While the list of things to fix isn’t short, the team’s secondary is very likely its primary concern.
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While he didn’t have a big statistical game against Smart’s Alabama defense a year ago, he did play a vital role in a close 19-14 Crimson Tide victory over the Volunteers. On the flip side, as incompetent as Georgia looked in falling behind 45-0 in Oxford, they’re probably not going to lay an egg quite like that in consecutive games. This was the first real test for the Georgia Bulldogs and they seemed to have had their way with the Rush Defense of the Tar Heels. All four of these contests have been in the state of Tennessee, including the record-breaking game against Virginia Tech at the Battle at Bristol where 156,990 poured into Bristol Motor Speedway.
“I think over half my high school graduation class goes to Georgia”, Dobbs said. They’ve lost just once to the Commodores since 1989 but have been pushed in recent years and escaped with a 9-7 home win last fall in Gainesville.
“We felt a lot better about it after (Thursday), then we’ll find out today (Friday)”.
While the passing game is still evolving, the Vols will rely on their skilled stable of running backs to grind it out on the ground.
He now has 36 career touchdown passes, tying him with Jonathan Crompton (2006-09), Heath Schuler (1991-93) and Andy Kelly (1988-91) for fifth-most in Tennessee history. Safety Quincy Mauger echoed those ideas, saying that everyone involved had to do a better job reading the keys of the opposing offense and tackling better. “Every game is important”.
Tennessee has yet to put together a full game.
Tennessee, on the other hand, finally got the gator off its back. Tennessee is being outscored 34-10 in the first quarter this season, and despite facing only one ranked opponent, has trailed by more than a touchdown twice heading into the second half.
The Georgia defense got taken to the woodshed last week by the Ole Miss offense. “Nick’s doing all he can to make sure he can play in this game”, Smart said on his radio show Thursday night.
Smart also said Chubb has been wearing a walking boot to alleviate pressure on his foot. “He’s improved his ability to throw the ball”. It’s not one that he played so great; he just didn’t get tried.
Tennessee looks like they are headed in the right direction and have survived the inconsistent play that nobody expected from the in the first three weeks.
The Tennessee Volunteers are favored by 3.5, according to Vegasinsider.com.
“It’s the SEC”, Mauger said. Even to a Nicholls teams, whom Georgia only beat by 2 points.
Barnett and Vereen have combined for 21 tackles and three sacks this season, therefore creating a significant amount of concern, especially against Georgia’s offensive line, a group which has struggled to this point.
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No backpacks are allowed at Sanford Stadium. “It also took a lot of passion, but we realize you don’t win a season out of one game”. “It’s physical, hard football”. When you got two of that caliber it’s tough to game plan for.
