Georgia football: How AD Mitchell’s absence hurt the Dawgs
Georgia football receiver AD Mitchell got hurt in the first drive against Samford and has only seen the field as a decoy since then. He also hurt his thumb in practice last week, but still, his absence has clearly affected Georgia’s offense.
While on paper, it may not look like it has caused much damage, but Mitchell was one of starting quarterback Stetson Bennett’s go-to guys. Bennett knew he could trust Mitchell to make those downfield catches and be there when he needed an explosive play.
What we saw Mitchell do against Michigan and Alabama in the playoffs last year told us what kind of player Georgia had. Now he gets starting duties, and an injury takes him off the field.
He is the kind of player that Georgia needs to put defenses on their toes. Without him, that offense is not the same.
Georgia football desperately misses AD Mitchell but may not see him for two more weeks.
Mitchell took some snaps against Auburn and dressed out for Missouri but didn’t get targeted. He was out there to block a little and distract the defense. However, it’s unfortunate to see this injury keep him off the field this long. It’s time for him to start catching passes from Bennett again and regaining that confidence.
When Mitchell is on the field, the offense seems whole. The offense’s struggles weren’t just because Mitchell was hurt, but missed opportunities too. Georgia shot itself in the foot multiple times against Kent State and Missouri, so it looked uglier than it was. However, if Mitchell were out there, it’s hard to say that a few of those long ball passes would have gotten dropped by him.
He has played three games this season, recording five catches for 69 yards. Four of those grabs came in the Oregon game for 65 yards and one touchdown — an 18-yard snag. He was already showing his worth in Week 1, and then that injury happened. When he returns, Georgia will have a serious downfield weapon in the arsenal, ready to attack and prove himself.
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Sitting out three games had to be tough, and it isn’t ideal, but if Mitchell can get healthy for Florida and that stretch of the season, it will be when the Dawgs need him most. When Georgia gets him back, look for this offense to look like it should. The Dawgs just have to find its moxy again, and Mitchell’s return could do just that.