By BJ Bennett
SouthernPigskin.com

Follow us at Twitter.com/SouthernPigskin.  Become a fan at the SouthernPigskin.com Facebook Page

What Georgia must do to beat Florida in Jacksonville.

Georgia enters the final Saturday of October at 4-3, struggling for consistency ahead of the season’s stretch run. Entering one of college football’s best rivalries, the annual showdown with Florida in Jacksonville, here are three keys to victory for the Bulldogs in Kirby Smart’s Georgia debut, as a head coach, in the series;

1. Run the Football — Simply put, the Bulldogs have to establish themselves in the ground game. Running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel are Georgia’s most proven players, with a 1,500-yard and 1,000-yard season in the SEC, respectively, and are more than capable of being the focal point of the offensive gameplan. A vintage showcase for Chubb, with 25-30 carries, or more, should be the expectation. The Bulldogs need better blocking. Establishing the line of scrimmage will be a must as Georgia’s veteran front five will have to play better than it did in the loss to Vanderbilt. As talented as quarterback Jacob Eason is, this will be the true freshman’s first foray into Jacksonville, not to mention the fact that Florida has the nation’s top secondary. A strong rushing attack allows other facets of the game to fall into place. For point of reference; the Bulldogs threw for 346 yards and ran for just 76 against the Commodores and lost, yet ran for 326 yards and threw for just 29 at South Carolina and won. Eason, like any other new signal caller, is at his best as a compliment to a productive ground game. Much of being able to control the tempo of the game comes down to running productively. Georgia needs to stay committed, with Chubb leading the way for the Bulldogs against an opportunistic defensive unit.

2. Sound Special Teams — Georgia has struggled mightily on special teams this fall, ranking last in the SEC in field goal kicking, last in punting, second-to-last in kick coverage and has had multiple fielding errors in the return game that has cost the offense valuable field position. Needless to say, hidden yardage has been a major problem for the Bulldogs all season long. Such troubles have put extra pressure on the rest of the team, while giving Georgia opponents a significant momentum boost. In Jacksonville, in a series where special teams has often played a leading role, the Bulldogs need to be better. Freshman kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has made his last four field goal attempts, including a trio of conversions against Vanderbilt, so his confidence-level should be high. Containing Antonio Callaway will be an absolute must; just a sophomore, he has three career returns for touchdown. In game where production may be at a premium, Georgia cannot afford to lose ground on special teams.

3. Force Florida Over the Top — In the Gators last two games against the Bulldogs, Florida has rushed for 676 yards and seven touchdowns, while only passing for 182 yards and one score. Though the Gators have been more productive through the air this fall, and starting quarterback Luke Del Rio is healthy, Florida, like Georgia, will want to set a powerful offensive tone in the trenches. The Gators are coming off a season-high 287 yards on the ground in a win over Missouri. With personnel and scheme, the Bulldogs should make Florida throw the football, even though perimeter talents such as Antonio Callaway and Brandon Powell are certainly capable. Finding a way to rush the passer will be critical. The Gators have allowed just six sacks this year, good for second in the SEC. Timely blitzes could result in rushed decisions and, ultimately, turnovers for Del Rio.