Georgia’s options limited when it comes to stopping Tech’s offense
Georgia and Butkus Award finalist Jarvis Jones will be chasing bigger, faster players in trying to stop Georgia Tech's spread option than they were with Georgia Southern. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – Georgia did a pretty good job of slowing down Georgia Southern’s spread-option attack this past Saturday. The Eagles managed 302 rushing yards and 19 first downs. But that turned out to be more annoying than agonizing as the Bulldogs cruised to a 45-14 victory.
Enter Georgia Tech, which runs essentially the same offense. But any notion that Georgia will be dealing with the same challenge is incorrect.
Yellow Jackets’ coach Paul Johnson is considered the modern-day guru of the spread option. And with the athletes Tech will bring to Sanford Stadium, for Georgia’s defenders it will be like going from minor league to major-league pitching.
“He knows it so well that he doesn’t even need a call sheet,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said of Johnson. “It’s in his brain and he’s seen just about everything under the sun as far as people trying to defend it. When he sees something, he knows where to go next, and that’s the beauty of the system that they have. They know what to do to counteract what a defense is trying to do to stop something or slow it down.”
There’s that, and then there’s this: While Georgia Southern’s offensive line was under-sized, Tech’s averages 6-foot-3 and 297 pounds. The Yellow Jackets feature a B-back in David Sims, who weighs 222 pounds, a bevy of A-backs who can fly and two quarterbacks who can run and pass.
In all, the Jackets count 11 different players who are averaging 5 yards per carry or better. They’re third in the nation in rushing at 324.9 yards per game and have run the football for more yards than any FBS team in the nation since 2008.
“They’re different,” Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said. “Formationally they’re different. Conceptually, as far as trying to get the ball on the edge with some of the options, they’re the same. But it’s like any defense or offense; you kind of take on the personality of the guy doing it. And Paul does a good job.”
Georgia has gotten better at facing Johnson’s option, though it has yet to shut it down. The Bulldogs gave up 409 yards rushing the first time they saw it in 2008 and lost 45-42. Since then, Georgia has allowed 205, 411 and 243 yards rushing, respectively, in the last three meetings and won by an average of 9.3 points.
“Anytime you do something, continuity is good,” Grantham said. “The more you see things the better you are at it. And I think the players understand it, too, from the standpoint we got to do it last week. But it’s going to be a challenge because, if you don’t execute, you’re going to give up explosive plays.”
Healthy pack of Dogs
Georgia has been somewhat unlucky in that it has lost three starters to season-ending injuries — receiver Marlon Brown, receiver Michael Bennett (knee) and linebacker Chase Vasser (shoulder) — and another for an extended period (defensive end Abry Jones, five games, ankle surgery). But the Bulldogs arrive at the 12th game of the season an otherwise healthy team.
Richt confirmed following Wednesday’s practice that the Bulldogs will go into the Tech game with roughly the same lineup they have the last two games with the addition of starting right guard Chris Burnette. Burnette missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.
“We’ve had no issues that I know of,” Richt said. “I just walked off the field with Ron and he didn’t mention anything to me, so that probably means nothing today.”
Thanksgiving logistics
Georgia practiced in full pads Wednesday will again Thursday morning before turning the Bulldogs loose to celebrate Thanksgiving with their families. And when that happens, Richt said he doesn’t want the players thinking about football.
“What I want them to do is focus until about 10 a.m. (Thursday) morning,” Richt said. “Then I’ll tell them, ‘enjoy Thanksgiving. Think about everything you’re thankful for and enjoy the day.’ It’s healthy to take a break.”
Richt said the Bulldogs will conduct a rare Friday practice to make sure they get their minds back on business. “I want to get them moving around after all they might eat and get their brains locked into the game plan and such. We’ll do about a 50-minute practice that will allow us to hopefully get our minds back on our business.”
Georgia also altered its schedule because Saturday’s game is a noon kickoff. The Bulldogs practiced at noon Wednesday, went in the morning on Thursday and will go early again on Friday.
“We wanted to try to get them up about the time they’ll get up game day,” Richt said “We just want to get their bodies used to waking up in the morning and moving, concentrating and focusing on plays during the time the game will be played.”
Twenty-one seniors to be honored
Twenty-one UGA football players will be honored in the Bulldogs’ annual Senior Day ceremony at 11:46 a.m. Saturday. Kickoff for the regular-season finale against Tech is set for 12:01 p.m. (ESPN).
