The Georgia Bulldogs defeated the Clemson Tigers 34-3 in Atlanta on Saturday in Mercedes-Benz Stadium for his or her first victory of the 2024 season. Following the sport, sports activities editor Bo Underwood graded every place group’s efficiency.
Quarterbacks
Carson Beck was on level to begin the 2024 season. After a sluggish offensive begin within the first half, Beck and the Bulldogs ripped off 4 second half touchdowns to blow the sport broad open. Beck accomplished 23 of his 33 passing makes an attempt for 278 yards and two touchdowns, including three carries for 19 yards on the bottom. Beck appeared assured as ever navigating the Georgia offense, and in addition confirmed off his potential to make performs along with his toes when obligatory. He took care of the ball and stored the offense transferring, particularly within the second half. Except for a few missed throws that he’d wish to have again, there weren’t many negatives to Beck’s efficiency on Saturday.
Grade: A
Working backs
The Bulldogs may need one thing in Nate Frazier. The freshman tailback carried the ball 11 instances for 83 yards, and in addition took a Beck checkdown 24 yards. He appeared very explosive and made a couple of cuts that some operating backs can solely pull off of their desires, notably on a 40-yard 4th quarter run the place he minimize throughout primarily the complete subject. Frazier had quite a lot of hype popping out of camp and appears nearly as good as marketed. Branson Robinson, enjoying in his first recreation in over a 12 months, had a quiet day with seven carries for simply 12 yards. There wasn’t a lot opening up for him, however his manufacturing might improve the extra he continues to settle in. Money Jones turned heads on a 15-yard landing run the place he stiff-armed a Clemson defender into the turf and stayed in bounds with a formidable tip-toe effort. Freshman Chauncey Bowens additionally had three carries for six yards.
Grade: A
Receivers
The brand new guys appeared spectacular for Georgia on Saturday. Switch wideouts Colbie Younger and London Humphreys each caught touchdowns, and the latter led the staff in receiving on the day with two catches for 63 yards and a rating. Arian Smith caught a career-high 5 passes for 56 yards, and Dillon Bell chipped in 4 catches for 32 yards. He additionally took a jet sweep 27 yards for Georgia’s second longest rush of the day. Dominic Lovett was comparatively quiet with three catches for 33 yards. General, the wideouts appeared like a deep group with a number of gamers able to stepping up all through the season. Except for an offensive cross interference penalty on Smith that wiped off a giant acquire, there weren’t many negatives.
Grade: A
Tight ends
The tight finish group’s efficiency wasn’t something loopy on Saturday, however the group held up comparatively effectively. Junior Oscar Delp was fully shut out of the stat sheet, however was serviceable as a blocker. Stanford switch Ben Yurosek didn’t document a catch both and had a false begin penalty within the first half. He additionally struggled along with his blocking assignments. Lawson Luckie was the one tight finish to make a statistical affect, catching two passes for 37 yards. His 31-yard catch within the first half was considered one of Georgia’s first massive performs of the day.
Grade: B-
Offensive line
The offensive line held up effectively on Saturday for Georgia. Beck was sacked one time however was in any other case stored upright for the complete recreation. There weren’t many open lanes for Robinson to run by, however the run recreation improved as the sport went on, particularly as soon as Frazier received going. The offensive line didn’t commit any penalties and gave its quarterback loads of time to work. Towards a defensive entrance as proficient as Clemson’s, that’s a superb exhibiting.
Grade: A
Defensive position
The Bulldogs’ defensive position had a tricky project with bodily Clemson again Phil Mafah lining up in opposition to them, they usually dealt with it effectively. Mafah was held to 59 yards on 16 carries, and the Tigers didn’t have a run play go for greater than 9 yards. There wasn’t a lot obtainable for Clemson on the bottom, and that in flip shut down any possibilities of the staff opening up the play-action recreation since Georgia didn’t have to respect the run. Senior Warren Brinson left the sport with an harm and didn’t return, in order that shall be one thing to watch, however the Georgia defensive position performed very effectively on Saturday in opposition to a really robust staff.
Grade: A
Linebackers
The linebackers had been flying everywhere in the subject for the Bulldogs. Junior Jalon Walker led the way in which with a team-leading six tackles and 1.5 sacks. He got here up with two big stops on back-to-back performs in a second half Clemson possession that stopped the complete drive. Mykel Williams was additionally enjoying some dominant soccer earlier than leaving the sport on a helmet-to-the-knee block from Mafah. Raylen Wilson recorded a half sack, and CJ Allen was as much as his previous warmth looking for methods, recording 4 tackles and routinely discovering the ball. Veteran Smael Mondon Jr. turned in a strong efficiency as effectively. Georgia’s linebackers once more seem like one of many largest strengths of the staff.
Grade: A+
Defensive backs
One thing about enjoying in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Week 1 takes Malaki Starks to a different degree. Two years after making one of the vital unreal shows of athleticism in Georgia historical past along with his circus interception in opposition to Oregon (in his first collegiate recreation), Starks primarily did the identical factor once more. His fourth quarter full-extension interception of Klubnik was the play of the day for Georgia and offered the right exclamation level for the victory. True freshman KJ Bolden additionally turned heads in his Bulldog debut, with an emphatic third-down cease on Clemson’s first possession being his greatest play. Daylen Everette had some unhealthy luck in protection, permitting a 36-yard seize to Antonio Williams regardless of being draped everywhere in the receiver, however in any other case the Georgia secondary didn’t enable a lot.
Grade: A
Particular groups
The banner play for particular groups on Saturday got here within the second quarter when Peyton Woodring hit a 55-yard subject aim. It flirted with the left upright for fairly a while earlier than sneaking in. Woodring was additionally good from 30 yards out earlier within the quarter. The particular groups unit remained penalty-free all through the sport and didn’t have any excellent miscues. General, a strong day from the third section of the sport.
Grade: A