Coming Off a Loss, Bulldogs Have to "Keep Chopping"

The Georgia Bulldogs will have to "keep chopping" to push their way to compete in the postseason. We'll talk about what it will take for them to do so.

Keep chopping. 

This has been Kirby Smart's motto for Georgia since 2017, and for the most part, it has served him well. 

In November of 2017, #1 ranked UGA rolled into Jordan-Hare Stadium to battle the Auburn Tigers, only to leave with their tails tucked between their legs after and embarrassing 40-17 drubbing. 

October 13, 2018 brought the Bulldogs to Baton Rouge to face the other Tigers. of the SEC WEst. The #2 Georgia Bulldogs were taken down by the #13 LSU Tigers, 36-16.

Kirby Smart in loss to LSU in 2018

Now after that loss to Auburn in 2017, Georgia ran the table and found themselves in a rematch with the Tigers in the SEC Championship game. The Bulldogs would win emphatically, 28-7, on the way to the Rose Bowl, and eventually, the national championship game. 

2018 brought a similar path. After losing to LSU the Bulldogs again ran the table, only to fall short in the SEC Championship against Alabama.

Kirby Smart in warm-ups, prior to the 2018 SEC Championship Game

This season has brought another possible version of this script. Georgia dropped their first SEC East game since 2016 to South Carolina, losing 20-17 in double overtime. Many will point to pedestrian play-calling for a sleepy offense. Others will point to the odd, in-game decisions by Kirby Smart, such as not sending "Hot Rod" out to kick a field goal with 8 seconds left in regulation. Some may even point to the porous offensive line, riddled with injuries or a poor performance from Jake Fromm. 

The truth is, none of the matters now. 

What matters now is how this team responds. It matters how these coaches, players, and fans respond. 

Yes, we as fans have a responsibility here as well. A responsibility to rally around this team, and remind them why they have the best fanbase in college football. Fans have to keep showing up on Saturdays, ready to bring the noise. I think we all can agree some changes need to happen to Georgia's offense. 

Maybe it’s time to really stretch the field, and target guys like George Pickens and Dominick Blaylock more. With Lawrence Cager out with a few injuries for an unknown amount of time, more opportunities should arise for the aforementioned true freshman.

George Pickens makes jaw-dropping grab against South Carolina

It’s not going to be easy. The rest of the schedule for the Bulldogs only gets tougher from here with Florida, Auburn, and Texas A&M still on the schedule.

Georgia will see Kentucky in Athens, this weekend. This hopefully will serve as a catalyst for a motivated, re-energized Georgia Bulldogs football team. 

A bye week follows, and that leads into Jacksonville for the annual showdown with Florida. This will essentially serve as the "SEC championship qualifier", assuming the Bulldogs don’t completely overlook the Wildcats. 

So how does Georgia respond? What leader steps up and takes control? 

Jake Fromm will have to be near perfect from here on out. Going 28 for 51 in passing with 3 interceptions will not cut it in this stretch. 

The offense will have to be electric. Scoring only 2 touchdowns in a game will not be enough come November. 

Can 2019 playout in similar fashion as the past two seasons?

Absolutely it can. But the margin for error is gone. Georgia will have to be perfect here on out. They have the talent to do that. They have the coaches to do that. 

The biggest question mark is, do they have the mentality? We’ll soon find out, and I believe this team will surprise the entire country, very soon.