There’s going to be a different version of Gunner Stockton on Saturday against Alabama in the SEC Championship game than what the Tide saw back in September.
When Georgia and Alabama met in the regular season, it was Stockton’s second ever SEC start. Sure, he was coming off a signature comeback win over Tennessee, but Alabama is a different beast even when playing them at home, and the Bulldogs clearly didn’t want to overwhelm their quarterback.
In that game, Stockton attempted a season-low 20 passes, completing 13 of them for 130 yards and a touchdown. His statline would have looked better had Taylyn Taylor hauled in what would have been a 50-yard touchdown, but that’s water under the bridge at this point. No one is hanging onto hypotheticals in Athens.
Gunner Stockton has grown since the Alabama loss
Since the first Alabama game, Stockton has grown up in a hurry. He accounted for five touchdowns against a Playoff-caliber Ole Miss squad in a shootout victory where the offense was called upon to answer for Rebels touchdown drives time and time again.
“I've grown my confidence as the season's gone on,” Stockton said via 247sports.com. “At the start of the season I didn't have that many banked reps I’m playing. As the season's gone on, on the road at Tennessee, Auburn, those environments have boosted my confidence.”
He had another five-touchdown game against Texas and in general looks like a player who has earned the trust of offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and the rest of the coaching staff.
“You get more comfortable doing things the more you've done it,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “It's called experience, and he's gained that. He's forced into every play. 'Do I do this, this or this?' There's very few plays that are just as simple as, ‘You do this.’ I think that gives you options. It makes you right more. And I think everybody in the country is really doing it– putting a lot on the quarterback. He's done a great job in terms of making the right decision with two, three options, and that puts you in [an] advantage.”
Admittedly, Stockton’s worst game of the season came against Georgia Tech last week, where he completed 11-of-21 passes for just 70 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Stockton has also been picked off in each of his last three games.
It was a rough offensive performance overall for sure, but Stockton did some nice things in that game. He made a great throw to Zachariah Branch late in the game on third down for a crucial 23-yard conversion and had a couple of nice throws on the sideline to Dillon Bell that were a hair away from being completed.
Sure, it wasn’t his best showing. It was probably his worst, actually. But Stockton never looked overly rattled or inaccurate. If he did, there’d be more cause for concern entering this matchup.
Georgia's biggest issue they must overcome
The big issue for Georgia is the injury to center Drew Bobo that happened in that Tech game. The Bulldogs’ offense never looked quite right once he exited, and they’ll likely be starting freshman Malachi Toliver at center this week in his first SEC start.
Georgia gashed Alabama on the ground in their last meeting, rushing for 227 yards as a team on 6.9 yards per carry. They won’t be able to be as efficient in this one without their starting center even if Toliver should be a bit more prepared in this game with a full week of practice with the starters under his belt.
So with the running game ostensibly less reliable in this one, it’s going to fall on Georgia’s passing game and therefore its quarterback to create the explosive plays. If they can do that, then the Bulldogs should be able to work a little backwards and use the passing game to set up the run.
It’s also possible the Bulldogs run Stockton more than they typically do. He only had three true rush attempts against Alabama in the regular season, with his other two being sacks. If Georgia can establish the threat of the quarterback run early, then it could open up more holes for their running backs.
Gunner Stockton is going to have to win Georgia this game
But at the end of the day, Georgia is going to have to cut it loose with Stockton through the air in this one, especially with Bobo out. That’s not going to be easy against an Alabama defense that’s only given up over 200 passing yards in three games (Tennessee, Auburn and South Carolina).
Georgia doesn’t have Colbie Young on the boundary anymore, so they’re missing their difference maker on the outside. The likes of Noah Thomas, Dillon Bell and even Branch, who’s primarily been used in the slot, are going to have to create explosive plays toward the sidelines for Georgia’s passing game to thrive.
The loss of star defensive end LT Overton is a big one for Alabama. He’s second on the team with four sacks playing the versatile “Bandit” position on the Tide’s defense that involves him lining up on the edge and rushing the quarterback while also regularly dropping into coverage. His absence should mitigate the pressure on Stockton at least a little bit without Bobo.
Georgia has gotten some huge games out of Stockton this year where his play has arguably been the biggest difference in them winning (Ole Miss, Tennessee). This rematch against Alabama is shaping up like it'll need to be another one from him.
This is a young Georgia team that’s matured throughout the year, and Stockton is no exception. The Georgia Tech game quelled much of the national buzz he was getting before it, and he’s got a premium opportunity to avenge Georgia’s only regular season loss, win an SEC title and remind the country that he’s a quarterback capable of willing his team to wins.