Matchup: Georgia rushing offense vs. Alabama rushing defense
Each day this week, the AJC will take a quick look at a matchup in the SEC Championship game. Today: Georgia’s rushing offense vs. Alabama’s rushing defense.
Georgia rushing offense
Key stats: Todd Gurley has run for 1,138 yards, more than any true freshman in UGA history except Herschel Walker. Keith Marshall — Gurley’s running mate and roomate — has run for 720 yards, eighth most by a UGA freshman.
Season high point: Of many impressive performances, Gurley’s 118 yards on 27 fumble-free carries against Florida’s stellar defense was tops.
Season low point: Gurley and Marshall had 39 and 37 yards, respectively, against South Carolina in Georgia’s lone loss. The offensive line struggled, but offensive coordinator Mike Bobo later lamented abandoning the run too soon.
Name to know: “Gurshall”
Alabama rushing defense
Key stats: Alabama is the toughest team in the SEC to run against, yielding 77 rushing yards per game. The Crimson Tide has allowed only seven rushing touchdowns all season and only one player to run for 100-plus yards (LSU’s Jeremy Hill, 107 on 29 carries).
Season high point: Alabama held Missouri to just three — three! — rushing yards.
Season low point: Alabama gave up 165 rushing yards in its loss to Texas A&M, including 92 on 18 carries by quarterback Johnny Manziel.
Name to know: Senior nose guard Jesse Williams is from Brisbane, Australia, one of only four Australians playing FBS football at a position other than punter.
READ ALL ABOUT IT: THE AJC’S COMPLETE (AND CONTINUOUS) SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME COVERAGE
- More to come.
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177 comments Add your comment
ARdawg
November 26th, 2012
1:06 pm
Alphare
How many yards has your high school TO offense been averaging this year. Might that not be a better indicator?
ARdawg
November 26th, 2012
1:08 pm
Butthole of Saban
Everyone in the country? Really? Nobody at A&M thought so
Jim
November 26th, 2012
1:08 pm
Well the only thing for sure is, come Saturday it’s all over but the crying. Who will be crying, time will only tell. How you, I, or anyone else thinks about how this game should or should not be played don’t make a hill of beans. Saben and Richt have forgot more about football than we will ever learn. To all you dreamers think about this; how would you like to be Jon Gruden, sitting back thinking about all the money Arkansas, Auburn, and Tennessee will be throwing his way.
BILLY JACK
November 26th, 2012
1:10 pm
Techies on here hiding behind Alabama like a coward- we should of beat you worse sat instead of showing mercy.This is a message to the entire dawgnation -end all friendships and dealing with any techies you know-dont answer calls or speak to these wretched people you will be happier in the long run.
Bama
November 26th, 2012
1:12 pm
TopDawg,
Really your talking about what GA Southern did last year… what does that have to do with this year…you should say something like LSU should have beat Bama and T-AM really Dominated them then we could all say your right. but last year please. Who was the Natl champs last year remind me I forgot.
Alphare
November 26th, 2012
1:13 pm
ARdawg,
point well taken: stats don’t always translate to points. But it does help make a point from time to time.
ARdawg
November 26th, 2012
1:14 pm
Tech will likely go down as the first team in history to lose the conference championship and not qualify to go bowling. Wow! What a sucky conference
dawg4life
November 26th, 2012
1:14 pm
Don’t you just love the Menstration fans??? Like Dwayne pn??? Tries to insult the intellegience of UGA fans, and misspells genius…. Gotta love it!
ARdawg
November 26th, 2012
1:16 pm
Alphare
It doesn’t help make “that” point Yeller was trying to make. Ga SO ran for 300 on us the week before. Georgia totally dominated both games. Very weak illustration or point to be made there.
Steve
November 26th, 2012
1:18 pm
Murray is too short to see over the line. He needs gaps to open to see downfield, similar to Drew Brees. The problem is that precision blocking is required to form the classic ‘pocket’ that Murray can see thru and step into his throws. If you O-Line cannot get that done, Murray suffers.
Florida and SC are better at getting to the QB with a base defense than the current Bama team, but Bama is still good enough that they will disrupt Murray.
Despite what many think, the answer is NOT short, quick passes. The answer is to pound the ends with runs and pulling guards to wear them down early. When you do go for a quick strike pass, throw a quick fly DOWN THE FIELD instead of these silly WR screens. Those screens work against GaTech and Auburn because the DB’s were below average tackling, but they will not work against a strong defense.
