third on the team. Of his 192 yards, 60 were before contact, and 174 were after contact for an average of 1.71 yards before contact and 3.77 yards after contact, second on the team.
Milton also broke 13 tackles, breaking a tackle on 37.14 percent of his carries, second on the team. Milton had zero negative plays (the only running back on the team with at least ten carries that didn’t have a single negative play), while collecting nine first downs, having eight explosive runs, scoring zero touchdowns, and having a success rating of 48.57.
These four running backs aren’t the end of Georgia football’s talented backfield though. Daijun Edwards showed a ton of promise this year and Georgia just added four-star running back Lovasea Carroll to the mix.
As talented as the receivers, tight ends, and running back are none of that matters without a great offensive line. According to Football Outsiders, Georgia had the number two offensive line overall in the SEC last year. When it came to standard downs they were the best line in the SEC on passing downs they were the number three line in the SEC.
This season there will be at least two positions on that line that will change. Trey Hill and Ben Cleveland have left for the NFL and their spots will need to be filled. More than likely Warren Ericson and Scott Van Pran will battle in camp over the open center position while the right guard spot will go to Justin Shaffer as Jamaree Salyer slides from left tackle to his more natural position at left guard. This will create a battle between Xavier Truss and Broderick Jones for the starting left tackle spot to be settled in camp.
This should be a very strong group for Georgia football over the season. However, having young guys playing on the offensive line going into the first game against Clemson could be concerning. If they earn that spot over veterans you would have to trust the coaches made the right decision though.
Overall this should be a great season for Georgia football’s offense. This could be the best offense to ever play at Georgia if things go as planned. There is no reason this offense shouldn’t be ranked in the top five in the nation at the end of the season. Georgia is absolutely loaded at every single position and they have an absolute genius at offensive coordinator. There are no more excuses, it’s time for the offense to take off.