<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=00SdhX_0wBCw9wY00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=00SdhX_0wBCw9wY00" width="1210" height="806" ></figure>This was the game that Longhorn nation had marked on the calendar from the beginning of the year. The first real test in the SEC for a team that just won the Big12 and made it to their first bid in the college football playoff. Now the time is here, and the landscape of how the nation predicted this game has been flipped on its axis. Georgia is a great football team, however through the first 6 weeks of the college football season, they certainly do not look like the world beaters that we all thought they would be in July.A close call against Kentucky, an embarrassing first half against Alabama, and a slew of injuries to the defense have shown a kink in the Bulldogs armor. Now as the surging Longhorns look to face off against the new “Kirby Smart Dynasty” on the 40 acres Saturday at 6:30PM with College Gameday in attendance, this will be the first real test to see if the Longhorns deserve that no. 1 ranking in the AP poll. Michigan and Oklahoma were big wins for the orange and white, however this will certainly be the first real offensive threat that the Longhorn defense will have to face all season. “We’ve got a heck of a challenge this weekend against Georgia. Very good football team of a ton of respect for Coach [Kirby] Smart and the job that he’s done at Georgia. They’ve kind of been the standard of college football here now for the last six, seven years,” Sarkisian said on Monday.“I think they’ve been to, you know, seven SEC championship games. They won three in a row. Back to back national champs, competed for a third. They’ve recruited really well. They’ve got great schemes. Are really well coached. I know the moment won’t be too big for them coming into DKR.”<h2>Offense</h2>The Bulldogs under offensive coordinator Mike Bobo like to use a pro spread offense, utilizing both their talented pass catchers at tight end and wide receiver to create as many possible targets as they can for veteran quarterback Carson Beck. They have effective runners with Trevor Etienne as the lead back and their offensive line creates more than enough time for Beck to stand strong and the pocket and move the ball downfield through the air. QuarterbackGeorgia is littered with weapons on all sides of the ball, but potentially none as lethal as senior quarterback Carson Beck. At 6’4, 220 pounds, Beck is surgical and accurate, with a 75.6-percent adjusted completion percentage this season. He has great awareness in the pocket and can negate the pass rush by getting the ball out quickly with an average drop back time of 2.56 seconds. So far through six games, Beck has totaled 1,818 passing yards for 15 touchdowns and five interceptions by throwing all over the yard. Beck does not seem to favor any part of the field or any distance, and is accurate in short, intermediate, and deep throws. Beck can be lethal with the deep ball with 15 completions on 41 attempts over 20-plus yards for 558 yards and six touchdowns and only one interception. PFF grades his deep ball at 93.1.For the most part, Beck and the Bulldogs offense run on straight drop backs — 68.6 percent of their passing plays — and 31.4 percent on play action. When they do whip out the play action they can be dangerous. With the threat of Etienne carrying the ball, Beck has an adjusted completion percentage of 81.4 percent for 756 yards and seven touchdowns on play action. Beck rarely scrambles with only 13 rushing attempts on the season. He has composure in the pocket and will stand tall as his receivers work through their progressions. This can sometimes get him in trouble however, as he has been sacked five times behind one of the better offensive lines in the nation.The best player comp for Beck would be Colt McCoy or Joe Burrow. He has confidence in his arm, his line, and his playmakers to stand tall in the pocket and slice up defenses — in Week Four against Alabama, where despite the loss, Beck lead the Bulldogs to four touchdown drives to give them the lead in the fourth quarter despite being down 21 points at half time. Beck will be the first NFL-caliber QB that the Longhorns have faced all season, and behind this offensive line, and these weapons, he will certainly be the toughest quarterback test the burnt orange and white will see all season. Running backEtienne is the lead back in this Bulldogs offense that spreads its rushing attack amongst many different backs and receivers, but for the most part it goes through Etienne. As the younger brother of Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, the junior has amassed 335 yards on 64 carries and four touchdowns, leading the Bulldogs in all three categories. At 5’9, 205 