Dawg Sports - Know Your Enemy: Previewing Georgia’s 2021 OpponentsGeorgia Bulldogs. 2012 SEC East and state champions.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48665/dawgsports_fave.png2021-08-27T12:05:00-04:00http://www.dawgsports.com/rss/stream/224078492021-08-27T12:05:00-04:002021-08-27T12:05:00-04:00Know Your Enemy: The Vanderbilt Commodores.
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<img alt="NCAA Football: SEC Media Days" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/GbGp5R7eThBIa6Vpnhk6PVTv054=/0x0:5088x3392/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69784233/usa_today_16431357.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Vandy is looking to regain relevance by hiring a hungry, innovative defensive coach. Because it worked so well last time.</p> <p id="CrDThJ">We continue our tour through the Bulldogs’ 2021 schedule with an SEC East opponent with nowhere to go but up from 2020.</p>
<p id="QRBBoY"><strong>Even the best things must end. </strong></p>
<p id="cHIx5E">I’m a fan of Derek Mason. I make no secret of that and have said as much on this site before.</p>
<p id="9LZ4SL">With that being said, it was time for Derek Mason to go. </p>
<p id="wrCaiT">2020 was a tough year for everyone in college football, but it was nowhere tougher than in Nashville, where the ‘Dores trudged lifelessly through an 0-9 campaign that was somehow even worse than the record would lead you to believe. A sizable number of players, including most of the offensive line, elected not to play the season. </p>
<p id="SzohxY">Then players started transferring ere the season was even in the books. People are fond of saying that a given team has quit on its coach, and I think that’s an overused trope. In college football the players usually have a lot to play for (draft stock, pride, transfer opportunities) that exist independent of the coaching staff. But yeah, the Commodores quit on Derek Mason and his staff and it was not going to get better. </p>
<p id="J7qgij">Exit Derek Mason stage left, chased to Auburn to serve as Bryan Harsin’s defensive coordinator. Enter Clark Lea, formerly defensive coordinator at Notre Dame and more formerly a student at Vanderbilt. In hiring Mason the Vanderbilt administration selected a young, energetic defensive coordinator who appeared to have a handle on the unique challenges of coaching at Vandy. It didn’t work out great, so they’ve shifted tactics to . . .hiring a young, energetic defensive coordinator who should have an even better handle on the challenges of coaching at Vandy.</p>
<p id="XF8wnE">Some call this sort of thing insanity. Others perseverance. In the case of the Vanderbilt brain trust it looks a little like indifference. Just hire an alumnus with an acceptable resume who won’t break the budget and call it a day. Nothing wrong with that game plan if your aim is just to have someplace for alumni to tailgate and understand that you will not be winning the SEC in this millennium.</p>
<p id="nqNPGC"><strong>Breaking the Seals?</strong></p>
<p id="ouopvm">If the Commodores were to unexpectedly end up in a bowl game this winter you should probably make sure you’re right with the Big Guy upstairs, because it would almost certainly be a sign of the Apocalypse. But if, for the sake of argument, the ‘Dores do overachieve this season it will be because sophomore Ken Seals takes a step forward in his second year as the starter, aided by a surprisingly solid supporting cast. Clark Lea hasn’t named a starter between Seals and his primary competition, fellow sophomore Mike Wright, a more elusive, mobile threat who likewise has a pretty live arm. But I’d honestly be a little surprised if the guy who had perhaps the most surprising QB season in the SEC last year doesn’t win the job.</p>
<p id="Cj2sCq">Seals took his lumps in 2020, but managed to pass for 1928 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also threw 10 interceptions, in no small part because his offensive line was a patchwork from the word go due to opt outs, injuries, and transfers. Lea’s squad returns some of the guys who would have started in 2020 had they played, including Bryce Bailey (3 career starts), Cole Clemens (14 career starts), and massive (6’7, 340 pounds) offensive tackle Jonathan Stewart, who started three games in 2019. Those three guys are all physically and mentally mature fifth year seniors. If they’re able to knock the rust off and stay healthy, they form the core of what could be a not entirely awful Commodore offensive front.</p>
