Matt Hinton, in his excellent SECCG preview, reminds of something about last year’s UGA-Alabama face off:
Like LSU this year, Alabama last year arrived in Atlanta unbeaten and essentially unchallenged, with a transformative offense whose combination of raw talent and downfield audacity had seemingly hacked the system. Instead of a coronation, though, the Tide were forced to eke out an ugly win that left their star QB hobbled and the rest of the team looking vulnerable for the first time, foreshadowing their exposure vs. Clemson in the national title game. Even in a win, just how closely LSU resembles its usual, prolific self will have implications well beyond this weekend.
In other words, this isn’t Kirby Smart’s first rodeo. As Matt notes there, enough of what he did to slow Alabama’s offense was on point that Clemson borrowed from it in the championship game. He’s going to have some answers to that daunting LSU attack.
He’s got plenty of tools at his disposal for that, too.
The Bulldogs obviously have the athletes up front to penetrate and disrupt plays in the backfield, but the mentality is more akin to building a wall along the line of scrimmage: Occupying gaps, setting edges, shedding blocks, pursuing as a team, etc. The middle linebackers, Monty Rice and Tae Crowder, are the leading tacklers, but there are no real headliners and virtually no end to the number of bodies UGA is able to rotate in without suffering a significant drop off — 17 players have started at least 1 game this season and 22 have been credited with double-digit tackles.
More important, there are no apparent weak links. It’s as fundamentally sound a unit as any in the country, and if it can keep Burrow in predictable passing situations the deep well of edge-rushing talent could give him more problems in the pocket than the pedestrian sack numbers suggest. Outside ‘backers Azeez Ojulari, Malik Herring, Nolan Smith, Adam Anderson and Quay Walker are all former top-200 recruits who have been credited with at least 8 QB hurries apiece.
Can Georgia make it a line of scrimmage game? If so, I like the Dawgs’ chances.
Get The Picture 
Hammerhead–>Nail.
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Hopefully, they have a plan for LSU’s backup QB.
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Too soon
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Ouch. And kinda funny. But first, ouch.
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“more and more”….I like the Dawgs in this one. The Bayou Tigers are gonna get beat up, may not want to come out the 4th qtr…..
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Mark Webb in pass coverage is the only thing that concerns me about the defense.
I suspect that we’ll be in a Dime pretty often and that Stevenson will be vital to our success.
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https://syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2865606-if-georgia-loses-to-lsu-coach-kirby-smart-will-only-have-himself-to-blame.amp.html?__twitter_impression=true
Yikes
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That was ridiculous. But it’s Bleacher Report, so maybe that’s redundant.
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Indeedy.
BR just doesn’t demonstrate a lot of deep thinking.
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They still around? They put the bait in clickbait.
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I don’t know their M. O. because I don’t read them. They myay mostly be just light weights, but this particular article was written from a viewpoint of someone who specifically slanted th position to hurt UGA, Kirby, and the program going forward. I don’t know who he is, but there is a clear agenda in his slant. Not saying we don’t have issues to work on, but to write about every single negative thing without giving any credit for what has been a damned remarkable run is just tainted journalism (stands out even when all journalism is tainted.) There is as much positive to speak of as there is negative, he simply ignored it. 33-3 in the regular season, played excellent in in 3 consecutive championship games, and now entering a 4th. I am sorry, how do you write an article like that given that backdrop? I suspect he may actually be a UGA fan, they are about the only people I know who run down our team like that; other fan bases are envious.
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Either a Bama or Auburn shill trying to screw up Georgia’s recruiting. That’s who.
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That IS BR’s M.O. Inflammatory click bait.
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That article is just dumb. “Georgia has no wins against the Top 8 of the CFP rankings.” (a) nice cherry pick of an arbitrary number since Florida is 9th. (b) only 2 teams in the Top 8 actually have….wins against the Top 8. And those are only 1 a piece (OU and OSU). Because, math. Chances are, the team you beat is going to fall out of whatever elite company you are currently residing. #dawggrading
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Yeah, it is silly to criticize us for no wins over anyone in the top 8 since we have not played anyone in the top 8.
Guess the article should have noted no one in the top 8 has beaten us.
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Maybe it’s the Munson in me but I like nothing about our chances tomorrow.
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Nothing? You don’t like the best defense in the world SEC?
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I’ve said all week that if it IS a line of scrimmage game- which is where most are decided anyway- then I definitely like our chances, as we have decided advantages on both sides of the LOS.
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“Yes, by golly we are good looking, strong, intelligent, and talented. We can succeed!”, while looking in the mirror.
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I mean, I agree we have a chance but we went from doom and gloom to blowing smoke awfully fast.
