UGA coaches tackle nagging problem
Coach Warren Belin wants to know where these guys learned to tackle. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
It wasn’t as big a factor as turnovers, but the Dogs have been plagued the past couple of seasons by poor tackling.
Flipping through some of my little game notebooks from last year, a frequent theme crops up: “Missed tackle.” “Poor tackling.”
Too often you saw Georgia defenders try to make a tackle from a bad angle or not wrap their arms and stick their heads into the chest of the ball carrier and drive them down. And then there were those awful occasions where they didn’t even really try to make an actual tackle, just hitting or bumping the guy as if that would make him fall down.
There’d be some improvement from game to game, but overall it was a team weakness under Willie Martinez’s staff, a point made this week in practice by coach Warren Belin in a quote that has lit up the blogosphere: “Where did you guys learn to tackle the last five years?”
Ouch. You know Mark Richt had to wince when he saw that reported. I’m guessing that’s one of the reasons why head coaches generally only let the media have limited access to practice.
Fans, of course, react differently. You can’t fix a problem unless you acknowledge it, and it’s encouraging to hear someone addressing the situation head on.
And that’s the good news from all this: The new coaches appear to be trying to do something about it.
Fletcher Page reports in his practice notes on DawgPost.com that it “seems like the defensive coaches are determined to get Georgia tackling better. Coach Warren Belin has been especially adamant about driving through the ball carrier … There has been added emphasis put on proper tackling technique. Coach [Scott] Lakatos likes physicality in the secondary. We know coach [Todd] Grantham is all about it as well. The staff is working from the ground up, developing proper technique and fundamentals first. Belin, I’ve especially noticed, is meticulous about the little things. He preaches proper helmet placement, driving through the ball, proper way to wrap up while driving, etc. This type of conversation should excite Bulldogs fans.”
That’s an understatement.
NO EXCUSES FOR DOGS IN 2010?
CollegeFootballNews.com’s spring preview of Georgia notes that the Dogs “have to find more explosion and more production on offense” and the big spring question is “can the defense be more aggressive?” The most important question, they say, is who will start at quarterback, noting “in a perfect world, this is figured out and settled on as soon as possible.”
But CFN’s overall assessment of Georgia’s prospects sees a lot of potential this season: “No excuses. Georgia isn’t as talented as Florida, but it’s easily the second best team in the [SEC] East and it has the schedule to do some very big things. While there’s a lot of work to be done and there are a lot of concerns, the schedule is too light to ask for anything less than a big season with the toughest road games at South Carolina and Auburn. The Dawgs miss Alabama and LSU from the West and get Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech at home. Again, no excuses.”
What do you think? On the money, or too optimistic?
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144 comments Add your comment
1eyedJack
March 24th, 2010
12:49 pm
A lot of time it is easier for someone who is on the outside looking in to identify a problem than it is for someone who is close to the situation daily. Kind of like looking in the mirror every morning…you don’t notice yourself growing old or fat. It takes someone else to say “you’ve gained weight” or “you’re getting gray”.
And then there’s that loyalty thing.
Now we have new eyes on the situation. See all the warts.
Put your facemask in his chest and I want to see snot bubbles.
run the ball
March 24th, 2010
12:49 pm
What was our average time of possession last year compared to our opponents? Our mistakes, and overall lack of discipline contributed to that glaring discrepency. Our lack of commitment to a power running game also contributed. Find your all american fullback Bobo. Run the ball. What is CMR’s record when we have a back go over 100 yrds? If I’m calling plays you can bet one of our main objectives is to have a rusher break 100yds. It obviously works. We have the O-line and backs to get it done. DO IT!! Win the game by running and controlling the clock. Duh.
Will
March 24th, 2010
12:50 pm
It happens in all of our jobs- it’s called complacency. And it happened big time to the staff after the 2007 season. The coaches stopped coaching hard and the proof was the crap that was laid on the field in games vs Tenn, GT, UF(twice)UK and several others I won’t bore you with. However I think this staff will change things for the better.
Really?
March 24th, 2010
12:52 pm
Unforgiving – the answer is 3 and I do not find it disturbing. Teams are voted into the National Championship game. Teams can’t control that. Ask how many teams have won SEC Championships since CMR started. That is a better way to evaluate things.
