Georgia's fast start fuels Dawgs to dominant victory over Kentucky

ATHENS, Ga. — Slow starts have been an issue early in the Georgia season, but as the Bulldogs hit the halfway point of their 2023 campaign (or at least the regular season of it), there was no such issue to be found.

Saturday night in a 51-13 win over No. 20 Kentucky, UGA scored touchdowns on its first three possessions and cashed in for points on the first six. That was the entirety of the Dawgs’ first half action offensively, propelling them to a 34-7 lead at the break. Quarterback Carson Beck completed his first 12 passes for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He said that the fast start was something that was an emphasis for Georgia this week in practice.

“It’s something that we’ve been trying to improve. We’ve started slow in every other game this season. Just tried to have a different approach throughout the week during practice and then obviously leading up to the game. How could we have more energy coming out? We were able to do that and execute at a high level,” Beck said. “We were just executing. We had a few plays where we got guys open, had some yards after the catch, made some explosive plays. That always helps as far as rhythm and momentum go.”

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart didn’t know what Beck was talking about in terms of the different approach at practice – or he chose not the give up whatever it was that they found. However, he couldn’t help but notice the Bulldogs’ ability to get out of the gate.

“I thought our players started fast. The offensive staff had a great plan and executed the plan,” Smart said.

“I attribute the success starting to execution,” he added. “Carson was really in a rhythm early, and when you run the ball, you have play action and your offense line protects, you have good throwers and catchers, you’re going to do well.”

The fast start offensively also helped the defense start strong. Kentucky’s first two drives totaled just 40 yards, both crossing into UGA territory temporarily before ending back on the opposite side of midfield.

“It’s a great feeling whenever the offense goes out and goes down the field and scores on the first drive. It’s like, ‘Okay, not it’s our turn,’ cornerback Kamari Lassiter said. “It just gives up a boost, going out there knowing that those guys just went out and drove the field. It makes us want to go out there and put out the fire even more.”

Smart talked about the slow starts this week and said that it was “absolutely something we need to improve.” He said that they “look at everything.” Prior to Saturday night, Georgia had scored just 17 points in a combined five first quarters. However, as Smart pointed out, it wasn’t an inability to move that ball that was keeping the Bulldogs off the board, rather certain circumstances – be it starting the game on defense or failing to execute on offense and/or special teams.

Having improved on the first quarter scoring, Smart made sure to point out it isn’t something that necessarily has to happen every game, but certainly was something that helped.

“I mean we haven’t done it, and we still won,” Smart said. So, it certainly helps the start fast, to do things well, the play well, to have a good plan and execute the plan, but it doesn’t mean that the times we didn’t the plan wasn’t good. We just didn’t always execute it. We played well offensively especially tonight, and executed well. That definitely helps momentum wise.”

The Bulldogs have just one game remaining before their bye week, traveling to Nashville this coming weekend to take on Vanderbilt. Georgia will look to get off to a fast start once again, doing so this time in the early window of games around the country. Kickoff time is set for 11:00 a.m. locally in the Music City, 12:00 p.m. ET, on CBS.