Gunner Stockton's legs could be a key for Georgia to counter Oklahoma's defense this week as the Sooners visit Sanford Stadium for the first time ever in front of what will certainly be a raucous, disruptive crowd.
Oklahoma is known for playing defense and being aggressive at the line of scrimmage. So, how do you punish an aggressive defense? Make that defense account for a quarterback who can run.
Georgia ran for 254 yards against Arkansas last week, and Gunner Stockton accounted for 97 of them himself. While you never want to put a quarterback in harm's way too often or force him to put his body in danger, this week might be different. Gunner's legs could be a good primary weapon.
Kirby Smart is emphasizing how aggressive Brent Venables' Oklahoma defense is and specifically praising its ability to create tackles for loss and sacks.
"[Oklahoma is] very fundamentally sound, aggressive, attacking. You know, they lead the country or they're top of the country every year in tackles for loss and sacks. I don't think people give their coaches and their kids enough credit for how they play." Smart said in his weekly press conference.
Mike Bobo and the Georgia offense can use that aggressiveness against the Sooners, especially this week when the Sooners may be even more vulnerable due to injuries.
Oklahoma being without two big defensive guns means Gunner Stockton's legs could be even more effective
The Sooners are essentially limping into Athens this week defensively. Linebacker Kip Lewis will still be out, or, at the very least, limited for the Georgia game. Lewis was their best sideline-to-sideline defender and is key in keeping mobile quarterbacks from getting around the edge and turning upfield. He was also one of their best run-stoppers up the gut, as well as the team's leading tackler in 2025.
An even bigger loss for the Sooners is defensive lineman David Stone. Missing Stone in that front four will make Oklahoma even more vulnerable up the middle. The depth behind Stone is also one of Oklahoma's weak spots on the roster.
If Oklahoma tries to fortify that hole by creeping linebackers up towards the line to stack the box, Bobo and Stockton will make them pay with some of the best tight ends and slot receivers in the nation.
So it becomes a pick your poison for the Sooners defensively, and none of the options are favorable for them.
Stack the box to stop Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens from gashing them up the middle and getting into the second level of the defense on every run. While you may plug that hole, it leaves you in single-man coverage in the secondary and limits your ability to stop Stockton from getting outside with his legs.
That typical aggressive approach by Venables and his staff would have some effectiveness if the Sooners were at full strength, but with the key injuries, it could -- and probably would -- backfire in a massive way. So what is the other option?
Drop back into zone coverage and try to keep Georgia from hitting big plays in the passing game and limit Gunner's rushing yardage. Do that, and you'll be inviting the Dawgs' backfield to treat themselves to a 300-yard day, including some designed quarterback draw plays that Stockton excels at executing.
Both options still leave Gunner Stockton a lot of room to use his legs and keep the Sooners on their heels defensively. If Mike Bobo lets Gunner cook, the Sooners will be in the stew all day.
Add us as a preferred source on Google