pounds, Etienne is an elusive back with shifty speed upfield and between tackles. He has a low center of gravity and is able to punch tight gaps with his smaller frame with playmaking ability in the open field.Etienne is also more than capable in the passing game, with 17 receptions for 107 yards on the season. The do-it-all back is a constant threat for opposing defenses, struggles in breaking tackles and short gains.That is where Nate Frazier comes into play for goal-line work and short-yardage plays as the change of pace back for Etienne between the 20s. At 5’10, 210 pounds, he has a much larger frame than Etienne and is used in a different way, with most of his rushes in between the guards and tackles.Wide receiversDominic Lovett is the speedy slot receiver for the Bulldogs, leading the team in targets in receptions going 27 for 41 for 302 yards and two touchdowns on the season. He does the majority of his work in the slot with 84.3 percent of his snaps lined up inside. At 5’10, 187 pounds, Lovett uses his quick twitch to make breaks off the line and get open off the jump. Although he’s not the tallest receiver, he uses his speed to create yards after the catch with 185 of his 302 (61 percent) total receiving yards occurring after the catch. The vertical threat for the Bulldogs is their X receiver Dillon Bell who leads the team in touchdowns with four. Bell does practically all of his work out wide with 93 percent of his snaps in the X or Y. Bell has incredible hands, with zero drops on the season, despite the majority of his catches being on deep shots.Finally, the third leading receiver is senior Arian Smith. At 6’0, 185 pounds, Smith works in both the slot and out wide with 78 percent of his snaps out wide and 22 percent in the slot. With 23 receptions on 35 targets, Smith leads the team in receiving yards with 412 and is second in touchdowns with three. With 17.9 yards per reception on the season, Smith is another deep threat option for the Bulldogs and Carson Beck. On passes over 20-plus yards, Smith has brought in 3-of-6 targets between the numbers for 147 yards and two touchdowns and 1-of-3 targets for 47 yards along the right hash. Along with his deep-threat ability, Smith has a talent after the catch with 171 YAC yards on the year. The biggest Achilles heel for Smith however has been his hands — so far he leads the team by a large margin with six drops on the year. Tight endThe Bulldogs have two more than capable tight ends that can be used as both blockers and vertical threat — Lawson Luckie and Oscar Delp.Luckie has emerged as a big time red-zone threat with three touchdowns on the season. At 6’4, 240 pounds, he can use his big frame to create mismatches against defensive backs in nickel formations and commands enough respect to force defenses to keep a linebacker on him at all times. Luckie has totaled 10 receptions for 144 yards and can be used as a vertical threat with an average yards per reception of 14.4 and a long of 37 yards. He lines up primarily in the slot with almost 60 percent of his snaps off the line and is practically used as a big-bodied slot receiver. Delp is another vertical threat for the Bulldogs. Standing at 6’5, 245 pounds, Delp has had a slow start to the season with only five receptions for 53 yards, but lines up in an equal share of in line and slot snaps. Smart likes to use these tight ends in the passing game and they will certainly play a role in the creative route trees that the Bulldogs have utilized all season in their pro spread offense. Offensive lineThis Bulldog’s offense all goes through one of the best offensive lines in football.Junior center Jared Wilson is the leader of this front five and has been having an incredible third year. So far this season he has yet to allow a single pressure, hurry, or sack on the quarterback, and has been instrumental in creating running lanes. At 6’3, 310 pounds, PFF has ranked Wilson as the No. 9 center in the nation, the No. 6 pass blocker, and No. 12 run blocker. One of the best pass protectors on the team, senior right guard Tate Ratledge, went down in Week Three against Kentucky with an ankle injury that required tightrope surgery and has sidelined him since, a big loss for the Bulldogs as Mel Kiper named him the No. 4 interior offensive lineman in this year’s upcoming NFL draft. However, Smart and the Bulldogs are eyeing this Saturday as a potential return after four weeks on the mend with Ratledge listed as questionable on Wednesday’s initial injury report. In this first three games this season, Ratledge didn’t allow a single sack, pressure, or hurry on the quarterback. At 6’6, 310 pounds, he is a brick wall.Junior left guard Dylan Fairchild flanks the left side of Wilson as one of the better pass protectors in the nation. Standing at 6’5, 315 pounds, Fairchild hasn’t