Georgia’s best chance vs. Alabama may be to step on gas
Aaron Murray has 14 touchdowns and no interceptions in last 17 quarters. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
ATHENS – When gazing at the nation’s leaders among college football defenses, Alabama doesn’t stand out statistically so much as it leaps off the page, stomps on cars, knocks over skyscrapers, swats away missiles and terrorizes women, children and offensive coordinators.
The Crimson Tide rank No. 1 nationally in total defense. Also No. 2 in rush defense, No. 3 in pass defense, No. 1 in scoring defense, No. 1 in red zone defense. It has shut out four opponents, held seven to 10 points or less and all except one to 17 or less.
Which begs the question: All except one?
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin relatively humbled Nick Saban three weeks ago with his hyperventilating, no-huddle offense. The Aggies upset then No. 1 Alabama 29-24, scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions, accumulating the second-most yards (418) and the most red zone possessions (five) of any Tide opponent.
The most amusing thing about this was it came after Saban had questioned the “fairness” and “player safety” of Sumlin’s scheme, because that sounded better than saying, “I can’t substitute players. Make him stop.” (That would make him sound flawed.)
Jay Rome (87) celebrates his touchdown against Georgia Tech with Keith Marshall (4) and Malcolm Mitchell. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
Which leads me to this four-word suggestion for Georgia going into Saturday’s SEC championship game against Alabama: Step on the gas.
The Bulldogs scored touchdowns on six of their first seven possessions in last week’s 42-10 win over Georgia Tech. No drive lasted longer than two minutes, 42 seconds. It was the SEC meets Formula 1.
One acknowledgement: Georgia had the advantage of going against Georgia Tech’s defense, which hasn’t really stopped any scheme this season (59th in total defense, 84th in scoring defense). But the Dogs’ offense has become increasingly proficient in a fast-pace, no-huddle offense this season.
Quarterback Aaron Murray also has been at his best and most efficient of late. Since the fourth quarter of the Florida game (17 quarters), Murray has 14 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. In the last four starts, he has completed over 74 percent of his passes (71 of 97).
“We can go very fast, relatively fast or we can be at the line of scrimmage for a long time,” Mark Richt said when asked if Murray has become increasingly comfortable in a fast-pace offense. “We have three different tempos we use. We’re not like the Oregons of the world, where just about every single play we’re going at break-neck speed. But we can go at a pretty good pace.”
Georgia has managed to do this despite losing arguably their two best receivers for the season, Marlon Brown and Michael Bennett.
Richt cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from Alabama’s loss to Texas A&M.
“I don’t know if it was the tempo they had problems with as much as (Heisman favorite) Johnny Manziel,” he said. “He creates problems obviously for everybody because he can scramble, so it changes the mindset of defenses. Not to say the tempo wasn’t an issue as well.”
Georgia tight end Jay Rome, who had a 24-yard touchdown reception in the Tech game, said, “I feel like when we speed things up and [make] plays, it puts a lot of pressure on the defense.
Receiver Rhett McGowan, who also had a touchdown against the Jackets, said, “Of course, as a receiver, I love it. When we have a lot of receivers on the field, it spreads out the defense, puts pressure on their (defensive backs) and also takes somebody out of the box, which means our running backs can make plays.”
(Murray did not make himself available for comment this week on the offense. Or anything else.)
This isn’t to suggest that an up-tempo no-huddle offense is the only way to beat Alabama. But it’s the only thing that has worked this season.
Besides, I figure any concept that prompts Saban to sound almost shaken — “We should look at how fast we allow the game to go in terms of player safety. You can’t substitute defensive players. You go on a 14-, 16-, 18-play drive and they’re snapping the ball as fast as you can and all your players are walking around and can’t even get lined up.” — is worth several pages in a game plan.
Because not much else against Alabama has worked.
– By Jeff Schultz
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434 comments Add your comment
NBHelms
November 28th, 2012
3:00 am
Goodness Christ , on every blog throughout the infinite internet regarding Bama, Georgia, And Notre Dame…the constant trash – talking jiberrish nonsense “my team is better than yours” is rather childish- although entertaining at times. Even though I am an Alabama fan, I can clearly see the game going either way- both the Tide and the Dawgs have the talent and potential to win The SEC championship. It will come down to execution and discipline. Of course we all want our team to win, it’s the nature of fanfare…but in the end I hope the victor shows “the Almighty Golden Domers” that the SEC can play with divine inspiration as well. Sic Em Dawgs, Roll Tide, and Go SEC!
