Georgia vs. Tennessee: Bulldogs' Scouting Skinny on the Volunteers

Just one year ago this weekend, first-year University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley led his charges south from Knoxville to his hometown of Athens, Georgia, to take on a surreal and bittersweet challenge.

His coon skin-clad Vols took the field in Sanford Stadium, a place where he grew up roaming the sidelines between the legendary hedges, to take on the Georgia Bulldogs, a team that his father had coached for two-and-a-half decades.

Dooley's homecoming did not have the storybook ending, however, that Dooley, and perhaps his mother, Barbara, hoped that it would. Georgia defeated the prodigal son and his mountain boys, 41-14, that day.

The win set began an uphill climb whereby the Bulldogs, who came into the game 1-4, clawed their way back to .500 by regular season's end.

For Tennessee, the loss was the second consecutive one in a four game mid-season slide. The Vols finished strong, however, and salvaged a break even regular season themselves

This week's meeting at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville is crucial to both teams in terms of keeping their SEC East title hopes alive.

Series History: Tennessee leads 21-17-2. The Vols are 11-8-1 in Knoxville. The Volunteers are 4-6 versus Mark Richt's teams. 2010 Results: Georgia 41, Tennessee 14

2011 Record: 3-1, 0-1 SEC

Coach: Derek Dooley, 2nd year, 9-8. 

Recruiting Class Ranking: 13th/Scout, 15th/Rivals; 13th/ESPN

Wins: 9/3 Montana (3-2 Big Sky) 42-16; 9/10 Cincinnati (4-1 Big East) 45-23; 10/1 Buffalo (1-4 MAC) 41-10.

Losses: 9/17 @ Florida (4-1, 2-1 SEC) 33-23

Vs SEC: 0-1 (Loss at Florida on 9/17); 5th in SEC East

FBS Rankings and Comparison (120 Teams Ranked):

• Passing Yardage - 11th/336.5 yards/game (vs. Georgia Pass Efficiency - 11th/ 99.7)
• Rushing Yardage - 98th/111 yards/game (vs. Georgia Rushing Defense -32nd/107 yards/game)
• Total Offense - 31st/441.5 yards/game (vs. Georgia Total Defense - T 7th/258.6)
• Team Scoring - 20th/37.8 points/game (vs. Georgia Scoring Against 31st/20.6)
• Rushing Defense - 56th/139.75 yard/game (vs. Georgia Rushing Yardage 46th/176.2)
• Passing Efficiency Defense - 39th/128.86  (vs. Georgia Passing 56th/237.6 yards/game; 62%)
• Total Defense - 35th/338.5 yards/game (vs. Georgia Total Offense - T 52nd/413.8 yards/game)
• Scoring Against - 30th/20.5 points/game (vs. Georgia Team Scoring 34th/34.6)

Overall Assessment

 As is often the case when a new coach takes over a program, Tennessee is relying largely upon on underclassmen and is building from the bottom up. In sum, they are a very young team. Talented, but young.

Youth has advantages in that it often refuses to see or allow obstacles to stand in its oath, so it just moves forward full force. But youth also has its disadvantages. Sometimes, as Dirty Harry used to say, "A man's got to know his limitations."

Sometimes, being young is like being on a wooden roller coaster. There are big, fast and exciting ups and downs, unexpected twists and turns, and—well, um, intermittent pain all along the way.

Offense

Ideally, Tennessee would like to depend upon a pro-style running attack. There is just one problem. They don't run the ball that well. Their lead back is senior Tauren Poole of Stephens County (GA) High School.

Poole is a journeyman back who averages 79.5 yards per game. He simply lacks the speed to turn mediocre runs into big gains. When running, Tennessee largely employs a traditional fullback and utilizes lots of isolations.

As a result of their rushing issues, the Tennessee offense has gravitated toward the pass, partly out of necessity and partly because they have a very talented young quarterback and gifted stable of receivers. Accordingly, the Vols primarily use the run to keep the defense honest against the pass.

The Vols QB is 6'6" sophomore Tyler Bray. On the season, the lanky Bray has completed 68.5 percent of his throws for 1,328 yards, 14 touchdowns and but two picks. Though not very mobile, Bray has a strong and accurate bazooka arm.

ESPN.com ranked him as the fifth most likely Heisman candidate in the SEC and suggested that all he needed to catapult himself into national notice is a signature win. Perhaps Saturday's game is his opportunity to achieve that. When passing, UT will use a lot of three- and five-step drop from under center and will work out of the shotgun.

Before losing wide receiver Justin Hunter to an ACL against Florida, receiver was a major strength for the Vols. Erstwhile Georgia commit Da'rick Rogers is a stud and is now Bray's primary target, hauling in almost seven catches per contest. He leads a cadre of other young, small, but fleet receivers in trying to fill Hunter's void in hauling in Bray's cannon shots.

The offensive line consists of four sophomores and a junior, which are backed up primarily by freshmen. This may also help to account for their ineffectiveness rushing the ball. They primarily employ zone blocking schemes. They have given up seven sacks for a total of 56 yards, or 1.5 per game.

