Adversity can shove you down paths that seem treacherous but are a blessing in disguise. That’s what happened with Kirby Smart and his Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game. The Georgia offense was essentially stagnant and devoid of any dynamism all through the first half. They garnered a total of 54 yards on Texas’ nation-best defense. Right before the midway point came a watershed moment. QB1 Carson Beck went down with an injury to his throwing arm. What could have potentially ensued pandemonium actually became the reason for their success.

The injury forced the introduction of backup QB Gunner Stockton. This switch behind center essentially transformed Georgia’s modus operandi back to its roots under Kirby Smart. The Bulldogs leaned on their run game and defense the rest of the way. They scored a TD on their very first drive with Stockton, which revitalised the whole team en route to a 22-19 OT win. Not only did this reform their traversal to the proverbial crown to the southeast. It’ll permeate over to the playoffs. That’s what CFP savant and analyst Josh Pate discerns.

Pate echoed the notion that the switch caused a revitalisation of sorts. Speaking on his namesake YouTube channel, Pate said, “[Georgia] have historically been able to lean on a ground game. They’ve been able to lean on defense. They’ve got a ton of elite players in that locker room, prideful players in that locker room. What can happen is when your starting quarterback goes down, you get a galvanization that happens in the locker room. It happened at halftime against Texas.” He proceeded to elaborate on why Stockton’s introduction could be the battery up their backs. Georgia needed to make a run at the Natty.

“I’m of the belief you’re going to see a really good version of Georgia in the playoffs. Everyone [is] looking at them and discounting them… because they’re going to play their backup quarterback. What you perceive as a weakness could end up being a net strength. Not because Gunner Stockton is as good as Carson Beck. But here’s what really matters. If Gunner’s play brings out the best of that team, then that team will be better equipped to win a national title than they would have been [with] Carson back playing. That’s what matters here. That’s why [he’s] a wild card,” said Josh Pate.

These comments are far from an indictment of Carson Beck. It’s very conspicuous that Carson is a different type of quarterback to Gunner. However, he’s also a different type of person. Carson Beck projects as an introspective, flat-lining QB who doesn’t let emotions get to him. Stockton, on the other hand, leaned into his emotions and the magnitude of the game. When he ran through literal pain inflicted by Texas’ run defense for first down after first down, it rallied his peers.

It could well be the case that Kirby Smart was successful after Stockton’s introduction only once. The Longhorns did not prepare for him. Now that teams know he’s going to play, they’ll be able to contend with him better. However, there is a tangible reason why moving to a run-centric offense is Georgia’s best shot in the CFP.

Reasons for Kirby Smart’s struggling pass-offense go beyond Carson Beck

The Georgia Bulldogs have been perennial contenders in the Kirby Smart era. Year after year, they are in the reckoning to win it all and have 2 national titles to show for it. A huge chunk of this success is a proponent of coach Smart’s acumen and the program’s culture from the top down. However, it’s also due to the personnel Kirby Smart has at his disposal.

This iteration of the Georgia roster is a far cry from previous iterations. Relative to their own standards, the skill position guys on offense are a rung below the likes of Brock Bowers and Ladd McConkey. Last season, before the duo turned pro, the pass offense was humming. This year, Georgia leads the FBS in dropped catches.

As presently constructed, the Bulldogs cannot quite be a pass-first team. This has been one of the factors in Carson Beck’s individual downturn. Josh Pate and others that concur with his belief that his unfortunate injury essentially forced Kirby Smart into a more potent offense could be onto something. This school of thought will be put to the test in the playoffs. Georgia will face the winner of Indiana and Notre Dame at the Sugar Bowl.