<p id="lM3Mlp">Weirdly, perhaps inexplicably, they’ll be flanked by arguably the best wide receiving corps in the SEC, if not the deepest. All three primary starters from 2020, Ahmir Abdur-Rahman, Cam Johnson, and Chris Pierce return. So does starting tight end Ben Bresnahan, who pulled in 28 catches for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns in 2020. That’s the Dores’ four leading receivers and 85% of their total receiving yards back, along with an experienced QB and competent offensive line. Vandy was 14th in scoring offense and 13th in total offense in the SEC last season, but there’s no way in light of the above that they aren’t better in 2021. If they can work there way into a “last to score wins” shootout against a Tennessee, South Carolina, or Kentucky there’s every reason to believe they could be that team.</p>
<p id="BavWCH">If there’s a hole on offense it’s at tailback, where last year’s leading rusher Keyon Henry-Brooks (120 carries for 494 yards and 2 touchdowns) transferred to Louisiana Tech. The versatile Brooks was also a weapon in the passing game, snagging 28 receptions for 258 yards, and looled ticketed for something of a breakout. Also gone is Jamauri Wakefield, a senior who transferred at the end of 2020. </p>
<p id="qavVDq">But the transfer portal did give in addition to taking, in the form of Temple transfer Re’Mahn Davis, who only saw action in four games for the Owls in 2020, but rushed for 936 yards as a freshman in 2019. Sophomore bruiser Rocko Griffin returns after limited action (37 carries, 92 yards) in 2020. I expect that the Commodores will be, if not great, serviceable at tailback. Which given their experience elsewhere is a relatively minor quibble.</p>
<p id="ROU3do"><strong>‘Dores to Doors in Nine Games Flat</strong></p>
<p id="ltBhAr">When you hire a defensive coordinator as your head coach you expect to be at least respectable on that side of the ball. Friends, the 2020 Vanderbilt defense got no respect. The ‘Dores were 12th in the SEC in scoring defense and 13th in total defense. When you give up 37.3 points per game you’re not going to win a lot of football games. Or, in this case, you’re not going to win any. It’s probably therefore not surprising that the defense was hit even harder by the transfer stick than the Vandy offense</p>
<p id="0LOf7H">Again, Lea looks like a fit here in the same way Mason did. At Notre Dame he was known for a unit that played good fundamental football, didn’t give up a ton of big plays, and made great use of guys who didn’t always fit the physical blueprint for their position. That all sounds like exactly what a Vandy defense looking to return from the woodshed needs this season. </p>
<p id="6OQByC">The problem is that Lea doesn’t have the same veteran returners he has on offense. On the bright side leading tackler Anfernee Orji returns at linebacker, and could be a player to build around. And fellow ‘backer Feleti Afemui returns after sitting out 2020. But up front there’s not a lot of protection for those guys, and the pass rush is an unknown quantity with edge rushers Andre Mintze and Dayo Odeyingbo gone to the NFL. Mintze led the team in sacks in 2019 (4.5) and Odeyingbo (5.5) did the same in 2020. Elijah McAllister, another player who sat out 2020 (seriously, how did they even field a team?) returns after notching 2.5 sacks and 4.5 total tackles for loss in 2019. </p>
<p id="BDdLTN">The defensive backfield is, well, let’s call it mysterious. Tae Daley was the only Vandy defender with more than 1 interception in 2019, tallying 3 picks. That’s great news for Virginia Tech fans, because that’s where Daley is playing the 2021 season. Randall Haynie tied with Gabe Jeudy-Lally for the team lead in 2020 with . . .1 interception. Haynie’s now at Jackson State. Jeudy-Lally actually is back, and may be the leader of the DBs, in addition to returning starting corner Allan George.</p>
<p id="9WetjH"><strong>Especially Worrisome</strong></p>
