KNOW YOUR ENEMY: Five questions with Bulldog Maven's Brooks Austin
What better way to prepare for one of the country's most complete teams than by getting intel from someone familiar with the situation?
Stealing a page from Gator Maven's playbook, we at Vol Maven are ecstatic to welcome in Brooks Austin, Sports Illustrated's insider for everything that pertains to Georgia athletics.
Brooks is a self-proclaimed "washed-up" football player that earned a Master's degree in Business. Now, he's back to doing what he knows best, and in his words, that's "talking ball."
Brooks is new to the Georgia beat and spent his childhood cheering for the Bulldogs.
You can view all of Brooks' work at Bulldog Maven and you can follow him on Twitter @BrooksAustinSI. Let's get to the Q&A!
1. We all know how talented Georgia is offensively, but what stands out to you most about the Bulldogs on the defensive end?
Brooks: If there's one thing that stands out on Georgia's defensive end, it has to be the depth from top to bottom. Georgia has had 42 defensive players record at least 1 tackle through the first four games. You will several young players rotate in at key positions as well. Freshman Nolan Smith, Travon Walker, and Nakobe Dean see their fair share amount of snaps. Schematically they want to force the opponent to drive the length of the field, playing gap control defense from a 4-2-5 set.
2. How does Jake Fromm compare now to this point a year ago when Tennessee and Georgia faced off?
Brooks: Coach Smart talked all offseason about how as a quarterback returning for his third year starting the position, it's not necessarily his play that needed improvement, but Smart wanted to see the impact Fromm has on his teammates increase. So, you'll see a leader in even more command of his offense. Constantly correcting alignments and keeping Georgia's offense in the correct play at all times. Fromm's stat lines will never be astronomical, so statistically, there hasn't been that much improvement, and stylistically Georgia's identity on offense has remained the same.
3. Georgia hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown all season. Tennessee's meal ticket offensively is utilizing running backs Ty Chandler and Eric Gray. Which will overcome the other?
Brooks: You know, last season the Georgia Bulldogs defense allowed 134 yards per game on the ground, so it was certainly an area of concern headed into the offseason. However, the only problem about being a team that is always trying to run first, that mentality only serves its purpose when you are in the game. Not to mention, this Georgia defense has proven to be stout against the run this season (though the rushing attacks haven't been exactly murderers row), allowing just 57 YPG on the ground this season.
4. What area should head coach Kirby Smart be most concerned with in regards to the Vols?
Brooks: Look if you're going to beat Georgia this season you better stop the run and win the turnover margin. So, Kirby Smart and staff will attack this game with the same motto they do every Saturday, run the ball, win the line of scrimmage, and protect the football. If there's ever an area of concern, Smart tends to lead on that it's with doing their job not what the opponent is doing.
That being said, as we speak Georgia has three corners, all of which have made starts this season, in Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes, and D.J. Daniel that will be questionable for Saturday's game. If Tennessee can create a few big plays, they could have a chance.
5. Score prediction?
Brooks: I tend to avoid predicting a blowout between SEC opponents, it's just not a safe practice. And this week won't be any different for me. It's reasonable to say that despite only being 16 games into his coaching stint at Tennessee, Jeremy Pruitt's seat is getting a little warm. And with a 1-3 start, and two out of the next three coming against UGA & Bama, it's safe to say he and his staff are properly motivated. A respectable 35-14, Georgia.
