No. 1 Georgia used to be dealt a devastating blow on Monday amid the news that tight finish Brock Bowers will go through tightrope surgical procedure to fix a sprained ankle suffered in Saturday’s win over Vanderbilt and the celebrity playmaker is anticipated to pass over a number of weeks of motion. In a free up, the varsity mentioned that Bowers is anticipated to make a complete restoration.
The Napa, California, local used to be the Bulldogs’ main receiver all through the previous two nationwide championship-winning seasons and used to be smartly on his strategy to a three-peat after racking up 567 yards and 4 touchdowns via seven video games this season. The offense for the ultra-talented Bulldogs has long gone via Bowers because the day he stepped on campus previous to the 2021 season. Whether making the catch or hard consideration to disencumber the remainder of the offense, he has been the center-piece, particularly this season amid the transition to Mike Bobo’s moment stint as offensive coordinator with this system.
Bowers’ damage begs the query: What does Georgia do now? This is the most important take a look at trainer Kirby Smart has confronted all through the Bulldogs dynasty, and he has to sort things temporarily if he needs to make historical past through main this program to a historical 3rd consecutive nationwide name.
Pressure at the tight ends
Sophomore tight finish Oscar Delp will face extra force than any one else on offense. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound sophomore is recently 5th at the group in receiving with 13 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He’s had a decent season, however the Bulldogs will want him to be a lot more than “respectable” in the event that they wish to proceed to increase this offense in the similar method that it used to be trending previous to the damage to Bowers. Make no mistake, Delp is a big-time prospect who is reputedly able to stepping up. The Cumming, Georgia, local used to be a four-star prospect, the top-ranked tight finish and the No. 51 total participant within the 2022 elegance.
This is not the primary time that Georgia has had a good finish coping with an ankle factor. Freshman Lawson Luckie, who stepped in at the back of Delp after Bowers’ damage towards Vanderbilt, underwent tightrope surgical procedure for a sprained ankle in August. Like Delp, Luckie used to be a four-star prospect, the second-ranked tight finish and the No. 68 total participant all through the 2023 recruiting cycle.
Can both of those gamers exchange what Bowers delivered to the desk? Probably no longer. That’s asking approach an excessive amount of. However, each are excellent sufficient to do paintings over the center, are forged as run blockers and proficient sufficient to stay the offense operating during the tight finish place as a lot as conceivable.
Can a real vast receiver step up?
Smart has applied Bowers and operating backs out of the backfield as receivers relatively slightly during the last two-plus years, however that may have to modify over the following couple of weeks. Ladd McConkey got here again from a again damage previous this month and has been one of the crucial extra dependable cross catchers all through the two-year nationwide name run. The veteran is getting wholesome on the proper time and can most likely must shoulder extra of the weight than he has at any level all through his Georgia occupation.
Veteran Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint has had moments of brilliance all through his occupation, Missouri switch Dominic Lovett led the Tigers with 846 receiving yards final season and Mississippi State switch RaRa Thomas used to be delivered to Athens, Georgia, through Smart to be extra than simply an ancillary piece to the 2023 offensive puzzle.
The Bulldogs be capable to play extra of a normal emblem of soccer through operating the ball and dealing off play motion to receivers outdoor and excessive. If they have got to depend on their receivers and first-year beginning quarterback Carson Beck — which is extra possible than conceivable at this level — they have got choices.
Figure it out
Georgia has been closely criticized for what some perceived as a cupcake agenda, however that narrative exists within the eyes of the beholder. What is not controversial is that, after the bye week, issues are going to crank up relatively slightly.
Florida is not precisely a juggernaut, however you by no means know what will occur in a competition recreation. Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee are all recently ranked within the AP Top 25. Whether they nonetheless are on the time their respective matchups roll round continues to be observed, however house video games towards the Tigers and Rebels adopted through the street shuttle to Neyland Stadium to take at the Volunteers is not the perfect slate following the damage to Bowers.
The timetable for restoration from tightrope surgical procedure is anyplace from 4-6 weeks, which means that the earliest he’s going to go back inside of that timetable is the Tennessee recreation. And assuming he does heal temporarily, will he also be 100%? Georgia can paintings via Bowers’ damage. It has the skill and choices on offense to stay issues firing at a rather top stage towards its hardest stretch of the season.