The SEC Is a Line of Scrimmage League

Thought you folks might like to read the following coming from the Tennessee area. Greg, the person mentioned in the article is a member of this board and also is the leader/owner of the Leather Helmet.



Q&A with UGA Blogger from the Leather Helmet Blog Written by Derek Lusk | 05 October 2011

This week I was able to participate in a back and forth interview of sorts with a fellow Bloguin member and founder of the Georgia site, Leather Helmet Blog. I thought it was interesting to see our answers stacked up with one another. Form your own opinion, but it looks to me like Greg and I see this game very similarly. If Georgia takes care of the football and can minimize mistakes, it is going to be tough for the Vols to win. However, Tennessee has enough firepower to make this thing interesting if they can force a few turnovers.

Check out our exchange and let us know what you think.

Here are my questions with Greg's responses italicized:

1. It’s only the first week of October, but I contend that Georgia is a slight favorite to win the East at this point. Carolina seems to have big problems and Florida has Bama and LSU in back to back weeks. Georgia has Ole Miss and Auburn left from the West and I don’t think either can be considered elite in that division. Your thoughts on the Bulldog’s chances to make it to Atlanta?

By agreeing with you I’m giving away my pick for this weekend but there was little mystery about that, was there?

South Carolina will lose both of those SEC West games and will struggle to stay with Florida. Actually, UGA has already beaten Ole Miss (27-13). All our remaining SEC games are against East rivals (+ Auburn, our annual West opponent).

I’ve already told you that I’m picking the Dawgs to get by UT. That leaves UK (win), Vandy (win), Auburn (should win) and FU (better win). UGA could lose one of those and still make the SECCG.

I like the odds.

2. Tennessee’s offense has thus far been pretty one dimensional with Tyler Bray looking great in the passing game but the Vols struggling to run the ball. Do you have any concerns with Georgia’s ability to slow down Tennessee’s passing attack? How has the Bulldogs’ secondary performed so far this season?

I would be a lot more worried about Tennessee if their strength was a suffocating defense. Coach Todd Grantham’s defense has been solid all year - including the loses to Boise and USCe. They were lights-out against Mississippi State.

The offense has given up almost as many points and the defense. Interceptions and ineffective ball control have put the D back on the field far too soon, especially early in the season.

Look for Georgia to put a ton of heat on Bray. Pressure is a defensive back’s best friend and the Dawgs have a big, fast secondary. The key will be the defensive front seven and the heat they put on Bray. They will get to him.

3. Tennessee wins if…

I believe UGA will have to lose this game. Tennessee will not be able to take control and win. The Junkyard Dawgs will limit Tennessee’s ability to drive the ball and control the clock. Therefore, the game will come down to Georgia’s offensive line. Can they keep QB Aaron Murray upright and provide creases for freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell. If they can UGA should cruise to a 2 touchdown win. If not, the home crowd will be in the game, sacks and turn-overs will keep the score close and the Vols will be one big throw from a win. That is not the position Mark Richt wants to be in at the end of the game.

4. Georgia wins if…

Georgia has to maintain drives by running the ball, using the biggest O-line in the country to wear on the Vol defense and converting red zone opportunities with touchdowns. UGA will win or lose the game on the offensive side of the line of scrimmage. The defense will play well enough to provide the opportunity to win (just as they did against USCe). The question is whether the offense will pass that advantage on to Tennessee (just as they did against USCe).

5. I know Georgia’s administration has been outspoken is saying that there is no magic number of wins or losses that will necessarily cause Mark Richt to get fired. In your expert opinion, what would be the minimum that Mark Richt needs to do to make sure he is coaching in Athens in 2012?

AD Greg McGarity has repeatedly said that there is no minimum number of wins for Coach Richt. McGarity has said that he want to see teams that are competitive for championships. I doubt that he meant CMR would have to be in the mix for a national championship in 2011 but, I imagine, he was thinking the SEC East should be in reach.

To answer your question I must know how many games Richt has to win to be competitive in the East. I think losses to UT, Vandy or UK would be serious issues for him. The Florida and Auburn games have to be played close down to the wire and I think he needs to win, at least, one. tech is a must win and being blown out by any team on the schedule (yes, we remember the last two trips to Knoxville) will be problematic.

That said, Richt will survive, sign another huge class and win the SEC in 2012 *fingers crossed*.

And here are Greg's questions with my responses italicized:

1. Can UT run on UGA? If not, can they win?

In short, no and maybe. Tennessee is currently 98th in the country in rushing offense with 444 yards or 111 yards per game. That is less than Ole Miss and Kentucky and only 9 more yards per game than lowly Memphis. Keep in mind also that Tennessee has compiled this less-than-impressive total against competition that included Montana and Buffalo. Not exactly top notch defenses.