In terms of offensive efficiency, the Vols have 103 first downs, almost 26 per game and have dominated time of possession, controlling the ball over 35 minutes per game. They convert on 3rd down 62 percent of the time. Once in the red zone, they are highly likely to score, converting over 90 percent of the time. They score touchdowns on an impressive 72 percent of their red zone opps. 

Strategy vs UGA

 Given Georgia's new-found effectiveness against the run, look for the Vols to air it out and put the Georgia secondary to a test of fire. So far this season, the Georgia secondary has shown vast improvement, so Saturday should provide some real insight into just how far they have come. Look for the Dawgs to apply constant pressure to the young offensive line and the somewhat immobile Bray.

Defense

While the Vols field more experience on defense, starting a couple of seniors on the defensive line and three juniors in the secondary, youth is again a key issue on the defensive side at key positions. Two of UT's linebackers are true freshmen, and as in any defense, the guys in the middle are critical to the unit's success.

Tennessee employs a 4-3 scheme, but like sophisticated defensive packages today, the application of alternative coverages frequently morphs them into a 3-4.

Their leading tacklers are the three linebackers, Austin Johnson, Curt Maggitt and AJ Johnson. To date, the defense has 24 tackles for losses, six sacks, four fumble recoveries (only one for return) and but one interception. Despite the paucity of interceptions, Vols' opponents are only completing 54 percent of their passes.

While their per game rushing and passing totals are solid, the Volunteers, due to inexperience, missed tackles and blown coverages have managed to give up at least one big play in each of their games. Against a big play oriented Georgia attack, this could be an Achilles heel.

Strategy vs. UGA

 Given their experience in the secondary and their stinginess in allowing completions and yards per reception (6.6), it would seem that Tennessee would be inclined to force the 'Dawgs to the air.

This could be a problematic strategy, however, in that, against Florida and an experienced SEC quarterback in John Brantley, the Vols yielded 288 yards and three touchdowns. In Aaron Murray, Tennessee faces one of Bray's closest competitors.

Look for Georgia, on the other side of the coin, to pound away at UT's front and force those young linebackers into dicey situations against the run and the pass, forcing them to have to cover the likes of Orson Charles and Aron White in the seams and Bruce Figgins and Isaiah Crowell coming out of the backfield.

Perhaps Tennessee's best strategy is to batten down the hatches and weather the first half against the Bulldogs until the Georgia offense begins to fizzle and fade, as it has tended to do in the second half so far this season.

Special Teams

 This facet of the game could be a critical breaking point for the Vols.

In the kicking game, Tennessee's youth is again evident. Freshman Matt Darr is primarily holding down the punting duites and is averaging but 37.7 yards per kick. Beyond that issue, Tennessee has already had two punts blocked thus far, one coming against Buffalo last week.

Sophomore Michael Palardy is the placekicker. He has connected on 4-of-6 attempts, with the longest being 37 yards. He missed on his only attempt beyond the 40-yard line. He also handles kickoffs and tends to kick short, having only had three kicks for touchbacks out of 27 boots to date. Georgia and Brandon Boykin could parlay this into excellent field position.

Due to fumble-itis and poor decision-making, Tennessee has employed a number of receivers on kickoff returns. Freshman Devin Young looked impressive last week and may be handling the job against Georgia. On punt returns, the same problem of inconsistency has existed, and once again, Young has shown the most flair for being a threat.

Penalties

 Through five games, the Volunteers have been penalized just over six times per game for an average of 53 yards per contest.

Prognosis

In that the game is being played in Neyland along the Tennessee River, the Vols have the home field and crowd edge. For the 'Dawgs, it might be viewed their first "real" road challenge, given the Georgia Dome was filled with red, that Ole Miss is struggling and its venue and atmosphere was not a daunting as massive Neyland.

As mentioned, Georgia's secondary will receive a stiff challenge from the Vols passing attack. Bringing pressure from all angles and changing up coverages to keep Bray guessing are strategies that Todd Grantham will likely employ to neutralize this UT strength.

On the other side, Georgia should seek to exploit its size advantage along the offensive line of scrimmage versus Tennessee's smaller defensive front, pounding them between and off tackle, forcing their young LBs into difficult situations, and controlling the ball so that Bray and company, as well as their defensive compadres, remain on the sidelines. 

Between grinding out first downs and Drew Butler nukes, when not threatening the 'Dawgs need to keep the Vol offense pinned against its own goal line as their starting point all day.

As noted, special teams could be the tale of tape. Clearly, even factoring in Blair Walsh's slump, the Bulldogs should have the edge in the area and should parlay it into a few big plays that could turn the game in their favor.

Of the two, Georgia's schedule to date seems to be the stronger, and this experience could be to their advantage. 

Georgia's proclivity for wilting in the second half could prove problematic in the land of Rocky Top.

In sum, the game seems a toss-up. Georgia over the fighting Davy Crocketts by a field goal, but?