Georgia Bulldogs might have met their match in Kentucky's elite defensive front in Week 3 matchup
The Georgia Bulldogs have looked every bit as dominant as many expected to open the 2024 college football season. And to the surprise of absolutely no one, a good portion of that success can be attributed to their dominant offensive line play.Through two weeks Carson Beck has faced a total of just nine pressures on […]
The Georgia Bulldogs have looked every bit as dominant as many expected to open the 2024 college football season. And to the surprise of absolutely no one, a good portion of that success can be attributed to their dominant offensive line play.
Through two weeks Carson Beck has faced a total of just nine pressures on his 64 drop backs so far. That 14% mark is the second lowest pressure rate faced among all power conference quarterbacks this season. Outside of two sacks, Beck is essentially just standing back in the pocket completely unencumbered as he's completing over 70% of his passes once again this season.
This week's matchup against Kentucky has a real chance to threaten that relative peace in the Georgia backfield. Kentucky returned seven key contributors along their defensive front from last season's elite unit. Three of them tallied at least five sacks and 20+ pass rush pressures in 2023.
How has that group looked to start the 2024 season?
Six edge rushers and defensive tackles have tallied multiple pass rush pressures through two weeks. Six different players have a sack. And the Wildcats are fresh off a four-sack, 11-pressure performance against South Carolina last week. Kentucky might just have the matchups up front to challenge Georgia's offensive line for the first time this season.
Georgia's tough matchups against Kentucky's defensive front
Kentucky returns some incredibler talents up front in the form of Deone Walker, J.J. Weaver, Tre'vonn Rybka, Octavious Oxendine, Kahlil Saunders, Tyreese Fearbry, and Keeshawn Silver this season.
Deone Walker is a projected Top 20 NFL Draft pick next spring at defensive tackle who brought over 50 pressures and eight sacks last season. J.J. Weaver is a Top 100 pick projection at edge rusher in next spring's NFL Draft too who brings great size, speed and range too. With that duo and a handful of other strong contributors Georgia will have to play disciplined up front.
Deone Walker is going to be the most important player to stop as he can line up anywhere along the defensive line and bring pressure. And it's not just via strength, although it does help that he weights nearly 350 pounds at 6'6". He can also spin, bend, and burst into the backfield way faster than anyone should be able to at his size.
When Deone Walker isn't showing off incredible mobility, he can also eat up a ton of space up front. He can take on two blockers and still stop the run or get home on a sack. He can drop into coverage and use his length to take away entire passing lanes. And with one arm he can set the edge of the defensive line by himself. Walker is going to be a problem that must be contained if Georgia wants to find offensive rhythm.
Outside of Walker, the trio of edge rushing talents in J.J. Weaver, Tre'vonn Rybka, and Octavious Oxendine all bring great length, speed and strength to dominate from lined up outside the shoulder of offensive guards to far outside the tackle box. All three display excellent versatility in how they get into the backfield. All three have multiple pressures so far this season.
Georgia's answer on the offensive line
The Georgia Bulldogs returned four strong contributors on the offensive line, 3-4 of which may actually get drafted next spring. There weren't many questions along the offensive front for Georgia. However, the one spot of uncertainty was the center position as Jared Wilson would be sliding into the starting role there for the first time in 2024. The good news? Wilson looks like he may actually be their best offensive lineman by season's end.
At 6'3", 310 pounds, Wilson moves and runs so fast for a man of his size. He can take out multiple defenders on the same running play (as you can see in the highlight play above). He pulls, pins, and blocks with high efficiency and ease. If he is forced to face off with Deone Walker on the inside, or asked to pull on a run play and push Kentucky's edge players off the ball it looks like he's up to the task.
All four of the other starting offensive linemen in Earnest Greene, Dylan Fairchild, Tate Ratledge, and Xavier Truss need to have good games as well, but Wilson's success will likely dictate who wins up front against Kentucky's strong defensive front. If Wilson holds his ground against a top five defensive trench unit then protecting Carson Beck is going to continue each and every week for Georgia.
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