The main Bulldogs are prepared to show up and disrupt the Longhorns' passing game

AUSTIN, Texas – Georgia coach Kirby Smart got his first glimpse of how to beat Texas last week from Oklahoma.

Come to the quarterback.

The No. 5 Bulldogs will come after Longhorn quarterback Quinn Ewers starting the course at 7:30 p.m. at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium.

That's exactly what the Sooners did last week, jumping out to a 3-0 lead before Texas caved in and ultimately cruised to a 34-3 victory.

Ewers, a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, was in his second game back after missing three weeks with an oblique injury and was 20 of 29 passing for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

But within those numbers, the veteran Texas quarterback had just 3 of 9 passes with an interception on 12 of his 32 attempts when pressured.

Oklahoma coach Brent Venables, a noted defensive guru, explained the challenge of tackling Ewers.

“They do a really good job when you let them play man-to-man. They have guys who can beat you one-on-one,” Venables said. “And in zone (coverage), the quarterback can pick you apart, so you have to pick your poison.”

Georgia has struggled through the first six games to keep defensive players healthy who can apply pressure and to find capable DBs to replace the three NFL draft picks from last year's secondary.

However, the Bulldogs might be ready to hunker down tonight.

Defensive line disruptor Mykel Williams is as healthy as he has been since spraining his ankle in the opener against Clemson.

Williams, who missed two games, was limited to just 11 snaps against Mississippi State last Saturday and six snaps against Auburn before that.

“We've got another week under our belt and we're hoping he's healthy and fed and ready to go,” Smart said. “I won’t know until we’re out there.”

Georgia recorded no sacks last week against Mississippi State and has just 11 sacks this season – 78th in the country.

Smart also hinted that UGA may be open to using promising freshman cornerback Ellis Robinson IV.

It's been a decidedly weak year for the Bulldogs in the secondary, as they rank just 63rd nationally in pass efficiency defense.

Robinson – a 5-star recruit – played 9 snaps against State last Saturday in his first SEC defensive action of the season.

Smart noted that Robinson has had better preparation of late, preparing him for important opportunities in a secondary that was giving up an unusually high number of big plays – including three explosive pass plays of 35 yards or more in last Saturday's 41-31 win against Mississippi state.

“He is blessed with God-given talent…. “He’s trained better the last two weeks than he has all year,” Smart said. “I think he has the perseverance to practice all the time, the attention to detail and the concentration in meetings. He’s taking much better notes at the moment than before.”

Venables shared the formula for Oklahoma's early success against Texas, as the Sooners defeated Ewers in the opening series and swept the Longhorns by three wins in the next two series.

“Just playing solidly and together and closing gaps,” Venables said, describing the characteristics of previous Kirby Smart defenses at Georgia.

“Keeping track of routes, playing with good leverage, having guys pay attention to their play action and slide protection, things like that.”

But, Venables explained, it's not nearly as easy as it sounds.

“Their offense has great experience up front, they are physical, they have great passers, their defense is getting better,” Venables said.

“They have good tight ends that are a threat on the counterplay, (and) their play design, they do a great job with their deflections and they're physical as well. They have receivers that are really dynamic … and the quarterback throws with tremendous accuracy and great rhythm.”

Georgia needs its best players — All-American safety Malaki Starks and versatile linebacker Jalon Walker — to be at their best, and perhaps some help from Williams and Robinson.

“I want them to play their best game against Texas,” Smart said. “Simply put, we didn’t play our best game, we didn’t put together a complete game, and that’s every coach’s goal, to play their best game going forward.”

“That’s what it takes to tour and play in Texas.”