Georgia vs. Tennessee: 5 Bulldogs Primed to Have a Breakout Game Against Vols

The Georgia Bulldogs come into Knoxville Saturday with a ton of young, inexperienced talent just itching to prove themselves. Some have won starting positions, while some have been forced into action because of injuries.

Regardless of how they find themselves on the field, these Dawgs have bite. Mark Richt’s highly touted 2011 recruiting class, unoriginally dubbed “The Dream Team,” has already had a huge impact on the Bulldog squad in the first half of the season.

Here is a list of five UGA players pumped, primed and ready to go out and have a breakout game against Tennessee in the Vols’ own backyard.

5. Blair Walsh

Blair Walsh doesn’t necessarily need a breakout game for his career, but perhaps he needs a refresher breakout game for the 2011 campaign.

Walsh has had plenty of fine moments in his Georgia career.  In 2008, he had a career high four field goals against, guess who, Tennessee. Walsh has a career-long 56-yard field goal, coming earlier this season against Coastal Carolina. He’s been named to UGA’s team of the decade, was a 2010 Lou Groza award semifinalist and was named to the 2011 preseason All-America First Team by Athlon Sports, CBSSports.com, Rivals.com and Sporting News.

Despite all that pedigree, Walsh has had — let’s be nice — a disappointing start to 2011. Walsh is 6 of 12 to start the season and has only one game out of the first five without a missed field goal (Walsh went 1-1 against Coastal Carolina).

To his credit, four of his six misses were from beyond 40 yards out, including a 54-yard missed attempt against Boise State. Still, it seems something has gotten into Walsh’s head and he’s just not the same kicker he was a year ago.

Georgia needs Walsh to get back on track right away. Should they continue, these missed field goals could easily cost the Bulldogs games going forward into the season.

Walsh needs to have a 2011 breakout game this weekend against Tennessee with no misses to get his confidence back and restore Georgia’s kicking game to an elite tandem, not just an elite punting unit. I believe he will.

4. Ray Drew

Well, Georgia fans, be careful what you wish for. Ray Drew is finally going to see some significant playing time, but it comes at a price. It’s taken a suspension of one of the Bulldog’s hottest defensive players to get Drew on the field, as outside linebacker Cornelius Washington is suspended for two games after a DUI arrest earlier this week.

Hopefully, the Dawgs can turn this negative into a positive and Drew will live up to his recruiting hype. Drew is a physical specimen. As a true freshman, Drew came to Athens at 6’5” and 263 pounds. He also has the athleticism and speed to fit perfectly into defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 scheme.

There is no shortage of true freshmen making an impact on this Georgia team already. Isaiah Crowell is far and away the team's No. 1 back and Malcolm Mitchell leads the Bulldogs in receiving. Another true freshman, Amarlo Herrera, has stepped in for injured inside linebackers Christian Robinson and Alec Ogletree and has played solid with 18 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.

Georgia is going to need Drew to step up and have a good, if not great, game if Georgia is going to stop Tennessee’s powerful passing attack. With not much running game to speak of, if Drew can help get pressure on Bray and keep him uncomfortable in the pocket, it should be a long day for the Tennessee offense. Fortunately for the Dawgs, Bray isn’t much of a threat to tuck it and run—he has -49 rushing yards on the season —so Drew should be able to key in and get after him on pass rushes and blitzes.

3. Bruce Figgins

Georgia is going to want to keep Bray and the Tennessee offense off the field as much as possible on Saturday, so don’t be surprised to see Georgia pounding the ball out of the I formation more than the Dawgs have shown so far this season. Starting fullback, big Bruce Figgins, will be a major factor against the Vols when the Bulldogs line up in the I.

Figgins has yet to be handed off to this season— or his career for that matter  —but does have five catches for 63 yards. Georgia has had some success in throwing to fullbacks in Knoxville, think 2001 and Verron Haynes’ famous “hobnail boot” play. 

Figgins figures to see plenty of action against Tennessee. He’s a great lead blocker for Crowell, or whoever happens to be behind him at the time, and he can pass protect Murray on play-action. Figgins will also be a viable weapon to slip out and catch passes and don’t be surprised to see him get his first carry as a reward for all his hard work.

2. Tavarres King

Coming in expected to be Georgia’s No. 1 receiver, Tavarres King has had Dawg fans patiently waiting for him to get on track this year. So far, King has only 12 catches for 138 yards and three touchdowns in five games — hardly the kind of numbers expected of him coming into the season.

King will get the nod as the starting split end again, but unless he really ups his game this week he may have to step aside and give someone else a shot. Options would include moving flankers Marlon Brown or Michael Bennett to split end to take over for King.

Rantavious Wooten is listed under King on the depth chart at the flanker position, but he doesn’t have the size nor has he shown the talent to be an every-game starter with only 277 career receiving yards in two and a half seasons with Georgia.

All that being said, King is a good route runner and usually has good hands, though he does have a couple glaring drops this season. King is due to have a breakout game so don’t be surprised if he lights it up in Knoxville Saturday.

1. Malcolm Mitchell

Malcolm Mitchell has been one of the brightest pseudo-surprises of 2011 for the Bulldogs.  I say “pseudo” because although Mitchell was expected to come in and be productive right away, I don’t think many expected him to be this good this fast.

A true freshman, Mitchell leads the Bulldogs in catches (22) and receiving yards (312). Mitchell is also tied with King for second on the team in receiving touchdowns (three), behind only tight end Orson Charles (four).

While Mitchell has been putting up solid numbers every week, he’s also getting more comfortable in the offensive system and looking better and better every game. His route running is quickly improving and it seems as though he and quarterback Aaron Murray get more in sync with each other every week.

Georgia fans are still waiting for that 100-plus receiving yards and multiple touchdown type breakout game that Mitchell seems all too capable of. With any luck, Mitchell will give the Bulldog nation exactly what they want against the Vols on game day.