If Grantham coaches like he talks, Junkyard Dogs era has returned
Dogs defenders will have to earn playing time, Todd Grantham says. (Associated Press)
This time last week, we were examining what little we’d heard so far from new UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham and getting excited about his pronouncements that he favored an aggressive, attacking style.
Over the past few days, Grantham has been making the rounds of the sports talk stations and sat down Friday with reporters to elaborate. And he’s still saying what we want to hear. Of course, it’s often a big leap between talking the talk and producing on the field and we’ve yet to see how Georgia’s players will execute what Grantham wants.
But from what I’m reading and hearing, reaction across the Bulldog Nation has been very positive to what he’s saying. Grantham thinks recruiting successfully close to home is the answer to winning the SEC and beating elite teams like Florida. He embraces the passionate, impatient fan base and says he understands who Georgia needs to beat.
And he is stressing to his players that they’re going to have to compete and produce if they want to take the field for the Red and Black.
He said his first message to the team is “we want to be physical, aggressive and relentless in our approach. … To do that, you’ve got to be in great condition and I think you have to have great preparation.”
More importantly, he said, “I think it’s important that you find ways to get your best players on the field. … Ultimately, you have to make plays on defense and to do that you have to have guys that are playmakers. I think you do that by getting your best players on the field.”
And players won’t be on the field just because they’re a senior or have started in the past. Grantham says he’s opening up all the positions and playing time will be earned. “I think competition makes everybody better, and I think you have to work to win a position before you can help us win a game. … The bottom line is you’re going to put the players out there that are going to be the most productive.”
As for which current SEC defense Dog fans can expect Georgia’s D to resemble, Grantham said exactly what I wanted to hear: “Alabama.”
All good stuff. Now we’ve got to see if he coaches as good as he talks.
WILL RICHT EMBRACE SPECIAL TEAMS?
On another note, Grantham also said that while it’s “not etched in stone right now,” the final member of the coaching staff still to be hired likely will join him in coaching linebackers, meaning no full-time special teams coach.
Considering the task ahead in fashioning a new defensive scheme, I can understand that thinking. I assume the special teams coaching will still be split up among various coaches and one of them will be asked to be the special teams coordinator in addition to his regular duties, as has been done in the past.
But what that really means is that if Georgia’s special teams play is going to improve and become more consistent, the onus is going to be on Mark Richt, who to date has never appeared to attach as much significance to that aspect of the game as some other coaches do. If Georgia’s special teams play is going to improve, that means more time spent on it in practice. Upgrading the personnel on the kickoff coverage team. And demanding a higher level of execution.
It’s not enough to have a terrific placekicker and punter if you’re populating your kick coverage team with walk-ons and regularly give up great field position on returns. Or if you consistently fall for fake punts. Or if your return men don’t seem to know when to run it out of the end zone and when to take a knee.
At the schools where special teams are truly special and viewed on an equal footing with the offense and defense when it comes to winning games, that mindset starts at the very top.
Richt needs a come-to-Jesus moment with himself about what he’s going to do to make sure that special teams play becomes a strength for the Dogs across the board.
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155 comments Add your comment
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
12:50 pm
GaGators, you must be an imposter. Brantley was the High School player of the year his senior year and has played very well win playing with backups. His only action with first teamers was against Kentucky and he threw a 25 TD pass on the first play cold off the bench. Yes UF lost 6 key starters but they get back some people from the 08 team that were medically redshirted last year. Murray might be great at this level but he hasn’t thrown a pass yet. The UF offense will resemble the one when Chris Leak was QB was there except Jordan Reed (6-3 230lb) instead of Tebow will come in short yardage. Brantley has a much stronger arm than Leak and I think that team was ok. Don’t think they will be SEC champs but the schedule falls pretty good for them and going to Alabama will be the only regular season loss. But you read it here first, Auburn with a former UF QB (Cam Newton) will win the SEC West and championship.
Diamond Dog
January 23rd, 2010
1:22 pm
Grantham has a PROVEN SYSTEM? I wonder why he didn’t use it as the DC of the Cleveland Browns. And he brought his own style of players.