The seniors are: Taylor Bradberry, Winder; Marlon Brown, Memphis; Luis Capella, Augusta; Sanders Commings, Augusta; Scott Eichler, Oakwood; Reuben Faloughi, Martinez; Ty Frix, Calhoun; Michael Gilliard, Valdosta; John Jenkins, Meriden, Conn.; Abry Jones, Warner Robins; Tavarres King, Mount Airy; Jamie Lindley, Savannah; Ricky Lowe, Duluth; Bacarri Rambo, Donalsonville.; Ben Reynolds, Bainbridge; Christian Robinson, Norcross; Dustin Royston, Royston; Richard Samuel, Cartersville, Ga.; Branden Smith, Atlanta, Ga.; Cornelius Washington, Hephzibah, Ga.; Shawn Williams, Damascus, Ga.
Etc. . . .
Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo is included among 29 nominees for the 2012 Broyles Award, which goes annually to the nation’s top assistant coach in college football. Under Bobo’s guidance, the Bulldogs have already set a school record for touchdowns in a season (55) and is on pace to break long-standing UGA marks for total offense and points per game for a season. Also among the nominees are Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco and Alabama special teams coach Bobby Williams. . . . Georgia junior Jarvis Jones was named one of five finalists for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker. The other finalists are: Oregon’s Dion Jordan, LSU’s Kevin Minter, Alabama’s C.J. Mosley and Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o are the other finalists for the Butkus Award. The Butkus Foundation will announce the winner during the first week of December.
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129 comments Add your comment
MT
November 23rd, 2012
2:21 pm
ROLL TIDE!
Who are ya’ll. Ain’t played nobody What a 3 loss Michigan.
Jimmy Crack
November 23rd, 2012
2:25 pm
Tech’s defense can’t stop UGA’s offense, or any other offense they have faced in recent years, except Presbyterian. Tech’s veer won’t be able to keep up with the points their swiss cheese defense will give up to the Dogs.
SMEAR THE VEER!
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 23rd, 2012
2:36 pm
Here’s an on topic question.
Go back to the South Carolina game. Looking at the box score off ESPN, the box score went USC 7, USC 14, USC 21, USC 28, USC 35, UGA 7, end 35-7. Where was the defense and offense there?
Go to the Tennessee game against Georgia. This is more puzzling. UGA 7, UT 7, UGA 14, UT 10, UGA 21, UGA 27 (missed PAT?!?!?)… so at this point UT 10, UGA 27. So this is the beginning of the second quarter, you’d think lousy UT would fold under the pressure of UGA’s defense and offense. EXCEPT… UT rattles off 3 unanswered TDs and then UGA hits a FG to tie it up. It was 30-30 at the half. Against UT?
You let them score 3 unanswered TDs when you were up 27-10. Start of the 3rd quarter UGA scored 2 TDs, so you’re up 43-30… but you let UT back in. Now 43-37, then 51-37. SO FINALLY YOU WIN RIGHT? Nope, UT scored again 51-44.
Then UGA failed to move the ball for the next 8 minutes. UT moved it to the 50, punted, UGA 3-n-out, punt, UT moves to the UGA 32 but fumbles, UGA on the UGA 32 and then forced a 3-n-out. UGA punts and UT has the ball of the UGA 48, but Bray throws an INT.
So when the game was on the line, from the last play of the 3rd to the entire 4th, all UGA could do was 3-n-out. 4 of them to be exact. Letting UT get in striking distances multiple times.
I mean yeah we lost to probably the eventual Heisman winner, but we were the ones driving in the 4th and we gave it away when we abandoned our unbeatable run. Crap happens.
But comparing the two, I see no contest. The UGA defense is not as advertised, it cannot stop the run against a good team. UGA’s offense is never there when needed.
Alabama, we’re Alabama. We beat you in the run, we beat you in the pass, we beat the hell out of your offense.
I think this game will be decided early like a lot of UGA’s losses over the last 5 years. I think we score around 35-45 and we shut the UGA offense down. We rarely go for the 50+ score. We are happy to win 28-0 and make it feel like 50-0. See last years BCS National Championship game for details or ask LSU if they know what the 50 yard line looks like in the Super Dome.
Don’t be decided tomorrow either, I think we run a vanilla offense against Auburn. Probably mid 30s-0 or 3, or 6 or 9. They have a great kicker and nothing else. We won’t be Texas A&Ming Auburn 65-0 or whatever it was. Probably not too far from 38-0 you did.
