The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on each of their first seven drives, including scoring runs by Ladd McConkey, Bennett and Kenny McIntosh, before Oregon scored a field goal early in the second quarter to get on the board for the first time in Saturday. Each of Georgia’s drives were 56 or more yards with the longest being a seven-play, 92-yard drive that ended on the first play of the second quarter. The 49-3 score was the largest margin of victory in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, eclipsing Alabama’s 42-3 victory over Duke to open the 2019 season. Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was shaky all afternoon in his Ducks debut. He completed 21 of 37 passes for 173 yards and threw two first-half interceptions that dug a hole the Ducks just couldn’t dig out of.
A new era for Georgia
This wasn’t just a victory lap for the Bulldogs, it was a statement that they have reached a new level. Coach Kirby Smart didn’t take the job to win just one national title and be satisfied — he took it to build a dynasty. You know, like the one he helped build at Alabama as Nick Saban’s defensive coordinator. It’s well on its way. Georgia lost 15 players to the NFL draft last season, five of which were defensive backs selected in the first round. Not to worry, though, because all the younger players did was pick up where those studs left off. Malaki Starks, a true freshman defensive back, made a dazzling deep interception in the first quarter that set the tone for a dominant performance. Defensive back Dan Jackson had five tackles, one of which was for a loss, in his fifth start for the Bulldogs. Jamon Dumas-Johnson, a reserve making his first career start, added three tackles and was all over the field. We didn’t hear much from defensive back Jalen Carter, linebacker Nolan Smith and defensive back Kelee Ringo on Saturday, even though all three of them are known commodities. Translation: This Georgia team is in plug-and-play mode. How many other teams in the country can say the same? Alabama? For sure. Ohio State? For sure. Clemson? Probably. That’s what it’s about. Smart is there to build a dynasty and the building process is almost complete.
Stetson is trusted
It seems Bennett is still viewed as a playmaker in some circles, but none of those circles were anywhere near Atlanta on Saturday. Bennett’s 368 yards is a single-game record for “The Mailman,” with his previous high of 340 coming in the same building in the SEC Championship Game loss to Alabama last year. This wasn’t just a dominant performance by Georgia. It was a sign that offensive coordinator Todd Monken trusts his quarterback as much as Saban trusts Bryce Young and Ohio State coach Ryan Day trusts CJ Stroud. Georgia’s offense ran through Bennett, not the run game. And this despite the fact that the defense shows that it has not lost a single defeat. Unlike last year, Georgia passed to set up a run by the nation’s No. 11 team — a team whose first-year coach, Dan Lanning, coordinated the Bulldogs’ defense last year. The running game will come; Anyone who watched the game saw how dynamic the backs are for Georgia. But it is clear that this offense has moved into a new era and makes it one of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
Kenny McIntosh is a problem
Georgia lost several pieces from last year’s national title team, and one of the most underrated players was James Cook. The younger brother of NFL star Dalvin Cook was a threat on the ground and through the air, and finding his replacement was one of the goals of the fall. McIntosh is clearly that guy. The junior had 18 rushing yards, one rushing yard and a team-high 117 receiving yards, including a 38-yard reception on a wheel run on Georgia’s final drive of the first half that led to a touchdown and a 28-3 halftime lead. There’s no shortage of skilled players on Georgia’s roster, and it’s clear that McIntosh is one of the next superstars in the making. His appearance as a Swiss Army knife is a good sign that the Bulldogs can not only replicate last year’s pass scheme with their backs, but potentially capitalize on it.
Oregon is far from a contender
The Ducks may be a contender in the Pac-12, but they have miles to go before they can be considered a national title contender. Heck, a spot in an expanded College Football Playoff might even be a shot. The difference in size and speed in both race lines was evident from the start. Nix was running for his life most of the day and threw a lot of passes that would have been caught if they were anywhere near his intended target. The defensive front gave Bennett time to set up a tent in the backfield, take a nap, wake up, drink some coffee and find open receivers down the field on a consistent basis. Granted, it was against the reigning national champions. However, if Oregon is going to be relevant on a national scale, it needs to at least be competitive in games like this.
