Georgia football report card Grading Bulldogs’ position groups after win

Following No. 4 Georgia’s 37-10 road victory against Arkansas to begin the season, The Red & Black graded each position group’s performance. QuarterbackD'Wan Mathis was pulled early in the second quarter in favor of Stetson Bennett after struggling to maintain a drive on offense. Mathis looked uncomfortable to start the game, throwing a poor interception and running out of bounds early to force a punt. He was effective in the run game while struggling to find his footing through the air and avoid pressure. Offensive play calling hurt Mathis, but mental lapses like taking sacks and big hits did him no favors. Bennett was erratic in his early possessions with his passes, but led a much-needed drive into Georgia’s field goal range to end the half, going 5-for-7 for 59 yards. Bennett finished 20-for-29 for 211 yards and two touchdowns, adding 20 yards on five carries including a diving effort for a two-point conversion attempt to increase the lead to three. — Griffin CallaghanGrade: CRunning backsHad Georgia’s first half ground game returned for the final 30 minutes, the running backs would have received an F on the day. Pounding the middle generated just 48 total rush yards in the first half, with junior James Cook securing a team-high 20 yards on six attempts. Redshirt sophomore Zamir White recorded six yards on four attempts. As with the rest of the team, however, Georgia’s backfield looked energized after halftime. A run-heavy opening drive looked promising until Cook coughed up the ball on a third down push. But that was the running backs’ last mistake of the afternoon. White found his footing, picking up chunks of yardage here and there and opening up the Bulldogs’ passing attack. His lone touchdown at the top of the fourth quarter was Georgia’s only rushing score in the game, a disappointing result given the team’s need for a reliable rush to offset its quarterback flip-flopping.