AltamahaDawg
March 24th, 2010
12:53 pm
“in a perfect world, this is figured out and settled on as soon as possible.”
Well great news. The starter at QB will be figured out, as soon as possible. Welcome to the perfect world.
UGA practice comment in summer of 09
March 24th, 2010
1:01 pm
One of the bloggers, Bill King? said last summer that CWM barked out some pass coverage instructions to #3 and fabulous # 9 and they slowly walked back to him muttering” yeah, whatever you say coach.”
I know, i know, it was hot and they were exhausted and dehydrated BUT they showed 0 respect for CWM and that was a root cause of UGA D deficiencies. No respect for the D staff or maybe even the entire staff prior to this year in awhile. THAT will change with the new crew and in fact HAS already changed.
All orgainizations need a ( Ali’s pal ) Bundini to motivate, cajole and inspire. It is the way it is. A sargeant in the fox hole might be that guy, where as maybe the young LT has no respect from the men but they PERFORM BECAUSE of Sarge. It takes on all kinds of personnas does respect.
Respect is earned and is not purchased at the store and it knows no social or moral or racial or economic boundaries. It can also be spelled Mark Fox or Todd Grantham, or Erk Russell or Bud Grant or Don Shula or UGA LB coach Blevins or D back coach Latakatos ( sorry for the poor spelling swith these two men ) or Bear Bryant.
Coach TG and Company have that so important and KEY characteristic.
Big things are happening at UGA. The next two or three years could be one nice run for UGA football.
Go Dogs.
ARdawg
March 24th, 2010
1:02 pm
Kudos to Coach Belin!! Damn time coaches call it like it is rather than make excuses for why it isn’t. Tackling has the ongoing nagging problem for the last 5-6 years. I was convinced the defense was working solely on Willies schemes over any fundamentals.
1eyedJack
March 24th, 2010
1:04 pm
No room for political correctness on the football field.
EricADawg Fan
March 24th, 2010
1:07 pm
Enter your comments here
stw
March 24th, 2010
1:12 pm
CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE OLD JUNKYARD DAWG DEFENSE…
HOUDAWG
March 24th, 2010
1:17 pm
murfdawg …… ya nailed it. That ‘08 D was the worst I’d seen in 40+ years too. These coaches seem to be laying down solid expectations & methods.
Note to frankly : it’s spelled genius …….. dumba$$ ……..
30-24 Dawgs, We Run This State!
March 24th, 2010
1:25 pm
Great blawg Bill, glad to see the new D-coaches stepping up & taking notice of the failures of Willard Martini!
DawgBuzz
March 24th, 2010
1:32 pm
I’m with you Preston – I’m still concerned about the offense. A lot of talent but a unproven QB. Can we run against good SEC teams? I also hope that Mett is not held back because he made a mistake. Go Dawgs!!
Mark Richt and Fran Tarkenton and Jim Kelley
March 24th, 2010
1:36 pm
The above three men have some things in common. Kelley for example, played at U of M with Richt and all 3 played QB in college. Fran and Jim Kelley also played QB in the NFL with long, stellar careers. Neither of these two ever won a Super Bowl. Oh, then to use the standards employed here by so many um, ah, “experts” Kelley and Fran are losers and failures; even though between them there are about 8 or 10 Super Bowl games.
The Atlanta Braves in the 90s are a perfect example of that STUPID argument that “unless so and so wins the World Series or the Super Bowl or the NC then that coach or player is a loser”. Jim Brown never, ever played in a Super Bowl. Is he a loser running back or Earl Cambell??
For a QB to get to the Super bowl as many times as did Trakenton and Kelley is to PROVE their greatness. Richt? his record proves that he is one of the best. Yes, with losses to KY and Vandy and how ever many losses to Florida and ONE LOSS to laughable Tech.
NC?? Oh heck yeah …………that would be nice for UGA. I suspect however, that 90% of the morons on the several blogs procaliming that say with ” no NC, then ( Mark Richt ) is a failure” are not even college educated.
You have a right to your opinion ………..worthless as it and MY opinion are. Both are free and are worth what you pay for them.
Go Dogs.
