UGA offensive line faces tall task vs. Gamecocks
ATHENS – After several days spent watching tape of South Carolina’s defense, Georgia offensive line coach Will Friend was struck by what he had not noticed.
“I was … trying to remember when I saw one score [against the Gamecocks],” Friend said. “I couldn’t think of a team I saw cross the goal line yet.”
It has happened, but rarely.
South Carolina’s defense has allowed only five touchdowns out of 67 opponent drives this season, meaning the opposition has scored a touchdown on 7.5 percent of its possessions. Contrast that to Georgia’s offense, which has scored 31 touchdowns on 74 drives, a 41.9 percent rate.
How well Georgia's offensive line protects QB Aaron Murray will be key against South Carolina's tall, tough defense. (Photo/UGA Sports)
All of which should make for a compelling clash Saturday night in Columbia.
Georgia’s offense has averaged 48.2 points and 536 yards (287 passing and 249 rushing) per game. But how will it fare against a defense that has allowed just 11.2 points and 289 yards (78 rushing and 211 passing) per game?
The answer starts with how Georgia’s offensive line, a question mark when the season began, fares against South Carolina’s vaunted defensive front, which is led by a pair of towering ends in 6-foot-6 Jadeveon Clowney and 6-8 Devin Taylor.
“We understand the impact they can have on the game, so we’re going to try to do something that can help thwart that,” said right guard Chris Burnette, the only Georgia offensive lineman available for interviews this week. “I feel like whenever you play in the SEC, you are playing against top-tier talent, always. But this defensive line really has a high reputation around the league and the country as guys who are great at getting to the quarterback and stopping the run.
“We definitely know that we are challenged, and we are going to take it head-on.”
One of the bigger challenges awaits freshman right tackle John Theus, playing just his sixth college game. “Yeah, [this week] is a little bit different,” Friend said with a laugh that emphasized the understatement, from what Theus has experienced thus far.
Clowney, a sophomore, and Taylor, a senior, have combined for 30.5 career sacks — 13.5 and 17, respectively. This season, Clowney has 5.5, second most in the SEC, and Taylor 1.5. As a team, South Carolina has 22, most in the SEC. The Gamecocks’ defensive front, responsible for 18 of the sacks, is stout against the run, too, allowing just two rushing touchdowns in five games.
“I saw where one of those ESPN expert guys thought we had the best defensive line in the country with those two ends and our inside guys [tackles Byron Jerideau and Kelcy Quarles], who are pretty dang good players also,” South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said.
Georgia’s starting offensive line has been stable this season: Kenarious Gates at left tackle, Dallas Lee at left guard, David Andrews at center, Burnette at right guard and Theus at right tackle. The group’s easier-said-than-done challenge Saturday is to provide passing time for quarterback Aaron Murray, whose fumble after being sacked by Clowney late in last year’s game sealed South Carolina’s victory, and running room for tailbacks Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall.
Teams have had more success throwing against South Carolina’s secondary than running against its defensive front, suggesting potential opportunity for Murray if his line protects him.
Not surprisingly, the Gamecocks’ towering defensive ends came up during the quarterback’s weekly treat of his offensive linemen to ice cream.
“We talked about it,” Murray said. “I know they are extremely excited for the challenge, and they’ll be ready to go.”
So far, they have a record of responding to challenges, dating to the start of spring practice.
“In the spring, they knew they weren’t very good. Especially early on, it was just really bad,” coach Mark Richt said this week. “They knew they got better [during the spring], but they knew they had a long way to go. I think that really helped them have a great summer.
“They all decided to get up at 6 a.m. together every time they worked out. They all showed up, and they worked. They knew they better get better in a hurry. Then in [preseason] camp, things started to come together.”
On Saturday, in a game between top-10 teams, the progress of Georgia’s offensive line will be definitively measured.
“This game will definitely be the best gauge,” Richt said. “South Carolina’s defense is playing great. They’re not playing good; they’re playing great. They are kind of used to playing great.. … Without a doubt, this is the biggest test for our offensive line.”
