This is the beauty of college football. Here we are, week
two of the season, and we have a do or die game. Unfortunately, it is do or die
for the Dawgs.
This season was much anticipated and full of expectations.
After a close loss last week to Clemson in Death Valley, Georgia faces a must
win game against South Carolina.
But here is the truth of this game. Whether Georgia won last
week or not, this was the game Georgia would have to win. Beating Clemson and
losing to South Carolina would be the same as losing both games as it pertains
to Georgia’s SEC title hopes.
Georgia was going to have a must
win game against South Carolina no matter what happened in Clemson. The only
reason it seems so bad right now, is that Georgia fans haven’t seen Georgia win
this year, only lose.
This game isn’t going to be about statistics, it’s going to
be about players. Both teams have good players on each side of the ball, but
both teams have one player that stand out from the rest, and they will be on
the field at the same time.
Jadaveon Clowney is going to be the number one pick in next April’s
draft, and he would have been the number one pick in last April’s draft, had he
been allowed to go to the NFL early. He is the first player I can remember who
was truly ready to play in the NFL as a sophomore. Clowney effects every aspect
of the defense, from the play of the other defensive linemen, to the style of
coverage the cornerbacks play.
Because Clowney is so proficient at getting to the
quarterback, cornerbacks will play up on receivers almost all of the time,
because they don’t expect the quarterback to want to hold the ball long enough
for a deep route with Clowney baring down on them. This tight coverage also
leads to interceptions, because cornerbacks are in position to jump short
passing routes when the quarterback is throwing to his “hot” receiver.
Aaron Murray threw a
bad pick last week against Clemson. He will have to make sure that he accounts
for defensive linemen dropping into coverage this week, or he will make the
same mistake again.
After South Carolina’s game against North Carolina last
Thursday night, many pundits criticized Clowney for what they perceived to be a
lack of hustle and Clowney being out of shape. First of all, Clowney is not out
of shape. I am out of shape. If Clowney is not in optimal football condition
for an elite athlete, we should probably figure out another way of saying that,
rather than lumping him in with me and the other couch-sitters out there.
Secondly, Clowney has absolutely nothing to prove on the collegiate level. He
was never a true Heisman candidate, because that award is an offensive award in
the minds of most of the voters. He is the best defensive player in the
country. Clowney will have a good game this weekend, but even if he doesn’t, it
doesn’t diminish the player that he is.
Georgia also has a special player.
Todd Gurley is the best running back that Georgia has seen
since Herschel Walker. He is better than Moreno. He is better than Garrison
Hurst, Musa Smith, and much, much better than Caleb King or Washaun Ealey.
Remember those guys?
Gurley’s run in the first quarter of last week’s game showed
just how special he is. There was nothing tricky about the play. The fullback
made a fantastic block, Gurley ran with reckless abandon the moment he go the ball
in his hands. He hit the hole, made one cut, and it was off to the races. Watch
the highlight again. The safety for Clemson has an angle on Gurley, but he
underestimated Gurley’s speed. A man of Gurley’s size isn’t supposed to run
that fast.
Todd Gurley is not only the key to this game for Georgia,
but he will be the key to every Georgia game until the end of the 2014 season
when he will declare early for the NFL draft.
It is going to be hard for the offensive coaches to be
patient enough to continue to hand the ball to Gurley when they have so many
dynamic players on offense and a quarterback who is capable of getting them the
ball, but the truth is that the best option, on almost every play, is to give
Gurley the ball.
For South Carolina to win, they are going to have to be able
to run the ball. Every team Georgia has played over the last year plus has run
the ball well against them, so I don’t think that will be a problem. South
Carolina is also going to have to make some big plays in the passing game.
Connor Shaw might not be able to do that, but Spurrier won’t hesitate to bring
in Dylan Thompson to throw the ball down field. Shaw is going to make some runs
when the play breaks down, so the Dawgs will have to make sure that when Shaw
runs, they make him pay for leaving the pocket. Georgia missed some big tackles
last week. South Carolina is too good to give extra yards to. The Dawgs have to
make plays on defense when they have the chance.
For Georgia to win, Todd Gurley is going to have to be the
focal point of the offense. The offensive line has to be much better in pass
blocking situations. There can’t be any more holding penalties on David
Andrews. Georgia has to play at least a little bit of run defense, so they can
try to force Shaw into some passing mistakes. Aaron Murray has to play like a
senior, not a sophomore. No more delay of game penalties. No more passing
before you look to see where you are passing the ball. I don’t care how hard
you get hit, no more fumbles. Georgia’s defense isn’t good enough to make up
for turnovers.
In 2011, South Carolina won this game 45-42. They had a defensive
touchdown on a Murray fumble, and they had a fake punt for a touchdown by a
defensive lineman.
As bad as Georgia fans feel about last week’s loss and the
season going forward, it will only take one win to change the mood of the
Bulldog Nation. Georgia only needs one win to get back on track for Atlanta and
Pasadena, but it has to be this win.
There will be no silver lining for Georgia if they don’t win
this game. There will be no more talk of an SEC title. There is a long season
still ahead of us, but if Georgia losses on Saturday, it will seem like the
longest season we have had to endure in quite a long time.
The players know the stakes. The coaches know the stakes.
The fans know the stakes.
The winner of this game will play in Atlanta for the SEC
title.
Georgia 31 South
Carolina 27
Go Dawgs!
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