A look at Georgia Tech’s safeties
Switching from the front of Georgia Tech’s defense to the back, we take a look at the safeties:
THE SAFETIES
- Returning starters: Mario Edwards, Cooper Taylor, Rashaad Reid, Dominique Reese, Jerrard Tarrant.
- Others to watch: Jemea Thomas, Isaiah Johnson, Lance Richardson.
- Key losses: Morgan Burnett, who is now with the Green Bay Packers.
- Key fact: The defense gave up 66 plays of at least 20 yards last season.
- Key question: Can the safeties put themselves in the right place at the right time to cut down on those big plays?
- Key question 2: How will Jerrard Tarrant handle safety after starting eight games at cornerback last season? He said he was recruited as a safety. Also, can he be the ballhawk that Burnett was the past two seasons when he intercepted 11 passes?
- Key question 3: Charles Kelly has taken over coaching the entire secondary, after he had the corners and former defensive coordinator Dave Wommack had the safeties last season?
- Outlook: Really, and not to be flip, but the entire defense should be better than it was last season. If new defensive coordinator Al Groh calls a lot of blitzes with the linebackers, the safeties will have to pick up those responsibilities. They all have the athletic ability, as well as the speed.
- Your turn: What say you about the safeties?
For a look at the offensive line, go here
For a look at the running backs, go here
For a look at the defensive line, go here
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134 comments Add your comment
DDPO
June 24th, 2010
11:49 am
Robert -
Grantham has been a DC before. With the Cleveland Browns. Although he was their 4th/5th choice, most UGA fans will tell you he was the best man for the job…
Dan
June 24th, 2010
12:01 pm
The defense is going to be better this year than it was last year for several reasons. In fact, it only needs to be marginally better and we’ll be just fine.
The comparisons to UVA’s defense are a bit off, I think. The offense at UVA was horrible because they lost both of their QBs – one to grades and one to off the field behavior. The defense was always good for them but they were on the field the whole game. Eventually, every defense would break. Also, Tech has better players. Basically, Groh’s defense will be on the field less than anyone in the nation which should make them fresher and more aggressive. If they get a handful of stops and a turnover or two, Tech will be very difficult to beat.
And for the dawg fans – be a little more creative than saying Groh got fired from UVA. If that’s your concern, than perhaps taking a more critical look at your own team would be a better use of your time given Grantham’s job history. If you want to talk smack, fine. Just be creative.
Tech fan
June 24th, 2010
12:05 pm
Dominique Reese was absolutely Horrid last year. He could not cover Betty White. He lost his Jock so many times they made him where a green on so it wouldn’t show on the field. Watch that Vandy game and see how often he got smoked!
GTechsta
June 24th, 2010
12:31 pm
Yeah, Destin Dog. That SEC is super tough. The likes of Arkansas, Vandy, Ole Miss, Miss St., So Car, Auburn, Tenn, Ky and Uga really are something to be scared of. The SEC if Florida, Alabama and a serious drop off.
PAB
June 24th, 2010
12:34 pm
Pay attention Tech fans. Reality will come into these blogs and spew his nonsense until you call him on his facts and proof. once he gets called out he’ll quit posting. But he will be back this afternoon, once he sees that different people have begun posting. Trust me this is a well documented pattern. He is truly a punk ass bitch. Enjoy the blog for a few hours, it will not last.
Stanley in Marietta
June 24th, 2010
1:09 pm
Oh Destin Dawg- another paranoid, delusional, low self-esteem dawg fan.
We have won more SEC and National championships than UGA has. And yes, with a smaller fan base.
And yes, you still love to post on a tech bog. BOOOM mf!
BrokeBackJacket
June 24th, 2010
1:14 pm
@ GTechsta and the rest of the nerd herd…not the rational sane tech fans that see the world of college football..more specifically Southern college football…more specifically yet, SEC vs acc:
Just a few FACTS to share…you may choose to ignore the facts as usual for the sake of a good argument as you have for years, but I will share a few with you anyway!
FACT: All time record head to head: SEC leads acc 255-123
FACT: All time bowl by conference 1. SEC 196-153
5. acc 82-87
FACT: BCS bowl record: SEC 13-5
acc 2-12…worst by far in college football!
