What’s first-year verdict on Grantham’s defense?
Was it just a personnel problem, or should the Georgia defense have made more progress this year? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Whether you tend to spin these things positively or negatively, Mark Richt pretty well summed up the defensive picture for the Dogs this week when he said Georgia still has “a ways to go” and “we’re still not playing championship-level defense right now.”
Since the end of the regular season, there’s been a lot of discussion among fans about the Georgia defense this year and the fact that its only real improvement over the Willie Martinez era was in takeaways.
All the offseason talk about a more “aggressive” style of play got fans excited about the arrival of Todd Grantham, but overall, the stats this season weren’t much different from the year before. Aside from Justin Houston, the Dogs weren’t very successful pressuring opposing quarterbacks. And Georgia ended the year dead-last in the conference in third-down defense.
Granted, the personnel wasn’t ideal for Grantham’s 3-4 scheme, particularly on the line, but it’s kind of alarming that there wasn’t any real improvement shown over the course of the season. And Grantham didn’t appear to have a clue how to defend the option running attacks that the Dogs increasingly face.
Should Georgia be feeling buyer’s remorse over spending big bucks for Grantham instead of opting for others who were available at the time, such as Tim DeRuyter, who has turned things around at Texas A&M, or Manny Diaz, who wound up at Mississippi State?
I put that question to a few fans this past week.
“I didn’t really feel like I saw the 3-4 I was expecting with lots of pressure and pressure coming from all over and confusing quarterbacks,” my son Bill said. “We played a lot of 4-2-5 or sometimes it looked like even just 4-3. Houston was always rushed from the end and that seemed to be our only blitz.”
Bill thought it instructive to look at Texas A&M, our bowl opponent last year, which also replaced its defensive coordinator after the season. “I watched Texas A&M, which switched to a 3-4 this year when they hired Tim DeRuyter from Air Force, who was floated for our D-coordinator job last year. A&M does a lot more varied blitzing and looked more like a 3-4 defense. They have Von Miller, a Justin Houston type player (they were both finalists for the Dick Butkus Award, which Miller just won) and he was rushed from different positions, so the QB didn’t always know where he was coming from, despite being an outside linebacker.
Was Todd Grantham's NFL experience perhaps not the best background for a college defensive coordinator? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
“It’s possible A&M just has better personnel to run a 3-4 than UGA. It is also possible that hiring a college D-coordinator made more sense than hiring a pro one, where those spread type offenses aren’t around as much. We also had an inability to adjust to covering a wheel route for way too long this season. Couple the collapses with the wisdom of giving a choke sign to a college athlete on an opposing team and I wonder about Grantham. Sure enough that hire will help determine if 2011 is the end of the Richt era.”
My friend Joel said he tends to think “it’s a personnel issue more than coaching. DeAngelo Tyson and Abry Jones should be playing DE, not nose tackle, especially in the 3-4, where (I’ve heard over and over) you need a really big space eater at the position. I wonder about the development of Kwame Geathers and Justin Anderson, both of whom are big bodies.”
But watching a replay of the Tech game particularly bothered Joel. “Bob Davie was pointing out that the interior gaps in the 3-4 defense are very wide, and Tech was simply running through those gaps. I’m no expert on defense, but I would assume that the linebackers are supposed to fill those gaps and they clearly were not. Maybe Grantham was willing to give up the inside runs to protect against the pitch, but they hurt us outside as well. I’d also note that Duke held Tech to 100 yards less offense that we did and, more telling, Tech only converted four of 13 first downs against Duke, while converting seven of 12 against us. Nobody can tell me that Duke has better personnel on defense than UGA.
“I do think Grantham is a smart coach — I remember Wade Phillips saying he was the most overqualified D-line coach in the NFL — and maybe with a year under his belt we’ll see some improvement. I also remember reading an article in the preseason that quoted some former players as saying that fans should not expect an immediate turnaround on defense, that it will take time to learn the new scheme and get the right personnel in place. I’d say that so far he’s been proven right.”
My old buddy Dan said he saw “little to no improvement on the defense this season other than the turnovers. Clearly that was due to a more attacking defense in place of the Willie Martinez style of waiting (until the other team was in the endzone, too often) and reacting.”
But, Dan said, “I am inclined to give Grantham one more year with his style players. I do fault any coach that coaches to his preferred style over the talent he has. … For Grantham to point to a lack of a nose guard for failure of his defense raises the more basic question of why was the defensive coordinator running a defense he did not have the personnel to play. He knew after spring practice what he had. His job is to design a defense with what he has.”
