Grantham now providing the right highlights at Georgia
Mark Richt and Todd Grantham both earned contract extensions. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – Once you get past the standard, astronomic, cartoon-like expectations of spring — Will Georgia go 13-1 next season? Maybe 14-0 if the dang, cheatin’ refs ain’t from Bessemer? — it’s worth noting that Todd Grantham has accomplished something pretty significant in Athens.
Something even bigger than evolving from sideline sideshow on YouTube — and who knew that was possible?
The Bulldogs, the team headed by a former offensive coordinator (Mark Richt), the program that recently had produced the likes of A.J. Green and Matthew Stafford — only to too often get punched in the mouth by Alabama, Florida or LSU — has discovered the key to success in the SEC.
Defense.
Who knew?
It’s important to note that college football in general, and the SEC in particular, doesn’t mirror the changing NFL. The pros have become pass-happy on offense. That means nickel defenses are now the rule, not the exception (which means old-school middle linebackers such as Curtis Lofton, who neither pass rush nor drop into coverage, can’t command the lofty free-agent dollars they used to).
But defense still rules in the SEC, and this is where Georgia’s return to relevance comes in.
When Grantham — Richt’s fourth choice as defensive coordinator — was hired two years ago, the Dogs were coming off a season in which they ranked 38th in total defense and 63rd in points against. The question wasn’t whether Willie Martinez would get fired, the question was whether he would be able to make it out of the parking lot.
Oh, boy. Here we go again.
Grantham, now in his third spring with the Dogs, has brought success — the defense ranked fifth in yardage last season, 23rd in scoring and third in third-down efficiency– but more important he has changed the mentality and the focus at Georgia.
When asked what is different now from what he saw on tape from Georgia players when he arrived, Grantham said, “The biggest thing we’ve done is we’ve become more resilient. We’ve learned to play every play. Did guys learn our system better last season? Yes. Were guys more comfortable? Yes. But playing the next play, competing, playing the game the way you’re supposed to, with effort, with toughness — that’s it. We’re tougher mentally. We’re tougher physically.”
There will be no cartoon-like predictions here. But that change in philosophy, combined with the Dogs’ soft-as-nougat-schedule next season, does set up for a potentially — potentially — special season. Also, Grantham seems to have learned from his own head-exploding tendencies.
“I’m driven,” he said, in comical understatement.
Driven — sort of like how Yosemite Sam was driven to get Bugs Bunny, only to inadvertently wire his boot to the dynamite.
Grantham admits he has “lived and learned. There are cameras everywhere.”
Two years ago, one spotted him grabbing his throat and yelling, “You’re gonna [bleepin'] choke” at Florida kicker Chas Henry, as the 21-year-old was lining up for a potential game-winning field goal.
Last season came the postgame skirmish with Vanderbilt coach James Franklin, fueled in part by Grantham’s beliefs that the Commodores were playing dirty.
Days following each incident, Grantham expressed regret. “I’ll use it as a learning experience,” he said of the Franklin confrontation.
So it won’t happen again?
“We’ll see,” he said, smiling. “When you put a hundred hours a week into something, you’ve got a pretty vested interest in it.”
Two embarrassing incidents had the potential to derail things. But Grantham has managed to overcome, well, himself.
The defense succeeded last season despite having 11 different lineups in 14 games because of suspensions and injuries. Georgia has great athletes, but that always has been the case. College teams aren’t defined by the number of stars on letter-of-intent day, they’re defined by how players develop and play.
“In this profession you either get better or worse, so you can’t stop teaching,” Grantham said. “In the pros [as an assistant with Dallas] I saw that if a guy knew that you could make him better and extend his career, you never had issues with him. At this level, you’re obviously developing more. But when players know you have a genuine interest in them and they believe in you, that goes a long ways.”
Grantham spent 11 years in the NFL. When asked if he prefers coaching in college, he said, “Obviously, I wanted to come here. I was friends with Nick Saban and used to watch him when he was at LSU. Systematically, we’re pretty similar. I felt like we could have that kind of success.”
The Dogs aren’t nearly at the Saban level of success. But at least they’ve figured out which side of the ball matters most.
By Jeff Schultz
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458 comments Add your comment
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:27 am
“Bama had no Tebow or Cam and they won.”
Yep, but they also had running backs and receivers along with a stellar defense.
“look what Tebow and Cam were..RB’s in the QB postion.”
So a RB broke Peyton Mannings record?
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:28 am
“look what Tebow and Cam were..RB’s in the QB postion.”
REALLY??????????
Panthers quarterback Cam Newton broke Peyton Manning’s single-season rookie record for most yards passing in a season in Carolina’s 48-16 win over Tampa Bay Saturday.
