National Championship Game X-Factors

Georgia Secondary (Derion Kendrick vs. Jameson Williams)

There are no "ifs," "ands" or "buts" about it. The Bulldogs got torched through the air by Alabama QB Bryce Young in the SEC championship game, and they will need to be much better if they want any shot at winning this time around. Young threw for 421 yards and three TDs in that game, hitting his receivers deep multiple times for huge gains downfield. The first Crimson Tide TD was a 67-yard bomb to receiver Jameson Williams, who ended up with 184 receiving yards and two TDs that day. Georgia simply cannot let that happen again, and these players in the secondary need to play as they did against Michigan and against pretty much everyone else all season long.

That is easier said than done, however, and the Alabama passing attack is explosive. The non-power-5 Cincinnati Bearcats actually did a pretty decent job against Young in the semifinal, limiting him to just 181 yards through the air. He did have three TDs, but they also forced him into a pick. The Bulldogs can watch the tape of that game to see what Cincinnati did to limit the big plays, as Alabama had just one deep TD.

Corner Derion Kendrick needs to play like the veteran he is for them to be successful against Williams and Young. He has far more experience than anyone in the Georgia secondary, as most went to the NFL after last season. Kendrick has played in five college football playoff games, including the 2020 championship game with the Clemson Tigers. This stage should not be too much for him, and he needs to play better than he did last time against the Tide when he had a single tackle. If he doesn't perform in this game, it could be another long day for the Bulldogs.

Georgia Defensive Line (Travon Walker vs. Evan Neal)

The Georgia defensive front got virtually zero pressure on Young, which resulted in his torching of the secondary for big gains and long TDs. The Bulldogs need to find a way to get more pressure on Young if they want to be successful. That means that defensive end Travon Walker must step up to the plate and dominate the game as he did against the Wolverines in the Orange Bowl. Alabama OL Evan Neal dominated Walker in their last matchup of these potential first-round picks. Young wasn't sacked once and had all day to throw the ball. But Walker looked like a man on a mission against Michigan, recording a sack and a tackle for loss.

Neal is one of the best offensive linemen in the country and is going to be a staple in the NFL very soon. His technique and versatility to play almost any position on the line make him one of the premier players in the 2022 draft, and he certainly showed that against Georgia last time. He bullied whoever he was matched up against, and didn't give up a sack or even a pressure in the game.

If they block like that again, it's game over. Georgia relies so much on their defense and ability to get to the passer, and if you can stop that, you are golden. I'll be watching this matchup all night as draft stocks rise and fall on every snap.

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