University of Georgia Athletics
Photo by: Caitlyn Tam
Dawg Notes: Yes, Georgia Can Pass
November 04, 2017 | Football, The Frierson Files
By John Frierson
UGAAA Staff Writer
If anyone was wondering, and after last week's run-fest in Jacksonville, Fla., it would be understandable if you were, the top-ranked Georgia football team showed Saturday that it can throw the ball just fine, thanks.
"They run," South Carolina safety Chris Lammons told reporters this week, "they can't pass." Those words were bound to get attention and clicks, and they did. But they didn't mean much to the Bulldogs, who with an unblemished record and many big things still to play for, aren't exactly in need of motivation.
"I never knew they said anything about our passing game," said wideout Javon Wims after the Bulldogs bested South Carolina, 24-10, Saturday afternoon at Sanford Stadium. "We don't pay attention to that, we just work on our game plan and focus on our opponent."
Last week, in the 42-7 rout of Florida, Georgia didn't do much passing, because the Bulldogs didn't need to — such has been the case multiple times this season. Quarterback Jake Fromm was 4-for-7 passing, for 101 yards and a 17-yard touchdown, while the run game produced a dominating 292 yards on 35 carries.
On Saturday, Fromm completed 16 of 22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including a 10-yarder to Wims in the second quarter that gave Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC) the lead for good. With South Carolina loading up the box to slow down the Bulldogs' run game, Fromm was 7-for-9 for 76 yards in the opening quarter.
Fromm, the true freshman, came into the game averaging only 157.9 passing yards per game, with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He's not in the top 10 in the SEC in yards per game, but he entered the day second in passing efficiency.
"He doesn't play like he's a true freshman, he plays like he's a seasoned vet," said Wims, who led Georgia with five receptions for 46 yards. "The kid is very smart and he's a very good player."
Georgia's past two games at Sanford Stadium against the Gamecocks have produced two extremely efficient passing performances. Two years ago, Greyson Lambert set an NCAA record by completing 24 of 25 passes during the Bulldogs' 52-20 rout.
On Saturday, Fromm was sharp throughout, though the receivers deserve plenty of credit. On Wims' touchdown, that put Georgia up 14-7 in the second quarter, Fromm led the 6-foot-4 wideout with a pass at the left edge of the end zone. Wims was initially ruled out of bounds before instant replay showed that he'd somehow managed to both snare the pass with his right hand and get a foot down before going out of bounds.
"I felt confident — I knew I caught it, I knew I was in, I was just hoping [for the overrule] so I could get a touchdown," Wims said. He did, his fourth of the season.
Fromm's other touchdown pass was another beauty, also to the left side of the end zone. This time, on third-and-5 from the South Carolina 20-yard line, he hit Mecole Hardman for the score, putting Georgia up 21-7 early in the third.
Georgia showed some flash in the passing game, for sure, but in the end the run game led the way with 242 yards. Coach Kirby Smart used the words "grind" and "workmanlike" to describe the game.
"It takes what it takes [to win] in the SEC," he added.
Going Hunting
Georgia won the toss and deferred to the second half, which wasn't surprising. What was a surprise was the Bulldogs' ensuing onside kick. It didn't work, the Gamecocks recovered and started at the 50, but Smart said Georgia tried it because "it was there."
A bold play like that, he said, is part of his philosophy.
"I want to be aggressive at the University of Georgia, not be the hunted — I want to hunt," he said.
South Carolina had great field position after recovering the kick and converted a 16-yard pass play on first down. But the Bulldog defense clamped down after that and South Carolina wound up missing a 46-yard field goal attempt.
One reason Georgia can be bold and aggressive is because of its defense, which is among the best in the nation. The Bulldogs came in allowing only 11.9 points and 252.1 yards per game, both second in the SEC, and held the Gamecocks (6-3, 4-3) to 10 points and 270 yards.
Linebackers Roquan Smith (nine tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Reggie Carter (seven tackles) led the defense, which held the Gamecocks to 4-for-12 on third down.
Fourth-Quarter Carries
For senior running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Saturday's game was their second to last at Sanford. The two all-time greats for Georgia will play at home for the final time on Nov. 18, when the Bulldogs host Kentucky.
Like they have so often before, they provided the Bulldogs and everyone watching with some more memorable moments Saturday. Michel lined up in the wildcat and ran the ball in for Georgia's first score, though the play didn't go as planned.
Michel caught the snap and then, in Smart's words, ran "into a mosh pit" at the line of scrimmage. So Michel quickly cut outside to the right and sprinted in for his ninth touchdown of the season. Michel finished with 81 yards on 16 carries, while Chubb led the way with 102 yards on 20 attempts.
Coming into Saturday, Chubb had six fourth-quarter carries all season and Michel just three. For a change, with the game still in doubt in the fourth quarter, Chubb ran the ball seven times in the final period, giving him a season-high 20 rushes, while Michel ran it five times in the fourth.
Michel said it was good for Georgia to have to make meaningful plays late in a game. It's something the Bulldogs haven't had to do much of this season, not since the 20-19 win at Notre Dame, though practice is a different matter, he said.
"We practice this way," he said. "We have tight circumstances in practice, we practice these types of situations, so when these situations happen we're prepared for them."
