At first glance, Saturday afternoon’s college football matchup between No. 10 Georgia and unranked Tennessee looks like a sure victory for the Bulldogs. After all, the visiting Volunteers come into their meeting with Georgia with a losing record at 2-3, and their latest win was an unimpressive 13-9 triumph over Northern Illinois. But the Tennessee team that shows up in Athens on Saturday will be a tougher one to beat than the Volunteer squad that has played over the first five games of the season. The main reason for that is that Tennessee will have the services of their All-SEC punter Britton Colquitt for the first time this season. “He’s one of the best punters in the SEC as well as the nation,” Georgia punter Brian Mimbs said. “He’s consistent; he’s got a strong leg.”
Colquitt served a five-game suspension because of a February DUI arrest, which was his fourth alcohol-related incident since being at Tennessee. The Volunteers special teams were inconsistent without Colquitt. Their 27-24 loss to UCLA featured the first blocked punt for a touchdown allowed in the Phillip Fulmer era, and though backup Chad Cunningham was instrumental in the win over Auburn, Northern Illinois also blocked a Tennessee punt. The Volunteers currently rank 115th in the nation in net punting and 113th in punt-return yardage defense. “[Colquitt] can make a huge difference,” Mimbs said. “Look at last year. There are a couple of balls that he punted out of bounds that were 50-plus yards that (last year’s punt returner) Mikey (Henderson) never even had a chance to get his hands on.”
While Tennessee is looking to get a boost, Georgia will look to continue what has been a solid year for its special teams. The Bulldogs have been terrific at blocking punts, have held their own in kick coverage and excelled in their return units, as they rank third nationally in punt-return average at 21.7. Cornerback Prince Miller is the latest Bulldog to impress in the return game. His 92-yard punt return touchdown versus Alabama is the second-longest punt return in school history. It was the junior’s first chance to return punts in college and he has gotten a few more reps in that capacity in practice. “I’m just taking it as it comes. Whenever they need me, I’ll be back there,” Miller said.
However, one area of special teams that could cause the Bulldogs’ trepidation heading into the Tennessee game is their punt protection. The Volunteers have blocked a Bulldog punt in each of the last two years. “We’re working really hard on protection, making sure we get plenty of hang time [and] making sure we put our defense in good field position,” Mimbs said. “It’s definitely a challenge.”
That Georgia defense will be facing a Tennessee offense that features a new starter at quarterback in Nick Stephens. Stephens got his first start in the Northern Illinois game, completing 11 of 19 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown in place of Jonathon Crompton. Crompton was benched thanks to the Volunteers’ slow offensive start. Tennessee is 98th nationally in passing and 106th in scoring. Those are more numbers that might suggest an easy Georgia win, but don’t tell that to Bulldog defensive coordinator Willie Martinez. “[Tennessee is] a solid, physical football team that runs the ball pretty well,” Martinez said. “They’re a couple of plays from being 4-1 and possibly 5-0.”
Also, Martinez is not concerned about his unit overlooking the Volunteers. “I think the last two times our defense has played them that’s (cause for) focus enough,” Martinez said. “Our guys know we haven’t played well against them, that’s motivation enough.”
Indeed, Tennessee has put up big numbers on Georgia recently, scoring 35 points against the Bulldogs last season and 51 points in 2006. This year, Martinez wants to see his defense play better early on against the Volunteers. “We got to start better. We didn’t start well the last two times we played them,” he said.
If Georgia’s defense is to get a good start on Saturday, they will do so without starting middle linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who is out with an injured knee. The Bulldogs do have some good news on the injury front, as they are getting defensive end Roderick Battle back from a neck sprain and reserve safety Quintin Banks will see his first action of 2008 after returning from knee surgery. “Anytime you get guys back, it’s going to help you because it gives you depth,” Martinez said. “And getting somebody back like Rod Battle and Quintin Banks, who have experience and good leadership skills, helps your football team.”
The news is even better for the Bulldog offense, as tailback Knowshon Moreno is recovered from a sore elbow and fullback Brannan Southerland is healthy enough to see some action on offense for the first time year. “Thank God we had the open date and it gave [Moreno] the chance to recover,” said Georgia running backs coach Tony Ball. “He hasn’t shown any affects of being hampered.”
When Moreno is not in the game, Georgia is pleased with backup tailbacks Caleb King and Richard Samuel. “We feel comfortable with both of those guys,” Ball said. “They both know they’ve got to be ready to play, because they’re one play from being on the field.”
Still, Moreno’s presence will be key, as the Volunteer defense is ranked among the nation’s best. Tennessee is in top 26 in the country in five major defensive categories. “They got big athletic guys that can run,” Ball said. “Tennessee’s always going to have great players, and you put those players in a system that allows them to use their athletic ability, you get great defense.”
Georgia is 10-0 in games in which Moreno carries the ball 15 times or more, but Tennessee limited him to 30 yards on 13 carries a year ago. If Moreno carries the ball around 20 times against the Volunteers, expect the game to go in the Bulldogs’ favor. If he carries it less, special teams play will be even more important than it already is and Tennessee will have a chance to win a low-scoring game. But, Georgia is itching to play this game thanks to its last two meetings with the Volunteers and the recent Alabama loss. Even if Tennessee is in the game late, the Bulldogs seem prepared to fight tooth-and-nail for a win.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
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