Georgia is poised to make team history this week in Knoxville with a comfortable win over Missouri. The Bulldogs offensive relied on pass variety as Missouri attempted to end the run.
Dayne Young and Brent Rollins investigate in film Don’t Lie.
Transfer of weapons
Bennett throws a perfect pass at Arian Smith.
Dayne: Georgia fans must be thrilled to see a bevy of passing guns return on the offensive. Arian Smith and his line speed are high on this list. Stetson Bennett waits as long as he can while Broderick Jones and James Cook miss their blocks. The pass is lofted into a perfect spot and Smith collects it with ease. This is two weeks in a row that Bennett has led a receiver into the far left corner of the end zone for a deep shot score.
Brent: I’ve said for a long time that Smith is the only player who, when healthy, changes Georgia’s offense more than anyone. They cannot teach this speed level and often cannot cover it. Also impressive in the short time we’ve seen Smith on the field is his ability to be a receiver, i.e. running crisp routes, chasing and catching the ball. Not only is he a really fast kid playing receiver, he’s a receiver that happens to be insanely fast. His career now has a rating of 91.8, with five receptions on nine targets for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Game changer.
Rosemy-Jacksaint grabs the ball.
Dayne: Missouri’s defense attorney makes a good move on this throw that is actually endangered. Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint maintains focus and uses a strong grip to snap the football and ensure a great catch. While these passes are more dangerous than they need to be, they nonetheless give Georgia’s playmakers a chance to win their battles. This is crucial for the Bulldogs as the stakes keep getting higher. The skill players must be competent and trustworthy.
Brent: Absolutely amazing focus and catch. What’s even more amazing is that this is a catch in the NFL as well, as it went down with both feet. As the guns get well, and as they become available for this game, the things Todd Monken can do increase exponentially. Seven different players had at least two targets, including Rosemy-Jacksaint, both of whom caught at 18 yards. With a healthy abundance of weapons, the “throw to set up running game dynamics” could be a lot more involved in the future.
Stetson Bennett crawls and finds Jermaine Burton.
Dayne: Here’s the mobility we talked about. Stetson Bennett disperses from the three man rush to extend the game and allow Jermaine Burton to camp in one location. The expansion of the plays is the best quality that brings Bennett on the offensive, and he does this masterfully.
Brent: Playmaker is probably the best way to describe Bennett. Will he miss a read or two per game? Yes, but he’ll also make five to six big plays per game that are unique to him. The key for him, as for any quarterback, is making sure the good outweighs the bad. He has done that so far and is getting better and better. In the last four games, Bennett has seven big throws, five first downs rushing, and only two profitable plays.
