Dawg Tracks: 15 thoughts heading into Georgia-Florida

Here is this week’s Dawg Tracks column with Georgia preparing to face Auburn this Saturday.

1. As recent as 2023, Georgia’s defense was must-see television. It was relentless in pursuit, sound in tackling and aggressive at the point of attack. These days, it almost seems the defense needs a little luck, such as a dropped pass or a missed throw to get going.

2. Defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann has been by head coach Kirby Smart’s side before they came to Georgia. The defense’s performance has to be particularly disheartening for Smart, considering Schumann has long been viewed as his understudy. There’s no doubt Schumann possesses a smart and savvy football mind. He has coached a number of stellar inside linebackers who are now playing in the NFL. There is also no denying the defense has been a major disappointment through seven games.

3. Following Georgia’s loss to Alabama, Smart lamented that the Crimson Tide converted 13 of 19 third downs. At the time, the hope was that would be anomaly. It hasn’t been. The Bulldogs allowed Auburn to convert eight of 17 third downs and Ole Miss picked up five of nine.

4. For the season, Georgia ranks 14th in the SEC and 95th in the country by allowing opponents to convert third downs at a 41.7 percent clip. Just two years ago when Will Muschamp was calling defensive plays, Georgia finished No. 1 in this category (25.7 percent).

5. One problem is that despite Georgia being sound against the run, offenses have been efficient through the air. Georgia ranks 11th in the conference and 58th nationally by allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 61 percent of their passes. Add in a lack of a pass rush and teams aren’t in many third-and-long situations. In essence, opponents aren’t having to work as hard on third down as Georgia would like.

6. Will the same bumbling Florida team that has lost and nearly dropped games show up? Or will the coaching change spark from Billy Napier to Billy Gonzalez cause the Gators to play inspired and better football? Midseason coaching changes are risky but can pay off. With the bye, it’s obvious Florida athletics director Scott Stricklin eyed this game as a potential change for multiple weeks.

7. Since Smart has taken over the program, Georgia is 7-2 against the Gators. There was a long, long period where Florida owned this rivalry but that has changed over the past decade.

8. According to Chauncey Bowens and Jordan Hall, the coaching staff has been teaching the players about the importance of this rivalry. Smart went 1-3 against Florida as a player. That sticks with him to this day.

9. Speaking of Bowens, he said his calf is 100 percent following the bye. That’s good news against a Florida run defense that ranks seventh in the SEC at 117.7 rushing yards allowed per game.

10. While the Gators have statistically been decent against the run, Miami and Texas A&M both piled up yardage on them. The Hurricanes ran the ball 46 times for 184 yards and the Aggies carried the ball 42 times for 183 yards.

11. We will soon find out who steps up in Colbie Young’s absence. My best guess is Dillon Bell gets thrust into a bigger role.

12. It’s quite impressive that Gunner Stockton has only thrown one interception through seven games. Early in the season, there was a legitimate critique about Stockton needing to be more confident in pushing the ball downfield. He’s doing that now and is still making sound decisions. The Bulldogs will hope he continues to take his shots while protecting the ball.

13. In terms of betting odds, Stockton now ranks sixth for the Heisman Trophy at +1500. The five players ahead of him are Alabama’s Ty Simpson (+325), Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza (+325), Ohio State’s Julian Sayin (+400), Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed (+550) and Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia (+800).

14. Lawson Luckie and Oscar Delp combined for nine catches and 85 yards against Ole Miss. It will be interesting to see if Georgia continues to get the tight ends even more involved in the second half of the season.

15. Just a few years ago Smart said his team would not only refuse to be hunted, but that it would continue hunting other teams. After rallying to beat Ole Miss, Smart said this team was “hard to kill.” Times have quickly changed in college football. And in the era of NIL and the transfer portal, surviving each week is the name of the game.

ICYMI

Georgia players are still talking about Josh McCray’s impressive fourth-down run against Ole Miss.

Following Georgia’s future in Week 11 of the high school football season.

Trust in Stockton is on the rise within the program.

Georgia takes pride in recruiting legacy players.