Florida football: Know your enemy – Georgia Bulldogs

Florida football will take the field for 97th time against the Georgia Bulldogs on Saturday in the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

The two schools don’t agree on much. While Florida football says Georgia leads the series 51-43-2, the Bulldogs say the series is 52-43-2.

Georgia’s error comes in counting a game played in Macon in 1904, however, the Florida football program did not exist until 1906. Instead of admitting the error, Georgia continues to insist that the game count toward the series record.

Despite the disagreement over reality, both schools did manage to agree upon renewing the series in Jacksonville until at least 2023.

Last 5 Meetings

Record: Florida leads 3-2

2018 – Georgia 36-17
2017 – Georgia 42-7
2016 – Florida 24-10
2015 – Florida 27-3
2014 – Florida 38-20

Opponent Season Summary

Opponent Record: 6-1 overall, 3-1 in SEC play

Game #1 – W 30-6 at Vanderbilt

QB Jake Fromm (JR) went 15-23 for 156 yards and a touchdown and RB D’Andre Swift (JR) ran for 147 yards. Defensively, the Dawgs shut down Vandy’s offense, only allowing 225 total yards of offense. The Commodores managed only five plays over 10 yards on the night.

Game #2 – W 63-17 vs Murray State

The Bulldogs started slowly but exploded for 35 points in the second quarter to take a 42-7 lead into the half. RB Zamir White (RS FR) led the team in rushing with 72 yards on 8 carries and a touchdown on the day. WR George Pickens (FR) scored his first touchdown on a 15-yard pass from Fromm in the second quarter.

Game #3 – W 55-0 vs Arkansas State

Georgia put up 656 yards of offense in an easy win. Fromm passed for 279 yards and three touchdowns, Swift only had nine rushing attempts for 76 yards, and WR Dominick Blaylock (FR) led the team in receiving with 4 receptions for 112 yards. The defense put on a show holding the Red Wolves offense to 81 total yards in the first half, including 11 yards in the first quarter. Arkansas State only managed 220 total yards of offense for the game.

Game #4 – W 23-17 vs #7 Notre Dame

The Irish took a 10-7 lead, but the Georgia defense stayed stingy throughout and led the Bulldogs to a primetime CBS victory. The defense came up with two interceptions and held Notre Dame to only 321 total yards. Fromm was an efficient 20-26 on the night for 187 total yards and one touchdown, but the offense took a while to get going. Swift finished with 18 rushes for 98 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

Game #5 – W 43-14 at Tennessee

Georgia traveled to Neyland Stadium after a bye week. The Bulldogs held the ball for nearly seven minutes in their opening possession before punching it in on a Swift run. Tennessee played a tough first half before being shut out in the second half. The Vols only rushed for 70 yards but passed for close to 300 yards on the night. K Rodrigo Blankenship made three field goals and four extra points.

Game #6 – L 20-17 (OT) vs South Carolina

The Bulldogs were steadily outplayed by Carolina in what will likely go down as the biggest upset in college football this season. South Carolina only put up 297 total yards of offense and gave up 468 yards on defense, but thanks to three Fromm interceptions and one fumble recovery, Will Muschamp was able to notch a win over his alma mater. Was this game a fluke or was it a sign that Georgia head coach Kirby Smart needs to open up the offense?

Game #7 – W 21-0 vs Kentucky

A scoreless first half in a torrential downpour did nothing to calm the concerns of an upset fanbase. Kentucky started WR Lynn Bowden at quarterback and managed to pass for only 17 total yards on the night. That sounds weak, but when you consider that Fromm only passed for 35 yards on 12 attempts, it should give some perspective as to just how ugly this game turned out. The Dawgs rushed the ball 43 times for 235 yards and finally scored in the middle of the third quarter on a 39-yard Swift run.

Head Coach

Since the Bulldogs hired Alabama defensive coordinator and UGA grad, Kirby Smart, after the 2015 season, Georgia has been a regular in the College Football Playoff conversation.

Smart is 38-11 and 22-9 in SEC play (includes ’17/’18 SECCGs and ’18 CFPNC).

In 2017, Smart won an SEC title in only his second season and led the Bulldogs to the National Championship game after a win in the Rose Bowl against Heisman-winner QB Baker Mayfield and the Oklahoma Sooners.

Last season, Georgia won the SEC East for the second year in a row. The Dawgs blew a late lead against Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and settled for a berth in the Sugar Bowl.

Smart has been one of the best recruiters in America as a head coach. Georgia has finished in the top three of the recruiting rankings in each of the last three seasons and that talent has translated into a bump in performance on the field.

