Why UGA Football Is The BEST 3rd Down Team In College Football
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ATHENS - Kirby Smart and the UGA Football team are the best in the country at one very important part of the game.
Nobody is better on 3rd down than Georgia.
Defensively, the Bulldogs are 1st in the country in 3rd down defense, allowing just 25 3rd-down conversions in 100 attempts. That 25% is best in the country.
They attack you on 3rd down. They make stops and get off the field. That’s what championship-caliber defenses do.
It’s so tough to nickel and dime Georgia down the field. You have to hit explosive plays, and that’s damn-near impossible to do for four quarters.
3rd down is the most critical down, and defensively, that’s where Georgia’s at their best. They are 8th in the country right now in total defense, giving up an average of just 272 total yards a game. But on 3rd down, nobody is better. Glenn Schumann’s group has given up just 25 first downs on third down, and we’re eight games into the season.
That’s an impressive number and a big reason why Georgia’s defense continues to be “elite’.
Of course, they’re dominating 3rd down on offense too...
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With Carson Beck leading the way, Georgia’s offense is 3rd in the country in 3rd down offense with a success rate of .563%. Only Michigan (.565) and LSU (.578) have a better success rate on 3rd down than Georgia.
A lot of that success can be attributed to offensive coordinator, Mike Bobo. He does a great job of giving Beck easy, efficient throws early in downs, making 3rd down as easy and as manageable as possible.
It’s doing the little things offensively that make that happen. Don’t go backwards, play disciplined, and execute the game-plan. Georgia does that as well as anyone in the country. Of course, having a veteran quarterback makes it easier. Beck has been very good on third down this season, and he’s kept drives alive with big throws down the field. He distributes the ball, understands his role, and consistently puts the offense in a great position as it relates to 3rd down.
There’s a lot to like about this Georgia team, but through the first eight games of the season, their dominance on 3rd down may be the most impressive.
HERE ARE THE NUMBERS:
Against Florida, the Bulldog offense was 6/12 on 3rd down. The Gators were just 4/11.
Against Vanderbilt, the Bulldog offense was 11/16 on 3rd down. The Commodores were just 2/9.
Against Kentucky, the Bulldog offense was 5/11 on 3rd down. The Wildcats were just 2/11.
Against Auburn, the Bulldog offense was 8/13 on 3rd down. The Tigers were just 2/12.
Against UAB, the Bulldog offense was 10/13 on 3rd down. The Blazers were just 4/15.
Against South Carolina, the Bulldog offense was 5/13. The Gamecocks were also 5/13.
Against Ball State, the Bulldog offense was 6/12. Ball State was just 4/15.
Against UT-Martin, the Bulldog offense was 5/12 on 3rd down. Martin was just 2/14.