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
HedgesHaven
November 25th, 2011
9:12 pm
So being called a Nerd and being called a Thug is kinda the same thing but not really?
HedgesHaven
November 25th, 2011
9:14 pm
I partied with some KA’s from Tech at PC a couple years ago and had a pretty good time…in between their confederate flag being stolen one night and the bottles of evil weivel getting passed around, I’d say if you strapped a big G on their chest they would fit in pretty good in Athens
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:15 pm
The other day bill king said they had to go to Michigan ( I think) for surgery or a procedure and was asking for prayers. Cuz came on and said he would update but have not seen anything. That was the week leading up to the Kentucky game.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:16 pm
last was just a football post from CUZ a few days ago.
Baylie had the surgery this week and they will be in the hospital room watching the game on TV.
I think they are in Minnesota. CUZ has not posted to say how Baylie is doing. as of yet.
She is such a cute lil Red haired girl that has been through so much. CUZ is a Hellva Guy doing it by himself.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:17 pm
Hedges, on these blogs they are pretty much the same—-both are used as derogatory descriptions. Plus, I might remind you, lots of references have been made by trolls on here about Crittenton, when those who are making those posts are conveniently ignoring that former UGA safety Terreal Berria committed a similar crime. I really didn’t want to bring that up, because I think it’s meaningless trash talk, but I wanted to point out that some of your fans are every bit as guilty as Tech fans at making the whole team guilty because of what one loser did. We are no more or less guilty of doing it than your fans are.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:17 pm
Hedges, I never thought much of the KA’s either at Tech or anywhere else.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:19 pm
Thanks for the update, UOAD. I have never met Cuz, but we chatted extensively about Baylie a couple of years ago. Actually, I think he only lives about a mile from me.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:19 pm
WVU back to within 6.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:19 pm
I will still be praying for them
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:19 pm
What are the dawgs doing in their Basketball game?
HedgesHaven
November 25th, 2011
9:21 pm
I wonder sometimes if modern day athletes would trade some of their ESPN, twitter, BS glory to go really live the way they could in college and the pros? I mean worshipped on one hand and judged on the other? I still laugh at people who think athletes just started living this way yesterday
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:21 pm
The dawgs play basketball??? Has somebody told them how many points are in a 3-point basket? LOL
Sorry, Hedges, I know you didn’t like that, but I couldn’t resist. LOL
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
9:23 pm
Super – Some of the students graduating in Housing, the one that is associated with football players (it is usually the most popular major at Georgia each year) might surprise Tech fans. A couple of years ago I looked at the Spring graduates in the Georgia athletic teams. There were several from the equestrian team that were Housing majors. It is a less difficult path to real estate than the Terry Business School’s #5 ranked Real Estate program, but looking at the website, some have successfully taken that route.
As to people who knock junior colleges and state colleges, I don’t think they have a frame of reference. I, on the other hand have traversed the full gamut of state schools, JC, and public and private national universities. Some times you have to go where that path leads.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:23 pm
Another big match up will be Roddy Jones against Jarvis Jones to seal the outside block for Tevin or Orwin to get around the end.
HedgesHaven
November 25th, 2011
9:23 pm
Damn, I really killed this blog didn’t I? Focker out
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:25 pm
Delbert, back in the 60s and all the decades leading up til then, Tech sent players to “prep schools” to better prepare them for college life. That was a legal thing to do then. Many of those prep school graduates ended up being great ball players, and most of them finished Tech and moved on to fruitful lives.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
9:25 pm
I believe Baylie is at the Mayo Clinic. Cuz mentioned that in some communication last year.
RedandBlackDawg
November 25th, 2011
9:26 pm
Against conference opponents tech. averages 27 points and gives up 27 points a game, that being in 7 games. It is nice to pad statistics against FCS opponents.
UGA has averaged 28 points on average for the whole season and the defense has given up on average 15 points a game.
The difference in the two teams, beside the fact that Tech. runs a gimmick offense is the defense of both teams. Tech. will get running yards running the TO, but their defense will give up more yards and points against a conventional college offense. Even Duke, managed to put 30 points up against Tech.
I don’t see Techs. QB killing anybody with his passing game. He is successful when teams get fixated on the run, which Tech. does 90% of the time. UGA has a big, fast and well disciplined front 7 that gets to the ball pretty fast and tackle hard. The Cb’s are disciplined and stay in their assigned areas.
IF UGA’,s RB’s are ready to play, it will make for an even longer day for Tech. Murray, should be able to have a Field day against a porous defensive backfield like tech. has. If the running game, contributes, look for Murray to have the time in the second half to fire away at will. We have the receivers to take advantage of the sieve that is techs. defensive backfield. Tech. will try to blitz a lot the first half so UGA will have to use short passes and a controlling offense, and then Tech. will get weary of that and drop off the blitzing package in a hurry.
GO DAWGS and GATA
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:26 pm
Good ole Augusta
How is the quail hunting out their?