What I look forward to is seeing the 3-n-outs we force UGA into. That’s almost as fun as TDs and definitely more fun than FGs. I’d say try again next year but you’re playing Clemson, USC and LSU early, a 1-4 start? Hello Auburn II.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 23rd, 2012
2:38 pm
@MT, ain’t our fault Michigan wasn’t the 8th ranked team they were billed to be. Or maybe they were and we derailed them for the rest of the season. Probably that.
As opposed to.. Buffalo?
Now that I look at it, 1-4 start next year for UGA? OMGosh. No wonder why you’re scared about the next two weeks. Don’t be scared. Just accept your drubbing and move on to the Citrus bowl knowing you won 10 games two years in a row and nobody cared.
Joey
November 23rd, 2012
2:50 pm
Here’s a novel idea, maybe we can go back and play SC and see who is playing better now.
Oh, no wait. Nobody gets to do that. Nobody in college football gets do-overs. Mulligans.
Right.
RTR, don’t worry about all those stats – other than UT, we have very similar results. But those results will mean nothing next Saturday.
Bama’s matchups with UGA’s will be all that matters.
Jimmy Crack
November 23rd, 2012
2:57 pm
Beating up patsies, padding the record against a very-down SEC West, and losing to a freshman QB AT HOME doesn’t exactly strike fear in opponents’ hearts.
Joey
November 23rd, 2012
3:09 pm
RTR, funny how you cherry-picked out 2 worst games of the season – our 5th and 6th games. We played bad in both, but you may need to look at the last 4 games.
Bama will play UGA in our 13th game. Better count on our D looking like the latter. Not the former. And other than the UT game, our other common opponent games look every similar.
Throw all those stats away anyway, the only thing that matters next Saturday is how UGA’s players match up with Bama’s.
Bad Dawg, Bad Dawg
November 23rd, 2012
3:40 pm
Dawgs #3…dillusional. Dawgs FBS opponents (save Gators and Gamecocks) have a 30% winning percentage. Dawgs got embarrassed, yes embarrassed by Gamecocks and Gators beat themselves and then barely beat ULL by 7. Really, more hype from dillusional Dawg fans. Still living the ‘80 one and done national championship. Well 32 years later you still smack talk Tech (which by the way has 4 national champtionships). The real SEC elite is Bama, Gators, LSU. At Tech we do live for more than 12 Saturdays a year. At Georgia, that’s all you have.
Alex
November 23rd, 2012
3:42 pm
Well from someone who remembers some of the losses to lessor teams. I just hope Murray has a great game and those freshman backs run up and down the field. Probably need to score 42 to 45 to win but whatever it takes. Go Dawgs!
Brad K
November 23rd, 2012
4:28 pm
I think it is just the icing on the cake when some posters from Tech whine about the capitalization of letters in a post. Keep up the good work, ladykillers. Can not wait for the annual running of the state, GATA.
Brad K
November 23rd, 2012
4:34 pm
Dear RTR, please have a safe trip to Atlanta and don’t die in a fiery auto crash. Hugs.
@ RTR
November 23rd, 2012
6:24 pm
RTR- Here is what is puzzling to me… How the “big bad” Tide from Tuscaloosa got spanked at home by a BIG-12 team… Where is the off. and def. in that one? I can guarantee this, UGA is light years better than A&M, so get your popcorn ready!
Georgia’s seniors determined live out script they wrote back in January | UGA sports blog
November 23rd, 2012
10:10 pm
[...] Georgia’s options limited when it comes to stopping Yellow Jackets [...]
Rabid_dawg
November 23rd, 2012
10:28 pm
The Ga D must stop them on 1st down and force then into 2nd and longs. If Ga gives up 6,7,8 yds on 1st down repeatedly…our D will have a long game in front of them. If we can force them into 2nd and longs I like Ga’s chances because the speed of the Ga secondary will force Tech into mistake mode as they attempt to abandon the option which is failing.
Buzz 2011
November 23rd, 2012
10:55 pm
They have never stopped it in the past.