RunninWithTheDawgs
November 28th, 2012
3:17 am
Don’t forget about the Rambo blitz. I’ll bet you McCarron will look up and see Rambo in his face a couple of times.
NBHelms
November 28th, 2012
3:19 am
To the gentleman 2 comments up: your statement could be easily interpreted as how did UGA dodge playing LSU and Bama? Logic my friend.
Jarvis
November 28th, 2012
3:33 am
Mccarron will see my face!
Jarvis
November 28th, 2012
3:34 am
or GTBobs! lol
Uga Sam
November 28th, 2012
4:59 am
Poor Ga Tech fans.cry.cry.cry.and Notre dame has no strength of schedule.weak division.weak schedule.and when they meetup with the sec it will be another slaughter.
Uga Sam
November 28th, 2012
5:00 am
Go dawgs
getreal
November 28th, 2012
5:48 am
Under CMR and CMB Ga will never win a championship. Will be outcoached everytime.
marko
November 28th, 2012
6:05 am
If you only had one week to prepare, for a championship game, would you rather have Saban or Richt standing on your sideline? Alabama rested it’s starters the entire second half of the Iron Bowl. I suspect that Saban was already planning for Atlanta. you’ve got to get up pretty early to out smart Nick, and I suspect that Georgia hasn’t invested much in alarm clocks.
DogHunt
November 28th, 2012
6:12 am
fast break offense with murray and gurshall—alabama will not be able to stop it!! Dogs put up 21 quick points, bama gets rattled — the Dog D takes over. Dogs win 31-17! Dogs—to the BCS title game. ND is overrated and Ga can beat them easy!!!!
LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
November 28th, 2012
6:14 am
( GT BOB ) What must suck his to go play for the ACC title with a 6-6 record . Then get up everyday and get on a Bulldog blog . The world is full of Dumb$$ like you so do us all a favor and ur$$$$$
zeke
November 28th, 2012
6:16 am
Best chance to beat BAMA? NONE!!!!!!
M.T.S.U. Owns the Tech Mites!!!!
November 28th, 2012
6:17 am
Enter your comments here
BigDawg
November 28th, 2012
6:30 am
Yes Smyrna Gold and I have all 3 of those games on Tape and as much as it pains me, the Dawgs got hosed in 1981 and 1982 in those games with some terrible officiating. It is what it is though and life goes on. Maybe the Dawgs are on the same kind of run as 1980 when we were getting the breaks. Saturday should be a tough game and the team that wants it more and executes should win.
Go Dawgs
Buckeye
November 28th, 2012
6:39 am
tom brown,
It’s “diddly” squat, not “diddle-e”. Just sayin’ tom brown
Buckeye
November 28th, 2012
6:41 am
Damn,
I scrolled four pages and though we were tom brown free.
Then, there he was.
Damn
Tim Scott
November 28th, 2012
6:44 am
step on the gas ? please since the Florida game lets look at who you played, Ole Miss,Ga Southern,Auburn,and Ga Tech big deal. Its easy to step on the gas against this group of powder puffs. You could not step on the gas against Florida, or South Carolina for that matter anyone who put a def. on the field. So go ahead step on the gas against Bama NOT !! More likely they are going to step on your throat.
BigDawg
November 28th, 2012
6:46 am
NBHelms those are some great comments yes like you I want my team to win but more importantly I want it to be a clean and injury free game on both sides. I went to and played at Georgia but was also offered by Coach Bryant and it was hard not going to Bama since I admired him and I was a big fan of Bama when he was the Coach there. Now as to Norte Dame whoever does go to the MNC in Miami will be playing them and the officials. Norte Dame got 3 wins due to terrible officiating and should not even be in the BCS NC game in my humble opinion, but it is what it is. Either way I will be pulling for the Dawgs or the Tide to beat them and send them and the media back into hiding for a while.
