6 things Georgia football does to remind the Vols they are little brother

Georgia football takes on Tennessee this Saturday in a top-3 matchup that will likely be the best game of the year. This showdown is one of the most anticipated ones since the preseason, and now that the two teams are undefeated, this game will be wild.

Both teams are well-coached and should be confident in themselves. These two SEC East foes match up nicely because Tennessee’s offense is explosive, and so is Georgia’s defense. The Dawgs’ offense is efficient, and the Vols’ defense knows how to force mistakes. Each team has something that will challenge the other.

Tennessee presents a unique challenge to the Dawgs, but it isn’t one that they can’t handle. Georgia has the tools and ability to win this ballgame. With it being in Athens, this atmosphere will be electric. There is so much excitement surrounding this game. Georgia fans will bring their A-game — much like they did against Notre Dame and Arkansas last year.

As two evenly matched as these teams are, how can Georiga beat the Vols? What will it take? Here are three offensive and three defensive things that the Dawgs do to remind Tennessee who the king of the SEC East is.

 Georgia football does these six things to remind Tennessee that the Dawgs are big brother.

Georgia and Tennessee are two of the best offenses in the SEC. The Dawgs average 43.1 points, and the Vols average 49.4. Those numbers rank No.1 and 2 in the SEC. On the ground, Georgia takes the slight edge over Tennessee, averaging 202 yards a game and 5.65 yards a touch. The Vols average 199.63 yards and 4.6 yards a carry. Both teams average around 48 carries a game.

Tennessee has a dynamic passing game averaging 353.4 yards in the air and 11.3 yards an attempt. Georgia is right behind them, averaging 328.1 yards and 8.9 yards an attempt. These passing numbers rank No.1 and 2 in the league.

As for the total offense, Tennesse is No.1 in the SEC, averaging 553 yards a game and 7.4 yards per play. Georgia is No. 2 with 530.1 total yards and 7.24 yards a play. The Dawgs do convert more third downs as they lead the SEC at 52.08%, while the Vols are No.3 at 50.46%

Defensively, Georgia is an overall better unit, while Tennessee has better stats for the offense. The Dawgs lead the SEC in Scoring defense, giving up 10.5 points a game and 84 through eight games. Tennessee is No. 4, giving up 21 points and 168 total.

Georgia’s rush defense gives up 85.23 yards on the ground each game, 3.24 yards a touch, and just two rushing touchdowns in eight games. Tennessee gives up 92.88 yards, 2.9 yards a touch, and 10 rushing scores.

Through the air, Georgia is one of the best passing defenses in the SEC at No.2 behind Texas A&M. The Dawgs give up 177.1 yards, five scores, and six interceptions. Quarterbacks complete 53.6% of passes on average. As for Tennessee, they have the No.12 passing defense giving up 300.8 yards, 10 scores and nine interceptions. Quarterbacks complete around 62.2% against the Vols.

Georgia gives up 262.5 total yards a game while the Vols give up 393.6 yards, which puts the Dawgs at No.1 and the Vols at No.10. The Dawgs give up 4.56 yards a play, and the Vols give up 5.2 yards. Georgia does have an excellent third-down defense, allowing 28.83%, which is No.2 in the SEC, while Tennessee allows 30.97%.

Whew, that’s a lot of numbers thrown at us, but it’s to show you that these two teams are not that different. Now that we’ve dove deep into these numbers, here are the six things we want to see from Georgia on Saturday to beat the Vols.

Georgia football must establish a dominant rush attack

One of the biggest things Georgia football will have to do successfully is run the ball. The Dawgs have to win up front and establish a rush attack that gets big chunks of yards. Kenny McIntosh and Daijun Edwards are primed and ready for a big game. The last few weeks have been great to see the Dawgs gaining confidence on the ground. However, the rushing attack has been what Georgia turned to in the red zone.

Of Georgia’s 41 touchdowns, 28 have been on the ground. Among those 28 scores, 18 were 5 yards or fewer, six were seven to 20 yards long, and four were 20-plus yards long. That stat tells us the Dawgs are getting into the red zone and can punch it in with ease.

Against the Vols, Georgia must establish a rush attack that complements the passing game. The Dawgs have to win the trench battle, and if they do, it could get ugly. Tennessee has a strong rush defense, but at the same time, the only SEC team they held to under 100 yards was LSU. They gave up 141 rushing yards to Florida, 114 to Alabama, and 106 to Kentucky. Pitt also recorded 141 rushing yards on the Vols.

If Georgia can run the ball against the Vols, they can control the clock and keep Tennessee’s high-powered offense off the field. Running the ball will also wear down the Tennessee defense, which doesn’t quite have the same depth as Georgia.

Georgia football needs to use its tight ends and often

One thing that Georgia football has is two of the best tight ends in the entire country. The Dawgs will need to use Brock Bowers and Darnell Washington often against the Vols because they are the two biggest weapons on this team.

Georgia doesn’t necessarily have an elite option at wide receiver, so the Dawgs need to focus on these two guys and use them. Since Georgia doesn’t have that consistent receiver that starting quarterback Stetson Bennett can go to, why not use the best player on the team and one emerging into a stud?

The Vols have struggled against the pass this year, which is not new to anyone. Throughout its first eight games, Tennessee especially struggled against the tight ends. Alabama’s Cameron Latu recorded six catches for 90 yards and a score. Keon Zipperer, Florida’s tight end, had three catches for 62 yards and a touchdown. Pitt’s Gavin Bartholomew had five catches for 84 yards and a score.

Georgia should take advantage of that and utilize their tight ends because, unlike those three, the Dawgs’ can use theirs as downfield weapons. The Dawgs can also use them underneath, similar to what Florida, Alabama, and Pitt did. However, anyone who watches football knows that Tennessee has Bowers and Washington circled — that doesn’t mean they will do it successfully.