I’m sure in a UGA fan’s pea sized brain, he’ll make the Dogs defense better than the 1985 Bears!
doggoneit
January 23rd, 2010
1:44 pm
Great hire, now CMR can concentrate on the offense. We are def a 10 win season team next year. Go Dogs!
SuperB
January 23rd, 2010
1:48 pm
Mark Richt reminds me of Bobby Cox during the Braves’ heyday. Wins a lot of games each year, but not the big prize.
If Richt ever wants to be mentioned with the great coaches– he needs to be more agressive in all aspects of the game– including special teams. It doesn’t take a genius to see what our special teams did in the bowl game and how that was the difference.
poopdawg
January 23rd, 2010
2:14 pm
Ga gator would you be happy in 2010 with the offensive production from 2006? Other than the national title game that offence was anemic. In 2010 the offense will be better than 2006 but very similiar. What will Florida do on 3rd and 2 or 3? Brantley will have to be a stud running the ball in addition to his throwing for the spread to be effective. Can’t wait for 2010 !
Grantham
January 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
Grantham will be typical of dawg fans and the dawg football team in general. All bark. No bite.
DamnGoodDawg@
January 23rd, 2010
2:21 pm
Hay, Doghater..kiss our collective doggoned ass!
“It’s not enough to have a terrific placekicker and punter if you’re populating your kick coverage team with walk-ons and regularly give up great field position on returns. Or if you consistently fall for fake punts. Or if your return men don’t seem to know when to run it out of the end zone and when to take a knee.”
DawgBone
January 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
Hopefully he will pan out. I am optimistic yet cautious that he will turn out to be successful as a DC. I have read on these blogs that he has only served as a DC for one year and was fired from that job. We apparently gave him the keys to a vault with little experience heading up defenses and must keep him for three years to boot even if he turns out to be no better than Marinez. We also risk losing the experience, and the terrific recruiting that Garner has given UGA for years by passing him up as a candidate to be the DC. I for one have my fingers crossed that Grantham turns into the next Russell or VanGorder for us but see nothing from his background experience to be overly optimistic. I guess the proof will be in the results this year!
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
2:34 pm
poopdawg, Brantley is far better than Leak and I wouldn’t call the offense anemic. On short yardage they will have a redshirt freshman QB (6-3 230) who will do just fine or a FB from Buford HS who is 6-2 240. They also have the #2 receiver from 08, 2 2009 beginning of the season OL, and 2 08 defensive starters back who were all medically redshirted last year. Myer has said that Brantley reminds him of Alex Smith from Utah, plus he was National High School Player of the year in 06. What you have to worry about is the years (like many since 1990) when you have more talent than UF to not let them get in the players or coaches heads before game week. Since Richt has been there the only time he beat UF was when he had a bye week before and that doesnt even happen this year.
I know that you know that I know.
January 23rd, 2010
2:40 pm
really, go pound sand junior. It’s only immature when UGA fans do it I guess. That’s the kind of garbage we here from you reptiles all the time so…what’s good for one is good for another.
Nobody cares about you supposed percy harvin clones that yall claim to have. You girls said the same stuff about Emanuel Moody and Chris Rainey. Harvin they are not. I see from recent developments that we Dawgs should keep our kids as far away from you gaytors as possible. Yall stay away from those school zones now.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
2:46 pm
I know that you know that I know. Thank God you are not like most UGA fans. The reporter is a scumbag who needs to go to jail but it takes an idiot to generalize people for one creep. It would be like labeling all UGA fans because of the imbreeding you see in the N. Georgia Walmarts.
haha
January 23rd, 2010
2:49 pm
JS – HAHAHAHHAHAHAA YEP U NAILED IT
I know that you know that I know
January 23rd, 2010
2:52 pm
Now you mean old gaytors got me in trouble with my Mommy! She caught me making mean comments again on the computer and now I can’t ride my bike the rest of the weekend. I hate those mean old gaytors and gaytor fans
Reggie Ball
January 23rd, 2010
2:52 pm
haha, Amen Bro!!!
TopDawg#2
January 23rd, 2010
2:54 pm
I know that you know that I know. – Grow up boy! We are talking football here.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
2:56 pm
Like I have said before, Grantham is a hug upgrade over Willie. and I suspect his comments are to fire up the base and are actually true.
