Georgia is struggling this season with a current record of 7-2 overall and 5-2 in conference play. Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart’s morale may take a further hit after hearing Joel Klatt from Fox Sports deliver a harsh critique of their offense ahead of a significant matchup against Tennessee this Saturday, which has major College Football Playoff implications.
“Georgia controls their own destiny,” Klatt remarked on The Herd with Colin Cowherd. “But I’ll say one thing: their offense is nowhere near what it was in previous years. They ranked in the top five for offense the last two seasons, and now they sit at 50th. They have dropped more passes than anyone else in the SEC, and the offensive line is severely lacking; there’s a clear disconnection.
“While people can point fingers at Carson Beck—and I understand that the quarterback often bears the brunt of the praise and blame—he certainly deserves some criticism, especially due to the 14 turnovers he’s committed in the last six games, which is the highest in college football during that span. That needs to improve. However, nothing else around him is functioning well; the offensive line is performing poorly and was dominated by Ole Miss,” Klatt stated, candidly airing Georgia’s issues ahead of this crucial game. Kirby’s offense is struggling, and the defense will need to step up to secure a win against Tennessee, likely requiring a low-scoring game to do so.
As of Week 12 in the College Football Playoff Rankings, the Bulldogs are positioned at No. 12, meaning they are the first team just outside the playoff bracket and hold the best chance to re-enter the top 12. If Smart can lead his team to victory against Tennessee, followed by wins against Massachusetts and Georgia Tech, they could finish the season at 10-2—a respectable record that might place them back in the top 12, particularly if other teams within that ranking falter.
