You’d think with Michael Sam and Kony Ealy matriculated on to pro football, Georgia might be getting a break from a pass-protection standpoint against Missouri on Saturday.
Think again.
The Tigers enter the Georgia game leading the SEC with 18 sacks in only five games. Eight of those sacks belong to junior defensive end Shane Ray, who ranks second in the nation with 11.5 tackles for loss. Markus Golden, who plays the other end, has four sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.
“Obviously losing Sam, who was the defensive player of the year, and Ealy hurts. But 56 and 33, Ray and Golden, they are extremely good as well,” Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said. “They rush the passer extremely hard. They do a lot of things with movement up front. We’re going to have to do a good job.”
The Bulldogs have done a decent job so far, allowing six sacks in five games. But they’re also a run-first team and not throwing the ball nearly as much as they have in recent past.
“Like I told the quarterbacks, we’ve got to trust our protection every time,” Bobo said. “We’re going to get sacked on Saturday. Just mark it down. We’re going to get sacked. And next time we call a pass we’ve got to stand in there and deliver the ball.”
