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</TD><TD class=sport>ESPN.com: College Football</TD><TD align=right>
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Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Updated: October 28, 3:56 PM ET
Gators will rally around Zook
<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>By Tony Granieri
Scouts, Inc.
This clash of SEC East titans represents one of the longest and most storied rivalries in all of college football. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 44-35-2, but the Gators have owned the Cocktail Party recently. Florida has won six straight and 13 of the last 14.
<!---------------------INLINE TABLE (BEGIN)---------------------><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=220 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000">Game Information</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=204></TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="100%"><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=left>
</TD><TD align=middle>vs. </TD><TD align=right>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Who: Florida vs. Georgia (7)
When: Sat., 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Where: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE TABLE (END)--------------------->The Gators enter the game with a lame-duck head coach after university officials announced their intentions to fire Ron Zook at the end of the season. While the situation poses an interesting challenge for the players, a "circle the wagons" mentality seems to be brewing in Gainesville. Can Zook rally his troops and find a way to knock off the hated Bulldogs? If this is his last trip to Jacksonville, nothing would be sweeter than ruining Georgia's chances at an SEC title bid.<OFFER>
When Florida has the ball
Florida run offense vs. Georgia run defense
The Bulldogs' defense is led by DE David Pollack, MLB Odell Thurman and FS Thomas Davis. But the presence of NT Gerald Anderson is what makes the unit so special. At 325 pounds, Anderson has the size to dominate up front. His ability to control the point of attack is a big reason Georgia's run defense is allowing just 2.9 yards per carry. The Gators will try to spread the field to create some space for RB Ciatrick Fason. However, OC Mike Degory will need to handle Anderson without help from his guards for this approach to be effective.
Degory, who weighs 314 pounds, has the necessary combination of size and strength to win this matchup. If he can control Anderson, it will give the Gators an advantage in the ground game. With that in mind, expect Fason to become more involved this week. He carried the ball just 16 times in the loss to Mississippi State and needs to play a bigger role if the Gators are to pull off the upset.
Advantage: Draw
Florida pass offense vs. Georgia pass defense
This might be a game where the passing game is used to set things up for Fason. The Bulldogs are ranked 20th in the nation against the run and have playmakers across their defense. However, the Gators may be able to keep Davis from getting too involved in run support, if QB Chris Leak can get into an early rhythm.
Despite playing free safety, Davis leads the team in tackles and is one of the most physical players in all of college football. The challenge for Leak will be to keep Davis honest without forcing throws downfield. Florida just isn't good enough to overcome turnovers. DC Tim Jennings has a nose for the ball and can make Leak pay if his accuracy doesn't improve. In addition, the Gators' offensive line will need to continue its strong play, working against a Bulldogs' defense that has registered 20 sacks.
Advantage: Florida
When Georgia has the ball
Georgia run offense vs. Florida run defense
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</TD></TR><TR><TD width=275>[font=verdana, arial, geneva]Danny Ware's injury could limit the Bulldogs' ability to run the football.[/font]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Gators, who are allowing 144.6 rushing yards per game, catch a break with RB Danny Ware expected to miss this game with a bruised lung. Ware leads the Bulldogs in rushing attempts, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. If he pulls up lame, his physical presence between the tackles will be missed.
However, fellow freshman standout Thomas Brown has great potential and could have some success against Florida's porous run defense. Brown isn't a bruising runner like Ware, but he has more home-run potential than his counterpart. Florida's defenders better wrap him up, as he has both the elusiveness and speed to turn any missed tackle into a big play.
Advantage: Georgia
Georgia pass offense vs. Florida pass defense
WRs Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown have given opposing secondaries headaches all year. Florida may be one of the only teams in the country capable of shutting them down. DCs Dee Webb and Reynaldo Hill have the athleticism to hold up in man-coverage against Gibson and Brown. In addition, FS Jarvis Herring has developed into a ball hawk. The presence of these three players in the secondary will allow Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong to focus his efforts on getting to QB David Greene.
