Georgia football: 3 simple things the defense does to beat Alabama

3. Georgia football must limit big plays

By now, the world knows that Alabama has some of the best wide receivers in the country in Jameson Williams and John Metchie.

Williams has 61 catches for 1,261 yards and 13 scores. Metchie has 90 catches for 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns.

Georgia football must find a way to limit the explosive plays from these two and the Tide’s stout running back Brian Robinson Jr.

Robinson has 207 carries for 1,016 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season. He also has 29 catches for 252 yards and two scores.

These three Crimson Tide players make up for most of the explosive plays Alabama has had this year.

Alabama can strike quick with these three, so the Dawgs need to find a way to limit those explosive plays and contain this trio to the best of their ability.

With starting safety Christopher Smith’s status unknown for Saturday’s game, Georgia will lean heavily on Kelee Ringo, Lewis Cine, Latavious Brini and Derion Kendrick to get the job done. This secondary can do it — they just have to play smart.

The Dawgs don’t need any silly penalties on Saturday, especially from the secondary — smart, aggressive coverage is the message.

In those four games Alabama struggled in, Florida gave up the least amount of explosive plays. For definition purposes, Georgia football offensive coordinator Todd Monken says an explosive play is 16-plus yard passes or 12-plus yard runs.

Against the Gators, Alabama had five explosive plays, with their best one being a 29-yard catch to Williams in the third quarter.

Texas A&M gave up the most explosive plays at 11, including a long 40-yard pass to Metchie in the opening quarter and two 24-yard runs from Robinson. The Tide recorded six explosive passes, and five rush plays against the Aggies.

LSU gave up seven explosive plays to the Tide, which includes a 58-yard catch from Williams.

Auburn did a great job containing Alabama last Saturday through three quarters but gave up six explosive plays in the fourth quarter to give the Tide a total of 10 against the Tigers.

Georgia has given up only one 30-plus yard run all season and two 20-plus runs. Through the air, the Dawgs have given up a handful of big plays, so this secondary needs to shut it down on Saturday. It’s time for the Dawgs to prove why they have the No.1 pass defense in the country.

The Dawgs will just need to contain them. They don’t have to stop them altogether. Just allow those explosive plays to come sporadically, not consistently. Georgia can do this. They have the defense that can shut this kind of offense down, but it’ll still be a challenge to see if they can. Alabama never bows down to anyone, but if they do, it would be to Georgia.

Georgia football has the defense that can hang with the Tide all four quarters. The Dawgs must find a way to do these three things on defense, and if they do, it’ll be win No. 13 for the good guys.