Georgia coming out of bye week re-energized, ready for stretch run
ATHENS, Ga. — The bye week has come and gone for top-ranked Georgia, and consider it mission accomplished by the Bulldogs. Why was it important you may say? Kirby Smart’s squad was able to work on its health while also building depth for the stretch run of the season.
“I think it’s important that we get more depth. We’re an injury away from being down this guy, that guy. We’re also trying to get guys back,” Smart said. “It’s like, there’s always a balance of who you are. We tried really hard last week to work on fundamentals. At the end of the day, you’re not going to trick people in our league. They’ve seen every play. It’s not like a new play is going to win you the game. To win the game, it’s can you block better than the other team, can you execute, can you protect the ball, can you convert third downs, can you play well in the red area? Those are the things we’re trying to work on.”
Georgia offensive lineman Sedrick Van Pran completely agrees with his coach. He’s been through three seasons before and knows just how important it is for everybody on the team to be prepared. He also knows how important it is to play fundamentally sound football when the competition gets tougher. That’s why his bye week was dedicated to “getting back to the basics.”
“I think that as a unit, our main goal was to take as much coaching from Coach Searels as possible. He did a great job of getting us back to the basics, back to basic techniques and things that you kind of lose throughout the season as it goes on because you’re more so focused on opponents and schemes and things like that. You’re not focusing on your second step not traveling as far as it needs to to make that A-block,” Van Pran said. “I think we did a tremendous job of focusing on that during the bye week, and I’m really happy with what we were able to accomplish during the bye week. I think we had a really good week of practice.
Ask safety Javon Bullard about his bye week and he’ll tell you that he enjoyed the time most for the recovery it allowed his body to do. Bullard battled an ankle sprain earlier in the season. He has played the last three games, but still admitted that the time off helped him feel closer to full speed.
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“It was huge. Half the battle is staying healthy,” Bullard said. “We practice hard, and that comes with it. I don’t know anybody that plays football that didn’t get banged up at some point, but it was huge for us on a recovery level. Now it’s time to dial back in on the physicality this week.”
“I’m ready to go,” he added. “I’ve been banged up pretty good, but I feel like I’m back. The coaches feel like I’m back. I’m ready to attack.”
The efforts of both Van Pran and Bullard during the bye week will be put to the test first in Georgia’s upcoming matchup against Florida. Traveling to Jacksonville for the annual neutral site contest, the Bulldogs are considered to be two-score favorites according to VegasInsider. Kickoff time for Saturday’s rivalry game is set for 3:30 p.m. ET from EverBank Stadium along the St. Johns River on CBS.