Bowers is good at creating separation in coverage, and Washington is getting much better at it. After Washington had a few drops last week, we think he will step up in a big way — this game could be his best yet. They are also great blockers, which will allow the Dawgs to use the receivers to make plays on the perimeter.

These two guys have to be big to help Georgia win this ball game, and both know how to do that in these games.

Georgia football has to avoid coughing up the football and making silly mistakes

The biggest thing on offense that Georgia football has to do is protect the ball. In the games that the Dawgs have “struggled” in, turnovers were one of the biggest reasons those opponents stayed in the game.

Georgia coughed it up three times against Kent State, twice against Missouri, and three times against Florida. The Dawgs cannot do that against Tennessee because that offense knows how to score points and fast. Tennessee’s defense is good at forcing turnovers, as the Vols’ have recorded nine interceptions and five forced fumbles.

The Dawgs have to protect the ball and not make silly mistakes. Discipline is a key in this game, and they cannot give the Vols any extra ammo. Starting quarterback Stetson Bennett has to have a good game. He hasn’t played great in recent weeks, and there have been a few times when he forces things way too much. He needs to play his game and trust his game — it is good enough to beat this team.

Bennett must be aware and use his high football IQ to do some damage. He has a great offensive line that will protect him, as they’ve given up just seven sacks — tied for the fewest amount in the SEC. However, pressure situations aren’t when Bennett struggles but more when he has too much time to throw.

So Tennessee will likely blitz a lot after watching Missouri do it to the Dawgs. Bennett is strong against the blitz, with 16 touchdowns. He has guys he trusts to get the ball quickly too, which will be a key on Saturday.

We need this offense to protect the ball and for Bennett to channel his 2021 playoff mindset because Georgia needs a performance like that out of him against the Vols.

Now for the defensive keys and how Georgia can stop this offense.

Georgia football has to lay the pressure on Hendon Hooker

Defensively, Georgia football has a unit that should be able to slow down the Tennessee offense. However, they will have to do something that Alabama and a few other teams didn’t do to make that happen. The Dawgs have to pressure Hendon Hooker and make him uncomfortable. Pitt did that against him all night, and that is when we saw him make mistakes.

Last year, UGASports.com’s Brent Rollins said the Dawgs blitzed on 51% of the passing plays against the Vols. In this “Film Don’t Lie” segment with Dayne Young, he breaks down just how pressure will be important for the Dawgs.

Georgia has to use Jalen Carter, Mykel Williams, Zion Logue, Warren Brinson, and many more to lay on the pressure. Carter is coming back from injury, so his conditioning will be the biggest question for him, but this week Georgia needs him to wreak all kinds of havoc. Losing Nolan Smith is a massive loss, but here is where the depth comes in for the Dawgs — they have guys who can step up in his place, but they are just not as experienced.

Robert Beal has to be a force against Tennessee. Jamon Dumas-Johnson has to use his skills to put the pressure on and play smart. Tennessee is a team that does things purposefully. They will try and trick you, so if the Dawgs can get pressure on Hooker, it will cause them to get out of rhythm.

Georgia doesn’t have many sacks, but it does have the most quarterback hurries in the league, so the Dawgs have to use that to their advantage. Head coach Kirby Smart knows this, and the game plan will be interesting to watch. There is no telling what Smart and co-defensive coordinators Will Muschamp and Glen Schumann have cooked up for the Vols.

Georgia football has to win first down on defense

Georgia football is aware that Tennessee runs the ball more than the Vols pass it, but at the same time, they like to throw it deep on first down. The Vols usually take a shot downfield on first down to try and get on track. If they succeed, then the tempo will come. Georgia has to win on first down to keep Tennessee off its tempo game.

If the Dawgs can force second and long, it will make Tennessee have to slow down and run their offense. However, third and fourth down will be key, too, because the Vols are notorious for running on third and long to get fourth and short. If they do, they will go for it.

Georgia is an excellent third-down team, but limiting the big plays on first down will be just as important on Saturday. If the Dawgs can contain Tennessee on first down, it will give them a better chance at preventing points. This Vols’ offense will score on the Georgia defense, but once the Dawgs’ coaches see what kinds of things the Vols are looking to do, adjustments can get made. We saw it last year after the first two drives.

However, this Georgia defense isn’t the same as it was in 2021 — it doesn’t need to be. Georgia has speed in many places, which will be a great test for them.

Georgia football has to communicate successfully to slow down Tennessee

The last thing that Georgia football needs to be successful in is communication. Georgia has to be on the same page because if the Dawgs aren’t, Tennessee will find a way to be successful. Tennessee is a smart team that does things purposefully, so the Dawgs must pay attention. Josh Heupel has a specific way of running things, and the Dawgs must stay disciplined.

Georgia cannot get silly substitutions or offsides penalties. The Dawgs have to rely on each other to make these plays. Communication is huge for the Dawgs because that will help keep players in the right spots. Georgia will have to stop the run without giving up too many bodies, and communicating during these times will be key. The Dawgs are an excellent defense, but they are still young.

Will there be explosive plays given up? Yes, but it’s about limiting them and communicating with each other so they can be prepared for what Tennessee throws at them.

Georgia football has all the things it needs to beat the Vols on Saturday. The Dawgs need to execute the game plan and trust that their head coaches have given them the tools for success.

Having this game in the Classic City is a huge advantage and something that will help the defense out too. Georgia may not have all its playmakers, but they have scrappy guys ready to step up and show the world who runs the SEC East. Tennessee has played well this season, but they are about to run into big brother to remind them it isn’t their time to win the division.