Ginger
March 24th, 2010
1:38 pm
Love that quote by Coach Belin……I hope that UGA does not say much to him for making that quote…because it makes me feel very very good that problems are being acknowledged and that very positive changes are going to be made…that makes me feel so much better and should make players, recruits, and fans feel better too. UGA has enough talent to do much much better !!
Mark Richt and Fran Tarkenton and Jim Kelley
March 24th, 2010
1:38 pm
PS
I also know that Jim Brown was gone from the NFL by the time of the Super Bowl. He still illustrates the point of my argument.
Go Dogs
Will Dawg
March 24th, 2010
1:43 pm
CMR went to VT to get a look at a better Strength and conditioning program. He also talked special teams with Frank Beamer. Glad to know that our coach is not just looking to get better on defense. It probably doesn’t hurt that Coach Beamer would love to see UGA bury GT as often as possible.
Zeier Fan
March 24th, 2010
1:52 pm
On the money
SOUTH GA DAWG
March 24th, 2010
2:00 pm
DOWN HERE IN THE DIRTY DIRTY WE THINK ITS TIME TO QUIT BEING SO SOFT UP THERE IN ATHENS!!!! TIME TO PLAY WITH SOME SWAG!
Saint Richt
March 24th, 2010
2:01 pm
What a sackless leader ya’ll have in CMR. Soft as baby doo. What a shock! A one game suspension for Mettenberger….
I-DOG
March 24th, 2010
2:02 pm
This is the best news I have heard about Spring Ball to date. I love it. While I agree that Richt might have cringed when those statements became public… Richt knows his defense didn’t perform the last few years. I don’t think a head coach gets rid of the entire defensive staff save one including a former college roomate if the D is getting it done and tackling is about as key a thing as a defense does.
While the proof will be on the field as to whether we are better tacklers and a better defense, I like the fact that the coaches are making this a priority. If I hear that the next priorities oare penalties and turnovers then I become more optomistic about next season.
TheItalianDawg
March 24th, 2010
2:03 pm
Ok! if anyone was reading the blogs since 2005, you should be able to single me out as the one who repeatedly identified the poor coaching by WM and he is just a load of Bull Crap!!! i was even more convinced by his inability to coach a prime time defense after the Auburn game of 2005 and should be fired!!! I cant believe he survived 4 more years, if he worked for Saban or Tommy Tuberville, he would have been fired by 2005. Martinez was a disaster for Georgia!! he actually cost us at least one or 2 national championships, 2005, 2007 and 2008. just wait and see how bad Oklahoma will sink!!!
OC_Dawg
March 24th, 2010
2:16 pm
Only a retard would say a baseball score on a football story. Admit it, you got nothing St Simons!
Roaddawg80
March 24th, 2010
2:22 pm
Not sure why everyone is on BOBO so hard. The offense has produced the most points and yards the last two years than what we have had in the CMR era. Yea Cox wasn’t the greatest qb and put us in bad situations but if Stafford would had stayed then Bobo wouldn’t have had to do that.
Rookie
March 24th, 2010
2:44 pm
Sorry guys, new to the blogs. Wondering what HBTD means?
dap01
March 24th, 2010
2:45 pm
Saint Richt: I can not argue about your comment. You would be a great athority on sackless people. You have examined many sackless and sackful people in your time at Tech.
You could probably write a book about sacks. I am sure that you have the whole subject covered. You have your fingers wrapped around it.
How2fish
March 24th, 2010
2:53 pm
A lot of nice comments coming from the D coaches..but at this point they are just talk…CWM I’m sure never in his mind coached bad habits..but clearly was..we will give these guys time to show us there is a change for the better on the D but to prove that you have to play the games..and I’m looking forward to that!
Sam
March 24th, 2010
2:56 pm
Hard to cause fumbles if you are not hitting someone.
Saban
March 24th, 2010
2:57 pm
Doesn`t matter who coaches over the cess pool in Athens.
Another 6-5 season with the Florida game getting to triple digits this year. 102-24.
I believe we will win another natinal championship.
Life is good.
Saint Richt
March 24th, 2010
3:01 pm
Whats the over/under on the number of one game suspensions that pile up before the season starts?
CWM is gone and whew .........let's play D.
