Georgia Football: How the Bulldogs Can Slow the Potent Georgia Tech Ground Game?

The Georgia Bulldogs have one of the most potent offenses in the country, and the reason for that is because they know how to run the ball. The Bulldogs are second in the SEC with 260 rushing yards per game, lead the conference with 34 rushing touchdowns and lead the SEC with 6.1 rushing yards per carry.

However, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets run the ball just a little better than the Bulldogs.

Powered by their option offense, the Yellow Jackets are fourth in the country with 327 yards per game, have also scored 34 touchdowns on the ground and also average around six yards per carry.

It’s safe to say the Bulldogs will have their hands full against the Yellow Jackets on Saturday, and in order to win, they will need to slow down Georgia Tech's ground attack.

How will UGA do it?

They most likely won’t completely shut down the ground game. The Yellow Jackets have had regular success running against Georgia since Paul Johnson took over in 2008. In fact, in the last two games these teams played against each other, Georgia Tech has rushed for over 550 yards.

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National rank for rushing offense: No. 1 - Georgia Southern No. 4 - Georgia Tech No. 13 - Georgia pic.twitter.com/L0sjpilwbf

— Radi Nabulsi (@RadiNabulsi) November 23, 2014"

The problem the Bulldogs have with the offense is that the triple-option offense commands defenders to stay with their responsibilities. The fact that the Bulldogs don’t see this offense all season long will have linebackers and defensive backs maintaining gaps and holding each offensive skill player in check.

The linebackers for Georgia have to be as sharp as they were against Auburn. The Tigers run more of a spread option, but both offenses can burn opposing defenses if a defender doesn’t play their responsibility.

Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

The Bulldogs held the Tigers to only 150 rushing yards, and they average 260 yards per game, which ranks first in the SEC. Linebackers Amarlo Herrera and Ramik Wilson were all over quarterback Nick Marshall and running back Cameron-Artis Payne all game long, and the Tigers never could get anything going on offense because of it.

However, the Yellow Jackets will have four players that will be able to run the ball at any given point. The three players the Bulldogs will focus on are quarterback Justin Thomas and B-backs Synjyn Days and Zach Laskey. All three players average five yards per carry, and they have scored a combined 15 touchdowns this season.  

The biggest thing the Bulldogs need to do is keep Thomas in front of them. As good as the other running backs are, Thomas is a playmaker and can make the big runs and complete key passes. Not only is he fourth in the ACC in rushing yards, he also has thrown for 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions.

The Bulldogs defense has improved since it lost to Florida, but the offense will play the biggest role in the team's success in stopping the Yellow Jackets' ground attack. The Bulldogs lead the SEC in scoring offense, and they are the only team in the conference to score over 400 points. The ground attack led by Nick Chubb has been strong, but Hutson Mason can throw when he needs to.

In fact, he leads the SEC in QB rating at 158.13. What's more, he has only thrown three interceptions, which also leads the conference.

The Bulldogs know that the Yellow Jackets will bring everything they have on Saturday, and they will be hit with some big runs. As long as they don’t make any mental mistakes on defense and play efficient on offense, the Bulldogs will come away with a win for the sixth consecutive year.  

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