The Players to watch for Alabama vs Georgia
It’s the biggest game of the season, and it’s probably the biggest game of most regular seasons since the LSU vs Alabama 9-6 debacle in 2011.
So who are the players to watch?
GEORGIA
Stetson Bennett (QB): Bennett has been the perfect game manager since coming on in the second half of the Arkansas game. To say the least, he’s been an amazing success, throwing for 958 yards and 5 TDS. He’s not been spectacular, but he’s one of the most accurate passers in the country, with a QB rating of 93.5. He hasn’t thrown an interception either. He’ll face an Alabama secondary that was ripped to piece by Ole Miss last week, and is definitely trying to find itself. If Georgia can get him the time, he’ll flourish.
Kearis Jackson (WR): George Pickens got a lot of talk after an excellent freshman year in 2020, but Jackson has been downright sensational this season. He’s already up to 300 yards receiving, although he’s got just the one touchdown. That’s because usually within the 10-15 yard range, the ball’s given to Zamir White (4 TDs) to trundle the ball into the end-zone. And more’s the case, he’s a better catcher than Pickens (he grabs them 73% of the time, compared to Pickens’ 50, although both WRs haven’t had any drops).
Monty Rice (LB): The fifth-year senior has been downright filthy this season, leading the Dawgs in tackles. He’s also defended a pass and has a forced fumble. He will be primed to add to a body to attempt to stop Najee Harris.
Richard Lecounte III (DB): The future NFL first rounder has done nothing to make the scouts differently, grabbing two interceptions this season. And this is despite the fact that quarterbacks will actively throw away from him. That also loosens up fellow DB Eric Stokes to get on the fun. It’s should be fascinating how LeCounte copes with Alabama’s highly dangerous wide receiving trio of Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith and John Metchie – all of them have about the same amount of yards received).
ALABAMA
Mac Jones (QB): If we’re honest, we were a bit skeptical of Jones getting the ball instead of freshman sensation Bryce Young, but right now, Jones looks like a Heisman candidate in this wide-open, soooo much fun to watch offense. He’s thrown for 1,100 yards and 8 Touchdowns already, but if he can have a Joe Burrow moment (which was – ironically – against Alabama year) against this defense, we could be talking about a New York entry. He’ll have to face the best rush he’s faced so far, and his offense will be pushed to continue their average of just one sack given up per game.
Najee Harris (RB): Harris has been nothing short of brilliant this season. Helped by an offense that’s passing it more so it’s not sticking everything on his head at the moment, he’s still been able to stack up the touchdowns (10), although not necessarily the yards (347). But he’s also a receiving threat for Alabama on the short pass.
John Metchie (WR): OK, so Waddle and Devonta Smith get most of the plaudits and will be listed by College Gameday as “the ones to watch”, but Metchie is under-the-radar. I mean, as a sophomore who’s put up an astonishing 298 yards on just ELEVEN receptions. He’s got TDs. Talk about a speedster.
Dylan Moses (LB): This is more with a critical eye than anything else. Moses was so embarrassed by the fact that Ole Miss flew by the Alabama D last week that he started blaming Lane Kiffin for stealing defensive signals (Kiffin basically replied: “It’s not our fault that you can’t keep up the speed of our signal-calling). Moses was part of a goddawful defensive performance where the defense gave up countless defensive tackles and blew a laughable amount of defensive assignments. The defense – of which he’s a captain – was tragic on third down (Ole Miss converted 9 of 17 from there, but the average distance they had to convert was 8.8 yards, which means either Alabama got complacent or was incompetent). Moses might not be THE problem, but he’s a symptom of it. And it’s not done his NFL Draft stock any good, either.
Jordan Battle (DB): We expect Battle to lined up against Jackson all night, because he’s the best secondary player Alabama has got (that’s not saying much, but still). If Battle can win the, er, battle against Jackson, then Alabama’s defensive schemes might find some sort of life. He may also be asked to come and blitz to stop Georgia’s very healthy run game.