Manning’s record was 3,739 yards.
That’s SOOOOOOOOME running back!!!!!!
GT
March 28th, 2012
10:29 am
Spike I will say one thing, I will be happy to see a team from Georgia beat a team from Alabama that is stocked with Georgia players or anywhere else. I pull for Georgia teams against the world, southern teams against the north, and truly believe we know football down here better than anyone, anywhere, especially these writers for the AJC. That said yall got beat by South Carolina in Athens last year, you play them in Columbia unless they get the SEC to change that too and I don’t see you winning that game and you are the better team. Then you are looking at Richt and his thin coaching staff for another year or so which ever year he is there you get worse. It ain’t the player, or the school it is your coach and that eventually will get better unless you hire one like him again.
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
10:30 am
Fact is, UGA is much better with CTG than Willie. There has been improvement. If you think otherwise you’re not very football savy and have not paid attention.
Still, we are NOT at the leve of Bama or LSU. That is the wonderful thing about the past, it’s the past and anything can happen this coming up Fall.
Someone please explain to me how playing an SEC opener at Mizzou and then havng to go to SC is an easy schedule. Not saying we have the toughest schedule, by far, but to say it’s a total creampuff schule is being clueless.
Florida will be better. UT will be better. Auburn will be better. Not as easy as many of the nerds say. Of course the laugh here is that they fail to look at their own schedule. Talk about a cream puff schedule. Soft out of conference schedule, but even a softer A SHE SHE schedule. Buffalo would go .500 at least with teks conference schedule.
5150 UOAD
March 28th, 2012
10:33 am
Sure Buffalo would. You say that if it makes you think UGa is a national power house.
claytondawg
March 28th, 2012
10:34 am
Several of you are absolutely correct: you win Championships with hardnose defense and a consitently, driven running game. The defense is there; will the offense be far behind? Let’s hope not.
Wet Willie...keep on smiling
March 28th, 2012
10:35 am
@dawgfan…that story is complete BS and everybody in Loseranna has admitted it as well. LSU got lucky in game 1 vs Alabama due to mistakes made by Nick and staff as well as a couple of players. LSU is a damn good football program and side by side with Alabama and that battle will go on forever it appears. If Todd were to leave then all the discipline goes with him and you’re back to square one again. The Vandy guy is beginning to get on my nerves. A program that can’t sellout 38k at a home game should be given two years to expand the stadium or the SEC needs to cut their share down to 65%. Hell Miss State and Ole Miss are spending money trying to get to page .one and Vandy just takes the SEC dollars. To hell with their so called academic standing. Vandy is the SEC equal to welfare. Call me when CBS or ESPN has a Vandy professor conduct a class that draws 100K! The academic argument is used when you have nothing else to counter “you’re not worth a sheet at football”. Then again you can always have a new uniform for which Kentucky and Vandy change by the hour then again it worked very well for Maryland!LOL
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
10:35 am
Hey CLUELESS – Note the handle being used. Please reference to me where in my post I said UGA was a national power house. Not only are you ALWAYS clueless, you can’t comprehend English as well.
Now go run along to your little tekie blog.
bham dawg
March 28th, 2012
10:37 am
Grantham has brought intensity to our defense which was really lacking. The chop block on Kwame is what started the altercation with franklin. No problem here, he was only sticking up for his players. The choke sign at florida was unacceptable though. I think Grantham brings the emotion and fire that Richt lacks. Top 3 defense nationally next year with 3 first team all americans. Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree, Bacarri Rambo
truedawg
March 28th, 2012
10:38 am
ok now I get it, your dumb..you really think Cam is better than Manning????! wow. Either you are a Tech nerd or someone from Bama that has no life out of football. Whatever reason you have to hate Ga isn’t clear but all hate comes from envy or loss. So either you wanted to play and UGA and wasn’t good enough, or the Dawgs have beaten your joke by coke so much your sick. Either way, you can sit there and dream of what could be …but never was. Goooooooo Dawgs!!! sic’em!!
Chuck
March 28th, 2012
10:38 am
Written like a dyed-in-the-wool Tech fan, generally complimentary, but riddled with digs.
You just can’t help yourself, can you?
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:38 am
“Please reference to me where in my post I said UGA was a national power house.”
UGA never has, and never will be, a power house.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:39 am
Its funny to see Tech and UGA fans argue with each other. It’s like $hit arguing with Poop.
Research Department
March 28th, 2012
10:39 am
Boise State, South Carolina, LSU and Michigan State
put up 155 points on the Dawg defense,
an average of 38.75 points per game.