FACT: All time bowl record head to head SEC vs acc 35-14
And Techsta, as to UGA vs Tech….one need look no further than head to head which is 60-37-5!
And Techsta please explain how 2 of those teams that you include in your “serious drop off group from the SEC” SMOKED the 2 acc teams that played for the acc chumpionship in the last regular season games last year?
acc and championship…talk about an oxymoron! Kinda like the prettiest pig in the pen contest!
KeithB
June 24th, 2010
1:40 pm
Here is the bottom line Reality and BrokeBack. National Championships. Sorry to break out the history books on ya. Can you hear me now?…good.
Georgia Tech 4 1917, 1928, 1952, 1990
Georgia 2 1942, 1980
Reality Stinks
June 24th, 2010
2:06 pm
KeithB
Do a better job of looking if your going to count the ones from 1917 and on, then you need to add 3 more to ours 1927 1942, 1946 1968 1980. CAN YOU HERE ME NOW GOOOOOD
PAB Im back from lunch you dork, oh and call me on what facts
Here is a fact 60-39 “30-24″
KeithB
June 24th, 2010
2:29 pm
Georgia Tech 6
Michigan State 6
Pennsylvania 6
Army 5
Florida 5
Georgia 5
KeithB
June 24th, 2010
2:30 pm
Beating Tech head to head doesn’t win you anything but blog $hit talking rights. If there were a NC for that, you’d definately win.
Blue Fox
June 24th, 2010
2:36 pm
Al Groh is the key to everything defensive, best Tech hire since Johnson.
Reality Stinks
June 24th, 2010
2:40 pm
KeithB and PAB
Whats the matter Reality Stinks 60-39, 1 BCS bowl appearance in 40 yrs, sorry fan base, crappy facilities, did I hurt your feelings.
What gets me, for an engineering school your stadium looks like a retard designed it, your facilities are outdated, your baseball stadium looks dilapidated, and you need a 40 foot wall to keep the scum of ATL off your campus from trying to pass through on their way to the varsity.
Reality Stinks
June 24th, 2010
3:12 pm
PAB says
“Reality will come into these blogs and spew his nonsense until you call him on his facts and proof. once he gets called out he’ll quit posting. But he will be back this afternoon, once he sees that different people have begun posting. Trust me this is a well documented pattern”
Where are you big mouth talking want to call someone a punk
You basically wrote what you do
Delbert D.
June 24th, 2010
3:25 pm
Bobby Dodd Stadium capacity: 55,000.
“Half-full”: 27,500
Average 2009 Attendance : 51,584
Average 2009 Attendance : 94% of capacity
Question: Did the Falcons (the other Atlanta team) average 94% capacity?
Best of Atlanta
June 24th, 2010
3:55 pm
————————————–
……Nesbitt for Heisman……
————————————–
Delbert D.
June 24th, 2010
4:07 pm
What, alien conspiracy theories now? Not too far off base. The UPI (United Press International) was bought in 2000 by the head of the Moonies.
Before that, they were a competitor to the AP. Since the AP was a “publishers cooperative” (monopoly) of member newspapers, they were paid much more than UPI for the same subscribers. Pre-Sun-Yung Moon, the UPI had over 6,000 reporters in over 100 countries. Now, they have fewer than 50 employees.
As to Georgia Tech’s National Poll Championship in 1990, all that Moonie stuff makes no difference. The UPI was the Coaches Poll from 1950 to 1990. The UPI formed a coalition with the National Football Foundation for 1991 and 1992 to name the MacArthur Bowl Champion. UPI reverted to a single poll in 1993-1995. In 1993 USA Today formed a coalition for the MacArthur Bowl Championship in 1993. USA Today combined with ESPN in 1997 to distribute the Coaches’ Poll, and that alliance later became part of the BCS.
Bottom line, Georgia Tech was the Coaches’ Poll National Champion in 1990. Conspiracy debunked.
Delbert D.
June 24th, 2010
4:25 pm
About the 2009 Falcons’ attendance: They did better on the road.
Ranked 17th overall, average 68,173, 95.7% at home; averaged 72,658, 98.2% on the road.
