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[su_spacer size=”40″] Jeff Dantzler takes a look at this weekend’s matchup for the Bulldogs as they face the Wildcats of Kentucky. Can UGA get back on the winning track? He takes at look at what the Dawgs need to do in The Big Five – Georgia.
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1. Pressure Patrick Towles
[su_spacer size=”40″] The grandson of Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher and United States Congressman Jim Bunning, Patrick Towles emerged midway through last season as one of the top quarterbacks in the Southeastern Conference. He has progressed this season into a bona fide First Team All-SEC candidate. Towles can make all of the throws. He has excellent touch, a strong arm and precision. Towles is especially dangerous against the zone, excelling at finding the holes in coverage. He is an excellent athlete with good speed, size and toughness. The Wildcats can go designed run with him, he can play off of tailback Stanley “Boom” Williams, or scramble when the play breaks down – quite the weapon against man-to-man defense in particular. Georgia must make him uncomfortable, and when the Bulldogs get there, Georgia needs to put Towles on the ground with the negative yardage play. If he and the offense have three downs to get 10 yards, it will be a challenging day for the Bulldogs defense. If the Dogs don’t pressure Towles, he will put up a big number in the passing yardage department.
[su_spacer size=”40”] 2. Sony-led Running Game
[su_spacer size=”40″] Georgia has done a tremendous job recruiting and producing standout tailbacks the last five years. Unfortunately, due to injury and a couple of other issues, these great runners have missed too many games through over that period. Even without the tremendous Nick Chubb, the Bulldogs are still in good shape at tailback. Sony Michel is one of the most talented players in the league, and he can do it all. With Brendan Douglas and Keith Marshall behind him, the Georgia running game still has the horses to set the tone. It’s Michel that is the bell cow. He can score a touchdown anytime the pigskin is in his hands. All that’s needed is a small crease and he can take it the distance. An excellent receiving threat, Michel is the running back that Kentucky will have its collective eyes on at all times.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 3. Sound Kicking Game
[su_spacer size=”40″] This has been a far too frequent problem for the Bulldogs, sound consistency on special teams. Once again, disaster struck in Jacksonville and a fumbled punt that should have never been fielded on the five yard line led to Florida’s first touchdown. Georgia really needs a win here. The Dogs have a pair of senior kickers and several of the highly touted freshmen, particularly defenders, who are making the adjustment to the collegiate level in impressive fashion, should be able to make a bigger impact in the kicking game. Georgia’s coverage units are going to have to be up to the challenge, or Kentucky, which has an excellent quarterback/tailback duo, will have some short fields to put the Georgia defense on their heels. The last time the Bulldogs played between the hedges, Georgia capitalized on a fumbled punt by Missouri, and freshman standout Terry Godwin had a couple of key punt returns. Those are the types of plays Georgia should consistently have in the kicking game to make the Bulldogs a more complete and solid team.
[su_spacer size=”40″] 4. Bottle up Boom
[su_spacer size=”40″] Stanley “Boom” Williams is having a to flight season for Kentucky, and the one time Bulldog commitment from Monroe, Ga. will certainly be keyed up to put up a big performance. He has big play capabilities and has sprung several long runs this year. He can pound it between the tackles and wear down defenses behind that big offensive line. Towles and Williams are a talented one-two backfield punch who can move the football. Georgia’s run defense will have to be at its stingiest best, or the stop unit will be on its heels and Towles will have plenty of time to hurt the Bulldogs through the air. Williams has played some of his best games against the biggest names on Kentucky’s schedule. Slowing him down could be the Bulldogs single biggest key to victory.
[su_spacer size=”40”] 5. Bring the Fire
[su_spacer size=”40″] It is a high noon kickoff coming off the Florida game in Jacksonville. Bulldog heads are hanging. Though there is plenty of respect for a Kentucky program that has twice beaten the Bulldogs in the past decade, the disappointments of October have taken their toll. The Georgia faithful can give the team a big lift. But if Georgia comes out sleepy, Williams and Towles will make the Bulldogs pay and Georgia will have a hole to dig out of. The Bulldogs have hammered Kentucky the last two seasons. Wildcats coach Mark Stoops would certainly love that signature win for his program at Georgia.
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[su_spacer size=”40″] Make sure to check out Bulldawg Illustrated’s latest print edition: Stand Tall Dawgs, digital issue available for free online. CLICK HERE.
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