Go Dawgs, Go SEC
MC
November 28th, 2012
6:48 am
GTBob how old are you? 12?
tell me again
November 28th, 2012
6:52 am
I have to laugh at the fans on this blog who treat Bama like they are some kind of football gods. They’re just a team like any other and their crap stinks like any other and just like the mighty Gators – legends in their own minds – they can be beat like any other – Dawgs are going to take it to the Bammers and treat them like the skanks they are. Our D will take their QB and rag doll him like we did to those two Tech players. Bama this, Bama that – blah , blah , blah……here come the Dawgs, baby……we’re ready. These Dawgs are not going into the game to bow down at the altar of Alabama football – get ready – these Dawgs can hunt – GO DAWGS!
tell me again
November 28th, 2012
6:57 am
GT BOB is just full of piss and wind ~ he comes over here because the Tech blog is – well, what can it be? They have bigger fish to fry, I guess….6 – 6 and going to the conference CG? Wow… and already begging for a bowl waiver – wow….had an ACC title STRIPPED? So impressive. Oh I wish I was an Oscar Meyer weiner….
MC
November 28th, 2012
6:58 am
Tide Rising…how many teeth do you have to go with all those tattoos? Anybody else hear banjos?
Gene
November 28th, 2012
7:17 am
I believe LSU had some good success against the Bama Defense, and they don’t exactly run a fast paced offense
DAWG 10
November 28th, 2012
7:27 am
Everbody needs to shut up and wait till the game is over. Then the talk can begin!
papadawg
November 28th, 2012
7:39 am
After last Sat. how can anybody from GT even open their mouth about Football
Thomas Brown
November 28th, 2012
7:39 am
Aaron Murray, now, is not off-set by AJ McCarron. AJ McCarron is asked to not lose the game for Alabama. Aaron Murray is asked to win the game for Georgia. For all AJ McCarron has on an offensive line in front of him, he gets sacked a bunch. Aaron Murray is sacked more than AJ McCarron, and was more prone to turnovers than AJ McCarron too. What Aaron Murray does do back there is throw the football a hell of a lot better than AJ McCarron. And, Alabama is not going to stop our run, therefore, on play-action passes, nearly as well as we will therefore stop their running game. This is an advantage for Georgia at the Quarterback position, and advantage to Georgia also in the running game because Todd Gurley is going to get more than 14 carries against Alabama and is a better running back by a large margin, too at running back than Eddie Lacy. Aaron Murray at QB is better and Todd Gurley at TB is better, and Alabama relies upon its run-game, which is why we need a 3rd straight game now of stop the run. This forces the game to AJ McCarron trying to imitate Aaron Murray throwing the football, which he cannot possibly come close to in this game against our better secondary than their secondary.
Alabama has the better offensive line.
Malcolm Mitchell and Chris Conley are better receivers than Alabama’s.
We have 2 capable Tight Ends who are a push with Alabama’s very good run-blocking Tight Ends because our Tight Ends can get downfield and force a mis-match, getting open.
Alabama does not have John Jenkins and Kwame Geathers. Where other teams get worn down by Alabama’s run game, Alec Ogletree with have his biggest football game of his career to set himself up for the NFL Draft as a Junior, and will be a top 5 pick. I still say Alec Ogletree is our best player defending passes, too, and this will take-away the short dump passes that is all AJ McCarron is capable of in the 1st place. SEC Championship Game MVP will be Alec Ogletree.
Jarvis Jones is the recipient of double-teams, which just frees up Alec Ogletree for plays, all the more. I expect Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree – two Juniors to both be Top 5 NFL Draft Picks, and I expect them both to be in on every play in a huge way. Alabama cannot account for both. Jarvis Jones should just bull-rush every down. Run Blitz. If not handed-off which it will be most of the time, sack AJ McCarron.
Alabama’s offense is nowhere close to as good as Georgia’s offense.
Alabama’s defense is nowhere close to as good as Georgia’s defense right now either.
Alabama, for example, also does not have a Bacarri Rambo – who is a ball hawk.
Georgia has it going right now on offense and defense.
Alabama has advantages on the OL and in their coaching staff, except for their hurriedly hired offensive coordinator, who is no good and no match for UGA’s defense of fiery Todd Grantham who can make Alabama one dimensional, when their QB is not Aaron Murray.
TJ Yeldon runs behind a better offensive line. This had better be the emphasis for the 3rd straight week to stop the run.
If Alabama is able to run the football, their game-plan worked.