<p id="frtNyv">If you thought the Vanderbilt offense and defense were swiss cheese in 2020, you have a short memory regarding their special teams. By way of reminder, things got bad enough that Vanderbilt women’s soccer player Sarah Fuller was pressed into action, and the spotlight, to handle the placekicking duties. Even before that kicker Pierson Cooke was 4 of 9 on field goal attempts and never hit from further away than 41 yards. Fuller isn’t back, but Alabama transfer Joseph Bulovas moves east and should be a creditable option if he beats out Cooke (I expect he will). Senior Harrison Smith returns after averaging 41.0 yards per punt in 2020. That’s not bad at all, and he might have a better year in 2021 if the Commodore offense doesn’t wear him out.</p>
<p id="qvcf5C"><strong>Bottom Line</strong></p>
<p id="Lr0Tw6">Is Clark Lea the man to lead Vanderbilt back to a bowl? Probably not. I’m not sure that guy exists. But he is the guy who can take some disparate parts and produce some real momentum in 2021 for a program that desperately needs it. Vandy won’t finish winless in 2021. I expect they’ll win their opener against East Tennessee State. From there things get tougher. But I could see that offense catching any of about six teams on the schedule napping. </p>
<p id="urINcD">One of them will not be Georgia, who travels to Nashville on September 25th. By that point I expect Georgia to have dialed in a receiver rotation, possibly have some injured players back, and throttle the Commodores once for last year and once for this one.</p>
<p id="z3JG2S"><strong>Prediction: Georgia 48, Vandy 20.</strong></p>
<p id="FGTDcH"><strong>Go ‘Dawgs!!!</strong></p>
<p id="qtditE"></p>
https://www.dawgsports.com/2021/8/27/22644489/georgia-football-2021-opponent-previews-vanderbilt-commodores-clark-lea-ken-seals-cam-johnsonmacondawg2021-08-25T22:08:35-04:002021-08-25T22:08:35-04:00Know Your Enemy: The South Carolina Gamecocks
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Georgia at South Carolina" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RDeumyzKS-9_W5zo9hX-zibtROc=/0x0:3607x2405/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69776948/usa_today_15245897.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Shane Beamer takes over a program whose reach perpetually exceeds its grasp. He may change things. But not this year.</p> <p id="eQbVwp"><strong>Home Stadium:</strong> Williams-Brice Stadium, an infernal slab of concrete unceremoniously dropped in the middle of a parking lot excreted into the middle of a city which can best be described as a waste of perfectly good pasture land. </p>
<p id="wHyrFi"><strong>Head Coach</strong>: Shane Beamer (first year).</p>
<p id="847sT4"><strong>Notable Alumni:</strong> Former Augusta National chairman William “Hootie” Johnson and all four members of Hootie & the Blowfish. </p>
<p id="M0D5Lp"><strong>2020 record:</strong> 2-8, 2-8 SEC. It was a dismal effort that spelled the end of the Will Muschamp era (and the relatively brief ensuing Mike Bobo era).</p>
<p id="EeY8H8"><strong>It won’t be worse...</strong></p>
<p id="GIRAmd">Shane Beamer brings to Columbia enthusiasm and credibility earned from stints under Kirby Smart at Georgia and Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma. Throw in his prior experience and Beamer has spent an awful lot of time in close proximity to outstanding college football. The question for Gamecock fans is whether that’s mere correlation or actual causation. </p>
<p id="EAH2ts">The cupboard on offense at least isn’t completely bare. The Garnet & Black return one of the most dynamic players in the country in tailback Kevin Harris. Harris stepped in for former five star recruit MarShawn Lloyd when he went down with a knee injury and proceeded to churn out 1138 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns. Harris is the kind of talent you can build an offense around, and may be the closest thing to a true workhorse tailback in Columbia since Marcus Lattimore was healthy.</p>
<p id="2zWa7c">The problem is that the Gamecocks are going to need to put the ball in the air at some point. And it’s not 100% clear that they have anyone capable of doing so reliably. The quarterback race appeared to be between Luke Doty, who started the final two games of last season, and FCS transfer Jason Brown. Doty won the job, but suffered a severe foot sprain last week and may or may not be available when the season starts. </p>
