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
RJ
December 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
I’m just sayin Jim Donan left Mark Richt alot of talent.with that said richt first 5 years are alot better than his last 5 years.
Macclenny_man
December 11th, 2010
4:24 pm
Bill,
We can blame it on not having the right guys that Grantham needs but to me it doesn’t matter. Coaches have to adapt to players they have and coach them. Too many times we get caught up in well its gonna take time. WRONG!!! Grantham said we would dictate what the offense does not have the offense dictate to us!! BUT how can you do this if they know who is rushing the passer? Before just about every snap we were set in our defense!!! We have to have players mainly the linebackers moving around faking a blitz then dropping into coverage or looking like you are in coverage and then bring the blitz!!! Bottom line if the offensive linemen are not sure who they are gonna block it makes their job that much harder!!! The quarterback against us didn’t never seem to be confused and on 3rd down and 6 or 12 you could bet it was a completion. Why??? Because we did nothing to confuse their qb into thinking he had to get it out quick or he thought he was playing a zone. No confusion!!! I don’t care whether you call it a 3-4 defense or 4-3 but the best defenses mix their line in a 3-4 or 4-3 or 2-5 or 1-6!!!! Next year will be absolutely no different unless Jarvis Jones and Richard Samuel are able to move around and confuse the qb!!! To many times we looked just like a NFL defense either we got to the quarterback or it was a big completion against us!!! Coaching all around has to change their philosophy!!! 1st with Defense and 2nd with special teams and 3rd with BOBO’s predictability!!! ONE more year Richt SEC CHAMPIONSHIP OR SEE YA on the unemployment line!!!
long-time dawg
December 11th, 2010
4:26 pm
I totally agree that the coach must meld his system to the players he has–initially. As things progress the players can be plugged into the system. And I agree that a nose tackle(and a backup)MUST be signed NOW whether they come from JUCO, or not. Finally, the 3-4 was designed to stop pro-style offenses(as was said)NOT spread offenses. It is going to take big “tweaks” to work in college.
RJ
December 11th, 2010
4:33 pm
Longtime dawg,
Alabama runs a 3-4 defense and they have stopped spread offenses and if we would have hired kirby smart we would be running a 3-4.
rincon dog
December 11th, 2010
4:44 pm
well the only game that I saw us run our base defense the whole game was against tech. everybody and their mama knows you have to play assignment football against the option. that is why we got ate up because of the refusal to switch def coverage. the man had two weeks to prepare so there should have been no excuse. Hell if nesbit would have played and threw the ball a little the outcome would have been different. Either way they all have another year to prove us wrong. go dogs
Mike Buglioli
December 11th, 2010
4:55 pm
First year coaches should adapt their style to their players. Anyone in the NFL, College, HS or anywhere know that. If you don’t have the players — adapt. Grantham didn’t do that. I see alot more awful defense next year — better hope we can score 30 plus a game or it’s curtains for Grantham and Richt.
wag
December 11th, 2010
5:16 pm
I think we looked better coached, we just did not have the right personel for the 3-4. We had a lot more turn overs this year, which tells me we are in the right places, we just have to make plays. Our guys are still learning the scheme. We need a few big juco linemen to plug the middle and I think we will be fine.
Macclenny_man
December 11th, 2010
5:16 pm
Anybody that says it will be a better defense just think. Next year even if we bring in some of the players to fit Grantham’s system they will be in their 1st year the same as the players were this year in his system!!! 1 More tear Richt SEC CHAMPIONSHIP or unemployment line!!!
RJ
December 11th, 2010
5:17 pm
the dawgs fired jim donan after 5 seasons and a 40 and 19 record.
Mark richts last 5 seasons his record is 44 and 20.his 2 sec championships buy him another year to get it right.
Fun blog, Bill
December 11th, 2010
5:31 pm
but just because App State could beat the dogs, does not mean they are sec ready. Your D guy must not have been a marine…he did not adapt. He wanted his non nfl types to adapt to his nfl type D. The great school in Atl did the same thing. Both suffered due to non adaptation.
D-wood
December 11th, 2010
5:37 pm
I’m confused. We ranked #99 in total defense in 2009 and #30 in 2010 and most people on this blog see no improvement. This is with a new coach and new scheme w/o the right personnel. I would also argue that the offenses of SC, Auburn, Arkansas were vastly improved this year. Does anyone remember how bad Alabama’s defense was Saban’s first year. Hell, they lost to a Div 2 school. The next year they get Mt. Cody and the defense makes great strides. Give Grantham time and this defense will be good.
1eyedJack
December 11th, 2010
5:43 pm
We’ll be back!
