Georgia Football: Six Things The Dawgs Must Do To Beat Bama
The Georgia Bulldogs will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide, with the SEC Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff on the line. Here are six things the Dawgs must do, to give Georgia Football their second straight playoff berth.
Mix Up the Run and the Pass
One of the main things the Bulldogs must do to be successful against Alabama is stay balanced. UGA offensive coordinator Jim Chaney must mix in several first down throws and sometimes use the run to set up the pass, if Georgia Football is to have a shot at pulling off a major upset.
The Dawgs must run when their opponent is thinking pass, and pass when Alabama is thinking run, in order to keep the Tide off-balance. Quarterback Jake Fromm can’t be afraid to take shots down the field. When he sees one on one coverage, he has to step up and let it rip.
Georgia must give their athletic receivers a shot in one on one coverage. Back shoulder throws that Jeremiah Holloman can jump up over the defender and bring down, are a weapon that the Dawgs must utilize. Terry Godwin and Mecole Hardman are receivers who can beat Bama defenders on routes across the field.
At the same time Jake Fromm can’t be afraid to check down, when the intermediate and deep throws aren’t there. Running back D’Andre Swift is capable of taking any short pass to the house for a touchdown. Isaac Nauta provides a big, athletic target over the middle of the field from the tight end position.
UGA must be prepared to take advantage of bubble screens and wide receiver screens, if the Alabama defensive backs play off of the Georgia wide receivers. Screens are a great way to get the Dawgs play-makers the ball in space.
One thing UGA can not do is abandon the run. Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift have been a tremendous thunder and lightning combo all season long and it’s imperative that Jim Chaney use them in the correct situations. This mean riding the hot hand, if one running back is running the ball noticeably better than the other.
Georgia can’t be afraid to run the ball on second and 10 after an incomplete pass on first down. It would even be a good idea to mix in a run or two, on third down and three to five, in order to totally break tendencies.
UGA must also mix up the formations and personnel packages that they run out of. They must run from bigger two tight end sets as well as spread shotgun formations. The wild dawg formation should be used a few times as well. Balance and deception will be paramount.
Mixing freshman dual threat quarterback Justin Fields into the game as a runner and passer would be a wonderful way to keep the Alabama Crimson Tide off-balance. However it’s unknown if Fields will have a role in this game. UGA has had a tendency to stick exclusively with Jake Fromm in big SEC contests.