After two rather comfortable wins to start their season, the No. 2-ranked Georgia Bulldogs will face their toughest test to date when they open their SEC schedule at Eastern Division foe South Carolina on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. “I look at it as the start of the Southeastern Conference race,” said Georgia head coach Mark Richt. “There is an [aura] about this game that feels like the first game of the year again.”
Adding to the Bulldogs’ anticipation is the fact that this will be their first road game of the season, and if previous trips to William-Brice Stadium are any indication, the Gamecock faithful will try their best to give their team an advantage. “We know they’re extremely loud,” Richt said. “That stadium gets rocking and I think you can literally see the thing sway.”
South Carolina comes into the game with a 1-1 record and 0-1 mark in the conference after losing their conference opener to Vanderbilt 24-17. Still, as they showed last year with a 16-12 win over Georgia, and as they showed in 2005 and 2006 in holding the Bulldog offense under to 20 points, they have the talent to play the Bulldogs close. South Carolina’s stout defense is one reason why previous games with the Gamecocks have been close, and the Gamecocks have brought in former Mississippi State coordinator Ellis Johnson to coordinate that side of the ball.“There’s no drop off,” said Georgia associate head coach and wide receivers coach John Eason. “They’re even better in terms of what they’re doing.”
That defense is particularly strong in the secondary with cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and safety Emanuel Cook leading the way for a unit that returns all four starters. “They’re very good,” Eason said. “They’re a physical group.”
In the front seven, former North Cobb High star Eric Norwood looks to be a factor for the Gamecocks. He had a team-leading six sacks a year ago. Johnson is playing Norwood at defensive end and linebacker. “I don’t think we’ll have any special plan but to block him at the position he’s playing,” Richt said.
When South Carolina has the ball, Georgia (2-0) may see either Chris Smelley or Tommy Beecher at quarterback. Beecher opened the season as the starter before giving way to Smelley after he threw three interceptions in the first three quarters against N.C. State. Smelley started the Vanderbilt game and threw for 233 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. Whoever plays quarterback for the Gamecocks will not be the focus of the Bulldogs defense. Georgia will be trying to stay a step ahead of the guy who is the architect of the South Carolina offense, Gamecock head coach Steve Spurrier. “That’s one thing about Coach Spurrier,” Richt said. “He’s going to get those guys to run his system. Rarely will he change what he does for a [quarterback].”
There is also a chance that redshirt freshman Stephen Garcia might see time under center for South Carolina. Garcia is the most heralded of the three quarterbacks, but off-the-field incidents have delayed his chances for playing time. Already 0-1 in league play, Saturday might be the time in which Spurrier turns to him. “We’ve just got to be prepared for everything,” said Bulldog safety and South Carolina native CJ Byrd.
Also, Kade Weston will return at defensive tackle, seeing spot duty for Georgia after missing the first two games with a sprained knee. Darius Dewberry will also see his first action of the season after serving a two-game suspension. He will share playing time with Akeem Dent at SAM linebacker.
With the passing games either facing a stiff challenge or trying to find itself, the game will likely come down to who runs the ball best. Knowshon Moreno will lead the way for the Georgia ground game, and he is off to a fantastic start. He’s only carried the ball 26 times this season, but already has 226 yards and six touchdowns. Mike Davis will lead the Gamecocks rushing attack. He has 181 yards and a touchdown on 32 carries thus far this season.
Last year Georgia had success moving the ball on South Carolina but could not put the ball into the end zone, settling for four field goals. Look for the Bulldogs to move the ball once again, but this year finish off drives with the running of Moreno, Caleb King and Richard Samuel. South Carolina, as usual, will be ready to play, but they may not have the personnel to knock off a more mature Georgia team this season.
Butler can be reached at jbutler@scoreatl.com.
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