UGA Down the Crapper
December 11th, 2010
5:49 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHA
MARK RICHT IS STILL WAITING BY THE PHONE FOR MIAMI TO CALL
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
EVEN HE ISN’T DELUSIONAL ENOUGH TO THINK FLORIDA WOULD CALL, BUT HE IS CRAZY ENOUGH TO THINK MIAMI MIGHT BE INTERESTED!!!!
DON’T GET YOUR HOPES UP, UGA FANS!!! MIAMI DON’T WANT THAT BUM, YOU’RE STUCK WITH HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
RJ
December 11th, 2010
5:52 pm
it is not just the defense we have to worry about.we have no running game and without Aj greene we had no offense.
Hogwash
December 11th, 2010
6:13 pm
The defense was pretty bad and we still don’t know how to make the adjustments throughout the game. I felt like we still let the opposing teams offense dictate the game and we still didn’t apply enough pressue in the backfield. The way you stop option and sweeps is to stay in the opposing teams backfield. We still did not recruit the big NT that is needed to stabilize the defense and I still question the recruiting methods. We cannot just recruit the SE if the players that we need are not there. We don’t just need one NT, but two. We have to do a better job of recruiting for our scheme and we have to do a better job on S and C. Also the CBs and S spots have to become way better players if we want to compete. Also we have to do a better job on recruiting LB. Seems like most of our concentration has been on the offensive side of the ball, but we don’t look that great on that side either. Overall, I give the defense a D.
Jim
December 11th, 2010
6:16 pm
On average, opponents score fewer points against Grantham than last year against Martinez. Of course, that may be due to the fact that our offense controlled the ball more. Who knows? But if you are looking for a positive statistic, average score is the only one.
$750,000 RIP -OFF
December 11th, 2010
6:20 pm
`
6-6 STINKS !
UGA FRIEND
December 11th, 2010
6:31 pm
I think it is a shame that so many of the UGA fans treat CMR like he is a terrible coach. His record speaks for itself. Granted the last two years were not his best, he should be judged on his overall record averaging 10 wins per season and 2 SEC titles. Who could they get as a better coach? Thank goodness these UGA negative fans do not make the real decisions. The bottom line is CMR is not going to be fired. So these irate fans should get a life and realize they have to live with the program unless they want to find another team to cheer for.
Nub
December 11th, 2010
6:38 pm
Dosn’t look good for CMR….. Name one tenured SEC coach that turned it around (win SEC) after having two back to back yrs like we have had….???????
east cobb dawg
December 11th, 2010
6:39 pm
we did not get blown out like we were in previous years. that’s the major difference, and so many fewer penalties. I think we’re adjustiong to his way and should be vastly better next year GATA…
no remorse on getting him on board. vast statistical improvement over last year in total defense. GT’s defense not so much
Football Fan
December 11th, 2010
6:42 pm
I REITERATE. This is the biggest UGA recruiting weekend of the year. Could he have waited until after the UGA Gala to post a negative article. Geez freaking Louise….
JB
December 11th, 2010
6:58 pm
Defense is killing us.
Chris
December 11th, 2010
7:04 pm
I think not having players for the scheme was part of the problem. You make an interesting point as to whether Grantham is really made for the college game. Only time will tell but problem is, if they don’t turn things around next year……Time will run out.
We could have done just as well this year leaving Martinez in place or picking a D coordinator that would have run a scheme for the talent we have on the team.
DawgVoiceofReason
December 11th, 2010
7:06 pm
Macclenny_man,
I agree with your observations about the fact that our defense did very little to try to confuse the opposing offenses. Once we were set in our defensive formations, that was it; we did not move. Also, blitzing was minimal and maybe never “all out”. Regardless of the physical talent you do or do not have, you can always disguise coverages and what you are about to do in rushing the passer. Perhaps someone with college-level defensive experience can explain why a defense (and coach) would not do this.
I was disappointed overall in our defense. Yes, we improved in a significant way in reducing “stupid” penalties and dramatically improved in the number of takeaways. I will give Coach Grantham credit for those things. But, really, I was expecting more, even in his first year. Our defense definitely killed us in several games: we got run all over by South Carolina (I know the offense didn’t do much in that game), and lost because we couldn’t stop Arkansas, Florida, Colorado, Auburn (I know we lost to the number 1 team).
As to the coming season, I expect significant improvement on defense, for all of the reasons listed by others. As a result, the Dawgs as a team will do much better next year.
Larry
December 11th, 2010
7:12 pm
It doesn’t matter Richt will never win another SEC title at Georgia. I’m a Dog fan but Georgia is not an SEC powerhouse, much less a national power. Look at the facts they have won 2 SEC titles since Hershel Walker left, which is 28 years. That’s only 2 more than Vandy, Kentucky, Ole Miss, and Miss State.
