Carson Beck credits offensive line for Georgia's big offensive day: 'If they're going, we're going'

Georgia rolled up Ole Miss on Saturday evening in Sanford Stadium, bullying the Rebels defense on the way to a 52-17 win. After the victory, quarterback Carson Beck lauded the offensive line for keying in the victory.

The Bulldogs were balanced, rushing for 300 yards while Beck and backup Brock Vandagriff combined to throw for 311. And it was a consistent onslaught, with Georgia scoring double-digit points each quarter.

“Also, I didn’t get touched all day. I’m just a little dirty because I slid a few times. I gotta avoid the hits. But they had a great game, I think we had 600 total yards of offense. We run behind them. If they’re going, we’re going. So, super proud of them,” Beck said to sideline reporter Holly Rowe.

The offense also got healthier, with tackle Amarius Mims returning to the line. As did star tight end Brock Bowers.

Bowers had three catches for 34 yards, including a touchdown. He played a healthy share of offensive snaps and looked sharp in his return from ankle surgery less than a month ago.

“We all know the player that he is. And he comes the same time every single game. He’s going to be the same exact guy. Hard worker, grind it out, make plays,” Beck said.

And Georgia is now the 2023 SEC East champion, with a trip to Atlanta and the SEC Championship Game locked up. There, the Bulldogs will face Alabama.

Beck, in his first year starting, was proud of the accomplishment.

“I mean obviously it’s a huge deal. Especially to get a win like this is super exciting for the team. I mean we had a great game on all facets of play,” Beck said.

The offense had already been rolling when Smart spoke to Rowe at the half

Georgia got a huge boost by getting Bowers back on the field. He and fellow Beck staple Ladd McConkey getting back to full health would only further help their case to win the SEC and make the College Football Playoff.

But for now, Smart is just happy with how Bowers and McConkey are playing.

“Well, they’re both really good kids and they’re great playmakers,” Smart said in an interview with ESPN’s Holly Rowe. “To have them out there together is really helpful. I thought our offensive line has done a great job protecting and we’ve been able to run the ball well.”

McConkey leads all Georgia receivers at the moment, having four receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown. Bowers is not his normal self from a statistical standpoint, having just two catches for 26 yards. But fresh off tight rope surgery on his ankle, you cannot expect too much from the tight end.

Smart also discussed how Georgia is faring against Ole Miss tempo

Everyone on the Georgia staff knew how Lane Kiffin was going to approach Saturday’s game. He wants explosive plays from his offense and can do so by running some tempo. Jaxson Dart is an experienced guy and is comfortable moving quickly.

Smart says moving forward, getting stops on first down will be key, not letting Ole Miss get into a rhythm. Stopping the run is also going to be a message he gives to his team in the locker room.

“Well, we got some first-down stops,” Smart said. “They’re potent. They’re fast. They go with tempo. We settled down a little bit, played some of the runs a little better.”

A lot over the past few years has been made about how deep Georgia is, especially on the defensive front. That really comes in handy when going up against an offense like Ole Miss. Getting those stops on first down keeps them at a slower pace and allows Smart to substitute.

As the game rolls on, getting fresh bodies in there will be critical. And if even the backups can perform well for a few snaps, Georgia is going to be in a good position.