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By now it’s no secret that the Georgia Bulldogs are going to run the ball heavily against opponents this year.
That’s thanks to a triumvirate of Nick Chubb, Keith Marshall and Sony Michel, who have each scored 12 points this season. But Georgia is more than a one-dimensional squad. They’ll have to be when South Carolina arrives in Athens for a Week 3 throw-down against the rival Gamecocks.
South Carolina, conversely, is ironing out some early-season kinks of their own — most notably along an offense that has lacked big plays in their first two games and has scored just two rushing touchdowns.
Here’s a look at five players to watch when Georgia and South Carolina meet for the 63rd time (43-17-2 Bulldogs) in Week 3 at Sanford Stadium.
1. Georgia LB Jordan Jenkins — Jordan Jenkins had a monster game in Week 2 against Vanderbilt, including 11 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 5 quarterback hurries. The senior anchors a Bulldogs defense that has seven players with at least 10 tackles. With South Carolina’s aerial attack struggling and the Gamecocks looking to rely on their running game, Jenkins and the Georgia front seven will be ready to shut down the likes of Brandon Wilds, David Williams and Shon Green.
2. South Carolina QB Perry Orth — Perry Orth is now the main man in Columbia as starter Connor Mitch appears to be shelved for 4-to-6 weeks with a shoulder injury he suffered while trying to recover a fumble in the Gamecocks’ 26-22 loss to Kentucky. If that wasn’t bad enough, Mitch was hospitalized until Wednesday with a hip-bruise infection, also suffered in the Gamecocks’ loss to the Wildcats.
Orth filled in admirably in Mitch’s absence, connecting on 13 of 20 passes for 179 yards. The junior didn’t get the win, but will get a chance in Week 3 when he gets his first career start. Orth’s journey to the South Carolina high country was an interesting one. The quarterback was granted a scholarship this summer after transferring to Steve Spurrier’s program early in 2013. He served as a walk-on for two years in a limited backup role, but dueled with Mitch this summer right down to a week prior to the season’s kickoff before the Head Ball Coach chose his Week 1 starter.
#UGA‘s Mark Richt compliments #SouthCarolina‘s QB Orth: “tough … great passer” #SCvsUGA
— Bulldawg Illustrated (@ecdawg_BI) September 15, 2015
3. Georgia QB Greyson Lambert — Greyson Lambert didn’t solidify his role as Georgia’s starting quarterback in Week 2, starting off the game by misfiring on his first seven passes. The junior transfer from Virginia admitted after the Bulldogs’ win over Vanderbilt that he struggled at times picking up stunts and blitzes that he should have known were coming, according to Macon’s The Telegraph. He finished the game with a trivial 116 yards passing (11-of-21) and was sacked once. Still, the Bulldogs are 2-0 on the year with Lambert under center and have a decent chance of grabbing two quick divisional wins in the season’s first three weeks. Georgia head coach Mark Richt is preaching patience and isn’t ready to give up on his quarterback … yet.
Coach Schottenheimer said Greyson Lambert will start but has told Brice Ramsey and Faton Bauta “to be ready” — Anthony Dasher (@AnthonyDasher1) September 16, 2015
4. South Carolina LB Skai Moore – Junior Skai Moore is the undisputed leader of the Gamecocks defense. Moore has a knack for making a big play when needed. In Week 2 against Kentucky it was Moore snaring a Patrick Towles pass inside the Wildcats’ 20-yard line and returning it to the goal line. The pick was his third of the season, ranking him tops in the SEC and tied with four other players for first in the nation. Without Moore’s two interceptions against North Carolina in Week 1, South Carolina very well could be 0-2 entering their Week 3 matchup against Georgia. The team’s leading tackler (19 tackles), Moore has potentially two dozen college games left to snag the five interceptions he needs to pass Bo Davies on the Gamecocks’ all-time list. Despite the fact that Moore has more interceptions (3) than the entire Gamecocks wide receivers corps has touchdown catches (2), issues on defense also plagued South Carolina against Kentucky.
Skai Moore on what went wrong in the first half- “Tackling. That’s all I can really say.”
— Matt Connolly (@MattatTheState) September 13, 2015
5. Georgia WR Isaiah McKenzie – Isaiah McKenzie picked up where he left off last year returning a punt 77 yards for Georgia’s opening score in their 31-14 Week 2 win over the Vanderbilt. McKenzie is a threat to score every time he touches the ball. The sophomore has three returns this season for 89 yards (29.7 yards per return), ranking him sixth in the nation, tied with Jamal Golden of Georgia Tech. For context, Christian Kirk of Texas A&M leads the SEC and the nation with 37.3 ypr. Mckenzie set the Bulldogs’ program record as a freshman with two punt returns for a score and the most touchdown returns (3) in a single season. The Miami native will have his work cut out for him in Week 3 against South Carolina. The Gamecocks’ special teams ranks No. 20 in the country in kick return defense, yielding an average of 16.5 yards per return.
Chris Wuensch is a contributing writer for Saturday Down South. He covers South Carolina and Tennessee.
