“What No. 2 Michigan needs to do to beat No. 3 Georgia”

Lots of good tidbits from this PFF piece…

Here are the five things highlighted:

• Watch for heavy-personnel play action on early downs

• Get to the money down, rattle QB Stetson Bennett with MUG looks and bring pressure

• Don’t expect to run the ball down Georgia’s throat

• Attack the slot

• Michigan needs to get tricky

Bullet points two and four strike me as the areas of greatest vulnerability for Georgia.  I’m sure you’ve seen the stats comparing Bennett’s passer rating overall with his passer rating under pressure.  Nothing has changed in that regard:  Todd Monken’s Job One is keeping the offense out of obvious passing situations on third down.  And as for the latter point, if you watched the SECCG, you don’t need to see this stat:

… Georgia’s defenders covering the slot allowed a season-high 168 yards across 10 catches, one of which was a score. The group combined for a 43.1 slot coverage grade, their lowest mark of the season by 16 grading points.

Ugly.  And now you’ve met Dan Lanning’s Job One.

I say that, rather than stop the run, because, like PFF, I think Georgia’s defense will handle that challenge.  It’s not like it’s anything new, after all.

Interesting stat brought to my attention by @AxDawg27 tonight…

UGA has faced 3 teams since 2017 who won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s best offensive line

2020 BAMA
2019 LSU
2017 ND

In those 3 games UGA gave up 334 rushing yards on 116 attempts For 2.8 YPC

— Graham Coffey (@DawgOutWest) December 28, 2021

Here’s PFF’s conclusion.

Michigan needs to stay disciplined on defense and be ready to handle ample early-down play action. Get Georgia to a long money down and put pressure on Stetson Bennett with blitzes and simulated pressure. That’s when the quarterback mistakes will occur and when the Wolverines’ strong defensive front, featuring players Hutchinson and David Ojabo, will shine. On offense, they can’t expect to run the ball with ease. They should put pressure on the slot and hope some luck goes their way with trick plays, just as it has all year long.

That’s a lot of things that need to click.  How are you feeling about that?

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