<p id="HCYVKL">If he takes longer to recover than expected the Gamecocks could be in a bind. Doty is the only signal caller on the roster with any SEC experience, at least other than receiver Dakereon Joyner, a former South Carolina Mr. Football who’s now moved outside. Brown and true freshman Holden Geriner out of Savannah would likely be the other options. Bit that’s not a great choice.</p>
<p id="KIN6tq">On the bright side, whoever ends up under center will have an offensive line up front with solid experience. Right guard Jovaughn Gwyn started 21 games over the past two seasons. Right tackle Dylan Wonnum has 24 starts over the past three seasons under his belt. Center Eric Douglas started all ten games in 2020. While counting offensive line starts has an uneven record as a predictor of success, that continuity can’t hurt when there’s so much change elsewhere.</p>
<p id="WkUYeF"><strong>But it could be better....</strong></p>
<p id="YujJFz">And there’s no position on the roster less experienced than the receivers. Gone is 2020’s leading receiver Shi Smith, though senior tight end Nick Muse (30 catches for 425 yards last season) is back. The aforementioned Joyner has drawn solid reviews after recording only 7 receptions for 55 yards last year. The same could be said for junior Josh Vann, who flashed potential but ended 2020 with only 10 grabs for 88 yards. I just don’t know that there’s a guy in the position group who can consistently take the attention away from Harris, which may be a problem for the Gamecock offense.</p>
<p id="LnICQR"><strong>Wide, but not deep</strong></p>
<p id="oOqXqg">The South Carolina defense will, as has been the case in years past, have some true standouts. Senior defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare was a preseason first team all-SEC selection. Junior Zacch Pickens is a serious contender to make the postseason list. Aaron Sterling and former top recruit Jordan Burch are also back. In short, the SCar defensive front is relatively strong. </p>
<p id="1QF4Vj">But from there things get dicey. Linebacker Ernest Jones was the team’s top tackler last season and departed for the NFL. In his stead new defensive coordinator Clayton White will rely on a group of returning linebackers that includes Sherrod Greene, Mohamed Kaba, Jahmar Brown, and Rosendo Louis. The problem is that among them they totaled 20 tackles last season. Will some combination of them step up in 2021? Maybe. If they don’t, or if the Gamecocks suffer injuries at linebacker (an issue in 2020), the middle of the defense could be exposed. </p>
<p id="3M6E0b">That would be less of a problem if the secondary wasn’t a question mark as well. The ‘Cocks lost five defensive backs from 2020 to graduation, the NFL, and the transfer portal. That includes safety Jammie Robinson, who was second only to Jones in tackles last season and transferred to Florida State. And Israel Mukuama, who led the team in interceptions and left early for the NFL. </p>
<p id="cYzOBW">Oh, and Jaycee Horn, who tied with Mukuama for the interception tittle and is now getting ready for his rookie year with the Carolina Panthers. With the exception of sophomore corner Cam Smith (16 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and 2 interceptions in 2020) the Fightin’ Beamers will need unproven players to step up big.</p>
<p id="l4U5cH"><strong>Special Sauce</strong></p>
<p id="FZKBJN">If there’s any group where the Gamecocks are pretty safe, it’s on special teams. Fifth year senior Parker White returns to handle the placekicking duties. And sophomore Kai Kroeger averaged 43.3 yards per boot as a true freshman. Finally, Dakereon Joyner averaged a very solid 23.5 yards on 7 kickoff returns. </p>
<p id="AEsqDR"><strong>The Final Analysis</strong></p>
<p id="R7uJtm">If there’s a bright spot for Beamer it may be that South Carolina’s schedule is almost embarrassingly soft. Other than instate rival Clemson their non-conference opponents are Eastern Illinois, East Carolina, and Troy. And while they have to travel to Texas A&M, they get Auburn in Williams-Brice. The Garnet and Black should be 2-0 when they roll into Athens on September 18th. </p>
