Georgia football is fresh off of a relatively underwhelming performance in a victory against a far inferior Kent State team.
This weekend against Missouri presents the Dawgs with an opportunity to get back on track and put the hammer down like they did the first three weeks of the season.
Though the Tigers are an SEC opponent, a team of Georgia’s caliber should not have much issue handling business. That said, if the team shows up unprepared again this week, Georgia could find itself in another unnecessarily stressful game.
Head coach Kirby Smart should have the Dawgs ready to avoid a repeat last week’s performance, though, and these three players will help set the tone.
Brock Bowers will continue his hot streak for Georgia football
It is no secret that Brock Bowers is one of the country’s most elite playmakers, and his performances in recent weeks have proven that. Bowers has totaled 181 receiving yards in the last two matchups alone and two touchdowns on ten catches. That is impressive enough on its own, but he has also accounted for 82 yards and three touchdowns on the ground in that time.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has made a concerted effort to get the ball into Bowers’ hands more often, and the results speak for themselves. His versatility allows him to be utilized in many ways that it is becoming nearly impossible to contain him.
Bowers is a human highlight reel and will continue to be a defining member of Georgia’s offense. Fans should expect to see his number called early and often, and based on the last couple of weeks, that should result in him finding the end zone at some point.
Georgia football will see Stetson Bennett’s dark horse Heisman candidacy continue
Georgia’s success results from a complete team effort, but the offense goes as Stetson Bennett goes. So far this season, Bennett has played at an extremely high level. He has completed 74% of his passes for 1,242 yards and scored nine total touchdowns in four games on the year. His play has vaulted him into a dark horse role in the Heisman race, a conversation that would have seemed unheard of a couple of years ago.
Last week against Kent State was Bennett’s least efficient game of the season in terms of yards per attempt, but he still played well overall. The whole team seemed to have trouble getting on the same page, and in years past, games like that could have spelled disaster for the Dawgs. Bennett’s experience and level head allowed him to roll with the punches and prevent an upset.
Bennett is a veteran leader on the offense, and he will need to be at his best as Georgia enters a stretch of seven consecutive conference opponents. Expect No. 13 to keep up his impressive production and lead the Dawgs to wins.
Jalen Carter will have his first big game of the 2022 Georgia football season
Missouri is a team that prioritizes the ground game, averaging 41 rush attempts per game compared to just 29 pass attempts. Facing a run-heavy team calls for impactful play from the guys in the trenches, meaning Jalen Carter could be a major game wrecker for Georgia this weekend.
Carter hasn’t had the gaudy production many expected to see, but his impact goes far beyond the numbers. His ability to immediately disengage with blockers and force his way into the backfield causes major issues for opposing offenses. His gap control forces offensive plays to be redirected into the teeth of the rest of the front seven.
His relatively slow start can be attributed to a nagging ankle injury but looks “much better,” according to Smart. Carter only saw the field once as a fullback last week against Kent State, but the time off seems to have aided in his recovery. A fully healthy Carter is nightmare fuel for Missouri’s offense and could lead to the breakout game fans have been waiting for.
The Dawgs will be looking to put last week behind them and get back to playing to the Georgia standard. While these three players could be primed for big games, it’s important for the entire team to be focused and ready to play.