Georgia Bulldogs news and notes for Wednesday

As far as examples of how tight ends continue to evolve in this modern age of college offense, look no further than Brock Bowers.

Georgia fans can certainly attest to that.

Bowers has been used in ways many had not imagined. After all, how many tight ends have already rushed for three touchdowns, including one for 75 yards on a sweep? How many have electrified stadiums like Bowers did at Williams-Brice in Columbia, S.C., when he took a pass from Stetson Bennett and took it for a 78-yard touchdown?

Bowers would be the only one, as he continues to show he’s not an ordinary tight end.

“He's unique, but I think the position has evolved, right? So, he's evolved with the position,” head coach Kirby Smart said. “As he was growing up and younger, he saw tight-ends doing things in the NFL that the traditional tight end of the New York Giants lining up in 13 personnel with three O-linemen as tight-ends is no longer the tight end.”

Considering how the Bulldogs are able to utilize Bowers’ versatility, no doubt opposing defensive coordinators are up late at night trying to find ways to stage a better defense.

“Georgia’s tight ends are a matchup nightmare,” Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker said. “(Bowers) running a jet sweep is something I’ve only seen from (Travis) Kelce of the Chiefs.”

Baker’s Missouri defense will get to see for themselves how UGA offensive coordinator Todd Monken plans to utilize Bowers on Saturday night (7:30 p.m., SEC Network).

According to Smart, Monken’s using Bowers just like he promised when he signed him out of high school two years ago.

“If you've watched his high school tape, he was not really just a tight end. So, I think part of the sale in recruiting was you won't be used just as a tight end,” Smart said. “Now, tight ends are different within tight ends, just like receivers are different within receivers, and running backs are different within running backs. Now, at tight end, there's a variety within the tight-end room that I think exists, which makes him different. And it's okay to be different at that position because offenses have modernized, and he's been part of that evolution.”

For a Georgia team looking to get more explosive plays from its running game, Missouri’s defensive front could prove a challenge.

"They're really physical and big up front. They did a good job of stopping the run last year versus us. Their size up front, their athleticism up front, is really aggressive,” Smart said. “They played Auburn really aggressive in terms of the box count they were in. Some of the run stunts they run are some of the ones we run.”

The Tigers have their faults, but Missouri’s defense is so far not proving to be one.

Mizzou is allowing 108 yards per game on the ground, a number that sits as the sixth-best mark in the SEC.

“They're getting after it and challenging you to do something outside of that. They don't have to have that many and they can still stop the run because they're physical up front,” Smart said. “If you just watch our game last year, a lot of the same people are playing on both sides. I feel like Missouri has always been massive and one of the most physical fronts to play against."

McClendon

… McClendon on what the team wants to clean up from last week: “No penalties, finish in the red zone. Penalties hurt us, so just cleaning that stuff up.”

… Relationship with Amarius Mims: “Amarius is like my little brother. We sit next to each other in the meetings. We talk ever day. I push him, he pushes me. When he pushes me, he’s helping me get better.”

… What Mims has improved on the most: “Just talking more, seeing more stuff, seeing it before it happens, being able to make calls, being able to let everyone know that we may have a backside pressure or a frontside pressure coming. It’s just him talking more and seeing stuff better.”

… On playing the first night game of the year: “It’s going to be good. We’re looking forward to it. Back-to-back 12-o’clock games? We’re finally getting a shot at 7:30 and we’re ready.”

… Assessing the play of the offensive line: “We’ve played physical. We want to come out and run the ball and play physical. There are some little mistakes we’re making that we’ve got to get rid of. We just need to keep getting better.”

… Regarding his family in Brunswick with the approaching Hurricane Ian: “I’ve talked to my mom, earlier in the day, actually. They canceled school for them Thursday and Friday, so they’re getting ready for whatever comes their way. I’ll probably call her after this, too.”

… McClendon is looking forward to getting Arian Smith back: “He’s looking good. He’s back running and stuff. He’s coming back. There are not a lot of people with his type of speed, having him on the field is definitely a good weapon for us."

Ratledge

… Ratledge on his comfort level: “I feel like I’ve picked up with the speed of the game, just how things go, but I still feel there’s a lot I need to work on, actually, stuff where during the game I’ve let loose and messed up on. A lot comes down to footwork, sometimes I play too high.”

… On the issues last week against Kent State: “We just have to play to our standard, and I don’t think some of us did that game, me in particular. There’s a lot of things we can work on with that. They showed a lot of fronts which is something we don’t see a lot in practice, but with a week of practice that should not have been an excuse.”

… Ratledge doesn’t anticipate crowd noise at Missouri being a problem: “It’s (crowd noise) is always a big speed bump, but we work on it every day. We’re in our indoor and they’re blaring crowd music and I still haven’t heard a stadium louder than that.”

… Although his Lisfranc injury has healed, precautions are taken: “I wear insoles and I still work on my calf to strengthen it just because I was immobile for so long. I still get treatment on it just because there are days when it bothers me. But right now, it feels like nothing ever happened.”

… McClendon will make his 28th consecutive start.

… Stetson Bennett needs 161 more yards to surpass Mike Bobo for seventh on Georgia’s career total offense chart (Bennett has 5,894, Bobo has 6,054).

… Through four games, Georgia’s offense is on pace to be a record-setting unit:

• Scoring offense – 41.3 in 2014

This season – 42.3

• Yards per play – 7.08 in 2012

This season – 7.6

• Total Offense – 483.1 in 2013

This season – 531.5

• Passing Yards Per Game – 338.3 in 1994

This season – 360.5

• Completion Percentage – 67.70 in 2018

This season – 73.3

• Scoring defense – 10.2 in 2021

This season – 8.0