Greene has been sacked or hurried only 17 times this season, but he has yet to face a secondary with as much talent as the Gators. If Strong can devise ways to get MLB Channing Crowder more involved in the blitz package, Greene may struggle. Crowder has great speed, explodes upfield and can be effective shooting gaps. The onus will fall on Greene to back the Gators off the line of scrimmage by exploiting single-coverage matchups.
Advantage: Draw
Special teams
The Gators are coming off their worst special teams performance of the season against Mississippi State, where they allowed a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. Florida also allowed an average of 25 yards per kickoff return to the Bulldogs, while RS Chad Jackson muffed two punts. The good news is the kicking game remains solid. PK Matt Leach has connected on five of his eight field goal attempts, including a long of 50 yards. P Eric Wilbur is averaging 42.4 yards per attempt and has the ability to kick the Gators out of trouble.
Georgia PK Andy Bailey is second among SEC kickers in scoring with 53 points. He has hit on 10 of 15 field goal attempts, including a long of 40 yards. P Gordon Ely-Kelso is averaging 40.4 yards per punt, and has placed nine of his attempts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Ely-Kelso has also had six attempts go for more than 50 yards. The return duties have been shuffled between Jennings, Tyson Browning and Thomas Flowers. Browning has struggled to hold on to the ball, while Jennings has failed to provide a spark. As a result, Flowers likely will handle most of the returns against Florida.
Advantage: Georgia
Bottom line
No one is quite sure how the Gators will react to the firing of Zook. While Florida has underachieved, it should be fired up and could very well shock the nation. The Gators have won 13 of the last 14 meetings in this series, and they seem to hold a distinct psychological advantage over the Bulldogs.
Georgia will make things interesting with a strong performance from its defense and a couple of big plays from Greene. However, the Gators will be too emotionally charged to lose this game. With pride and respect for Zook fueling their motivation, expect to see a much different Florida team this weekend.
Prediction: Florida 23, Georgia 21 Scouts, Inc., watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN Insider
</TD><TD class=sport>ESPN.com: College Football</TD><TD align=right>
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
Updated: October 28, 3:56 PM ET
Gators will rally around Zook
<HR width="100%" noShade SIZE=1>By Tony Granieri
Scouts, Inc.
This clash of SEC East titans represents one of the longest and most storied rivalries in all of college football. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 44-35-2, but the Gators have owned the Cocktail Party recently. Florida has won six straight and 13 of the last 14.
<!---------------------INLINE TABLE (BEGIN)---------------------><TABLE id=inlinetable cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=3 width=220 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TH style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #000000">Game Information</TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width=204></TH><TR style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ececec" vAlign=top><TD width="100%"><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=left>
</TD><TD align=middle>vs. </TD><TD align=right>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Who: Florida vs. Georgia (7)When: Sat., 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
Where: Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!---------------------INLINE TABLE (END)--------------------->The Gators enter the game with a lame-duck head coach after university officials announced their intentions to fire Ron Zook at the end of the season. While the situation poses an interesting challenge for the players, a "circle the wagons" mentality seems to be brewing in Gainesville. Can Zook rally his troops and find a way to knock off the hated Bulldogs? If this is his last trip to Jacksonville, nothing would be sweeter than ruining Georgia's chances at an SEC title bid.<OFFER>
When Florida has the ball
Florida run offense vs. Georgia run defense
The Bulldogs' defense is led by DE David Pollack, MLB Odell Thurman and FS Thomas Davis. But the presence of NT Gerald Anderson is what makes the unit so special. At 325 pounds, Anderson has the size to dominate up front. His ability to control the point of attack is a big reason Georgia's run defense is allowing just 2.9 yards per carry. The Gators will try to spread the field to create some space for RB Ciatrick Fason. However, OC Mike Degory will need to handle Anderson without help from his guards for this approach to be effective.
