UGA’s Sudden Transformation

The short answer is Knowshon Moreno. The longer answer is a nice article on espn.com.

The Bulldogs (10-2) averaged 37.2 points over their last five games, scoring more than 30 four times and more than 40 three times. They stroll into what should be a wide-open Allstate Sugar Bowl affair with Hawaii, having won six straight games and playing some of the best football in the country.

So why the sudden transformation, you ask?

The easy answer is Moreno, who joined Herschel Walker as one of only two players in Georgia history to rush for 1,000 yards as a freshman. The only other freshman runners in the SEC to rush for more yards than Moreno (1,273 yards) are Jamal Lewis and Emmitt Smith.

The Sugar Bowl is going to be a dangerous test for the Bulldogs. I do not think Hawaii is that good; the 12-0 record was against a bunch of nobodies. Georgia feels slighted that they were bumped by LSU and Oklahoma in the standings, so what happens if the team is not motivated? Mack Brown solved the problem for Texas, with great results in this year’s Holiday Bowl. Hope Mark Richt can do the same for the Bulldogs.

What needs to happen for the Dawgs to win? It is a fairly simple formula. A healthy dose of Moreno and Thomas Brown will control the clock, and protect the defense from Hawaii’s passing attack. Matthew Stafford has to play a smart game. Keep it simple; use the run to open up a few deep routes, without forcing the issue.

Georgia has seen this before. Boise State came into Athens a couple of years ago as the end all be all, and the Dawgs took care of business. This time it is Hawaii that is the “Georgia better watch out for this one” team, but it really should not be much of a match. If the Dawgs are motivated.

Go Dawgs!

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