Tomorrow is a BIG day for the future of UGA football. I truly believe that to be the case. First of all, UGA takes on the dreaded Florida Gators in Jacksonville. Second, the Gamecocks play in Knoxville against the Volunteers. If all breaks our way, tomorrow could really help our chances of making the SEC title for the first time since 2005. Some will say, what does it matter to make the SEC title game and then get killed by either Bama or LSU. I say, WHAT??? After the past two seasons, after all the negative surrounding our program, and especially our head coach, it means a GREAT DEAL to win the east-and you know what, anything can happen in a game so to say we will get killed by LSU/Bama, well, that is purely speculation and nothing more. Bottom line, UGA needs to win the game tomorrow not only for the SECe implications but because UF will be the first good team we have beat all year. No doubt our schedule this year has helped out tremendously and considering we have expansion on the horizon, one way or another, who knows what our schedule will look like going forward.
As I think about UGA/UF under Richt, a few things come to mind. First of all, you could honestly say the talent level at the schools were much more even than they were the decade of the 90's. I think if you look at it realistically, you could say UGA had as much or more talent than UF in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010. I think UF had better talent in 2001, 2006, 2008 and 2009 and I call 2005 pretty even-in fact, if UGA had Shockley that day, I would give 2005 to us. So, in that time frame we have won 2 games. What does this mean to me, we have been outcoached badly in this series. Now, part of that is UF getting a week off before the game nearly every year during the Richt era. Part of that is the continuing doubt that was built up from a decade of Spurrier pouring it on us. But, more times than not, it has been Richt's playcalling (ultra conservative, game time decisions-QB rotation), turnovers or penalties that has KILLED us. You think back to 2002, only loss of the season was to the Zook led Gators, 20-13. Yep, one TD and two FG's. In 2003, 16-13, again one TD and two FG's. Even with Zook fired the week before the game in 2004, we had to hang on to win 31-24. We have had several INT's returned for TD's in this game, a fumble returned for a TD-when has UGA cashed in a turnover for a score in this game-just has not happened. Why is that? Good question and I have heard it explained this way and I tend to agree-UGA puts SOOO much thought and energy into this game, they want to do well so bad, they try so hard, it causes them to play tight. Much the same way GT is obsessed with beating UGA and thus finds ways to lose to us, it works the same way for UGA against UF. UF approaches this game very confident as they should-they preach having a quick start, lets jump on them early-WHY, well it is obvious why because with the fragile UGA mindset, you jump on them early and then we all start thinking, OH NO, here we go again.
Today I will look at both the Gators O and D. I will then give my keys to the game.
First of all, the Gators offense, since so much has been made about will Brantley play or not. I personally HOPE he does play because he is likely to be rusty and he is very immobile. We have not had luck stopping running QB's so let Brantley play and throw a few picks.
OT Matt Patchan 6-6 292 JR
OG Dan Wenger 6-3 294 SR
C Jonotthan Harrison 6-3 295 Soph
OG Jon Halapio 6-3 324
OT Chaz Green 6-5 306 FR
TE Jordan Reed 6-3 239
WR Andre Debose 5-11 191 Soph
WR Frankie Hammonds Jr 6-1 184 JR
WR Deonte Thompson 6-0 200 SR
TB Chris Rainey 5-9 174 SR OR Jeff Demps 5-7 191 SR
QB John Brantley 6-3 219 SR OR Jacoby Brissett 6-3 239 FR OR Jeff Driskel 6-4 235 FR
The Gator OL has been average this year, the WR's while all highly recruited out of HS, have been nothing special but they are all VERY fast. This is not an overly big OL, and they don't have much depth at all. Of course Rainey and Demps-VERY fast and small/elusive, GT style backs and let us not forget, we just faced similar back at Vandy in terms of size and speed, Zac Stacy (he is actually a little bigger if you can believe it). Stacy gave us fits as did Rodgers running the ball. I suspect that if Brantley does not play, or if they sub out QB's, they have spent time watching that Vandy film, not to mention we couldn't stop their own Trey Burton last year as a running QB-I wouldn't be surprised a bit for him to get a lot of work at QB tomorrow. It will be crucial that our run defense step up big tomorrow and hopefully the return of Washington and Ogletree helps in this department.
