ATHENS – Arik Gilbert’s decision to move from LSU to Florida instead of Georgia can be summed up in four words: “There is only one ball.”
It certainly wasn’t difficult for Gilbert to determine that there is an opportunity for more passes to be launched towards him in Florida, where the Gators are replacing the projected choice for Kyle Pitts’ first round of what he could have received at UGA.
Bulldogs would have been an attractive option because they are in a position to compete in the College Football Playoff championship and play in a professional offensive system.
But Gilbert would probably have to wait until the 2022 season to get the kind of volume he was enjoying at LSU, where he averaged 7 receptions and 74 yards per game last season before giving up.
Florida is in the middle of rebuilding with Heisman Trophy finalist Kyle Trask advancing and questions from the quarterback.
The volume available in the Gators’ pass game, however, is indisputable.
The Gators are losing their first three pass catchers – Pitts and Kadarius Toney receivers, Trevon Grimes.
These three players combined account for more than half of Florida’s catches (151-296, 0.510) and receiving yards (2343-4272, 0.548), in addition to 32 of the Gators’ 42 TD passes (0.761) during the regular season.
Georgia, meanwhile, returns 170 out of 178 catches (0.955) at the moment, along with 2,364 out of 2,499 receiving yards (0.945) and 18 out of 19 TD catches (0.947).
So while some can and will do more of the decision made by Gilbert, a former Marietta High School 5 star prospect, it goes back to players and programs that find the right arrangements.
If Gilbert’s priority is as many or more targets as he had at LSU 2021, he is better off with Florida.
As in any other year, Georgia is better off with no player in the program dissatisfied with their duties or recruited under false pretenses, as this tends to create chemistry problems in the team.
Monken can and will add many tweaks and twists to the Bulldogs’ attack in 2021, but some elements are more obvious than others, including an intensified use of tight ends with Darnell Washington as the great benefactor.
The offensive backfield has the appearance of a mashup, with the starting role and the distribution of handoffs well in the air.
But the back will continue to be part of the game of passes with James Cook in an explosive way in the open and the dependable hands of Kenny McIntosh and route racing skills surpassing the options there.
At the receiver, George Pickens and Jermaine Burton project to be the main targets of the UGA next season. Dominick Blaylock can also return to function, depending on how quickly he gets back into shape after last year’s knee injury.
Much of what Monken plans and where JT Daniels goes with football is determined by how defenders choose to play UGA, but it is clear that Bulldogs have options in all positions.
The last four games of the past season, with Daniels as a defender, provided a sample of how the goal of participation can work over the 12 games of the 2021 season.
In these last four competitions, Georgia has played
• a game with many passes (41 called passes, 20 loaded) with the state of Mississippi
• a heavy running game (18 passes, 44 loaded) in South Carolina
• an amazing winning game (30 passes, 43 races) in Missouri
• a recovery game (42 passes, 21 runs) vs Cincinnati
Looking at how the 119 targets broke over the course of the final four games, it is clear that it is already a problem to find enough ball for everyone.
Over the last four games of the last season:
• Pickens took 23 passes from 33 targets for 373 yards.
• Burton had 17 receptions from 24 targets in 274 yards.
• Kearis Jackson had 9 receptions on 13 targets in 118 yards.
• Darnell Washington had 5 receptions for 8 targets in 107 yards.
• John FitzParick had 5 receptions from 7 targets in 49 yards.
• Arian Smith had 2 receptions for 2 targets in 86 yards.
Georgia’s running backs combined for 12 receptions on 17 targets in 128 yards.
The only player who has managed a pass in the last four games that is not returning – at this time – is the tight end Tre ‘McKitty, who had 3 receptions on 4 targets in 51 yards.
So, one should also consider:
• Arian Smith and Darnell Washington will see their target stocks increase significantly in 2021
• Blaylock returns from injury this season
, Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint has not played (injury) in the last four games of the season
• Kendall Milton has not played (injured) three of the last four games of the regular season
• Demetris Robertson is still thinking about returning to the team
Better than Georgia has not made promises to Gilbert that he could not keep, as he will have his hands full keeping his current list of recipients at the start of the autumn camp.
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