Ole Miss Rebels

Bulldogs who need to improve before the Ole Miss game

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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While Georgia got the win in Missouri, multiple Bulldogs need to improve before the Ole Miss test this Saturday.

Georgia cut it close in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday. They needed true freshman Jacob Eason to play some “grown man football” on a game-winning 80-yard drive to defeat Missouri, 28-27.

Many Bulldogs stepped up besides Eason to propel them to the win. Isaiah McKenzie and Quincy Mauger stand out the most.

But there were plenty of Bulldogs who struggled all night and forced the three aforementioned players to step up. Here are some players who need to step up themselves before Georgia travels to Oxford this Saturday to play Ole Miss.

4. Cornerback Juwaun Briscoe

Sep 3, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart talks with linebacker Reggie Carter (45) and defensive back Juwuan Briscoe (12) during the 2016 Chick-Fil-A Kickoff game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Georgia Dome. Georgia won 33-24. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

There’s not other way to put it, he was the weak link of Georgia’s secondary Saturday. Nearly every big completion by Missouri quarterback Drew Lock featured a receiver beating Briscoe.

He was beaten the worst on inside routes; he seems to have trouble anticipating when the receiver he’s matched up with is going to cut inside. That leads to the receiver making his cut and leaving Briscoe reacting a couple of steps too late.

To his credit, he was in the right place at the right time on three big occasions. He recovered a fumble after a big gain by Missouri in the first half, intercepted a pass from Lock and recovered the last fumble (after we was beat by a receiver again) to cement Georgia’s victory.

Maybe we will see more Rico McGraw or possibly Mecole Hardman Jr. in the near future (or Aaron Davis could go back to playing corner primarily). But ideally for Briscoe, he makes large strides in practice throughout the week and enters Oxford as a much improved player.

3. Place kicker William Ham

Sep 17, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs place kicker William Ham (92) is congratulated by offensive lineman Tyler Catalina (72) after kicking an extra point to give Georgia the lead against the Missouri Tigers in the second half at Faurot Field. Georgia won the game 28-27. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

People expect young kickers to struggle when they reach the FBS level, but people do not expect them to miss field goals as badly as William Ham. Both misses against Missouri were nowhere near being good. Both misses kept the game from being tied going into the final minutes.

Competition within the SEC is always top-notch, so a good place kicker is a necessity. Right now, Ham is not even serviceable.

He has to gain some confidence this week because he’s clearly a good kicker. He’s got the leg to kick for long distances, and he would not be kicking at the FBS level if he was not a talented kicker. Let’s hope Ham shores up his mistakes in the kicking game heading into the weekend.

2. Micheal Chigbu and Reggie Davis

Sep 17, 2016; Columbia, MO, USA; Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver Michael Chigbu (82) is tackled by Missouri Tigers linebacker Joey Burkett (34) in the first half at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports

With the run game being taken away and McKenzie likely facing more attention from defensive backs this week, Eason needs another target at wide receiver. So far, Terry Godwin has staked his claim to being Eason’s other first read.

But the freshman needs more. The tight ends, as a unit, are beginning to get their share of catches while Christian Payne had a great game against Missouri. But where is Michael Chigbu and the senior Reggie Davis?

Chigbu has dropped three passes in two games that really should not have been dropped. Eason needs to be able to rely on the receivers he has on the field. If one of them is prone to dropping good passes, then he will lose Eason’s trust.

Davis on the other hand just needs to get himself open. We can cut him some slack because he has had three possible deep catches taken away from him because of pass interference, and another one was taken away by a missed pass interference call. Take away the overly physical play, and who knows what his numbers could be right now.

1. The offensive line

Oct 3, 2015; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs guard Isaiah Wynn (77) and Alabama Crimson Tide defensive lineman Jonathan Allen (93) and linebacker Reuben Foster (10) collide in a tackle during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

We all knew this would be number one. For the second-straight week, Nick Chubb was held under 100 yards. He previously had not been held to under 100 yards in a game he started and completed since he was still Todd Gurley’s backup (not counting the 2015 Tennessee game in which he had one carry before he was injured).

Sony Michel is also having trouble finding running room, and Eason was sacked three times by Missouri. The pass rush has forced under throws and over throws by Eason. The line’s bad play forced the offense to abandon under-center formations last Saturday.

Fortunately Eason, McKenzie, Godwin and a few others negated the offensive line’s bad play with big plays of their own.

Defenses are not getting any weaker from here on out besides games against Kentucky and Louisiana-Lafayette, but those are November games. Georgia has Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Florida all before then. Those are some of the best defenses the SEC has to offer.

Georgia needs more from the offensive line immediately. It is not even an option.

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