These 2 Georgia position groups need the bye week the most

Georgia is heading into the bye week 3-0 but after a close call in Lexington with a 13-12 win over Kentucky, the Bulldogs aren’t carrying a ton of momentum into the bye week. Kirby Smart’s team has won 42 consecutive regular season games, but after their one-point win in Week 3, they dropped from No. 1 in the AP poll to No. 2, sliding behind new SEC rival Texas after the Longhorns beat UTSA 56-7 at home. 

After the bye week, Georgia heads to Tuscaloosa to play No. 4 Alabama and the SEC gauntlet gets underway. So, these two position groups desperately need the week off to figure things out before facing the Crimson Tide and quarterback Jalen Milroe. 

The Georgia defensive line came into the season banged up and it's only gotten worse. Defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann knew his unit would be without Jordan Hall for an extended period after he required surgery to fix a stress fracture in his lower leg, but even beyond Hall, the injuries have piled up. 

Warren Brinson entered fall camp with an Achilles injury, but he was able to get on the field for Georgia’s season opener against Clemson only to leave with a foot injury that has kept him out the past two weeks. Star junior defensive end Mykel Williams also left that game and missed the following two after suffering a sprained ankle. 

South Carolina transfer Xzavier McLeod was dealing with an abdominal injury through fall camp, but finally returned against Kentucky. 

Georgia’s defensive line did not play well against Kentucky, and injuries are a huge reason why. The Bulldogs need to get healthy on this bye week if they want to avenge their SEC Championship loss to Milroe and the Crimson Tide in Week 5. 

On the offensive side of things, it’s not about the quantity of injuries, but rather the quality of players who have suffered them. Early against Kentucky, Georgia lost Tate Ratledge to a sprained MCL and ankle that will keep him out for over a month. The bye won’t help get Ratledge back on the field to face Alabama’s fierce defensive line, but it will give time for Kirby Smart and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to devise a plan to protect Carson Beck without him. 

Ratledge was a second-team All-American at right guard last season and after he left in Week 3, Georgia turned to veteran backup Micah Morris, who is the likely starter at right guard until Ratledge returns.