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Georgia Football vs. Georgia Tech: Three things that will lead to a Georgia win
Cover all the options
Clearly if you’re going to beat Georgia Tech, you have to stop the option. If you don’t, they’ll control the clock on their way to a scoring drive. Which keeps your defense on the field and their defense off it.
On paper it’s easy to stop the option. Make sure someone covers the fullback, the quarterback and the pitch-man, and make sure the safeties are ready for the occasional pass play. But that’s much easier said than done.
The defensive line needs to be able to withstand Georgia Tech’s cut blocking and they’ve got to make sure the fullback has no room to run. The linebackers need to force quarterback Justin Thomas to make decisions before he’s ready to. And someone needs to identify and stick to the pitch-man.
That means the pressure is on everyone from Trenton Thompson to Davin Bellamy to Quincy Mauger. There’s no rushing the backfield to disrupt or sitting back to not let any plays get passed you. The Triple option has different demands from opposing defenses. Hopefully the Bulldogs group is able to meeting those demands.
Nov 12, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia football wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie (16) runs past Auburn Tigers linebacker Darrell Williams (49) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Get the most out of possessions
Georgia Tech wants to control the clock, exhaust Georgia’s defense and keep the Georgia offense on the sidelines. So it is important that Georgia gets everything they can out of each possession. Even if the Bulldogs can’t score, they’ll need first downs to keep the defense resting and to allow Brice Ramsey to flip the field position.
This is one thing Georgia football has not done all year. But besides their four losses, they’ve gotten by with it. They will not be as fortunate against Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs do not have the big play ability that past teams have had to be able to overwhelm Georgia Tech and make them change their game plan.
Dropped passes will be more devastating this week, as will run plays under two yards. Georgia needs to keep those two from happening as much as possible.
Lately the run game has been much better, a few more receivers have been stepping up for Jacob Eason and Rodrigo Blankenship has become a trustworthy kicker. So there is no reason to be pessimistic about the offenses chances against the Tech defense.
Nov 12, 2016; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia football quarterback Jacob Eason (10) passes against the Auburn Tigers during the second quarter at Sanford Stadium. Georgia defeated Auburn 13-7. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Start off the game as good as possible
Nothing will hurt the Yellow Jackets chances of winning more than a dominant first quarter by the Bulldogs. Tech wants to control the clock, but a two or three scored deficit will force them to move faster, which just isn’t something triple option teams are good at. They’re not built for consistent passing games or a quick no-huddle offense. The triple option is all about the slow grind.
So if Eason, Nick Chubb, Isaac Nauta and company can score some early touchdowns and the defense can get off the field quickly, a lot of pressure will be placed on Georgia Tech’s offense.
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If the Bulldogs can’t accomplish these three things, they’ll be in for a tough afternoon between the hedges. But if they can Georgia football can, they’ll avoid another close ball game with the Yellow jackets and they can once again have a triumphant senior day.
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