Georgia’s loss to South Carolina a few weeks back was Smart’s first loss to an SEC East opponent since 2016.

Before Georgia, Smart spent nine seasons in Tuscaloosa under Nick Saban.

Offensive Outlook

Key players:

• QB Jake Fromm (JR)
• RB D’Andre Swift (JR)
• RB Brian Herrien (SR)
• WR George Pickens (FR)
• LT Andrew Thomas (JR)
• LG Solomon Kindley (JR)

Quarterback

QB Jake Fromm (JR) is a three-year starter and considered to be one of the best quarterbacks in college football.

Fromm has run two five-star quarterbacks out of town and posted a 29-6 record during his time in Athens during his FBS-leading 35 straight starts.

The junior has passed for 1,406 total yards, nine touchdowns, and three interceptions. His 71% completion rate (123-174 passing) is currently the 8th best completion rate in college football.

Georgia currently ranks third in the SEC in Scoring Offense with 36.0 ppg.

QB Stetson Bennett (RS SO) will serve as the backup.

Running Back

According to the University of Georgia Communications Department, the team with the most rushing yards has won 13 consecutive times in this series. This is a concerning stat since Georgia is more committed to the run than a more flexible Gators offense.

Also a concern, Georgia RB D’Andre Swift (JR).

Swift rushed for 1,049 yards and 10 touchdowns last year in only five starts. This season, he has rushed for 760 yards on 110 attempts and seven touchdowns.

The Gators had issues with Swift last season, allowing the running back to roll up a 104-yard performance.

Swift may be the leader of the pack, but Georgia has a deep stable of backs at their disposal.

RB Brian Herrien (SR), RB Zamir White (RS FR), RB James Cook (SO), and RB Kenny McIntosh (FR) will all help carry the load in the running game.

Herrien and White will be the first up to spell Swift.

Herrien has 53 carries for 312 yards and five touchdowns while White has 39 carries for 249 yards and 2 touchdowns.

McIntosh has 13 rushes on the year, but he’s averaging 9.8 yards per carry and has one touchdown.

Cook only has 11 carries, but averages 9.9 yards per carry and has two touchdowns on the year, but is a little more active in the passing game with 13 catches for 87 yards. Outside of Cook and Swift, who also has 13 catches for 148 yards, the other running backs are not very active in the passing game.

Wide-Receiver/Tight End

WR George Pickens (FR) from Hoover, AL, enters the Florida game as Georgia’s leading receiver. The 6’3″, 190 LB wide receiver has 23 catches for 318 yards and two touchdowns on the season.

Graduate transfer, WR Lawrence Cager, has been a strong contributor since his arrival from the Miami Hurricanes. Cager has hauled in 19 passes for 245 yards for three touchdowns and is coming off of a rib injury that caused him to miss the Kentucky game.

Outside of the Kentucky rain game, WR Demetris Robertson (JR) has posted multiple catches each week. The Savannah, GA, native is the team’s leading receiver with 18 receptions for 205 yards and three touchdowns.

WR Dominick Blaylock is a 6’1″, 195 LB true freshman that has seen action in six games this season. Blaylock has 11 catches for 206 yards on the season and two touchdowns.

WR Tyler Simmons (SR) will also provide support but has only posted 10 catches for 89 yards on the season.

Georgia uses its tight ends mainly for blocking purposes.

TE Eli Wolf, a graduate transfer from Tennessee, has 9 catches for 116 yards and TE Charlie Woerner (SR) only has 4 catches for 15 yards.

Offensive Line

According to the Georgia Sports Communications Department, Georgia’s starters average 6’5″ and 328 LBS, making it the biggest offensive line in school history.

The offensive line has helped pave the way for the Dawgs’ SEC-leading 237.1 rushing yards per game.

Four of five starters return off of last year’s unit.

Left Tackle – #71 Andrew Thomas (6’5″, 320 LB, JR)

• All-American in 2018.
• SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week in Week 1.

Left Guard – #66 Solomon Kindley (6’4″, 335 LB, JR)

• Jacksonville, FL, native (Raines High School).
• Outland Trophy Watch List, Sports Illustrated Preseason All-American Second Team, Preseason All-SEC Team Offense.

Center – #55 Trey Hill (6’4″, 330 LB, SO)

• First year starting at center.
• Started last four games of 2018 at right guard.

Right Guard – Two options listed

#77 Cade Mays (6’6″, 318 LB, SO)

• Started all seven games and seen playing time at multiple OL positions.
• Started three games at right guard, two at right tackle, and two at left guard.
• 2018 Football Writer’s Association of America Freshman All-America Team and Coaches Freshman All-SEC Team.