Other NFL home attendance lower than the Falcons:
Cleveland 94.1%
Washington 92.5%
Miami 89.8%
Kansas City 88.0%
St. Louis 84.6%
Detroit 76.6%
Jacksonville 73.9%
Oakland 70.3%
Those last 4 pro teams could have fit easily into Bobby Dodd Stadium. St. Louis’ average attendance was 55,237; the others were less than 50,000.
PAB
June 24th, 2010
4:26 pm
Reality,
Still waiting on any proof of your conspiracy theories. Been keeping an eye out for you for several hours. Where have you been hiding?
PAB
June 24th, 2010
4:30 pm
Oh, and you were, are and always will be a punk.
Delbert D.
June 24th, 2010
5:00 pm
About those DBs making all the tackles –
2009 Ga. Tech Defensive Leaders:
Tackles leaders:
———————————
LB Brad Jefferson – 95
SS Morgan Burnett – 85
LB Sedric Griffin – 73
CB Jerrard Tarrant – 58
DE Derrick Morgan – 55
Sacks leader:
——————————————
Derrick Morgan – 12.5 81 yds
Rest of team – 12.5 – 83 yds
Opponents – 12 – 86 yds
Int leaders:
———————————–
Morgan Burnett – 4 40 yds
Jerrard Tarrant – 2 -90 yds
Rest of team – 6 – 5 yds
Opponents – 6 – 61 yds
UGA FAN ARE DELUSIONAL
June 24th, 2010
5:10 pm
UMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM AL GROH IS AN AAMZING D COORDINATOR AND U CANT LOOK AT UVA ITS UVA BEFORE THAT HE ALWAYS HAD GOOD DEFENSES SO STOP BEING BIAST GA FANS HE HASNT COACHED A GAME AT TECH YET! UNTILL THEN SHUT UP AND WORRY ABOUT YOUR NEW COORDINATOR!!
Reality Stinks
June 24th, 2010
5:14 pm
PAB
Whats the conspiracy
60-39 “30-24″ 1 BCS appearance in 40 years
Highschool stadium with no fan support
Whats the conspiracy PABY
chuck Allison
June 24th, 2010
5:44 pm
Of course Tech will be better on defense. There is no way we could be worse than last year. Can you imagine how our record would improve if our opponent ever had to punt?
saban
June 24th, 2010
5:55 pm
Tech will be a lot better defensively.
Remember the Fla. State game. I think tech only stopped Fla. State one time and that was enough to win.
With Groh things will be fine.
On the other hand the dawgs have daddies everywhere.
surfrider
June 24th, 2010
6:13 pm
Tech use to be known as LB U kind of like a PSU or something along those lines. Depth on DL and DB seem to be good. Some coaches are just better as Coordinators. The Fridge was one great OC and is good HC. Groh may be a better Coordinator than HC, eventhough he gave Tech fits as HC. Bill Armstrong if right fit in well as DC and Bud Foster at VT. We could’nt stop the cutback run last year against the big fast teams so to me that will be a key to look at. But I like the change to 4 Lbs’ with some hybrid DE/Lb’s.
Tokyo jacket
June 24th, 2010
6:35 pm
Safeties are gonna be GOOD this year. There is a LOT of speed in the secondary this year. If Coop and Tarrant are playing safety, they can both just sit back and wait for the ball to come to them. Both VERY fast. Also, Tarrant has made ball skills. Look for at least two pick 6s with him at safety.
Their speed combined with scheme is what will make our safeties stand out. We don’t need Derrick Morgan in this defense. I bet if he were back this year, he’d have 6 sacks (which is a lot for a 3-4 DE). Our OLBs this year are going to be the ones that will have the sacks. Their size will help against the run. Look for a lot of pressure on QBs to help get the secondary a lot of picks, a la Tenuta’s defense. The difference between Groh and Tenuta is that Groh brings controlled pressure and has height and speed in the backfield. Groh gets consistent pressure out of the 3-4 because you never know where guys are coming from, but he doesn’t have to sell the farm to do it.
PAB
June 24th, 2010
7:24 pm
I am not speaking of records. I speak of the nonsense you have posted on here about Tech player arrests not being reported by the APD, the back room NCAA deals you allege happened to give Tech the 1990 championship, the conspiracy with the refs in the 1990 Colorado 5th down game to give them the win because the NCAA could not afford to have a “weak” team like Tech be the undisputed NC. Any of this ringing a bell?