I repeat. Tire the DLine out by pounding the ball at them, particularly on the edge (but not a wide toss). When you see a single covered WR on the outside, adapt the play to a quick fly to beat the pass rush, possibly gain big yardage, and about 25% of the time get a penalty on the D. Do not throw short passes that the Alabama LB’s and CB’s are known for jumping the routes on, as those are pick sixes waiting to happen.
Silly Bloggers
November 26th, 2012
1:18 pm
I believe Bama’s defense is better, but not by a wide margin…if UGA plays the same level of defense they have played since Florida, it is a toss-up. As for these comments about GT and Georgia Southern running yards against us…who cares? It is an option offense. They get running yards. Tech got over 170 of their total yards in the 4th quarter when our starters were out. If you want to skew your defensive rank against the run, play an option. Alabama would give up a ton of yards to Tech and Georgia Southern…just far less than their regular opponents.
Silly Bloggers
November 26th, 2012
1:20 pm
And the problem with the option is that if you are defending it well it is very, very difficult to score in the redzone when the field is shortened…as seen first-hand in both games UGA played against the option. GT typically scores on home-run plays. If they run into a good defense, they get yards, but not points. Lastly, GT held the ball for what? 40 minutes against UGA?
JoJo
November 26th, 2012
1:21 pm
The Dawgs will get it done we matchup evenly with alabama its going to be a heavy weight fight but the Dawgs will pull it out we need to run the ball protect murray and the defense has to get after maccaron if we do that the Dawgs will win
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DAWGS SICEM WOOF WOOF WOOF!
dawg4life
November 26th, 2012
1:23 pm
Bow to saban (be careful who you are bowing to… Petrino got fired for that sort of thing)- look UGA is the better team dude… Face it. Better qb, wr, rb, te, def. They are just better… Not to mention, Richt owns the head-to-head with Saban..
Alphare
November 26th, 2012
1:25 pm
hi ARdawg,
if you don’t like rushing defense ranking, what about scoring defense?
Tech is ranked #87(30.7pts/G), UGA #16(17.7pts/G).
Guess who is #1 with 9.7pts/G?
G-Dawg
November 26th, 2012
1:25 pm
Spread out the offense…to spread out Bama’s defense.
TEs need to be a big part of overall game plan.
Let Murray scramble for positive gains.
Get the backs into space to make moves.
Jimmy Crack
November 26th, 2012
1:26 pm
Bama’s going to miss Kenny Bell dearly in the SEC CG.
ApothecaryMark
November 26th, 2012
1:26 pm
For the delusional dog fans who think UGA’s defense is better, I invite you to examine the stats for yourselves here: http://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs/current/team/1042/p1
Defense: Alabama (opponents 9.25 pts/game) yields 3.9 yds per play while UGA (opponents 17.67 pts/game) yields 4.97 yds/play–decided advantage to Bama
Offense: Alabama (scored 61 TDs) gains 6.9 ypp while UGA (62 TDs) gains 7.04–roughly even
Also, the espn talking heads are saying UGA has more draft-eligible talent on defense. Remember, Bama lost four defensive players in the first 35 picks last year; they are a very young defense. If you watch the next two NFL drafts you will see more players selected from Alabama than UGA…
G-Dawg
November 26th, 2012
1:27 pm
Why are we still talking about Tech on these blogs? LOL Game is over…bend over and take the loss!!
Chip Towers
November 26th, 2012
1:29 pm
Bye, bye, Bow to Saban
dawg4life
November 26th, 2012
1:32 pm
@ bama- forgot who the champs last year were… That was last year. What does it have to do with this year?
dawg4life
November 26th, 2012
1:34 pm
Aww… Come on Chip. It was just getting fun!
Chip=crybaby
November 26th, 2012
1:34 pm
typical leg humpin punk
Ignition
November 26th, 2012
1:36 pm
UGA in my opinion is the more talented team, just not nearly as disciplined or creative. For them to win they should spread Bama’s defense and kill there predestrian secondary with quick passes, screens, draws, ect. Then hit them over the top. Jump on them early then return to smash mouth football one a solid lead is established.
But I don’t know which UGA and Aaron Murray more specifically will show up.
