The Red and Black

Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: DREW HOOVER At 365 lbs, Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody will be a big obstacle for Georgia's offensive line. [Click to enlarge]

With arguably Athens' biggest game in 25 years on Saturday, Georgia's young offensive line will also face - literally - its biggest test of the season thus far.

Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody comes in at 6 feet, 5 inches and 365 pounds, and linemate Rolando McClain, weighing in at a mere 249, isn't a slouch either.

"Terrence is 6-foot-5, 365. Not 265, 365, at least," Georgia coach Mark Richt said Tuesday. "He's a beast. Nobody's blocking him. No one man is blocking him and I haven't really seen any double teams blocking him yet either."

Georgia center Ben Jones, a freshman who saw a lot of action against Arizona State, will no doubt have his hands full with one of the best interior defensive lines in the country.

"We got a freshman on him? That's not good," Richt said in mock surprise. "Ben's a tough kid but I've not seen anybody that would be a match for this guy on Saturdays or Sundays probably."

Jones isn't allowed to talk to the media, but linemate Chris Davis said that Cody presents a challenge the Bulldogs haven't been matched up with thus far.

"Size-wise no," he said. "But we've played some good players this year. South Carolina had some good D-tackles. It's going to be a test."

Cody and McClain, who has eight tackles this year, would be a test for any offensive line, much less one that is young and still meshing after recent shifts, but Davis said Jones isn't sweating it.

"He's just one of them ol' country boys. Nothing affects him. You're going to get his best every day."

Alabama is third in the SEC in rushing defense (Georgia is No. 1) at 55.0 yards allowed per game, but Richt said the Bulldogs wouldn't change their gameplan to avoid the Tide's strength up the middle.

"We're going to call the plays we've been calling, we're not going to change that. Two guys will certainly be working on (Cody) trying to get some movement," he said.

"I doubt if the movement will be straight ahead but we might get some lateral movement out of him. You can create seams horizontally too. It doesn't always have to be just knocking a guy back. I don't think we'll knock him back."

Richt: Southerland return not a done deal

Fullback Brannan Southerland likely will be the personal punt protector this week before returning as a fullback against Tennessee, but even that's not a sure thing.

"It's no slam dunk for Brannan Southerland either. It's no guarantee he's the personal protector," Richt said.


- Tyler Estep

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