Georgia ready to make postseason noise behind QB Jake Fromm in 2019

A blown pass coverage, a missed chip shot field goal and perhaps and an ill-advised fake punt have prevented Georgia from defeating Alabama in the last two football seasons.

The Bulldogs expect to get another shot at the Crimson Tide in this year’s Southeastern Conference championship game in Atlanta.

That’s assuming Alabama gets there, which everyone does.

That’s also assuming Georgia gets there, which everyone also does.

The Bulldogs are a consensus pick to prevail in the SEC East Division for the third consecutive season.

They have one of the best offensive lines in the nation, running back D’Andre Swift is a break away threat, the defense is effective and experienced and junior Jake Fromm is an efficient quarterback who makes few mistakes.

Coach Kirby Smart wants Fromm to make more big plays though.

“You have to be explosive in the passing game, which (Fromm) needs some help from the wide-outs to do that,” Smart said during the SEC spring meetings. "To be the guy in the locker room to maybe demand a little more excellence on both sides of the ball and special teams. I think he can do so many things from a leadership standpoint, a confidence standpoint.

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart is looking to make the SEC Championship game for the third consecutive year.

“When you’ve done it at a high level for two years, and you’ve got a chance to do it again, you ought to have more impact on the people around you. And that’s what we’re trying to get him to do.”

Few would doubt Fromm, who last season passed for 2,749 yards and 30 touchdowns with just six interceptions. However, the receiving part of the equation may be cause for some concern.

Receiver Terry Goodwin completed his eligibility. Receivers Riley Ridley and Mecole Hardman and tight end Isaac Nauta all opted for early entry into the NFL draft and were selected.

That leaves Georgia with junior Jeremiah Holloman, who had 24 catches in 2018, as the only returning wide-out with at least 10 receptions last season.

The passing game could be worrisome for the defense, too. No player on the roster had more than two sacks last season so pass rush is obviously a concern. 

Also, the secondary is now without All-American cornerback Deandre Baker, who also opted for early entry into the NFL draft. He was selected in the first round.

Of course, the general populace of Athens probably isn’t losing too much sleep. 

Georgia’s last three recruiting classes have ranked among the nation’s top three, so talented prospects are ready to step up and likely will give the Bulldogs another shot at Alabama in Atlanta.

That is, assuming Alabama gets there.

Georgia Bulldogs

Coach: Kirby Smart
2018 record: 11-3, 7-1
Postseason result: Lost to Texas 28-21 in Sugar Bowl

Returning starters (at least six starts)

• Offense (6): QB Jake Fromm, OG Trey Hill, WR Jeremiah Holloman, OG Solomon Kindley, OT Andrew Thomas, OT Isaiah Wilson
• Defense (7): DT Tyler Clark, LB Tae Crowder, FS Richard LeCounte, CB Tyrique McGhee, SS J.R. Reed, DT Julian Rochester, CB Eric Stokes
• Special teams (2): K Rodrigo Blankenship, P Jake Camarda

Areas of strength: Four starters return from an offensive line that allowed only 20 sacks and enabled the running game to average 238.8 yards per game. Star tackle Andrew Thomas leads the way up front, but gets plenty of help. The Bulldogs need to replace All-SEC center Lamont Gaillard, a sixth-round NFL draft choice. Trey Hill will move there from guard. Sophomore Jamaree Salyer, once a five-star prospect, figures to take Hill’s guard spot.

Areas of concern: The Bulldogs are hoping for better play in the defensive line. The run defense was solid, but the pass rush was average at best. Departed linebacker D’Andre Walker led Georgia with 7.5 sacks in 2018. Nobody else had more than two. Sophomore nose tackle Jordan Davis, a freshman All-American, figures to get better. Tyler Clark and Julian Rochester are returning starters, though more consistent production is needed from both.

Top three players:

• Andrew Thomas, OT: The 6-foot-7, 320-pound Thomas earned All-SEC honors and was selected to some All-American teams. He’s projected as a likely first round draft choice.
• Jake Fromme, QB: In two seasons as a starter, the highly-efficient Fromme has passed for 5,364 yards and 54 touchdowns while completing 64.8 percent of his attempts. He, too, is projected as a possible first round draft choice should be opt for early entry.
• D’Andre Swift, RB: The name certainly fits. The speedy Swift has rushed for more than 1,600 yards in his first two seasons despite sharing the load. He’s averaged 6.8 yards per carry and has scored 13 touchdowns in his career. His numbers likely will spike if he gets more than the 163 carries he got a year ago.

Biggest loss: All-American and Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Deandre Baker opted to enter the NFL draft. A perfect example of a shut down corner, he didn’t allow a touchdown pass in either of the last two seasons.

Impact newcomer: Does the name Nakobe Dean‍ sound familiar? Yeah, he’s the five-star Mississippi prospect that considered A&M before choosing Georgia. He enrolled early and had a strong spring in Athens. He might not start in the opener, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he emerges as a starter at outside linebacker at some point this season.

2019 Schedule

• Aug. 31 at Vanderbilt
• Sept. 7 vs. Murray State
• Sept. 14 vs. Arkansas State
• Sept. 21 vs. Notre Dame
• Sept. 28 OPEN
• Oct. 5 at Tennessee
• Oct. 12 vs. South Carolina
• Oct. 19 vs. Kentucky
• Oct. 26 OPEN
• Nov. 2 vs. Florida at Jacksonville
• Nov. 9 vs. Missouri
• Nov. 16 at Auburn
• Nov. 23 vs. Texas A&M
• Nov. 30 at Georgia Tech