My brother Tim thought the biggest problem on defense was the lack of size on the line. “We were just overmatched by the big offensive lines we faced. All the deficiencies in the defense this year can be attributed to the line. (This is true for offense as well.) If you make plays at the line or behind the line it makes the other parts of your defense better. Defensive backs don’t have to cover as long, and you get more pressure. If it takes two offensive linemen to take on your defensive tackle(s) then your linebackers can make the plays.”
The outlook isn’t that bright either, Tim said. “I don’t think you can recruit enough players to turn it around in less than two years. Grantham was pretty much stuck with the players we signed last year, which mainly consisted of light, fast defensive end/linebacker types and defensive backs.”
My friend Carl over in Athens agrees. “I do think it’s a bit early to make any judgements on Grantham. He’ll need AT LEAST two years to get it turned totally around. Manny Diaz had considerably more talent at MSU. I have never been comfortable with the JUCO route, but right now I don’t see much other way to go. At least in the short term. I heard David Greene on ‘The Bulldog Brunch’ say that in 2002 the defense was so deep that Thomas Davis and Greg Blue were second stringers. Now, that was some fast defense in 2002. Boss Bailey, et al. All we have now on defense is fat, slow guys. Hopefully, this new move in S&C will be a big help. Couldn’t get much worse.”
Not a very encouraging picture, is it? What’s your take on Grantham and the Georgia defense?
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310 comments Add your comment
ATL XMAN
December 11th, 2010
12:12 pm
i have no doubt richt will get his 10 or more wins next year and the next 3 or so years as his teams avg 10 wins a year and uga will continue to roll on.
NC Dawg
December 11th, 2010
12:14 pm
Mr. King does an admirable job of acknowledging all the angles. I too expected more from Grantham’s defense. I agree with point that a good DC makes use of what he has until he can get the type player he really wants. I must admit, I’ve never played or coached a down of organized football, but I still think something’s wrong when opponents are making catches with our defenders 10 yards or more away from them. All in all, Grantham deserves at least three years to show progress. However, I too am concerned about recruiting. It seems too many of the really good ones are getting away. But I certainly don’t have any answers.
gb
December 11th, 2010
12:16 pm
i don’t think what bob davies says is very important. he was a lousy coach,
modawg
December 11th, 2010
12:17 pm
It bothers me that we always recruit several qb’s & receivers. Defense has always won championships along with good linemen, yet they do not seem to be as high a priority. I know you run fresh receivers in alot, but the same is true for the guys rushing the qb’s. They get gased pretty quick too.
Vladdy
December 11th, 2010
12:18 pm
No talent/personnel….blame Richt, not Grantham. Big bodies have been running out of state to play for NC contenders. Unless a miracle happens and a couple of JUCO hogs flop on their current commits, we’ll be stuck with our 280 lb. D-linemen. We also need to get off our loyalty to “hyped” players (ex: B Smith) and put our best personnel on the field. I would suspect however that Richt will remain loyal to his lesser than qualified players (ex: Evans, Miller & Jones) and 2011 results will mirror 2010 & 2009. Too bad for Grantham.
RJ
December 11th, 2010
12:20 pm
Richt needs to still get rid of Bobo as OC.There is no way we get a top running back like Crowell or anyone else.
Jerry Jones
December 11th, 2010
12:24 pm
What if Jason Garrett hires Grantham to be his DC at Dallas?
CrackDaddy
December 11th, 2010
12:25 pm
Dos, I agree. SEC better take this step (admittiting App State to SEC) before Big East does.
Bo Williams
December 11th, 2010
12:31 pm
Dos, your idea is brilliant. I’ve been to Boone, and I can see UGa fans flocking there for a Fall game. There stadium, while beautiful, would of course have to be enlarged.
layinlow
December 11th, 2010
12:33 pm
The NFL lockout will have zero impact on juniors leaving early for the NFL draft. College players have to declare for the NFL draft long before the collective bargaining agreement expires and thus a lockout. Justin Houston and AJ green are gone! Quit with the pipe dreaming please. If were going to talk seriously about Georgia football lets deal in reality.
