Georgia faced their biggest test of the season at Arkansas on Saturday, but that test turned out to not be much of a test at all as they won in convincing fashion 45-17.
There were a lot of good things that happened throughout this game as well as some areas of improvement Georgia will need to focus on as well. The Arkansas fans even gave Georgia a few laughs as well which highlights five big observations from this game.
1. Gunner Stockton finally got the chance to show off his legs
Gunner Stockton, for the third week in a row, handled his business exactly how he was supposed to against a weaker opponent. This week however he finally got the opportunity to show off his legs.
Through the first two games of the season Stockton only ran the ball one time. On Saturday he carried the ball seven times for a whopping 97 yards which included a 63-yard scamper on his first run of the game.
Stockton was also efficient through the air as he completed 10 of 13 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown.
Georgia relied heavily on their ground game against Arkansas which hindered Stockton's chances through the air. That could change next week though when Georgia faces their toughest test of the season when Oklahoma comes to town.
2. Lawson Luckie finally showed why he's the top dog at TE
Lawson Luckie was expected to be the alpha of Georgia's tight end room this season, but through two games he only had one catch. On Saturday he finally showed why he was getting so much hype this offseason as he hauled in three receptions for 59 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
Georgia's tight end room is as deep as any other position. There are four or five guys who could see significant playing time this year, and that could take opportunities away from Luckie. Luckie however showed on Saturday that he deserves to be a focal point of the offense and could have a big game any given Saturday.
3. Georgia's offensive line struggled in pass protection
There was a lot to like about Georgia’s offensive line in this game, but they weren’t perfect. The Bulldogs gashed Arkansas for 254 yards on the ground which is impossible to do without great blocking, but their pass protection wasn’t the best.
Gunner Stockton was hit far too many times when he dropped back in the passing game. The Bulldogs also gave up three sacks which is more than you’d like to see against a lesser opponent like Arkansas.
This is a bit concerning with a stellar defense like Oklahoma coming to Athens next week, but sometimes a challenge like the Sooner is exactly what a group needs to reach their peak.
4. Off the field drama in Arkansas' program was hard to ignore
The biggest takeaway for Georgia fans is all the good that their team showed in their dominant victory. Nationally though this win was overshadowed by all the unrest in the Arkansas program.
Arkansas fans decided to boycott this game to voice their displeasure with their athletic department. As a result their stadium was half full at best throughout the game. Some Arkansas fans were also seen wearing paper bags over their heads towards the end of this game as well.
Georgia is more than happy to leave Arkansas with an easy win, but the off the field drama in the Razorbacks program is the story that dominated this game on a national stage.
5. Georgia needs a more difficult test before knowing how good they actually are
Georgia looked amazing in their first two games of the season, but it was important to not overreact because of the level of competition they faced. That sentiment exists with the Arkansas game too as they could very well be the worst team in the SEC this season.
Until Georgia plays a team closer to their level it's hard to know how good they actually are, thankfully they will face their first real test of the season next week when they play a ranked Oklahoma team at home.
If Georgia can continue to play as well as they have against Oklahoma then fans can be more confident that they are legit this season. Until then though Georgia fans should remain as levelheaded as possible because Georgia is yet to prove themselves against a good team.
Georgia does deserve credit for handling their business against three overmatched opponents though. That hasn't always been the case in the past, so give this team credit for not playing with their food and dominating their opponents like they should all three games this season.
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