Grantham seems to have a handle on the major challenge he faces with Dogs’ defense
Todd Grantham knows what Georgia has to do to improve against the run. (Associated Press)
Back before last season was even over, a friend of mine was looking ahead to the way Georgia’s 2013 schedule is front-loaded with tough teams and lamenting all the personnel losses the Dogs were going to suffer on defense.
He summed up the situation for Todd Grantham pretty well:
“Next year,” he said, “Grantham is finally going to have to earn that big salary of his.”
After a Georgia defense considered one of the most talented in the nation underperformed for much of the 2012 season, the UGA defensive coordinator faces a major rebuilding project in replacing a dozen players.
Thankfully, now that he’s through with his NFL flirtation, he at least seems to have zeroed in on his biggest challenges.
Talking with ESPN’s Chris Low, Grantham acknowledged the Dogs didn’t do a good job against the run last season, especially in the SEC Championship Game, where Alabama’s ground attack racked up big yards.
“We did some good things in that game,” Grantham told Low. “We blocked a field goal and ran it back for a touchdown. We were really good on third down, and got a turnover in the red zone. The thing we didn’t do was stop the run in the second half.”
Many observers of that game singled out Georgia’s lack of substitution up front, which resulted in the DL wearing down, and poor tackling by some of the linebacking corps, returning to the form that had led to Shawn Williams’ rant earlier in the season.
Grantham has come to the same conclusion. “We’ve got to play more players up front and keep them fresh,” he said, “and from the inside linebacker position, we’ve got to learn to tackle backs like (Eddie Lacy). Those are two things we’ve got to do better.”
Of course, up front is where Montravius Adams would have been a nice addition, but even with that recruiting whiff Grantham sounds optimistic. “I like the young talent on this defense and what we have coming in,” he told ESPN. “To me, it gets back to developing players. It’s going to be an exciting and aggressive spring, but we’ve been aggressive around here for the last couple of years. We’ll coach them hard and see to it that they learn how to compete. You’ve got to learn how to win a position before you can help us win a game.”
And, who knows, maybe a hungrier defense will come together quicker and better than last year’s group, which started off the season like it had spent a bit too much time reading about how talented it was.
I’m also encouraged by the fact that, in the past, when Grantham has singled out an area that needs work — like getting off the field on third down — we’ve usually seen quite a bit of improvement.
What’s your feeling about the Georgia D in the coming season? And are there any other areas of concern you think Grantham needs to address when spring practice starts March 2?
Got something you want to discuss about UGA athletics? Got a question you want the Junkyard Blawg to tackle? If so, send it to junkyardblawg@gmail.com.
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126 comments Add your comment
Bulldawg35
February 18th, 2013
1:14 pm
The Nfl also wanted cam Cameron….so what does that tell u……..what good offense as Grantham stopped since he has been here
Flat Tire Doesnt Live in Delusionalville Ga.
February 18th, 2013
1:17 pm
I would like to know who has Grantham beaten
He has looked stupid against Spurier since he has been here
He couldnt stop Boise St
He has been out schemed in almost every big game he has coached in
He has given up 30 pts per game against almost every top 20 team he has gone up against
Oh wow he stopped FL who had one of the worst offenses in college football in 2012
Bulldawg35
February 18th, 2013
1:49 pm
I agree with u flat-tire….Grantham is our weak link…..I wish Mcgarity would open up his wallet and go after Derek mason from stanford
Flat Tire Doesnt Live in Delusionalville Ga.
February 18th, 2013
1:54 pm
Bulldawg35
After what he pulled again putting the program in limbo and hurting recruiting yea we are better off finding another DC because he gets out coached in big games and he has shown 2 yrs in a row that he doesnt want to be in Athens for the near future
Bulldawg35
February 18th, 2013
3:01 pm
That’s very true flat-tire….Grantham acts like he has done great in thre three years he has been here. I’ve never seen anything like him before so in denial of a poor run defense that has gotten owned by spurrier. I just wonder what granthams excuses will be this year? I bet one of will be well if we would of still had Jarvis jones we would of made that stop…..Grantham is terrible
Flat Tire Doesnt Live in Delusionalville Ga.
