There’s not a strong bond between Alabama and the Georgia Bulldogs.
Greg McElroy, who led the Alabama Crimson Tide to a national championship, has been openly critical of UGA following their disappointing 28-10 defeat to Ole Miss. Since joining ESPN in 2014, McElroy has established himself as a respected college football analyst, known for his candid insights that are not overly influenced by his Alabama background. His sharp criticism of Georgia’s 7-2 record post-loss carries weight.
On the “Always College Football” podcast, McElroy scrutinized Georgia quarterback Carson Beck’s performance, pointing out that Beck completed 20 of 31 passes for only 186 yards, one interception, and no touchdowns against Ole Miss. Over the last four games, he has thrown nine interceptions, but McElroy believes the issues run deeper than just Beck.
“It’d be easy to blame Carson Beck, but that’s not the whole story. Having watched Georgia’s offense closely this season, it’s clear their issues go beyond him. They lack a true No. 1 wide receiver and have the highest rate of drops in the nation. Their top wide receivers were dismissed from the team earlier this year,” McElroy remarked (h/t On3). “The current receivers struggle to create separation and lack downfield speed. Their route-running is poor, with many not effectively setting up defenders. This indicates a failure in attention to detail at the wide receiver position. … The drops have been devastating.”
In addition to criticizing the wide receivers, McElroy also addressed the running backs and offensive line.
“Trevor Etienne managed just six carries for 24 yards and spent a lot of the game sidelined due to a rib injury from the Florida game, which forced Nate Frazier to step in, averaging under 4 yards per carry. That just won’t work,” McElroy explained. “They’re combining various players on the offensive line, and frankly, I believe the offensive line played a significant role in their loss. They were simply not effective.”
Despite these challenges, Georgia is currently ranked No. 12 in the nation and still has a viable chance to qualify for the College Football Playoffs. A victory over No. 7 Tennessee next weekend could significantly change their circumstances. However, the road ahead won’t be easy, as this year’s squad is not the same dominant team that claimed back-to-back championships in 2021 and 2022.
“They need to take a serious look at how they approach opposing defenses and quarterbacks,” McElroy added.
