Georgia report card: Grading the Bulldogs after win at Alabama

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Georgia turned back Alabama Saturday night with a 20-17 victory at Bryant-Denny Stadium, but not every unit performed equally well.

Some groups exceeded expectations.

Others raised fresh questions heading into next week.

Here's our postgame report card for the Bulldogs:

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Offense Grade: B+

Considering Georgia was down running backs Nate Frazier and Chauncey Bowens, getting more than 200 yards rushing was better than expected. Gunner Stockton hit a 53-yard pass to Jaden Reddell and a 20-yard scoring strike to London Humphreys on Georgia’s only touchdown drive of the first half. Stockton ran for his first touchdown on a 14-yard score. Phillips had his first 100-yard rushing game.

Defense Grade: B

KJ Bolden dislodged the ball from Ryan Coleman-Williams on a third-down pass in Georgia territory. Alabama rushed for 6.2 yards per carry in the first half, but Trae’Shawn Brown went 58 yards after a misfit by Georgia. Keelon Russell completed just 50% of his passes in the first half, but Georgia gave up three pass plays of 22 or more yards, including a 20-yard touchdown to tight end Marshall Pritchett. Bolden was in coverage in the end zone on a pass breakup and teamed up on a sack late.

Special Teams Grade: C-

Peyton Woodring’s 43-yard field goal gave Georgia its first points, but he was wide left from 39 with 13:41 to go in a tie game. Drew Miller punted 42 yards out of his own end zone and had another for 56 for a touchback. Sacovie White-Helton muffed a punt deep in Georgia territory, but Blake Stewart recovered.

Coaching Grade: B+

Georgia won on the road against an undefeated nemesis that it hadn't been able to beat in the regular season since 2007. Georgia’s two-minute defense couldn’t keep Alabama out of the end zone at the end of the first half but came up big late and held Alabama to 346 yards. Georgia seemed to get too conservative early in the fourth quarter and settled for a field goal try that missed.

Game MVP: Dwight Phillips

Phillips rushed for a career-high 120 yards on 17 carries and had a 31-yard run. Phillips used to be seen as an undersized gadget back, but no more.

Overall Grade: B-

This was a major win for a team that some questioned due to its soft schedule. This was the type of test and game Georgia hasn’t had yet this season. Georgia had seven penalties for 62 yards. Georgia's run game and defense came up big at the end.

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia report card: Grading the Bulldogs after win at Alabama