Georgia Football: Lambert and Floyd Must Have a Dawg Day Against the Tide
A highly motivated Georgia football team faces a highly motivated Alabama football team Saturday. Will the promise of glory be greater than the fear of failure?
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And now for easiest of predictions: it’s going to be old-fashioned slobber knocker football Saturday when Alabama visits Athens to play Georgia.
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Parents might want to put the kids in another room – this contest is pre-rated X for violence.
The Alabama rushing defense ranks fourth in the nation allowing 56 yards a game, 1.96 yards per rushing attempts. Only twice have opponents pierced the goal line in four games against Alabama this season.
The Georgia rushing offense ranks 17th nationally gaining 6.87 yards per rush (second in the nation) with 14 touchdowns.
None of this is a surprise. Preseason, Phil Steele ranked the Alabama defensive line the best in the country and the Alabama linebackers the third best in the country. He also ranked the Georgia offensive line as the third best in the country and the Georgia running backs as the best in the country.
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Something will give on Saturday when Alabama visits Georgia as the proverbial immoveable object – the Alabama rushing defense – faces the irresistible force – the Georgia rushing offense.
Or will it? A stalemate seems likely – Georgia maintaining field position while Alabama keeps the Dawgs out of the end zone. In that case, the game then turns on two battles – the Georgia linebackers against Alabama’s Derrick Henry and Georgia’s Greyson Lambert against the Alabama pass defense.
Sep 12, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Greyson Lambert (11) has the ball knocked loose by Vanderbilt Commodores defensive tackle
Jay Woods(74) during the second half at Vanderbilt Stadium. Georgia won 31-14. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
To make a first quarter prediction of how this war will turn out, keep one eye on the Dawg linebackers. Are they able to put powerful Alabama running back Derrick Henry on his back? If so, the game could swing Georgia’s way in the fourth quarter.
Keep the other eye on Bulldog quarterback Greyson Lambert. Is he able to stand upright in the face of the onrushing Alabama front seven? If so, it could be the Dawg’s day.
Both teams will play with a chip on their shoulder. The Alabama memory of a complete embarrassment at home by Ole Miss is vivid. The memory of the 2013 SEC Championship game has become part of the collective conscience of this Georgia team. A win leaves Georgia with the Eastern Division Championship within easy reach. A loss eliminates Alabama from Western Division contention before the leaves have turned.
While the game will be close, playing at home with a veteran offensive line, Georgia should prevail.