<p id="BaAkK6">And while they’ll likely roll out with a loss, it will be hard not to stumble spurs-first into at least five wins. If they can pick off Mizzou or Auburn, bowl eligibility is a real possibility. But Beamer will need at least another solid cycle of recruiting if he wants the ‘Cocks to rise above the mediocrity of the Muschamp era.</p>
<p id="XOIpbz"><strong>Score prediction:</strong> Georgia 41, South Carolina 24.</p>
<p id="V7ss7L"></p>
https://www.dawgsports.com/2021/8/25/22635741/georgia-football-preview-2021-south-carolina-gamecocksmacondawg2021-08-20T10:06:00-04:002021-08-20T10:06:00-04:00Know Your Enemy: Previewing The UAB Blazers
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<img alt="CUSA Football Championship - UAB v Marshall" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/64bHudJpdqid2f7XZB-ktQy2Me4=/0x0:5472x3648/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69752880/1292039635.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="7geJ1O"><em>Our look at all 12 of the opponents that Georgia faces this fall continues with a look at the UAB Blazers.</em></p>
<p id="pJsQWz"><strong>Location: </strong>Birmingham, Ala. </p>
<p id="4SZzrv">Home Stadium: At long last, the Blazers are released from the venerable Old Gray Lady of Legion Field. The Blazers are set to christen the all-new Protective Stadium, which has a capacity of just over 47,000. Truthfully, it’s a fit that’s just right for a program like UAB and should provide a more intimate feel such as what UCF has done as opposed to just playing at a big stadium that’s cavernous - we’re looking at you, Georgia State. </p>
<p id="Qx74y7"><strong>2020 Record: </strong>6-3. The Fighting Sportscoats bounced back from losses to Louisiana Tech and Louisiana by a combined seven points to beat Rice 21-16 and then go on the road to beat Marshall in Huntington, West Virginia 22-13 for the Conference USA title. That ended up being the end of the season for UAB as its opponent for the Gasparilla Bowl, South Carolina withdrew from the bowl (chickened out?) due to COVID-19 issues. </p>
<p id="7KXFIA"><strong>Head Coach: </strong>Bill Clark. The first and last names may be ordinary, but what he has done in Birmingham is nothing shy of remarkable, being there to restart the program when it returned in 2017. Overall, he is 40-22 on the UAB sidelines. To be honest, it’s a bit surprising that he was not in serious running for a prime SEC and ACC job this offseason, but if the program continues to thrive, that’ll come soon. </p>
<p id="6tyRtF"><strong>Notable Alumni:</strong> Roddy White, who did some rather notable things with the Atlanta Falcons. Sam Hunt actually played QB for the Blazers and has gone onto do well in country music. But most importantly...the one and only Alexander Shunnarah, yes, that guy all over your town’s billboards, is a UAB alum. </p>
<p id="7pz8uD"><strong>An Offense That’s Been There </strong></p>
<p id="EKFZxt">Other than running backs and receivers, the core of the UAB offense returns, and it starts with an offensive line returning all five starters than helped to allow the Blazers to rush for 200 yards per game and give up only four sacks. Needless to say, Georgia’s defensive front should get a challenge in this area from a group led by Florida transfer Kadeem Telfort and Sidney Wells at the tackle positions, Colby Ragland and Matthew Treharn at guard, and Andrew Smith at center.</p>
<p id="Bu6heq">They’ll be providing pass protection for quarterback Tyler Johnston, who started the first eight games, missed two due to injury before returning for the final two games last season, throwing for 843 yards, Most importantly, he had seven to one touchdowns to interceptions ratio. </p>
<p id="wLh5Ag">But there are holes to fill at the skill positions with the top two receivers and top rusher graduating. That’s where a handful that played smaller roles last year will be expected to step up - tight end Hayden Pittman (227 yards) and receivers Trae Shropshire, TJ Jones, and Ryan Davis along with Jermaine Brown moving from running back to the slot position. Dewayne Mcbride, who chipped in to rush for 439 yards and 9.3 yards per carry is expected to step up on a unit that with the returning pieces around should not have much drop-off. </p>
<p id="UQBbvW"><strong>Nothing bashful about the defense </strong></p>
