Dynamic Georgia offense poses big threats, will serve as toughest test to date for Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Carson Beck and a crew of elite athletes, No. 5 Georgia’s offense will be the stiffest test so far for the top-ranked Texas Longhorns.

Beck has thrown for over 1,800 yards in the first six games of the season. This year marks his fourth year as a collegiate quarterback at Georgia and his second year as a starter. He nearly willed the Bulldogs to one of the greatest comebacks in college football history against Alabama , only to throw an interception on the Bulldogs’ last offensive play, leading to a Crimson Tide 41-34 win.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said he helped recruit Beck while coaching at Alabama, The Crimson Tide had him verbally committed, but in the end, Beck flipped to Georgia. Sarkisian knows Beck pretty well.

“He can make all the throws and has a real presence in the pocket,” Sarkisian said. “They have a scheme that fits him. They believe in the play-action pass, double moves, and they’re going to take shots downfield. They utilize the tight ends and running backs.”

Georgia wide receivers Arian Smith and Dominic Lovett both have over 300 yards this season. UGA’s lead receivers, who play well in tight coverage, add elite speed on the perimeter to open up the run game for the Bulldogs and Trevor Etienne.

Trevor, the younger brother of NFL running back Travis Etienne Jr., averages 5.3 yards per carry while also being an effective target for screen passes.

“He has a very good jump cut, he’s very elusive and you have to make sure you’re playing your gap,” senior linebacker David Gbenda said about Etienne. “We need to make sure we overemphasize the little things because stopping the run is one of the staples of our defense.”

Sarkisian said one of the keys to beating Georgia’s offense is to close off rush lanes and increase pressure to collapse the pocket, forcing more one-on-one matchups.

This is a measuring stick opportunity for the Longhorns’ defense, facing an elite offense for the first time this season.

“Each time [the defense] takes the field is an opportunity to seize momentum,” Sarkisian said.

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