Abry Jones is out this Saturday.
My guess is that Grantham’s been gameplanning with Jones’ absence in mind for some time now. And it’s not as if he’s been a mainstay on the d-line since the Vanderbilt game anyway.
But Grantham’s got some hard decisions to make.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham admitted after the game that he had to play nose tackles John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers together more than planned, because of Abry Jones’ injury. On Sunday, Richt said the team could get more of a look at sophomore defensive end Ray Drew, and senior Cornelius Washington – normally an edge rusher – could see snaps inside. Jenkins and Geathers will also continue to play at the same time.
“It’ll probably be a little of all those things,” Richt said.
I’m probably in a minority on this, but I haven’t been a big fan of playing Jenkins and Geathers together – at least not as much as they’ve been deployed that way. I think Georgia’s missed having a fresher force up the middle late in several games and it’s showed in how certain teams have been able to run the ball in the fourth quarter with some success (UT and UK come to mind).
And forcing things up the middle is big Saturday. Georgia needs to contain Jeff Driskel – keep him in the pocket and force his runs to stay inside. But that also means the two nose players have to do their part, especially since the Gator quarterback is a big sucker. It would be a good time for Ray Drew to step up and pitch in so that Grantham can rotate more at the nose spot.
Get The Picture 
Totally agree. We need the ends to do their job so the NT can do theirs.
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What about Garrison Smith?
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Does anyone know the story on Garrison Smith? I saw the ambiguous twitter quote, but why is he left off? Thanks.
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Wait, Cornelius Washington is an edge rusher? Who knew?
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I’ve been to Jax 9 times, lost all nine and got rained on in 7 of ’em. I was offered a ticket earlier this week and passed on it because I couldn’t see bringing my jinx to the team again. However when a ticket was offered last night, I couldn’t fight the temptation twice. So if you thought we had a chance sorry to crush you, but we’re doomed.
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Obviously you need a hat change. These things have no predictable pattern, you just gotta go to the hat store and feel them…
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Just a suggestion, when I wear a black UGA hat our defense tends to play its best. Maybe it is because black is a “bad to the bone” type color. Since I feel we must have an outstanding effort (A game) from our defense to win this game I will have multiple black hats available until I get the right one on for supporting the D. I am confortable our O is much better than their offense so if the Defense stands tall, we are in the hunt. In a matchup like this, it is all you can want. We are 2-3 the last five years with a loss in Overtime. Out guys know they can play fu, we just need to find the defense from 2010.
I really hate that for Abry, a DGD. Time for one of the pups to step up and be “that guy” we look for next year to play a big role. Actually, I expect it to take the efforts of more than one to shore us up, but that is OK, I have wide arms to embrace all that want to step forward.
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The lucky inspirational panties are black and I saved them for this game!
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I’m worried about tiring the NGs out also.
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FU has the best 4th qtr push of anyone we have played. I’m sure that the recipe for disaster comes with Grantham’s fingers crossed. Who will rotate them out for rest? Seems like he will get a lot of playing time.
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Hope Ray can step up. He has been more of an Associate Pastor of late.
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Well-played. [sobs]
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I’m trying hard not to think that Garner tells his guys not to try too hard when it looks like they’re gonna get paid. Bit after the Seymore-Stroud noshow in 2000 and this disappearing act, I’m running out of other conclusions.
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Honestly you’d have to think that enters the mind of almost every player. Is it worth it to risk a career-ending injury the year before the contract? Hate to sound so mercenary, but I know I’d have thought about it.
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And the both of you may have hit part of the reason for inconsistent play. Hope not. There is only a short step from there to gambling. If someone holds back, why not do it for money?
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I’m more inclined to the idea that these guys just bought in to their press clippings from last year a little too much.
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Enter Sanders Cummings. Not good for Dawgs with Arby Jones out. Washington will have to play a lot better than he has. He loses leverage and QBs go up field. Then the LBs are playing soft. Gives up big yardage for move the chains. Against UK did ok on some downs but for the game it was not good. With UF’s sets and Driskell’s running ability Florida will be hard to stop now. Will not be surprised if they rush for 250 – 300 yards in game. More if the Dawgs offense can not move the chains, clock, and score.
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While it would be nice to have Abry, the far bigger concern is the weather.
We could potentially see 20-25 mph winds with gusts to 36. If the game turns into a runfest we’re in deep horsehockey. FU’s D-line has been playing lights-out vs the run, and our’s….well, not so much. FU’s O-line has been just OK pass blocking, and pretty damn good run blocking.
I saw the passing game as our one edge coming into this game. It sets up our running game and allows you to come from behind if necessary.
Now add some high winds making punts dance around in the air to our inability to cleanly field punts….it’s enough to drive a man to drinkin’. I’ve already stocked-up on 2 cases of Piraat as some extra ABV is called for. I’d move right to liquor but I fear it would end with a shattered flat screen by halftime. .
You’d best have one helluva hat in reserve for this one Scorpio.
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Does anyone know which weather system will dominate? A front out of the west would have to be near Tallahassee tomorrow nite to make an impact. Hurricane Sandy, coming from the east, is a different matter. If it dominates then we will be kneedeep by halftime. Could be a big leveler on the field.
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Current NWS forecast for Saturday in Jax:
“A 40 percent chance of showers, mainly before 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 78. Very windy, with a north wind 24 to 28 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph”.
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When you say playing together, do you mean in a 3-4 Defense where KG is the DE and JJ at center or do you mean bring in another end and having 700lbs in the middle at DT with another Edge Rusher(Ray Drew) at DE?
Personally I think we would match up better playing more 4-3 against FU, using the DE to contain and the DT to stuff the QB/RB inside runs. With Jarvis and Herrera at OLB and Tree in the middle.
Just my thoughts.
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Last week I saw Geathers and Jenkins playing side-by-side in the middle. Think that’s where we will see them most of the time. What bothered me was the tendency for them to be moved together from one side to the other. Ken efficiently blocked them away from the QB’s running path. FU had to pick up on it. Hope they can roll in the opposite direction from where they are blocked. If they can, they can effectively stop that QB run up the middle to the Promised Land.
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The middle of a 3-4 defense?
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Rodney Garner is maybe the worst DL coach in football. He has done less with more than any of our coaches. I rewatched the FAU game yesterday and our DL just stood up when the ball was snapped. The OL had zero problem getting the leveage on them and moving them out of the way. We will be run out of Jacksonville with this DL. UF will set a record for rushing.
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