ATL XMAN, there is absolutley no evidence to suggest that Georgia will make a run at three sraight SEC championships and compete for national titles. Exactly what do you see in the program that would imply this kind of success? Please indulge us with this secret plan. Georgia football has been sliding into the abyss and realist fans think that Richt can no longer compete in the best conference in America. Richt’s decline at Georgia looks eerily similar to fulmer’s at UT.
J Clay
December 11th, 2010
12:37 pm
Hahahaha – App St in the SEC? What are you morons smoking? I will give them their due that they are a great team with good tradition where they are – BUT that does not make them SEC worthy. Small stadium, NC is already “open” to the SEC to recruit with the crummy teams there, sub-par facilities, ALSO another important factor – not the best academic standards around – I believe their academic standards are mor along the lines of a Miss St rather than one of the higher schools in the SEC.
Zero chance APP St comes to the SEC. If the SEC were to expand the better picks would be Texas A&M, TCU, Oklahoma, FSU, or even South Florida or Central Florida all before APP St.
RJ
December 11th, 2010
12:38 pm
ATL XMAN,
Glad you have no doubt Richt will get his 10 wins next year.I’m shure you felt that way this season too.But unless we get some serious help from some JUCO guys in recruiting and sign some big strong guys from high school then we are going to be in trouble agin next year and so will Richt and cmpany.
JNitro
December 11th, 2010
12:40 pm
Just Hopin: I like your line up, but be warned . . . Nick Marshall HATES contact. Just watch his HS football film… Anyway, he’s a heck of an athlete. But he needs some SERIOUS muscle development before he can be great in the SEC.
Bo Williams
December 11th, 2010
12:42 pm
Clay, you’d better check your stuff. APP St. has become very selective lately. Applications for admissions have skyrocketed. You need to step outside the box. Hell, they would beat Vandy now, and would play Ky and Ole Miss tough. You are too close-minded, close to moron-thinking.
Preston
December 11th, 2010
12:43 pm
I think the defense will be fine next season. Grantham is a wonderful sight to see after the Martinez debacle. Penalties were way down and he gets in their faces when they screw up. No more watching a Georgia defender hit a player late just to watch the defensive coaches just stand on the sidelines with their hands in their pockets. This defensive unit is finally held accountable and that breeds excellence. Let’s see how he does with another round of his own recruits!
J Clay
December 11th, 2010
12:45 pm
I’m not close minded – I think App St is great where they are and could possibly decide to move up – would be decent candidate for Conference USA and maybe even Big East…that does not make them SEC worthy
RJ
December 11th, 2010
12:50 pm
The only way Richt will ever get rid of Bobo or make anymore bid changes is when UGA fires Mark Richt and then Bobo will be gone and maybe we can get some big strong O-linemen and some big strong running backs.The 2002 SEC had Musha Smith a big strong running back that ran hard with power.He was recruited by Jim Donan.Richt won alot of games with Coach Donan’s players.King and Ealey are not hard runners like smith.I’m a season ticket holder and we are falling behind and starting to slip just like UT!!
Ohio Dawg
December 11th, 2010
12:52 pm
As stated in alot of these responses we have a DE playing nose… It’s an obvious observation Tyson is playing out of position. CTG needs to find a solution here and its not going to come from a true freshman. Some of these reserves need to step up or the JC route are only options. I don’t think Coach Richt has the luxury to wait another 2 years for this side of the ball to blossom. Just like the Fulmer and Tubberville storylines – hiring new coordinators late in the game and not allowing them time to suceed ultimately cost both men their jobs.
Bottom line Coach Richt’s choosing to make changes a year too late at DC has put him in this predicament.. CTG should be going into year three with his system in place and we would be looking at this upcoming year in a whole different light…….
AltamahaDawg
December 11th, 2010
12:54 pm
Well, I’m torn between….”the best defense we have had in 30 years” ……….and going back to what I said in the summer being exactly right about this year’s defense.
Bo Williams
December 11th, 2010
12:54 pm
why are you so arrogant? What does it mean, SEC-worthy? That’s nonsense. APP St and Boone represents a destination and a school which is very attractive for many reasons. I’ve known many kids who went to APP St., and who who were good students in high school. Slackers do not go there.
They can’t be admitted.
K-Town Dawg
December 11th, 2010
12:54 pm
While I agree the defense needs work, if we didn’t fumble away two of the games early in the season I don’t think we are having this conversation.
People are angry because of the overall record. If the record were 8-4 instead of 6-6 heading into the bowl game, most people would assume the defense is headed in the right direction.
