ATHENS – Georgia coach Kirby Smart left the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Friday proud of his team, but aware that this is far from the Bulldogs’ best performance.
Georgia beat Cincinnati 24-21 in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, despite having 10 former out-of-game starters due to opt-outs, injuries and, in the case of James Cook, the passing of his dad.
It was a courageous victory for the Bulldogs ranked 9th (8-2), as they were behind Cincinnati (9-1) by 21-10 in the fourth period before trying to win in the final 53 seconds in the field goal Jack Podlesny yards.
The Bearcats, said Smart, deserved some credit for their preparation and intensity of play.
In fact, Cincinnati kept UGA at just 1 of 11 in third downhill conversions and kept the Bulldogs’ ground game at 45 yards in 24 attempts.
The Bulldogs averaged 498.3 yards per game and 41.7 points per game with Daniels in the center in the previous three games, but finished with 449 yards in the 24-21 win.
Georgia prepared with determination and did not forget the game, but the Bearcats played with a tremendous sense of urgency and emotion that was conveyed to their fans.
Here is a perspective on how the team qualified:
Quarterback (B)
Daniels came in the game’s winning run, 5 of 7 passes for 44 yards with no time limit to work on the final 1:28 to set up the winning field goal. Daniels’ interception was so much in Pickens, but his fumble was all his, as he failed to hold the ball in the face of the quick pass. Daniels was fired three times, under duress for much of the game. Stetson Bennett came off the bench to complete a sharp 12-yard pass in his only snap when Daniels was forced out because his helmet fell.
Running backs (B)
Georgia’s backs were unable to interrupt a 12-yard run against the Bearcats, on many occasions not having much room to operate due to the offensive line’s problems. Zamir White led the back with 11 loads for 39 yards, including a scorching 12-yard load and a 9-yard TD run. White had a fumble recovered by TE John Fitzpatrick. Kenny McIntosh did his damage with 5 receptions in 43 yards – three of his tracks on the game’s winning drive. Kendall Milton 4 carries for 10 yards and an impressive 22-yard catch and run.
Receiver (B-)
Georgie Pickens had a game of 7 receptions for 135 yards with a touchdown and a 51 yard dive. Pickens had a fourth-down conversion capture, but he also misinterpreted the coverage, resulting in an end zone interception and had a call on hold. The tight side Darnell Washington showed his big advantage with an inspiring 38-yard reception, and John FitzPatrick had 4 receptions for 41 yards. Karis Jackson had 3 tackles for 47 yards, but also a fall on the fourth down. Jermaine Burton was limited in training and showed, as he had 1 reception for 6 yards. Arian Smith showed promise with his 55-yard catch.
Offensive line (D +)
The Bulldogs opted to shuffle the offensive line and switch parts in three positions when Ben Cleveland gave up. Xavier Truss had his problems with his first start on the tackle on the left, including a back block, and Warren McClendon and Justin Shaffer were called in for a chop block. Daniels was fired three times and the racing game was strangled. The Bearcats defensive line was the clear winner in the attack.
Defensive line (A)
Smart considers his OLB part of the defensive line, so this Azeez Ojulari raises the bar here with his 3 sacks and key forced fumble in the fourth period that changed the momentum of the game. Adam Anderson also had 2 bags. Jordan Davis was dominant among tackles, and Devonte Wyatt had 4 stops and 2 TFLs.
Linebacker (B)
Nakobe Dean and Quay Walker led the defense with 7 tackles each, but there seemed to be an alignment problem when Cincinnati broke free in his 79-yard TD race. Dean had six solos, including an open field stop which prevented a first down and allowed UGA to take the ball back again and win.
Secondary (C)
Georgia was understandably out of sync with the lack of three former starters and Covid-related complications that forced changes in practices. Tyrique Stevenson started out of position as a cornerback and seemed to be defeated frequently as a cornerback, but he managed to break the pass at the end of the fourth period. Brini was another player pressured into action, and he had a third key downstream PBU and played better as the game progressed. Lewis Cine lost an open field tackle in the 79-yard TD race. Christopher Smith was solid.
Special teams (B +)
Jack Podlesny’s 53-yard field goal was a moment of oil painting, leading Georgia to victory. Jordan Davis also made a 3-point play with a blocked field goal that certainly proved to be great throughout the game. On a down note, Jake Camarda had a 4-yard punt that configured Cincinnati’s opening touch. Kearis Jackson had two kick returns for a total of 30 yards and two punt returns for a total of 1 yard. UGA was also caught sleeping on a fake punt that the Bearcats made.
Coaching (B)
Great credit to Kirby Smart and his defensive team for their range adjustments, UGA allowing only 32 yards in 27 moves after the 79 yard run in the second play of the second half. Smart said they may have underestimated the Cincinnati QB by entering the game. The offensive game plan was interrupted by UGA’s astonishing inability to run and deal with pressure, leading to speculation that the offensive team could also have underestimated their opponent. The team remained balanced and won, despite losing 10 ex-match holders, which says a lot to Smart and his technical assistants.
General (A)
It is no more difficult than watching attack, defense and special teams pass in the final two minutes. Georgia had to overcome Covid-19 like never before with affected personnel and practices. It also looked like the Bulldogs looked like a more rusty team, not playing since December 12th. Victory at the last second provides a good feeling when entering the off-season, along with a healthy reminder that there is room for many improvements.
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Game ball for Azeez Ojulari after he records 3 sacks, makes the game crucial
Kirby Smart shows a video of Richard LeCounte’s unique play