JB
January 23rd, 2010
3:05 pm
Now that we have a journeyman NFL position coach running the D,I just know that Meyer, Saban, Miles and the rest of the SEC will just throw in the towel. We should win the next 4 national titles!
poopdawg
January 23rd, 2010
3:08 pm
Ga gator your right Brantley will be far better than Leak, but will he run the ball? Florida’s 2006 offense was anemic, the defense won the games . So your saying Brantley’s ability to throw will be enough for Florida’s offense to improve in 2010. Did not know Florida used a fullback. How will Florida’s ground improve in 2010? May not need to if Brantley can throw for all the yards. GO DAWGS
$750K
January 23rd, 2010
3:09 pm
Here we are in the middle of a financial freefall, and UGA is cutting its budget for instruction, but who cares so long as you have football. It really sucks that our priorities are so completely screwed up in this state.
Woof, woof, woof is about as far intellectually as most UGA fans can go. I know.
$750K for a freaking football coach.
SOUTHGADAWG88
January 23rd, 2010
3:10 pm
Well I expect the pass defense to improve now that our two worst coverage players are gone.That would be Evans AND Curran…yeah Curran…he was horrible in pass coverage and I do mean horrible Renne probably blew more assignments than Evans or Miller combined by a long shot.There is a lot of talent on the roster on defense but it will be mostly young and inexperienced which could be a plus when you are changing to a new scheme.Grantham has the right idea when he says the instate talent is top shelf and as long as we dominate the state we will be loaded.Willie and crew are gone so most folks got what they wanted now we will see how it plays out.One thing I hope to see improved is recruiting at LB…we have not signed premiere athletes at LB in years.
Top Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
3:11 pm
I like all the things that Gantham is saying, but let’s be real here people: We won’t know anything until the fall gets here. That’s the reality of it, and that’s the beauty of sports. You gotta play it out to know the outcome, if the opposite were true then you would get trophy’s for the best recreuiting class!! I’m sick and tired of all these people coming on here and claiming they know what’s gonna happen because of this stat or that stat, SO WHAT if you guys have the interenet and can look up numbers. BIG DEAL, with all those stats and research you can’t win the game. You gotta strap it up, and go hit somebody in the mouth!! That’s what matters!! And I’m a HUGE bulldawg fan, but before we order our SEC championship t-shirts and hats let’s let the guy at least coach in the G-Day game and see what he’s got.
Furthermore, I read a post from someone on here earlier that gets the whole Florida/Georgia thing. The reason they been manhandling us is because we go down to Jax every year expecting another beatdown, even after ‘07 the confidence still wasn’t there in ‘08. What it’s going to take is for UGA to beat UF back to back to get them out of our heads, I hate having to admit that and I know every Gator on here is gonna simply love that. But to to conqure your fear you gotta face your fear, and that’s the biggest problem UGA has to overcome. The Gators.
So with all that bein said, I think the right moves have been made. Grantham’s pedigree may attract some great talent, but more than anhything for the Dawgs to prosper from having an NFL guy in the program his system is going to have work. THAT along with his NFL experience will convince everyone that he knows what he’s doing, and then the rucruits will flock to UGA. But that’s gonna take time poeple, I know that doesn’t sit well in our society where instant gratification is often our main focus but if we can hang on and sit through a rough patch we’re gonna come out on the other side as much stonger and competitive team year in and year out.
Oh, and lastly, PLEASE leave Bobo alone. Joe Cox just finished a season where he threw 24 touchdowns!! In the SEC!! 24!!!!! JOE COX, this guy isn’t even on the NFL’s radar. I think Bobo’s play-calling is okay, he doesn’t control execution. That’s up to the players.
Go Dawgs!!
