Georgia Football: 3 keys to victory for vs. Baylor in Sugar Bowl

1. Find efficient replacements for missing players

As mentioned before, the Bulldogs will be playing without some of their top players of this season. This will leave some former reserves to quickly step in and provide enough support as if those players were participating.

The Bulldogs will have both new starting tackles in left tackle D’Marcus Hayes and right tackle Jamaree Salyer playing. Both players will have to deal with the Bears’ aggressive edge rushers, especially with James Lynch. The best plan to face Lynch is to constantly double team him. Cade Mays will be the replacement for Ben Cleveland for Georgia at the right guard.

Another huge player missing for the Bulldogs is star defensive tackle Tyler Clark, who leads the team in tackles for loss with eight. Clark is the main impact player of the Bulldogs’ defensive line. His absence will be a big loss to a defense that needs to put pressure on Baylor’s dual-threat quarterback Charlie Brewer. Junior Devonte Wyatt is projected to start in place of Clark. The Bulldogs may ultimately provide more blitzers from the inside linebackers.

Outside of Clark, safety J.R. Reed’s absence in the Sugar Bowl will be the most significant. His impact in the passing game as a deep zone coverage player and consistent tackler will be missed. Reed would have been the extra man to cover Mims if he ran too deep.

Senior safety Tyrique McGhee will start in place for Reed. This will put more pressure on their other starting safety in Richard Lecounte III to provide support in the deep passing game.