Ole Miss: What to watch for?

More Bailey, please. (image: Hipple)

Basically, Tony Barnhart asks the question that is on everyone's mind. Will UGA be ready on Saturday? We're faster, deeper, stronger and more talented than Ole Miss. The Rebels are a team that has only four wins against BCS teams since Orgeron arrived:

2007 - zero (1 total win)
2006 - 2: Vandy and MSU (4 total wins)
2005 - 1: Kentucky (3 total wins)

Last year, we were a couple of calls in our favor away from being in an incredibly uncomfortable situation with the Rebels at the end of the game. We came out flat and the offense and special teams played incredibly poorly last year as we were still in transition between QBs.

This year, there is no ambiguity offensively as it relates to who our QB or star performers are. Georgia is playing with confidence overall, and we have momentum going into the game. We simply need to come out wide awake and obliterate the Rebels. But will we?

Things I'd like to see:

1. More Sean Bailey and Mo Mass. Both are having an exceptional year catching the ball and (in Massaquoi's case) blocking. I'd love to see less substitutions and more catches for our primary guys. Balance is great, but let's let our stars shine more brightly.

2. Defensive Stops that Matter. As Chip Towers asked in his blog, what do we make of the UGA defense? They have pretty good stats. However, for the second year in a row they are struggling to get teams off the field with the game on the line (See SC '07, Bama '07, UK '06 and Vandy '06 for shining examples).

3. This blog acknowledge the season Marcus Howard is having: I have b*tched about his size all season. I said (either here or privately) that I expected Bama to line up behind Andre Smith and drive his 225 lb rear end into the turf. But you know what? That didn't happen. He held up pretty well. He deserves more credit from all corners of the Dawg Nation. Including this one.

Basically, I want to see us come out and really set the tone for next week. We need momentum going into Knoxville because we're facing a wounded animal next week that has had an off week to get healthy and regroup.

As a friend of the blog stationed in Knoxville said, (paraphrase)"There are 10 coaches up here fighting to keep their jobs and put food on their table. If Georgia wins this game, UT's season may unravel and folks are going to get fired. We have to be ready to match their desperation fueled intensity."

What are you looking forward to seeing?

See Also:
-- Trap Game! - Get the Picture (great Dooley impression included)
-- Q&A with Bobo - Ching
-- The Ole Miss Running Game - DawgsSports
-- The Ole Miss Passing Game - DawgSports
-- Changing at the Guard - ABH

PWD

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