Grantham has a lot of work to do.
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
10:46 am
Again, I see there are more than one “clueless” posters on here. “Dumb Dawg”. Should apply the dumb right in fron of your true name, I never referenced UGA as being a power house. There is not a person that claims UGA is a power house. True students of the game that are UGA backers know that we have a long way to go. We are seeing improvement under CTG.
“Research Dept. – talk about getting a clue. Dude, did you see any of those games? tell me how the defense is charged with several “pick-6’s” and fumbles inside of the 10 yard line. Of course speaking out of yuor tail end is probably what you are best at.
Now run along, I believe I hear your mommie calling you!
Wilson
March 28th, 2012
10:48 am
@DumbDawgs-
3-1 against Bama this decade. 25-36-4 all time. I think that is a pretty respectable record against one of the most storied programs in college football history.
Mike Bobo
March 28th, 2012
10:49 am
Da….you really think defense is the key to a successful program? Really? You have to be kidding me?
Saban, Miles, Brown, Meyer and even Spurrier have known this for years, just ask LSU how they were drilled by Alabama in the BCS title game.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:49 am
“I never referenced UGA as being a power house.”
Never said you did. Stop assuming things.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:50 am
“3-1 against Bama this decade. 25-36-4 all time. I think that is a pretty respectable record against one of the most storied programs in college football history.”
Yet UGA is afraid to play Bama and LSU in the regular season. Wonder why? Heck, even Auburn played most of the SEC East last year and had a 2-1 record against the East.
1eyedJack
March 28th, 2012
10:51 am
“UGA is scared to play Bama.”
I hope we get a chance to play them this season. So your assumption is false.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 28th, 2012
10:53 am
@5150 UOAD The Richard Head
Put your record and national titles where your mouth is….
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:53 am
“I hope we get a chance to play them this season.”
Well, don’t get your hopes up too much because UGA isn’t scheduled to play them. I love how UGA fans talk trash about beating teams like LSU and Bama yet when they play them they get humiliated on national tv.
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
10:54 am
“Yet UGA is afraid to play Bama and LSU in the regular season.”
The schools do NOT set the schedule up. It’s done through the commissioners office. Please do some research before posting lies on the blog. No team in the SEC is afraid to play another team. To think that is moronic.
I give Bama and LSU their due kudos. They are the two best teams, but to say that UGA is afraid to play them is ludicrous.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 28th, 2012
10:55 am
UGA would never survive in the West, they prefer to remain in the East with the mediocre programs, other than Florida, whom will eventually get up to speed.
UGA dodged a huge bullet by having Alabama removed from their schedule, it would be 2008 all over again. UGA is all about recruiting and smack talk, and can never back it up (i.e. marketing).
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
10:59 am
@Mike Bobo 17 INT
Please explain your post? “Put your record and national titles where your mouth is….”
Did I compare UGA to Bama or LSU? Did I not say that UGA has a way to go. I did say that CTG has the defense going in the right direction.
Where did your comment stem from(of course you’re probably 5150 UOAD posting under this name)
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
10:59 am
“The schools do NOT set the schedule up. It’s done through the commissioners office.’
Which is part of UGA. Keep making up excuses.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:00 am
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
You should take remedial english at UGA. You really do have a hard time with reading comprehension.
5150 UOAD
March 28th, 2012
11:02 am
Wilson
March 28th, 2012
10:48 am
@DumbDawgs-
3-1 against Bama this decade. 25-36-4 all time. I think that is a pretty respectable record against one of the most storied programs in college football history.
BUT BUT that is not a BAMA coached by SABAN. TRY these FACTS
2003 Sat, Sept 20 #2 LSU w17-10…Saban 1-0 Richt
2003 Sat, Dec 6 #2 LSU w34-13…Saban 2-0 Richt
2004 Sat, Oct 2 LSU L16-45…Saban 2-1 Richt
2007 Sat, Sept 22 BamaL23-26…Saban 2-2 Richt
2008 Sat, Sept 27#8 Bamaw41-30…Saban 3-2 Richt
Richt not looking as good now is he?
1eyedJack
March 28th, 2012
11:02 am
Hey Dummy, at least you got your front name right. The commisioner’s office is part of UGA? And if UGA wins the East and Bama wins the West, we will play. Doofey.
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
11:03 am
“You should take remedial english at UGA. You really do have a hard time with reading comprehension.”
Thanks Dumb Dawg for solidifing the proof that you are a moron. The fact that is your best come back. Please, do yourself a favor and go back to proof read the previous post. I just might figure out it is yourself that needs to understand reading comprehension. But thanks for playing. I’m done with you. Go back and play with your sister!
