It’s officially game week for Georgia football, and the football gods have blessed them with an excellent schedule that’ll result in the Dawgs winning the 2021 SEC Championship.
Yes, 2017 was a magic year, but there is something about this team.
While I know Georgia hasn’t taken a snap yet, and the injury list is longer than it needs to be, the football gods are aligning the stars for the Bulldogs to do something incredible.
J.T. Daniels has a full year under his belt at Georgia, and even though he played just four games last year, he was in the quarterback room learning and growing.
Daniels completed 80-of-119 passes in those four games for 1,231 yards, 10 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. He averaged 307.75 yards a game and had a completion rate of 67.23%.
It’s not just what he does on the field, but the way he carries himself off the field and how much he loves where he is.
The way Daniels continues to talk about this team, I’d go to battle with him. He is a team guy, and even though he continues to sign NIL deals, Daniels isn’t letting it go to his head. He even is using his platform to benefit his teammates and non-profits.
Daniels is a great guy who has the leadership capabilities to lead these guys to an SEC Championship. He may not be southern, but he gets what playing for a school like Georgia means down here in the south, and that excites me.
No, it’s not just about Daniels on why I feel like Georgia will get over the hump and win another SEC Championship. There are so many more reasons.
The running back room features not one or two predominant backs but five guys who are flat out playmakers. With veterans like Zamir White, James Cook and Kenny McIntosh leading the way, there is still room for Kendall Milton and Daijun Edwards on the field.
They know if they work together, it’ll bring the most success. Georgia is RBU for a reason and continues to put running backs in the NFL by using more than one running back each year.
There is something special about that group, and it screams Sony Michel and Nick Chubb loyalty, which is what it takes to win.
Georgia still has a deep group of receivers who make noise even with some of the top wideouts and tight ends not playing right now. This group needs to step up and be there for Daniels, and with it being the second year with him, they trust him even more.
The playmaking ability that this group is capable of is scary because if they live up to the expectations, Georgia will have one of the most lethal offenses in the country — not just the SEC.
The offensive line is smart enough to protect Daniels and open holes up for the running backs. With Jamaree Salyer and Warren McClendon in the tackle spots, Daniels should stay protected long enough to get the ball to who he needs to.
Now to the side of the ball, that’ll be the game-changer for Georgia — the defense.
There have only been five games where Georgia has given up over 40+ points in those five years.
Even with two of those 40+ point games last year against Flordia and Alabama, Georgia still ranked as the No.2 scoring defense at just 20 points a game, through 10 games. The Bulldogs led the SEC in scoring defense at 12.6 points a game in 2019 and has been top five in that category all five years.
Georgia led the SEC in rushing defense in 2020, giving up 72.30 yards a game, with teams averaging just 2.39 yards a touch. In 2019, the Dawgs led the conference as well, giving up 74.64 yards game. They were No. 5 in 2018, No. 2 in 2017 and No. 4 in 2016.
Passing defense is the only area in which Georgia has done well, but it always seems they could be better because of one or two games each year where they get exposed.
In the last five years, the Bulldogs have ranked No. 2 in 2016, No. 3 in 2017, No. 2 in 2018, No. 5 in 2019 and No. 6 in 2020.
Kirby Smart has had one of the top SEC defenses all five years. The Dawgs were the No. 1 total defense in 2019, No. 2 in 2018 and 2017 and No.4 in 2016.
One of the biggest things that need to change is havoc plays — sacks, tackles for loss, interceptions, pass breakups and quarterback hurries. These areas are where Georgia has good numbers, but they could be better because teams like Alabama are producing crazy-like numbers in these areas, and we all know how that turned out for them.
Havoc plays are one of the last reasons I think Georgia will win the SEC Championship this year. With Nakobe Dean, Lewis Cine, Travon Walker, Nolan Smith, Jordan Davis and Adam Anderson, to name a few, it’s their year to show the world that Georgia can collapse opponent’s offensive lines and make things happen.
This area is what Smart and his defensive coordinator Dan Lanning have focused on this offseason, and I fully expect them to make a statement.
Georgia has a team that is so talented — it’s kind of scary. There is no reason the Bulldogs shouldn’t make the SEC Championship, much less win it. This year is when it’ll happen, and it’ll be in glorious fashion.