Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith named AP midseason All-American
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Roquan Smith receives midseason All-America honors
With the success Georgia football is having, it’s likely many Bulldogs will receive individual plaudits and awards this season. Even though we’re just midway through the college football season, one Georgia player has already made a name for himself as a potential All-American by the end of the season.
Inside linebacker Roquan Smith was named to the Associated Press midseason All-America first team. Smith leads the Bulldogs in tackles this season with 53 total (29 solo) through seven games. That total is also good enough for fifth in the SEC.
Outside the numbers, Smith consistently sets the tone for this Georgia defense by consistently charging toward the ball and being in the right position to make a play. If he continues his current form the rest of the season, chances are good he’ll be named to the the final AP All-America team and find himself under consideration for the Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in college football.
And don’t think it’s just the AP that’s noticed the fantastic season Smith is having. He was also named a midseason All-American by Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and Sporting News. Like with the AP’s, he was the only Georgia Bulldogs player to make any of those All-America teams.
Why giving up 28 points to Missouri isn’t a big deal
Lots of Georgia fans are sweating the 28 points the Bulldogs allowed Missouri to score last Saturday. After six games of near-perfect defensive football, how did they give up four touchdowns, including a pair of 63-yard bombs, to the worst team in the SEC? The answer to that question may be simpler than you think: Missouri might have the most explosive offense in college football. From Bill Connelly at Rock M Nation:
It’s early, and the opponent-adjusted figures are still kind of funky because of iffy opponent adjustments, but when you take Mizzou’s raw standard downs numbers (42nd in success rate, fourth in big plays), and adjust for the Tigers’ having faced quite a few good standard downs defenses (Georgia, Auburn, etc.), and … Mizzou’s offense now ranks No. 1 in Standard Downs S&P+.
The major reason for that, of course: big plays. Again adjusting for opponent, Mizzou ranks first in IsoPPP+, my measure of the magnitude of a team’s successful plays.
Kirby Smart on why Jacob Eason didn’t play
As you likely noticed, sophomore quarterback Jacob Eason didn’t come on in relief of freshman Jake Fromm Saturday against Missouri, even after the result was well in hand. When asked about his decision to keep Eason out of the game at a press conference Tuesday, Smart said the decision was made based on the situation and that he didn’t want Eason in the game to just hand the ball off. From Seth Emerson of DawgNation:
“Really just didn’t think about it much,” Smart said. “There was that last drive, we were handing the ball off, we weren’t going to throw the ball, trying to get a first down. I don’t think that’s a big concern right now.”
“I think given the opportunity to go in and develop and throw the ball it’s different. At that point we weren’t going to do that,” Smart said on Tuesday. “We felt like in the Vandy game we could. In that game we weren’t going to. So we let the other guy finish it off.”
Injury updates
Georgia’s main goal for the bye week is to get healthy before the showdown with Florida on Oct. 28. And Georgia fans got some good news on the recovery front Tuesday. Both WR Terry Godwin and DT Trent Thompson appear to be on track to play in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party. Godwin injured his ribs in the win over Missouri, while Thompson missed the last two games with a sprained MCL. Linebacker Reggie Carter has also been cleared to return to practice after missing the last two games with an undisclosed injury.
There are still a number of players out as of Tuesday, though. Defensive linemen David Marshall and DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, both of whom sat out the Missouri game, missed practice Tuesday. Reserve offensive lineman Pat Allen didn’t practice as well.
In other good news, outside linebacker Davin Bellamy is no longer playing with a club on his hand. “It’s back to regularly scheduled programming,” Bellamy said.
Kirby Smart praises Mark Richt
Just a week ago, it was Mark Richt praising the state of Georgia football. Now Smart has returned the flattery and tipped his cap to the job Richt is doing in his second season coaching the Miami Hurricanes. From Chip Towers of DawgNation:
“I think Mark’s done a tremendous job,” Smart said following the Bulldogs’ practice on Tuesday. “I actually got to see some of the Miami game because we watched (Georgia) Tech some this week, so I saw some of that game. Their defensive coordinator Manny Diaz does a tremendous job and they’ve beaten Tech two years in a row now. I think Coach Richt has a rejuvenated energy and he’s done a good job. They’re playing really hard and they’re recruiting well. He’s always done a tremendous job.”
Dawgs on Twitter
🚨 #TRENCHMOB 🚨 #ATD pic.twitter.com/rZInQsc7rE
— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) October 17, 2017
…and you shall receive. ✋️🏈🤚#ATD pic.twitter.com/wVAevuY8sw
— Georgia Football (@FootballUGA) October 17, 2017
#DawgsOnTop the nation in terms of strength of record, according to ESPN. #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/QzX1FxVAE2
— UGA Football Live (@UGAfootballLive) October 17, 2017
Good dog
Who doesn’t love a wall of peanut butter?
Using peanut butter to distract your dog (so you can wash it) pic.twitter.com/DYUayekKYU
— The Human Experience (@thehumanxp) October 17, 2017
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