Senior Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter said it is a fire that has been burning for four years.
But after a disappointing 8-5 campaign in 2016, he and several other then-junior Bulldogs -- most notably dynamic running backs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel -- had a chance to ‘Leave No Trace’ and douse the flames on their way to big paydays in the NFL.
“As a group we could have left last year but we decided we wanted to leave Georgia better than when we got here,” Carter said Monday during a teleconference in preparation for Saturday's SEC Championship game.
The Bulldogs will take on Auburn at Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a shot not at just the SEC title but also a berth in the four-team College Football Playoff likely at stake.
“This is why we came back: a chance for championships. We’re very, very hungry for this. There is a lot of energy and excitement right now. There are no regrets at all right now.”
Well, there may be just one tiny regret: the 40-17 shellacking the Dogs (11-1) suffered at the hands of the Tigers (10-2) less than three weeks ago for their only blemish on what so far has been Georgia’s best season since 2012.
It was a brutal day for the Bulldogs, who had their worst game of the season being held to a season-low 230 total yards and just 46 yards rushing on 32 carries. Meanwhile, the Tigers piled up 488 yards of offense, including 237 on the ground, both season-highs allowed by the Bulldogs defense.
Carter said, however, that revenge as a motive is not on their minds.
“As a whole, we didn’t play well, especially on defense, and especially me,” he said. “I needed to play better. Any revenge thoughts we have will go away once the hitting starts. After that, it’s just executing and taking care of your responsibilities. I don’t think (revenge) will play a big factor, honestly.”
Junior wide receiver Terry Godwin said the offense is really looking more for redemption that revenge.
“The receivers didn’t get open and that didn’t help (freshman quarterback) Jake (Fromm) or the running game,” Godwin said. “Most of what happened to us were self-inflicted wounds. Just a lot of little things that we needed to do better. I think we’re doing those things now.
“It’s really about us playing our game more than a revenge thing. If we play our game, things will be different for sure.”
However, both Carter and Godwin said the recent familiarity, despite a short week to prepare, could be a factor.
“We have knowledge and a lot of recent film about what they’re going to do so I feel that should help us get better prepared this time,” Godwin said.
“I think that it helps that we played so recently. It’s still in our minds a little,” Carter said. “We’ve seen what they do so now it’s just about making adjustments and executing better.”
One adjustment the Georgia defense will need to make is not falling for the “eye-candy” of the constant motion of the Tigers offense. Oh, and finding a way to stop quarterback Jarrett Stidham and running back Kerryon Johnson, who torched Georgia for 167 yards in the first meeting. Stidham was 16-of-23 for 214 yards and three touchdown passes and kept several key plays alive with his legs.
However, Johnson left last week’s game against Alabama with a shoulder injury, and his status is uncertain for the championship game.
“It is like eye-candy,” Carter said in response to one question about the Tigers offense. “Their offense takes a lot focus with all of that motion and it’s easy to have your eyes in the wrong place. We’re just going to have to keep our eyes focused and be more disciplined than last time.
“As far as (Johnson not playing) you have to prepare for players, especially guys as good as he is, even if you aren’t sure they’re going to play. I’m expecting him to play.”
Godwin said that, Johnson or no Johnson, the Bulldogs will be ready.
“We’re very motivated and focused right now,”he said. “We know we’ll need to bring our A-game because they’re going to bring theirs I’m sure. We have to be ready for anything.
“But I know one thing, we’re a lot better now than we were three weeks ago, especially on offense. We’re excited about our opportunity.”
