James Cook responds to Georgia's offensive struggles, change at quarterback

Stetson Bennett has been a focal point for college football talking heads all season.

Prior to the SEC Championship loss to Alabama, there was little reason for Kirby Smart and an undefeated Georgia Bulldogs to consider making a change at quarterback.

But now that the third-ranked Bulldogs enter the College Football Playoff still reeling from that Alabama loss, a game where Bennett and the Georgia offense sputtered at times. For the game, Bennett finished 29-of-48 for 340 passing yards, three touchdowns and two costly interceptions to go along with three sacks.

With the Playoff semifinal game vs. Michigan up next, Georgia star running back James Cook was asked about the issues that plagued the offense against the Crimson Tide.

“I mean we just didn’t score,” Cook said. “The defense got off the field against Alabama. “We just didn’t score when we had opportunities to score, that’s plain and simple.”

Cook didn’t flinch when asked directly about Bennett and rumors of a possible change under center heading into the Michigan game.

“I got all the faith in Stetson,” Cook responded. “I’m riding with Stetson until the end. He got us to this point, so what’s the point in getting him out of the situation he’s been in, for real? He got us to this point, so I’m going to ride with him until the end.”

Jordan Battle explains how Alabama secondary flustered Stetson Bennett

Alabama shutdown Georgia in the SEC Championship Game in ways no team has thus far in 2021. Crimson Tide safety Jordan Battle helped keep Georgia quarterback Stetson Bennett flustered, even getting an electrifying pick-six courtesy of the Bulldogs signal caller.

Moving the football was like pulling teeth for Stetson Bennett and the Bulldogs. All in all, the Georgia quarterback passed for 340 yards against Alabama — tossing three touchdowns and two interceptions in the process. However, Georgia was dominated in the second half, outscored and shutdown by the Crimson Tide.

After the gigantic victory, Battle explained how the Alabama secondary lived in the head of Bennett.

“I think the main thing in this game was our disguises,” Battle said of defending Stetson Bennett. “We put in a lot of disguises this week. That was the big thing. Just have his eyes wandering around before the play.

I think we did a good job on the back end and linebackers stemming and disguising. So I think that was a big part of the game.”

For now, it seems like Smart, Cook and everyone involved with Georgia football are sticking by Stetson Bennett with a fierce Michigan defense up next in the path to college football’s ultimate prize.