ATLANTA — Turns out Georgia’s defense might be all right in 2022. But what about that offense, huh?
Playing behind sixth-year senior quarterback Stetson Bennett, the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs basically were unstoppable against Oregon on Saturday.
Facing a team coached by its former defensive coordinator, Dan Lanning, Georgia went 85 yards, 92 yards, 56 yards and 75 yards for touchdown drives on their only four offensive possessions of the opening half. Riding a 28-3 halftime lead, the Bulldogs cruised from there. Georgia gained 568 yards before finally punting late in the fourth quarter in a 49-3 season-opening victory over the No. 11-ranked Ducks in a Chick-fil-A Kickoff game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The game was Georgia’s first chance to defend its 2021 national championship. The Bulldogs are having to do it with a rebuilt defense missing eight starters, all of whom were selected in this year’s NFL draft.
The new group gave up only 313 yards to the Ducks, who were led by former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix on Saturday, who falls to 0-4 in his career against Georgia. Oregon converted way too many third-down attempts for coach Kirby Smart’s liking (7 of 15), but the Bulldogs’ offense left such details as nothing more than a side note.
With Bennett in charge as QB1 for the entire offseason, Georgia’s 2022 offense looked drastically different than the one last on display against Alabama in the national championship game eight months ago. This one featured lots of motion, misdirection play-action passes of every variety. The new wrinkles kept the Ducks’ defense on its heels throughout.
When Bennett hit A.D. Mitchell with an 18-yard TD pass with 5:20 remaining in the third quarter, Georgia was a perfect 6 for 6 on touchdown-scoring possessions. At that point, the Bulldogs were 7 for 7 on third-down conversions and Bennett was 25-of-31 passing for 368 yard and two touchdowns by the time he left the game with 4:26 remaining. Bennett also scored on a 1-yard run.
Fittingly, backup quarterback Carson Beck came in and immediately led Georgia on another touchdown drive. His short pass to running back Kendall Milton went for an 18-yard touchdown and kept the Bulldogs a perfect 8 for 8 on third-down conversions.
When Georgia finally had to punt for the first time with 10:19 remaining in the game, Oregon’s fans gave their team a mocking standing ovation.
Also having standout games for Georgia were running back Kenny McIntosh, who had 119 yards receiving and a rushing touchdown. Wideout Ladd McConkey added 73 yards receiving with a touchdown catch and a TD run.
Georgia’s defense got interceptions from fifth-year senior safety Christopher Smith and first-year safety Malaki Starks. You’ll see Starks’ leaping interception at the Oregon 8 on all the postgame highlight shows. The Ducks had 213 total yards by the time Georgia’s starters were chased from the game.
It was all very reminiscent of the last time Georgia had a national championship title to defend. The Bulldogs beat Tennessee 44-0 to open that 1981 season.
That was a very good year, too.
