GeauxTo
12-03-2005, 01:51 PM
QUARTERBACKS
Georgia senior D.J. Shockley (6-1, 206) is the best dual threat in the SEC and is No. 1 in the league in passing efficiency on 147 of 265 passing for 19 touchdowns and 2,199 yards with five interceptions for a 145.1 rating. LSU sophomore JaMarcus Russell (6-5, 245) would be ahead of Shockley without several dropped passes, including at least two dropped touchdowns, and is second in the league with a 138.8 rating on 176 of 291 passing for 2,325 yards, 15 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
"As soon as the season was over last year, I could see how he stepped up to be the leader of the team," Georgia tailback Thomas Brown said.
"The skills of their quarterback make him a wild card," LSU coach Les Miles said. "He's got the ability to throw the ball, and he's very dangerous with his feet."
LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher called Russell his MVP.
"We wouldn't be anywhere without him this year," he said. "He's the real deal."
ADVANTAGE: Georgia.
RUNNING BACKS
Georgia is No. 3 in the SEC with 158 rushing yards a game and has done it with three backs "" Thomas Brown (596 yards), Danny Ware (458 yards) and Kregg Lumpkin (230 yards) "" who are all healthy. LSU has struggled at times without Alley Broussard, who was lost for the season before the season to a knee injury. Joseph Addai had his moments but has been hobbled in recent weeks. Justin Vincent had a career moment in the Georgia Dome two years ago and has been steady in recent weeks, but he is also sore.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia
OFFENSIVE LINE
LSU may have three NFL players from this group in tackle Andrew Whitworth, center Rudy Niswanger and guard Nate Livings. Georgia's line, which is led by guard Max Jean-Gilles is solid.
ADVANTAGE: LSU
RECEIVERS
There may not be as talented and versatile a group in the nation than LSU's, particularly if Dwayne Bowe finds some hand glue. You know there is talent here, if Skyler Green can't get in the mix. Georgia is very good with Bryan McClendon, Mohamed Massaquoi, Sean Bailey and tight end Leonard Pope, but that's not enough.
ADVANTAGE: LSU
DEFENSIVE LINE
No contest. LSU may have the two best front fours in the nation. Tigers defensive coordinator Bo Pelini doesn't have to blitz that much because ends Melvin Oliver (8 sacks, 14 hurries) and Chase Pittman (3 sacks) and tackles Claude Wroten (5 sacks, 25 hurries) and Kyle Williams (4.5 sacks, 21 hurries) get so much pressure on the quarterback.
"A team that can put pressure on the quarterback without blitzing I'm more worried about than a team that blitzes," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "Blitzing teams are vulnerable to the big play."
ADVANTAGE: LSU
LINEBACKERS
LSU does not have a lot of depth, but the first four are very good - Kenneth Hollis and Ali Highsmith on the outside with backup E.J. Kuale and Cameron Vaughn in the middle. All but Highsmith are seniors. Georgia has three quality starters in Jarvis Jackson in the middle and Danny Verdun Wheeler and Brandon Miller on the outside, but the three backups also play.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia
SECONDARY
Cornerbacks DeMario Minter and Tim Jennings and safety Greg Blue of Georgia are all headed to the Senior Bowl. LSU has three top notch safeties in LaRon Landry, Jessie Daniels and Craig Steltz, and cornerbacks Ronnie Prude and Chevis Jackson have improved.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia
SPECIAL TEAMS
LSU is No. 2 in the nation in net punting, and no one is better with his approach shots to the flag than punter Chris Jackson. The Tigers are also the best in the SEC in kickoff coverage.
"Skyler Green is as good as I've seen in a long time at returning punts," Richt said. "If you kick it to him, you better kick it real high and hope he fair catches it."
Georgia's Thomas Flowers is second in the SEC in punt returns with a 14-yard average to Green's No. 3 position at 13.6.
Georgia kicker Brandon Coutu leads the SEC with 21 field goals in 27 attempts. Jackson is 7 of 15.
ADVANTAGE: LSU
COACHING
Mark Richt is in his fifth year as Georgia's coach and is in his third SEC title game. It's hard to argue with his 51-12 record. LSU's Les Miles is just cutting his teeth in the league.
"We know what it feels liked to be here and win it, and we know what it feels like to be here and lose it," said Richt, who beat Arkansas 30-3 in 2002 and lost 34-13 to LSU in 2003.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia.
Intangibles
Georgia is a clear underdog. A lot of bowl forecasts just list LSU without even an "or Georgia." Richt seemed to like that Friday.
"Most everybody is picking LSU to win the game and play in the Sugar Bowl," he said. "When people are told they can't do something, it gives them more incentive."
The Bulldogs are more recently battle tested, having played three ranked teams in their last four games. They lost two of those close, including one to Florida when Georgia did not have Shockley. LSU has played only one ranked team out of its last five. Georgia's had two open dates since October. LSU has not had an open date since Sept. 17.
Georgia is second in the SEC and ninth nationally in turnover margin. LSU is 11th in the league and 98th nationally.
LSU was not motivated last week against Arkansas, and it showed. It should be motivated today.
"We couldn't convince them that Arkansas was a good team last week," Miles said. "This team will be very motivated for this one. This is a championship."
LSU has tempted fate all season, barely pulling out games against Arizona State, Florida, Auburn (in overtime), Alabama (in overtime) and lowly Arkansas. How many more times can it do that?
ADVANTAGE: Georgia.
Note: Edited from the Shreveport Times.