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Alright peeps, this is how it’s gonna go down.
Dawgs cobble together enough offense to make this a game but Rodrigo clanks the would be game winning field goal off the uprights and LSU wins by 1. Jake Fromm sobbing inconsolably on the sideline after his best game of the season makes tebow 2009 seccg look minor.
Playoff committee shocks the world with final four that is completely unchanged from the week prior. CFB world collectively loses their mind, Pac 12 and big 12 threaten secession.
Georgia gets outgained 400+ total yards to 225 in the Justin fields bowl but wins 10-0 due to a 96 yard scoop and score by the defense. Cager makes the crucial 3rd down catch to ice the game. Big 10 scoring drought in CFP remains intact.
Georgia beats Clemson 8-6.
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Georgia ain’t getting in if they lose.
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You left out the information about what our long snappah is having for breakfast tomorrow morning.
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Main course of joe burrows Heisman chances, side of LSU’s hopes and dreams, washed down with freshly squeezed gator tears.
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I agree with Waterloodawg but your scenario would, in fact, be the most Georgia season evah. Win the natty, lose the SEC. What would everyone talk about? Losing the SEC.
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I would be too distracted by the shiny new national championship trophy and the obnoxious to the point of obscene amount of Georgia national championship swag I would deck out my office and toddler’s room with.
Besides, I’d think of it as back payment for grievances owed from 2017 and all the other times the Georgia sports curse kicked in the nuts.
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I’m worried about Swift and his effectiveness. But I think Herrien is going to bust out with a big game in front of the world. We will need it.
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It certainly feels like someone on offense has to give an other-worldly performance to give us a chance to win this game.
But!
The defense’s MO of not having “Star” players but being an exceptional unit is a model – in my mind – of Kirby’s map for success for the offense as well. I’m assuming he’s not banking on any offensive player giving an exceptional performance. In fact, based on everything he’s said about offense in the past, I assume what he’s drilling into his team is 1) do your job, 2) block, 3) take care of the job, and 4) don’t try to do too much or stretch too hard for the “home run”.
He doesn’t want his backs or receivers thinking about busting the big play when taking care of the ball and gaining 6 or 7 yards will earn a 1st down.
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*take care of the ball
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Yep. I have the exact same feeling today as I did this time last year, which ironically is the only thing making me feel good…
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I think we have another advantage: It’s the first time in three years that we’re a real underdog. That’s motivation for our players — and our coaches. It should make a difference.
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weren’t we a 12.5 point underdog to Bama last year?
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If we can actually average 5 to 6 yards on the inside run game Georgia has a legitimate chance. On the other hand, if we give up too many explosive plays we may have to abandon the run game to keep up. I for one am glad we only had a week to worry ourselves sick over this. I’m old enough that it’s impossible to ignore my inner Munson.
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While a lot of people are trying to figure out how the number one defense in the SEC is going to stop LSU.’s pasing game…LSU’s coaches are trying to figure out how their defense is going to handle the best running game they’ve seen.
Dawgs’ glass ain’t half empty but half full.
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Amen. We have some strengths, too. The folks saying we have no chance are deluded.
Not guaranteeing we win but we have a good chance
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The fact the Dawgs played LSU last season may help even though LSU won that game. Seen it before. Learned how to defeat it. I have a really good feeling about this game.
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Some love for the senator from the Athletic:
“Smart, to his credit, is not actually as stubborn as some make him out to be. Yes, he believes in “man-ball,” the phrase I am stealing from the great Georgia fan blog “Get the Picture.” But Smart is not blind to what’s happening around the country. He knows that defenses no longer win championships. He also acknowledges that there is more than just one way to score points and win games.”
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You can’t stop manball. You can only hope to contain it. 😉
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“Can Georgia make it a line of scrimmage game? If so, I like the Dawgs’ chances.”
The most important sentence of the article was the last (buried lede?). And BTW I agree 100% This is Dawg’s only chance to win this game. We dominate this game in the trenches, we win. Its that simple.
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The only chance to win this game is to score one more point than they do.
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Just 1?
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It is going to be a tough game but we can win and being underdogs is Something the suits us. I just watched our hype video from six years ago when we played six years ago. We have more fans coming. We need to be loud and proud as the video said “It’s time to awaken the nation!” Wish I knew how to embed video.
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Utah ManBall takes a tumble.
Then again, they were always a mirage.
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I believe in this D. They will be beastly for this SEC Champ game. Our D and man-ball offense should keep the game in reach for 60mins. I don’t see LSU running away. If they score quick, their D is right back facing a physical offense that will wear on them.
If we avoid turnovers and 3-and-outs, this game will remain close. Let’s keep pace and take it to the closing minutes…could be one for the ages.
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