Produce any evidence that any of these exist anywhere but in your mind and I will quit picking on you. Unfortunately, I know you will evade these questions and post some sort of diversionary nonsense about how you run this state. Either that or you will just lay off the sight for several hours. Either way, I’ve had my fun with you. Adios. Enjoy your delusion.
Oh, and for the record, I never called you a punk. I called you a punk ass bitch. Which I still contend that you are and always will be.
Dynamicbigboy
June 24th, 2010
7:50 pm
The defense should be better? Where do you come up with this? They lost almost their entire pass rush along with the safety who was always around the ball. I don’t see the players to run the 3-4. They don’t have the outside linebackers who are fast enough to cover when necessary. Also, just how good was the defense at Virginia, answer, not very good.
GT Fan...
June 24th, 2010
8:55 pm
Lots of talent in GT’s defensinve backfield for sure! I like the move to S for Tarrant – maybe he can “rover” around and get some extra punt returns via INTs; the guy is a playmaker with the ball in his hands.
If the DB group stays healthy they should help the DEs & OLBs get more sacks with their ability to hold opponent’s passing in check … as long as the DL can shore up some of the rushing.
People that think Groh isn’t going to make it as DC at Tech b/c his head coaching at VA wasn’t national championship caliber are mistaken IMO. He’s got a rep of having a very good defensive mind. Many successful DCs, OCs, and position coaches don’t cut it as HCs …. all the dog fan need to do to see this glaringly obvious fact is check out how well Brian VanGorder’s stint as HC at Ga Southern went.
Groh’s going to do very well as DC for the Jackets. Just go back and check out some the phenominal defensive players he had while at VA — remember Howie Long’s kid?? Or some of the great LBs & DBs. And GT will get better talent than VA.
BS Patrol
June 24th, 2010
9:08 pm
PAB,
Don’t try to reason with that fool. You are adding fuel to the fire.
Anyway, we won’t miss Burnett. He was way overrated. Never chased down a back in the open & often took the wrong angle on the ball carrier. I don’t know how he got drafted, much less ahead of Dwyer.
Stumpknocker
June 24th, 2010
10:12 pm
Well, well I make my once a week visit to this blog and who’s spewing sh?t all over it???? “Reality Stinks”….The unemployed poster-child for UGA. “Stinks” I see your still dealing with that inferiority complex. Sad really, but I believe your losing the battle son. Anybody who spends their every waking hour attempting to down-grade someone or something is surely delusional and struggling to cover one’s own shortcomings. In the end, for you, Reality does Stink.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
June 24th, 2010
10:53 pm
How can you have returning starters at safety unless they all started two games? This article needs to be rewritten.
vamosjackets
June 25th, 2010
1:05 am
People make the comments section on these blogs unreadable. It is a joke. Civilization has come so far, right?
Anyway…. Doug, I believe Rashaad Reid is a corner rather than a safety.
GatorMAN
June 25th, 2010
6:50 am
Here doggie, doggie, doggie. Come on down to Jacksonville for your annual beating. You want to talk smack, bring it on!! You little puppy whimps!!
We_Run_This_Country
June 25th, 2010
8:56 am
Defense will be much improved over last year. CAG was never the DC at UVA, so why does everyone keep bringing up UVA’s defense? That would be like saying that Mark Rich was responsible for UGA’s DEF last year. GT is stacked at LB….just most of the people outside of GT don’t know this. Don’t know, well you know now!
Sunshine Spanking
June 25th, 2010
8:56 am
Alabama stomped Florida 32-13, ….. GatorBOY !
now that is funny
June 25th, 2010
9:11 am
We_Run_This_Country
Tim Tebow
June 25th, 2010
9:14 am
GatorMAN, you are making me cry again.
BigTimeTechFan
June 25th, 2010
9:48 am
Mario Edwards
Cooper Taylor
Rashaad Reid
Dominique Reese
Jerrard Tarrant
Nice group – Tarrant will end up being the play-maker of the group
Won’t miss Burnett to much, he was awesome his fres and soph years (before Womack??), but last year after the 1st two games no as big an impact as previous years.
