Tony Taylor now the surprise interception leader for Bulldogs

ATHENS - No Georgia linebacker has finished a season with the outright team lead in interceptions since Keith Harris in 1973.

Tony Taylor has moved into position to end that streak.

Taylor, a senior, began the year with three career interceptions. He has more than doubled that total this season and leads Georgia with four, including interceptions in each of the last three games.

Taylor, perhaps the team's most valuable player, also leads Georgia with 63 total tackles, 42 solo stops and two forced fumbles.

Safety Tra Battle has two interceptions and no other Georgia player has picked off more than one pass this season.

The interceptions were not expected, but Taylor's lead role on defense is not a surprise. His 31 career starts are the most of any player on defense, and he has started at each of the three linebacker spots during his career.

When asked about the senior leadership on the team, coach Mark Richt said Taylor and defensive end Quentin Moses don't talk a lot but set the lead by example.

``I'm real proud of Tony,'' Richt said. ``Tony and Quentin, they don't like to be out front. They don't like to be the spokesperson. They like to show up and get the job done every single day. That's all the leadership I need from those guys.''

Added Richt: ``They have stepped up verbally a little bit, but I think it's a little bit out of their comfort zone.''

Taylor helped lead a comeback of sorts by the defense in last week's 21-14 loss to Florida. Richt said the renewed spirit of the defense helped spark a comeback attempt by the offense.

Taylor had seven tackles, including two for losses, a forced fumble, an interception and three quarterback pressures in the game.

``He makes everyone else want to play harder just by seeing him go out there and play how he does,'' said cornerback Paul Oliver.

Taylor began his streak of games with interceptions by returning an interception 24 yards for a touchdown against Vanderbilt on Oct. 14.

``To see Tony play like he's been playing has really been exciting,'' Richt said.

Taylor plays the same weakside linebacker spot where his father, Nate Taylor, was a four-year starter at Georgia from 1979-82. Nate Taylor's 390 career tackles ranks fifth on the school's all-time list. Tony Taylor has 239 career tackles.

Harris led Georgia with three interceptions in the 1973 season.

DIXON MOVES UP: A season of change at one defensive tackle spot will continue this week as senior Dale Dixson moves up as a starter. Kade Weston, a redshirt freshman, started the first five games at the position, and Ray Gant, a senior, started the last three weeks.

Dixson made one start last year.

Richt said Gant and Weston also will play, ``but Dale deserved to start.''

NINE AND COUNTING: This is Georgia's 10th straight game without an open week. Georgia plays at No. 6 Auburn next week before it finally has its only break of the season.

Georgia was left with 11 straight games without an open week when the NCAA agreed to add a 12th regular-season game to schedules. Georgia athletic director Damon Evans is still trying to add a 12th game for the 2007 season.

``Everybody is tired across the nation, not just Georgia,'' Richt said.

INJURIES: Offensive guard Chester Adams (ankle) and split end Mohamed Massaquoi (hamstring) are questionable this week with injuries. Michael Turner already has been named as a starter ahead of Adams. Massaquoi is listed as the top backup to starting split end Demiko Goodman.