The boys in the coffee shop have asked me a ton of questions about this upcoming 2023 Georgia Football season. Things always turn to the QB battle that is going to be heating up in the coming weeks. But one of the guys asked a question to me that I was actually stunned by.
“What is Georgia’s strength going to be on Defense this year?”
Usually, the boys do not have very deep thoughts or questions, but this one was an exception. I was pleasantly surprised and I gave this some thought.
The Georgia Defensive line is not going to be as dominating as it has been in the last 2 years. Arguably it lost its best player; Jalen Carter. Now Georgia isn’t like every other college football team out there. If FSU or USC had this many talented guys on the defensive line the national media would clamor they are the greatest ever. With Naz Stackhouse, Zion Logue, Warren Brinson, Mykel Williams, Tramel Walthour, and Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins; this group is extremely talented and experienced.
But the past two seasons it has been Georgia’s goal on defense to make an offense one-dimensional. That meant stopping the run and making teams throw the ball. Of course, the Dawgs were able to do that. But this year it seems that they won’t be able to be as effective in stopping the run. At least on paper.
However, I do believe that Georgia’s strength in Defense is pressuring the QB. Mykel Williams is a freak of nature and came on late last season. Williams is going to be the pass rush pro for this Georgia team. With the Offense paying attention to him, it should give the others on the Defensive line a one-on-one matchup. Thus, freeing them to get sacks on the QB.
With the Pass rushing attack and a terrific defensive backfield, it is going to be hard to throw the ball on the Dawgs. Sorry, Tennessee. If Georgia is able to stop the run, this defense might be as special as the 2021 defense.
Time will tell us if that is the case. But to answer the question, I think it will be the pass rush that is the skill of the Dawgs’ defense. Hopefully, the boys at the coffee shop will have some more prophetic thoughts about the Dawgs this season. I doubt it.