However, I do feel the D will be much more stout up the middle next year with Jones and Samuel. We just need to find our own Mt. Cody and the turn around will happen extremely fast because it will allow the other D-Line players to play their more “natural” positions.
DawginOH
December 11th, 2010
12:59 pm
There were a multitude of problems for UGA’s D in 2010. First of all, yes, personnel was an issue as CTG was trying to run an NFL-style defense with Willie’s players. The absence of effective S&C also showed that a lot of the boys were undisciplined and out of shape, which is an added disadvantage.
But CTG also really dropped the ball in making adjustments to work with the players he had. I was pretty frustrated with his insisting on his way or the highway when it was obvious that some of the boys were either uncomfortable or just plain clueless in certain situations.
There are, however, a few reasons for optimism in this mess. Next season’s team will feature a new S&C program under CJT (something Georgia has needed badly since at least 2008, in my humble opinion); a freshman class recruited by CTG for the purpose of running HIS defense and a much-needed boost from Richard Samuel and Jarvis Jones, who have been practicing this whole year. Samuel is a natural linebacker and Jones has to be solid because I don’t think Southern Cal would waste their time traveling all the way to Georgia from LA to sign a kid who isn’t worth it.
CTG really needs to get to work on the recruiting trail this off season because there are some real treasures out there to be found. He should look at signing Ray Drew as an absolute MUST. Plus, he really needs to lure a JUCO Nose Tackle who will be game-ready and of necessary size. I also think he should be working on Justin Houston to stay for his senior year because he’s a proven key component of the 3-4 and could be the best defensive player in the country next season.
I was as frustrated as any of y’all with the defense’s overall performance this past season, but we really need to take it in stride. The transition was tough for Bama in 2007 as well but Saban was able to get the right personnel in there and make it to the SEC championship game the following season. Provided CTG earns his money in recruiting this off season and puts together a dominant 2011 class, we could see improvement maybe even as soon as next season.
Annoying as being 6-6 at the end of a season is for anyone, this Dawg fan sees plenty of reasons to be optimistic for the future, provided some key issues are addressed and addressed as soon as possible.
Go Dawgs!!
RJ
December 11th, 2010
1:01 pm
Whoever wrote should Georgia loose by 4 touchdowns to UCF then Richt would be gone.I live in Orlando and its rough enough with all the Gators much less if we loose to UCF.If we loose by 4 touchdowns to UCF Richt should not wait to be fired he should just resign.
Cuz
December 11th, 2010
1:02 pm
To say that the Grantham defense did not live up to expectations would be like calling World War II a disagreement among friends. Most of us were sold a bill of goods that we would be much better on defense because of the new scheme and co-ordinator. Now I did not think for one minute that Grantham would turn us into the best SEC defense in one year. I did think that with all the hype that we would have been better on stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback. Lattimore, a great runner, just ate our lunch. We knew he would get the ball and we could not stop him. We knew Ryan Mallet was going for broke in the fourth quarter and we could not keep him from throwing that game winning TD.
We need some help and need it fast. We need some big JUCO’s to play nose. Grantham has one more year to try and put this together or I will paint over my Fire Wille Martinez t-shirt with the word Grantham.
I for one am sick up and fed with my Junkyard Dawgs being (Jeff Schultz copyrighted phrase) Trembling Chihuahua’s.
SoCal Dawg
December 11th, 2010
1:03 pm
I, for one, am VERY excited about 2011. It will either be the year CMR turns it around and puts UGA back on top, or it will be the year we kick CMR to the curb and find someone who can get the job done. Either way UGA wins.
T-DAWG
December 11th, 2010
1:05 pm
The major issue have is to you coach based on your style versus what talent you have inhouse. I truly believve you make the adjustments with the players you have until you recruit or get the players. With the shape the football program is in, we do not have 2-3 years to recruit the players you need for your scheme. Heck, it usually take a defensive player at least 2-3 years to make an impact so I do not expect next year to be any better. I do not see any special DL, OL, or LB’s being recruited so I expect the same for at least next year. If you can’t get the DL, you better recruit some talent at DB and LB’s and put that 4-3 back in place.
