ATLANTA -- Defending national champion Georgia may have lost 15 players to the NFL draft, however the No. three Bulldogs looked just quality in the first video game of their title protection, blasting No. eleven Oregon 49-3 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday.
Even after dropping five protective players in the first round, together with No. 1 decide upon Travon Walker, Georgia's defense become too quick and actual for the geese.
After having misplaced the most gamers ever drafted from one school in NFL draft historical past, Georgia seemed like it'll still be returned seeking a CFP berth for the third time in wise's seven seasons.
however smart is aware of his young team nonetheless has a protracted means to go to get returned there, even after its lopsided victory within the opener.
"Expectations are basically already in verify," wise stated. "You wouldn't have to be concerned about that."
Georgia's offense, which played 2d fiddle to its record-atmosphere defense closing season, changed into lots extra explosive towards the ducks. Quarterback Stetson Bennett, a former walk-on who led the Bulldogs to their first national title in forty one years, accomplished 25 of 31 passes for a profession-high 368 yards with two touchdowns.
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With 21 seconds left within the first half, Bennett spun away from four Oregon defenders and by some means saw Ladd McConkey, who turned into huge open in the conclusion zone for a four-yard landing that gave Georgia a 28-three lead at the half.
After starting last season as Georgia's No. 3 quarterback and being thrust into the lineup only after JT Daniels changed into injured, Bennett is the undisputed starter this 12 months.
"I don't believe Stetson actually receives suffering from the rest I do, you do or anybody does," sensible said. "Stetson lives in his personal world, and he does a extremely decent job of blocking off out all of the noise. The guy had a flip phone, good enough, in 2021. He doesn't really get into all that.
"I believe that is what his variety of edge is, and he made some plays that he failed to make the correct selections on today, and he knows those. He knows his error. he's obtained to be wise. He does things that possibly we don't ask him to do. but he did make some performs along with his ft, and that i think you take the respectable, and i'm not going to call it bad, but you take the good along with his bad decisions."
Georgia scored touchdowns on each of its first seven possessions, converted its first nine third-down performs and went 6-for-6 in the purple zone. The Bulldogs didn't punt until early in the fourth quarter, when freshman Brett Thorson boomed a fifty three-yarder.
The ducks could not muster a good deal of anything else towards Georgia's rebuilt protection. Oregon had 313 yards of offense, averaging four.6 yards per play compared to the Bulldogs' 9.2. Georgia had two interceptions and stopped the ducks on a intention-line stand at the three-yard line with 1:22 left to play.
"We don't need to be the hunted," stated defense Christopher Smith, who had certainly one of Georgia's two interceptions. "We are looking to hunt."
Oregon was playing its first online game below new educate Dan Lanning, who changed into the Bulldogs' protective coordinator in 2021. It changed into a disappointing debut for Lanning, who's a first-time head instruct.
"he will do a extremely good job at Oregon," wise spoke of. "he is relentless. they will leap back from this and he is aware of we now have better gamers. He'll by no means say that, however he knows we have now bought better gamers."
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