Georgia still feeling the impact of Brock Bowers' absence

It’s only been one game, but Georgia is already feeling the effects of having Brock Bowers out of the lineup with a sprained ankle. There were subtle signs on Saturday, even in a thoroughly dominant 43-20 win over rival Florida.

There were just one or two times the offense didn’t quite click on all cylinders.

“I still think you’re feeling some of the effects of Bowers, red zone stuff and his ability to create things for other people down there,” DawgsHQ’s Jake Rowe said on the Andy Staples On3 show. “Georgia was hit and miss, and I’m sure Mike Bobo would probably tell you he’d like to have a play or two called back, or Carson Beck or however those got called. Some of those run, run, passes.”

If Saturday was a rough day without Brock Bowers in the lineup, Georgia will probably willingly suffer a few more of those.

Even with the hiccups, Georgia managed to pile up 486 yards of total offense, including 315 yards passing. The offense struck at will and repeatedly against the Gators, with the Bulldogs taking charge early and never looking back.

It was actually another player returning from a lengthy injury that helped pave over Bowers’ absence, though.

Ladd McConkey has been dealing with a debilitating back injury that has made getting on the field tough this fall, but he’s finally starting to come around. He was the perfect replacement for some of Bowers’ production.

“Ladd McConkey was massive,” Rowe said. “That touchdown, the 41-yard touchdown that gave Georgia the lead was kind of vintage Ladd McConkey. There are some guys that are like stack monsters, in the stack, the offensive lineman, defensive linemen. He’s a space monster. He did a great job there, and that was what he can bring to the offense.”

McConkey finished the game with six catches for 135 yards and a touchdown, leading the team in receiving.

Georgia will likely continue leaning on the savvy veteran while Brock Bowers recovers, potentially eying a late-season return to the lineup if all goes well.