<p id="lswXuU">It’s a similar story on defense with nine starters returning. All three defensive line starters return and will be joined by LSU transfer Justin Thomas. In fact, four linemen return on the group that had at least ten tackles for a loss, so this is a group that should be very good up front. At linebacker, West Virginia transfer Charlie Benton should help soften the blow of losing two starters, including two-time first-team all-conference selection Jordan Smith. </p>
<p id="aHLPzJ">Experience is hardly an issue in the secondary. Other than cornerback Brontae Harris, the entire group returns plus Starling Thomas, who missed last year with an injury. </p>
<p id="77NoJn"><strong>Dressed Up Special </strong></p>
<p id="ZFrhhj">UAB has the luxury in both its placekicker and punter returning. Matt Quinn made 11-of-12 field goals last year and converted all but one extra point with punter Kyle Greenwell coming off a season in which he averaged 40 yards per punt. Brown, who averaged 25 yards per kickoff return, has athleticism that’ll emphasize the importance of kickoff touchbacks. </p>
<p id="lQmd9r"><strong>Bottom line</strong></p>
<p id="UA0esk">First of all, history says that a Georgia walkover against UAB is no guarantee. In 2003, the Dawgs sleepwalked through a game against UAB and narrowly won, 16-13. </p>
<p id="04IMx9">Assuming that full attendance is permitted, this game may be one of the most anticipated in Athens in quite some time regardless of opponent for one sole reason - that it’ll be the first full-on campus tailgating, gameday experience since November of 2019. It may very well be one of the most anticipated games in a long time in Athens, and the campus will be downright electric. </p>
<p id="B7aNtF">As for the game itself, it’ll be hard to get a grasp depending on how the Clemson game goes. If Georgia loses there, the Dawgs will be out to make a statement against UAB. If not, there will be understandable Larry Munson-like worrying over if Georgia will come out focused or not.</p>
<p id="EU3d4E">This UAB team is one that believes it can win and returns lots of guys who believe just that. It’s something that if Georgia does not play sharp from the start, could cause lots of heartburn for Georgia fans. </p>
<p id="8nRB1e">In the end, Georgia should outtalent and outdepth the Blazers 34-10.</p>
<p id="Ff6AV5">Go Dawgs! </p>
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<p id="7nourv"> </p>
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<p id="nuj7FL"> </p>
https://www.dawgsports.com/2021/8/20/22633547/know-your-enemy-previewing-the-uab-blazersLugnut Dawg2021-08-18T08:45:00-04:002021-08-18T08:45:00-04:00Know Your Enemy: Previewing the Clemson Tigers
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<img alt="CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl - Clemson v Ohio State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UygrcHCPfVrckG2ag_E2ri6g9Hk=/0x0:4474x2983/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69741021/1294068948.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p id="vcEGNc"><em>Opponents. Georgia will face at least twelve of them on the field of play this fall. And we’re going to preview every one of them, beginning this morning with the Clemson Tigers.</em></p>
<p id="dHcGxu"><strong>Location:</strong> Clemson, South Carolina </p>
<p id="cA4KG8"><strong>Home Stadium:</strong> Memorial Stadium, which seats 81,500 and is built around a sad little rock that’s been in the family for decades and in the process become an heirloom. Like your Uncle Harold, but it showers more often.</p>
<p id="SCfXMu"><strong>2020 record:</strong> 10-2. The Country Gentlemen won the ACC by beating Notre Dame 34-10 in the ACC Championship Game before falling 49-24 to Ohio State in the College Football Playoff semifinal.</p>
<p id="UdXBYb"><strong>Head Coach:</strong> William Christopher “Dabo” Swinney, a grown man who despite having two perfectly respectable big boy names still insists that you call him “Dabo.”</p>
<p id="AzQqSB"><strong>Notable alumni:</strong> <em>The League</em> actor Rob Huebel, indie singer/songwriter Dave Dondero, and a bunch of South Carolina politicians mainly qualified for office because they live or lived in South Carolina and went to Clemson. </p>
<p id="wmN4yp"><strong>Some guys old, some guys new.</strong></p>
