Week 5 Game of Week Preview

By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

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SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett breaks down the biggest game of the week in southern college football: Alabama at Georgia.

By B.J. Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor

SouthernPigskin.com Senior Editor B.J. Bennett breaks down the biggest game of the week in southern college football: Alabama at Georgia.

Game of the Week Preview: Alabama at Georgia

Why to Watch - This game features two top ten SEC schools, two of the premier coaches in all of college football and two physical football teams.  ESPN College Gameday is going to be there.  Georgia is having a blackout.  This is the game of the week nationally and national championship implications are on the line, especially with Southern Cal losing Saturday night.  The first Alabama/Georgia battle of the Nick Saban era resulted in an overtime victory for the Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa last season.  This one could be that close. 

Overview - As mentioned above, the Trojans’ loss to Oregon State Thursday night has really opened up the national championship race.  It’s early, but this is a playoff game of sorts, though the loser isn’t necessarily out of the picture.  With Oklahoma hosting 24th ranked TCU and the aforementioned USC loss, the top ten could look a lot different Sunday morning.  On the field, this should be a classic SEC suglfest.  Both Alabama head coach Nick Saban and Georgia head coach Mark Richt pride themselves in their physical play.  Watching the Crimson Tide front seven try to stop All-American candidate Knowshon Moreno could be one of the best games-within-the-game all season.

Keys For Alabama
1. Get a Push at the Line of Scrimmage - This is for two obvious reasons: to disrupt the running of Knowshon Moreno and pressure quarterback Matt Stafford.  Georgia starts two freshmen and two sophomores on the offensive line.  The unit is talented and has done a tremendous job, but Alabama starts all upperclassmen on the defensive line and has three mammoth linemen leading their 3-4 defensive scheme.  JUCO transfer Terrence Cody is listed at 6’5’‘, 365 pounds and will likely demand double teams.  Cody will be matched up with a freshman center, 6’3’‘, 300 pound Ben Jones.  A push from the front three could open up blitzing lanes for a young but talented group of linebackers led by Rolando McClain.  The Crimson Tide cannot allow Moreno to be productive against their seven man front.  This will result in a safety having to move up in the box, opening things up for Stafford downfield.  This front seven held Clemson to, get this, zero yards rushing.  If they can at least slow down Moreno and get consistent pressure on Stafford, it will greatly disrupt Georgia’s play-action ability.  http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0904/ncf_u_arenas_195.jpg

2. Big Plays on Special Teams - Special teams play is often the ultimate equalizer and there is no better way to silence a home crowd and gain momentum than a big play in this area.  Return man Javier Arenas is tied for second in the nation in punt return yards with 224 and is averaging 18.7 yards per return.  His 15.4 yard average was seventh best nationally in 2007.  Arenas had a punt return for score last season and already has one to his credit this fall.  Getting him loose, both to win the field position battle and sway momentum, would be huge for Alabama.  The Crimson Tide have excelled on special teams so far this year.  Against Tulane, ‘Bama scored on an Arenas punt return and on a blocked punt by Roy Upchurch.  Leigh Tiffin is a veteran kicker.  Alabama can really change this game around with a big play on special teams.  So can Georgia, so the Crimson Tide must do a good job on the flip side of this equation as well. 

3. Get Physical on Offense - The Crimson Tide lead the SEC in rushing by a wide margin, averaging over 236 yards per game.  The offensive line, led by tackle Andre Smith and center Antoine Caldwell, has been instrumental in this success.  On the road, in a hostile environment, against a high-powered offense, running the football will be absolutely crucial.  Alabama has great depth at tailback and the pressure will be on Glenn Coffee, Mark Ingram and company to move the chains and grind out tough yardage against an aggressive Georgia defense.  By doing so, the Crimson Tide will be able to dictate game tempo and control the clock.         

Keys For Georgia
1. Go With What You Know(shon) - Some have named Knowshon Moreno the Heisman frontrunner and rightfully so.  The numbers, against a tough schedule thus far, are excellent.  Over 450 yards, a 6.6 yard per carry average and nine touchdowns in four games.  Georgia has never lost a football game when Moreno receives 15 or more carries.  That is a pretty staggering stastistic.  Alabama has a very strong run defense, but the Bulldogs have to feel like they can run on anybody.  Early productivity on the ground will allow the ultra-talented Stafford to showcase his ridiculous arm strength on deep passes against single coverage to Mohamed Massaquoi and A.J. Green downfield.  Success running the football with Moreno is the catalyst for what Georgia likes to do offensively. 

2. Minimize Silly Mistakes - You don’t want to help a team like Alabama out.  Georgia is one of the most talented teams in the nation, but they have helped their opponents out on multiple occassions so far this year.  The Bulldogs are currently tied for last in the nation in penalties, as they have been cited for as astouding 43 in four games.  Think about how dominant they have been; now imagine what could have been if Georgia had cut that number in half.  The Bulldogs have lost 356 yards in penalties and have had basically eleven calls go against them per game.  That is difficult to overcome against a quality opponent like Alabama.  Conversely, the Crimson Tide have only been flagged 16 times in four games, good for second-best in the SEC.  Georgia doesn’t want to get into the habit of placing themselves in third down and long situations or extending drives for Alabama.  Playing smart, disciplined football in big games like these is always key.       

