Bulldogs, Jackets seeking a boost from their defense
Todd Grantham's Georgia defense ranks among leaders nationally in several categories, but struggled last year against Tech. (Jason Getz/AJC)
Two years ago, the head coaches at Georgia and Georgia Tech, both with offensive backgrounds, fired their respective defensive coordinators.
So ended the frequent lampooning of Willie Martinez in Athens and the most often heard question at Tech, “What idiot is coaching Paul Johnson’s defense?” (His name was Dave Wommack.)
As Georgia and Georgia Tech prepare to face each other again Saturday, it’s easy to see that the biggest difference between the programs is defense.
The Bulldogs rank fourth nationally in total defense, 11th in scoring, ninth in takeaways and second in third-down percentage.
The Jackets, in those respective categories, rank 43rd, 56th, 52nd and 89th.
Now, it would be an oversimplification to say Todd Grantham is succeeding in his job and Al Groh isn’t. Grantham has better players. But after seeing some progress on defense, Tech has allowed 68 points and 827 yards in the past two weeks against Virginia Tech and Duke, which doesn’t equate to a gold star on Groh’s late-season resume.
Saturday’s game could go a long way toward affirming direction for both coordinators and, it follows, both programs.
It’s easy to diminish the Bulldogs’ defensive accomplishments because of a soft schedule. That won’t be an issue against Tech. The Dogs may have won two of three against the Jackets since Johnson’s arrival, but they really haven’t stopped his option offense.
Al Groh's Tech defense has looked solid at times, but allowed 68 points to Virginia Tech and Duke in the past two weeks. (AP photo)
Consider last season. Georgia won 42-34, but the Jackets rushed for 411 yards and had 512 total. They nearly doubled the Bulldogs in first downs (32-18) and offensive plays (92-48). They held the ball for over 38 minutes. The difference in the game: Tech’s three fumbles (all leading to touchdowns) and a missed extra-point attempt (allowing Georgia to hold a 35-34 lead until Washaun Ealey’s touchdown with 1:29 left.)
When Mark Richt left the field in Athens, you could hear him exhale in Bogart.
It follows that when Richt was asked if he expected Grantham’s defense to fare better the second time around against Tech’s option, he responded, “I don’t know. I just wouldn’t predict it. If you saw that offense week after week after week after week and not just once a year, I suppose we could get pretty good at it. But to think all of a sudden that we’re going to hook it up and be good at defending it, I wouldn’t bet on that.
“Their offense is just extremely difficult to stop. It makes every possession so much more precious than normal. … The quarterback is a runner, so everybody on our defense has a very strict responsibility. If you make a mistake against this team, that’s when the really big plays happen. Against other teams, you can make a mistake and have a free safety there to clean up the mess.”
The Dogs have held seven of their past nine opponents to 16 or fewer points. But Tech’s offense has averaged nearly 37 points and has been held under 21 just once (24-7 loss at Miami).
Groh has two problems: 1) His defense has been dented in two games since an upset of Clemson; 2) Even if Georgia plays without (or with a hobbled) Isaiah Crowell, quarterback Aaron Murray is playing his best football of the season and effectively spreading the ball around.
Groh signed a two-year contract. He hasn’t yet spoken publicly about whether he plans to come back next season.
Grantham signed a three-year contract. His agent already is pushing for an extension, earlier than athletic director Greg McGarity would like, and is making noises about other opportunities.
So in a sense, the futures of both are uncertain. Maybe one is looking for a sign and the other is looking for leverage. This game could provide either.
By Jeff Schultz
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560 comments Add your comment
1eyedJack
November 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
Supersize, talking about majors, it really is no big deal as in the end your odds of making a career in another field is greater than in the one you studied for. It’s showing the perserverance to get a degree that counts and opens doors, sometimes later in life.
If hunting is tantamount to being a redneck I guess I’ve been a redneck since I was six years old.
Dawgs win! DAWGS WIN!!
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
Super
I can see it happening tomorrow…
And I would love to see ralf at UGA as OC!
That guy can run a offense I can’t believe Maryland fired him. Same at ole miss with David cutcliff.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
9:51 pm
Super – I’d forgotten about Baylor Prep…
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
9:52 pm
5- – If it’s LSU vs. Alabama I won’t watch it. That has already been settled, in my opinion.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:55 pm
Ralph will not go to UGA. He has said as much. tech screwed up not locking him as the Coach in waiting. he might still have gone to Maryland but I don’t know. he is mad as hell at Maryland now. He still likes how he was treated at Tech.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:55 pm
I don’t think it’s fair to LSU……..
If that’s what it comes down to why even play the game again?
Oh I forgot it’s all about the $$$$$$$$$$$$
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:57 pm
5150
Didn’t he burn his diploma from Maryland?
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:57 pm
48, I would LOVE it if Johnson would hire Friedgen as QB coach or consultant or something. I trust Johnson completely, but there’s always room for improvement, and I really think having Fridge and Johnson working together in some capacity would make for an unstoppable offense, no matter who we’re up against. Of course, that’s just a pipe dream; both of them have egos too large to allow anything like that. I don’t, however, think Fridge would ever go to UGA in any capacity.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:58 pm
48 that is one of the hardest things to do. Beat a team twice in a season.