ATL XMAN
December 11th, 2010
1:12 pm
this year uga had a shot to win even with all these youngsters around and new defense. in all games but the aub game uga had a shot to win with 5 min to go in the 4th qt. all they need is ome more experience which will come in due time. they could have had 10 wins just as easy they had 6 wins if not for about 6 or 7 big plays that went the other way.
again this coach richt and uga when most years than not they win 10 or so games easy.
ATL XMAN
December 11th, 2010
1:13 pm
ala was 7-6 its first year under saben and the new 3-4 defense. they got better in year two and so will uga
Jake
December 11th, 2010
1:14 pm
Clearly the deficiency was in the defensive line. What is instructive is look at the number of commitments for the 2011 Class and note how many of them are defensive linemen. UHHHH, I am thinking we should have a stalwart JUCO player or three and at least two four or five star commitments by now, if the Coaches have any sense. They may have some commitments “up their sleeve”, but right now it does not look good for significant defensive improvement in 2011.
Ray
December 11th, 2010
1:19 pm
Grantham 2010 vs. Willie 2009
Sco Def: 23 pts a game, 26 pts a game
Rush def: 150 ypg, 126 ypg
Pass Def: 185 ypg, 213 ypg
Total Def: 335 ypg, 339 ypg
Interceptions: 1.17 per game, .77 per game
Fumbles recovered: 10, 2
Sacks: 24, 30
3rd down conversion: 43%, 38%
Improved 5 out of 8 areas (Grantham’s 1st year, Willie’s Last)
ATL XMAN
December 11th, 2010
1:19 pm
layinglow…richt is enough evidence i need as he has won 2 sec titles and has beaten everybody in the sec ,even fla. he has been to 3 sec title games and could have easly won 2 NC already if not for some bad luck when uga needed other teams to lose to get them there. he is a proven winner and a top 10-7 coach in college football and he will win a ton more games for uga.
layinlow
December 11th, 2010
1:19 pm
Appalachian st. is getting stomped by Villanova live on ESPN as we speak. I hate to keep harping on it but again more delusional comments on this board. App. st. joining the SEC? Thats is just plain silly. They don’t have the facilities and no way could they make a leap that big. And who ever said they would play Kentucky tough get real. Kentucky almost beat Auburn this year.
SoCal Dawg
December 11th, 2010
1:22 pm
ATL XMAN – It wasn’t our D that kept us in the VAST majority of those games it was the O. Most of the time we scored enough points that we should have won.
7576DAWG
December 11th, 2010
1:22 pm
Totally agree with everything you said.
It’s hard to evaluate Grantham’s first year since last years recruit’s were not meant to play a 3-4 defense. I think they were a huge improvement from 2009. The two biggest problems were stopping the run up the middle and all those missed assignments. I think both problems are correctable by next year.
I don’t think McGarity will put up with us being over matched by second tier teams again. All CMR was to show is improvement in 2011. The cricical year will be 2012.
The area that needs improvement the most is establishing a run game. UGA has alway’s controlled the clock and Time of Possesion. Everybody except Bobo realized we had no running attack this year and the only way we could have won 10 games this year was to try and out score our opponent by throwing the ball 45 or 50 times.
RJ
December 11th, 2010
1:23 pm
Even if we fix the Defence we still have a problem on offence.our offence wont have Aj Greene next year to bail us out.This season we could hardly score without him.We don’t recruit big strong olinemen that can run block.we recruit o-linemen who can pass block and thats why we don’t get backs like Lattimore and it’s why we may not get Crowell from Columbus. we need to be recruiting him and that big d-linemen from Columbus can’t remember his whole name but it’s Gabe something
J Clay
December 11th, 2010
1:26 pm
Thank you layinlow – the stoner thinks I am arrogant for saying App St is not worthy to be in the SEC – even though I said they are great where they are and have a shot in D1 in a smaller conference…
Net is: lower academic standards, small facilities, very minor presence in other sports, SEC does not need a school in NC to be able to recruit there….Not arrogant just facts
Former Georgian
December 11th, 2010
1:26 pm
I’m not too upset about the Auburn game-Auburn ran over everybody in the second half. But the Tech game was the real failed test-Willie Martinez’s defense had a lot less trouble with a much better Ga Tech team in 09.
J Clay
December 11th, 2010
1:27 pm
Also, yes Boone is nice but nice is not a criteria to be in SEC – if so do you really think Miss St would be in the conference?