Earl
November 26th, 2012
1:37 pm
SEC Championship Week Timeline
Sunday-Tuesday: UGA players and fans begin believing their press clippings (see Jarvis Jones, AJC headlines, Nick Saban’s comments on UGA’s overrated defense). Delusion among Dawg Nation is epidemic.
Wednesday: Bowed up, obnoxious UGA fans begin arriving in Atlanta from the four corners of the State. Many have quit their jobs because their bosses wouldn’t give them the whole week off.
Thursday-Friday: The media frenzy reaches biblical proportions. More bulletin boards are delivered to the Alabama training facility. They are quickly filled.
Saturday: Bama wins 35-14. UGA’s points are all scored in the fourth quarter against Bama’s third team defense. UGA racks up 45 yards of total offense.
The Month of December: UGA fans blame everyone and everything for the loss rather than just admitting that their team got outplayed (the officials, Mike Bobo, the NCAA, Paul Johnson, the NFL, the WWE, the Georgia Dome playing surface, the media, solar flares, global warming, and insert your own ridiculous reason here).
Say What???
November 26th, 2012
1:40 pm
Wow…. I came here to the blogs thinking we had a chance to win. Now I know we don’t. Our offense is awful and our defense can’t stop anyone. Thanks, Bama fans. Thank you for setting me straight. Your job is done here. You can leave our blog and let us wallow in “what could have been. ” Really… you set us straight. You deserve a metal for taking time out of your busy day attempting make us UGA fans see the light. You guys are so kind.
Do me one last favor, OK? Promise me you will be back here next week to consol us because God knows there is no way that Bama can lose… No way…
Now that they are gone…For the Dawg fans… Let ‘em run there mouth. Let ‘em point out how much harder their schedule was than ours. Let ‘em talk about the dominance of their O line and their defense. Let ‘em point out that UGA never shows up for big games. Let ‘em put down Bobo and Murray and CMR. It is our team’s job to show the world that we are not the same old UGA that they are used to seeing.
But if our team plays the game we know they are capable of… If Murrary and the O line chose to ignore history and write a new chapter of our legacy… If our defense continues to play like they have in the past few games and shuts down the Bama offense, then we can enjoy the deafening silence of the “Bama” fans next week and revel in all of the Notre Dame fans who will appear on this blog, telling us how we can never match up with a national powerhouse like Notre Dame. Deep down inside, we will know, as will they, that they are nothing but a bunch of poisers whose teams have all been beaten by our Dawgs.
Do what you came to do, boys. Finish the drill. Leave it all out on the field.
He Hate Gator
November 26th, 2012
1:45 pm
Dawgs will win if Murray and the D are ready to play and to play smartly. Lapses by either and Bama wins. How ironic (and how crazy the bowl landscape is) if Tech beats FSU, UGA loses and Tech winds up in a BCS bowl while UGA does not….
Justin
November 26th, 2012
1:47 pm
Don’t worry Say What…. we’ll be here after the game Saturday and next week. I hope for a good/competitive game, but Roll Damn Tide…
He Hate Gator
November 26th, 2012
1:48 pm
BCS should not permit non-ranked teams to play for an automatic BCS bowl berth.
GeorgiaGradDawg
November 26th, 2012
1:51 pm
Bama is a bunch of illiterate, stupid, convict cream puffs. When the Georgia Dawgs get done with them McCarron will be crying like a baby. Jesse Williams all he does is waller around like a big lumox. Nick Saban is a paper tiger. He can’t win the big ones without good assistants. His assistants have carried him for years. Bama’s true colors will come out as they already have against A&M and LSU…..They already are crying about all their injuries…..wah, wah, wah! bunch of babies….get ready to “really” be spanked!
Alphare
November 26th, 2012
1:52 pm
” How ironic (and how crazy the bowl landscape is) if Tech beats FSU, UGA loses and Tech winds up in a BCS bowl while UGA does not….”
That might very well happen. Just like UGA fans like to say about their schedule: it is what it is, we do what we have to get there, and we deserve it all.
