Georgia football ran up and down the field against Auburn, a sight for sore eyes for fans after consecutive disappointing performances in the previous two weeks.
The game had a similar feel as the letdown matchups for a little while, as the offense looked stagnant and predictable with multiple stalled drives. The unforeseen duo of Daijun Edwards and Branson Robinson made sure that trend changed as the game wore on.
Georgia’s third and fourth-string running backs were not exactly at the top of the list for who we thought would have the biggest impact on the game, but they will share the week six MVP.
Georgia Football running backs Daijun Edwards and Branson Robinson earn first shared weekly MVP for Week 6
While the offense still has plenty of room for improvement, the Georgia ground game returned to its roots as a dominant force. Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett was slightly off once again, but the Edwards-Robinson duo carried the load and kept the Auburn defense on the field.
WEEK 6 MVP POLL!!! HELP US CHOOSE!
— Dawn of the Dawg (@DawnOfTheDawg) October 10, 2022
Both backs garnered 12 carries, four more than starter Kenny McIntosh. Edwards has been consistently making his case for a larger role throughout the season with his tough running and relentless effort. He racked up 83 yards and found the end zone three times with his increased usage.
Robinson had the best performance of his young career, accumulating 98 yards and a touchdown of his own. The freshman showed shades of Nick Chubb as he bounced off tackles with his low center of gravity.
Georgia’s running game has left a bit to be desired this season, but this performance was reminiscent of the previous eras of Georgia football that earned it the RBU title. The duo simply refused to go down on first contact and sometimes second and third. The explosive runs were as demoralizing for Auburn as they motivated the Dawgs.
The offensive line was not creating enough space in previous weeks for the running game to get going, and the rest of the offense struggled as a result. That changed against Auburn as the offensive line opened gaps and running lanes with ease.
Georgia rushed for an absurd 292 total yards and six touchdowns as a team. These numbers indicate the emphasis placed on controlling the line of scrimmage, something the Dawgs have struggled with this season.
After such a dominant performance, fans hope this is a step in the right direction. Reestablishing Georgia’s identity as a ground-and-pound team probably won’t happen this season, but committing to emphasizing the running game as a complement to the rest of the offense will be highly beneficial moving forward.
The schedule isn’t getting any easier for the Dawgs, but sustained rushing production like this will allow the offense to reach a new level entirely.