Georgia Football: Bulldogs Secondary Must Make Statement Against Tennessee

Saturday afternoon's game against the Tennessee Volunteers could mark a lot of firsts for the Georgia Bulldogs.  If things go according to plan, the Dawgs' first of seven straight conference games will also yield the team's first SEC win of the season.  Along the way, Georgia could cap off its first five-game winning streak against the Vols since the early 1900s.

But if the Dawgs continue struggling against opposing passing attacks, crossing into new terrain may be more theoretical than practical.  

The Bulldogs defensive secondary must make a statement against Tennessee.

Consistently Inconsistent

After a strong second-half performance against Clemson in Week 1, new defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt was quick to dismiss the buzz surrounding his defense.  "For the first game, it's a starting point," Pruitt said according to Seth Emerson of the Ledger-Enquirer.  "We're not satisfied with how we played defensively at all."

While fans vehemently disagreed with such a macabre disposition following a shutout over the season opener's final two quarters, Pruitt was proved right—in the worst of ways—in Georgia's second game of the season.  

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After holding Clemson to just 22 yards in the second half, Georgia was torched time and time again by South Carolina quarterback Dylan Thompson, as he racked up 240 passing yards and threw three touchdown passes in the first half.  With the front seven unable to push around the Gamecock offensive line, Thompson had time to exploit vast openings in the middle of the field as he found wide open receivers repeatedly.

Georgia's offensive play-calling was far from perfect against South Carolina, and special teams play was disastrous in Georgia 38-35 loss, but as Pruitt recognized to Gentry Estes of Dawgs247, "You score 35 points, you're supposed to win."

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Georgia won big last week, outscoring Troy, 66-0.  But early on, the Bulldogs secondary struggled against the Trojans.  On the opening drive, Dontreal Pruitt, who started in place of an injured Brandon Silvers, completed four of his first five passes for 53 yards and drove an outmatched team to the 9-yard line before a field-goal attempt was unsuccessful. 

And yet, as bad as Georgia's secondary has been at times—allowing a team like Troy to march at will—it has also had its moments and shown flashes of improvement.  

South Carolina focused on the run in the second half, but the Gamecocks were still held to a meager 31 passing yards over that period.  Pruitt threw for 58 yards on his first five attempts, but Troy completed just 14 of its final 29 pass attempts while racking up 3.8 yards per attempt thereafter.  And again, the hype following the Clemson game was founded upon a stellar defensive performance to close out the contest.

Further, even when Georgia's secondary has struggled, stark contrasts are already on display under Pruitt's watchful eye.  

Most noticeable is the newfound emphasis on forcing turnovers.  Aggressive play against the pass and tackling in swarms has already paid off for Georgia—particularly the secondary.  Three of Georgia's four takeaways this season have been the result of opportunistic play by members of the defensive backfield.

Less obvious to observers may be Pruitt's ability to adjust schemes and alignments.  While it's apparent that teams are capable of having early success against Georgia's defense, it should not be overlooked that the pathways to that success are often blocked by game's end.

Put it All Together

At some point, however, Georgia's defense—its secondary in particular—needs to put everything together.  

Turnovers are welcomed by players, coaches, the Georgia offense and fans alike.  But the Bulldogs should not be dependent on turnovers as a bailout solution.  Nor should the Dawgs expect them as a reward for overly aggressive play.

Second-half adjustments are a fantastic calling card for this unit and a welcomed variation from what was seen under former coordinator Todd Grantham.  But, it's not always necessary that schematic alterations come at the expense of early drives.

John Bazemore/Associated Press

And there is an element of timing that makes the need for a refined and complete effort by the secondary all the more urgent.  Georgia knows it's capable of stopping the run, but with the bulk of its conference schedule just around the corner, the Bulldogs must learn to consistently stop the pass.

Furthermore, Tennessee offers a perfect opportunity for this secondary to make a statement.  

Volunteer quarterback Justin Worley has been adequate at best this season.  The majority of his completions have come on shorter passes, and his six touchdowns in three games are not nearly as noteworthy as his three interceptions and nine sacks.  Worley, in other words, does not appear primed for a breakout game against Georgia.

He won't be helped by his offensive line, either.  Last year, with a veteran line in front of him, Worley was sacked just six times all season.  With an inexperienced unit playing in front of him, that number has already been surpassed in Tennessee's first three games.  If Georgia's secondary struggles, it won't likely be a result of a lack of pressure up front.  Bulldog pass-rushers like Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins should have a field day on Saturday.

Expectations and Implications

Against Troy, a host of defensive backs saw significant playing time for Georgia.  For the most part, the on-field product looked similar regardless of who was on the field.  Accordingly, expect a lot of Bulldogs to see playing time against Tennessee.

With frequent substitution and relentless pressure up front, this secondary should remain fresh against the Vols, and if Worley plays as expected and remains under duress, this will be a big day for the cornerbacks and safeties.  To be sure, Tennessee has a slew of talented receivers led by Marquez North, but this improving Georgia secondary should be up for the task.

As senior safety Corey Moore told the media Tuesday, per GeorgiaDogs.com, the secondary is ready. Though he added: "It should be a challenge this week to make great plays on the defensive side against their offense."

With six more SEC opponents looming, that readiness could not come at a better time.  

Georgia's secondary will make a statement against Tennessee.  The hope for Georgia fans, however, is that this game is just another in a series of stepping stones on the way to something much, much better.

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand, and all stats courtesy of Sports-Reference.com.