Georgia vs. Florida: Bulldogs' Linebacker Corps at Full Strength for Gators

As the Georgia Bulldogs and Florida Gators prepare to square off in Jacksonville this weekend, the Bulldogs will be at full strength at linebacker going into a game for the first time since their season opener against Boise State.

While the starters were missed at the linebacker position, these injuries, and one suspension, have actually been a blessing in disguise for the Dawgs as several backups were given a chance to prove themselves on the field and not one squandered that opportunity.

Going without Alec Ogletree against South Carolina certainly hurt, forcing unproven junior Michael Gilliard into his first start of the season against a stout Gamecock offensive line and one of the best running backs in the country in Marcus Lattimore.

However, since that loss, Georgia is 5-0 and the Bulldogs' backup linebackers have stepped up big for UGA during this winning streak.

Filling in for Ogletree, Gilliard and true freshman Amarlo Herrera have played very well at inside linebacker.  Gilliard and Herrera were pressed into even more action when Georgia’s other starting inside linebacker, Christian Robinson, also went down with a foot injury against South Carolina.

In fact, despite Ogletree’s return for the Florida game, Gilliard has played well enough to retain a starting position next to Ogletree on Saturday, although it should be noted that Robinson, despite not being listed on any injury report, still may not be back to 100 percent just yet.

Still, Gilliard currently leads the team in total tackles on the year, and may just keep that starting job for the remainder of the season regardless of Robinson’s health.

Cornelius Washington will also return at outside linebacker against the Gators after serving a two-game suspension resulting from a DUI arrest after the Mississippi State game. Previous to the suspension, Washington had two of the best games of his career against Ole Miss and Mississippi State, racking up 3.5 sacks combined in the two contests. His presence rushing the quarterback and his speed containing the edge will be crucial against the Gators.

During Washington’s two-game suspension, sophomore Chase Vassar and true freshman Ray Drew played very well, combining for four tackles for loss and a sack.

On the other side at outside linebacker, Jarvis Jones has quietly gone about his business and may just be the best defender Georgia has this season. Jones is second on the team in tackles behind Gilliard, has three sacks on the season and is tied for third in the SEC with nine tackles for loss.

Georgia having its full complement of linebackers on the field could not have come at a better time for the Bulldogs, as they prepare for their annual rivalry game with the Gators in Jacksonville on Saturday. The Gators offense is jam-packed with speed coming from running backs Chris Rainey and Jeff Demps, and it will be up to the defensive line and linebackers to slow them down.

It will be crucial for Georgia’s linebackers to prevent Demps and Rainey from getting to the second level of the defense or around the edge on the outside. If Demps and Rainey are allowed to get going, it will also open up some play-action opportunities for John Brantley, or whoever is playing quarterback for the Gators, which could result in a very long afternoon for the Georgia secondary.

The Bulldogs now have a great deal of depth at linebacker and should be able to keep these players fresh and strong through four quarters—great news for a Georgia defense that has looked absolutely gassed in the fourth quarter several times already this season.

Georgia will especially be relying on their linebackers in the wake of the suspensions of nose tackle Kwame Geathers and safety Sean Williams for fighting and a flagrant personal foul, respectively. Both incidents occurred during Georgia’s last game against Vanderbilt and will result in Geathers and Williams sitting out the first half of the Florida game per NCAA rules.