Georgia expects better rushing results this time
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia had a true freshman quarterback and a running game that averaged 1.1 yards per carry last season in a 24-10 loss to Florida in Jacksonville.
The Bulldogs will have another true freshman quarterback this Saturday against the Gators and some ground-game components who are looking to show significant improvement from last year’s embarrassment. Not surprisingly, Georgia’s eight first downs, 21 rushing yards and 164 total yards against the Gators a season ago is not the most enjoyable topic to revisit.
“They had a good defense last year, and we struggled,” Bulldogs junior center Lamont Gaillard said this week. “Everybody knows that. We have a different team now, so we’re going to focus on this week.”
Said senior tight end Jeb Blazevich: “Honestly, I think I’ve repressed that from my memory. I’m trying not to remember.”
Georgia ranks 10th nationally in rushing offense with a healthy 282.9 yards per game. That average is on pace to be the program’s highest since the 1985 Bulldogs produced a 295.3-yard clip per game on the ground, with last year’s Bulldogs having averaged 191.2 rushing yards a contest.
Last year’s Bulldogs also suffered several rungame stalls, managing just 95 rushing yards against Missouri and 75 against Vanderbilt before the debacle against Florida. Georgia’s lowest rushing output this season is 185 yards, which occurred in the 20-19 win at Notre Dame on Sept. 9.
“The plays are essentially the same,” Blazevich said when asked about the improvement. “It’s just the technique and working at it and being able to have those wrinkles with the fly-motions and that kind of stuff. We’ve got tiny little wrinkles here and there, and another big thing is our passing game.
“People have to respect the pass, and I think that’s given us more success on the ground.”
Georgia’s passing game under Jake From has averaged 171.4 yards per game, which is behind last year’s 193.5-yard clip with Jacob Eason, but the Bulldogs have not needed to throw during six of the seven fourth quarters this season.
Saturday will be the final opportunity for Georgia tailbacks Nick Chubb and Sony Michel to top the Gators. Chubb had 156 yards on 21 carries as a freshman during the 38-20 loss to Florida in 2014, but he lost a fumble in the third quarter as the Gators were taking control.
Chubb missed the game two years ago with torn knee ligaments and was held to 20 yards on nine carries last October.
Michel’s career stats against the Gators consist of 16 carries for 47 yards. He fractured his hand early in the 27-3 loss two years ago but continued to play.
Producing some enhanced rushing numbers is an obvious objective this week, but second-year coach Kirby Smart knows that’s easier said than done. The Gators held Texas A&M’s tandem of Keith Ford and Trayveon Williams to a combined 19 carries for 40 yards on Oct. 14, and they limited LSU’s Derrius Guice to 50 yards on 17 carries the week before, when the Gators were burned more by jet sweeps.
“They have a tremendous front this year,” Smart said. “Last year they probably had more depth and more guys up there, but they still have a quick, athletic front. They get off the ball really well. It will be a challenge, but it’s hard to run the ball in the SEC.
“It’s something you have to be committed to. You have to do it a lot. You have to try to wear people down. We’ll find it tough sledding, I’m sure.”
Odds and ends
The Bulldogs worked out Tuesday for two hours. … Junior defensive back Rashad Roundtree has yet to play this season due to a concussion, so he has been assisting, Smart said, with hopes of returning soon. … Smart on the addition of an early signing period in December: “I think it’s going to be very stressful twice as opposed to being very stressful once.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423757-6524.