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm
poopdawg, Good talking with you. The main difference if you remember was Leak would actually slide, indicating to me he was afraid to run. Brantley will be just more of a scrambler and the offense from friends close to the program will run about 60-40 I formation/spread. The ground game was actually top 5 or so this year and will obviously not be that with Tebow gone, but the passing game will be a big improvement with young receivers maturing and getting the #2 receiver back after being injured from the 08 team. Go Gators, Go Dawgs(except in Jax) and go SEC.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
3:17 pm
$750K, the money doesn’t come from the school budget, it comes from your athletic program(private funds), so you dont have to worry about the Sociology program being cut.
suwaneedawg
January 23rd, 2010
3:26 pm
To build success you have to start with attitude. This guy is doing all the right things to start on the right course for the success of this defense. Let’s all take a deep breath and see what happens.
Preston
January 23rd, 2010
3:27 pm
Music to my ears! Players have to EARN playing time. “Just because you’re a senior doesn’t mean you’ll be a starter.” If only a certain QB hadn’t been left in all year last season……hmmmmm. Excited for the future though.
Whopper Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
3:30 pm
Top Dawg – I agree with much of your post. But I am glad to hear the type of philosophy the Grantham is espousing. 1/4 Willie obviously didn’t believe the same. The only way to get the Gators “out of their heads” is to be able to compete with them and beat them as often as they beat us. We would never do that with 1/4 Willie, we have a chance with Grantham, we’ll see.
We have to do something about the special teams. It appears that there will not be a special teams coach, which staffs normally do not have, but someone has to take the reins.
I am not sold at all on Bobo. I think next year is a big year for him. We aren’t consistent on offense and don’t have an offensive identity. I also believe that as offensive coordinator he is responsible for execution as well as everything else. I don’t think that you will be hearing Grantham say he is not responsible for the execution of the defense. If we do, we are in big trouble.
SOUTHGADAWG88
January 23rd, 2010
3:35 pm
Fla beating UGA usually boils down the 2 things to me.1.FLA has better players on Defense than UGA. 2.The Gator D does a better job of shutting down our Offense than we do with theirs.Simple as that….go back to the vast majority of UGA losses in this game and you see the same thing over and over.Their D is the dominant unit on the field and we struggle moving the ball.Whenever we can move the ball and score we win….if the UGA defensive talent improves then this series will be back to a toss up.
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
3:37 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88, that’s exactly correct. In 07 we scored 30 points which should be enough to win a game, but our D that year was weak and we could not stop Stafford and Mareno.
superDawg
January 23rd, 2010
3:38 pm
UGA will come out this year with more fire and determination than in the previous couple of years.That gets me excited as a UGA fan.Once the momentum kicks in I think it should carry the team right into the tenn. and uf games with more desire and passion to win.It is great to be a GEORGIA BULLDAWG.As far as tek goes well you know,just another win.
Mr Me
January 23rd, 2010
3:40 pm
With all the media coverage Grantham is getting it really seems as if he’s the head coach now. With that being said I think this was a great hire because of the system he brings and his passion. UGA players seem to fit in a 3-4 better than a 4-3 with many of our pass rushing d-ends being a little undersized to be on the line. Now with the switch these guys can play the OLB positions and the bigger run-stuffing d-ends like Dobbs can play the line.
And for the person talking about academic funding, please use whatever size brain you have and do some research. With that research you will realize that UGA academic income and UGA athletic income are two different entities, as is the case for most large public universities. So if the athletic department wants to pay 750k for a coach they have every right to. Go back to your little university in the ghetto.
superDawg
January 23rd, 2010
3:43 pm
Regarding the O Coach Richt needs to be more involved with play calling and schemes like he was when he started his HC position.That should put us back on top.
livi t
January 23rd, 2010
3:47 pm
what the hell………….. what the hell are YOU talking about. get rid of Richt? that is the stupidest thing i have heard. he has only been to 3 seccg and 3 sugar bowls in nine years. that is much better than what we had been doing. he is a great coach and i hope he is here for a lot longer.
get a grip
superDawg
January 23rd, 2010
3:47 pm
Mr Me you called them a university.Wrong it is the instatoot of nerdology.
I know that you know that I know.
January 23rd, 2010
4:07 pm
ga gator,
Sounds like you are nearly as much of a cry baby as your coach. maybe you should take a leave of abscence. So you’re defending that guy? Yuck!!
