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
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:18 pm
Blazerdawg…………….no hunting with the River Rats. Have fun at the game. Tech wins by 10.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
5:18 pm
Supersize
That would be granthems post game speech to the dawns if tech wins Saturday night! LOL
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:20 pm
the Honey Badger is pretty damn good. UGA better have an answer for him on D and Returns.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:20 pm
Dawg48, good one. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:21 pm
OJF, I don’t know what his problem is, but I’m done with him
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:21 pm
48…………you gonna have your BAILERS phone # in your pocket when you come to the game? LOL
Steve
November 25th, 2011
5:21 pm
Tech wins by 10? Really? HA.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
5:22 pm
Sorry “dawgs”
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:22 pm
the Honey Badger???
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:22 pm
Can I be next? I’m already naked.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:23 pm
48, I liked your original answer better. Freudian slip? LOL
blazerdawg
November 25th, 2011
5:23 pm
5150…holy Goomba! GT by 10? We’ll see – enjoy the day.
Ol'JacketFan
November 25th, 2011
5:24 pm
Supersize, I don’t know if being a 12 year old is a problem. His access to a computer may be
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
5:24 pm
LOL
He want let me go to the game!
I will be watching it with family and friends at the house.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:24 pm
the MOST depressed people in Atlanta about the NOON kickoff are the Area Bail Bondsmen. UGA fans can’t get that drunk that early can they?
Wright Street has a New Welcome Mat in the Sally Port. It is one of those House Divided mats with the G & GT on it.
Terry
November 25th, 2011
5:25 pm
Supersize that order, mutt, You can call it conjecture if you want to, I’m just going by the rankings, Louisville is 7-5 and rank 61 in the BCS, Kansas is 2-9 and isn’t even ranked out of the 120 teams that’s in the BCS rankings, If you think Kansas is a better team than Louisville, then you have lost all creditability.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:27 pm
Goomba……….what a name form the past. Maj Cassidy and the History Club/ Drinking Club. LOL
Supersize……..#7 Matheu is called the Honey Badger from the YouTube video.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
5:28 pm
5150
Oh yes they can! We been having early kickoffs about all year to practice for this game!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:28 pm
Terry, to be honest, I don’t keep up with either Kansas or Louisville, so I had no idea how they are ranked. The point, however, was that you cancelled the game with them so that you could play Boise State; the Boise State game was not originally on the schedule. I guess you should have kept Louisville though, since you would probably be 10-1 now without ever having played anybody worth a damn, instead of 9-2 having played only one.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:29 pm
Supersize…………..the honey badger video watch this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
UOAD, I thought you were talking about somebody on the Tech team. I knew I hadn’t heard any of our players called the Honey Badger.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
Ga. Techster
Come on man stop being a tool, either join in on the conversation or go back to playing your wii!
blazerdawg
November 25th, 2011
5:30 pm
Maj Cassidy, I said, I said. LMFAO!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
I said I was going to ignore you, Techster, but NOBODY on here (not sure whom you were referring to), I repeat NOBODY has “admitted” to being gay. You, however, continue to PROVE that you are a worthless POS, no matter what team you pull for.
Ol'JacketFan
November 25th, 2011
5:32 pm
That’s a pretty damn good LSU team!
Ol'JacketFan
November 25th, 2011
5:33 pm
Defense, passing game, running game, special teams, they look like a complete team.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:35 pm
Looks like Techster is now using other people’s names to make posts. What a loser !!!
south
November 25th, 2011
5:39 pm
Supersize, you guys ever been to Engine 11?
Ol'JacketFan
November 25th, 2011
5:39 pm
38-17 LSU……………Damn
TampaGator
November 25th, 2011
5:41 pm
Why are you people so homophobic? Hate does not make you a healthy person….hate of ANY kind.
P.S. Georgia has no chance whatsoever in Atlanta. But I am sure you are planning to show up and play anyway. LSU in nearly an NFL team……and most of their starters and backups will be playing in the NFL. Yikes. LSU and BAMA once again…….
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:42 pm
south, what is Engine 11?
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:43 pm
South Engine 11 is just down from the Bus we go to. i showed the guy it a few weeks back. It is cool as hell. i just want to drive it around town one day.
Supersize the narrator in the honey badger just has a speech impediment. LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:43 pm
I’m sure Shultz will really appreciate his name being highjacked. If it is indeed Techster, then look for him to be banned.
Youwish
November 25th, 2011
5:43 pm
@Loves GA Hey what’s UGA’s salary cap this year? It’s probably equal to the number of years UGA athletes should be in prison for rape. I heard if Grantham doesn’t come backs the Dawgs were really interested in picking up Sandusky.
south
November 25th, 2011
5:44 pm
Tampa….that’s why they play the games right? I’m realistic about our chances, but anyone who thought AR was going to get a win @ LSU was delusional.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:44 pm
Supersize……….. the Fire Truck down from Tommy’s bus.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:45 pm
ok, UOAD, I sorta thought that might have been what he meant, but I wasn’t sure. And south, YES, I saw the firetruck for the first time at the Clemson game.
south
November 25th, 2011
5:46 pm
Engine 11 is a tavern on N Avenue. Used to be a fire station
TampaGator
November 25th, 2011
5:46 pm
………and they were down 0-14….and now lead 38-17…..great, great team…..and Bama is right behind them. Scary thing, most of LSU’s team is coming back next year….and they had a great recruiting class last year that barely plays. Very scary thought.
Bama ain’t gonna be bad either. Arkanas either. And Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida are going to be a lot better too. Plus Tennessee and Auburn. The SEC is really going to be a powerful conference next year….but I think the West will rule at least one more year.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:47 pm
Not being MEAN but i don’t see Crowell surviving playing against LSU. Murray might want to think twice before tucking the ball and running too.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:48 pm
South you are not talking about the FIRE TRUCK tailgating rolling beer tap?
south
November 25th, 2011
5:49 pm
I could care less about the fire truck….I was asking about the tavern I plan to be at 9 am.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:49 pm
Well, if it’s an old fire station, then no, I’ve never been there
TampaGator
November 25th, 2011
5:49 pm
south….
There are a lot of very delusional people who post on here. But I think Georgia will do their best. Again, it will be the overall talent and depth at LSU that will win the battle….as it has today. Georgia may play well for one or two quarters….and then the roof will fall in….as today. Georgia better hope they get some kind of running game before Atlanta or it could get really, really UGly.
Ol'JacketFan
November 25th, 2011
5:49 pm
I want y’all to know, I am making a sacrifice for tomorrow. This will be the first GT/GA home game I’ve missed since since I moved back from CA. My son’s 18th birthday was Monday and I am giving him my tickets for he and his girlfriend. I will be watching and cheering from my recliner while he will be losing his voice in person! What we do for our kids
GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
5:49 pm
I know where you are talking about. it is right past the Church right?
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:50 pm
south, you should check out the fire truck. Even though you’re a UGA fan, you would definitely be impressed. It is awesome.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
5:50 pm
I was hijacked!
Gay Techster
November 25th, 2011
5:50 pm
Hey! Look at me! I can hack blog names too! And tech sucks and will get violated by the Dawgs! Well, bye for now NERDS!! Sweet dreams of free hotdogs and Cokes and actually seeing a girl naked in your lonely lifetimes!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
5:52 pm
OJF, WOW, that’s a nice b’day gift. I got an email from another Tech blogger yesserday (the real word there gets blocked), who had two extras he wanted to get rid of to Tech fans. Probably could have gotten them for you.