<p id="0QDH4t">Dabo’s Tigers once again found themselves in the College Football Playoff In 2020, their sixth straight appearance in the affair. This had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that they play in the ACC have to beat the likes of Boston College, Wake Forest, and Syracuse to get there. </p>
<p id="rhXnRv">Okay, maybe that plays a small part in It. But nevertheless it is an impressive achievement. Gone however are many of the players who led that effort, most notably top overall draft pick QB Trevor Lawrence. </p>
<p id="kg7qKx">It’s a big loss. Lawrence started most of the last three seasons, leading the Tigers to a 34-2 records, throwing for 10,098 yards and 90 touchdowns, and providing steady leadership at the center of the Tigers’ cadre of skill players.</p>
<p id="rc7VUG">Also gone is featured tailback Travis Etienne, another stalwart of the Clemson attack during its recent run. And offensive coordinator Tony Elliott will also need to replace receivers Amari Rodgers and Cornell Powell, who finished #1 and 2 in receiving yards last season (Etienne was third). Those three accounted for 58% of Clemson’s receiving yards in 2020. Replacing them will be critical, though (unfortunately for us) maybe not as difficult as you might expect.</p>
<p id="E0GwFw">Up front the Fightin’ Dabos return three starters from a unit that was inconsistent against good competition last season (34 yards rushing on 33 attempts against the Fighting Irish, 44 yards on 22 tries against the Buckeyes). </p>
<p id="fhkSX7">Replacing Lawrence will be former blue chipper D.J. Uiagalelei. The stocky (6’4, 260) sophomore filled in admirably for Lawrence last season when the latter was forced out by COVID infection. In two starts he threw for 781 yards, 4 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He now has a full offseason at the controls and could be a Heisman finalist if he gets some assistance from his supporting cast.</p>
<p id="pnzkEP">And despite the losses from 2020, it remains a talented cast. Receiver Justyn Ross returns from injury having caught almost 1900 yards worth of passes in 2018 and 2019. 6’3, 190 pound sophomore EJ Williams is a matchup problem, capable of making some extraordinary plays. Junior Frank Ladson caught 18 passes for 281 yards and 3 touchdowns last season and returns looking for a more prominent role. </p>
<p id="vr25nW">And while he was little-used as a freshman, sophomore Ajou Ajou (6’3, 215) has drawn solid reviews in camp. And tight end Braden Galloway is actually the team’s leading returning receiver. So while Clemson lacks proven starting receivers, the Tigers have a solid corps of guys who’ve played a lot of big time football. Some or all of them are likely to do big things in 2021.</p>
<p id="VFwl0A">Senior Lyn-J Dixon (42 rushes for 190 yards in 2020) and sophomore Kobe Pace (18 attempts for 75) are vying to replace Etienne in the backfield. While both have potential, this is one area where I could see the Tigers taking a step back. That’s no slight on Dixon and Pace. Etienne was however one of the most explosive and versatile weapons in recent College Football memory. I’m not sure you just plug in someone who can do what he did. Also keep an eye on freshman five star recruit Will Shipley, who could see time in the slot as well.</p>
<p id="Mwva1r"><strong>But De-Same De-Fense</strong></p>
<p id="sRDxwQ">If the coaches from Auburn with a Lake are looking for a few new names on offense, they’ve got a pretty good idea who’ll be starting on defense. Unfortunately for the ‘Dawgs, it will be the same guys who made up the nation’s 18th ranked scoring defense in 2020. At least ten out of eleven of them. Obviously cornerback Derion Kendrick is in Athens now. But otherwise defensive coordinator Brent Venables has his entire starting defense back, including every member of arguably the nation’s top defensive line. </p>
<p id="GZ7f3f">Sophomore Bryan Bresee is perhaps the best of the bunch. Bresee earned ACC Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2020 after notching 33 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks.</p>