– Tim Tucker
South Carolina’s defense by the numbers (with SEC rank in parentheses):
Touchdowns allowed: 5 (T-1st)
Points allowed per game: 11.2 (2nd)
Sacks: 22 (1st)
Total yards allowed per game: 289 (3rd)
Rushing yards allowed per game: 78 (2nd)
Passing yards allowed per game: 211 (7th)
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332 comments Add your comment
HAIRYDAWGFAN
October 5th, 2012
1:30 pm
Gonna be tight…..DAWGS 28 and Dirty Chickens 24 in the big chicken coop in Columbia…..GO YOU HAIRY DAWGS…..
@ Red-N-Black
October 5th, 2012
1:30 pm
You are so right man. I wish all responses on here could be as accurate as yours are. Aaron Murray is going to thrash the SC defense. Didn’t UK score 17 on that D in the first half last week? Didn’t UF completely shut down UK? Why didn’t the mighty SC defense replicate that? Let me guess they did it on purpose. SC is more overrated than FSU this year. Gonna get exposed Saturday night on your home field. Hilarious!
Joey
October 5th, 2012
1:31 pm
Burt Reynolds, LogicalUS, Truth, Fun Fact Man, why don’t you ladies grow some nads like GTBob?
He tosses insults, but uses the same name – and the name of his team.
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
1:37 pm
Didn’t UF completely shut down UK? Why didn’t the mighty SC defense replicate that?
Didn’t UF shut down Tennessee also at Tennessee? Why couldn’t UGA replicate that at home? All you are proving is that UF is probably the best team in the SEC east.
Nothing Could Be Finer
October 5th, 2012
1:39 pm
Less than 36 hours till Lattimore runs all over the dogs (again)…….
@ GT Bob
October 5th, 2012
1:40 pm
I am watching all the games this weekend with a lot of my GT friends and UGA friends. I am a UGA grad. I really think Clemson has a dynamic offense and would score a ton of points on most teams. However, I think you guys will score on them as well because their D isn’t that great. Obviously Auburn is terrible this year and they gave Clemson a good game in the dome. It won’t be as bad as people think if your offense hasn’t given up on the season. I see a Clemson win and by 17 – 21 points but it will be a high scoring game.
Thoughts?
@ GT Bob
October 5th, 2012
1:41 pm
UF gave up 20 to Tennessee. I wouldnt call that shutting them down.
World Beaters (GTBob just keeps beating himself)
October 5th, 2012
1:44 pm
@astrouga – “And why is anyone even paying any attention to GTBob?”
____________________
Agreed, I’ve been hitting on that for some time, but we have too many on here that love to feed that troll and can’t just ignore him.
CHDawg
October 5th, 2012
1:45 pm
Bob, I don’t share your opinion of TN. They pulled ahead of Florida early in the 2nd qtr and they led the Gators until the very end of the 3rd quarter. That was a very close game until late. I was telling my overconfident Dawg amigos this last week, but one common opponent isn’t a great way to try to divine the score on Saturday.
Joey
October 5th, 2012
1:46 pm
My cyber muscles are huge. I got tickets to the gun show.
Who’s delusional, got two thumbs, 24 hours away from reality setting in, and cheers for an overrated team? This guy!
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
1:52 pm
I see a Clemson win and by 17 – 21 points but it will be a high scoring game. Thoughts?
I think this is fairly accurate but could get a lot worse. Clemson will have Watkins back for this game. That makes a huge difference. The way I look at it, they will score 90-100% of the time. We will probably score 60-75% of the time if we are motivated. That should translate into at least a 14 point loss.
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
October 5th, 2012
1:56 pm
Spurrier is coming…..
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
1:58 pm
UF gave up 20 to Tennessee. I wouldnt call that shutting them down.
They gave up 140 less yards and 24 less points on the road then UGA did at home. Maybe not quite shutting them down but UF was much much more impressive against UT then UGA was.
