First Half Thoughts From Athens

First of all, the crowd.

The dangerous thing about early success, like 93K Day two years ago, is matching that level going forward.

Georgia fans answered the call today, packing out the available seating in Athens of about 86,000. End zone seating on the west end was unavailable due to ongoing construction.

The high numbers hammer home to recruits what Kirby Smart wants them to see - the program, including the fans, refuses to be complacent on the past.

QBs, QBs

As a whole, both signal callers, Jake Fromm and Justin Fields have looked solid. Nothing flashy, but that is to be expected with a thin playbook in a spring game, also when you factor the defense on the other side of the ball being there, as well.

Fromm’s pick-six obviously is not a good thing, but it’s worth noting that it came off of an overthrown tipped pass. Fromm has also had a pair of long touchdown passes to Jayson Stanley and Riley Ridley dropped.

On to Fields. He has shined in his huge moment in front of the Dawg Nation. It has helped that he eased his way into thing some some screen passes and intermediate routes. His ability to make throws while moving around the pocket is something he has thrived at in the first half. Georgia’s coaches are also getting a better look at him given that Georgia’s top two running backs that are currently well enough to play, Brian Herrien and Elijah Holyfield, are playing opposite of Fields on the Red Team.

Fromm may still be the guy, but Fields will push him - something that fits perfectly into the mentality of non-stop competition, even on the practice field.

Keyon Brown

A rising senior, Keyon Brown likely knows his time to step up is running out. He has played like in in the first half, being credited with a sack and being active on the defensive front.

Motivated Defense

Georgia’s defense is responding well to being challenged by Kirby Smart. Deandre Baker’s pick six is part of a first half in which the defense, especially the secondary, has been all over the field making plays and preventing gamebreaking plays by the offense.