They won’t stop it Saturday. The only
question is if we rn ove them for 400 or 500 yards!!
flo-ri-duh
November 23rd, 2012
10:57 pm
Gaethers, Ogletree, Jarvis Jones and Aaron Murray – how many of these will turn pro? They could b among the biggest loses. When V D was head coach players didn’t go to the NFL early. Dooley did lose Jake Scott and Herschel Walker early to other leagues.
flo-ri-duh
November 23rd, 2012
10:59 pm
UGA will dominate the clock and the ball with their short passing game and their run game. Key is to get the ball in the end zone and not settle for field goals and of course don’t turn the ball over.
flo-ri-duh
November 23rd, 2012
11:01 pm
UGA’s superior LB play will stop the run – say 325 total offense for the bugs and 10 points.
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 23rd, 2012
11:48 pm
Since, I have everyone’s attention.
As to the question directed at me, explain how Alabama lost by 5 to Texas A&M? Easy, Texas A&M has the probable Heisman trophy winner who almost beat Florida in his first collegiate game and we abandoned the run at the wrong time. We won’t make that mistake twice. We rarely make mistakes twice, and that’s why we are 41-2 over the last 3 years with 2 BCS NCs.
UGwoofwoofA is… what? Run that record by me again? How about total national championships from UGA vs Alabama? Heck, how about just in the last 30 years? We average 1 about every ten years, you?
Which reminds me, you realize 3 teams from the SEC West have won 4 of the last 6 BCS National Titles? The East produced 2, but from the same team. Now, we’ve had 8 total SEC BCS national titles, 4 times more than the next conference, but of those 8, 5 were SEC west schools and 3 came from SEC East schools. Zero of those of course were from UGA. Which makes me think the reason UGA wins the SEC East two years in a row has a lot more to do with the traditional power houses of the East failing and the best SEC East team, South Carolina, faltering due to a harder schedule than UGA. But yet somehow, this is a championship year for you?
Now my question, name 3 starters at UGA that are better than their counterparts at Alabama? Now keep in mind, over the last five years we average #2 in the nation, you… #6. Now, what do we do with that #2 on average recruiting classes? Win National Championships.
What do you do with the 6th ranked? You lose bad to Boise. Who was in the 60-70th best class range out of 120 or so schools. You beat just one mediocre over-ranked opponent in 4 year span.
So, with that in mind, name me 3 players better than ours and name me one coach better than one of ours?
A RTR Hit-N-Run from ATL
November 23rd, 2012
11:55 pm
BTw, keep in mind when comparing, Alabama put 8 players in the 2012 draft, 4 in the first round. Same with the 2011 first round, we put 4 in there. In fact we only put 5 in, but 4 of them were first rounders.
We are projected to have 5 in the first round in 2013.
Now go on, give me your best shot…
North Georgia Dawg
November 24th, 2012
1:04 am
If Tech does not get pressure on Murray and Georgia does not turn it over, Tech will not be able to upset us, because they can’t beat us in a shootout. A couple of turnovers would give them a chance to get ahead. I just don’t see it happening. Murray has been brilliant in his first two games against Georgia Tech and I don’t see anything changing tomorrow. Personally, while Tech is supposedly better at stopping the run than the pass, I’d like to pound the Jackets with Gurley and Malcome and then hit them around the ends with Marshall… pound them and wear them down the way we did to them in 2009. Murray should have no problem burning them, but if we pound it we could eat up clock and keep our defense from being on the field as long. This isn’t to say our defense isn’t capable of stopping the option, but that we should be more effective stopping it if we don’t score super fast, putting them back out there quickly.
North Georgia Dawg
November 24th, 2012
1:14 am
Play your game, dawgs. The Jackets will get some yards, but make them earn their points. They know they won’t beat us by scoring under 30 and kicking field goals. All UGA needs to do is get a few stops on defense and execute the way they’ve been doing almost all year long on offense and they’ll be fine. But this game this scares me in that it’s a rivalry game so anything could happen.
Tech Sucks
November 24th, 2012
5:46 am
AJC so hilarious… This unstoppable juggernaut of a Tech team comes in at 6-5… WHAT IS UGA GOING TO DO????
Hilarity.
MTSU
Tech Sucks
November 24th, 2012
5:47 am
Hey Buzz 2011… They stopped it pretty well last year. This team is a lot better. How did you lose to MTSU by 21 points?
You gave up 50 points to North Carolina.
RedandBlackDAWG
November 24th, 2012
7:26 am
After watching how poorly LSU did in winning yesterday and considering how close they played alabama and in fact almost beat Alabama the other week, I would say the tide had better beware just a little themselves next Saturday. The last I checked, nobody had a big “S” tattooed on their chest in crimson.
