ATHENS, Ga. - Sophomore cornerback Deandre Baker has been a pleasant surprise this year on Georgia's defense.
A backup at the beginning of the season, Baker has started six of the last seven games, including each of the last four. He had a team-high 10 tackles against Florida and snagged his second interception last week against Louisiana-Lafayette, but none of that will matter Saturday when the Bulldogs host rival Georgia Tech.
Baker has never faced the triple-option offense - in college, high school or youth football - not that toddlers these days are taught the importance of the fullback dive.
"I have no experience against it at all," Baker said this week. "On film it looks pretty hard, but we've practiced it against the scout team. I'm looking forward to it. This should be a good, competitive game."
The 5-foot-11, 174-pounder from Miami will not be alone inside Sanford Stadium, as the Bulldogs could have as many as eight defensive starters who did not start in last year's 13-7 win over the Yellow Jackets in Atlanta. Defensive backs Aaron Davis, Malkom Parrish and Dominick Sanders are Georgia's lone defenders who started last year at Tech and last week against Louisiana-Lafayette, and the two most prominent outside linebackers, Davin Bellamy and Lorenzo Carter, were backups last season to Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins.
Sophomore Trenton Thompson, Georgia's most imposing force up front with 45 tackles and six tackles for loss, played sparingly last season against the Jackets due to injury.
"It's definitely a challenge," Georgia first-year coach Kirby Smart said. "The discipline aspect in defending the triple-option falls on the perimeter, the edges and the interior linebackers, whereas on the defensive front, it's really about being able to strike, stay on your feet and understand what your job is. If you know what your job is on the front, and you're athletic enough to execute your job, you can be successful.
"I do think that it's tougher when you've got guys who have not played against this type of offense."
The Yellow Jackets are rushing for 260.3 yards a game without a single rusher who has 600 yards for the season. Georgia held Georgia Tech to 194 rushing yards a year ago but allowed a whopping 399 in a 30-24 overtime loss in Sanford two years ago.
In a 42-34 win over Tech in 2010, the Bulldogs survived despite allowing 411 rushing yards. Three Georgia defenders had 16 tackles in that triumph, including linemen Abry Jones and DeAngelo Tyson.
"That's an ideal game right there, getting 15 or 16 tackles," junior nose tackle John Atkins said with a smile, "but a win would make you feel much better. We've got to tackle the dive, and everybody has to be as one. One guy out of his gap can cost you a big play, and you don't want to give them any more fire to keep going and keep rolling."
For most of Georgia's defense Saturday, facing the triple-option will be a trial by fire, especially since so few have seen it for 60 or more plays. It has had Baker listening a lot more this week to older teammates.
"They're telling me about cut-blocking and keeping good eye discipline and how I need to pay attention to my assignment at all times," he said. "One wrong thing against the triple-option, and they will split the defense and go for a touchdown."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.