Elite or not, JT Daniels’ availability will shape Georgia football season

ATHENS – One of the mantras of this Georgia football team is: “You are either the elite or you are not”. Through five games, it’s pretty clear that Georgia is in the elite category in most areas. Defense, special teams, talent for sure.

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart mentioned the word elite 14 times during his press conference on Saturday. He has made a point of using that specific word as Georgia progresses into the 2021 season.

“The buy-in to this has been great. The kids get it, ”said Smart. “There isn’t a lot of gray area where it’s 50-50. Either you are or you are not. No one wants to be. Everyone wants to be part of the elite, at least in this group, and that kind of permeated our team.

The Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0) beat Arkansas (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday. The final score of 37-0 did not indicate a game between the country’s No.2 and No.8 teams. Part of that can be attributed to the talent the Bulldogs had over Arkansas. But Georgia were also playing with their quarterback in Stetson Bennett. Imagine what the score could have been with JT Daniels able to play.

Related: Kirby Smart Deepens Injury Status Of JT Daniels, “It’s Out Of Our Control”

Daniels was out again on Saturday as he is now struggling with a grade 1 lat strain. Smart said Daniels’ status is weekly, adding that Georgia’s quarterback will be the pre-game decision for Auburn.

Georgia weren’t the only top-ranked team to blow up a ranked foe on Saturday. Alabama absolutely roughed up the No. 12 Miss Ole. The final score was 42-21, but the Crimson Tide had a 42-7 lead at one point.

There is no doubt that Alabama and Georgia have been the two best teams in college football this season. Question their schedules as much as you want, but these two teams have passed all the major tests so far. More often than not, both teams won by dominating. They certainly did on Saturday.

The same cannot be said of the rest of the best teams in college football. Florida’s No.10 and Oregon’s No.3 lost to unranked opponents on Saturday. The Notre Dame No.9 lost at home by double digits to Cincinnati. Oklahoma once again won a one-scoring game against an unranked opponent from the Big 12.

If Georgia and Alabama continue to play head and shoulders above the rest of the country, the two programs will likely be on a collision course for the SEC championship game. Georgia still have tough games against Auburn, Kentucky and Florida, but each of those opponents has shown signs of weakness this year.

If there is one complaint from the region about Georgia, it’s the lack of availability when it comes to Daniels.

“JT cannot control his lat injury,” said Smart. “There is nothing I can say. I spoke to the coaches of the Cowboys, the Yankees. We’ve done all of that research. There’s nothing else we can do but let it heal

Smart may not like the questions about Daniels and what he means for Georgia’s potential. Bennett was once again good enough to lead Georgia to victory on Saturday. But no one can look at Bennett’s 72 yards on 11 attempts and declare that elite.

Smart ducked a question about what Georgia’s cap might be this season, saying he’d rather focus on growth instead.

If Georgia’s offensive will continue to grow, Daniels offers the opportunity to maximize the offensive return. The Bulldogs have got Darnell Washington back and hope to see other receivers like Kearis Jackson, Dominick Blaylock and others take on expanded roles in the coming weeks.

The offensive line and running game made significant strides forward on Saturday, as the Bulldogs ran for a season-high 273 yards. So at Smart’s point, Georgia has shown signs of growth.

But offense has always been at its best when Daniels is under cross. And if the Bulldogs are to continue to be part of the elite, it will eventually require Daniels to play first and then play well.

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