Georgia Football: Dawgs’ offense needs 3 things for success Saturday
By Rick Beach
After the first two games of the season, Georgia football has had a mixed bag of offensive performance.
In Week 1, the Dawgs scored 10 points, with a field goal from Jack Podlesny being the only offensive points scored for Georgia in the season opener against then-ranked No. 3 Clemson.
Georgia’s offense exploded for 56 points the next week, including six passing and one rushing touchdown against UAB. Even without JT Daniels at the helm, the Dawgs were able to utilize Stetson Bennett’s experience and find success.
The injury to Daniels surely played a role in the offensive struggles against Clemson, but it was just enough to get the victory. Against the Tigers, it seemed the short passing game was effective in protecting Daniels from potentially further injuring himself.
South Carolina comes into Athens with a 2-0 record. After an easy win over Eastern Illinois where the Gamecocks won 46-0 and a not-so-easy, last-second field goal victory against East Carolina in Week 2, this Carolina team has to be feeling good.
As a defense, the Gamecocks allowed 116 rushing yards against ECU and only 31 against Eastern Illinois. The South Carolina defense gave up a long touchdown pass on the first play from scrimmage against ECU. However, that was a trick play, and the defense only allowed 10 points after that as well as scoring on a pick-six by senior linebacker Damani Staley.
Fellow senior linebacker Brad Johnson leads the Gamecock defense with 12 tackles along with two sacks. As a whole, South Carolina has intercepted four passes this season. As good as the South Carolina defense has looked in its first two games, they haven’t played anyone that has near the talent level that Georgia does.
Here are three things Georgia needs to do on offense Saturday night to come out 3-0 and remain undefeated on the season and start conference play on the right page.