Pooch kicks: Hungry defense, fullback challenge, rethinking Vandy
Todd Grantham keeps reminding his defense of the four losses last season. (University of Georgia)
Georgia’s defense returns nine starters from the unit that ranked No. 5 nationally last year, but looming early-season suspensions apparently have a lot of folks taking a wait-and-see attitude, as an ESPN.com poll shows the Dawgs coming in fourth in a “best defense” vote, behind South Carolina, Alabama and LSU.
Still, as ESPN’s Edward Aschoff notes, “at full strength, this defense will be a handful, especially with one of the best linebacking corps in the country” and a potent starting secondary.
But I’m glad to see that Todd Grantham and his crew are reminding their troops there’s still much room for improvement. Rising senior linebacker Christian Robinson told ESPN that this spring the players dwelled on the 35 points given up to Boise State, the 45 to South Carolina, the 42 to LSU and the 33 to Michigan State — all losses.
“We’re not perfect, so when we go in our meeting rooms we watch the tape and there are always things to get better at,” Robinson said.
Mark Richt summed it up well: “You’re really not a great defense until you play great and we haven’t done that in 2012. We haven’t had a chance to do that yet. There’s an anticipation of having a chance to be pretty good if everybody keeps it together, stays healthy and does their part.”
Better than pretty good, actually. As Robinson said, “We have an opportunity to do something special, as a defense and as a team. If we go out and do what we know and what we’ve learned, we could be one of the best ever to play at Georgia.”
A FULLBACK BATTLE?
Freshman fullback Quayvon Hicks won’t report to Athens until June 4, but he’s already thrown down the gauntlet to junior Zander Ogletree, the presumed starter (assuming Richard Samuel doesn’t move over from the crowded tailback corps). Speaking to the Athens Banner-Herald, the 6-foot-3, 250-pound Hicks said of 5-foot-10, 224-pound Ogletree: “Zander Ogletree, I think, is a great man, but in SEC ball, you’ve got to have the size and I think that’s what he’s missing right now. I think I can come in and become great teammates with him and we can do this thing together.”
Of course, we’ve heard big talk from players arriving on campus before (remember the “Hitman”?), but Hicks, who won the Class AA discus throw this week at the state track meet, was rated as the No. 3 fullback prospect nationally by Scout.com.
If he lives up to his billing and his big talk, it’ll be great to see fullback once again become a strength for the Dawgs.
NOT YOUR FATHER’S GEORGIA-VANDERBILT
OK, so as we’ve discussed, Georgia’s home schedule is a bit lackluster this year and that’s probably one reason I’m hearing a lot more fan chatter about the Vanderbilt game than you’d normally expect. But thanks to last year’s close one with the Commodores in Nashville and the post-game fracas between Grantham and Vandy coach James Franklin, the Dawgs and the Dores actually looks like a pretty compelling story line this year.
As the Macon Telegraph reported, Richt was even asked about it at a fan gathering this week in Macon and joked that he might have to send Grantham upstairs to the booth for that one. He added: “I don’t think we’ll have much trouble getting jacked up to play the Vanderbilt Commodores this year, I’ll tell you that.”
Just what UGA football needs: Another meaningful SEC rivalry!
Got something you want to discuss concerning UGA athletics or a question for the Junkyard Blawg? Send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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166 comments Add your comment
BoiseDawg
May 12th, 2012
12:27 am
Altamaha @ 4:24… I agree with your perspective relative to not winning the bowl game. Had we won the season would have been viewed very differently. The reality is though we didn’t win, so upon reflection the realization is, despite the 10 wins, not really any wins UGA can hang their hat on. Perhaps the Auburn beatdown was the highlight, because well, its Auburn and they beat S. Carolina. I’ll say with regard to the bowl game loss, while the defense caving in the 4th quarter is a big concern, I think we need to admit that Aaron Murray really hurt us in the 2nd half. I hope Murray lights it up in 2012 and proves all the naysayers wrong, but I am one that just is not sold on him yet.
truedawg
May 12th, 2012
1:49 am
I’ve seen a very good D in athens last year, not top 10, maybe3rd or 4th in SEC. Defense is better than USC’s for sure. FOR SURE!! I saw all the points and yards that the chickens gave up to Auburn….and Darth visor couldn’t seem to get enough points to get to the Dome. I think I remember UGA onl;y allowing 3 first downs to Auburn earlier that year..40 something points..humm.
I miss Erk!! I always like a Defense that thinks…”If our offense can’t score, we’ll never win…But if we don’t let them score, we’ll never loose!” GATA!!
