Tag: stetson bennett georgia

What will the Georgia offense look like under Gunner Stockton

How will the Georgia Bulldogs’ offense perform, prepare with quarterback Gunner Stockton

Georgia Bulldogs starting quarterback Carson Beck status remains uncertain for the Sugar Bowl. As a result, Georgia is preparing to start Gunner Stockton until further notice.

We saw a glimpse of what the Georgia offense is capable of with Stockton at quarterback in the SEC championship. The redshirt sophomore, who guided Georgia on its first touchdown drive of the game, and finished 12-for-16 for 71 yards and one interception.  On Stockton’s first drive he provided a spark to the running game as running back Trevor Etienne scored UGA’s first touchdown of the game.

Georgia’s second half play calling had more designed runs and play action rollout passes for Stockton opposed to Beck. Georgia’s offense may look more like the one Stetson Bennett led in 2021, when the Bulldogs won the national championship. UGA will use Stockton’s mobility as much as it can.

Two more similar offenses that UGA can take things away from are Clemson with Cade Klubnik and Georgia Tech with Haynes King. The success that both offenses have could be added into Georgia’s offense now. What makes the offense so effective that they are balanced and use a capable runner at quarterback.

Georgia has extended time to prepare for the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1.  UGA will play the winner of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish versus Indiana Hoosiers game. This break will be time for the offense to prepare Gunner Stockton to start.

“You know, we commit 75, 80% to ourselves and growth and development and trying to get our team ready and backups ready,” said head coach Kirby Smart on what Georgia will be doing until the Sugar Bowl.

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The Georgia offense will be creating new wrinkles and everyone involved will work to mold a more confident version of Gunner Stockton. Georgia is focusing on being the best possible version it can be.

Georgia QB Stetson Bennett at the Manning Passing Academy

A look at Stetson Bennett at the Manning Passing Academy.

Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett was one of the 45 college quarterbacks invited to this year’s Manning Passing Academy, which took place over the weekend.

The annual event hosts some of the top high school and college signal-callers in the country and is put on by NFL Hall of Famers Peyton and Eli Manning.

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Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett, right, gives instructions as campers run a drill during the Manning Passing Academy at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux on Friday, June 24, 2022. Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

Bennett, who led the Bulldogs to their first national title in 42 years, had a chance to learn from some legendary quarterbacks while passing on his own knowledge to the next generation of passers.

Bennett’s rise from a former walk-on to a national champion has been one of the best stories in college football over the last year. The Blackshear, Georgia, native threw for 2,862 yards and 29 touchdowns last season and will, once again, have an offense full of weapons in 2022.

 

Stetson Bennett announced as Georgia’s starting QB vs UAB

Stetson Bennett announced as starting QB

With JT Daniels nursing a minor oblique injury, Georgia will turn to a former starter to lead the Dawgs on Saturday against UAB.

UGA announced that Stetson Bennett will start at quarterback rather than redshirt freshman Carson Beck, who many expected to get the nod.

Bennett started five games for the Dawgs in 2020. Bennett had some up and down performances. He was a steadying presence in Georgia’s season opener against Arkansas.

Last year, Bennett completed 55% of his passes. Bennett contributed 10 total touchdowns and threw six interceptions. He threw for 1,179 passing yards on the season and looked particularly sharp against the Auburn Tigers.

Bennett arrived in Athens as a lightly recruited three-star prospect. He redshirted in 2017, while playing scout team quarterback. He then transferred to Jones County Junior College in Ellisville, Mississippi. He helped Jones County win their conference, scoring 20 total touchdowns and accumulating almost 2,000 total yards in the process.

Following his junior college season, Bennett transferred back to the University of Georgia and enrolled for the spring semester of 2019.

What UGA football, Kirby Smart must do moving forward

The Georgia Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season and needs to improve and evaluate talent for the reminder of the year.

The Georgia Bulldogs suffered their second loss of the season on Saturday at the hands of the hated Florida Gators. Florida’s offense overpowered Georgia’s defense and won 44-28.

Now, Georgia must evaluate itself as the Bulldogs no longer have realistic College Football Playoff hopes. This is the first time since 2016 that Georgia hasn’t been in contention for a National Championship until the SEC Championship Game.

Firstly, the Dawgs must get healthier. Georgia is without numerous starters on the defensive side of the ball. Additionally, Stetson Bennett, George Pickens, Kendall Milton, and more are ailing on offense. There’s no reason to rush back players considering there’s no longer a National Championship run to play for.

Kirby Smart must find a way to gain more consistent quarterback play throughout the rest of the season. The Bulldogs must learn what they’ve got presently on the roster. Quarterbacks are the most important position in football and Georgia’s quarterbacks haven’t gotten the job done this season.

The Bulldogs must answer some burning questions: Is D’Wan Mathis or Stetson Bennett better? Is USC Trojans transfer J.T. Daniels healthy? Can Carson Beck be effective? Georgia has to do better with the quarterback position moving forward if it wants to win a championship.

The Dawgs had tough luck with Jamie Newman’s opt out before the season, but they shouldn’t have to count on transfer quarterbacks.

Georgia has a commitment in a five-star quarterback recruit in Brock Vandagriff, who will likely be favored to start the 2021 season. Georgia needs to have a good back-up quarterback next season who can efficiently run the offense should Vandagriff get hurt.

The Bulldogs must have a more effective passing attack to be a serious National Championship contender. Georgia must showcase a more dynamic passing game in the final four games of the season. The Dawgs need to work on their largest weakness.

The Georgia Bulldogs will be favored in all four of their remaining games: at Missouri, Mississippi State, at South Carolina, and a home finale against Vanderbilt.

Kirby Smart and Georgia must send seniors out the right way. Winning out is what these seniors and NFL Draft eligible players deserve. That being said, the staff will want to evaluate some young talent. Additionally, roster management heading into the offseason will be unique this season since seniors can return (they won’t lose a season of eligibility this year, per NCAA rules for this season only).

Georgia’s got to do some serious self evaluation. As for the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs need to be able to stop wheel routes and pass-catching running backs. Florida humiliated UGA with this combination. Alabama additionally used wheel routes to burn Georgia several times.

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Georgia vs Auburn: Halftime stats and thoughts

Georgia leads Auburn 24-3 at halftime. Here are the key players and team stats so far.

No. 4 Georgia leads No. 7 Auburn 24-3 at halftime after dominant first half by the Bulldogs.

Georgia’s most valuable players of the first half were junior quarterback Stetson Bennet, who is making his first career start for the Bulldogs, and redshirt sophomore running back Zamir White and sophomore receiver Kearis Jackson.

Player stats:

  • Bennett – 12/22, 155 yards with one touchdown
  • White – 17 carries for 76 yards and two touchdowns
  • Jackson – 7 receptions for 104 yards

Team Stats:

  • 1st downs: UGA 15, Auburn 5
  • Total yards: UGA 288, Auburn 81
  • Passing yards : UGA 158, Auburn 54
  • Rushing yards : UGA 130, Auburn 27
  • Time of possession: UGA 18:04, Auburn 11:56
  • Penalties : UGA 6 for 49 yards, Auburn 4 for 30 yards

Georgia’s offensive line is doing whatever they want with Auburn right now, and the Bulldogs running backs are taking advantage.

Bennett has been sharp and decisive with the football, especially on third downs.

All good news for Georgia so far, tune-in for the second half coming up on ESPN.