For as much has been made about the matchup at hand between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on Saturday night, one unit for the home team needs to show up in a big way. Although Kirby Smart said the team with the best offensive line is poised to win the SEC, Saturday night will be a big test for the Dawgs with right tackle Earnest Greene III unable to go.
Through their first three games of the season, Georgia's front-five has been its weakest position group. Although the secondary left a lot to be desired vs. the Tennessee Volunteers two weeks ago, that unit has far more depth than the Dawgs do in the trenches. It will be up to Smart and offensive line coach Stacy Searels to figure out how to keep Gunner Stockton and the offense moving here.
With Greene ruled out, that puts into focus three players for the Dawgs. That would be Bo Hughley, Michael Uini and to some extent, Juan Gaston. Gaston is the team's starting right guard, but he could kick out to right tackle in this one. He too has dealt with an injury in the early part of the year. Hughley impressed in the second half vs. Tennessee. Uini got some considerable playing time vs. Austin Peay.
Between Hughley, Uini and Gaston, the Dawgs will have to come together to offset Greene's injury.
Georgia needs to come together to overcome its right tackle issues now
Look. Smart was absolutely right that the team with the best offensive line in the SEC has a chance to go the furthest. His logic behind that statement is seemingly everyone in the league has a vaunted pass rush. Whether it is Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Oklahoma or Tennessee, they can all get after the passer. The big question moving forward is what team does a better job of protecting its quarterback.
The fact that Stockton is a mobile dual-threat under center works in Georgia's favor considerably. Other teams in the league have quarterbacks capable of tucking it and running with it, but having a pure pocket passer this season in-conference could prove to any team's disadvantage. This is where Georgia has to take care of business vs. Ty Simpson on Saturday. He can spin it, but he is not running.
Overall, Georgia has the talent on defense to keep Georgia in this game if moving the sticks on Alabama's defense is easier said than done. Yes, Simpson will probably still get his through the air, but the Crimson Tide have been absolutely miserable running the football. Getting a healthy Jam Miller back is a huge plus, but Alabama has yet to prove it has a multi-faceted offense so far this season.
Ultimately, the combination of Hughly, Uini, Gaston does not have to be extraordinary against Alabama to win. They just need to be replacement level. The big key for Georgia winning this game is to get another great showing out of Stockton, for Glenn Schumann's defense to show up, and for Smart's team to not get in its own head. Georgia is not playing Alabama; they are playing themselves.
Alabama may be a bit more desperate than Georgia in this game, but the Dawgs need to come to play.