Georgia offensive line facing biggest challenge yet
The Georgia offensive line is getting ready for its first major test.
The Bulldogs opened the 2025 season with home games against Marshall and Austin Peay. The offensive front has been a bit of a mixed bag through two games, with plenty of good and bad.
Now the competition steps up with a road trip to Tennessee. Georgia’s intensity in practice has reflected the uptick in competition.
“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a difference,” offensive tackle Monroe Freeling said. “We try to prepare for each opponent the same way, but when it comes to SEC schedule we really ramp up the intensity.”
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart isn’t shying away from the challenge his line will face. He has been preparing his team for what SEC play will be like for weeks.
“I don’t think you can say, all right, well, let’s go out here and rest up and take it easy early game,” Smart said. “I mean, if you want to have physicality, you’ve got to reflect it. It would be unjust for me to not have them be as physical as they need to be at times during the week, to put them out there in a situation that’s going to be extremely physical. You’ve got to have enough left in the tank, but you’ve got to test the tank and make sure that you’re calloused and tough and physical.”
Georgia entered 2025 with an emphasis on the run game. The early returns have been positive. The Bulldogs have rushed for 214.5 yards per game and 5.1 yards per attempt over their first two games.
The pass protection, however, has been less solid. There have been times where the protection, particularly on play-action attempts, has failed quarterback Gunner Stockton.
“I mean, it’s strain,” Freeling said of the keys to pass protection. “Strain, strain, strain. It’s what we stress every single day, especially in our play-actions and our drop backs. Keeping less pressure in the pocket. Just straining for as long as we can.”
The signature moment of the season’s first two games came at the end of the first half against Austin Peay.
Georgia did not score despite running five plays from the one-yard line at the end of the half. Freeling showed his frustration as he walked off the field, yanking his helmet off and yelling as he headed to the locker room.
“It’s not our standard at the end of the day,” Freeling said. “Frustration comes in on our feet, one of our players getting hurt, one of our good freshmen getting hurt. And it’s all those emotions, combination of just that drive. And I probably lost my composure a little bit, but it’s just the passion. I love the game of football. You hate to see when you stress yourself on being the best line and having the best fundamentals, and then you don’t score when you’re on the goal line.”
This Saturday will provide a true litmus test for the Georgia offensive line. The Bulldogs go from overmatched competition to facing the stout front of an SEC foe.
The Georgia big men aren’t shying away from how much of a challenge Saturday afternoon presents.
“It’s our biggest test so far,” Freeling said. “I mean, all the fundamentals, everything we worked over the offseason, redefining our technique and all those things. It’s going to be the biggest test for sure, and we’re excited.”