Game Grades: Georgia Falls to LSU 36-16

Offense: D

The offense wasn’t a total dumpster fire today (although many times it did look like that). The run game was there early on as Elijah Holyfield (seven carries for 56 yards) and D’Andre Swift (12 carries for 72 yards) were gashing the LSU defense at times. But the team went away from the run, rather trying to win through the air later in the game - something that proved not to work well. Jake Fromm went 16-of-34 with two interceptions and a single touchdown, a rough showing. He needs to play better, holding the ball too long at times and missing receivers over the top. It wasn’t all on Fromm though, the blitz packages LSU were sending overwhelmed the UGA offensive line and put Fromm under great distress. There were slight glimpses of offensive hope today, but overall a very poor performance for the Bulldogs on offense.

Defense: D+

Well, three sacks kind of silence the doubts of the Georgia pass rush. That was the least of the concerns for Georgia today, though. Kirby Smart has made it very clear that this defense’s main priority is to stop the run. Today, the Bulldogs let up 275 yards on 51 carries, a just straight up abysmal total. Georgia was just straight up bodied by LSU today and the Tigers were able to create big holes. The issues didn’t stop there in the run game. Once LSU got to the second level, Georgia struggled to make tackles. Deandre Baker was able to make several bigtime pass breakups for the secondary, but that might have been the lone bright spot there. Several times were LSU receivers wide open deep down the field. Joe Burrow was able to hit them a couple times but could have had a few more had he hit those receivers.

Special teams: C

I’ve been standing by Jake Camarda for awhile saying that he’ll get better with time. Well, he’s going to need to get better and quick. Today, punting the ball six times for an average of 35.5 yards, was just unacceptable. He has got to be better. A big part of Georgia’s special teams' success last year came on the touch of Cam Nizialek's punts. Now, Camarda isn’t going to be what Nizialek was, but he has got to improve on what he showed today. With one punt landing inside the 20-yard-line, Georgia will need more from Camarda if this team truly wants to be a national contender.

Coaching: D-

Holyfield and Swift averaged eight and six yards a carry, respectively. The duo had a combined 19 carries. Even though they were rolling at times, Jim Chaney and Smart went away from that. They tried to win the game on Fromm’s arm, but Fromm is at his best when the run is working. Still, when that wasn’t working, Chaney kept going with it. It was not characteristic of the staff as they always mention their offensive identity is predicated on the run. The run was there, at least at times, and the coaching staff shied away from it.