Now to take look at the Gator D. This side of the ball has played decent for the Gators but they have a lot of youth. They run a 4-3 base.
DE Sharif Floyd 6-3 295 Soph
DT Dominque Easley 6-2 282 Soph
DT Jaye Howard 6-3 303 SR
DE Ronald Powell 6-4 248 Soph
LB Lerentee McCray 6-2 246 JR
LB Jalani Jenkins 6-0 230 Soph
LB Jon Bostic 6-1 243 JR
CB Marcus Robertson 6-0 184 FR
S Matt Elam 5-10 206 Soph
S De'Ante Saunders 5-8 192 FR
CB Cody Riggs 5-9 179 Soph
Yes, that is right folks 6 soph's starting on D, two FR, only one SR starter. The DL is not very big, but those three sophs were all 5 star recruits and all are playmakers. LB's are not very big, should be interesting to see how they match up with Charles. In the secondary, one of the smaller secondaries we have faced all year-when you have three guys 5-10 or smaller, two TRUE FR starting, thinking Murray can pick on those guys and of course that means losing Mitchell could truly be a factor. Still though, with Marlon Brown coming off a great game and being a legit 6-4 or 6-5, I would suspect he will be a matchup problem for the Gators. Of course it is going to be vitally important that our run game have success to set up the pass. Their safety Elam is a heck of player and if we can get him invovled with play action fakes, it could really help our cause.
Some keys to this game in my opinion, first thing I have already mentioned. Have a quick start, which has been something we have been doing in most games during our 5 game win streak. Come out strong and take an early lead, build some confidence and take the tightness away from our sideline. Second, avoid turnovers-you can say that every week but turnovers, especially INT's have KILLED us in this game for three straight years-three different QB's have thrown 3 picks the last three years, Stafford, Cox and Murray. Don't help out a struggling offense by giving them short fields or allowing the D to score points for them. Third thing, TACKLE. They have two shifty running backs, we have to wrap those guys up and bring them down-also tackle the WR's immediately as they have track speed as well. Fourth is special teams, we need to play well in this area-we need to block well on our punt team, we need to cover better, we need Walsh to make his kicks this week. My last key is for our coaching staff. Instead of coaching this game not to lose, how about coaching this game to win. Don't go ultra conservative, don't do stupid things either but don't take your foot off the gas, keep going on these guys and put them away as the longer you let them hang, the more and more dangerous they become.
This week I will NOT give a prediction because if I did, I would likely have to pick the Gators and I don't want to pick them because this should be our year. But, I have said that so many times before that I am tired of saying of thinking that. Our guys need to treat this game just as they did UT or SCarolina-another SECe matchup, just so happens to be on a neutral field. This is NOT a must win game for us, if you believe that SCarolina will lost two more games and we will not lose to either AU or UK. This is not a must win for Mark Richt to keep his job, although one has to wonder, how much longer can we keep a guy that simply can't beat our top yearly (no offense to SCarolina) competition for the SECe title. This is simply a game that says a lot about the future of our program-a lot is riding on this game and if we lose this yet again, you have to then wonder, when will we ever beat the Gators again. They are in year one transition of coaches, they have an iffy situation at QB, they have a young defense that is only going to get better. This is not a must win game but I can tell you, it sure feels like it is pretty darn close to it from how I am feeling about it this Friday before.
Let's hope the good guys find a way to get it done. Let's hope come 10:30p on Saturday night, we are not only a favorite to win the SECe in 2011, but we are in the drivers seat ready to clinch with a win against Auburn on November 12th. GOOOOOOOOOO Dogs/Dawgs (Dawgs for all of you that like it better that way-not me but I can be flexible)!!!
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