Should Todd Grantham really ‘feel fine’ about the way Georgia’s defense is playing?
Tennessee receiver Zach Rogers crosses the goal line with Alec Ogletree in tow and Shawn Williams arriving too late to help. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Five games into the season, Georgia’s offense is much better than most of us expected, but Todd Grantham’s defense has yet to live up to its lofty preseason reputation.
Part of that, of course, was having two to four starters suspended during the first four games.
And while the defense was back to full strength against Tennessee, the last two returnees, Alec Ogletree and Bacarri Rambo, were still a bit rusty — Rambo especially when it came to pass coverage.
And, yes, the turnovers committed by the offense and Georgia’s generally poor special teams play put the defense at a disadvantage Saturday, frequently giving the Vols a short field to work with.
So up to a point I understand why Grantham said after the game, “I feel fine about the way we played on defense.”
But I’m hoping he doesn’t really feel fine about it, because even taking those extenuating circumstances into account, Georgia’s D hasn’t looked like the veteran group they are.
The front seven too often has failed to dominate and was, for the most part, stymied by Tennessee’s veteran OL. With Jarvis Jones double-teamed and taken out of the equation much of the game, the inability of the defensive line to put much pressure on Vols QB Tyler Bray made for a long night in the secondary.
Speaking of which, pass coverage has been dicey all season, with too many busted coverages, and it was at its worst against UT. I lost count of how many times Bray was throwing to a wide-open receiver Saturday, though thankfully in a few instances he missed them.
And while the Dawgs had been tough against the run in previous games, they let Tennessee establish a rushing attack that not only opened up its offense, but provided scoring punch. Tackling also was poor throughout the Tennessee game.
The defensive nadir of the season so far came on Cordarrelle Patterson’s rambling 46-yard touchdown run in the third quarter when most of the Georgia defense had a shot at him but looked like they were moving in slow motion.
Unless the Dawgs want to keep having to depend on the offense to win shootouts like Saturday’s, in which the two teams combined for 95 points, 13 touchdowns, 46 first downs and 1,038 yards, the defense is going to have to start playing on a much higher level than we’ve seen so far.
"Gurshall" is Georgia's most dynamic running tandem in a long time. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Speaking of the offense, Aaron Murray may have had a couple of lapses Saturday reminiscent of last season, but generally he’s been playing at the top of his game and making good use of a deep and talented receiver corps.
Add to that the young offensive line progressing fairly rapidly, and, most important of all, the addition of an explosive running game with the “Gurshall” tandem of Todd Gurley and Keith Marshall, and you’ve got record point production. The combination of Gurley’s shifty moves and penchant for breaking tackles and Marshall turning on the afterburners when he reaches the secondary makes for a really potent ground attack.
And then there’s Mike Bobo, who drew praise the previous couple of weeks for his more varied play calling. When Georgia’s offense was clicking against Tennessee, Bobo was at his best, deftly mixing the running and passing games.
But Bobo unfortunately reverted to Mr. Predictable in the fourth quarter when Georgia tried in vain to eat up clock with its ground game and only wound up with one first down the entire quarter. Everyone in the stadium — including, of course, the Tennessee defense — knew who was going to be getting the ball. So the Vols loaded the box and Gurley ended up mostly going nowhere.
That’s when Bobo is at his most frustrating.
The Sanford Stadium crowd did its part Saturday. (Brant Sanderlin /AJC)
A few other quick hits: I’m not sure why it took Mark Richt so long to figure out that Malcolm Mitchell was uncomfortable and indecisive as a punt or kick returner, but thankfully he finally appears to have come to that conclusion. … Murray is not an option quarterback, so let’s hope we don’t see any more plays like the pitch to Mitchell early in the game that wound up losing 10 yards. … The tight ends finally showed up in a big way as receivers, with Arthur Lynch making up for the previous week’s drop by snagging three passes for 75 yards and Jay Rome having a very nice one-handed catch where he went up high for a 21-yarder. … In addition to apparently deciding that offensive holding isn’t something they were going to call, no matter what, the inconsistent officiating crew also missed a facemask call and a horse-collar tackle. … The mostly red-clad crowd showed up early, got loud frequently and stayed until the very end. It was an absolutely electric atmosphere Between the Hedges for the first time in quite a while. … Finally, UT coach Derek Dooley sounded a bit like the Athens boy he was with his postgame assessment of the Dawgs: “We went toe-to-toe with a top 10 team that will be competing for a national championship.”