DawgVoiceofReason
December 11th, 2010
7:14 pm
To address the concerns about recruits and the negativity here (even a little from me): the best defensive players should want to come to UGA. They have a chance to rebuild a great defensive tradition and to shine under a big-time defensive coordinator. Coach Grantham’s did a great job in Dallas and he will turn things around at UGA.
DawgVoiceofReason
December 11th, 2010
7:16 pm
Larry,
You do understand that, by definition, if you are an SEC power, you are a national power?
JB
December 11th, 2010
7:17 pm
The talent level will be less next year and unproven. We really need a couple of 325 lb JC lineman. I saw two due to stamina being so low at that position. I hope Jarvis Jones is a monster at LB. If he’s a flop, we’re in big trouble. Mark needs to win 8,9 games next year to keep his job….and if the new guy at Florida waxes us, that will seal his fate. Beating Tech is a given. They are horrible and will get worse. We can’t gauge our program by beating Tech. It’s Florida,Bama,AU,Tenn,LSU etc that’s important.
Bill
December 11th, 2010
7:20 pm
It does not matter who the DC is. As long as defensive players are afraid of contact (will not hit), UGA’s offense will always be trying to out score the opposition. The defensive players HAVE to get tougher!
Teri
December 11th, 2010
7:21 pm
I’d say, change these 4 plays, and Georgia is 10-2, instead of 6-6:
1) Murray int in OT against Fla
2) Murray sack to end game against Ark
3) King fumble against Colorado
4) Ealey fumble against South Carolina
This team panicked in those situations, Fix that, and you’ve got a 10-2, top 10 ranked team.
JB
December 11th, 2010
7:24 pm
Teri, I hate to say this…….As long as we’re if’n, Tech couldn’t of beat us
JB
December 11th, 2010
7:27 pm
Richt said in the Athens paper Monday AFTER the game that they couldn’t stop Tech( No Nesbit by the way) and said we had no one to put in to change that. Now that’s scary. I’m afraid if Nesbit would have played, we lose……Our talent and depth on defense is at a all time low……..We dressed 7 TE’s though.
Joe
December 11th, 2010
7:29 pm
In 2008, year 2 installing the 3-4, Saban made a big improvement in his defense.
Went from allowing 22 points, to just 14 a game.
Allowed 50 yards less rushing
Allowed 30 yards less passing
Love to see Grantham drop to in 2011:
17 points a game
25 yards less rushing
25 yards less passing
Grantham needs to improve all 3 areas.
He also needs to impove his 3rd down conversion rate, and red zone defense.
Bo
December 11th, 2010
7:33 pm
RJ,
I promise GA is recruiting the best “run blockers” in the country. As is every SEC team. They aren’t all coming here but we are definately recruting them.
I can tell you exactly what happened in 2009 and it was ugly. Georgia played mediocre defense and missed a ton of tackles. There was arm tackling all over Georgia’s seconday…atrocious. The offensive line couldn’t open holes against anyone other than Vandy and Tech and that made pretty much made the offense 1 dimensional.
Joe Cox had his moments but his shoulder issue pretty much made him a 15 yd passer. Georgia also racked up penalties like they were going out of style.
I had been yelling about Willie Martinez for 2 years and I give Richt credit for replacing him. I agree that it was a year too late but he did pull the trigger. He also brought in a guy who can light a fire under someone’s a$$ and I’m definately happy about that.
Offensively, the line has been holding this team back for 5 or so years. I give Richt credit for bringing in Stacy Searles 3 years ago but the line has vastly underachieved for the last 2 years. I have been saying it’s time to replace him for the last season and a half. After all of the Strength and Conditioning talk this past year, maybe that’s the problem. Coach Searles had some good lines at LSU.
In regards to the S&C, I
Joe
December 11th, 2010
7:34 pm
By the way, Belin did an excellent job with Dent, Dent had an All SEC type year. Grantham did an amazing job with Houston, who might have finsihed defensive player of the year. Lakatos improved the pass defense dramatically. Garner didn’t have a great year in rushing defense, but he did lose 3 DL’s to the NFL.
Defensive coaching staff is excellent.
Teri
December 11th, 2010
7:38 pm
Ga Tech did execute the pitch and dive well. Johnson will score points and get rushing yards, top 5 in the country in both.
But, defense did 3 great things in the Ga Tech game:
1- Grantham allowed 0 points off the 3 Georgia TO’s.
2- had 2 crucial stops at the end of the game. The zone blitz defense call with Houston dropping into pass coverage was maybe the best defensive call and execution I’ve seen at Georgia late in the game in a long time.
