The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current, September 24, 2010, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page Text10 Friday, Septkmbsh a4, 80jo| Tag Rkp a Black IN THE HUNT Georgia and Mississippi State are bojh winless in the SEC. Both teams have been beat soundly by a conference opponent and both teams have put up a fight and lost against another SEC foe, leaving both programs at 1-2. While Georgia is 0-2 for the first time in the SEC in 17 * years, Mississippi State has started 0-2 in conference play seven out of the last 11 seasons. Now, both Bulldog squads will battle it out for that coveted first SEC win, and the numbers show the teams may have more in common than a mascot: GEORGIA TOUCHDOWNS: 9 YARDS PER CARRY: 3.7 YARDS PER CATCH: .13.3 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 40 percent 6PPONENT 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 38 percent fig CovartsT Mmiwin Stat* Srom Commukkatkws (Above) Mississippi State running back Vick Ballard fra i %m \ a \\ \ \ ) \ y 'DARK Aw 1 j • ' ' il Fnmnv, ScPTEmncn 21th, ► Free for sturerts /jjf^ - ’ r rnr - T 88^. T § JR |BHjL MHK7 WES BLANKENSHIP iTnto, Buck (Above) Georgia running back Washaun Ealey MISSISSIPPI STATE TOUCHDOWNS: 10 YARDS PER CARRY: 3.9 YARDS PER CATCH: 13.4 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 45 percent OPPONENT 3RD DOWN CONVERSIONS: 34 percent FIRST & GOAL Aaron Murray vs. Mississippi State’s secondary Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray has taken good care of the ball so far this season throwing just two interceptions with no fumbles lost especially considering the 6-foot-l, 209-pounder was sacked six times last week. But if Murray is forced to scramble as much as he did against Arkansas, he could be forced to make throws he shouldn’t, which could cause problems against a sec ondary that has allowed 150.3 yards per game. Led by cornerbacks Nickoe Whitley and Maurice Langston, Mississippi State's secondary has registered three inter ceptions and held LSU to just 97 yards through the air. Murray needs to continue to respect the football, trust his instincts and use the weapons around him to avoid mistakes. In the loss to Arkansas, Georgia gave up crucial third and long con versions on three of Arkansas’ five scoring drives - ail of which came through the air. The defense simply gave up too many big plays in too many key situations. Mississippi State’s offense has rattled off three 50-plus yard plays for touchdowns. With the hopes of carrying over last week’s fourth quarter momentum, the defense must get pressure on duel-threat man Chris Relf, stop his run game and contain the passing games of both Relf and backup quarterback Tyler Russell. When the defense cre ates third and long situations, it needs to get the stop and get off the field, especially since Mississippi State is 5-of-5 in the redzone (all touchdowns) and opponents have scored against Georgia every time they’ve gotten in the redzone. Georgia’s offensive line vs. Mississippi State’s defensive line Aaron Murray was sacked too many times last week. Though the pass protection, was decent for the majority of the game, Murray was' sacked on crucial third downs for lost yardage. As the most experienced unit on Georgia’s offense, Clint Boling and the rest of the offensive line have still managed to allow one more sack on the season than Georgia’s defense has registered. And the opportunity to exploit Mississippi State’s seemingly weaker run defense especially with Washaun Ealey and Caleb King both in the lineup Georgia’s big men will have to impose their will on defensive end Pernell McPhee and the rest of the defensive linemen to dominate the line of scrimmage, an expectation for the season Georgia has not yet met. THE KEY MATCHUPS: Bulldogs vs. Bulldogs Georgia defense vs. The Big Play RUSSELL Rachel G. Bowers

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The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.) 1893-current, September 24, 2010, Page 10, Image 10