ATHENS, Ga. - Georgia failed to score an offensive touchdown in last week's 13-7 upset of No. 9 Auburn, but that hardly diminishes the excitement and satisfaction expressed since by Bulldogs guard Dyson Sims.
The Bulldogs may not have reached the end zone offensively, but they averaged 4.5 yards per play in the throwback matchup and consumed 39 minutes and nine seconds of game clock. In the second half, Georgia had the ball for all but 7:06.
"We gave our defense some time to rest by going out there and making some plays and burning some time off the clock, so we gave our guys a breather," Sims said. "Then they came in made plays, so I think it was a really good game for us. I think we're starting to come along and put the pieces together, and I think it's showing in these games."
A 6-foot-4, 293-pound junior from Valdosta, Ga., Sims has split time this season with redshirt sophomore Lamont Gaillard at right guard. Gaillard started against Auburn, but Sims was needed at left guard at the 5:48 mark of the second quarter, when Isaiah Wynn left because of a knee injury.
Sims wound up playing roughly 60 of Georgia's 76 offensive snaps, which marked a season high.
"He's the sixth man, and sometimes the sixth man can be better but just might not need to start," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. "He might be forced to start the game this time, but Dyshon has done a good job of competing and has played well in most circumstances. The Florida game was his toughest outing, but he's gained the confidence of the rest of the players."
Said Sims: "I've been going both sides, so it really wasn't that much different. I knew I was probably going to play both sides in the game anyway."
The Bulldogs continued preparations for Louisiana-Lafayette on Wednesday, working out for two hours.
Georgia's offense only had two three-and-outs all day against Auburn, and its two drives in the second half that resulted in Rodrigo Blankenship field goals consumed 6:45 and 6:48. The lengths of those drives would be impressive against most foes, but the Tigers have one of the nation's deepest and most formidable defensive fronts with Montravius Adams, Dontavius Russell, Carl Lawson, Marlon Davidson, Derrick Brown, Maurice Swain and Devaroe Lawrence.
"I went against a bunch of them and had to face Montravius a couple of times," Sims said. "It makes you a lot better when you play those guys, because it makes you bring your 'A' game. They're rotating guys the whole game, so they're fresh.
"You have to go out there and prove yourself, which I think we did. We all graded out pretty well. Minus the scoring, I thought we all did really well as far as being efficient and driving the ball down the field."
Odds and ends
Smart said Wednesday that he was "pretty sure" Wynn could play against Louisiana-Lafayette but was less optimistic about sophomore defensive defensive lineman DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle, who has a high-ankle sprain. Smart has not elaborated this week when asked about the black jerseys, only to say the Bulldogs are wearing them.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.