#74 Ben Cleveland (6’6″, 335 LB, JR)

• Started last four games at right guard, but seen action in all seven games.
• Missed six games due to injury in 2018.

Right Tackle – Two options listed

#79 Isaiah Wilson (6’7″, 340 LB, RS SO)

• Started in four games, missed two due to injury. Outland Trophy Watch List.
• Preseason All-SEC  Second Team Offense.
• 2018 Football Writer’s Association of America and Coaches Freshman All-SEC Team.

#69 Jamaree Salyer (6’4″, 325 LB, SO)

• Started at right tackle against Murray State and has seen action in six of seven games.
• Played in 13 of 14 games as a reserve OL in 2018.

Defensive Breakdown

Key players:

• DT Tyler Clark (SR)
• JACK Azeez Ojulari (RS FR)
• WILL Monty Rice (JR)
• S J.R. Reed (SR)
• S Richard LeCounte (JR)

The Dawgs lead the SEC in Scoring Defense (10.6 ppg), Rushing Defense (85.7 ypg), and Total Defense (266.7 ypg). Georgia has allowed only 74 points on the season.

Defensive Line

Georgia’s defensive front has been stout against the run in 2019.

Only Kentucky has topped 150 yards on the ground against the Dawgs and Georgia has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season.

DT Tyler Clark (SR) has 14 total tackles to go along with 3.5 sacks and DT Devonte Wyatt (JR) has 13 tackles and no sacks. Both are both listed as starters at defensive tackle.

NOSE Michael Barnett (SR) has 17 tackles on the year with three quarterback pressures and NOSE Jordan Davis (SO) are both listed as starters at nose tackle, but Barnett should see the bulk of the playing time.

DE Malik Herring (JR) has nine tackles and zero sacks.

DE David Marshall (SR) will also rotate in for the Bulldogs.

Linebackers

The Bulldogs will bring in a deep group of linebackers into Saturday’s matchup.

SAM Walter Grant (JR) started eight games last season and finished with 21 tackles.

For those of you who watch Last Chance U on Netflix, you may recognize SAM Jermaine Johnson (JR) from last season’s Independence Community College. The top-rate JUCO defensive end has played in each game this season and has eight tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and 1.5 sacks.

JACK Azeez Ojulari (RS FR) was the first freshman captain in the Kirby Smart era and has recovered nicely from a high school injury that caused a delayed start to his redshirt year in 2018.

JACK Nolan Smith (FR), at one point, considered the nation’s top recruit last year, brought a five-star resume to Athens from IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL, and has 10 QB pressures to go along with eight stops so far this season.

MIKE Tae Crowder (SR) and WILL Monty Rice (JR) each posted a career-high with 12 tackles against South Carolina. Crowder led the team in tackles against Notre Dame has scored on a fumble return against Tennessee

MIKE Quay Walker (SO) and WILL Nakobe Dean (FR) will also rotate in for Georgia. Dean forced a fumble against Kentucky last week.

Secondary

Senior safety J.R. Reed has 34 tackles on the season, to go along with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and one interception.

S Richard LeCounte (JR) is the team’s fourth-leading tackler with 29 stops.

CB Eric Stokes (RS SO) has started in six games and leads the team with eight pass breakups.

DB Mark Webb (JR) lines up at the STAR position for the Bulldogs and played in all 14 games last year.

DB Divaad Wilson from Miami, FL, has also seen starts at the STAR position. Wilson redshirted in 2018 but did see playing time in the Sugar Bowl loss against Texas. The redshirt freshman has one interception.

DB Tyson Campbell (SO) from Plantation, FL, has missed the last three games but has been practicing this week.

DB Tyrique McGhee (SR), DB Tyrique Stevenson (FR), and DB DJ Daniel (SO) have filled in for some snaps during Campbell’s absence.

Special Teams

K Rodrigo Blankenship (SR) has been a steady presence for Georgia since 2016. He is 184-184 on extra points in his career and 65-78 on field goals with a career-long 55-yarder coming in a clutch situation in the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma.

The bespectacled Blankenship is the number four all-time scoring leader in UGA history with 379 total points which is why his missed field in double overtime against Carolina a few weeks back was such a shocking event.

P Jake Camarda (SO) is averaging 47.8 yards per punt this season. Camarda has 22 punts this season and notched a career-long of 66 yards against South Carolina, one of eight punts of 60 yards or more.

No. 6 Florida football will take on No. 8 Georgia at 3:30 p.m.