There will be present, and future early-round draft picks all over the field when Georgia and Alabama clash in a battle of No. 2 vs. No. 3.
The unpredictable nature of this season has yielded few benefits. A regular-season game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs is one of those benefits. There will be plenty of NFL hopefuls on the field this weekend; this is the only game that will feature so many playing on the same field.
Pitt vs. Miami features a battle of future NFL defensive linemen. Pitt’s bookends Rashad Weaver, and Patrick Jones II seek to cause more havoc than Miami’s Quincy Roche and Jaelan Phillips. Kellen Mond seeks to continue his outstanding play when the Aggies face an always tough Mississippi State defense.
However, all eyes will be on Bryant-Denny Stadium for the biggest game of the year so far. Here are some of the players to watch in this marquee matchup.
Can Alabama’s offense shine against Georgia’s “boa constrictor” defense?
DeVonta Smith (1st Round) WR
Smith had the opportunity to leave for the NFL last season but thought the better of leaving early. This season allows him to potentially become the first wide receiver off of the board in the draft. So far, Smith has been the best receiver on the team leading the Crimson Tide in receptions.
The Ohio Native is pretty much a lock for the first round of the NFL Draft. Still, this matchup between Alabama’s receivers and Georiga’s secondary is going to be fun. If there is any knock on Smith, it is physicality. Georgia’s defensive back is going to play close on Alabama’s receivers and be physical. It will be interesting to see if Smith and the Crimson Tide receivers can get in and out of their routes against Georgia’s defensive backs.
Najee Harris, Alabama, (1st-2nd Round) RB
Najee Harris had his best game in his Alabama career against Mississippi. Harris ran for 206 yards and five touchdowns. The holes won’t be as big, and there are few arm tackles between the hedges. This is not a game to necessarily gauge how many yards Harris has. This game is about important plays.
Harris has shown himself valuable in the passing game. How many key blitz pickups will Harris have in this game? If Mac Jones needs a hot read for a first down, Harris needs to pick those up in the passing game. The stat line won’t look like it did against Mississippi, but Harris needs to prove he can make plays in key situations.
Monty Rice, Georgia, (2nd Round) LB
Linebacker Monty Rice has the task of tackling Harris in this game. Rice is an active linebacker who has the ability to play downhill, but Rice can also play sideline to sideline. Rice exemplifies the best attribute of Georgia’s defense, speed. Everyone on that defense, from the linemen to the defensive backs, can run.
Rice is one of those players. The Alabama native has the ability to make plays in the backfield because of his ability to shed blockers at the point of attack. Rice does need to improve his drops in zone defense and pre-snap adjustments. However, Rice has a nose for the football and good instincts for the game.
Devonte Wyatt, Georgia, (3rd Round) DT
Everything with what Georgia likes to do defensively begins upfront. Georgia asks its defensive linemen to be unsung heroes. Their job is to eat blockers to keep their linebackers clean to make plays against the run and ass.
Redshirt senior defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt is a space-eater who takes up space so Georiga’s incredible linebackers can make plays. Wyatt is also strong enough at the point of attack to split blockers and make plays in the backfield either against the run or disrupting the passing game up the middle.
If you like the battle in the trenches, Wyatt versus the interior trio of guard Deonte Brown, center Landon Dickerson and guard Emil Ekiyor should be as physical as it gets on Saturday.
Richard LeCounte, Georgia, (2nd Round) DB
The biggest test for the Georgia defense will be slowing down the Alabama passing attack. Richard LeCounte has to show his versatility in this game. He’s a safety that needs to play in the box, but LeCounte also will be called upon to cover the slot at times in this game. The big question for Kirby Smart and the Georgia defensive staff is “zone or man?”
LeCounte is versatile enough to come into the box and blitz if Smart tries to be aggressive and come after Mac Jones or cover the deep half or third if the Bulldogs decide to play a lot of zone and force Mac Jones to make the correct reads. LeCounte is an as important a player for the Bulldogs defense as any other player on the field.
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