Hawai'i's offense will likely move the ball on Georgia's defense, but it will take patience and execution to sustain drives ending in points.

The Bulldogs (10-2) boast good team speed across the board, play with solid fundamentals in the front seven and are one of the better tackling teams in the SEC.

"There is a speed factor involved when you play them,'' said one rival SEC coach. "Overall, the defense runs well and is well-coached.''

Because of that coaching and speed, running the football on Georgia is no easy task. The best place to find rushing yardage is on the perimeter, but it takes repetition to wear down the Bulldogs on the edge, where they're a tad soft.

First-team All-SEC defensive tackle Geno Atkins anchors the middle of the line, leading the defense with 13.5 tackles-for-loss in addition to 6.5 sacks.

Familiarity with Georgia's defensive alignments is pivotal, as the Bulldogs' linebackers are active.

"(Middle linebacker) Dannell Ellerbe is a baller,'' an opposing coach said. "He's very physical.''

Georgia is not apt to tip its hand through formations too often, so the Hawai'i offensive line must be aware of various blitzes.

The Bulldogs can attack from most anywhere via the zone blitz, and they're not afraid to bring their cornerbacks after the quarterback.

Georgia will also bring pressure out of its three-down lineman package, when opponents will see two linebackers and six defensive backs, or even one linebacker and seven defensive backs.

The Bulldogs led the SEC with 34 sacks, including 22 in the past five games.

Film study could prove a bit complicated for the Warriors, as Georgia has started eight different combinations in its linebacking corps this season.

Neither depth nor experience in the secondary is a problem, so Hawai'i can't count on multiple receiver formations creating as many mismatches as they would against most opponents.

Georgia's safeties are traditionally aggressive and regarded among the fiercest hitters in the SEC. The Bulldogs have typically gotten their safeties involved in stopping the run, but Georgia safety Kelin Johnson hinted that won't be the approach against Hawai'i.

"We'll put that (stopping the run) in the hands of our linebackers and defensive tackles,'' Johnson said. "That way, we can place our focus on the passing game.''

Johnson's comments jibe with Georgia's tendency to make it a point not to give up the big play.

Opposing offenses have had their most success with a short, controlled passing game.

The Bulldogs' cornerbacks don't break on the football as aggressively as others, but they are reliable open-field tacklers and rarely let opposing receivers get behind them.

There isn't necessarily a weak spot in the secondary, so Hawai'i quarterback Colt Brennan will need to spread the ball around.

"Georgia's whole deal is to try to get you into third down situations,'' an SEC coach said. "Once they get you in third-and-long, they'll take their chances coming after you in a variety of ways.''

Georgia has converted 19 turnovers into 65 points, so ball security should be at a premium.

If there's a positive for Hawai'i, it's that this Bulldogs' defense has allowed more points per game (21.0) than any other over the past seven seasons. That statistic, however, could be mitigated by the fact that most observers consider the SEC as deep and strong as it has ever been.

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