Degory, who weighs 314 pounds, has the necessary combination of size and strength to win this matchup. If he can control Anderson, it will give the Gators an advantage in the ground game. With that in mind, expect Fason to become more involved this week. He carried the ball just 16 times in the loss to Mississippi State and needs to play a bigger role if the Gators are to pull off the upset.
Advantage: Draw
Florida pass offense vs. Georgia pass defense
This might be a game where the passing game is used to set things up for Fason. The Bulldogs are ranked 20th in the nation against the run and have playmakers across their defense. However, the Gators may be able to keep Davis from getting too involved in run support, if QB Chris Leak can get into an early rhythm.
Despite playing free safety, Davis leads the team in tackles and is one of the most physical players in all of college football. The challenge for Leak will be to keep Davis honest without forcing throws downfield. Florida just isn't good enough to overcome turnovers. DC Tim Jennings has a nose for the ball and can make Leak pay if his accuracy doesn't improve. In addition, the Gators' offensive line will need to continue its strong play, working against a Bulldogs' defense that has registered 20 sacks.
Advantage: Florida
When Georgia has the ball
Georgia run offense vs. Florida run defense
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However, fellow freshman standout Thomas Brown has great potential and could have some success against Florida's porous run defense. Brown isn't a bruising runner like Ware, but he has more home-run potential than his counterpart. Florida's defenders better wrap him up, as he has both the elusiveness and speed to turn any missed tackle into a big play.
Advantage: Georgia
Georgia pass offense vs. Florida pass defense
WRs Fred Gibson and Reggie Brown have given opposing secondaries headaches all year. Florida may be one of the only teams in the country capable of shutting them down. DCs Dee Webb and Reynaldo Hill have the athleticism to hold up in man-coverage against Gibson and Brown. In addition, FS Jarvis Herring has developed into a ball hawk. The presence of these three players in the secondary will allow Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong to focus his efforts on getting to QB David Greene.
Greene has been sacked or hurried only 17 times this season, but he has yet to face a secondary with as much talent as the Gators. If Strong can devise ways to get MLB Channing Crowder more involved in the blitz package, Greene may struggle. Crowder has great speed, explodes upfield and can be effective shooting gaps. The onus will fall on Greene to back the Gators off the line of scrimmage by exploiting single-coverage matchups.
Advantage: Draw
Special teams
The Gators are coming off their worst special teams performance of the season against Mississippi State, where they allowed a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown. Florida also allowed an average of 25 yards per kickoff return to the Bulldogs, while RS Chad Jackson muffed two punts. The good news is the kicking game remains solid. PK Matt Leach has connected on five of his eight field goal attempts, including a long of 50 yards. P Eric Wilbur is averaging 42.4 yards per attempt and has the ability to kick the Gators out of trouble.
Georgia PK Andy Bailey is second among SEC kickers in scoring with 53 points. He has hit on 10 of 15 field goal attempts, including a long of 40 yards. P Gordon Ely-Kelso is averaging 40.4 yards per punt, and has placed nine of his attempts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. Ely-Kelso has also had six attempts go for more than 50 yards. The return duties have been shuffled between Jennings, Tyson Browning and Thomas Flowers. Browning has struggled to hold on to the ball, while Jennings has failed to provide a spark. As a result, Flowers likely will handle most of the returns against Florida.
Advantage: Georgia
Bottom line
No one is quite sure how the Gators will react to the firing of Zook. While Florida has underachieved, it should be fired up and could very well shock the nation. The Gators have won 13 of the last 14 meetings in this series, and they seem to hold a distinct psychological advantage over the Bulldogs.
Georgia will make things interesting with a strong performance from its defense and a couple of big plays from Greene. However, the Gators will be too emotionally charged to lose this game. With pride and respect for Zook fueling their motivation, expect to see a much different Florida team this weekend.
Prediction: Florida 23, Georgia 21 Scouts, Inc., watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN Insider