UGAAA Staff Writer
If anyone was wondering, and after last week's run-fest in Jacksonville, Fla., it would be understandable if you were, the top-ranked Georgia football team showed Saturday that it can throw the ball just fine, thanks.
"They run," South Carolina safety Chris Lammons told reporters this week, "they can't pass." Those words were bound to get attention and clicks, and they did. But they didn't mean much to the Bulldogs, who with an unblemished record and many big things still to play for, aren't exactly in need of motivation.
"I never knew they said anything about our passing game," said wideout Javon Wims after the Bulldogs bested South Carolina, 24-10, Saturday afternoon at Sanford Stadium. "We don't pay attention to that, we just work on our game plan and focus on our opponent."
Last week, in the 42-7 rout of Florida, Georgia didn't do much passing, because the Bulldogs didn't need to — such has been the case multiple times this season. Quarterback Jake Fromm was 4-for-7 passing, for 101 yards and a 17-yard touchdown, while the run game produced a dominating 292 yards on 35 carries.
On Saturday, Fromm completed 16 of 22 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, including a 10-yarder to Wims in the second quarter that gave Georgia (9-0, 6-0 SEC) the lead for good. With South Carolina loading up the box to slow down the Bulldogs' run game, Fromm was 7-for-9 for 76 yards in the opening quarter.
Fromm, the true freshman, came into the game averaging only 157.9 passing yards per game, with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions. He's not in the top 10 in the SEC in yards per game, but he entered the day second in passing efficiency.
"He doesn't play like he's a true freshman, he plays like he's a seasoned vet," said Wims, who led Georgia with five receptions for 46 yards. "The kid is very smart and he's a very good player."
Georgia's past two games at Sanford Stadium against the Gamecocks have produced two extremely efficient passing performances. Two years ago, Greyson Lambert set an NCAA record by completing 24 of 25 passes during the Bulldogs' 52-20 rout.
On Saturday, Fromm was sharp throughout, though the receivers deserve plenty of credit. On Wims' touchdown, that put Georgia up 14-7 in the second quarter, Fromm led the 6-foot-4 wideout with a pass at the left edge of the end zone. Wims was initially ruled out of bounds before instant replay showed that he'd somehow managed to both snare the pass with his right hand and get a foot down before going out of bounds.
"I felt confident — I knew I caught it, I knew I was in, I was just hoping [for the overrule] so I could get a touchdown," Wims said. He did, his fourth of the season.
Fromm's other touchdown pass was another beauty, also to the left side of the end zone. This time, on third-and-5 from the South Carolina 20-yard line, he hit Mecole Hardman for the score, putting Georgia up 21-7 early in the third.
Georgia showed some flash in the passing game, for sure, but in the end the run game led the way with 242 yards. Coach Kirby Smart used the words "grind" and "workmanlike" to describe the game.
"It takes what it takes [to win] in the SEC," he added.
Going Hunting
Georgia won the toss and deferred to the second half, which wasn't surprising. What was a surprise was the Bulldogs' ensuing onside kick. It didn't work, the Gamecocks recovered and started at the 50, but Smart said Georgia tried it because "it was there."
A bold play like that, he said, is part of his philosophy.
"I want to be aggressive at the University of Georgia, not be the hunted — I want to hunt," he said.
South Carolina had great field position after recovering the kick and converted a 16-yard pass play on first down. But the Bulldog defense clamped down after that and South Carolina wound up missing a 46-yard field goal attempt.
One reason Georgia can be bold and aggressive is because of its defense, which is among the best in the nation. The Bulldogs came in allowing only 11.9 points and 252.1 yards per game, both second in the SEC, and held the Gamecocks (6-3, 4-3) to 10 points and 270 yards.
Linebackers Roquan Smith (nine tackles, 1.5 sacks) and Reggie Carter (seven tackles) led the defense, which held the Gamecocks to 4-for-12 on third down.
Fourth-Quarter Carries
For senior running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, Saturday's game was their second to last at Sanford. The two all-time greats for Georgia will play at home for the final time on Nov. 18, when the Bulldogs host Kentucky.
Like they have so often before, they provided the Bulldogs and everyone watching with some more memorable moments Saturday. Michel lined up in the wildcat and ran the ball in for Georgia's first score, though the play didn't go as planned.
Michel caught the snap and then, in Smart's words, ran "into a mosh pit" at the line of scrimmage. So Michel quickly cut outside to the right and sprinted in for his ninth touchdown of the season. Michel finished with 81 yards on 16 carries, while Chubb led the way with 102 yards on 20 attempts.
Coming into Saturday, Chubb had six fourth-quarter carries all season and Michel just three. For a change, with the game still in doubt in the fourth quarter, Chubb ran the ball seven times in the final period, giving him a season-high 20 rushes, while Michel ran it five times in the fourth.
Michel said it was good for Georgia to have to make meaningful plays late in a game. It's something the Bulldogs haven't had to do much of this season, not since the 20-19 win at Notre Dame, though practice is a different matter, he said.
"We practice this way," he said. "We have tight circumstances in practice, we practice these types of situations, so when these situations happen we're prepared for them."
John Frierson is the staff writer for the UGA Athletic Association and curator of the ITA Men's Tennis Hall of Fame. You can find his work at: Frierson Files. He's also on Twitter: @FriersonFiles and @ITAHallofFame.
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