Georgia’s defensive line was under pressure entering Saturday’s LSU contest.

With only five sacks on the season, the pass rush was virtually nonexistent in the Bulldogs’ first four contests.

The unit responded to the criticism by turning the pressure on Tiger’s quarterback Jordan Jefferson.

Georgia more than doubled its season sack total, racking up six against LSU.

“If we would have won, it would make me feel real good,” said defensive end Justin Houston, who recorded a team high two sacks. “If we could have had more, we probably would have won the game.”

Georgia opened the second half with three consecutive sacks, and as the game wore on defenders were constantly in the LSU backfield.

“Those are just the things you try to work on and improve on every single week,” Georgia linebacker Rennie Curran said about the pass rush. “I feel like our guys took the challenge. People were saying we didn’t have the best pass rush, and they looked at that and tried to improve. They’re trying to get better, trying to improve. The defensive line did a great job today, you know, just fighting hard.”

Added Houston: “It just felt like I was doing my job, absolutely. Defensive ends, and the defensive line, are supposed to get pressure on the quarterback. I believe that’s what we did.”

Kicking himself

Sophomore kicker Blair Walsh missed his first field goal of the year in the third quarter versus LSU.

Previously 8-of-8 on the season, Walsh pushed the 32-yard chip shot right.

“Yeah I just didn’t want to hit it the way I wanted to hit it,” Walsh said. I sort of tried to aim it through the uprights instead of hitting it the right way.”

Walsh missed a similar kick, again to the right, in pregame warm-ups. But the kicker insisted no correlation between the two misses or a fundamental problem existed. He just missed the kick.

“But that’s all it really is,” he said. “I mean it had to come some time. I guess it’s good to get it out of the way now and I’ll get back on track next week.”

Walsh also didn’t have a successful day kicking off, as LSU averaged 44 yards a return.

On his final kickoff, Walsh was forced to kick from the 15-yard line after an excessive celebration penalty. LSU return man Trindon Holliday returned a short kick to the Georgia 43.

“It’s not fun kicking off from your own 15-yard-line,” Walsh said. “Obviously, it affected us. That’s all I can say right now. It’s disappointing.”

Still leading the nation

Georgia punter Drew Butler continued his impressive kicking, averaging 49 yards on seven punts against LSU.

Butler entered the contest leading the nation in average, a title he’ll retain after his performance Saturday.

“He’s been, I hate to say spectacular, but he really has to this point,” said Georgia coach Mark Richt. “I don’t want him to get too pumped up, but he’s done a beautiful job.”

Butler, a sophomore, had a long of 53, placing one of his kicks inside the 20. Georgia’s offense struggled for the majority of the contest, relying on Butler to help create field position.

“Even when he has a missed hit, they tend to roll in the right direction,” Richt said.

Game time set for Tennessee

Georgia’s contest with Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday will be a 12:21 kickoff time on the SEC Network, it was announced Sunday.

The game will be Georgia’s first appearance on the SEC Network, as the Bulldogs go against a 2-3 Volunteers squad led by first-year coach Lane Kiffin.