By Brant Daughtry
Between the Hedges and a Hard Place
Auburn will face its first road test of the season this Saturday, and it’s hard to think of a more difficult test they could face. Kirby Smart, now in his seventh season as UGA head coach and fresh off a national title, is leading another contender.
Last year, Georgia finally reached the pinnacle. Behind an offense loaded with weapons, a quarterback who made no mistakes, and defense that put up historic numbers, the Bulldogs won the national championship. That defense had nine players taken in the NFL Draft, including five first rounders, and the number 1 overall pick. So you would think that the team, especially the defense, would have something of a rebuilding period. Unfortunately, Smart has built a machine at UGA. The Bulldogs have been a contender for more years than not under Smart, and have played in six consecutive New Years Six bowl games, making the College Football Playoff twice.
This year, Georgia is off to another hot start, sitting at 5-0 on the season. They’re 2-0 in-conference and 3-0 against the Power 5. The Bulldogs have looked somewhat weak in their last two matchups, close calls with Kent State and Missouri, but have otherwise looked ferocious, including a 49-3 win in the season opener against Oregon. Stetson Bennett is back for his third year as the starter for Georgia, and his having his best statistical season yet, having already thrown for over 1,500 yards and five touchdowns, adding another four on the ground. I’ve always admired Stetson Bennett. The chatter surrounding him has always been that he was a stop-gap player, one who takes snaps while you wait for a significantly more talented player to get healthy or get on campus. Meanwhile, he keeps racking up wins, and was named the MVP of the national championship game. Stetson Bennett is a very, very good quarterback, and he always has been.
Players to Watch For:
Tight ends Brock Bowers, #19, and Darnell Washington #0- Usually I limit this selection to one offensive player, who is not the quarterback. Unfortunately, Georgia’s tight end room is too loaded for me to pick just one. Bowers is far and away the best tight end in America right now, being named an All-American last year in his true freshman season, and a pre-season All-American this year. When he needs a breather, or Georgia wants to bring in another tight end, in steps 6-foot-seven-inch, 270-pound specimen Darnell Washington. The junior doesn’t let the defense have any rest, as both of them create endless matchup problems. Between the two of them, Bowers and Washington have 526 receiving years and two touchdowns.
Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, #88- Carter’s statistics don’t leap off the page when you look at pure numbers, but the reason for that is two-fold. One, Carter plays defensive tackle, a position that usually has the task of muddying up inside runs for the linebackers to clean up. Two, Carter is the kind of player you game plan to avoid. Carter is a physical specimen, and it takes a lot to keep him out of the play. He only has five tackles on the season, and has yet to record a sack. However, he has been credited with seven QB hurries, which is a lot for an interior defensive lineman.
I’m not going to sugarcoat this. I don’t have high hopes. Auburn is facing a team with superior talent, and a coach that is much better established. If the rumors are to be believed, Bryan Harsin will not be at Auburn much longer, and Kirby Smart just got a contract extension that will make him a rich man for a long time. The fact is, these two teams are at the opposite ends of the spectrum, one trying to build a dynasty that has had a very strong start, and one that is seemingly floundering. Georgia hasn’t looked good the last two weeks though, and Auburn MIGHT be figuring things out offensively. If Auburn somehow manages to win this game, it could change the course of the program years down the line. However, if what I think will happen does happen, Auburn may continue down a dangerous spiral, and fire its second coach in two-and-a-half seasons. Where does Auburn go from there? That’s a dangerous question.
