Another busy week, another last-minute blog. Being an adult
sure has its struggles.
If you go off the reaction to the Ole Miss loss last week,
Georgia might very well lose the rest of the games they play this season. I was
shocked (sarcastic voice) to see some people on social media who began
questioning whether Kirby Smart is the right man for the job.
Loyalty ain’t what it used to be.
Today’s game could not be more important. If Georgia wins, I
would expect them to win the SEC East. If Georgia loses, I still think they can
have a solid season, but I would think they might drop one more game this year,
going 9-3, which in my opinion would be a disappointment because I think this
team with this schedule could have gone 10-2. Not a huge disappointment, but a
disappointment still.
Now I’m going to say something that may be a little
controversial. Georgia will not miss Nick Chubb, who is out with an ankle
injury.
Let me explain please.
Chubb is a great running back. He is like a boulder that
runs over people as it comes rolling down a hill. I am more of a fan of Nick
Chubb than any of the other running backs we have had in recent memory because
of his work ethic and his humility. As a player, Chubb is great at shedding
tacklers and picking up yards after contact once he reaches the second level.
The one thing he doesn’t have, is the ability to make a guy miss. Chubb is a
north/south, downhill runner, but he has to get going to be effective. With the
offensive line issues that Georgia has, Chubb’s style of running isn’t a
perfect match.
If the line were giving him decent holes, Chubb can handle
linebackers and safeties who are coming up to make plays. However, the line isn’t
giving him great holes, and he doesn’t have the quick first step to be able to
make a cut and create a new running lane.
There is also the fact that Georgia’s depth at running back
is excellent. We saw last season that Georgia won 10 games despite losing Chubb
for the season. Tenneessee is likely to be missing three starters on defense,
including their defensive captain, Cameron Reese-Maybin. Trading Chubb for
three defensive starters is a good trade for Georgia.
This entire game will come down to Georgia’s ability to
further expose Josh Dobbs as the mediocre quarterback I believe he is. He is a
great runner. He is a great leader. He is an average to below average
quarterback when you make him stand in the pocket and read a defense.
The key to the game will be whether or not Georgia can be
gap sound and disciplined on the line of scrimmage. If you get up field on
Dobbs, forcing him to scramble, he is a better quarterback than he is when you
just make him throw from the pocket. The outside rushers for Georgia have to
make sure they contain Dobbs within the pocket, and when they get to Dobbs,
they have to finish the job by getting the sack, (I’m looking at you Lorenzo
Carter… we are all looking at you).
The reality of this game is simple. Georgia is not a great
team, but neither is Tennessee. I watched the second half of the
Florida/Tennessee game last week and the Vols were spectacular in the second
half. But I have also watched the Vols struggle against App State and look inept
for the first half of both the Virginia Tech and Florida games. Tennessee is
flawed, and Georgia needs to take advantage of that.
I expect energy, focus, and discipline from the Dawgs today.
It might surprise a lot of people when Georgia wins, but it won’t surprise me.
We aren’t the number 10 team in America, but we aren’t 25 either, and Tennessee
isn’t a top 10 team.
The home crowd will be the difference, and Kirby will be a
genius again.
Georgia 35 Tennessee
32
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