Georgia will still win the SEC East without Jamie Newman

Jamie Newman opting out doesn’t kill Georgia football’s SEC East chances.

The NFL departure of Jake Fromm left the Georgia football program in search of a viable starting quarterback for the first time in three years in the early stages of the 2020 season. That search was ended quickly, however, when Wake Forest graduate transfer Jamie Newman announced his decision to land in Athens. But now Kirby Smart is facing that uncertainty again as Newman has opted out of the 2020 season.

With the arrival of offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Newman was expected to not only keep the Georgia offense stable but to perhaps unlock it even further. Now, the Bulldogs are left looking to either another transfer in JT Daniels or Stetson Bennett as the starting quarterback. That lowers the ceiling on that side of the ball.

Subsequently, with many people considering the Florida Gators to be hot on the heels of Kirby Smart’s team, it’s likely that Georgia is no longer the favorite to win the SEC East in this conference-only schedule for the 2020 season.

Picking against the Bulldogs — even without Newman under center — however, would be a mistake. Because UGA is still primed to represent the East once again in the SEC Championship Game this year.

Georgia football will still win the SEC East with Newman not at quarterback.

Whether or not Daniels or Bennett is as talented as Newman is irrelevant to the discussion of if the Dawgs can still win the SEC East or not. The Wake Forest transfer being a massive success was the difference between competing for a National Championship and being in the position they’re currently in.

Even with mediocre quarterback play, the Georgia offense should be just fine, even if unspectacular. George Pickens, Demetris Robertson and Florida State transfer Tre’ McKitty represent nice pass-catching weapons while running back Zamir White is primed for a monster breakout season and is complemented by another versatile back, James Cook.

Newman not being in the fold in Monken’s offense likely only means that the Bulldogs will revert to something similar to what they did under Fromm’s watch, namely relying on safe throws and the rushing attack to win them games. More importantly, they’ll rely on the defense to keep them in every contest.

Not to state the obvious, but Newman doesn’t play on the defensive side of the ball and that should be Georgia’s calling card in the 2020 season. Whether it’s Jordan Davis and Malik Herring on the defensive line, Monty Rice, Azeez Ojulari and Nakobe Dean at linebacker or Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes and Richard LeCounte in the secondary, the Dawgs might be the best defense in college football.

If that weren’t enough, Florida is a team that many people are hyping up because of the emergence of quarterback Kyle Trask. But not only is Trask a limited-time starter, but the offensive line also has questions and the defense, though coached by Todd Grantham, has to replace a ton of lost talent and do so in a shortened offseason. It’s far from a guarantee the Gators are going to be as good as some are advertising.

Georgia’s defense is the most bankable unit in the SEC East this season and, as such, that should still make them the favorites. Does transitioning to Daniels or Bennett perhaps end their SEC Championship or National Championship hopes? It’s possible. But if you’re putting money on the SEC East winner, it’s still Dawgs on top.

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