Does Alabama have what it takes to ‘attack’ Georgia’s immovable defense?

It didn’t take long for Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan to watch tape of Georgia opponents hitting explosive plays against the Bulldogs defense this season. Kentucky produced only one two weeks ago, an 18-yard completion in the first quarter. Before then, Clemson and Tennessee Tech also struggled to create big opportunities. Explosive plays —rushes of 12-plus yards and passes of 16-plus — are prime currency in college football. Georgia’s defense is among the best at preventing them, No. 2 in the country (5.2 percent) behind only Tennessee, per TruMedia. The Bulldogs have allowed only nine such plays this season. Georgia is also the only team in college football this year to not allow a touchdown.

On the other side of Saturday’s top-five matchup, Alabama is averaging about 12 explosive plays per game at a rate of 18 percent of its plays, per TruMedia, eighth in the FBS. It has the most touchdowns of 20-plus yards in the country this season (13).

Unstoppable force, meet immovable object.

“They have quality players, I think at all three levels,” Sheridan said.“Long, fast, explosive players. And then on top of that, I think the coaching staff up there does an excellent job. They’re excellent coaches. They have a great system in place, they have years together running that system. So it’s a great challenge.”

It’s a challenge that’s new to some in Alabama’s program, like Sheridan and head coach Kalen DeBoer, but familiar to several returning starters who were a part of Georgia’s last loss, in December 2023. There are elements to take away from that game, but the emphasis this week has been that both teams are new. That is fair considering it’s a new scheme offensively for Alabama. But history gives an indication of what’s needed to best a Georgia defense. Outside of the obvious need to execute, what’s the blueprint?

The first benchmark: 30. Georgia has allowed 30 points just 14 times in coach Kirby Smart’s nine-year tenure, and is 3-11 in those games. Those losses are the vast majority of Smart’s 16 losses at Georgia. That number historically hasn’t applied to Alabama. The Tide own three of the five wins against Smart in which the team scores under 30 points (2017 national championship, 2018 SEC championship, 2023 SEC championship), but it’s the mark the offense should be striving for. Alabama is sixth nationally in scoring at 49 points per game. Georgia is allowing just 6 points per game (No. 3 nationally).

Let’s take a deeper look at teams that have crossed that 30-point threshold. Here are several notable teams to do it, regardless of win or loss:

2017: Georgia 54, Oklahoma 48

2018: Alabama 35, Georgia 28

2019: LSU 37, Georgia 10

2020: Alabama 41, Georgia 24

2020: Florida 44, Georgia 28

2021: Alabama 41, Georgia 24

2022: Georgia 42, Ohio State 41

What did these teams have in common? Elite personnel at basically every position. Every team listed above was led by a quarterback selected in the first or second round in an NFL Draft. Beyond that, there are 22 skill players drafted within the first three rounds on these teams and several first-round offensive linemen. In the above games, teams averaged 10.1 explosive plays per game.

How does 2024 Alabama compare? At quarterback, Jalen Milroe can improve his positioning for the 2025 NFL Draft with a strong performance Saturday. Through the first month of the season, he’s recorded 14 touchdowns and just one turnover.

“He is as different a football player in college football as I’ve played against in a long time,” Smart said Monday.

The Tide don’t have the same skill player talent as the noted teams, part of which is the actual personnel and another part youth. Wide receiver Ryan Williams’ trajectory suggests he’ll be a high pick at some point, but for now it’s a group that doesn’t carry the same cachet. That said, they’ve been productive in limited opportunities this year. Of the regular playing rotation of wide receivers and tight ends, five players average at least 15 yards per catch.

Where any skill player questions offset, and what Alabama learned from its 2023 matchup, is that it does have the requisite offensive line play to create push in the run game and set up the pass. The interior of Alabama’s offensive line is arguably the best in the conference, with Tyler Booker, Parker Brailsford and Jaeden Roberts. If there is anything tangible to take away from Georgia’s 13-12 rock fight with Kentucky, it’s that there are chances in the run game. Alabama’s new-look offense under DeBoer has diversified the rush offense with Milroe being a consistent threat now. He and running backs Justice Haynes and Jam Miller combine to average 7.4 yards per carry with 11 total touchdowns.

“There’s a few ways (to exploit Georgia’s defense),” Miller said. “The main one being inside zone (runs). Of course we have to move Georgia’s defensive line. Then whatever happens, happens.”

Capitalizing on good run plays, particularly on early downs, is critical for success. For as good as Georgia’s defense has been, its one blemish this season is third-down defense (81st nationally, 39 percent).

Sustaining drives and feeding off the home crowd is an important yet underrated detail in Saturday’s game for Alabama. Of the 14 times Georgia’s given up 30 points under Smart, all but one has been away from Athens. Defense travels, but Georgia is more susceptible when it’s away from home.

And if/when Alabama generates momentum Saturday, expect aggressiveness in the play calling. That’s who DeBeor is by nature. It was on display against Wisconsin two weeks ago when he elected to push the ball 70-plus yards downfield with under 30 seconds to play in the first half.  It ended up resulting in a two-play touchdown drive. But that philosophy is what’s needed against this Georgia defense.

How will the Georgia defense approach a second meeting against Milroe? Will it drop back and spy him as it did in December, and hope for better results, or adopt the approach Michigan had in the Rose Bowl by bringing relentless pressure? Georgia holds the ninth-highest blitz rate in the country (45.7 percent of dropbacks) and is second nationally in pressure rate (42.7 percent), per TruMedia.

Whichever way, there’s no secret to how Alabama will try to find success against Georgia’s defense.

“The mentality for our group is attack,” Milroe said. “That’s going to be so important through this game, and acknowledging it’s going to take 60 minutes and embracing the challenge. As a group, we have the mindset that we’re starving, just trying to maximize every rep. That’s the message this week.”

 (Photo of Alabama QB Jalen Milore: Perry McIntyre / ISI Photos / Getty Images)