allowed a single sack and only two pressures in six games this season. Sophomore left tackle Ernest Greene III protects the blind side for Carson Beck. Although he is very young, the 6’4, 320-pound sophomore came out of California with a 97 grade and a four-star ranking, according to 247Sports. Greene is an incredible run blocker for Etienne along the outside.Although Greene is still adjusting to the speed of SEC football, he has yet to allow a sack against elite pass rushers along the left side. He has however allowed two quarterback hits, seven hurries, and nine pressures on the year. He will be the driving force for the Bulldogs in getting Etienne out in the open field, as they attempt to develop a running game against a stingy Longhorns defense. Bottom line — the Georgia offensive line will be the first true test for this Texas pass rush. This season they have only allowed five sacks and have kept Carson Beck clean on 81.2 percent of his drop backs. The Bulldogs have a tremendous amount of skill positions on offense, but the trenches are what make this offense go.<h2>Defense</h2>Glenn Schumann and the Bulldogs primarily run a 3-4 offense, utilizing their talented outside linebackers and edge rushers to leverage speed to get to the backfield. However, despite how fast they are, they are also big, and can force their will on opposing offensive lines with 11 sacks on the year. Their secondary has been limited in their ability to create turnovers with year with only three interceptions on the season. They rush, and they rush hard, attempting to make opposing backfields uncomfortable and make mistakes. Because of this, they tend to run a lot of zone coverage with multiple defensive backs on the field, to open up avenues, send multiple pass rushers, and cover much of the field in Cover 2 and 3 zone packages. “You’ve got Kirby Smart, Will Muschamp, Glenn Schumann, all on the same defensive staff — those are probably three of the top defensive minds in college football. And then, they’re sound. What they do, they recruit really good players, they’re big and physical up front. They’ve got great length in the secondary. They always have very smart, heady safeties to communicate what they’re trying to do third down,” Sarkisian said on Monday.“They give you a ton of exotic pressures and different fronts, and with all of that, they end up playing a lot of almost two-man coverage, so now you’re not only having to beat one guy to get open, you have to beat two, but that’s the scheming part and they do a heck of a job with that. So I think it’s a combination of they’ve got a great scheme and a great staff to go along with really talented players that play hard and they’re long and physical, so those two things combined can make it difficult.”Defensive lineOne of the big returnees for this Georgia defense will be junior left end Mykel Williams. After missing three weeks due to grade two left ankle sprain, Williams returned in Week Five against Alabama, although he’s only played six snaps against the Crimson Tide and 11 against the Bulldogs in working his way back to a full workload as one of the leaders on this Georgia pass rush along the edge. At 6’5, 265 pounds, Williams uses his size and strength as an elite power rusher in multiple different places on the defensive line. He has lined up at edge, left end, and right end this year and is able to take on opposing offense’s best blocker. Georgia is looking for this week to bring him fully back into the fold, but it will be interesting to see how big of a role he can play three weeks out from his ankle injury. Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins has been a menace in his stead. Standing at 6’5, 280 pounds, the junior edge rusher has totaled 13 pressures, nine hurries, and three sacks on the year. He has elite speed for his side off the edge and can act as a power rusher against opposing tackles. Against players in the open field, he can struggle to keep up and wrap up with six missed tackles for a miss percentage of 42.9 percent. If Williams is not 100 percent, Dawkins will have to continue as the main pass rusher for the Bulldogs this Saturday. LinebackersOne of the biggest losses for the Bulldogs this week will be senior right outside linebacker Smael Mondon Jr. At 6’3, 225 pounds, Mondon is the ninth-ranked linebacker in the nation according to PFF and a huge part of the Bulldogs in both pass rush and coverage schemes. With Mondon out, the middle of the field will be left up to junior linebacker Jalen Walker who has been a capable player all season, but certainly the second fiddle to Mondon this season. Walker lines up in both the box and as a pass rusher 116 of his snaps inline and 105 in the box. Walker has totaled 13 tackles this season and gotten home to the quarterback twice this season.SecondaryThe