Ray
December 11th, 2010
1:27 pm
Better comparison, is Grantham’s 1st year at Georgia installing the 3-4 to Saban’s 1st year at Bama installing the 3-4 in 2007
Grantham 2010 vs. Saban 2007
Sc. Defense: 23, 22
Rush Def: 150 ypg, 125 ypg
Pas Def: 185 ypg, 221 ypg
Total Def: 335 ypg, 345 ypg
Interceptns: 1.17 per game, 1.47 per game
Sacks: 24, 24
Fumbl recvd: 10, 5
3rd dwn conv:43%, 40%
Grantham still has the bowl game to go, so he will have more than 24 sacks.
So Grantham will beat Saban in:
pass defense, sacks, fumbles recovered, and total defense
Saban beat Grantham in:
rush defense, intercpetions, 3rd down convsn defense, scoring defense
4-4 tie with Nick Saban, the best defensive coach in the nation.
ATL XMAN
December 11th, 2010
1:27 pm
socal..i agree so with the defense getting better next year look for the wins to increase aswell. the offense did put the defense in some holes with some costly turnovers and took points off the board aswell. the miss st game and the south carolina game come to mind as well as the colorado game.
eitherway next year as whole the team will be better
J Clay
December 11th, 2010
1:29 pm
Bottom line – we should rarely lose a game (5% or less) when the offense scores 30 points
SoCal Dawg
December 11th, 2010
1:30 pm
ATL XMAN – Hope you’re right. GO DAWGS!
7576DAWG
December 11th, 2010
1:33 pm
Ray
Thank you for putting up Grantham’s results compared with Martinez. I think that was a good improvement when you take in consideration that half of Grantham’s player’s were playing out of position. We will know a lot more after the first two games next year. If UGA is 2-0 next year we will win at least 10 games.
Latarian Milton
December 11th, 2010
1:33 pm
Isn’t a 4-2-5 defense called a nickel? Sheesh.
Teri
December 11th, 2010
1:35 pm
I would actually credit all 6 wins to the DEFENSE:
Shutout on Vanderbilt–0 points
Held La Laf & Id St to 7 points each
Forced 4 to’s against Tenn
Forced 3 TO’s against Kent.
Forced 4 TO’s against Ga Tech, and had 2 4th qrtr stops
The defense also played 3 top 30 ranked offenses as far as scoring goes.
The offense faced 0 top 30 ranked scoring defenses.
Defense lost 4 starters who got drafted into the NFL coming in to 2010 season, offense lost 1 starter, who was not NFL quality.
HOUDAWG
December 11th, 2010
1:49 pm
C – minus at best …… BUT , we desperately need some big ( & talented ) interior lineman for sure.
RJ
December 11th, 2010
1:51 pm
ATL XMAN,
We have not won 10 games since 2007.We have been in decline since.Richts 2002 SEC Championship was won with Donans players and along with the team that lost to LSU in the championship game.what has Richt did lately thats why he is feeling the heat.He should have talked to Miami.
Paint
December 11th, 2010
1:52 pm
Hire Randy Shannon immediately!!!
George Costanza
December 11th, 2010
1:53 pm
The most absurd comment on this blog is calling Boone “Denver East”. Anyone who would say that has obviously never been to Denver. Denver is a major metropolitan area, and is to the Rocky Mountain region what Atlanta is to the southeast. Boone has a population of 14,000, where as Denver area has over 3 million people. Not to mention the fact that the mountains and skiing in Boone are a complete joke compared to the Denver region.
Bo
December 11th, 2010
1:55 pm
First of all, Bob Davie said several times this year that the offensive line was the strength of this team. So I’d take his analysis of the defense with a grain of salt.
Secondly, there were a lot of us who didn’t realize how difficult it would be to transition to the 3-4. In hindsight, Monte Kiffin is the only college coach I can think of who was able to successfully do it in year 1. Tennessee had a shutdown corner and some stout linemen already in place and that helped him do it.
I think that a lot of the secondary problems have been caused by the line’s inability to stop the run. I think that the DBs have not trusted the line to stop the run and they hesitate a half-second too long to cover a receiver or they have to cover too long or they get sucked in by playaction. I stout NT and sliding Abry and Tyson to the outside should help a lot. I’m also optimistic that Stripling and Anderson will make an impact next year.
I do think that we saw the secondary playing faster at the end of the year. Which tells me that they are learning. I think that the man should be given another year before judgements are made. Hopefully, JTII will be the slave driver that we hear he is and can turn these guys into warriors.