Of the many things that went right for Georgia in Week 1 vs. Marshall, the Dawgs were able to run the ball effectively with seemingly anyone in the backfield. Not to be overlooked in the 45-7 victory over the Thundering Herd, Georgia's leading rusher on the afternoon was emerging sophomore sensation Dwight Phillips Jr. He led the way with 60 rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries for Georgia.
In the lead-up to Georgia's Week 2 game vs. the Austin Peay Governors, head coach Kirby Smart had nothing but positive things to say at the podium about his running back. One of the things that has become readily apparent about the Georgia rushing attack is a player is only going to play if he can hold his own physically in pass protection. This was an issue to start last season for one Nate Frazier.
The good news is Frazier looks to be more than the part, with Phillips drawing favorable comparisons.
Kirby Smart spoke glowingly about Dwight Phillips Jr. entering year two
Smart touched on how Phillips embraces where his weaknesses are in order to improve his game.
“The great thing about Dwight, Peanut, is that he’s not afraid of the hard work. He embraces what his weaknesses are, and he’s trying to get better at those.”
Smart then attributed much of Phillips' overall growth to him putting in the work in the weight room.
“His progression has been weight room, develop, grow, protect, protect the ball, get bigger, get stronger. He needed the weight room really bad when he got here. He’d never really been in a hardcore weightlifting off-season program. You remember, he didn’t get the spring before his freshman year, so his first true developmental off-season was to be here and lift and get after it. And he did those things.”
Phillips' nickname may be Peanut, but he certainly can pack a punch on the football field with the rock in his hands. Anytime Georgia has been anything close to worth its weight in salt in recent years, the Dawgs have implemented a multi-back system. Yes, they usually have a featured back, but a strong stable of ball carriers is critical to grinding out an opponent in the final stages of a close ball game.
Here is what Smart had to say during his weekly press conference ahead of the Austin Peay game.
Frazier initially backed up Trevor Etienne last year before really coming into his own down the stretch.
Dwight Phillips Jr. can learn from Nate Frazier en route to thriving at UGA
One of the things that has been ever-present with Georgia throughout the entire Smart era is it is never just one running back leading the way. Frazier may be at the top of the depth chart, but he and everyone associated with the program knows that he cannot do it alone. It is why guys like Phillips, Chauncey Bowens, Cash Jones, Bo Walker and Illinois transfer Josh McCray must do their part, too.
In a way, this goes hand-in-hand with how a strong defensive-minded head coach like Smart wants to operate. Being able to neutralize the opposing offense will give Mike Bobo and his side of the football ample opportunities to put points on the board to have Georgia playing from ahead. Once the fourth quarter begins, this is where Georgia football takes over. One run after another to break a foe's will.
Admittedly, Georgia may not have the most physically imposing rushing attack this season like it often has in year's past. Nick Chubb and Zamir White were among the best to inflict pain on opposing defenses with well-orchestrated runs up the middle. In a way, the likeliest equivalent of that this season is dual-threat quarterback Gunner Stockton. He will plow over dudes and rarely likes to slide.
Overall, the blueprint is right there for Phillips to get even more playing time for Georgia. Getting essentially cannon fodder to start with Marshall and Austin Peay coming to town certainly helps. However, going up against the defensive front-sevens of Tennessee and Alabama will not be easy. If Phillips' game can become more well-rounded like Frazier's did last year, then this is only good news.
For now, let's sit back and watch Georgia gain even more confidence in the ground game tomorrow.