DogFaceBlues
November 26th, 2012
1:52 pm
Why the Dawgs will win. Its their time. Im not betting for the Dawgs because we have all the tools, but because the odds are stacked so against us. Did anyone see herbstreet on BCS countdown last night? In the background, there was all these helmets of current teams ranked 1-10 with Bama’s and ND facing each other. UGA’s wasnt even visible if it was even there. I hate ESPN so much that it will be such a laugh in their face when UGA beats BAMA and then destroys ND. After the 4:00 dismantling of the Dynasty of the Tide, the hype will go towards a rematch of the 1980 National Championship! Could you imagine the regrets erased and the recruits to come. Go You Silver Britches and Hunker Down one more!
Not Impressed
November 26th, 2012
1:56 pm
I’m still confused on how UGA is even ranked 3rd when you continually avoid LSU, Bama, and now luckily Texas A&M their first year in during the regular season. You play the easiest possible SEC schedule, had a complete cupcake of a non-conference schedule, and only played two ranked teams and got blown out by one of them. Do we even know who this team is? It hasn’t even been hit hard or challenged since Florida. I’m not fan of Oregon or Kansas St., but who is to say GA is ever better than they are? You can’t always use the SEC thing as an excuse because you’d never schedule teams like that and leave the state to play them anyway. I mean it’s a given any of the one-loss, and even some two-loss teams, could beat Notre Dame. I know UGA fans love to avoid playing the top-tier teams in the country and get off on beating garbage teams, but once again you’re in for a rude-awakening this Saturday. There is a reason nobody outside the state of Georgia really gives two $hits about this program, but here’s your chance to change a few minds and play the easiest possible opponent in the title game.
He Hate Gator
November 26th, 2012
1:57 pm
Same could happen to Bama if they lose, Fla leapfrogs them for BCS bowl, Tech to Orange, and non-BCS for Bama….
Dawg-61
November 26th, 2012
1:58 pm
On ESPN early Sunday am, the “talking heads” (including David Green, no less) had a “(DIS)cussion about the Dawgs chances in the SEC Title Game. Greene was a bit more positive but the other two clowns were so enamored with Notre Dame that they almost wet their pants awaiting the crowning of the “Golden” boys as NC’s.
The Dawgs have two BIG problems: running against Bama and being as tight as 16 war drums in a Seminole Indian compound. GEEZ! If someone touches one during the first 15 minutes he (the player) will disintegrate!
My heart bleeds Red and Black; unfortunately my WALLET bleeds green and therein lies the bottom line: Bama will somehow do against the Dawgs…sorta like The (S)aint’s do it against the Falcons no matter how good they are or appear to be. FINAL: Bama – 24, Dawgs – 17.
That beat’s the spread (I took the 7 points).
This is not bad-mouthing the Dawgs, only being realistic.
Andy
November 26th, 2012
1:59 pm
I am not sure that it means anything at all about who will win. But, the SEC measures 33 statistical categories on the SEC sports website for the 2012 season. In those categories Alabama is ahead of UGA in 24, UGA is ahead in 8 and they are tied in 1. I would like to hear from reasonable fans on both sides what they think about this? I keep hearing that Alabama’s defense is not this or not that, well they still have the number one defense in the country statistically. I also keep hearing that UGA has a better offense than Alabama, and I think I agree with that. But, statistically that is not the case. Thoughts?
He Hate Gator
November 26th, 2012
1:59 pm
Not Impressed, ….the SEC schedules the SEC games and the West conference teams are rotated. Ga was supposed to play Bama this year but the additions of A&M and Missouri changed that….not Ga’s fault…check next year’s schedule….
I Smell Hypocrisy
November 26th, 2012
2:03 pm
What’s going to be funny is when UGA loses to Bama after talking so much garbage about them and their fans and then turns around and roots for them to win the title vs Notre Dame. Typical SEC fans to have to get their thrills watching another team in their conference win the title instead of winning it themselves. I can already hear the, yaaaaaaaaawn…SEC SEC SEC chants now.
BamaFan
November 26th, 2012
2:09 pm
A longtime loyal Bama fan here but I must say – whomever wins I hope we (SEC) beats ND…..all the talking heads are SO pulling for the Irish. If Georgia wins I will be pulling for them 1000% to beat ND.
Let’s us slug it out and send the best team possible against all the naysayers from up north (and out west)…..They all have really been trash talking the SEC. Even the left coasters are pulling for the Irish!
GO SEC!
gary
November 26th, 2012
2:09 pm
ApothecaryMark – Florda did not give us anything. Georgia went down there and took that game. If you were at the game you would know that.
