The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TENNESSEE AT UGA DOGS ADDRESS RASH OF DROPPED PASSES
Bulldogs work to end spate of letting balls hit ground.
There is a lot that goes into being a wide receiver, but the emphasis for that group at practice this week has been on the actual receiving part. Hand-eye coordination drills. Bad-ball drills. Catching with a defender in close coverage. And plenty more.
“Some of them are new,” sophomore receiver Michael Chigbu said. “Some of them we’ve been doing, but are just a little amplified.”
This comes after an epidemic of drops over Georgia’s first four games. There were “five or six” in the loss at Ole Miss, per coach Kirby Smart, including at least one in the end zone.
“These dropped balls are unacceptable for the whole receiving corps,” Chigbu said. “We can’t be doing that if we want to win, if we want to go down the long road, especially in the SEC . ... That has to change.”
Chigbu didn’t have a drop at Ole Miss, but he’s had a few in the first three games. Even the team’s leading receiver, junior Isaiah McKenzie, has been hit by the bug. He dropped a wideopen pass inside the 10-yard line at Ole Miss, a couple of plays after sophomore Jayson Stanley had a drop in the end zone.
McKenzie was asked if unfamiliarity with freshman quarterback Jacob Eason and the receivers still getting accustomed to his passes has had any effect. “Not really,” he said. “Jacob can throw different balls, the way he throws the ball. But we’ve just got to catch the ball no matter what, no matter how it comes.”
McKenzie also demurred when asked if having a third receivers coach in as many years or any change in drills that comes with that could be at play. “No, it’s just focusing on the ball,” McKenzie said. “If you focus on catching it for the most part, we’re doing the best job we can as receivers.”
For Georgia’s troubles moving the ball on the ground, the best way to open the running game may be through the passing game. Georgia has proven it can advance the ball through the air. Eason threw for 308 yards and three touchdowns in the 28-27 come-from-behind win over Missouri in Week 3.
But while Eason was off in the early going against Ole Miss, he was not helped by a bobbling receiving corps. If Eason and his wideouts and tight ends can all get on the same page and connect on deep throws early against Tennessee on Saturday, that could open up a run game that has seemingly been running into a brick wall the last few weeks.
There are indications Tennessee could be somewhat vulnerable in the secondary. The Vols lost All-SEC cornerback (and kick returner) Cam Sutton two weeks ago. Last Saturday, Florida hit them for 296 yards passing and three touchdowns.