For all the pregame analyzing that went on before Georgia's football season opener Saturday night against Appalachian State, there was always one matchup of note.
The Bulldogs have their entire defensive front seven back from last season, while the Mountaineers do possess, after all, a Sun Belt offensive line. That matchup quickly became a mismatch inside Sanford Stadium, where the Bulldogs built a 31-0 lead through three quarters before winning 31-10.
"To be honest with you, Appalachian State's offensive line was overmatched," Georgia second-year coach Kirby Smart said in a news conference after the game. "We had bigger players than they did up front. We'll play a lot better offensive lines than that, but I'll give App State credit. They've got a great quarterback, a great system, and they've got a really good defensive unit."
The Mountaineers nearly played Georgia to a scoreless first quarter, but when the Bulldogs built their lead to 21-0 midway through the second quarter on Sony Michel's 6-yard touchdown run, nobody was evoking the App State upset of Michigan a decade ago or last season's overtime close call with Tennessee.
Through three quarters, the run-oriented Mountaineers had 89 rushing yards - well off last season's 250.9 four-quarter average.
"They have such great length throughout their front seven," Appalachian State coach Scott Satterfield said. "Coming in to the game, if there was a weak spot, maybe it was their secondary, but I thought they played well in the secondary as well. Trent Thompson is a really good football player, and so are Roquan Smith and Natrez Patrick at linebacker, and then you've got two big bodies, Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy, on the outside.
"They're 65 or 66. They're just a really good defense, and they've played a lot of football in their time here. I think they'll end up being one of the better defenses in the SEC."
Thompson, the junior defensive tackle who was the MVP of last December's Liberty Bowl with a three-sack performance, had six tackles against the Mountaineers, including two tackles for loss and a sack. It was his first game since dropping out of school for spring-semester classes after having an adverse reaction to medication he was taking for offseason shoulder surgery.
Georgia's defensive prowess certainly lessened any anxiety from starting quarterback Jacob Eason's first-quarter knee injury that resulted in true freshman Jake Fromm playing earlier than anyone expected.
"We just keep working, and we won't stop," Thompson said. "We've got to keep staying together, because if we don't, something else could happen."
Said Smart: "Our defense should have dominated those guys, and they did that. Now it's on to Notre Dame. Who's going to be bigger and more physical?"
Eason status on hold
Georgia did not release any information Sunday regarding the specifics of Eason's injury and how much time he could miss. Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly was asked Sunday about any changes in preparation with Fromm being the likely starter this week.
"Both quarterbacks are at Georgia because they are capable of being a starting quarterback," Kelly said. "You are going to obviously respect the fact that Georgia has built their offense around two outstanding senior running backs. They are not going to put either quarterback in a position that they have to go out and win the football game."
Warning signs?
Smart was asked after Saturday's game about throwing the ball with backup quarterback Brice Ramsey during the fourth quarter of a 31-0 game. Ramsey's only two passes were intercepted, allowing the Mountaineers to make the final score more respectable.
"Brice is No. 2," Smart said. "If we have to play him in this next game, I sure want him to be prepared to throw."
Odds and ends
Georgia improved to 94-27-3 in season openers and is 18-3 in such games from 1997 to date. ... Smart said after the game that projected first-team guard Solomon Kindley has been battling an ankle injury. ... Senior defensive back Aaron Davis started Saturday at corner but is battling a hamstring injury. ... Smart on Columbia University transfer punter Cameron Nizialek, who averaged 43.8 yards against the Mountaineers: "That one fell in our lap."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.