JD's Five Keys to a Victory
by Jeff Dantzler
1. Contain Lattimore – Marcus Lattimore racked up 184
yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries in his first SEC Game,
leading South Carolina to a 17-6 win over Georgia last year in Columbia.
He’s going to be good and pick up yardage, but the Bulldogs
absolutely cannot let Lattimore go Video Game-esque nuts
and completely dominate. Or Georgia will lose. The Gamecocks
have a potent passing attack, but everything runs through Lattimore.
If Georgia can control him, the defense can minimize the
damage Stephen Garcia, Alshon Jeffery and crew are able to do
through the air.
2. Protect Murray – South Carolina’s defensive front is one
of the Southeastern Conference’s best, headlined by returning sack
leader Melvin Ingram, All-SEC defensive end Devin Taylor , tough
tackle Travian Robertson and Superfrosh Jadeveon Clowney. The
unit clearly provides Georgia’s offensive line with one of its toughest
tests of the campaign. Aaron Murray is one of the league’s
best signal callers and he’s very good on the move. Murray isn’t
very tall, while the Gamecocks defensive line is tall and strong –
Taylor is 6-7, 250, Clowney 6-6, 256. Getting Murray on the move,
rolling out by design, moving the pocket, that could be the Bulldogs
best method of moving the ball through the air and slowing down
the Gamecocks rush.
3. Excel with Butler and Walsh – The kicking game is an
area where Georgia should have a big advantage. South Carolina
is breaking in a new kicker and punter, while Drew Butler and Blair
Walsh keep lofty company amongst the nation’s finest punters and
kickers. Butler can boom ‘em high and deep and excels with the
coffin corner kick. Walsh is accurate and has a great leg that
shows on 50-plus yard field goal attempts and kickoffs. Field position
is so often the name of the game, and the Dogs should have
“two legs up” thanks to Butler and Walsh.
4. Pressure Garcia – Though he has been in the news
throughout his career for off-field issues, Stephen Garcia is a very
talented player and one of the SEC’s best quarterbacks. He’s a
good passer and an excellent runner – very mobile. With Jeffery
as a lethal deep threat and “Marcus the Magnificent” at tailback,
Garcia’s ability to move makes him and the Gamecocks offense extremely
dangerous. This will be a huge test for Georgia’s defense,
which has some new faces and blossoming talent. If the Bulldogs
can put the heat on Garcia, they can force him into mistakes. If
he has time to throw, with Lattimore and Jeffery headlining his
weapons cache, Georgia’s defense will be in trouble.
5. Cover up Jeffery – Brandon Boykin is one of the SEC’s top
cornerbacks and kick returners. He got a lot of attention when he
dared Boise State coach Chris Petersen to kick him the ball. The
challenge now for Boykin is whether he can cover Jeffery in manto-
man situations. Boykin is 5-10, 183. Jeffery is 6-4, 229. But
Boykin is tough and fast with good ball skills. Jeffery is the total
package and a big time big-play threat. Boykin will have to be at
his best and the Dogs are going to need all hands on deck to slow
down Lattimore.
Tagged: five keys to georgia beating south carolina, jeff dantzler, georgia sports news, uga football