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:27 pm
Xavier 40
UGA 19 start of the 2nd half
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:27 pm
Hedges, actually, after you got past your first few posts, you turned out ok. We may disagree on some matters, but I think we engaged in a decent conversation about it. Not an easy thing to do on the blogs.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:29 pm
48, I couldn’t tell you. I never hunted quail, or anything else for that matter
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:31 pm
R&BDawg, it really depends on which Tech defense shows up. The one that played against Clemson and even against Miami and UVA (offense sucked in those 2 games, but defense played pretty well) will give the dawgs problems.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:32 pm
Redandblackdawg
I fear tech will hit us on several trick plays.
Granthem has the boys playing great on assignment football when you look at how we have given up a lot of our td this year it was on trickery. CPJ will run at least 4 of those IMO.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:33 pm
“Weed runz dis tate,” sez Crowell.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:33 pm
I guess that’s why we call y’all nerds and I’m a redneck! LOL
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
48, when those plays are staples of your offense, they cease to be tricks or gimmicks. Tech runs a pretty much wide open offense built on the triple option. UGA defenders might be deceived on some plays, but they won’t be “tricked.”
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:34 pm
WVU forcing Pitt to punt out of his EZ. WVU looking to score and take the lead.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:35 pm
48, I guess that would be one explanation, yes. LOL
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:35 pm
WVu in the BIG XII and Syracuse in the ACC………….WTF?
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:36 pm
UOAD, I don’t think the ACC wanted WVU, but it sure is stupid for them to be in the Big 12
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:37 pm
True
But I will say a weakness of our defense is the trick plays. Ole miss fla auburn how they got their points. Well fla got a big pass play on one trick play.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:38 pm
Hunting wild animals is safer than dating.
What scares you more?
Something that bleeds for 3 days and survives
or
Something you shoot it bleeds and dies?
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:39 pm
48, that’s why CPJ’s offense is so hard to defend against. What you call trick plays are everyday plays for us. That being said, though, I do look for Johnson to do something he hasn’t done yet this year. I still wouldn’t call it a trick play though; just another play from his mental playbook that he hasn’t used much if at all.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
Super – The USNA does that for some recruits. They have a Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, RI for selected applicants needing more preparation, and selected Navy enlisted men and women go that route as well. They also prep the USCG and Merchant Marine Academy folks that need it.
I was more familiar with the USAFA Prep School back in the mid-60s, as it was located on the site of the Academy, where my uncle was an instructor. They probably take some athletes, but I don’t know for certain. While I spent much of the summer after graduation with them, my aunt kept trying convince me to enlist and go to the prep school and be a kicker for the Fighting Falcons. Who knows? Maybe in an alternate universe…
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
LMAO @ UOAD
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
Talking about some rude fans!
Those WV fans are some jerks!
In 05 I was stuck on the Marta train with about half the state!
Did not think I was going to make it out alive!
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:40 pm
ACC would NEVER take WVU. They are not ACC material. They have some real bad academic rankings. the SEC even though WVU was below the SEC academic standards.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Virginia Tech was opposed to WVU even being considered for the ACC.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:42 pm
Super
Do y’all throw it on end around plays?
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:43 pm
Delbert LOL @ the alternate universe
Tech used to use Baylor and McCallie prep schools in Chattanooga.
smart dawg
November 25th, 2011
9:43 pm
Another factor tomorrow will be whether uga can pass. I’m sure Jemea Thomas will be ready, hope the rest of the db’s are too.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:44 pm
Xavier 60
UGA 27
9:30 left to play
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:45 pm
48, nobody has passed except the QB this year. I have thought all year that Sims (B-back) might pass. An end around pass would be a possibility too. When we pass it’s not a pass coming out of the option, per se. Friedgen, when he was OC at Tech, would pass out of the option, and it was a thing of beauty.
Dawg48
November 25th, 2011
9:46 pm
5150
I can agree with VT on that.
Just think they left the big east to join the acc.
Now if the acc changes it’s division around VT will be playing most of it’s old big east foe’s again. If WV joined.
Would it be Pitt Syracuse BC VT…… Throw in WV they would basically be back in the big east.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:46 pm
UOAD, it sounds like not only do they not know how many points are in a 3-point basket, they can’t make any either. LOL
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:47 pm
The Dawgs on Bill’s blog are mad that Bama might get a LSU rematch for it all, but in 07 UGA couldn’t be in the MNC game cause they play in the SEC CG.
Dawgs please realize in 07 you were not what BAMA is today by a long shot.
Supersize that order, mutt
November 25th, 2011
9:48 pm
I don’t think Bama and LSU should get a rematch, but I guess you have to wonder who else could it be?
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
The ACC passed on WVU, as did the SEC, so I’ve read. They are in a group of schools ranked #164 by US News, along with Louisville, San Diego State and others.
Since BYU considered and rejected the Big East this week, The BE is now after SDSU. I don’t think that they group they want is going to happen due to lack of confidence in their future. I think it’s more likely that the C-USA/Mtn. West merged conference will be more stable. Nobody has weekly cross-country trips, and the CG winner of that 22-team merged group gets a BCS bid.
5150 UOAD
November 25th, 2011
9:50 pm
ESPN wants an SEC rematch. I don’t want to see it.