Georgia Football: How UGA can stop the Alabama option game

OLB’s playing with discipline:

Clogging up the middle is only part of the job. If UGA can take away the inside running game, they are still going to have to deal with Hurts and his running backs in space. That’s not exactly an easy task when you consider their athletic ability.

Yes Alabama’s running backs are closer to Nick Chubb than they are Sony Michel, but they can make players miss. Bo Scarbrough is an absolute load who is not exactly easy to tackle. Damien Harris is shiftier and more complete, but he still has plenty of power. Both can explode for a big play if given the chance as well even if they aren’t lightning fast.

Hurts provides great balance to those two and is a real danger when he gets in space. If Georgia can push him towards the edge, it’s going to need it’s OLB’s to make some plays. Lorenzo Carter and Davin Bellamy came back for games like this. This is their moment to really go out there and shine. They are going to have to be able to throw off blocks from linemen and get to Hurts. Then they’ll need to bring him down, which is no easy task.

D’Andre Walker is a wild card in this game. Walker has become the best pass rusher of UGA’s ‘Wolfpack’ but he lacked discipline until late this season. He often made silly mistakes while looking for the big play. It’s an issue he’s really cleaned up recently and has led to him seeing even more time on the field. It’s imperative that he continues to play that way. If he does, he can blow up plays and have a huge impact. If he doesn’t, Hurts will make the Dawgs pay.