Savannah’s Savvy Insights: Hate Week Edition

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Savannah’s Savvy Insights: Hate Week Edition

Nick Chubb (27), Riley Ridley (8)
Nick Chubb (27) runs for yardage as Riley Ridley (8) blocks for Chubb

 

The Hate week edition is here, or in other words, it’s rivalry week. The time has come for the final home game of the season, the Georgia versus Georgia Tech game. It’s the battle for bragging rights, and who runs the state.

 

In the last 15 years, Georgia has won 13-of-15. However, it should be 14; the 2014 loss in overtime still stings most Dawg fans. If you recall, that is the loss where Tech’s players broke off pieces of the hedges and held them in their mouth, mocking Georgia. This visual hasn’t left the juniors’ and seniors’ minds, and this week in practice they’ve taken that bitter memory and made it the focus of their execution.

 

For the Dawgs to win, they have to channel that vengeance and leave it all out on the field. Here are my three insights that Georgia must do to keep the bragging rights at home in Athens.

 

1. Stick to your Assignments:

The defense must stick to their assignments this week and not try anything funny. The triple-option offense that Tech runs can expose a defense quickly. Throughout this week the team has been working on defending cut blocks which the Dawgs D will encounter frequently versus Tech. The defensive line must stay on their feet and maintain their positions to be successful against this Yellow Jacket offense.

 

The defense has been improving each week this season, and this week doesn’t need to be a setback. After bringing in defensive consultant, Brian VanGorder, the defense hopefully got some mentoring with this type of offense and insight on how to cover it. If the defense can stay on their feet and play their positions, the Dawgs should win this game.

 

2. Win the turnover battle:

One thing is for sure, the Dawgs know how to create turnovers on defense. They rank second in the SEC at plus-7. However, Tech is just as good at creating turnovers. The Tech defense has been able to get seven turnovers in the last two games, five of those interceptions. The Georgia defense must make the quarterback, Justin Thomas uncomfortable and cause turnovers. The Dawg’s offense also needs to protect the ball and make wise decisions with it. The Dawgs have to create turnovers this week to keep the momentum high.

 

3. Balanced Offense= Win:

Jacob Eason and company have to get something going this week. Even though the last couple of weeks, the offensive yardage output has been good, the lack of scoring is unacceptable.

 

Georgia Tech’s defense allows on average 245.45 passing yards a game and 166.09 rushing yards a game. The Dawg’s offense is going to have to get their passing game up and going. The Dawgs must be able to balance the run and pass game. The time has come for Eason to have a stellar performance through the air. The wide receivers can catch his passes now; let’s see what this kids arm can do.

 

Sum it all up:

Georgia must execute this week on offense. The defense must play their positions and cause turnovers. It’s been a long season for the Dawgs, and it’s time to beat Tech and keep control of the state. The memory of 2014 should be no more after the game on Saturday. The team has a fire in them this week, and they want to send the seniors out with a bang. Dawgs win 28-14.

 

 

 

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Savannah Leigh is a recent graduate of the Grady College of Journalism at the University of Georgia. She is an avid SEC, Dawgs, and college football fan. She also adores her four-year-old black lab, Champ Bailey.