Alphare
November 26th, 2012
2:11 pm
“I also keep hearing that UGA has a better offense than Alabama, and I think I agree with that. But, statistically that is not the case. Thoughts?”
Actually stats say BAMA’s offense is ranked before UGA by a couple of spots. That offense ranking doesn’t not consider SOS. BAMA’s SOS is ranked #25 with 49pts while UGA’s #48 with 58pts. So if you consider SOS, BAMA’s O is clearly ahead of UGA’s.
But stats cannot be applied to an individual game, which is why you have to play the game. But stats do give you a better odd when you bet your house on it.
gary
November 26th, 2012
2:14 pm
Hey hypocracy, how many tech fans do you think will be rooting for Saban this weekend, um all of them. Pretty sad they will get more satifaction out of watching bama beat georgia than they will if they win thier own championship game.
BamaFan
November 26th, 2012
2:17 pm
Gary – Auburn fans roll Toomer’s corner when Bama loses…..it’s the only reason all year they had to cheer!
Joey
November 26th, 2012
2:19 pm
Say What???,
Just 3 words – NERDS, NERDS, NERDS!
Only about 1 of 5 of these commentors are Bama fans. Techies are the rest – what else can they do at this point? Their football team is garbage. The ACC got its butts handed to it by the SEC, and now has to watch a (gulp) 6-6 team in their Title Game(?).
It would be laughable if not so sad . . .
GimmeAbreak
November 26th, 2012
2:23 pm
Dwayne pn (peeing?) What would have said if that reporter asked you (assuming you know how to play football) if Alabama has better players than your team? Dumb-asses like you should keep quiet and let people think of you as stupid but instead you make comments that erase any doubt!
Joey
November 26th, 2012
2:23 pm
BamaFan, that’s good to hear, and I’m the same way.
How do you think the game will go Saturday?
Did y’all play any games on “turf” this year?
gary
November 26th, 2012
2:25 pm
The fact is Saban has history and experience on his side. They are clearly the favorite for the win. Most Dawgs would agree with that. However, most people think if the right Georgia team shows up they have a chance. Of course, I remember a Tebow and Florida team that appeared unstoppable getting beat in the SEC as well. You don’t know the outcome until the game is played. I will say to the trolls who are again dissing the Dawgs and their fans, after a long season of predicting dawg losses against MIzzu, Vandy, Tennessee, Florida, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Auburn, Ga Southern, and Tech guess if you predict the dawgs to loose every weekend you might get 1 or 2 right every season, but how does it feel when the clock runs out and you are wrong the other 11 times?
BamaFan
November 26th, 2012
2:30 pm
It will be a brutal physical war. No way Bama should be a 7+ point favorite. I would NOT take that spread. Key to victory – In my opinion it depends on whether or not Bama can get to Murray early. If so – it will be a long day for Georgia. If Bama cannot- Murray will pick Bama apart. If your passing game is working – your run game will work….(not the other way around). Entire game hinges on Murray. I will say this in Bama’s favor – Murray is not near as fast as Johnny Manziel……but good luck to you guys. I really like Mark Richt – he’s a classy dude. Whomever wins I hope the SEC kicks ND’s a%$…….
BCS standings set stage for SEC showdown | UGA sports blog
November 26th, 2012
2:36 pm
[...] Matchup 1: Georgia rushing offense vs. Alabama rushing defense [...]
Say What???
November 26th, 2012
2:38 pm
@ I smell Hypocracy… Sure there are a few UGA fans who are posting that UGA will “Blowout” Bama, but they are by far in the minority. Looking back on this blog, there are very few “reasonable” UGA fans that are talking any trash. However, the vast majority of the Bama fans, with the main exception being Bamafan, are prediciting a Bama blowout and bad mouthing UGA and their fans.
I, for one, believe that UGA is definately an underdog… as we should be. However, I believe that this will be one of the best games of the NCAA season and will be very close.
As for pulling for Bama in the National Championship if UGA loses, of course I will! We are part of the SEC and we have pride in our conference. As much as I dislike Florida, I would still pull for them in any game with an out of conference opponent. I don’t know who your team is, but based on your tone, I bet it has been beaten plenty of times by other SEC teams besides UGA. I understand the jealousy, but man: Don’t Hate the Playa… Hate the Game!