Dawgs Ready For Tennessee

FOOTBALL

The Dawgs are on the road this week in Knoxville, Tennessee to take on the Vols in Neyland Stadium before an expected sellout crowd of 100,000-plus fans, kickoff is at 12:21 pm.

Tennessee leads the all-time series with the Dawgs, 20-16-2 overall and 8-6-1 at home, but the Dawgs have won five of the eight meetings since Richt took the helm of the program in 2001 including three of the last four games in Knoxville.

The first question addressed by coach Mark Richt before Thursday's practice was who the starting tailback would be with redshirt sophomore Caleb King out with a concussion and fracture in his jaw. Richard Samuel will start and split the carries with true freshman Washaun Ealey, who rushed for 33 yards on eight carries in his Dawg debut last week against fourth-ranked LSU, he has done well this week in practice preparing to play the Vols.

One of the featured matchups looks to be Tennessee’s offensive line versus the Dawg’s defensive front. “They’ve had a few injuries but they got five guys that play together on the line and do as good a job as anybody, and it will test us,” said Richt. Tennessee has allowed just six sacks through five games and they did not allow a sack last week in the loss to Auburn. Meanwhile, UT running backs are averaging five yards per attempt, which ranks fourth in the SEC.

Linebacker Rennie Curran

On the defense being on the field so much the last game:

It is just something you have to continue to be positive about. Not everybody is going to have their best day every game and at the same time you have to keep working hard, encouraging your guys and trusting each other. We are all in this together so we just have to improve on the little things and details because sometimes that what it is. All it takes is for one guy to not do something right and the whole entire unit will not do well.

On how close the team is to playing a complete game:

We are real close. If you watch us on film there is really only a few things that hold us back. Like I said, it's all about details and about every single guy doing things right on every play.

On some things going wrong every week:

Most of the time it is the same thing. Guys are not focusing when they are tired. The most apparent thing is when the fatigue sets in because guys start making mistakes that they normally wouldn't.

On Tennessee's offensive line:

Their line is senior-driven and they have guys that have had a lot of experience. They have backs that can carry the load as well. They got two very talented backs that can break tackles and make things happen if you let him.

On both UGA and UT being unranked playing each other for the first time since 1937:

Well it's a huge game every time our two teams meet up. There is a lot of tradition involved, a lot of emotions and goals that can be achieved for whoever wins. It is going to be a big game for both teams.

Injury Report:

Not traveling to Knoxville:

Caleb King - Concussion and Fractured Jaw
Tavarres King - Concussion
Akeem Dent - Hamstring
Marcus Dowtin - Finger