Georgia vs. Tennessee 'huge' for Vols
Open a thesaurus, and flip to the entry for “big.”
Use just about any of the synonyms listed to describe the University of Tennessee’s game this afternoon, and you’d be right more often than wrong.
The hype, the buildup and the stakes of No. 12 Georgia’s visit to Neyland Stadium today (TV: WVLT, 3:30 p.m.) are hard to exaggerate. Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge, a player not prone to exaggeration, has his own synonym of choice.
“It’s huge,” he said. “It’s not do or die, but it’s very, very important.”
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In Phillip Fulmer’s 15 full seasons as head coach at his alma mater, the stakes have rarely been higher.
Discontent has rarely been as loud — or as widespread — as it’s been after a 2-2 start to the season.
But win today, and the volume gets turned down on Fulmer’s critics.
Win today, and the Vols are still very much have a chance to win the SEC East.
Win today, and the Vols will have defeated a top 15 opponent in Neyland Stadium for just the fourth time in their last nine tries.
Win today, and it can all change.
“It’s a championship type game, yeah,” says linebacker Rico McCoy. “This is a big game in the East. This game is really going to add up at the end. It could determine the SEC East champs. There’s a lot riding on it.”
Specifically, there’s a lot riding on the defense.
Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) enters today’s game with back-to-back wins over Alabama and Ole Miss.
Against the Rebels, Georgia flexed its muscle on the ground, rushing for 328 yards on 45 carries, led by Thomas Brown with 180 yards and three touchdowns.
Redshirt freshman tailback Knowshon Moreno leads the team with 432 rushing yards.
“Georgia’s always had great backs,” UT defensive coordinator John Chavis said. “Every year they’re going to have three or four. They’re great tailbacks, and we’ve got to do a great job tackling and do a great job swarming to the football.”
Except that’s exactly what Tennessee has struggled to do in its two losses this season.
Missed tackles and busted assignments are two of the major reasons why Tennessee’s defense ranks ninth in the SEC and 88th in the country with an average of 188 rushing yards allowed per game.
Tennessee hasn’t been great against the pass (12th in the SEC in pass efficiency defense) or as a whole (11th in total defense and 12th in scoring defense).
“Of course it’s a problem,” McCoy says. “No one wants to be ranked last, or close to last.”
The Volunteers (2-2, 0-1) are still dead last in the country in punt return coverage, allowing a 28.8 yard average on six opponent returns.
Two of those tries have gone for a touchdown, one each for Cal’s DeSean Jackson and Florida’s Brandon James.
That’s good news for Georgia’s Mikey Henderson, who averages 14 yards a return and took a punt back for a touchdown in last year’s loss to Tennessee in Athens.
The Vols spent plenty of time during their lone bye week this season working on punt coverage, including a few scheme changes they could unveil this afternoon.
On offense, the Vols have been solid in the passing game, led by a stellar Erik Ainge, who has completed 66 percent of his passes for more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns with just two interceptions.
UT’s offense line has been among the nation’s best in pass protection, allowing just two sacks.
Erik Ainge hasn’t been sacked since the third play of the season against Cal, a streak of 160 consecutive pass attempts without being sacked.
But Georgia’s pass defense is ranked significantly higher than any of UT’s previous opponents, and unit that ranks third in the SEC in total defense.
And then, of course, there’s the Mark Richt factor.
Since Richt took over in seven years ago, the Georgia Bulldogs have not lost in Neyland Stadium.
That run began when Georgia drove the field in 39 seconds for the game-winning touchdown in the famed “Hobnail Boot” game in 2001, and extends through a 27-14 win here in 2005.
“I don’t know,” McCoy said when asked the reason for Georgia’s success in Knoxville. “It’s time for a change, isn’t it?”
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