The plays were there. The execution wasn’t.
Missing their two leading receivers, Georgia’s offense went deep several times on their opening drive.
Tyler Simmons, Demetris Robertson and Matt Landers failed to haul in well-thrown balls from Jake Fromm on the Bulldogs’ opening drive.
After being forced to punt, the Dawgs’ defense batted down a pass that Joe Burrow caught himself. LSU proceeded to march downfield and secure a lead it would never relinquish.
By the time George Pickens resumed play following his one half suspension, Jake Fromm had tweaked his ankle and the Silver Britches had lost third-leading receiver Dominick Blaylock. Later, linebacker Walter Grant left the game with a concussion following a targeting penalty that resulted in the ejection of Louisiana State defender Tory Carter.
Typically automatic senior placekicker Rodrigo Blankenship missed two of his three field goal attempts, but will enter his final bowl game wearing red and black maintaining the highest field goal percentage in Georgia history.
While we lament that the opportunities were there, Georgia’s inability to take advantage of the situations makes it clear that the Dawgs were never a true playoff contender.