Which Georgia Bulldogs players performed well and poorly against the Alabama Crimson Tide?
The Georgia Bulldogs fell 41-24 to the Alabama Crimson Tide in an SEC showdown. Georgia took a 24-20 lead into halftime, but the Dawgs failed to score in the second half and turned the ball over multiple times.
First, let’s take a look at the offensive side of the ball for Georgia.
The Bulldogs offensive line held up well and did not commit many penalties in a road environment.
There was running room for the backs, but Todd Monken and Kirby Smart elected to roll with more of an aerial attack against Alabama.
James Cook stood out in the first half and exposed Alabama linebackers in the passing game. His 82-yard touchdown was Georgia’s best play of the game.
Quarterback Stetson Bennett played subpar in defeat. He struggled with ball placement and deflected passes at the line of scrimmage. One of his deflections at the line was intercepted in the first quarter, which was a large momentum change. Bennett deserves some fault for the interception. When four passes are battled down at the line of scrimmage, it is a pattern, not a freak play.
Bennett’s third interception was brutal. His pass went into a group of three Alabama defenders. Bennett played well in the first half, but grew uncomfortable in the second half and didn’t make the right read on a couple of occasions. Bennett was no match for Alabama quarterback Mac Jones, who is a superior downfield passer and connected for big plays all night.
Bennett’s No. 1 target throughout the night was Jermaine Burton. Burton’s stock is holding steady following the contest. He was a source of intermediate plays and was often open. He dropped a key pass in the red zone that was intercepted. Burton is promising considering he’s only a freshman.
Defensively, Nakobe Dean played well. He helped the Bulldogs get off the field on a couple of third downs and flashed elite speed. The overall performance from the defense was disappointing, especially in the second half when Dan Lanning’s group fell under immense pressure from turnovers and questionable officiating.
Defensive backs Tyrique Stevenson and Tyson Campbell were frequently victimized. The Crimson Tide have elite wide receivers with excellent speed. Jaylen Waddle burned Tyson Campbell and the UGA defense for a 90-yard touchdown in the second half. Campbell has the talent to play better, but he and the secondary needed more support from the pass rush.
Georgia’s pass rush needed a better performance from the interior. Jordan Davis, Travon Walker and company were quiet and didn’t disrupt Jones enough. Alabama frequently blocked with six players to stymie the UGA blitz.
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