The coaches for fourth-ranked Alabama have made it clear they have a healthy respect for No. 2 Georgia.
Alabama’s coordinators, offensive play-caller Nick Sheridan and defensive counterpart Kane Wommack, shared their thoughts Monday on Georgia’s personnel and schemes. Saturday’s game will be the first time that Kirby Smart and his staff will match up against Kalen DeBoer at any level. There’s a newness to this matchup, one that for so long was dominated by Nick Saban and Alabama.
“I think their quarterback, Carson Beck, is as good as it comes in college football right now,” Wommack said. “Incredibly efficient with his decision-making. Does not take many sacks. Rarely turns the ball over. Takes care of the football. I think he does a really tremendous job in the intermediate throwing game. He has great accuracy. Really quick release, great decision-maker. Just so impressed by him the more I watch — and I’ve probably watched every game from the last couple of years here.”
Wommack had spent three seasons as South Alabama’s coach before joining DeBoer’s staff. The Tide defense looks different from the one that held Georgia to 24 points last season. For one, edge rusher Dallas Turner and cornerbacks Kool-Aid McKinstry and Terrion Arnold are in the NFL now.
But Alabama’s defense is off to a strong start, as the Crimson Tide is No. 6 in the country in scoring defense (8.7 points per game) and third in yards allowed per play (3.37).
Wommack said slowing Georgia’s rushing attack will go a long way toward making Saturday a successful day. The Tide allow 132.3 rushing yards per game.
“These backs are really hungry. They run really had. They’re physical,” he said. “They can create yards after contact, and then when they get in space, they’ve got a couple of guys that can really take advantage of explosive plays in the run game. So we’ll have our work cut out for us because I think it’s not just one guy; it’s a number of guys that can create explosive things for them in the run game.”
Bulldogs running back Trevor Etienne is averaging 78.5 yards per game this season. If Georgia is to win, he likely will need to exceed that.
As for the Bulldogs’ defense, Alabama is well-aware of All-American safety Malaki Starks.
“I think what stands out is his versatility as a player,” said Sheridan, who was Washington’s tight ends coach the past two seasons and followed DeBoer to Tuscaloosa. “He can play close to the line of scrimmage, and he can play in the deep middle part of the field. He can cover man-to-man. I think he’s an excellent football player but obviously has experience in their system. They can put him in different spots and different personnel groupings, and he’s excellent in all areas.”
Five-star true freshman wide receiver Ryan Williams — who accounted for 65 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Saraland (Ala.) High — has had an explosive start to the season, with 10 receptions for 285 yards and four touchdowns.
Sheridan expects Georgia to have an excellent plan to slow Jalen Milroe and the Tide offense.
“Anytime you talk about pass defense, it’s a combination of the rush and the coverage matching together and complementing one another,” Sheridan said. “Certainly they do a nice job in that area. They play tight coverage, they mix up their defenses, and then they can rush and create pressure on the quarterback. I think both ends of the defense — the back end and the front end — do a nice job of complementing one another, and making that a challenge.”
Saturday’s game will be a top-five matchup between two championship-level programs. And for all that has changed with Alabama since last season’s win over Georgia, the Bulldogs (3-0 overall, 1-0 in the SEC) still expect the Tide (3-0) to play and coach to the same level they did under Saban. This will be the Tide’s first SEC game without Saban since 2006.
“I think anytime you go against a really good team that’s a powerhouse in college football, that it’s a challenge,” Smart said. “And I really look at it like this is a hell of an opportunity for our kids, our program, national stage. And we’re on the national stage a lot.”
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