If they are unable because we play run defense, loading the box, maybe even playing both Kwame Geathers and John Jenkins, the worse quarterback of the 2 will be forced to throw the football to Bacarri Rambo, or short underneath where Alec Ogletree can demonstrate his Sunday pass defense – best on our team.
If we can force AJ McCarron to throw to Amari Cooper, we have effectively beat Alabama.
They are talking about Nick Saban pulling the redshirt off Chris Black at WR in game 12 of the season. What does that tell you ?
Alabama figures to line-up and us to roll-over with them never having to double-team anyone. Meet Jarvis Jones.
If Jesse Williams is in Aaron Murray’s face, then run off-tackle.
Play their game against them, and sprinkle in our far-better passing game on running downs, to neutralize Jessie Williams.
I expect Alabama to take away the long runs, but our offense is not based upon, and never has been based in the Mark Richt era 12 years now upon long runs to win the game.
We remain a pass 1st team. This is the issue. If they can force Aaron Murray to have to throw every down, because Mike Bobo gives up on the run early in the game, we’re sunk with Jessie Williams chasing down Aaron Murray.
We’ve got to flip-flop our game and establish the run off-tackle, not up the gut draws and crudola all game like we’ve done too many times in big games, and never gotten our running game going as a direct result of not trying to.
If Alabama can do its game-plan, and just run the football all game, we’re sunk. Clearly, we know that is their offensive game-plan. Clearly, we need to change up the defense and flip-flop it to take-away their running game. Do that and we’ve won.
I fully expect Alabama’s defensive game-plan to expect their LB to tackle Todd Gurley for short gains, and have Jessie Williams in Aaron Murray’s face every down. They think if Aaron Murray cannot just sit back there all day, he cannot be effective in the passing game against an inferior secondary compared to our own, and especially so with their worse quarterback than ours.
24 Alabama
27 Georgia
These Alabama fans who keep saying we can contain but not stop their running game because of their best OL in the nation, sure have a lot invested in one part of their game, because they have no Aaron Murray. Sometimes the most obvious defensive game-plan is simply to look at their game-plan and stop the run. This is the way to stop Alabama. Georgia’s best game-plan may be to sell-out on stopping the run, no matter how obvious that is – they don’t think we can because of their OL. And, if we do, they are forced to throw with an inferior QB to our own.
Buckeye
November 28th, 2012
7:42 am
tom brown,
Just leave. Go away. Cut and Paste somewhere else.
PowerDawg
November 28th, 2012
7:44 am
Rev it up, Dawgs!
Run em’ til their tongues hang out!
You are driving a Lambo, so peg the needle this Saturday night and we are headed to Miami where we will show ND something they haven’t seen this year on their silly schedule filled chock full of the likes of the service academies, average and mostly overrated PAC-12, and B1G teeny teams;
a REAL football team…the SEC’s best…and they will not be happy when it’s all over the night of January 7th!
G.A.T.A.
Mike
November 28th, 2012
8:03 am
Holy crap…”Since the fourth quarter of the Florida game (17 quarters), Murray has 14 touchdown passes and zero interceptions. In the last four starts, he has completed over 74 percent of his passes (71 of 97)” Yea, Murray is hot against teams that are not good. How many bowl eligible teams to UGA beat this year? UF, Vandy, GT, and Ole Miss? Impressive!
Buckeye
November 28th, 2012
8:04 am
Saban will have Murray being Murray in big games Murray in a hurry
ATLien
November 28th, 2012
8:05 am
I’m rooting for UGA, but I don’t trust Aaron Murray. He flat stinks against quality opponents. Flat out awful. If he can play the game of his life then UGA will win. Only thing is can he play it twice. B/c if UGA beats Bama and loses to that overrated ND team that would be a failure of epic proportions
NCDawg
November 28th, 2012
8:07 am
Patched Tire- HA! hit a nerve didn’t I! You know you are a waffler. I told you I don’t drink Kool Aid… I am a true fan. I lived through the Goff years and I was still as big a Dawg fan at the end as I was at the beginning. Not once did I ever HOPE that the Dawgs lost so Goff would be fired. So your response is to say “shut up…” because I hurt your feelings. You know you lack the courage to endure disappointment. Guess what? NO matter who is the coach there will always be disappointment. The great and mighty Saban got out coached by Texas A&M… big disappointment for Bama fans. It’s going to happen. You just deal with it. But you’d rather curl up in a fetal position and wait for someone to say “it’s safe to come out now”. Yep I have you pegged and you hate it. Get off the fence.
