Greg McElroy evaluates how explosive plays will factor into Alabama vs. Georgia showdown

In a top-five matchup including top-ten defenses, Greg McElroy thinks Georgia vs. Alabama could come down to who averages more yards per play.

McElroy gave this as a key to the game during a segment on ‘Get Up’ on Friday. With what these two teams have defensively, neither offense is likely going to be able to sustain several long drives. That makes it where the team who can pick up significant yardage and ground on offense better will be the one who could be more likely to win tomorrow in Tuscaloosa.

“Both teams are great on defense so, oftentimes, when you see great defenses, you have to understand that you can’t just methodically move your way down the field – three, four, five yards and a cloud of dust. You have to create chunk yardage,” explained McElroy. “Both these offenses, when we look back? We’re going to say which team was able to manufacture more explosive plays?”

Thankfully for both offenses, they have more than enough weapons to do exactly that. Alabama, led by Jalen Milroe, is posting 466.7 yards per game at 7.4 yards a snap. Georgia is slightly below those stats at 402.3 yards of offense at 6.9 yards per play.

Either way, big plays could be aplenty if the right weapons get the ball in certain spots.

“Alabama has been one of the best in the sport since Jalen Milroe took over in creating explosives,” said McElroy. “Do you realize that, Jalen Milroe, 29% of his passing attempts travel 20 or more yards downfield? That’s the second-highest rate in college football. The guy loves to take shots and they have running backs that are home run hitters as well.

“On the other side, you look at what Georgia has? They’re going to have to create big plays as well and they’re going to have to utilize the speed that they have at running back. That’s where they’re different this year,” McElroy continued. “They don’t have Brock Bowers, they don’t have Ladd McConkey but they have home run-hitting running backs like Trevor Etienne and Nate Frazier, the true freshman, that can take it 60 yards. They still have super explosive skill within their wide receiver spots.”

Both of these teams can certainly stop the other as each other’s toughest contest yet this season. Still, it might take only one or two large gains in the game to make a difference in the end.

“I think it’s all about manufacturing big plays in a game like this because these defenses won’t give up very many,” said McElroy.