“Excellent” became the go-to word for Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan when describing Georgia’s defense.
In one response alone, he used the word four times and continued to use it in other answers as well.
“I think they’re excellent,” Sheridan said. “When you break them down, a lot stands out, but primarily, they have talented players at every level. They’re long, fast, and explosive. Plus, their coaching staff does an excellent job. They’re excellent coaches with a solid system that they’ve been running for years. It’s a great challenge—they’re excellent.”
Sheridan isn’t overstating the case. Georgia currently ranks fourth in total defense, allowing just 202 yards per game. They are the only team in the top 10 of total defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown this season.
Sheridan’s offense aims to change that this weekend. No. 4 Alabama will meet No. 1/2 Georgia on Saturday (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC) at Bryant-Denny Stadium. While the two programs have met before, this will mark Kalen DeBoer’s first encounter with Georgia as the Crimson Tide’s head coach.
“I have immense respect for Coach (Kirby) Smart and what he’s accomplished at Georgia with their consistent success,” DeBoer said.
Here’s what Alabama’s coaching staff had to say about Georgia’s offense and defense.
The Georgia defense
Safety Malaki Starks leads a standout Georgia defense. A consensus All-American in 2023, Starks is already having a strong season this year.
Sheridan highlighted Starks’ versatility, again emphasizing his key term.
“He can play near the line of scrimmage, or he can drop into the deep middle of the field,” Sheridan said. “He’s excellent in man coverage. I think he’s an excellent football player, and with his experience in their system, they can move him around in different personnel groupings, and he excels in all areas.”
Starks anchors a Georgia pass defense that will aim to contain Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe. Georgia’s pass defense currently ranks No. 1 in the nation, allowing only 91.3 yards per game.
“They play tight coverage, mix up their defensive looks, and can rush to pressure the quarterback,” Sheridan said. “I think both the back end and the front end of their defense complement each other really well, making it a tough challenge.”
The Georgia offense
Alabama defensive coordinator Kane Wommack described Mike Bobo’s offense as “efficient” and noted its ability to keep defenses off-balance.
“He’s aggressive, takes shots, keeps you guessing, and has clearly committed to running the football as well,” Wommack said.
Wommack reserved his highest praise for Georgia quarterback Carson Beck.
“He’s as good as it gets in college football right now,” Wommack said of Beck. “He’s incredibly efficient with his decision-making, rarely takes sacks, and almost never turns the ball over. He protects the football well. His accuracy in the intermediate passing game is impressive, with a quick release and great decision-making. The more I watch him — and I’ve probably seen every game from the past couple of years — the more impressed I am.”
While Georgia’s offense hasn’t been as statistically dominant as its defense, it’s still been effective. They struggled in a 13-point effort against Kentucky, but overall, it’s a difficult unit to defend. The Bulldogs rarely turn the ball over and have only allowed Beck to be sacked once. Beck has yet to throw an interception this season.
“They do a great job of minimizing risk for their quarterback,” Wommack added. “They get the ball out quickly, establish the run, and use the perimeter early. They will take shots downfield, often early in the game, but you have to find the right balance between playing sound coverage and preventing the quarterback from sitting in the pocket and picking you apart with long-developing plays.”