Tech was lucky enough to do it to Clemson
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:59 pm
NO, he said that but it was because he was mad. he didn’t really do it.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:59 pm
UOAD, Fridge said earlier in the season that he would be flying his Tech flags when we played Maryland. I think he still loves Tech, and because of that he would never go to UGA
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:01 pm
Xavier 68
UGA 44 3 min left
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:01 pm
If okie st beats Oklahoma then they should play LSU they won their conference. Same thing to oregon also LSU beat them head to head. What’s funny on espn the same guys calling for bama lsu rematch are the ones calling for a playoff of some kind. If you want a playoff this is the perfect year to fight your case.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:03 pm
1eyedJack – I hunted the wily largemouth bass for about 6 years in Lake Lanier. I think that all those reports of fish that were caught in the “tournaments” there is pure fiction, if not outright fraud. I even took a 1-week course taught by Larry Nixon and Roland Martin. I joined BassMasters. I bought the latest rods and reels every year. Zip. Nada. Not even one bass.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:03 pm
48…………stop playing 3-4 sisters of the poor and blind OOC game and no playoff would be needed 90% of the time or a PLUS 1 only.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:05 pm
I don’t think he would either.
I doubt uga would ever go after him…
But $$$$$ can change loyalties fast. Lol
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:05 pm
Sunseri, the Pitt QB had 43 sacks going into tonight’s game. I looked at the stats for all 120 teams this week, and there is nobody even close to that.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:05 pm
WVU going to take the lead by 1 with just over 7 min to play.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:07 pm
Dawg48 – I’m not sure Ralph can do much of anything fast anymore. A few years back, he lost 100 lbs, but I think he gave that diet up. He admitted that he didn’t really burn his diploma.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:07 pm
Pitt 51 yards in the 2nd half.
smart dawg
November 25th, 2011
10:12 pm
As dawg48 said earlier, OK St should be high on the list to face LSU. Unlike Bama & Oregon, they haven’t already lost to LSU this year.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:12 pm
I guess that makes 49 sacks for Tino Sunseri.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:12 pm
5150
If this mega conference continues….
It would be cool to see 4 major conferences SEC, ACC ,BIG 10, PAC 12
SEC ,ACC have a lot of natural rivalries in place. BIG 10 PAC 12 love the tradition of the rose.
The champion of each conference will play in a playoff. SEC vs ACC in the sugar or orange.
BIG 10 PAC 12 in the rose.
But each conference would have to be 16 to 18 deep.
1eyedJack
November 25th, 2011
10:14 pm
Delbert, is Roland Martin the one that lived in Marietta? That guy was a customer of mine when I lived in that area. I came up one time when he was fishing in his little pond at his house and he let me catch some crappie with him.
billybuzz65
November 25th, 2011
10:14 pm
Steve, Selling tickets to mutts pays your season tickets and athletic fund for the year. They are pathetic aren’t they!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:15 pm
If the Cowboys beat the Sooners, It might happen. Sagarin’s computer has all 10 Big-12 schools as the top 10 in strength of schedule. That may change with the games this weekend, though.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:16 pm
Don’t Roland Martin live up here in good ole bartow county?
In adairsville I think.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:17 pm
Drad at his sons football game on GPTV was interviewed. Excited about the Bball team and coach.
Here is the kickers UGA cheerleader girlfriend.
http://www.georgiadogs.com/trads/cheer/2011-12/sidni-v.html
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:18 pm
Debert D.
He can eat fast.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
10:18 pm
ESPN says Beamer thinks VT is still in the running for the BCS championship game. Yeah, right !!!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
10:18 pm
UOAD, did DRad say anything about tomorrow’s game?
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:20 pm
billybuzz65 how much did you pay for your UGa season tickets? That includes the Donation for the Honor of buying season tickets
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:20 pm
Jack – I think he was living in south Florida at the time; he had a camp and schools down there. The course I took was at Kennesaw State, though, so it’s possible. Big guy, blond hair, big smile.
bajbuzz
November 25th, 2011
10:20 pm
Georgia’s offensive line is just too big for us to handle, their skill players simply too big and athletic. As long as they keep the game plan simple, and their wide open receivers (of which they will have many) don’t drop passes, they should have no problems hanging at least 40 on us.
Now, can we keep up? That is the 5 1/2 point question. Thinking here is that Georgia D forces Tevin into about 30+ carries. They are big enough in the middle to shut down the B-Back, fast enough on the edges to handle the A-backs. Don’t see how we carve out more than 20.
It will take turnovers and stupid penalties for us to have a shot tomorrow.
1eyedJack
November 25th, 2011
10:21 pm
That was back in the early nineties. Is he the one with the Tennessee hat?
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
Only herd a few seconds. i was flipping back during the TO in the WVU game. Just heard about Bball.
Check the link to Scully’s girl friend.
http://www.georgiadogs.com/trads/cheer/2011-12/sidni-v.html
D-Vegas
November 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
I love all this crap talking from people that don’t even play on the team, and probably never played on any team of importance. I would take pride in a tech win, but some of you guys take way too much pride in something that’s not even your fight or accomplishments.
smart dawg
November 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
5150, I say the GT kicker has good eyesight.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
Well, young Mr. Scully has done good!
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:22 pm
Tennessee hat was BILL DANCE.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:23 pm
Yea Roland Martin has the Tennessee hat.
Orlando Wilson lives in adairsville.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
10:23 pm
How the hell did they overturn that call? The reviewers must have had a different video shot than we saw
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:24 pm
Dang wrong again!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
10:24 pm
WOW, CLOSE 1st down. Good spot
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
10:25 pm
48 you don’t like UT so you shouldn’t know it was bill Dance anyway. LOL
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:25 pm
Jack – I’m looking at his web site. That’s probably him, but I’ve changed a lot in 30 years, too…
1eyedJack
November 25th, 2011
10:26 pm
One of them fellas. My memory is blurry. Well, well, well the better half is winking at me.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
10:26 pm
Pitt QB is DUMB!!!!
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
10:26 pm
Bill dance was funny!
That guy is as clumsy as they come!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
10:27 pm
@”I love all this crap talking from people that don’t even play on the team”
Good for you.