Georgia Dominates Vanderbilt
The Georgia Bulldogs dominated the Vanderbilt Commodores last Saturday between the hedges in Athens. The Bulldogs came into the game as double digit favorites, and ended the game winning by 55 points in a 55-0 rout. The only time Vanderbilt even got close to scoring was on a missed field goal of 44 yards to close out the first half of play.
Game Notes Versus Vanderbilt
Georgia started the game dominant by scoring double digits in all quarters but the third quarter where they only scored six points. Georgia starting Quarterback Stetson Bennett had another stellar performance as he went 24/30 throwing for 289 yards and two touchdowns. The future at quarterback after Bennett leaves is Carson Beck, who came into the game during the third quarter and threw for 98 yards and two touchdowns himself.
Offense Soars
The offense continues to put up monster numbers as they ran all over the field for 579 total yards, 387 yards passing and 192 rushing. The one thing that I have noticed over the seven wins by the Bulldogs. The numbers are spread out throughout all the skill players.
The quarterbacks are not just throwing or handing the ball off to one or two players. They are spreading the love around to all the players. Four or five receivers might have 40 or 50 yards and three or four running backs might have 50 yards or more.
The Bulldogs have always had good depth and not relying on one or two players for the bulk of the yards. Running backs Dajun Edwards(49 yards), Kenny McIntosh (43 yards), and Cash Jones (36 yards) all contributed with one touchdown. Running back Brandon Robinson didn’t contribute with a touchdown, but did have 34 yards on eight carries. Running back Kendall Milton is still sidelined with a groin injury.
Defense Dominates
To me, it’s unheard of to have a defense like the Bulldogs have had over the last two seasons. During the championship year last year the defense averaged giving up 10 points for the entire season. So far after seven games this year, the defense is only giving up on average nine points per game with two shutouts. Had a chance to shutout Oregon and South Carolina, only giving up a field goal to Oregon and a late touchdown to the Gamecocks.
The defense still isn’t taking the ball away and recovering fumbles or interceptions. But that’s okay with this type of defense. You don’t have to have all those takeaways, but it always helps when they do come. This game there was zero takeaways as well. The defense doesn’t have many sacks either, but the pressure is there which makes the opposing quarterbacks throw too early. This defense was built by Head Coach Kirby Smart. It took seven years to build his team where the players are his recruits, not former legend Head Coach Mark Richt.
If you think about it, when Smart was in Alabama as defensive coordinator, his defense there was smothering giving up little to no points per game, same as to what’s happening at Georgia now. And look at #6 Alabama now, they are still scoring points, but giving up 20-30 or more per game.
Next Game
#1 Georgia is off this week and will travel to Jacksonville , Fl for their annual clash with the Florida Gators Saturday, October 29. Kick off set for 3:30PM EST on CBS. Read more of my articles here, and next week read my writeup on this game and more Georgia football coverage at Gridiron Heroics.