<p id="pQCvQT">Myles Murphy led the team in tackles for loss (11.5) as a freshman, and K.J. Henry added 6.5. Xavier Thomas had an up-and-down 2020, but coaches have raved about his focus and effort so far. Junior Justin Mascoll and sophomore Kevin Swint (cross-training at linebacker) round out a deep, deep rotation that will be a tough matchup for a UGA offensive line that’s still coming together. </p>
<p id="RXkdB4">Veteran linebackers James Skalski and Jake Venables return, as does sophomore Trenton Simpson, third on the team in tackles for loss in 2020. Simpson added 4 sacks as a freshman, and has the potential to be an All-ACC performer. Sixth year senior Nolan Turner (54 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3 interceptions in 2020) returns at safety, and veterans Andrew Booth (27 tackles, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble return for a TD), Sheridan Jones, and Mario Goodrich return at corner. </p>
<p id="Z2mH0h"><strong>Well, isn’t that Special?</strong></p>
<p id="UdgGcL">The Country Gentlemen return punter Will Spiers and placekicker B.T. Potter on special teams, which doesn’t hurt either. And with so many skill position weapons there’s no doubt the Tigers will remain dangerously deep at kick returner as well.</p>
<p id="xBtIAR">The Bottom Line</p>
<p id="fcTess">Conventional wisdom seems to be that these two offenses will put up a bunch of points on September 4th in Charlotte. But first games are often a bit of a cluster for offenses, especially those facing talented, veteran defenses, which both teams most definitely will.</p>
<p id="EtVdQP">To my mind the key matchups in this one are the young UGA offensive line versus the exceptional Clemson defensive front and.....the young Clemson offensive line versus the exceptional Georgia defensive front. </p>
<p id="7CtW5V">An ancillary concern to that one will be how the quarterbacks handle pressure when it does come. And it will come, for both JT Daniels and DJ Uiagaleilei. Uiagaleilei is built like a battle ship, and will be frustrating to bring down. At the same time, it will be interesting to see if he tries to do too much with second chances. Georgia has a defense that can make you pay for late decision making (ask Bo Nix), so it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the new guy try to do too much in a big game atmosphere.</p>
<p id="SnewRm">At the same time, JT Daniels struggled some last season under pressure, it appeared because he still wasn’t 100% Mobile following knee surgery. My fear is that the mobility we saw from him last year is the mobility he will have going forward. That would require both Daniels knowing when to throw it away and avoid sacks, as well as Todd Monken scheming him out of situations where Clemson can bring 6 defenders without paying a price. </p>
<p id="DLjogq">And a final thought. As good as that Clemson defensive front looks on paper, and as fearsome as they were against the pass in 2020, they struggled a little when teams decided to square up and run the dang ball. If Georgia can do that, keeping the defense off the field at critical times, I like the Bulldogs’ chances. Games like this early in the season sometimes turn into conditioning contests where one team just doesn’t have the juice by the end of the game (see UGA/Clemson 2014).</p>
<p id="HzsHsi">I hate to make a score prediction here, because as the above should make clear there are several ways this game could turn. But ultimately I think Clemson lost more from last year’s squad than people realize in terms of production that will be difficult to replace. They’re going to be a buzzsaw tipping through the ACC for the remainder of the year, but on this night, not so much.</p>
<p id="gvXd1y">Score prediction: Georgia 34, Clemson 30.</p>
<p id="lOHWtq"> I’d also note that there would be a temptation to view a Georgia win over a highly-ranked Clemson as an indication that this is finally the Bulldogs’ year. Let’s not get too crazy with that talk, either. This contest is of great use to both teams in gearing up for conference play, but I don’t think either team is really going to look in December how they look in September, and for two schools hunting for a national title, it’s December that matters.</p>
<p id="myIYBC">Go ‘Dawgs!!!</p>
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https://www.dawgsports.com/2021/8/18/22628191/georgia-bulldogs-clemson-tigers-preview-offense-defense-dj-uiagalelei-justyn-ross-lyn-j-dixonmacondawg