Buzz 2011
November 24th, 2012
8:19 am
RMIike128.. Nobody is desperate to beat any Dogs.
The big game for GT is next Satrurday. It will be a
tough as Florida State is # 3 rated team in country.
Leghumpers are desparate and will fall to the option
an Bama wll sweep away the ashes..
RMikel58
November 24th, 2012
9:30 am
Wow judging by all these predictions, its apparent that some of you are psychics and/or should be coaching in college football.
These are just envious, jealous, jacket fans that have so much bitterness that they wish that for one season they could beat Georgia muchless win 2 years in a row.
Stick with basketball Techies becuase thats the only sport you have over Georgia. Dont watch the game today because you might get sick and throw up that pizza you just ate.
You have a MI-nute of a chance to win todays game.
You want to sit there and compare Georgias success against any other team besides yourself. Thats because thats all you got.
1 win in 10 tries omg what an absolute to brag about. This isnt about whove we played this year or didnt live up to.
Its about beating Tech 9 out of 10 times with better teams than what youre sending out on the field against my Georgia team.
You cant brag about your record, you cant say you earned playing in the ACC Championship as that was by one teams elimination.
Evenso when you won the NCAA you had to share that title with a Colorado team. You will always find something about Georgia to demmagogue but between our 2 schools its not even close.
But you wont go there will you?
Atleast Georgia has had that opportunity while you Tech fans had to sit at home watching ESPN Bowl Games.
Have you been to as many Bowl Games as Georgia? Have you had 10 win seasons in the past 10 years? The answer is NO!
Anyone can scrutinize any teams record when it goes back 100 years but Georgia Bulldogs have owned this state for 9 out of 10 years and today will make it 10 out of 11.
Im not sure if the pollution has overwhlemed your thinking but the proof is in the pudding……TECHS JUST LOUSY when it comes to inner state rivalry against the Dawgs.
Get pumped up, stay glued to your seats, invite friends and family over to watch Georgia school Tech today.
Youll not finish your pizza you ordered, youll not jump up and down, your friends and family members will fight amongst one another and by halftime theyll all be gone.
Your entire weekend will comprise of you canceling reservations and making excuses why Tech was atrocious or youll blame the coaches, players or refs for your jackets demise.
For the next few days youll feel like doing nothing possibly breaking up with your fiance or quitting your job.
In the end youll remember this is how you felt years earlier when Tech lost and its at that time youll make a pledge to never let thingfs get you this way.
But come next year youll be doing the very same routine.
A Plea from a Young Boy
November 24th, 2012
10:55 am
‘Dear Mr Georgies:
Y’all please have some mercy on my Yeller Jackets today. Please don’t run up your score too much. You so great and good. ‘and we all know you the real superior team and we ain’t got no prayer or beating y’all. It ain’t been a good year for my team or puppy dog, Mr. Georgies. i picked litle Liberty from Ms. Ledbetter;s liter last month. He was a cute tiny black and white beagle, and he had big pretty brown eyes. Only he wasn’t in no good health, Mr. Georgies, and died the other morning. He was too scragergly like my Tech team is. I miss him so much. Please, mister a’n ms. Georgies, don’t let your supertly trained profeesionala be pounding my Jacketts in the ground and scoring evertime you got the ball. And please oh please let us score once or twice anyhow, Mr.and MS Georgies. We ain’t got no money and Christmas is to be awful bleak this year. So if my Jackets could just score, it would mean so much to me. It’d of be like having a Christmas present under the tree. And Mr. Rictck, the Georgie’s golden coach, you’re such a good kind man. So please don’t mbarrest my Jacketts, okay? PLease don’t. They the only friend I got left since my sister run away from home last summer. Okay, Mr. Georgie’s, Okay? Oh, and Sirs, good luck beating the e’lePhants afgter you beat my Jackets. My daddy says you a shooe-in to be the nasional champions in football. But, first, please please, Mr. Georgies, have mercy won’t ya, on my Jackets today. Th.ank you, Sirs and Mams, and I hope you all stay warm.’
Nyname is Bud. And maybe I can pull for y’all when you ain’t playing my jackets okay?
Georgia’s seniors determined live out script they wrote in January – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) | Daily News Pages
November 24th, 2012
3:56 pm
[...] Georgia’s options limited when it comes to stopping Yellow Jackets [...]