Georgia is 32nd in the country and 5th in the SEC in rushing defense, giving up only 107 yards per game on the ground. I don't see any possible way that Tennessee gets much going on the ground against the Dawgs.

Even with that being the case, I still think there is a chance that Tennessee wins without establishing much on the ground. The Vols are 11th in the country and 2nd in the SEC (behind Arkansas) in passing offense, putting up 336.5 yards per game through the air and scoring 14 passing touchdowns versus only 2 interceptions. Tennessee's passing game is good enough that I believe they will have a shot against Georgia. Without the running game, I don't believe it is a great shot, but I think it is possible nonetheless.

2. Where do the Vols have the advantage over Georgia?

Well, before Justin Hunter got hurt I would have said wide receiver. I think that with Hunter, Da'Rick Rogers, and the talented freshman DeAnthony Arnett, the Vols would have had the strongest receiving corps in the East. Of course that isn't the case now and it is still yet to be seen what the other guys can do without Hunter stretching secondaries.

As it stands going into Saturday's game, I would give Georgia the advantage in the kicking game, the running game, and the defense. I would say Tennessee has a stronger passing attack and has been far less prone to turn the ball over. The Vols have only lost 6 turnovers this season which puts them in second in the SEC in that category behind only LSU. The Dawgs have lost 9 turnovers on the year. If the Tennessee is to have any chance whatsoever, they must force Georgia into turnovers.

3. Who are some defensive guys that need to step up for the Vols this week?

The entire defensive front really needs to step up. Malik Jackson was a preseason all-conference selection and Maurice Couch was a junior college all-american that many believed would have a huge impact immediately. While Jackson has been solid, Couch and the other tackles, Ben Martin specifically, have been a bit of a letdown. If Georgia can grind the Vols defense and keep Tyler Bray on the sideline I don't see any way that Tennessee wins. The front four need to plug the holes so Georgia will have to take some chances and, in doing so, possibly turn the ball over. The Vols need that D-line to rise to the occasion, this week more than any.

4. Vols win if...

They force turnovers and the defense gets off the field. If this becomes a slugfest then I'm afraid the Vols don't have much of a shot. If this becomes a shootout then maybe, just maybe, Tennessee could pull off what would be the biggest win of the Derek Dooley era. If Georgia takes care of the ball and leads in time of possession I don't see the Vols coming out on top.

5. Dawgs win if...

They take away Da'Rick Rogers from Tyler Bray's arsenal and run the ball down Tennessee's throat. If I'm Georgia, I know that Bray will throw the ball and I know he's likely to have some success. With that being the case, I would make sure Da'Rick Rogers is covered up at all times and make receivers like Zach Rogers, DeAnthony Arnett, and Vincent Dallas beat me. On offense I wouldn't put the ball in the air until Tennessee proves they can stop Isaiah Crowell. If the Vols never prove they can, I would make sure Crowell has a career day in a victory in Knoxville.

"On offense I wouldn't put the ball in the air until Tennessee proves they can stop Isaiah Crowell."


Too bad he's not our OC.

I agree completely, but would anyone here be really surprised if we inexplicably abandoned the
running game for an extended period of time? I can see it now... UGA after driving 70 yards
down field on the strength of 61 rushing yards from IC.. throws 5 straight passes with the
last one ending in a UT int in the end zone.

I'll go out on a limb and say that wont happen, but would anyone really be that surprised if
it did?

Run, Isaiah, Run.

Block, offensive line,...BLOCK!!

I think the OL starts to take things seriously and believe in itself this Saturday. Cant let little guys push you around but so long, and we've all been waiting oh so patiently. GATA

Wartdawg wrote: "On offense I wouldn't put the ball in the air until Tennessee proves they can stop Isaiah Crowell."


Too bad he's not our OC.

I agree completely, but would anyone here be really surprised if we inexplicably abandoned the
running game for an extended period of time? I can see it now... UGA after driving 70 yards
down field on the strength of 61 rushing yards from IC.. throws 5 straight passes with the
last one ending in a UT int in the end zone.

I'll go out on a limb and say that wont happen, but would anyone really be that surprised if
it did?

I wouldn't put it in the air until they prove they can stop IC, RS, CT, BH, Boo...and then I'd start letting Figgins tote the rock. The only weapons they have are Bray and Rogers...we keep them off the field the majority of the game and we win handily.