Lucky we play in ACC
June 25th, 2010
10:35 am
I believe Al Groh was the def. coordinator at Virginia.
wesleywhatwhat
June 25th, 2010
11:13 am
dawgfan – at least part of this test applies to you: http://wesleywhatwhat.wordpress.com/2010/06/24/most-up-to-date-douchebag-test/
here are your facts 11-0-1
June 25th, 2010
11:18 am
Over the past 9 years the average score of the UGA fla game 26-17 florida, although UGA leads the all time series Florida has owned UGA since the early 90’s , over the past 9 years the avg Georgia -tech score is 30-17 Georgia, here’s are some other facts for you since 1960 tech has beaten UGA 15 times. think UF has dominated UGA the same way? uf vs uga series since 1960 22-26-1 favoring fla. , the tech- UGA series is 34-15. Got another crutch to lean on?
here are your facts 11-0-1
June 25th, 2010
11:33 am
Tech vs Uga , Generations of Domination
one tech fan not drinking the kool aid
June 25th, 2010
11:49 am
Losing Burnette is big, Tarrant loads of athletic ability but I am concerned about his decision making.
Is Cooper Taylor well? Little concerned our inside backers are small for the 3-4, Is the depth chart correct are we starting a freshman on the inside?
frank james
June 25th, 2010
12:36 pm
Listen all you Tech fans, I hear how great you engineers are. Can you’ll please come up with a way to stop that oil leak? I believe if they give me enough PVC pipe and sackcrete I can fix it. I just thought I would give you engineers a chance first.
SILLY UGA FANS
June 25th, 2010
1:21 pm
Not sure if you are trying to insult engineers or not, but the fix would be easy if BP would just shore it up and basically give up the well or find a new way to drill in later. Problem is they do not want to lose that oil rich well so instead they are looking to tap two new daries in the system, which is not working and thus you have the problem we currently have. Did I bore you or were you being sarcastic?
On to football. I look for Taylor to return and hope he makes an immediate impact. I agree I think Tarrant has some holes, but I hope last year he knocked the rust off from sitting out a year and has a breakout year at safety. I would also like to see something on Sweeting and wonder if Bostic will get redshirted or not. All and all it has to improve from last year and hopefully I don’t have to watch another Fla. St. game again where you pray for atleast one stop. I expect recruiting to pick up on defense with Groh at the helm. Just look at our last class, four 4 star defensive players signed as soon as Groh was hired. Good time to be a JACKET!!!!!!!!
Delbert D.
June 25th, 2010
1:36 pm
Losing Burnett is like losing anybody else to the NFL. Cooper Taylor had a correctable condition with the timing of his heartbeat. It has been corrected. Tarrant (and everybody else) should be able to play better with one coach handling all the DBs.
Georgia Tech has not updated its depth chart from 2009. I don’t know for sure who are inside and outside LBs. According to Heather Dinich of ESPN, the OLBs are Anthony Barnes and Anthony Egbuniwe, (6′4, 250) who was a DE last year.
Here are the stats for the returning linebackers (top 3 were starters):
2010 LBs*
Brad Jefferson – 6′2, 242 ____ 95 Tackles
Julian Burnett – 5′10, 221 ____ 41 Tackles
Steven Sylvester – 6′2, 233 ___ 40 Tackles
Anthony Barnes – 6′3, 243 ___16 Tackles
B.J. Machen – 6′1, 216______ 8 Tackles
Malcom Munroe – 6′3, 231 ___5 Tackles
Freshmen RS in 2009:*
Brandon Watts, 6′2, 237
True freshmen for 2010:*
Jeremy Attachou – 6′3, 233__ Wash.D.C. Archbishop Carroll
Quayshawn Nealy – 6′1, 220__ Lakeland, Fla. HS
* Info from Georgia Tech web site.
one tech fan not drinking the kool aid
June 25th, 2010
1:38 pm
I hate to burst you Al Groh recruiting insight bubble, but the only 4 star he brought was Louis Young.
He’s 65 think these recruits believe hes going to be around for 4 years?
Delbert D.
June 25th, 2010
1:46 pm
“I would also like to see something on Sweeting”
There is a paragraph on him with his stats by game last year as a true freshman on the Spring Player Update on the Georgia Tech web site.