CHDawg
October 5th, 2012
1:59 pm
Spurrier is coming? That is next year. This year Richt is coming to Columbia.
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
1:59 pm
Really GTBob
60-75% of the time. Quite optimistic on your part
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
2:00 pm
Son of Sammy is showing off his GT education I see
BobDawg
October 5th, 2012
2:01 pm
I look at this game as the same timing as our game with Vandy… SC catches us at the wrong time and we win by 2 touchdowns… Basically all we do is shut down Lattimore/Shaw running the ball and load the box. Grantham will simplify the game plan and the D will pin their ears back….
DogFaceBlues
October 5th, 2012
2:02 pm
Met a man with a message from the other side
Couldn’t take the pressure – had to leave it behind
He said it’s up to you
You can run or you can fight – (ya that’s right)
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
2:04 pm
Really GTBob
60-75% of the time. Quite optimistic on your part
Clemson’s defense is awful and they usually have issues with our offense.
BamaATL
October 5th, 2012
2:05 pm
Doesn’t really matter, because no one can beat the Tide.
astrouga
October 5th, 2012
2:18 pm
LOL.
Who is going to bite on the BamaATL bit? No doubt this is the same troll (GTbob, Nothing could be finer, etc).
These comment sections are really a joke when anyone can post without registration. too bad too. Some good points are made throughout, but are burried under the trash these trolls are posting.
chase
October 5th, 2012
2:19 pm
you know how to slow CLOWNY down?
You RUN THE BALL RIGHT AT HIM!
the best way to take a pass rusher out of a game is to beat him up in the running game! – You beat speed by running right at it and you beat size by running around it!
NoNads
October 5th, 2012
2:26 pm
I giggle when saying nasty things to UGA fans online. I pee myself too. Better get a pad . . .
TampaDawg
October 5th, 2012
2:27 pm
Man, I am excited for a good showdown!!!
Michael Bennett was one of the most underatted recievers by outsiders looking into our program, but I felt as if Murray often relied on him to many times. Sometimes AM never took his eyes off of him in the short passing game, which is dangerous. AM does a good job in spreading the receptions around and I believe this will force him to do it even more. Good luck to Bennett in recovery but this may actually cut down or AM’s interceptions. I just hope we can run it up the middle on SC. The DE’s will have the outside lanes blocked up even during a pass rush. Maybe hard with our smaller center, but that guy has some heart.
We need some quick screens on the outside to slow down the rush from those DE’s (another place Bennett will be missed for blocking down field)
I am not worried about our skill on defence, it is the play calling I am worried about. Grantham in a heck of a coach in teaching skills and maneuvers, but his play calling gets to me. We played off the recievers by 10 yds for 80% of the time against UT. It was like we couldn’t figure it out, then we got gashed on rushing.
I expect the opposite during the SC game. I see alot of Zone-Read play action passing in the first quarter then Lattimore hitting it hard in the second half. Hunker Down Dawgs!!! It is going to be a good one.
UGA wins over SC 31-24
CHDawg
October 5th, 2012
2:32 pm
BamaATL, if you were really a Bama fan you would be talking about the matchup between two fine Alabama grads on Saturday: Will Friend, coaching UGA’s Oline, and Lorenzo Ward, coaching SC’s vaunted D. Ward sounds like a great guy. I hope he continues with a fantastic season–after a brief but pronounced loss to UGA!
TampaDawg
October 5th, 2012
2:37 pm
@GTBob
You can’t really brag about beating ranked teams before the season is over. There are always a few that never should have been ranked in the first place.
————————————————————————
Just like Alabama this year????
dawgfacedboy
October 5th, 2012
2:37 pm
GTBob- Obviously. You are just that guy i guess.
BamaATL
October 5th, 2012
2:40 pm
UGA’s Resume:
- Member of the Best Conference in the Country
- Cool Looking Uniform Colors
- Won a National Title in 1980 (because a single player chose to attend our school)
If I am a recruit, that doesn’t impress me….