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196 comments Add your comment
ugab
October 1st, 2012
1:36 pm
The vols OL was a very good one, even when they were holding. I think the coach TG was more worried about giving up the big pass play. Blitzing was working at the end of the game. Bray tends to make mistakes when he is pressured.
SC is going to be an even bigger test.
Dirty Dawg
October 1st, 2012
1:41 pm
Hey Sleepless, why don’t you just doze on back off – sorta like Rip Van Winkle – then when you wake up in 20 years or so, some of us will be dead and won’t have had to endure you for the rest of our lives.
G-Dawg
October 1st, 2012
1:43 pm
http://www.macon.com/2012/09/29/2195488/uga-vs-tennessee.html
Holding!!
G-Dawg
October 1st, 2012
1:44 pm
Photo 8..i think!! LOL
Fair n Balanced
October 1st, 2012
1:56 pm
Grantham better worry about the defense! They stink and he knows it and there is no excuse for it!
Pitbull
October 1st, 2012
2:07 pm
Do not blame the D.
When the Offense throws a pick 6 and then the QB gets blindsided due to a missed block both inside the team’s 20 yard line then that is 14 points the Offense has given up.
When your running back fumbles deep in UGA territory that is 7 points on the Offense.
When the punt returner / kick off returner step out at the one yard line and puts your D in that position then that is 7 points.
Take away 28 points given to the Vols by the Offense and Special teams and our D really gave up 16 points to a strong Vols passing team that just got inspired by the fumbles, interception, and bone headed special teams play.
AltamahaDawg
October 1st, 2012
2:51 pm
We will not see a better passing team all he year and the defense did fine.
BTW, what game were you people at? Murray has passing it deep down the field well into the 4th quarter. It wasnt till about 1:25 left that we went into the predictable clock control. Thats what you would do as well. Gratuitus grumbling.
AltamahaDawg
October 1st, 2012
2:53 pm
AND Tn had no timeouts left at that point.
Rooster
October 1st, 2012
2:54 pm
USC 35
UGA 21
Stiffneck
October 1st, 2012
3:07 pm
Bill, Grantham should not feel fine. Other than his pay increase ( which I’m sure makes him feel good ) this Defense ( from Buffalo to Tenn. ) has stopped nobody this season. Tired of excuses.
AltamahaDawg
October 1st, 2012
3:07 pm
SC doesn’t have nearly the passing game that TN has. Not the qb, not the wr, not the oline.
Rooster
October 1st, 2012
3:13 pm
UGA’s first five opponents have a combined record of 9-14 . That should raise a big red flag for that #5 ranking. The mutts have yet to beat a ranked team. Sounds like a cupcake schedule to me.
WDE
October 1st, 2012
3:22 pm
Rooster cupcakes really ?? We pounded a Vandy team that should have beaten your bunch and we beat Mizzou by the same 21 point margin your bunch did… also Bill after 5 games last year what was our D ranked? I think we are much better right now on D than this time last year and we have 2 less losses…but this weekend will really show us where we are .
Rooster
October 1st, 2012
3:28 pm
Thats correct. This weekend will show UGA where they really belong.
Gary
October 1st, 2012
3:41 pm
I will say, if Teenessee had not thrown behind his receivers on about 5 plays in the first half that would not have beena W. Those guys were wide open on full sprints across the field and the Ball just went behind them. I am not feeling good abut SC or Florida. 10 & 2 with and another outback bowl would be dissappointing after this start.
CubanDawg
October 1st, 2012
3:46 pm
@ Rooster “UGA’s first five opponents have a combined record of 9-14 . That should raise a big red flag for that #5 ranking. The mutts have yet to beat a ranked team. Sounds like a cupcake schedule to me.”
WOW, the chickens opponents have a combined record of 8-15, what kind of flag do you want to raise there genius?
Stiffneck
October 1st, 2012
3:49 pm
Enter your comments here
'94 UGA Alumnus
October 1st, 2012
4:09 pm
I love the overconfidence being shown by USC fans and other Dawg haters. I’m not guaranteeing a win, but we will not be blown out and will be in the game.
Hobie Jones
October 1st, 2012
4:17 pm
Bill – Get a resume together and send it to Greg McGarity. You should be a coach. On second thought you are the PERFECT fan. You know precisely what should have been done AFTER the fact.
'94 UGA Alumnus
October 1st, 2012
4:31 pm
From Rooster: “Thats correct. This weekend will show UGA where they really belong.”
I agree Rooster. It will show that we belong with the elite.