March 24th, 2010
3:06 pm
UGA lost about 8 – 10 games over the last 4 or 5 years that could have been won with at least an average SEC caliber effort. WVA game, KY TWICE! and VANDY and yes, Florida. Tech for sure.
The Auburn game where they were what….. 4th and 30 and they hit a 55 yarder up the middle down to the 3 yd line??? How about 2 of the last 4 UT games. Come on …………we really just laid down on them. No effort ……………..none.
Several others come to mind like Ok State and LSU in 09 and whew ……….glad that clown and his staff are gone.
The new coaches SOUND LIKE hard nosed footbal coaches. Better late than never.
Good things are coming.
Go Dogs
LOVES GEORGIA
March 24th, 2010
3:10 pm
Where have you been SAINT SIMONS. Haven’t seen you since the annual thanksgiving beatdown. Now go crawl back under your rock. You have no legs or mouth to stand on.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 24th, 2010
3:14 pm
Where’s Cuz?
I haven’t seen him lately. I hope everything is alright with him and Bailey.
EricADawgFan
March 24th, 2010
3:16 pm
That is great that Coach Belin have indentified the problem. Although it didnt take a Rocket Secientist to see that. But it does mean a lot that the Coach publicly mention it. Not that the problem has been identified, lets fix it. I have huge positive expectations for the Dawgs this year. They should definitely win the SEC East this year hands down.
layinlow
March 24th, 2010
3:30 pm
I like what I’m hearing from the defensive coaches. I have no doubt that this group will do a much better job than the previous regime. The only question marks on defense will be how long it takes to get these guys understanding the new scheme and feeling confident. Also, it may take another recruiting season or two before Grantham can get the kind of players he needs to run his defense effectively. Two things that I have heard this spring from our new defensive assitants, that make me smile, are- Belin taking charge and acknowleding there is a serious problem with tackling fundamentas. Secondly, when Latakos said he likes big physical corners instead of midgets. Music to my ears!!!
Ernesto P. Chubbaleen
March 24th, 2010
3:30 pm
I might be overly optimistic about the D, but I think Grantham and the new UGA staff is going to create a lot of problems for opposing offenses this year. I’m very excited about the new 3-4 scheme and the things they are emphasizing. Belin has every right to ask where they learned to tackle, because our tackling sucked under Martinez.
I’m more concerned about the offense, because of the QB situation. It is damn difficult to break a new QB into the SEC. So much on offense depends on how well your QB plays and if Murray isn’t the break away guy by now we could struggle come Fall.
I would love to see us beat Florida and UT this year, but I’ll settle for the Vols.
How2fish
March 24th, 2010
3:32 pm
Saban you come a lot closer a lot of time to going 6-5 than CMR has..the facts are the facts.
Daniel #12
March 24th, 2010
3:36 pm
Yes. In addition to poor pass coverage, poor special teams play, lack of aggressiveness on defense, i agree the tackling has been attrocious
Old Techie
March 24th, 2010
3:37 pm
Saint Richt you are a fool. I would suggest you do as I – worry about our Jackets. I am sick of the yearly beat-downs from the farmers in Athens. From what I hear and read they are getting better by the day – and us ????
We can yell from the rooftops “We Won the ACC” but the fact is the farmers from Athens keep kicking our arse year in year out.
Junkyard Dawg
March 24th, 2010
3:38 pm
Saban- We were 8-5, Not Uga caliber no and have you already forgotten 2007 were you went 6-6
Saint Richt
March 24th, 2010
3:52 pm
Old Techie, shut your pie hole if you can’t appreciate a little ribbing from time to time. If you had bothered to read my comments, I don’t think I ever said our program is better and I realize that the Dawgs own us right now. But I think its also painfully obvious that Richt doesn’t have any stones when it comes to disciplining his players.(and never has) He reminds me a lot of his mentor Bobby Bowden, another proud Christian who also seemed to have a different morale compass when it came to managing his football team. And as for what WE GOT next year, we’ve got Paul Johnson. And I’ll take him anyday over the sackless wonder in Athens.
S. FL Chapter of the Bulldog Nation
March 24th, 2010
3:57 pm
Hey St. Simons, that baseball score you’re spoutin off about…that was a young, injury riddled squad almost takin down the #3 team in the nation in their own house…how you feel about that game now??? That’s what I thought…now swallow your boyfriend’s load you B!tc#!