Thomas Brown
November 28th, 2012
8:07 am
I just wrote that. I did not cut and paste anything. Dork with a football team on NCAA Probation who has never had a football player who ever did anything, nor ever beat an SEC team in a bowl game in 11 tries and still counting.
DeafDawg fan
November 28th, 2012
8:09 am
Like so many other Georgians, I look for Tide to Roll (backwards) on our home turf!
NCDawg
November 28th, 2012
8:17 am
I’m tired of the “I hope I’m wrong” crowd. Go pull for another team if you can’t stand the “possibility” of disappointment. The Dawgs will either win or lose on Saturday. The sun will rise on Sunday morning either way. Either way I will be a Dawg fan on Sunday morning. Find the guts to really pull for your team or find another. The Dawgs don’t need half -a$$ed fans.
Countdown to Doomsday
November 28th, 2012
8:17 am
You ever stomp on the gas pedal only to have the engine choke down?
I hate when that happens…
NYCdog
November 28th, 2012
8:18 am
I hope the Dogs win, but hope more for an exciting game with no injuries and at the end of the game both teams leave the field knowing they played their best!
JWing
November 28th, 2012
8:20 am
I see Aaron Murray getting sacked alot in this game. Once he gets sacked a couple of times his confidence will tank. I’m not a Bama or UGA fan but I see Bama winning big….UGA will go down in flames again just like last year.
BravesDawg
November 28th, 2012
8:21 am
GTBob Seems to me? Maybe UGA needs to drop tech and pick up ga.st . Probably be a schedule up grade. No one plays a top ten schedule every year. Next year dawgs will add clemscum and lsu. Well schedule does end sorta weak. GO DAWGS!
HUH?????
November 28th, 2012
8:26 am
“Alabama’s defense is nowhere close to as good as Georgia’s defense right now either.”
More lies from Thomas Brown.
HUH?????
November 28th, 2012
8:27 am
I can’t wait to see Thomas Brown say that UGA is better than Bama when Bama beats them on Saturday.
Roll Tide
November 28th, 2012
8:28 am
Hilarious.
Why don’t you do a Black-Out, again?! Ha! Ha!
The only thing that’s going to get stepped on Saturday is Georgia’s team and foolish hope that you ever had a chance.
ungawa dawg
November 28th, 2012
8:28 am
Come on folks……Rankings are cool-aid factories…..simply opinion surveys…..drink up if you want to. But of course at the end you would prefer that your team finish near the top of the opinion mountains. The media talks about rankings as if they are cold hard facts–really silly. Check out whobeat.net–it is an interactive, win-based seeding process for FBS teams. I understand it is not totally working at the moment, but it is a unique voter-poll alternative/ process.
HUH?????
November 28th, 2012
8:28 am
“Dork with a football team on NCAA Probation who has never had a football player who ever did anything, nor ever beat an SEC team in a bowl game in 11 tries and still counting.”
Nah, Urban Meyer never did anything at UF. What a moron Thomas Brown is.
HUH?????
November 28th, 2012
8:29 am
Roll Tide
They should use the Power Rangers costumes they used against Boise last year. That would be great.
HUH?????
November 28th, 2012
8:30 am
” I look for Tide to Roll (backwards) on our home turf!”
Unless UGA moved to Atlanta, their turf is in Athens. You ain’t too good with that geography thing is ya?
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 28th, 2012
8:31 am
Oh look, it’s Thomas Brown and he’s still here spewing lies about Bama and UGA. Hey, I’m still waiting to on that answer about how UGA magically won 6 national titles.
Countdown to Doomsday
November 28th, 2012
8:33 am
@ungawa dawg
Polls are actually quite accurate. Only losers argue that they are skewed.
DONNAN OF A NEW ERA
November 28th, 2012
8:35 am
I love how Thomas argues that Notre Dame shouldn’t be number one yet they’re the only undefeated team in the top 25, beat more ranked teams and have THE Heisman frontrunner.
just me
November 28th, 2012
8:36 am
georgia won’t show up…trying to compare Murray to Manziel is a joke