Visions Of Willie
October 1st, 2012
4:31 pm
Its time to fire that overrated D-line coach and recruiter Rodney Garner. Vols mandhandled our guys throughout the entire game. Jarvis Jones was doubled and even trippled team while nobody else would step up to get to Bray even with those guys holding. Spurrier is licking his chops about right now.
All the Hoopla
October 1st, 2012
4:40 pm
So much for all the Heisman hype for Jarvis Jones cuz it went out the window this past weekend. All The national champoinship talk for UGA goes out the window this weekend in Columbia. Ho hum same ole Georgia…..
sc fan
October 1st, 2012
4:50 pm
New sign at Sanford Stadium. “Georgia Football, When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.”
tell me again
October 1st, 2012
4:59 pm
We should have and would have put an ass whoopin on the cickens last year. We’re better this year and if Murray will just hold on to the ball it will be a runaway. They have an avg. QB, we have a very good one. They have Lattimore, we have Lattimore times two. They have a good defense and so do we. Game to the Dawgs by 17 or better. And if Shaw tries to run the ball he will a ‘TREE fall on him!
tell me again
October 1st, 2012
5:01 pm
Tenn. Has 5 O lineman that will probably be in the NFL. SC doesn’t. Watch the difference this week.
All the Hoopla
October 1st, 2012
5:25 pm
Murray wont beat a ranked team again this weekend… Bank on it!
Huh?
October 1st, 2012
5:41 pm
Until UGA shores up it’s defense, it won’t be playing for a NC. Fans can talk about turnovers (TN had more than UGA did), but the defensve line is being manhandled and the dbacks look lost at times. Sure, if your offense is scoring, then things tend to work out in the end anyway…but if UGA comes up against a team with a defense that can give Murray and Co trouble (it hasn’t yet but will), outscoring the opponent will not work.
Add to that the special teams issues, and the SC and FL games look a bit scary. Don’t get me wrong, UGA is a good team, but need to get 2 of the 3 phases of the game straightened out to be a great team.
Mobile Dawg
October 1st, 2012
6:09 pm
Huh, as a Dawg fan that’s not on the kool aid, about all I can do is groan and wonder what could be. I watched Saban rip his guys against Ole Miss as he wasn’t satisfied with the way they were playing. Richt IMO was just happy to get out with an ugly win. We’re lucky we got out with a W with all the mistakes. Hopefully we come out a little more focused against USC, else we might be embarassed.
JWOOD
October 1st, 2012
8:09 pm
I’m glad you’re calling out the no calls on holding. I think special teams, turnovers and the officiating crew made the defense look a LOT worse than it really played. Also, lets give the D some credit for those dropped balls and missed passes by Bray and his receivers. He missed because he had to hurry up and receivers dropped because the ball was delivered too early or in a weird spot. That’s the pass rush even if they don’t get credit or a sack.
Strat Cat Dawg
October 1st, 2012
8:10 pm
The defense has excuses for underperforming (no point in repeating what’s already been said) but the time for excuses is over and we’d better perform. I expect this to happen against SC as a result of being at full strength and having our defensive players ready, leading to a UGA win. It will boil down to stopping Lattimore early and building a 10-14 point lead, so SC will have to pass and leave themselves open to turnovers. The other key is being able to run against their strong D line, perhaps by completing some play action passes early, then mixing it up effectively. Speculative? Isn’t that what we all do?
JumpDawg
October 1st, 2012
8:20 pm
Can’t believe it, but the truest comment above comes from a Game Chicken:
sc fan
October 1st, 2012
6:23 am
you guys whine about your team too much. can they get better? sure . so can everyone!
ARdawg
October 1st, 2012
8:35 pm
*YAWN* Is there a bonehead 4 states in any direction that hasn’t posted on this thread? Or is this just the same Tech trolls?
PonGT
October 1st, 2012
9:37 pm
Spot on, old friend. The quick scoring of the offense left the defense on the field way too long, but that can be remedied by less predictability when the D needs a rest or the TEAM needs to run out the clock. Three ‘3 and out’ in a row is definitely on the OC. Got to come up with a fourth quarter offense that works the clock and rests the D.
Go Dawgs.
The D
October 1st, 2012
9:49 pm
Bill,
You hit the nail on the head. Many times the defense wasn’t close to being ready when TN snapped the ball. Lots of effort, but more confusion. Coach responsibility to keep players ready.
Huh?
October 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
@ The D…add to that the fact that everybody knows that TN is a no-huddle hurry up team. Their goal is to run 100 plays per game. If you don’t know that, and don’t prepare your team for it, then somebody needs to answer for it.