3- Forced 3 TO’s
Bo
December 11th, 2010
7:40 pm
Dang, did not mean to post that without editing. anyway…
In regards to the S&C, there were less arm tackles on defense this year. I tend to think that is improved coaching. However, I noticed more of them when the game got into the later quarters. They were sucking wind and reverted to the arm tackles (missed tackles).
Teri
December 11th, 2010
7:43 pm
Auburn rushes for nearly 300 yardsa game, and is top 5 in scoring, so that’s a tough offense to try and stop when it’s your 1st year in the 3-4 and 3 DL’s have gone to the NFL.
matt
December 11th, 2010
7:47 pm
1) so you interviewed a bunch of your friends about what they saw from the D? coudnt find anybody better?
2)def was hoping to see some improvement over the season and didnt. but i am no expert at x and o
3) if they dont have the right personnel, why get a 3-4 guy. why not improve staff for a 4-3 D. Hopefully its a blend of scheme and personnel and we see major improvement next yr
still a dawg fan
December 11th, 2010
7:59 pm
The name of the game is talent & for some reason we don’t have it. You watch other SEC defenses like AL-AUB-SC-MISS ST-LSU-ARK & their players look like men & play like men & then you look at our defense & we look like a bunch of high school players & we play like high school players.
I find it amazing that several of our defensive players are thinking about entering the NFL Draft but if they had been watching any game film of their play this year then I would think they would realize that the NFL is not for them.
RECRUIT BETTER & WE WILL WIN & THAT IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY
Snake Plissken
December 11th, 2010
8:16 pm
To say that the defense has been a huge disappointment would be an understatement. I’m surprised that NOW it is alright to talk about it. Many of the points written in the article were discussed through-out the season, but the blind homers shouted down any meaningful discussion. Then again, this is only a blog and what difference does this all make. If the David Green’s and such felt this way, or were talking that way, then where was the responsible reporting. Why wait until the whole season was lost. What next, wait until CMR gets canned, then all the experts will come out of hiding and talk about how badly the program has sunk during his stewardship! Actually, I can’t believe that he is getting a free pass. This is his program, his team, his responsibility, and ULTIMATELY HIS MESS. The guy gets paid for what??? He has allowed this whole program to sink to where it has. He promoted people unqualified to be the DC and the OC, and UGA is paying dearly for that the past two years. He loses a QB and RB to the NFL, and has nobody ready to go. How do you not know what your players are thinking! What type of relationship does this guy have with the team. Why would no on take the DC job. CTG was the 5th choice! We are talking about UGA here…how can 4 other people turn CMR down? CTG didn’t have the players to run the 3 – 4, yet CMR allowed him to do such. I know that I would have been fired from my job if I allowed something like this to happen. Face it CMR is responsible, or irresponsible for the UGA football program, and lately he has been irresponsible. Sorry that this is so long.
Dylan
December 11th, 2010
8:16 pm
Will Muschamp to Florida’s head coach. Dooley at UT and now Muschamp at Florida. Gah!
RJ
December 11th, 2010
8:16 pm
BO,
There is one more coach who is a problem and that is Mike Bobo.Our offense was horrible without Aj Greene and we did not avg 34 points a game without him.Also i have had season tickets for 12 years now.the last 3 years with Bobo calling the plays you can tell by how they lne up and go in motion where we are going with the play and how he calls plays on first down.he is to predictable on his play calling.
Dylan
December 11th, 2010
8:18 pm
Will Muschamp to be Florida’s head coach.* Sorry about typo.
Same Ole Crap
December 11th, 2010
8:18 pm
Im hearing Muschamp is now at Florida.Dawgs Blew it once again……
Time for change
December 11th, 2010
8:31 pm
RJ, its AJ Green! NOT Greene
Time for change
December 11th, 2010
8:36 pm
Yep its Muschamp. Darn he should have been Georgia’s coach but all the Richt apologist love wallowing in mediocrity. Now we get to see a georgia boy stomp Richt’s face in the ground in Jacksonville ever year.
Clean House
December 11th, 2010
8:36 pm
Muschamp is now a Gator and UGA has egg on its face. What a bunch of clowns in Athens!
FBFanatic
December 11th, 2010
8:44 pm
Now the SEC has Muschamp and Dooley who were both assistants to Nick Saban. Add to that the Georgia lineage of both coaches. Can’t wait to hear the howls from UGA fans.
RJ
December 11th, 2010
8:45 pm
Good hire by the Gators boy that hurts to say that.Now all need is for someone to hire Kirby Smart so he can beat Mark Richt too.