leader of this secondary, and arguably the best player on the entire roster is junior strong safety Malaki Starks. At 6’1, 205 pounds he is lightning quick and used creatively in both coverage and run support. Starks in elite in the open field with 24 tackles on the year and only four misses with a PFF tacking grade of 74. He jumps to gaps and is great at reading opposing offenses in the run game. Run support is his forte however, which can sometimes lead to mishaps in coverage. Starks has been targeted 18 times this season, and missed on 12 of them with a reception percentage of 66.7 percent against opposing pass catchers. He has brought in one of the Bulldogs three interceptions this year however, as he makes big decisions that can create big gains for this defense. Starks is flanked by free safety KJ Bolden, who has the highest coverage rating on the team with a 79. Unlike Starks, Bolden is primarily utilized in coverage with around 60 percent of his snaps lined up in coverage. Bolden brought in another of the three safeties this season and is great at limiting plays in the open field with only 30 yards after catch allowed all season. The two major corners for the Bulldogs are junior Daylen Everette and sophomore Julian Humphrey Everette has great length, and awareness in zone coverage, but he can leave something to be desired in man to man coverage allowing 21 receptions on 24 targets for 287 yards this year. In the run game he has a great awareness to read a play and step up to shed blockers and help clock holes on the second level. He is great in the open field with 22 solo tackles and only five misses. Humphrey has long arms, and a wingspan to create havoc in one on one coverage. He is still young and has some things to learn at this level, So far, this secondary has made their name in run defense, creatively plugging holes and limiting opposing running backs. This scheme and the zones they run can open the door to passing attacks, as seen in their loss to Alabama. If Sarkisian can dial up protections for Quinn Ewers to give him enough time, the Longhorns might be able to take advantage of these corners who struggle in man coverage. <h2>Special Teams</h2>The place kicker for the Bulldogs is all but automatic and can hit from deep. Peyton Woodring only missed one 50-plus yard field goal all season.Smart and the Bulldogs have a lot of faith in this sophomore with a career high of 55 against Clemson week one, Woodring has gone 2-for-2 from 40-plus yardsand 5-for-5 from 30-plus yards.ReturnersWide receiver Anthony Evans III handles most of the kick and punt returns for the Bulldogs. He has yet to do much on kickoffs with five returns for 95 yards and a long of 28. On punts, he has 12 returns for 98 yards and a long of 46. <h2>Overall</h2>As mentioned before, this Georgia team is certainly not the world beaters that the nation predicted at the beginning of the season, however, they will certainly be the first true test for the Longhorns in their first season in the SEC.Oklahoma and Michigan were great wins for the Horns, but their offenses and mainly their quarterbacks are not comparable to Carson Beck and the Bulldogs. To be honest, Georgia is much more battle tested than the Longhorns, with wins over Clemson, and Kentucky, and the close loss to Alabama. Texas has yet to see an elite offense this season — Oklahoma was missing half their receivers and offensive line and started a true freshman and quarterback, Mississippi State also was riddled with injuries and started a true freshman and quarterback, and Michigan’s quarterback that Texas faced just got benched. It will be a tall task to limit this Georgia offense, but we’ve seen it done against Kentucky, who limited them to 13 points, and Alabama, who practically shut them out in the first half. On offense, quarterback Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns must look to establish a run game and get the ball out quick to their talented group of receivers. The linebackers and edges of this Bulldogs defense can get home in a hurry, so Ewers needs to get the ball out quickly and efficiently to take advantage of a secondary that is great in run support, but can struggle at times in coverage. Texas is favored by five points at home to see if the burnt orange and white deserve that No. 1 ranking and if the national championship hopes are real. </div></body>

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No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Georgia opponent preview: Bulldogs provide toughest test yet for Horns

This was the game that Longhorn nation had marked on the calendar from the beginning of the year. The first real test in the SEC for a team that just won the Big12 and made it to their first bid in the college football playoff. Now the time is here,...