Alright, Georgia football fans, it is our favorite week of the season as we gear up for the annual matchup in Jacksonville in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, or whatever they’re allowing us to call it these days, with the hated Florida Gators.
The Dawgs comes into Jacksonville 7-0 and the No.1 team in the country, while Florida is 4-3 and unranked.
Both teams had the week off to prepare for this showdown, but the last time we saw Georgia on the field, they thumped a then-undefeated Kentucky. As for Florida, they lost to a bad LSU team that hung 49 points and then fired their coach Ed Orgeron the following day.
Georgia comes in a 14 point favorite, but that doesn’t matter. In 2014, the Dawgs were a 10.5 point favorite and would lose 38-20. Back in 1997, Florida was the defending national champion and a 20.5 point favorite over the Dawgs. However, with starting safety Kirby Smart, Georgia won the game 37-17.
So even though that No.1 ranking looks nice and the betting line is large — it means nothing in a rivalry game like this one.
Smart told the media during his Monday press conference, and this game has never been about the rankings.
"“It’s a rival game. Our kids understand that one of their losses was to Alabama, in which they played a really good game at home, and they had an opportunity to win,” Smart said in his Monday press conference. “And then it was two road games. So, it’s not about records and I don’t think it ever is. It’s a lot more about what we do, not about records.”"
Georgia’s offense is good — like really good. Do not let the media and other fan bases tell you that the Dawgs are a defensive-only team. Yes, their defense is elite, but the offense may not be far behind.
There may not be many teams affected by injury more than Georgia, especially on offense, so it’s hard to say they aren’t when the Dawgs haven’t had a healthy offense all season.
When an offensive weapon suffers an injury, somebody for Georgia steps up in their place. Starting tight end-Darnell Washington went down during Fall camp, so Georgia inserted Brock Bowers.
George Pickens, Dominick Blaylock, Jermaine Burton, to name a few wideouts that were hurt this season, and the Dawgs insert freshmen Ladd McConkey and AD Mitchell.
Even starting quarterback JT Daniels went down, and Georgia was able to insert Stetson Bennett. The list goes on. However, it could potentially be swinging upward.
Daniels seems to be on his way back, and receivers seem to get better each week.
That said, here are three things Georgia’s offense needs to do to ensure that St. Simons and Jekyll Islands are full of a lot of happy Dawg fans. Oh yea, while enjoying the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the World Series.
Georgia football must utilize James Cook against the Gators
Georgia football is a run-by-committee operation. James Cook has had a good season, and so has his counterpart Zamir White leads Georgia with 84 carries.
However, if you compare that with Alabama running back Brian Robinson Jr with 142 carries, it’s evident how valuable it can be to save your running backs.
Cook has had just 47 carries for 296 yards, only 104 yards off White’s team lead of 400 yards. This time of year is where saving those carries comes into play. Especially since Georgia running back Kendall Milton will miss time with an MCL injury.
Now is the time for Cook to show how dynamic he can be. His running style has changed since coming to Athens as a skinny speedster from Miami. He is still fast, but he is not scared to be physical. Cook can bang it between the tackles with the best of them.
What does set Cook apart is his ability to be used in the passing game. Expect offensive coordinator Todd Monken to take advantage of the Florida defense by using Cook sideline to sideline with toss sweeps, and swing passes — wearing down this Florida defense.
LSU proved two weeks ago if an offense wears them down, they will break. Tiger running back Tyrion Davis-Price ran for 287 yards against Florida. That performance was on 36 carries, and we all know no Georgia back will have 36 carries in a single game again for a while.
If Cook gets 12-15 carries, he can be a difference maker. With Milton going down, Cook has to step up, with no better place than in your home state against the Gators.
Georgia football needs to use as many weapons as possible
Against Kentucky, five of the top six pass catchers were not wide receivers. Either tight ends or running backs led the charge. No, I am not saying having tight ends and running backs involved is bad, but it is not how the offense should live and die.
Instead, get more of Georgia’s playmakers in the wide receiver room involved — guys like Adonai Mitchell, Kearis Jackson, Jermaine Burtin, Lad McConkey or Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint. Even Arian Smith and Dominick Blaylock could see the field this week.
A good chunk of them were injured, but the Florida game should see a few back, so why not get them geared up and making some plays because Georiga needs them to help out the offense.
Eventually, the Dawgs will need to throw to its receivers more, and Jacksonville may be the place.
There is never a guarantee in college football, which is never more true than in rivalry games. Georgia can not expect to win with the same offense as the Kentucky game. That is why it’s important to emphasize the wide receiver group to get the ball more.
Florida expects Georgia to run the ball, so get those receivers involved. If so, expect some explosive big plays happening Saturday on offense for the Dawgs.
Dawgs will succeed with two quarterback system
The talk last week was of Kirby Smart’s comments about using both JT Daniels and Stetson Bennett if they both are healthy. These comments sent Bulldog Nation into a frenzy, and understandably so because nobody likes the idea of switching quarterbacks.
Even this year against South Carolina, we saw firsthand how it could go sideways. Georgia went up the field on back-to-back drives led by Daniels. Then Georgia inserted Bennett, who then threw an interception.
Doing it, one quarterback gets two series, and the other gets one is dangerous. It places unwarned pressure on the second guy. As we saw with Bennett against South Carolina, that is not the same Bennett we see when starting.
Although it did not cost Georgia the game with the Gamecocks, it was apparent it killed their momentum. Dawg fans, do we remember 2002 — the one hiccup.
Undefeated and ranked No. 5, Georgia, led by quarterback David Greene, were up 7-6; head coach Mark Richt then inserted DJ Shockley, who threw a pick-six. Not only giving Florida a 13-7 lead — one they would not relinquish as the Gators won 20-13.
It gave Florida all the momentum they needed for the upset victory.
The times a two quarterback system has worked is when situations determine the change. Usually, you see teams with a big body quarterback who can power in from short yardage.
However, this could be fun for an offensive mind such as Monken. On third and short, Georgia could insert Bennett using RPOs. Which with Bennett is devastating giving he gives you the run option with his legs, not just the running back. He can also sling it downfield, as we’ve seen against Auburn and UAB.
Daniels has the arm and skill set to spread the ball around. I do think if healthy, he will start Saturday. Let’s hope we see Bennett, just not in rotation.
Everyone heading to Jacksonville, have safe travels and Go Dawgs, oh yea, Go Braves.
Georgia football has a big test on Saturday, and while it’s still a rivalry game, the Dawgs have what it takes to get it done, but they must make sure this offense is clicking on all cylinders.