RMikel58
October 5th, 2012
2:44 pm
Not that im not worried about S. Carolina but they have beaten 5 teams with a combined record of 8-16.
With Missouri being 3-2 and they played the tigers at home. Their closet game was with Vanderbilt where the gamecocks faired 17-13.
Their Defense hasnt been tested with the recievers and running backs Georgia has yet so far this year.
Yes its a SEC School, yes their a very good team with a great coach. But dont get caught up in the hype that S. Carolina has a great scary Defense.
Theyve been untested to date and havent faced a team with as many talented offensive players like Georgia has.
What will help S. Carolina with their defense will be playing at home but not the statistics they have gained this year.
No im not implying Georgia will accumalate 500 total yards of offense because its always close. But fearing the stats of an unproven Defense that hasnt played anyone this year is yet is overreacting.
Georgia’s defense is better than S. Carolina’s defense but hasnt played up to their potential.
I look for a close game but i think in the end Georgia will win by 12 pts.
I think you can throw out stats in any SEC Game which is covered by the media to create more hype for ratings.
I think Georgia’s defense has alot to prove and i think it will come down to penalties and turn overs.
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
2:45 pm
GTBob
Even with a turrible Clempson D (I don’t think they are as bad as you do) your prognostication of 60-75% for the Tech Offense is pretty rich. IIRC, your GT offense didn’t score 30-35% against MTST did they?
TampaDawg
October 5th, 2012
2:52 pm
I am never one to argue back and forth with other commentors (save for GTBob) but I am only arguing the strength of schedule that everyone thought was going to be so easy for Dawgs. The games have changed and the SECEast is very balanced now.
I never pull for UF, but I hope that demolish LSU this year just so there will be no more crybabies about our schedule when we meet up in JAX. Who else beside Bama and LSU is relavent in the west. I will say that A&M is on fire now. UF already took care of them.
UGA has got to whoop up on SC, win a close one in JAX, and tear a Tiger apart against Auburn (who played close with LSU), and everyone will hush hush.
When the SECCG comes around with Bama, who knows???? I know Bama has depth, but if those poor young gentlemen keep getting busted up, no team can withstand it.Bama’s O-Line is sketchy, one week they look like the best in the nation, they get pushed around.
Not dissing UF, but I think UGA has the best combo to beat the Tide in SECCG
TampaDawg
October 5th, 2012
2:53 pm
*then they get pushed around
Joey
October 5th, 2012
2:55 pm
My milkshake brings ALL the boys to the yard
TampaDawg
October 5th, 2012
3:02 pm
RMike…… I like your style….it all make sense
Nothing Could Be Finer
October 5th, 2012
3:13 pm
RMikel58
October 5th, 2012
2:44 pm
Not that im not worried about S. Carolina but they have beaten 5 teams with a combined record of 8-16.
——————————
Lets see, the dogs have beaten 5 teams with a combined record of 9-14.
Stellar competition as well….
Plus, yall played Buffalo. Who plays Buffalo?
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
3:17 pm
IIRC, your GT offense didn’t score 30-35% against MTST did they?
If we base everything off of the MTSU game then GT has no chance of winning another game in the next three years. Personally, I don’t think we will come out quite that flat again. If we do then we should just get rid of the football team.
gdawginkalamazoo
October 5th, 2012
3:21 pm
Tech wins by 2 TD’s this weekend.
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
3:24 pm
TampaDawg
A great fallacy is people attempting to determine who has a “weak or soft” schedule before a game is even played. UGAs isn’t much different this year from last year yet at the end of the year it will have been completely different.
My advice is tell those naysayers on soft schedules that they don’t know what the h3ll they are talking about. We are almost midway of the season and the soft schedules still can’t be determined. Bama’s schedule to date has been softer than Georgia’s. Who would have thought that on opening day? I didn’t
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
3:30 pm
“If we base everything off of the MTSU game then GT has no chance of winning another game in the next three years. Personally, I don’t think we will come out quite that flat again. If we do then we should just get rid of the football team.”
