ATHENS, Ga. (AP) -No deep analysis is required to see that Georgia’s offensive line is headed toward a tough matchup at LSU.
For the most part, it’ll be Georgia’s underclassmen against the Tigers’ upperclassmen.
Georgia’s offensive line includes three freshmen and two sophomores. It has no seniors or juniors on its depth chart – starters or backups.
LSU lists five seniors, two juniors and a sophomore on its two-deep list of defensive linemen. At least three seniors are likely to start on the four-man line.
The quick summation from coach Mark Richt isn’t encouraging for Georgia fans: “Their youngest guy matches our oldest guy. … When you look on paper, it is pretty scary.”
There may be one area where the units are even in the important SEC matchup between No. 9 Georgia and No. 11 LSU on Saturday: Each will carry momentum into the game.
nd Vanderbilt.
“They’re just still feeling their way around a little bit, but I like the way they’re playing,” Richt said of assistant coach Stacy Searels’ line. “I don’t think they feel like they’re rookies anymore. They’ve played enough that they’re not nervous going into a game.”
Searels came to Georgia last season after coaching LSU’s line for four years.
He’s had to coach his way around more than just a lack of experience. Georgia lost its top lineman, left tackle Trinton Sturdivant, to a season-ending knee injury in preseason drills. Another starting left tackle, Vince Vance, was lost for the season to a knee injury two weeks ago against Tennessee.
Searels has used four combinations of starters.
A complicating factor was injuries to tight ends Tripp Chandler and Bruce Figgins that forced Richt to move Kiante Tripp, the starting left tackle in the first three games, to tight end. Tripp returned to tackle after Vance’s injury, but the moves disrupted his momentum.
“The whole thing is wearing on him a little bit,” Richt said Wednesday. “It’s not easy to be going from one position to another, especially when it’s drastic. It’s one thing to go from left tackle to right tackle. It’s another to go from tackle to tight end.”
ked by guards Cordy Glenn, another true freshman, and Chris Davis, a sophomore.
“We’re going to need the line, the running backs, the tight ends, everybody to help out, because it’s the best D-line we’re going to play all year long,” senior fullback Brannan Southerland said.
The line has played well enough for Georgia to lead the SEC with its average of almost 430 yards per game, and rank third in the league with almost 32 points per game.
“They have a really talented offensive line, so we just can’t go in there trying to win just off experience,” said LSU senior defensive end Tyson Jackson, who is second in the SEC with 4 1/2 sacks, including two against South Carolina.
“But experience does play a major role, especially on the defensive line, where sometimes we can communicate without even talking out there. That’s a big advantage because you’re not giving the offensive line a heads-up on what’s about to happen next.”
Georgia’s offensive linemen don’t look like rookies. Glenn is 6-foot-5 and 331 pounds, Anderson is listed at 6-foot-5 and 338 pounds. Jones also tops 300 pounds.
study the film, study our opponent and see what opportunities and what advantages we can get.”
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