What’s up with UGA’s ‘secret playbook’? Answering reader questions ahead of SEC Championship
Charlie Woerner tries not to think about the magnitude of the moment. Once Georgia’s tight end reaches the end of the week, however, it’s hard to resist.
Georgia tries to treat it as any other game, but this is the one moment to accept that it isn’t. This is the SEC Championship game. The 11-1 Bulldogs get to square off with second-ranked LSU (12-0) at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for a chance to continue in postseason play.
At second thought, yeah, that’s pretty big. Now breathe. At least try.
“It makes it kind of fun,” Woerner said. “You get to go out and enjoy that moment with your teammates.”
Georgia fans probably feel the same way, too, as they experience a third-consecutive championship game. There’ll be a lot happening by the time kickoff occurs Saturday (4 p.m., CBS), but first let’s discuss it by answering some reader questions from Twitter.
Alex Joyce: Does Georgia have to keep LSU under 30 (points) to win this game?
Yes, and I think it will. Does that lead Georgia to an automatic win? No, not necessarily. But Georgia, as we’ve all seen through 12 games, loves to play that old-school style of football. It’ll be prepared for this scheme, despite all of the credit Georgia head coach Kirby Smart gives it (as long as there isn’t a backup quarterback situation), and will keep LSU in check. It’ll be a determination as to whether the red-clad Bulldogs can score enough.
Joe Radesco: Without Lawrence Cager and George Pickens (first half), can UGA generate enough offense to win the game?
No, quite frankly, I don’t think it can be enough. But I think it depends on how direct you are with the term “enough.” Georgia hasn’t scored more than 30 points in an SEC game since Oct. 5 at Tennessee — sorry Georgia Tech, but that 52-point outlier doesn’t show me enough. Quarterback Jake Fromm will be without his top targets and forced to perform with the likes of Tyler Simmons, Kearis Jackson and Demetris Robertson out wide. No disrespect to them because they could shine, but it’s hard to foreshadow it when they’ve yet to show consistency. Running back D’Andre Swift, who needs to get over 20 carries, is hampered with a shoulder contusion that head coach Kirby Smart has repetitively brushed it off. So, no, the chances for strong offense isn’t in Georgia’s favor.
All of that is to mention the defense again. That’s going to give Georgia the chance to win this game, and the opportunity to race toward a national title if it presents itself. Do you ever notice how they rotate half of the unit on every other down? It’s nuts, and that depth is why Georgia’s defense is otherworldly, “keeps them pretty fresh” as Smart says and gives the Bulldogs their identity.
The Georgia Football Secret Playbook: What do you think Ed (Orgeron’s) reaction is going to be when I get unleashed Saturday?
Hello, spur-of-the-moment parody account. I can’t believe Twitter is free, because content like this is golden. Georgia wide receiver Tyler Simmons, who has been vocal about the offense this entire season, said there’s a lot the Bulldogs haven’t unveiled yet. Offensive guard Solomon Kindley concurred. It’ll be interesting to see if that’s actually the case, mainly because Georgia sticks true to its philosophies. That’s not to say that Smart is scared to try new things (i.e. the 2018 SEC Championship fake punt … sorry y’all).
If Georgia does mix things up, which it might in order to win, it could catch LSU off guard. The Tigers will be expecting a heavy rushing attack, and much of it could come in the run-run-pass sequence with a lot of 11-personnel packages. At least that’s been Georgia’s bread-and-butter (although sometimes that proverbial bread might be stale). We’ll see, but it would certainly make for some fun to try new things.
Live on, parody account.
Nicole B. Fearless: Why is no one discussing the matchup of UGA’s defense versus LSU’s offense?
Well, I think it’s certainly being discussed in tandem with inquiring about LSU quarterback Joe Burrow and the Tigers’ offense. He’s the Heisman frontrunner and the Bulldogs have their toughest test ahead. But as redshirt freshman pass rusher Azeez Ojulari said, and a few of his teammates echoed, the undefeated Tigers haven’t seen Georgia yet.
Georgia’s defense is probably the best I’ve seen — albeit I’m a young guy — and allows only 10.4 points per game and has shutout three opponents. I think LSU tops the average and might be the first team to score a rushing touchdown with its running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire in this case, but Georgia’s defense will be what keeps it in the game. There are some who see this as a potential rout, but I have had a feeling ever since Georgia squeezed by Auburn that there’s something about this defense. It’s very special, and those from outside the day-to-day beat should be awarding it more credit. Because trust me, all of the local media sees it, and I run out of unique ways to tell that story after each game.