I definitely like everything I’m hearing coming out of Athens these days…but everyone has to be cautiously optimistic. There are sure to be growing pains and the OoC schedule is a lot lighter this year, and yes we don’t get Bama or LSU….but, I believe that Ark & MSU are going to be much improved and very well could be equally as tough this year.
Our skill positions and O-line should be able to take some of the pressure off of the young QB’s, but I am worried about Bobo…but, with the change in the D scheme that they have to go against everyday…that could be just what the Dr. ordered to light a fire under EVERYONE’S butts! I hope!!!
The Special Teams….specifically Kick Coverage can only improve.
I’ve heard some rumbling about Logan still going to be the punt returner/receiver on short field returns…I don’t have a problem with that especially since I saw at least twice last year returners, not Logan, either catch the ball on the 2,1, or 1/2 yard line…NO EXCUSE!
There are A LOT of things that our Dawgs need to address before the 2010 season kicks off, but at least we have the wheels moving in the right direction! How Bout Them Dawgs!!!! GATA in 2010!!!!
GO DAWGS!!!!
UGAgrad04
March 24th, 2010
4:01 pm
How can you be a Div-I recruit and not know how to tackle?? And how can you be a player on a defense that gives up 30-40 points in big games, and not let that bother you?? I mean how can you not care THAT much!!! I mean at what point do the players need to take accountability for what is happening? Well these boys are finding out pretty quick with this new coaching staff that if they don’t bust their asses and earn their scholarships, then they are going to be demoted to the practice squad pretty fast! Defense is about heart and desire and if you don’t have the stones for it, then you shouldn’t be playing on that side of the ball. Period!
76-Dawg
March 24th, 2010
4:22 pm
One problem with the offense that needs to be addressed is when UGA is winning by more than 10 points at half time it is time to put the pedal down not change your game plan or go into a defensive mode in the second half.One of the things that frustrates to no end is to score 21 or 24 pts at half and score only 7 to 10 points in the second half when you know you could have scored a total north of 40 points. UGA has been letting way to many teams back into games in the second half because they change game plans at the half.” IF IT AIN’T BROKE DON’T FIX IT” When you let a team back into a game it is fuel that can be used against you next year. But if UGA beats a team soundly that teams go’s into the next years game already beaten mentally. That one reason Fla. has such consistent success against UGA.
Old Dawg
March 24th, 2010
4:35 pm
Improve tackling and take away margin and a lot of good things will happen. And but the hammer down when you have the other team in trouble, in other words a killer instinct!
innocent bystander
March 24th, 2010
4:42 pm
Team needs toughness all the way around. Bet Mettenberger will be starter before first SEC game.
38 Yardline Dawg
March 24th, 2010
4:45 pm
HA, if Richt is embarrassed at Belin’s comments, then I’d like to buy him a beer. If you’re a Dawg fan and not embarrassed at our poor tackling over the last two years, well…
I think we will see great improvement on defense in the Fall. It’s not just that the 3-4 scheme will be an improvement, but better fundamentals will make a big, big difference. I’m just so happy to see Belin calling it like it is that I’m going to drink to him in about 15 minutes.
And just for the record, I’ll take an improved defense and an unexperienced QB over last year’s sloppy defense and 5th year “experienced” QB.
Camden Mark
March 24th, 2010
4:58 pm
No excuses my ass.There were no excuses for the last 2 seasons,poor coaching particularly on D,cost us.
Lets just hope (pray) Granthem is the 2nd coming of Erk “Head Butt” Russel
Camden Mark
March 24th, 2010
5:01 pm
76-Dawg you hit it on the head,hate when we go into that play to not lose mode.
LCDawg
March 24th, 2010
5:03 pm
It’s true we have sucked at tackling since BVG left. Belin is a solid LB’s coach just look at the player’s he coached up at Vandy. I expect much improvement from our LB core this year. I am also optimistic about Lakatos. It sounds to me like the players are buying into the new approach and like the fact that nobody is penciled in as a starter as in years past. I’d like to hear what we are up to on special teams. I hope we adopt a strategy like FL and make it a badge of honor to be on special teams. I want our starters on the field for every special team since ST end up influencing every game in a major way. Treat it that way!