Georgia senior D.J. Shockley (6-1, 206) is the best dual threat in the SEC and is No. 1 in the league in passing efficiency on 147 of 265 passing for 19 touchdowns and 2,199 yards with five interceptions for a 145.1 rating. LSU sophomore JaMarcus Russell (6-5, 245) would be ahead of Shockley without several dropped passes, including at least two dropped touchdowns, and is second in the league with a 138.8 rating on 176 of 291 passing for 2,325 yards, 15 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
"As soon as the season was over last year, I could see how he stepped up to be the leader of the team," Georgia tailback Thomas Brown said.
"The skills of their quarterback make him a wild card," LSU coach Les Miles said. "He's got the ability to throw the ball, and he's very dangerous with his feet."
LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher called Russell his MVP.
"We wouldn't be anywhere without him this year," he said. "He's the real deal."
ADVANTAGE: Georgia.
RUNNING BACKS
Georgia is No. 3 in the SEC with 158 rushing yards a game and has done it with three backs "" Thomas Brown (596 yards), Danny Ware (458 yards) and Kregg Lumpkin (230 yards) "" who are all healthy. LSU has struggled at times without Alley Broussard, who was lost for the season before the season to a knee injury. Joseph Addai had his moments but has been hobbled in recent weeks. Justin Vincent had a career moment in the Georgia Dome two years ago and has been steady in recent weeks, but he is also sore.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia
OFFENSIVE LINE
LSU may have three NFL players from this group in tackle Andrew Whitworth, center Rudy Niswanger and guard Nate Livings. Georgia's line, which is led by guard Max Jean-Gilles is solid.
ADVANTAGE: LSU
RECEIVERS
There may not be as talented and versatile a group in the nation than LSU's, particularly if Dwayne Bowe finds some hand glue. You know there is talent here, if Skyler Green can't get in the mix. Georgia is very good with Bryan McClendon, Mohamed Massaquoi, Sean Bailey and tight end Leonard Pope, but that's not enough.
ADVANTAGE: LSU
DEFENSIVE LINE
No contest. LSU may have the two best front fours in the nation. Tigers defensive coordinator Bo Pelini doesn't have to blitz that much because ends Melvin Oliver (8 sacks, 14 hurries) and Chase Pittman (3 sacks) and tackles Claude Wroten (5 sacks, 25 hurries) and Kyle Williams (4.5 sacks, 21 hurries) get so much pressure on the quarterback.
"A team that can put pressure on the quarterback without blitzing I'm more worried about than a team that blitzes," Georgia coach Mark Richt said. "Blitzing teams are vulnerable to the big play."
ADVANTAGE: LSU
LINEBACKERS
LSU does not have a lot of depth, but the first four are very good - Kenneth Hollis and Ali Highsmith on the outside with backup E.J. Kuale and Cameron Vaughn in the middle. All but Highsmith are seniors. Georgia has three quality starters in Jarvis Jackson in the middle and Danny Verdun Wheeler and Brandon Miller on the outside, but the three backups also play.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia
SECONDARY
Cornerbacks DeMario Minter and Tim Jennings and safety Greg Blue of Georgia are all headed to the Senior Bowl. LSU has three top notch safeties in LaRon Landry, Jessie Daniels and Craig Steltz, and cornerbacks Ronnie Prude and Chevis Jackson have improved.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia
SPECIAL TEAMS
LSU is No. 2 in the nation in net punting, and no one is better with his approach shots to the flag than punter Chris Jackson. The Tigers are also the best in the SEC in kickoff coverage.
"Skyler Green is as good as I've seen in a long time at returning punts," Richt said. "If you kick it to him, you better kick it real high and hope he fair catches it."
Georgia's Thomas Flowers is second in the SEC in punt returns with a 14-yard average to Green's No. 3 position at 13.6.
Georgia kicker Brandon Coutu leads the SEC with 21 field goals in 27 attempts. Jackson is 7 of 15.
ADVANTAGE: LSU
COACHING
Mark Richt is in his fifth year as Georgia's coach and is in his third SEC title game. It's hard to argue with his 51-12 record. LSU's Les Miles is just cutting his teeth in the league.
"We know what it feels liked to be here and win it, and we know what it feels like to be here and lose it," said Richt, who beat Arkansas 30-3 in 2002 and lost 34-13 to LSU in 2003.
ADVANTAGE: Georgia.
Intangibles
Georgia is a clear underdog. A lot of bowl forecasts just list LSU without even an "or Georgia." Richt seemed to like that Friday.
"Most everybody is picking LSU to win the game and play in the Sugar Bowl," he said. "When people are told they can't do something, it gives them more incentive."
The Bulldogs are more recently battle tested, having played three ranked teams in their last four games. They lost two of those close, including one to Florida when Georgia did not have Shockley. LSU has played only one ranked team out of its last five. Georgia's had two open dates since October. LSU has not had an open date since Sept. 17.
Georgia is second in the SEC and ninth nationally in turnover margin. LSU is 11th in the league and 98th nationally.
LSU was not motivated last week against Arkansas, and it showed. It should be motivated today.
"We couldn't convince them that Arkansas was a good team last week," Miles said. "This team will be very motivated for this one. This is a championship."
LSU has tempted fate all season, barely pulling out games against Arizona State, Florida, Auburn (in overtime), Alabama (in overtime) and lowly Arkansas. How many more times can it do that?
ADVANTAGE: Georgia.
Note: Edited from the Shreveport Times.