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Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) in action during the Georgia vs. Alabama game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024. Alabama won 41-34.(Photo/Laney Martin; @LaneyMartinPhotography)
No. 2 Georgia football’s comeback attempt fell short against No. 4 Alabama on Saturday evening in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Following the game, digital sports editor Olivia Sayer graded each position group’s performance during the Bulldogs’ 41-34 loss.
Quarterbacks
Carson Beck had arguably his worst performance as a Bulldog, finishing with four turnovers, a safety and several passes that went through the hands of Alabama defenders. The quarterback looked solid on Georgia’s opening drive, as the Bulldogs stretched the field — an element of the offense that was missing against Kentucky. However, Beck often appeared rattled throughout the game, throwing behind and in front of receivers on numerous occasions. He finished 27-for-50, as Georgia attempted its largest comeback in school history. Despite the shaky performance, Beck threw for three touchdowns on a career-high 439 yards and drove the Bulldogs’ down the field multiple times late in the game. He also helped the team convert five-of-five fourth down attempts, as Georgia drew within a touchdown. However, a fourth-quarter interception — Beck’s third of the game — on an underthrown pass in the end zone to Colbie Young sealed the loss.
Grade: D
Running backs
The running backs did not have much of a chance to showcase their abilities, as an early deficit forced Georgia to throw the ball often. Trevor Etienne was mainly used in early-down situations and a pair of ‘must haves’ late in the game. Etienne fumbled on his first touch but recovered by dodging defenders for a fourth-and-1 conversion in the second quarter. The Florida-transfer ran for 55 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, making him the only Bulldog to record double digit yards rushing. The lack of carries left the tailbacks running routes, where Cash Jones hauled in a 30-yard pass in the fourth quarter to set up Dillon Bell’s 9-yard rushing touchdown.
Grade: B
Wide receivers
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Bulldogs this season was who would step up at wide receiver, and through four games, the question has yet to be answered. Arian Smith let a deep sideline pass fall through his hands on Georgia’s opening drive but rebounded nicely with a career-high 132 yards. Dominic Lovett, who became Beck’s go-to-receiver earlier in the season, led the team with 12 targets. However, Alabama locked him up and allowed just 59 yards on six receptions. Bell used shifty route running to get wide open on Georgia’s go-ahead score, and he finished with a career-high 100 yards receiving. However, the Bulldogs will need to see more out of their wide receivers — and less penalties — if they are to match the SEC’s elite offenses.
Grade: D+
Tight ends
Tight end play was inconsistent throughout the game.The bright spot was Lawson Luckie, who hauled in a clutch touchdown in the fourth quarter and was on the receiving end of a successful 2-point conversion. Beck also went to Oscar Delp on multiple occasions, but the junior was unable to reel in both of his targets. Stanford-transfer Ben Yurosek continued to struggle in the blocking game.
Grade: D+
Offensive line
The offensive line was a major point of discussion due to its poor play against Kentucky. However, facing the Crimson Tide, the unit stepped up. The Bulldogs only allowed three sacks, with the offensive line sharing fault for two of them. Behind a unit missing Tate Ratledge and later in the game Jared Wilson, Georgia ran for 80 yards, a sizable number considering the amount of times it threw the ball. The most costly play came with less than two minutes remaining before halftime. With Georgia backed up at its own 5-yard line, the Crimson Tide rushed eight. Two defenders came free, and Beck heaved the ball down the field for an ensuing safety.
Grade: B
Defensive line
Georgia struggled to get Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe to the ground, as illustrated by the Crimson Tide’s four-straight touchdown drives to begin the game. The Bulldogs did not contain the perimeter against Milroe, who recorded a 26-yard run — longer than any Georgia running back — on first-and-19. However, the defensive line settled down in the second half. The unit, which saw the returns of Mykel Williams and Warren Brinson, only allowed 17 yards rushing in the second half compared to 156 on four more attempts in the first half. The Bulldogs had no sacks, seven tackles for loss and one quarterback hit.
Grade: C-
Linebackers
Georgia’s linebackers were flying around the field but struggled at times. On Alabama’s second drive of the game, CJ Allen had a late break to a running back in motion and got beat on a wheel route for a touchdown. However, he recovered nicely with a massive tackle that rivaled Roquan Smith in the fourth quarter. The hit stopped Alabama a yard short on third down with three minutes to go in the game, giving Georgia a chance to score its go-ahead touchdown. Smael Mondon Jr. also delivered a big hit right before halftime that led to an interception for the Bulldog defense. However, like the defensive line, the linebackers struggled to pressure the quarterback and did not contain the edge.
Grade: C
Secondary
Alabama’s Ryan Williams showed the hype surrounding the 17-year-old wide receiver is real. Despite Georgia’s best efforts to jam him, Williams finished with 117 yards receiving on just six receptions. He made a tip-drill catch against Malaki Starks that resembled the ‘Prayer at Jordan-Hare,’ while Starks played one of the worst games of his collegiate career. Starting corners Daylen Everette and Julian Humphrey routinely got beat on the outside, and the Bulldogs’ struggled to tackle throughout the game. One bright spot from Georgia’s secondary came when Dan Jackson intercepted a pass Mondon Jr. knocked loose with Alabama in the red zone, but the offense surrendered a safety just three plays later.
Grade: D+
Special teams
Georgia’s large deficit left Peyton Woodring and Brett Thorson on the sideline for most of the game, but special teams still had an impact. The Bulldogs’ saw their streak of zero punt returns that dated back to the 2022 SEC Championship snapped when Ryan Williams returned one for a loss of four yards on Georgia’s first punt of the game. Thorson had one kick land inside of Alabama’s 20-yard line but was overall unable to flip the field. In the return game, Anthony Evans III had a solid return to begin the second half that came as a result of an Alabama unsportsmanlike penalty. However, the Bulldogs did not capitalize on beginning the drive at their 41-yard line.
Grade: B+