AU FOOTBALL: Tiger defense preps for big-play wideout

The Tigers have at least one thing figured out when it comes to getting inside the head of Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green.

They know what types of plays he likes to make.

“He likes to make big plays,” cornerback Walt McFadden said.

It’s as much of a start as any team has had in stopping the dynamic sophomore, who has emerged as one of the country’s best wide receivers in an offense that has sputtered at times this season.

Green, who sat out Georgia’s game last week against Tennessee Tech with a bruised lung, tops the SEC in receptions (44) and receiving yards per game (91.5). With Mohamed Massaquoi gone to the NFL, Green has been the victim of constant double-teams,
yet has still been able to put up better numbers than his strong freshman season.

Teams like Auburn know that quarterback Joe Cox always looks first to big No. 8, but stopping him is a completely different ordeal.

“He’s a guy who is one of the best in the country,” defensive coordinator Ted Roof said. “And sometimes you see where people have great coverage on him and he delivers the ball and makes great plays, and when that happens, you just have to keep your head up and move on to the next one. Because he is a great player, he’s going to make some great plays.”

Green made the biggest play in last year’s meeting of the oldest rivalry in the Deep South.

His 17-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter put Georgia on top for the final time, clinching the Tigers’ sixth loss of the season and third in a row to the Bulldogs.

He finished with a game-high five catches for 81 yards. Alabama’s Julio Jones, widely regarded as the SEC’s other top receiver, caught three passes for 36 yards two weeks later.

McFadden wasn’t ready Tuesday to provide bulletin-board material for Green — yet.

“I remember people last year asking who’s better, him or Julio?” McFadden said. “And I didn’t give no answer. I can probably give one now, but I don’t think I should. But maybe next week, Alabama week I’ll tell.

“But like I say, he’s an athletic receiver. He can do a lot of good things.”

Even after two of its best back-to-back performances of the season, where it flustered Ole Miss’ Jevan Snead and limited Furman to next to nothing when the first-team was on the field, the Auburn secondary has more than just Green to worry about Saturday.

Demond Washington has exactly two quarters of experience at safety. D’Antoine Hood, who has played sparsely this season, is the first cornerback off the bench.

Anthony Gulley, a wide receiver, has continued to work at cornerback after making his collegiate debut on defense against Furman.

“There are very few options left,” Chizik said, “But there are a couple.”

Washington brings a different skill set than injured Zac Etheridge to the table, utilizing his quicker speed to be more of a nuisance in pass coverage. Going against a Georgia offense that has yet to find a consistent running back to hand the ball to, Washington will likely be able to show off the speed that made him an everyday cornerback, rather than a last-ditch option at safety.

“He’s up to any challenge,” linebacker Josh Bynes said. “He believes he can do it, and without a doubt he can do it. I believe he can play safety. He can play anything he wants on a football field.”

Stopping Green goes all the way down to the defensive line.

“We depend on our defensive backs,” defensive end Antoine Carter said. “But we also want to be increasing the pass rush and putting more pressure on the quarterback to make it easier on them.”

The Tigers have allowed just two opposing receivers (West Virginia’s Jock Sanders and Ole Miss’ Shay Hodge) to crack Green’s average of more than 91 yards per game this season.

Sure, that’s something that weighs in Auburn’s favor, but, then again, not all receivers bring the challenge that Green does.

“You always have to be aware of where he is, because they line him up at different places,” Chizik said. “You know they will throw the ball six or seven times deep to him during the game.

“We are going to have to be really sound in what we do and make sure we have the right matchup when he is on the field.”

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