Grantham's Stout
January 23rd, 2010
4:09 pm
Grantham has a track record. 2 of DLine went to the Pro Bowl this year. Helped Dallas get to #4 against the rush, #2 in defensive scoring in the NFL. 2 teams had 1 year turnaorunds that were nuts–Colts from 3-13 to 13-3, Browns from 4-10 to 10-6. The guy has a proven track record.
Another way we know he’s not just hype, Saban asked him to be his DC. And Saban just led the nation in defense. Says a lot about Grantham’s skills.
But I know Grantham will want to prove it on the field. I know he wants Meyer to come back so the Gators will have no excuses, but it won’t happen–Grantham sent him into retirement from Florida–no way he wants a part of that beatdown.
I know that you know that I know.
January 23rd, 2010
4:13 pm
…by the way ga gator,
you’re exactly like most UF fans.
augusta dawg
January 23rd, 2010
4:13 pm
Hey top dog,How many passes of the 24 did Cox throw were against Fla???
where were you people???
January 23rd, 2010
4:25 pm
richt has brought the more success to this school than anyone besides Dooley. It was twenty years between conference titles, wasn’t it? We did win the Sugar Bowl two years ago, didn’t we? AND PLEASE, DO NOT COMPARE US TO BAMA OR FLORIDA, our program doesn’t compare. Richt has improved UGA’s program to where its at. Getting rid of him would set us back to the ?Donnan years? Remember, A GAME ON CHRISTMAS EVE?
Hey Krogunner, don’t compare success in the WAC to success in the SEC. One reason BSu is always outcoaching is because if a team that they play has a good coach, he will be gone in two years. So tnew coaches emerge.
Mike P
January 23rd, 2010
4:53 pm
I hope your team remembers their sneakers for their “big game” today. Idiots. LOL
S.E. Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
5:02 pm
superDawg, a reporter once asked coach Richt why he didn’t assist Bobo in play calling. His answer, how do you know that I don’t? He doesn’t have the headset on at times during games just to be wearing them.
Skeptical Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
5:02 pm
Seems we all heard this before about the JYD Defense returning. I believe it when i see it. We all should shut the hell up till G day and see if this Grantham guy will deliver. ” Bo Bo doesnt execute the players the players do” Im so sick of that excuse. But he sure as hell better coach execution or his a$$ is grass just like Willie. Just sayin………
Skeptical Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
5:05 pm
BTW who recruits players who forgets their sneakers ? Pathetic I say….
Top Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
5:07 pm
I wasn’t saying he doesn’t coach execution people, I was saying he can’t make them do it!! All coahces coach execution, but Willie’s schemes were stupid. THAT’S why he was shown the door!!
Top Dawg
January 23rd, 2010
5:11 pm
Remember when Tebow scored the touchdown against us to break Herschel’s rushing record? Bryan Evans and Brandon Boykin were standing right in front of eachother leaving the MIDDLE of the field WIDE OPEN!!! Who’s idea was this?!?!?!? Gee, let me think…………. O I know, 1/4 Willie!!! That’s why he was asked to leave and Bobo’s job is safe, his plays SHOULDA worked, we just had a bunch Key Stone Cops running our offense!! He can’t make a wide receiver catch a pass, he can’t make a running back hold on to the football, he can’t make a lineman finish his block. He can tell em what they should be doing but he can’t go out there and do it for em, that’s up to them to go out on the field and execute!! That’s not Bobo’s job, if that were his job, he’d be a player!!
ga gator
January 23rd, 2010
5:23 pm
I know that you know that I know. Who’s crying? If you are happy with your program, be happy with the most consecutive 8 win teams; I don’t think the rest of UGA fans are. You are correct, I am like most UF fans, we would have fired somebody who had a losing record against Zook.
I know that you know that I know.
January 23rd, 2010
5:27 pm
Does anybody else on here think that Joe Cox is a cutie?
Nobody Knows It
January 23rd, 2010
5:43 pm
I liked that pose by Joe for a sports mag that was oh so revealing !
ONLY SERIOUS
January 23rd, 2010
5:43 pm
97rd
BUCK
January 23rd, 2010
5:47 pm
No matter what is said about CMR look around he is a class act. The only problem I see is his loyalty to under preforming coaches.
GatorNation
January 23rd, 2010
5:58 pm
Talk is cheap.