WATCH: How 2019 sets up as Georgia football championship season
ATHENS — If Kirby Smart could script a championship season, it may not look too different than what his Bulldogs have accomplished through five games.
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Protect Jake Fromm: Check
One sack allowed through five games, enough said.
But seriously, is there anyone you’d rather have flying your airplane in a storm than the calm, cool and collected Fromm?
And he doesn’t even have a pilot’s license …..
Develop new and inexperienced receivers: Check
UGA lost its top five pass catchers from a season ago, but you’d never know it.
Lawrence Cager, Dominick Blaylock George Pickens and Demetris Robertson rank 1-2-3-4 in receiving yards. The top three are new to the team, and Robertson didn’t have a catch last season.
Stay healthy: Check
No season ending injuries. Isaiah Wilson, Solomon Kindley and Jordan Davis have had ankle injuries, but none season ending. Receiver Kearis Jackson is back from the broken hand he suffered in the opening game, and cornerback Tyson Campbell is on the way back from the foot injury he suffered in Game Three.
Increase “Havoc” rate: Check
Georgia has mets its Havoc goal of 20 percent in four of five games, recording sacks and tackles-for-loss, forcing fumbles and grabbing interception at an acceptable rate.
RELATED: Georgia’s improved run defense key
Schedule breaks: Check
The next three games are against teams that lost the quarterbacks they started the season with to injury (South Carolina, Kentucky and Florida) before a Nov. 9 home date with Missouri.
The Nov. 16 game at Auburn has been thought by most to be the most challenging game of the regular season, and its still might.
The Tigers, however, received the unfortunate news Tuesday that tailback Boobie Whitlow, will be sidelined the next 4 to 6 weeks on account of left knee surgery.
The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs still have some things to iron out, their short-yardage offense and punting, among the most notable.
RELATED: UGA short-yardage issues ‘unacceptable’
But overall, at 5-0 and with a relatively healthy and happy team, Smart and his No. 3-ranked team are in a pretty advantageous position.
Here are more thoughts about the 2019 Georgia Bulldogs: