College GameDay addresses Adam Anderson allegations, impact on Georgia

Georgia linebacker Adam Anderson was recently suspended after a rape allegation. Anderson has been away from the team this week after being suspended indefinitely as the investigation progresses.

The College GameDay crew discussed the impact that the situation could have on Georgia’s defense, which has been dominant this season. Rece Davis began by pointing out that the primary concern is with the alleged victim, but that there are impacts on the field for Georgia without Anderson.

“So obviously when you have a case like this the first concern is with the alleged victim and making sure everything is handled properly from a legal standpoint, a university standpoint but there is a football and the impact on Georgia,” Davis said. “So what is that, without Adam Anderson who up to this point in the season leads them in sacks.”

David Pollack went on to mention that Georgia’s depth will take a serious hit without Anderson on the field. The Bulldogs’ success on defense has in part come from an ability to rotate and keep players fresh. That is now more difficult to successfully do.

“I think the biggest reason we all have Georgia number one in the consensus is because of their defense and it’s elite and its deep,” Pollack said. “And they rotate guys in and out and they have guys like Adam Anderson who doesn’t have to play 40, 50, 60 snaps a game. So this dents them where they’re the best. And it hurts their depth and it makes everyone else have to play more. Listen, they’re a team that wears everybody out. They just wear you down, wear you down, wear you down and now this is a guy on the field who you take off it hurts you depth. It hurts your defense and makes you less multiple. There’s a lot of things it hurts you on.”

The Anderson situation could impact Georgia’s cohesiveness, chemistry on defense

Kirk Herbstreit noted that part of Georgia’s defensive dominance has been because of its cohesiveness. The unit appears to have serious chemistry, leading it to success. The Anderson situation could drastically impact that for Georgia.

“The thing that we’ve always bragged about this Georgia team is how cohesive they are,” Herbstreit added. “You hope as a coach that a team develops that kind of chemistry. And they have it and he was a big part. He was right in the middle of that. So more than anything — they’re always going to have talent — are they able to withstand that aspect of the chemistry. And just kind of keep being who they need to be and keep playing football.”

Desmond Howard went on to echo Herbstreit’s statement. Howard thinks that the loss of Anderson could have impacts on the field today against Missouri for Georgia.

“As I was thinking about this situation what came to mind, football-wise, is the peace that you get on the defense and the common theme was how they were a close-knit unit. They were like a family,” Howard said. “Guys knew how to respond on the field without even communicating.

“They knew what the other guys next to them was going to do and that’s what made them such a special unit. Now you’re removing one of those pieces — a very, very important piece of that defense where they may not be on the same page as his replacement. So the defense, it’s going to be interesting to watch this defense today against Missouri and see if they show any types of chinks in the armor so to speak.”