5150 UOAD
March 28th, 2012
11:04 am
The GED toting UGa fans are working overtime today.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:04 am
“Thanks Dumb Dawg for solidifing the proof that you are a moron.”
I love it when people call other people morons yet they can’t even spell simple words like SOLIDIFYING.
HAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:05 am
“The commisioner’s office is part of UGA? And if UGA wins the East and Bama wins the West, we will play. Doofey.”
What’s a “commisioner?” Spell check is your friend, doofey.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:06 am
“The GED toting UGa fans are working overtime today.
Indeed.
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
11:08 am
@5150
It’s a lot of fun and pride to be able to bring up other institutions success against UGA being that tek sure can’t. I can’t blame you for jumping on another team bandwagon.
You tek people are a sorry excuse for fans. UGA might be mediocre the past couple of years, but we still back our team and yes, we expect things to be better this fall. And will expect better things the following season. Tek has no hope of improving so the “Nerd Herd” jumps ship. A couple years ago it was the Gator bandwagon they were on. Now it’s Bama’s. Pretty pathetic when one views it.
1eyedJack
March 28th, 2012
11:08 am
I don’t give a damn for a man who can only spell a word one way.
At least I don’t try to pretend I know anything about football…when I don’t.
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
11:12 am
Dumb Dawgs – I love it! Thanks for proving that I was correct in my assessment of you. How do we know that? When all you have to fire back is some misspelled words instead of the argument at hand, there’s the proof. I’ll put my degree up against yours anytime.
bham dawg
March 28th, 2012
11:13 am
@Dumb dawgs… when you get on a blog and try to belittle people i doesn’t work when you have no idea what you are talking about. No SEC team is in control of their inter-leage schedule. The league makes the schedules not the schools. I will guarantee you this though if saban had control over making their record he too would have wanted to remove georgia from the schedule.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:13 am
“At least I don’t try to pretend I know anything about football…when I don’t”
And what sports show/company do you work for?
Yep, none.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 28th, 2012
11:14 am
Hit us with some useless stats as opposed to crystal trophies UGA fans…..
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
11:16 am
Are y’all enjoying these little “10 year” comebacks by Dumb dawg? And he says we need to work on our GED’s.
I appreciate the humor Dumb dawg. To bad your lack of knowledge in College Football is the humor.
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
11:18 am
@Mike Bobo 17 INT (a.k.a. 5150 UOAD)
Not going to hit you with stats. I agree that Bama is the best team in the country. Until someone knocks them and LSU off it will remain that way.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:21 am
“Are y’all enjoying these little “10 year” comebacks by Dumb dawg?”
Poor fella.
“And he says we need to work on our GED’s.”
Nope, your words not mine.
“To bad your lack of knowledge in College Football is the humor.”
Ok, here we go again.
1: UGA hasn’t been relevant in the SEC since 1980.
Good enough for you?
1eyedJack
March 28th, 2012
11:22 am
“And what sports show/company do you work for?”
It don’t take any experience to finger a knuckle-dragging, mouth-breather right off.
And stand up straight!!
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:22 am
“I’ll put my degree up against yours anytime.”
In a cage match? Ok, I’ll arm my degree with swords and a rifle. What will your degree be armed with?
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
11:23 am
Again Dumb Dawgs – Thanks for Solidifying (better for you) my point about how juvenile you are. Go home little boy!
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:27 am
“It don’t take any experience to finger a knuckle-dragging, mouth-breather right off.”
Cupcake, I’m not into that kind of stuff.
Dumb dawgs
March 28th, 2012
11:28 am
“Thanks for Solidifying (better for you) my point about how juvenile you are. Go home little boy!
I love how hypocritical you are. First, you say that I’m immature and then you start name calling. Keep it up!
5150 UOAD The Richard Head
March 28th, 2012
11:29 am
@ “In a cage match? Ok, I’ll arm my degree with swords and a rifle. What will your degree be armed with?”
I can’t stop laughing at that one. You are correct by using “Dumb” in your post name. Let me guess, though you talk a tough game you do NOT have a college degree…… That’s what I thought. Then you’re the tough guy in talking about others needing to get their GED…. hmmm, sounds to me that you are the one that needs to work on getting their GED.
Cage match??? Too funny. My 11 year old son enjoys those as well. Now I know exactly the IQ that I’m dealing with. I must be striking a nerve with you. Can’t speak intelligently so let’s talk about cage matches? OOOOO, I better stop posting. Too funny!
Gorilla Biscuit
March 28th, 2012
11:30 am
Who else thinks Dumb Dawgs got dropped on his pointy head a few times?