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[su_spacer size=”20″] Jeff Dantzler breaks down this weekend’s game between Georgia and Missouri, and give you his Big Five keys for the Bulldogs to have success.
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1. The Playmakers
[su_spacer size=”40″] Sony Michel and Malcolm Mitchell are two of the best players in the Southeastern Conference. The knee injury to All-American candidate Nick Chubb is a huge blow. Michel and Mitchell headline the Bulldogs big play-makers. When the football is in their hands, there is big play, touchdown potential every time. Missouri will do its best to limit what they can do – Mitchell will be double covered and the Tigers will load up the front to try and stymie Michel and the Bulldog run game. . Offensive patience will be at a premium. Everything starts with the offensive line. Sound quarterback play is important, and acting as a distributor to the Bulldogs tremendous trio is at the top of the game plan. There is the old football saying, “it’s not the X”s and O’s, it’s the Jimmy’s and Joe’s.” Play calling and formations are very important, putting the players in the optimum position to succeed. But it starts with blocking and tackling and having “your guys be guys.”
[su_spacer size=”40”] 2. Sanford Supremacy
[su_spacer size=”40″] The last three times Georgia faced teams on the same level between the hedges, the Bulldogs faithful left with heads hanging. With all due respect to Louisiana-Monroe and Southern University, Georgia’s first and fourth foes of the season, those programs were clearly overmatched by the Bulldogs. The excruciating loss to Tech, riddled with self-inflicted wounds, was one of the most painful losses in Georgia history. This year’s pummeling at the hands of Alabama was amongst the most embarrassing. For the Bulldogs to get where the program desires, consistent excellence between the hedges is a must. The Sanford throng is always jacked up and roaring. The relationship between the team and the fans is symbiotic; they feed off of one another. The program needs to establish dominance between the hedges, and make it a place where the opposition fears a beating like the one administered to South Carolina, not as a photo opportunity for wide smiles clutching pieces of the hedges.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 3. Let’s Get Physical
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia has a pair of outstanding line coaches in Tracy Rocker, one of the greatest defensive tackles in Southeastern Conference history during his All-American days at Auburn, and Rob Sale, who has had a major impact in just his first year in recruiting and development along the offensive front. Rocker and Sale’s troops will be put to the test this Saturday and called upon to show the way to victory. The last time Georgia played between the hedges, Alabama won the battle in the trenches. Georgia is striving to have the depth of talent the Crimson Tide has, and through recruiting, the Bulldogs are heading in the right direction. This will be a big test for the growth and development up front. Mizzou has a big offensive line and the Tigers have been outstanding on the defensive front. Since joining the SEC in 2012, the Tigers have turned out a slew of great defensive linemen, including Sheldon Richardson, Koney Ealy, Michael Sam and Shane Ray. Even though the Bulldogs rolled to a 34-0 victory last season in Columbia, the Mizzou run defense was tough. Georgia’s “big uglies” are charged with setting the tone Saturday, and getting the second half of the season off to a slobber-knocking start.
[su_spacer size=”40”] 4. Pressure that Passer
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia’s highly touted pass-rushers must bring their A-game Saturday night. Jordan Jenkins, Leonard Floyd and Lorenzo Carter will be charged with wreaking havoc with the Tigers passing game. Maty Mauk, who put the game away with outstanding play off the bench in Athens two years ago, has been suspended. It is unclear if that suspension will continue or be lifted for the game in Athens. True freshman Drew Lock has stepped in and filled the void. In Missouri’s win over South Carolina, he threw a pair of touchdown passes. Georgia must make life uncomfortable for the Tiger signal caller, or that secondary will be put in some bad situations.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 5. Avoid those STDs
[su_spacer size=”40″] A year ago, Georgia showed substantial improvement in the kicking game from the disaster of 2013. Though in the three losses last season there were some major breakdowns, the Bulldogs still were headed in the right direction. The Bulldogs have regressed this season. Those dreaded Special Teams Disasters are back in too frequent a form. That feeling is there that something bad is going to happen in the kicking game each week, will the Bulldogs be able to withstand it? The blocked punt for an Alabama touchdown and 17-3 deficit signaled the beginning of the end the last time Georgia played between the hedges. The failure once again to field a high “in between” kickoff burned Georgia and made things much too scary in the Bulldogs victory at Vandy. The list is getting too long. If the Bulldogs can get a push here, the offense and defense may be good enough to pull out a win.
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[su_spacer size=”40″] Make sure to check out Bulldawg Illustrated’s latest print edition: Don’t Jump Ship, digital issue available for free online click HERE.
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