Tide is Rolling and Nothing can stop it
October 1st, 2012
10:55 pm
idiots…
Steve Spurier
October 1st, 2012
11:16 pm
Come on people, relax. Your defense is playing great!
jocrazy
October 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
how many points does it take before bobo and murry get respect.
SSIgator
October 1st, 2012
11:52 pm
ARdawg -
Let me send you a real map since you must be relying on Apple for that kind of info – when it arrives you will see that the are only three states to the east of GA – and that is being generous if you are counting that part of FL in you equation.
kaepernickdawg
October 2nd, 2012
2:35 am
D will be ok. Scar doesnt have nuff Off for the Dogs!
HOP
October 2nd, 2012
5:39 am
the defense came through when it had to at the end of the game.
special teams are not very special and cause us to lose a 27-10 lead in the first half.
defense will be ready against the chickens and they will stop the running game of usc.
offense will need to get murray more out of the pocket since the dline has some very tall
lineman. the key is our ability to run and to stop the run as well.
dawgs win 24-10.
RDog
October 2nd, 2012
5:51 am
Against UT, Ga’s D was just flat and overconfident. Against Usc, the D will light it up and shut down sc’s overrated offense, with a bunch of sacks and INTs—take it to the bank.
AltamahaDawg
October 2nd, 2012
8:26 am
How did the special team cause us to lose the lead? none of those (TN) points were on the special team mistakes.
Columbus Dawg
October 2nd, 2012
8:34 am
The turnovers were the face of this game. If not for the three easy scores given to the Vols, the game’s pace would not have been what it was. College Football is about momentum, and if good things happen to an underdog in a particular game, it gives the underdog faith that it can capitalize and use them towards an upset. The Vols are not Ole Miss, or Kentucky which are teams that you can spot points and easily overcome them. Tennessee is a proud program, that I personally have never seen quit in a game against the Dawgs, no matter which way it’s going. Hopefully Murray has his turnovers behind him, and yes, I DO believe Georgia can run on SC. Crowell had a decent game against them last year, and it only stands to reason that the improved run game from Athens will do even better. You can tell that Gurley loves the big games, and is the kind of player that Erk would say “Will rise to the occasion”!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
October 2nd, 2012
8:41 am
Hopefully the occurances of turnover is off of Murray for a while. . But on a tipped ball, that’s just up for grabs. We intercepted one too off of a tip. And he absolutely need to tuck the ball better when hit, But thats if he sees it. When your right guard lets a blitzing LB take a full speed shot at him, stuff happens. That was certainly not one of those attempts to make some play while falling backwards fumbles from last year.
AltamahaDawg
October 2nd, 2012
8:54 am
Wow Mobile, Glass half empty much? I would see it the other way. We won that game. Period. WE are not the lucky ones. TN is as lucky as it gets that we did hand them the ball a few times to even keep it close.
It’s not “luck” if you give away point and make it difficult on yourself But then find a way to win, as you should. That’s actually the opposite of luck isn’t it?
Personally I was very glad to see our team be able to overcome some setback. We lost those games in recent years. That is a sign of mature players, and good coaching IMO.
Yea, I know, I know. BUT Nick Saban……..
Mountain DAWG
October 2nd, 2012
9:07 am
UGA 40 USC 30.
Columbus Dawg
October 2nd, 2012
9:17 am
AltamahaDawg, good points, and I think it may have needed to happen just to raise his awareness, and it probably did. There is no way anyone can convince me that SC wins this game without being given something. The Dawgs know what is on the line. They knew what was on the line with the Vols, but I think were taken back by the outstanding line play of Tennessee. This was probably exactly the kind of game the Dawgs needed going into Columbia. Tree will be a big help on Lattimore. Jarvis will be back, will harass Shaw all night. Hate to say it ,but Clowney may do the same to Murray. RUN the ball!!!
McDawg
October 2nd, 2012
9:22 am
the pile was moving forward not backwards in the second half–no energy
LawDawg
October 2nd, 2012
10:22 am
The reason I am not overly concerned about the D: We had the same defensive personnel for games 1-2; a different set of personnel for games 3-4, and a different set of personnel for game 5. The trends show we need a full game with the defensive players to gel.
To wit:
Our first game, the defense was mediocre; the second game with the same group, we were much better against a decent Mizzou offense.
Third game, we get back two starters, the defense looks mediocre; the next game with the same group, we hold Vandy to 3.
Fifth game, we get back two starters and the defense looks…well…terrible; if trends continue, having the same group together for the next game should show marked improvement.