After a slow start in the first quarter, the Rebels stomped Georgia State 63-7 on Saturday in their first game of the football season. The Rebels showed promise, but they also had a few glaring problems that must be remedied if they hope to make a playoff run this season.
Here are some prominent takeaways from Week 1:
Strong defensive performance
The Rebel defense came out firing on all cylinders, stopping Georgia State on all but one drive. However, Austin Simmons’ interception put the defense on its heels.
Linebacker TJ Dottery had nine total tackles — five solo and four assisted — to lead the team in total tackles for the game. Dottery proved himself as the leader that defensive coordinator Pete Golding hoped he would be after the major losses the defense suffered in the draft.
Defensive lineman Zxavian Harris also hauled in a viral big-man interception, much to Georgia State’s ire.
The game was a true return to form for the Rebel defense, similar to what fans saw last year. The linebackers played smart and fast, while the defensive line kept up the pressure at the line of scrimmage.
Offensive line troubles
Undoubtedly, the weakest part of the Rebel’s game was the offensive line. Georgia State’s defensive line looked unstoppable at certain points. The Panthers got to Simmons and sacked him multiple times, one of which resulted in an interception.
It seems to be that this year, much the same as last, the offensive line may be the nail in the Rebel’s coffin.
The right side of the line looked the weakest, which is troubling considering it is the left-handed Simmons’ blind spot.
If the Rebel’s offensive line could not stand strong against Georgia State’s defensive line and backups, then do not expect much for them come SEC play, especially against elite defenses like Georgia and LSU.
The hope among Rebel fans this season was that additions to the offensive line made in the transfer portal would allow the young, inexperienced Simmons the time needed in the pocket to accurately pass and open up the run game for the Rebels, removing much of the burden Jaxson Dart found himself under last year.
With how weak the offensive line looked on Saturday, it is no surprise that the run game severely suffered. Simmons was forced to scramble frequently, which resulted in his two interceptions.
If the Rebels want to win, serious changes must be made to the offensive line.
Running back-quarterback duo
Another bright spot for the Rebels on Saturday came in the form of Missouri transfer Kewan Lacy at running back. The Rebels desperately needed a running back, and with 16 carries for 108 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 6.8 yards per carry, it seems they have found him. Keep in mind, this came off the Rebels offensive line’s weak game. If the blocking had been proper, he could definitely have done more.
Expect for Lacy to be a serious game changer for the Rebels, especially in tight spots and to take a lot of the pressure off Simmons.
Simmons, on the other hand, had a middle-of-the-road game. He suffered several sacks, and the weak offensive line caused him to have to scramble far more than Lane Kiffin and the coaching staff wanted. He went 20/31 in passing, 341 yards in the air and three touchdowns.
This was offset by the two interceptions Simmons threw, one of which led to Georgia State’s only touchdown of the game.
In the first interception, Simmons was hit in his blind side mid-throw after the offensive line crumbled — an unfortunate mistake, but it was not his fault. The second interception, however, was a bad throw into the endzone.
Rebel fans should not panic, though. Simmons started his very first game on Saturday, and it takes time for a young quarterback to develop and gain the experience needed to truly excel, no matter how talented they are.
In Dart’s first season, the Rebels went 8-5, so Rebel fans should be patient with Simmons. He is a talented quarterback with potential to be as good as Dart was, if not better. That is, if he is given time to develop.
The Rebels had a decent showing on Saturday. It was not without its rough patches, but that is what first games are for.
The Rebels won. That is what truly matters. The team will build on their mistakes and successes in preparation for Kentucky on Saturday.