GTBob
All we really have when you separate the wheat from the chafe in trying to determine where any team stands, as a team is most recent history. Would you agree with that?
Based on that and the previous two losses, 60-75% scoring for GT would be in my opinion, quite fugging optimistic. I don’t state that to belittle your bugs, just the facts as I see them. I want you guys to beat Clempson. In fact I want you guys to beat everybody but us
gdawginkalamazoo
October 5th, 2012
3:32 pm
I hope this dude doesn’t do this in Columbia.
http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article_external/11880682?mailing_id=1897&linksrc=mb_right_col
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
Based on that and the previous two losses, 60-75% scoring for GT would be in my opinion, quite fugging optimistic.
It might be a tad optimistic, but I am making it with the assumption that this will be a high scoring game. GT scored on 72% of the drives in the UVA game. In the Miami game GT was scoring at will until CPJ started calling conservative plays to kill the clock. They were on a streak of 5 touchdowns in 6 drives up until then. MTSU was just a train wreck with a demoralized team, and plenty of turnovers. Could they come out completely demoralized again? Sure. I don’t think so though.
Reality
October 5th, 2012
3:43 pm
The dogs are ALWAYS ready. They will give 100% for 4 quarters. They haven’t lost a game thus far and some knucklehead is already saying if they don’t win this one CMR has got to go. Theres one in every fan base. THEY WILL WIN!
chase
October 5th, 2012
4:00 pm
BamaATL
How about this on UGA’s resume
2nd Best SEC record in the last 10 years (Best record over the last 12 years)
4 SEC EAST TITLES in the last 10 years
2 SEC Titles in the last 10 years
2 Sugar Bowl Wins and 3 appearances in BCS Bowls in the last 10 years
Longest Consecutive Bowl Streak in the SEC
5th best overall record in all of college football over the last 10 years (BAMA is not even in the top 10) here is the source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/45919-top-ten-college-football-teams-of-the-last-10-years
5 top 10 finishes in the last 11 years
Does that impress you?
gdawginkalamazoo
October 5th, 2012
4:01 pm
So far this team has finished the drill. If it was like the past few years we would be 3-2 right now with a narrow victory over Vandy. Definitely a different attitude for the team IMO.
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
4:03 pm
GTBob
For your sake I hope they do get that funk off and start playing some decent football. I have a feeling they won’t and never will until you find yourselves a coach. Moobs ain’t it
gdawginkalamazoo
October 5th, 2012
4:04 pm
chase, I like all those stats and stuff but I would trade half of them for just one crystal football. I would trade all of them for two crystal footballs. Regardless I still like Richt as our HC.
ARdawg
October 5th, 2012
4:04 pm
zoo
This team likes each other. No prima donnas, no special treatment. Seems to be a good bunch that likes to play football and win
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
4:09 pm
I have a feeling they won’t and never will until you find yourselves a coach. Moobs ain’t it
Sadly, there is probably no coach that could come in and really win at GT. Many thought CPJ was a perfect fit but he might not be. Hopefully he can turn it around. If not then GT can start concentrating more on basketball.
intheknow
October 5th, 2012
4:13 pm
Clowney couldn’t spell his name right if you spotted him the first four letters. Has anybody ever heard him talk?…or for that matter most of the Gamecock team…..thier all dumb as rocks. Nobody on the team can put a grammatically correct sentence together.There’s no way their staying in school without help from their coaching staff….sad…really sad! Georgia wins this game 34-17 and we all get to watch Spurrier make excuses afterward….I can’t wait!
GTBob
October 5th, 2012
4:20 pm
Nobody on the team can put a grammatically correct sentence together.There’s no way their staying in school without help from their coaching staff….sad…really sad
Do you really think UGA’s players are any better? That is the basic strategy of the SEC. Recruit the dumbest fastest people out there and hope they stay eligible.