WEEK ONE GAME NOTES: APPALACHIAN STATE
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State opens the 2017 football season Saturday night with an ESPN game at No. 15 Georgia, the preseason favorite to win the SEC's East Division.
Coached by
Scott Satterfield, the Mountaineers are moving forward from a 10-3 season that included earning a share of the Sun Belt Conference title and beating Toledo in the Camellia Bowl. The Bulldogs closed an 8-5 debut under coach Kirby Smart with a victory against TCU in the Liberty Bowl.
In the second installment of a five-part series, here's a look at how App State's pass defense matches up against Georgia's passing offense:
PART ONE: App State's passing offense vs. Georgia's pass defense
PART THREE: App State's rush defense vs. Georgia's rushing offense
PART FOUR: App State's rushing offense vs. Georgia's rush defense
PART FIVE: Special teams outlook for App State, Georgia
Appalachian State cornerback
Clifton Duck was a freshman All-American as a college newcomer in 2016. Georgia had a high-profile true freshman starting at quarterback.
Jacob Eason arrived in Athens, Ga., from Lake Stevens, Wash., as the No. 2 quarterback recruit in the country. He threw for 2,430 yards with 16 touchdowns and eight interceptions last season.
With two standout running backs in Nick Chubb and Sony Michel, the Bulldogs ranked 97th nationally by passing for 193.5 yards per game.
Conversely, App State returns seven starters from a defense that ranked 31
st nationally by allowing 203.8 passing yards per game. The average dropped significantly after Miami and Akron combined for 738 yards through the air in the final two nonconference games.
The Mountaineers return all three starters from a line that rotates frequently, while the linebackers and defensive backs in the 3-4 scheme combined for 20 interceptions last season. That total ranked sixth nationally.
Duck is back as a sophomore after picking off five passes and making 57 tackles last season. Senior safety
A.J. Howard gives App State two returning starters in the secondary, but there's valuable experience available at the other spots with junior cornerback
Tae Hayes (seven starts in 2015) and junior safety
Josh Thomas (28 tackles in 12 appearances last season) likely joining them in the starting lineup Saturday.
Like Duck last year in the opener at Tennessee, redshirt freshman cornerback
Shemar Jean-Charles and true freshman cornerback
D'Andre Hicks could make their college debuts in an SEC venue. They are listed as the top backups on the depth chart.
At linebacker, leading tackler
Eric Boggs has intercepted six passes in the last two seasons, and inside linebacker
Anthony Flory has the speed to be an asset in pass coverage. When the Bulldogs do throw, the Mountaineers will need ends such as
Antonious Sims (seven sacks last year) and
Caleb Fuller (three sacks) to apply pressure. Outside linebacker
Rashaad Townes, who made a combined 12 starts in 2013 and 2014, is another pass-rushing threat.
Departed receiver Isaiah McKenzie accounted for a team-leading 44 catches for 633 yards and seven touchdowns last season for Georgia, so the top returner at that position is Terry Godwin. He had 38 receptions for 387 yards and no touchdowns in 2016, while tight end Isaac Nauta finished the year with three receiving touchdowns.
Grubb had only five catches, but Michel ranked fourth on the team with 22 receptions.
Eason will be throwing behind a new-look line with both returning starters at new spots, and true freshman Andrew Thomas is the likely starter at right tackle. He'll help protect a five-star quarterback with the potential to build off a strong freshman season.
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