Georgia’s defense is one of the better ones in the country – let’s get that out of the way first. They’re not putting up absurdly high tackle for loss numbers like Oklahoma or ridiculous stuff rates like Auburn, nor do they have the lockdown secondary metrics like Alabama. But they’re very good in pretty much every possible defensive category, and are very sound while doing it. They’re one of the very best at just not missing tackles – ever.
The problem for the Dogs has been the lack of a pass rush. In fact, their paltry 17 QB takedowns is tied with UAB and Liberty, and well below 100th in all of FBS. A lot of that is just Kirby Smart’s scheme, of course, but it also belies a lack of havoc from the Dogs that has gotten them into trouble three times this season: Tennessee, Ole Miss, and, of course, Alabama.
Here’s what I said about the UGA defense ahead of the round 1 a couple of months ago:
The Dogs still run Kirby Smart’s old 3-4 scheme, with three big defensive tackles playing a 2-gap mush up the middle, with a wide linebacker that will rush the QB as the lone edge rusher. For the most part, pass rush pressure comes from well-timed blitzes, rather than individual pass rushers. The secondary plays mostly a quarters zone scheme that can allow some underneath yards on crossing routes and drags, but prevent shots from getting over their head and can break quickly to swarm on shorter sideline routes.
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This is, overall, a defense that looks to be excellent against the run and has some impressive open field tackling ability and punishing hits in the secondary. However, they also lack any teeth in the pass rush without sending overload blitzes, and they often struggle with coverage across the middle, as their bigger linebackers can get asked to cover too much space.
CJ Allen remains one of the best linebackers in the game, Christen Miller is a star at defensive tackle, and KJ Bolden keeps getting better and better as a young superstar safety. The Dogs are stacked right up the spine, and it makes them incredibly consistent. Again, though, things start losing some of their teeth as you move outside. Edge rushers Gabe Harris and Quintavius Johnson have been mostly nonfactors as pass rushers, and corners Daylen Everette and Ellis Robinson have had some shaky moments in coverage.
Like before, I think this isn’t a terrible matchup for Alabama. Ty Simpson has struggled with the blitz-happy pass rushes and coverage disguises of Auburn and Oklahoma, but Georgia tends to play more straight up. The Dogs will almost assuredly totally snuff out Alabama’s run game…. But hey, so has most everyone else. I also like Alabama’s receivers against UGA’s corners, and it seems like a good game for Ryan Williams to finally catch his footing again.
It may be a bit irrational, but I think Alabama picks up the pace a little from their last few weeks and has a much more solid outing overall, scoring 27 points.