3.  Stuff the Run - The goal for any defense is to take the opposing offense out of its comfort zone.  While senior John Parker Wilson is a record-setting quarterback and a savvy veteran who can certainly make big plays, Alabama, like Georgia, likes to base what they do offensively off of running the football. UGA is ranked third in the nation in run defense and excels at eliminating cutback lanes.  As mentioned above, the Crimson Tide lead the SEC in rushing.  In part by design, they are 11th in passing.  While some of the young wideouts, namely Julio Jones and Marquis Maze, are as talented as they come, Alabama starts two freshmen and a junior at wide receiver.  They may have the youngest receiver rotation in the SEC.  Only one true receiver, the highly-touted Jones, has over 100 yards receiving.  Tight end Nick Walker is the leader and is dangerous at tight end.  He must be contained, as he destroyed Clemson.  Again, it’s not that Alabama can’t throw, but the Bulldog defense needs to force the Crimson Tide offense out of what they like to do and make the unit adjust.  Georgia has struggled at times in pass defense this year as they rank 11th in the SEC.  That said, this unit wants to disrupt the gameplan Alabama is bringing to Athens.  UGA needs a big game from Dannell Ellerbe, Rennie Curran and company.       
Position Advantages
Quarterback; Georgia - It’s close as Matt Stafford and John Parker Wilson are two elite signal callers, but you give the nod to Stafford and the Bulldogs.  These two quarterbacks have combined for a 10-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio this season.  http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2007/0904/ncf_U_moreno_195.jpg

Running back; Georgia - Again, this is very close.  Alabama may have better overall depth, but Knowshon Moreno is arguably the premier running back in all of college football.  Both teams can run the football remarkably well.  Alabama leads the SEC in rushing.  Georgia ranks fourth, but leads the league in rushing touchdowns. 

Offensive Line; Alabama - It’s hard to argue with a unit that is leading the SEC in rushing.  Tackle Andre Smith might be the premier lineman in all of college football.  The Georgia line is very talented as well, though a bit younger across the board. 

Receiver; Georgia - True freshman A.J. Green and Mohamed Massaquoi have combined for 30 receptions and four touchdowns.  They have emerged as an elite tandem.  Green leads the SEC in receiving yards.  Alabama has a true freshman of their own making big plays in Julio Jones.  He is tied for the SEC lead in touchdown receptions with three.  Tight end Nick Walker is having a great year. 

Defensive Line; Even - Like all of these position advantages, another close call.  Even without tackle Jeff Owens, Georgia ranks 2nd in the SEC in sacks and leads the league in run defense.  Alabama has a tremendous three man front led by super-sized tackle Terrence Cody. 

Linebackers; Georgia - This Bulldog unit, much like the defensive line, has done a tremendous job in run defense so far this year.  Dannell Ellerbe is an All-SEC caliber defender for the Bulldogs.  Rennie Curran, of Georgia, and Rolando McClain, of Alabama, are tied for sixth in the SEC in tackles.  Curran currently leads the SEC in sacks.  Both are All-SEC caliber. 

Secondary; Alabama - Another close one.  The Crimson Tide might have the premier safety in the conference in Rashad Johnson.  Justin Woodall has emerged as a key playmaker alongside Johnson.  Safety Reshad Jones may be the next All-American defender for the Bulldogs.

Special Teams; Alabama - Alabama has the experience edge at kicker, though both Leigh Tiffin and Blair Walsh have been impressive.  P.J. Fitzgerald and Brian Mimbs are punting well for both teams.  Javier Arenas is an All-American contender in the return game.

Coaching; Edge - How do you pick a winner here?  Nick Saban and Mark Richt are two of the premier head coaches in all of college football.  Both staffs are incredible as well. 

Intangibles; Georgia - Playing at home, at night, with the blackout in effect, you have to give the Bulldogs an edge here.  Alabama is still a very young football team as well, with many freshmen starting or seeing significant playing time. 

Players to Watch
Alabama: Javier Arenas, PR/CB - A major playmaker for the Crimson Tide.  In addition to being one of the most dangerous return men in the game, Arenas has improved in coverage as well.  Watch for him in the return game.  He scored on an 87-yard return versus Tulane and is capable of flipping field position and even going the distance against anyone. 

Georgia: Ben Jones, C - Jones will be paired up with 365-pound Terrence Cody at the line of scrimmage.  A true freshman, this will be the toughest challenge of Jones’ career.  In high school, Jones was rated as the 7th best center in the nation by Rivals.com so he certainly has the skills.  If he can contain Cody, it will open things up for Knowshon Moreno.

Predictions
B.J. Bennett: Georgia - 23, Alabama - 20
Kevin Thomas: Georgia - 21, Alabama - 20
Charlie Kay: Georgia - 31, Alabama - 24
J.T. Bennett: Georgia - 21, Alabama - 17

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