Georgia football took down Sun Belt contender Appalachian State on Saturday. Here are three things we learned from the Bulldogs win over the Mountaineers.
Georgia overcame a slow start and an early injury to starting quarterback Jacob Eason to take down Appalachian State on Saturday afternoon in Athens. A decade after knocking off Michigan in the Big House while still an FCS school, the Mountaineers couldn’t pull off another epic upset this time around.
Instead, the Bulldogs shut down Appalachian State 31-10 to move to 1-0 on the season. Kirby Smart‘s team put together a blowout against the defending Sun Belt co-champions thanks to a stout defensive effort and solid play from backup quarterback Jake Fromm.
By halftime the home team was up 21-0. The passing game was just fine with Fromm under center, balanced by Georgia’s returning two-pronged rushing attack of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel. Georgia began pulling starters in the third quarter, and by the end of the game the only thing that could put the win at risk was third-string quarterback Brice Ramsey‘s tendency to throw the ball to the other team.
Nevertheless, Kirby Smart and his crew have a solid start to build upon for the 2017 season. As Georgia prepares for its trip to South Bend next weekend to face Notre Dame, here are three things we learned about the No. 15 Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon.
1. Is there a possible quarterback controversy brewing in Athens?
Over the summer, Kirby Smart had to silence discussion about whether true freshman Jake Fromm would supplant sophomore Jacob Eason at quarterback. Eason went neck-and-neck with Shea Patterson to see who would come out as the No. 1 pro-style quarterback of the 2016 recruiting class.
Meanwhile, Fromm was the No. 3-ranked pro-style quarterback in the country in the 2017 recruiting class. Just as Eason started immediately for the Bulldogs, Fromm was definitely talented enough to take the field right away. Some thought that the new recruit might take the field right away. But Eason was named the starter for the year, and it seemed that the controversy was over.
After Eason went out of the Appalachian State game following a late hit in the first quarter, Fromm got his chance. The true freshman quarterback seized the opportunity, throwing his first-ever touchdown pass on his third drive leading the Bulldogs offense. By the end of the game, Fromm racked up 145 yards on 10-of-15 passing and notched a touchdown before taking a seat in the fourth quarter and giving senior Brice Ramsey some snaps.
The point might be academic, if Eason is forced to miss more time. But even if Eason is cleared to play next week against Notre Dame next weekend, Kirby Smart and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney will have a tough choice to make at quarterback.
2. Georgia will field one of the nation’s top backfields in 2017
When Nick Chubb and Sony Michel both decided to return to Geogia for their senior seasons, it gave the coaching staff a pair of guaranteed threats to build the ground game around in 2017. Both backs have posted 1000-yard seasons over their first three years in Athens. Both could do so again this season if they remain healthy. They both saw limited action but racked up some big plays.
The two backs got off to great starts against an Appalachian State team that ranked in the top 20 in rushing defense last year. By the end of the game, the Bulldogs had piled up 223 rushing yards as a team. With Eason at the helm, the team started slowly. Once Fromm came into the game, the rushing game clicked into another gear.
Chubb paced the effort, looking like his 2014 self after coming back tentatively from injury in 2016. Against the Mountaineers, Chubb carried 15 times for 96 yards. He racked up touchdown runs of one yard and eight yards. It was a positive sign for Bulldogs fans as they hope for return to the top of the SEC East in 2017.
His backfield partner, Michel, was just as good. The other senior finished with 87 yards on 16 carries, while adding another touchdown to the scoreboard. Unlike the situation at quarterback, there are plenty of carries to give to both premier running backs. Georgia could lead the nation in rushing offense this year if the duo keeps it up.
3. No shutout, no problem for a still-stout Georgia defense
Appalachian State quarterback Taylor Lamb ran for a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. A late field goal added another three points for the visitors. The scores prevented Georgia from notching its first shutout in a season opener since 2003. But it was still a top-notch performance by the Bulldogs against a veteran Mountaineers offense.
The big performance came in the trenches, as Georgia held one of the top rushing offenses of 2016 to half its average of last season. Last year, Jalin Moore led the Sun Belt with nearly 108 rushing yards per game. As a team, Appalachian State averaged over 250 yards per game in 2016. Against the Bulldogs to begin the new year, Moore posted just 38 yards on 13 carries. Take away his 22-yard gain on the last play of the first half, though, and he averaged just 1.3 yards per carry on his other dozen touches.
Taylor Lamb was able to get some yardage. In addition to his 20-yard run for the Mountaineers’ only score, Lamb also hit on a 32-yard run in the first quarter. That play, though, was negated on the next snap by a 22-yard sack. Whenever it looked like Appalachian State might gain some momentum, the Bulldogs were there to clamp down. As a whole, the Mountaineers were held under 150 rushing yards.
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It was an all-around solid effort by one of the most veteran defensive units in the SEC. Kirby Smart and the defensive staff have assembled a strong unit in Athens. Even as they ponder what to do with their options on offense, the Bulldogs are going to continue to remain in games this year thanks to their strong play without the football.