Georgia leaves no doubt: Dawgs are ready for a title
- Mark Schlabach, ESPN Elder WriterAug 31, 2024, 05:00 PM ET Close Senior college football author
- Author of 7 books on college football
- Graduate of the University of Georgia
ATLANTA– It was only three years ago when Clemson and Georgia punched it out for 4 quarters in the 2021 season opener in Charlotte, North Carolina.The groups were
nearly equally matched, and the game’s only touchdown began Georgia safety Christopher Smith’s 74-yard return of an interception in the Bulldogs’ 10-3 win.Back then
, Georgia was the program attempting to get its footing under coach Kirby Smart and trying to find its first national title considering that 1980. Clemson was the powerhouse, having recorded 2 CFP champions in the previous five seasons under coach Dabo Swinney.After No. 1 Georgia’s 34-3 demolition of No. 14 Clemson in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it’s clear the programs could not be any further apart in regards to skill and trajectory.The triumph in the 2021 opener propelled the Bulldogs to back-to-back national championships. Georgia has won 40 straight regular-season games– it is 47-2 in its last 49 contests in general.”I think the story is out there you’re going to roll the ball out and Georgia is simply going to win
,” Smart said.”They’re going to win since they have a G, and they are going to roll over these teams. Football is not that way.Editor’s Picks”That’s a truly excellent football team we just played. The reality that we played and pressed through that is indicative of the important things we constructed
into our program. We stated we had to out-physical them, I thought we did. We had to out-hustle them, I think we did. We’ll see the tape. You have actually got to out-discipline them. “Meanwhile, Clemson is left picking up the pieces after another yet another awful loss. After winning a minimum of 10 games in 12 straight seasons from 2011 to 2022, the Tigers needed to win their last 5 contests to finish 9-4 in 2023. If Saturday’s result is a preview of what’s to come, it might get back at worse this season.”Greatest thing, when you get beat like that, that’s on the head coach,”
Swinney stated.” That’s on me, so … That’s just total ownership of just an outright crap second half. Actually disappointed. However I’ve done it long enough. In some cases you get your butt kicked, and we did today. That’s not what we came here to do. “The Tigers ‘punchless effort on offense will leave many Clemson fans once again questioning Swinney’s stubbornness to not add proven playmakers through the transfer portal. At a time when College
Football Playoff contenders such as Ohio State, Oregon, Texas, Ole Miss, Alabama and others added considerable pieces, Swinney went through another offseason without including anyone. “People are going to state whatever they wish to say,”Swinney said.” It does not matter. Does not matter what I say. People are going to say whatever they wish to state. However we do what’s best for Clemson year in and year out. When you lose like this, they got every right to state whatever they wish to say. So state whatever you wish to state, compose whatever you want to write. That includes it. It’s simply part of it.”Saturday’s results were a disconcerting indictment of Swinney’s approach: Clemson had only 188 backyards of offense and stopped working to score a goal for just the 4th time in his 214 games as the Tigers’coach. Quarterback Cade Klubnik completed 18 of 29 passes for 142 yards with one interception. He looked unwilling to toss the ball down the field and was sacked two times. Georgia’s defense dominated Clemson from start to finish in a 34-3 Week 1 rout. Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports Clemson’s receivers, an apparent shortcoming the past couple of seasons, had a hard time to get separation against Georgia’s rebuilt secondary, which lost three beginners to the NFL draft. The Bulldogs packed up the box, moving star security Malaki Starks closer to the line, and limited the Tigers to 46 lawns on 23 hurrying attempts.Even Smart, who has piled up top-ranked recruiting classes like cordwood given that going back to coach his alma mater, has actually utilized the transfer website to his program’s advantage.When the Bulldogs lost All-America tight end Brock Bowers and receiver Ladd McConkey to the NFL, Smart dipped into the transfer portal and discovered more weapons for quarterback Carson Beck.”It’s a forced circumstance,”Smart stated.”You have to utilize it. “It had to sting Clemson fans much more on Saturday when 2 of Georgia’s portal additions– Colbie Young(Miami)and Landon Humphrey(Vanderbilt)– captured goals in their very first games with the Bulldogs. Georgia likewise included tight end Ben Yurosek from Stanford to assist replace Bowers.”I desire my group to stay my group,”Smart stated.
“I’ve always stated that. If you might provide me every team kid I sign, they remain at my program for four years and they can’t leave, I would take that every day of the week.” However if we’re going to lose kids, we have actually got to change them with premium kids that are character kids that are seeking to have an opportunity to win a championship, that want to go somewhere and play, due to the fact that otherwise you can’t endure in the SEC without the depth you require. “Georgia’s offense started slowly, especially when running the football. The Bulldogs played without another transfer, previous Florida running back Trevor Etienne, who sat out the game for reasons connected to his March 24 arrest on charges of DUI, negligent driving and other misdemeanors. District attorneys dropped the DUI charges in a plea deal in July.Roderick Robinson II, the team’s leading returning rush, also wasn’t offered after just recently undergoing surgery for grass toe.In their absence, Georgia’s running game struggled against Clemson’s formidable protective front while taking a 6-0 lead at the half. Georgia went 0-for-3 on third down in the first 30 minutes.Freshman Nate Frazier lastly got the running game entering the second half. His 1-yard goal put the Bulldogs ahead 20-3 with 3:15 left in the third quarter. Frazier ended up with 83 lawns on 11 carries.Georgia made a lot of mistakes, which
could be anticipated in its opener. A third-down sack of Beck in the red zone resulted in a field goal in the first quarter. Offensive pass disturbance cleaned
out a 40-yard pass to Dillon Bell late in the first half. A roughing the passer penalty against linebacker Damon Wilson II assisted give the Tigers their best scoring chance, which led to a 26-yard field goal.Beck threw for 278 backyards with two touchdowns on 22-for-33 passing.Despite the errors, Georgia looked like a risk to win its third championship game in four seasons. With roadway games at No. 5 Alabama, No. 4 Texas and No. 6 Ole Miss, the Bulldogs will definitely need to earn a return journey to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Dec. 7 SEC Championship game.Clemson hosts Appalachian State at Death Valley next week before starting ACC play against NC State on Sept. 21. With No. 10 Florida State likewise tumbling in its opener, a 24-21 loss to Georgia Tech in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 24, the league looks wide open.”I feel fantastic about our group and the leadership on this group,”Swinney said.”Once again, some individuals may say,’He’s simply crazy, just got his butt kicked.’A loss is a loss. I hate to lose, duration, to any person, anytime, anywhere. I dislike to lose. We work too hard, so it injures. It’s going to leave a mark. This will be one I’ll never forget, that’s for sure.” I keep in mind every loss. Unfortunately often you remember those more than a few of the others. This is one. This is just a flat-out butt-kicking. We simply got our tails kicked in for two quarters. I mean, look at the score. You’re going, ‘Whoa.'”