ATLANTA — Nearly from the moment that Kirby Smart was announced as Georgia’s head coach almost two years ago, his motto for the Dogs and Dawg Nation has been a simple one:
‘Attack the Day.’
Fans packing Sanford Stadium on Saturday game days see it, and hear straight from Smart’s mouth every time the hype video begins moments before kickoff.
If ever there was a time for fans, players, and coaches to embrace and adhere to that moment, it is now.
Georgia, cuurrently sixth in the College Football Playoff rankings, takes on No. 2 Auburn Saturday in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium (4 p.m. kickoff) in the SEC Championship game with not just a shot at their first SEC title since 2005, but also for what most experts believe is a berth in the upcoming CFP Final Four.
The Dogs were pushed around and humiliated by the Tigers 40-17 back on Nov. 11 in a raucous Jordan-Hare Stadium. Anyone and everyone wearing red and black is looking for redemption.
The Dogs can get it. But a few changes will need to be in order.
First and foremost, they need to reestablish one of the nation’s best rushing attacks. Nick Chubb and Sony Michel were rendered virtually null-and-void in the first meeting managing just 46 yards on 32 carries. But, Georgia’s offensive line has revamped with redshirt-freshman Ben Cleveland (a 6-foot-6, 340-pound Stephens County grad) inserted at right guard along with true freshman Andrew Thomas (6-5, 320) at right tackle. The pair of behemoths are athletic and have shown over the past three starts they can be trusted to open huge holes.
The wide receivers, led by senior Javon Wims, need to get open to help open up the run game. Maybe offensive coordinator Jim Chaney can find somewhere in his playbook a few screen passes to Michel or even some to the slew of talented tight ends (Buford’s Isaac Nauta and Rabun County’s Charlie Woerner to name two)?
The defense, however, will need to follow Smart’s motto more than any unit. They played soft and passive in the first meeting while the Tigers chewed them up for 488 total yards, 237 on the ground, both season-highs against Bulldogs defense.
They need to attack not only the day but anything wearing even a smidge of orange. If anything with orange moves, they need hit it hard. Blitzing early and often to get Jarrett Stidham out of his comfort-zone could go a long way because junior running back Kerryon Johnson is a game-time decision with a banged up shoulder. Johnson leads the SEC in yards-from-scrimmage but if he can’t go an attacking Georgia defense that can make Stidham ineffective can win the day.
But what these litter of dogs could use more than anything is a crowd that is as hungry as they seem to be. Being on neutral ground with a red-and-black throng that should be at least 50/50 could be a huge factor in keeping the Tigers from getting on an emotional roll like they did three weeks ago.
Just as Smart does every Saturday home game, Georgia fans let me say it for him today:
“It’s Saturday! Carpe diem!”