Red Dawn
May 12th, 2012
7:12 am
Georgia will wipe the floor over the Dores this fall.
Franklin ran his mouth to much and will pay the
price for it!! RTR
Snoop Dawg
May 12th, 2012
9:15 am
My have we fallen! When they are hyping up the UGA Vandy game, it doesn’t take a genius to tell you what 10 years of Richt ACC football has done to our proud football tradition.
But he’s such a good Christian man…
He’s laughing all the way to the bank every month…
ole yeller
May 12th, 2012
9:28 am
Everone can down play the Vandy game, but for me it will be a hell’ve game. I hope Vandy’s coach “F” comes to Athens this year with his mouth wired shut. It got him in trouble with the SEC and his Vandy Boss last year at Vandy. UGA Coach “G” did’t fair much better..I have to say it was good to see one of UGA coaches strand up for the Players. That goes a long way for togetherness with the team. I don’t see any post game fireworks like last year.
The Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
May 12th, 2012
9:28 am
kingdaddy,
Sorry it took me so long to respond. It was my offenses fault, right Charile
. I suppose when you add Michigan, LSU, Arkansas to the fact that the West division has legitimate National Championship contendors, it’s alittle different. Good luck against Kentucky. I bet your vaulted defense puts on a show in that one.
Old Dog
May 12th, 2012
9:30 am
Hopefully this year Vandy won’t carry the blocked punt into the end zone and WIN THE GAME.
We pulled that one out by the skin of our teeth. Wish I could see the Bulldog go into a game as the underdogs and play REALLY GOOD FOOTBALL and end up winning.
dienlafin
May 12th, 2012
9:36 am
Ok Ok for all of you yeah but fans. Forget the 28 points and 176 yard Marcus ran for, South Carolina was a “fluke” win. Then please explain why your “Top 5″ defense was gutted by Boise, LSU and MSU. You have no special teams, no kicking game, no strength and conditioning plan, no offensive
line,Bobo calling plays, and mascots that would rather die than show up and watch you play.
You are smelling your own farts and enjoying it. Missouri will go through you like applesauce through a goose! I’m dienlafin.
AltamahaDawg
May 12th, 2012
9:38 am
We need to admit it? He’s been getting nothing but blame for that.
LakeDawg
May 12th, 2012
9:43 am
The Dawgs D isn’t great yet. They won’t be great until they can stop a good team in the 4th quarter.
Wilson Pickett
May 12th, 2012
10:06 am
Got to beat someone that has beaten somebody! You know it’s true and so does everyone else. You have to earn respect. Talking …not so much.
kingdaddy
May 12th, 2012
11:00 am
Georgia lacks a killer instinct. When we get a lead, we go into a prevent D. The only thing that has ever done is allow them to run the lenght of the field and score. When the momentum shifts, we are usually left fighting for our lives. So, the question is, why won’t Coach Richt go for the kill when he has them down? I don’t believe ST. NICK, LESLIE MILES, OR THE OLE BALL COACH suffer from the nice guy approach. It’s time for CMR to win games and stop being such a nice guy. There’s time to be a nice guy AFTER THE GAME IS OVER AND WE HAVE HAD A DECISIVE VICTORY!!!
Harry Dawg
May 12th, 2012
11:02 am
Send Grantham upstairs for the Dores game?
Why? He’s the only coach with enough balls to stand up for his own players! Send Richt up to the booth FFS – all he does is turn on his own kids.
kingdaddy
May 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
Harry Dawg
Why not put CTG in charge of CMB too! I’ll bet they wouldn’t know what play we were running on 3rd down anymore! Couldn’t be any worse…
BrandK
May 16th, 2012
1:07 am
mark this down—the dog D will be the best in the SEC! Ga wins the east easily and upsets alabama for the SEC title!! The dogs are back!
The Truth
May 16th, 2012
11:05 am
UGA’s defense is the most over-hyped and overrated I have seen, well since last year’s team. The only playmaker they have is Jarvis Jones, and he isn’t even an original commit. The next best player is Ogletree, and he is playing out of position. Until they get some playmakers at corner and on the D-line, then they will continue to get torched by LSU, Alabama, S Carolina and others. Lets face it, when you give up 33 to a Big 10 team, you are not very good. Grantham’s 3-4 scheme is too complicated for these players to implement to his liking. It doesn’t take a NFL DC to figure out that you have to put pressure on the QB and make him throw underneath. Dream Team Year 2 will be interesting to see. I am sure the AD will be watching. If UGA does not win an SEC championship in the next 3 years, then John Gruden will be the next coach in Athens.