Even though a huge chunk of Georgia’s defense from the championship Dawgs has moved on to the NFL the question looms…can we expect a major drop-off in 2022? My thought is don’t count on it.
The reigning national champions still have plenty of talent on that side of the line, led by massive lineman Jalen Carter, linebacker Nolan Smith, and defensive backs Kelee Ringo and Christopher Smith.
They’ll get a chance to claim the spotlight when No. 3 Georgia opens the season Saturday against No. 11 Oregon in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
In all, Georgia had 15 players taken in the draft — a record since the NFL went to a seven-round format.
The guy on the opposite sideline is certainly familiar with Georgia’s ability to shut down opponents.
We all know Dan Lanning served the last three years as Smart’s co-defensive coordinator. Now, he’s making his head coaching debut against a team he knows so well, having succeeded Mario Cristobal.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart, who agreed over the summer to a 10-year contract extension worth more than $110 million, downplayed the significance of facing a former member of his staff.
He’s already done it with two other ex-assistants, beating Arkansas’ Sam Pittman twice as well as knocking off South Carolina’s Shane Beamer.
EYES ON THE QB
Lanning declined to name a starting quarterback, but the Bulldogs have a pretty good idea who they’ll be facing.
Bo Nix transferred to Oregon after starting the past three seasons at Auburn, one of Georgia’s biggest Southeastern Conference rivals.
Nix is 0-3 against the Bulldogs.
“I know who the quarterback is going to be,” Smart said. “I’m not worried about that.”
There are no uncertainties about Georgia’s QB.
Coming off a storybook season in which he was picked as offensive MVP in both playoff victories, former walk-on Stetson Bennett is back for his sixth college season.
It’s quite a change to be the unquestioned starter after battling for playing time every other year.
ONCE A DUCK
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota, who won the Heisman Trophy at Oregon, will be an honorary captain for his alma mater.
Mariota believes the Ducks, who are 16½-point underdogs, have a chance to pull off the upset.
“They’re gonna be competitive,” he said.
Lanning hopes to build a program that turns out more players like Mariota.
“He stands for everything that I think Oregon football stands for,” the rookie coach said. “Thrilled that he gets to be around and we get to play in his home stadium.”
THREE-HEADED MONSTER
Georgia’s offense has a chance to create all sorts of matchup problems with an elite trio of tight ends.
Brock Bowers is coming off a dynamic freshman season, Darnell Washington is quite a handful at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, and Arik Gilbert had a stellar year at LSU before transferring to Georgia.
EXPERIENCED LINE
While Oregon has a bunch of new players, including 21 transfers, there’s one area where the Ducks have plenty of experience.
All five starters return on the offensive line, providing some much-needed stability amid all the changes.
The time has come to flip the coin and kick off the 2022 Duck football season. My advice…TAKE THE POINTS. This game is gonna be a great opener, one of the best I can remember.
Go Ducks!!!