February 18th, 2013
3:16 pm
Bulldog35
What I find comical is all these fans blaming Murray for everything wrong while our coaching staff continues to lose 2 games every year
I also didnt know it was Murray’s fault for giving up 30 pts per game against every top 20 team we have played the last 3 years except to a sorry FL offense but I guess we learn something everyday
Bulldawg35
February 18th, 2013
4:03 pm
I agree flat tire….we haven’t had a great defense probably since 2003……and a good one since 2007. Murray is not a great qb, but he is a damn good one. The Murray haters can’t accept the fact that he out played aj mcarron in the sec championship game. Every good offense we have played has lit us up. Boise state. Lsu, Bama, sc. mich state. Arkansas in 2010.
Jville Dawg
February 18th, 2013
4:08 pm
I think the defense has a chance to be better this year. I think what we had last year at times was a lot of guys with their eye on the NFL and playing not to get hurt. Sometimes you can have too much talent at the college level and it can backfire that way. Please spare any stupid comments about the players being selfish or whatever, because we all know if it were your son out there with millions on the line, you wouldn’t want him taking unnecessary risks or playing with reckless abandon.
Bulldawg35
February 18th, 2013
5:20 pm
The talk of to much talent is not accurate at all. We were poor on defense because granthams 3-4 defense does not fit the gaps in the running game….that’s why we were gashed over and over. Grantham refused to play Herrna over Robinson……because of seniority and that was a mistake. That’s why Bama gashed us so much…….and Washington should of stayed at linebacker…..he did nothing the whole year
Jason in Gainesville
February 18th, 2013
5:42 pm
Old skool posting, I love it.
Bulldawg35
February 18th, 2013
6:09 pm
Jason is Gainesville is booger eater also
Bopsy
February 18th, 2013
6:15 pm
You guys realize Murray only completed 39% against LSU in 2011, 7 other QB’s soared that year against LSU, not Murray.
Man, if we had Manziel, a qb like that that brings in the big games, we’d be national champs.
But instead, we’re left with 1-9 vs. teams that finish top 20 Aaron “I-can’t-win-a-big-game” Murray.
Spike the ball next time shorty.
Bopsy
February 18th, 2013
6:17 pm
9 Qb’s completed 55% or better vs. LSU in 2011.
Murray? 39% and the only qb to turn the ball over 3 times vs. LSU.
Yep, it’s Murray.
Bopsy
February 18th, 2013
6:23 pm
Manziel completed 65% vs ranked teams in 2012
Driskell 62%
McCarron 60%
Shaw 58%
4th year guy UGA Murray?
53% accuracy vs. ranked teams in 2012, ranked 70th in nation
Bopsy
February 18th, 2013
6:28 pm
Murray ranked 53rd in MOST int’s in 2010
Last in the NCAA in 2011–threw the MOST
90th in 2012
The guy is a turnover machine. Can’t win games like that.
AJ “The Champion” McCarron?
Top 25 in fewest in 2011
Top 10 in fewest int’s in 2012
Yep, it’s Murray.
Top 25 in fewest
Flat Tire Doesnt Live in Delusionalville Ga.
February 18th, 2013
6:50 pm
Hey you smart people; I didnt know Murray was the one who told the coaches Im playing no matter how many mistakes I make;
Get a clue people and stop wasting time posting stats on Murray and take a look over at the sidelines cause they are the ones who decide who plays in a game
So stop blaming Murray and start blaming the overpaid coaching staff that continues to lose 2 or more ball games every year even before Murray set foot in Athens Ga
Delusional UGA Fan
February 18th, 2013
9:54 pm
I went back and reviewed Aaron Murray’s interceptions in big games, compared to other Sec qb’s, let’s say vs. ranked teams, where did Murray rank in the SEC in interceptions:
2010 #6 (Average–middle of the pack)
2011 #16 (dead last–worst in the conference)
2012 #14 (bottom 3 of 16 qb’s tracked)
Conclusion:
It’s the coaches fault that Murray throws so many interceptions, Murray has nothing to do with it, and it just proves what a great qb Murray is.
I blame Grantham for the 1-9 record vs teams that end up top 20.
Murray’s interceptions, and sec rankings there, have nothing to do with it.
Like the above poster, I blame the coach.
Delusional UGA Fan
February 18th, 2013
9:59 pm
AJ McCarron threw 30 td’s, and 3 interceptions.
Aaron Murray threw 36 td’s and 10 interceptions.
AJ had a 10-1 td to int ratio.
Murray had a 3.6 to 1 td to int ratio.
This is also Grantham’s fault.
Murray had nothing to do with this.
Delusional UGA Fan
February 18th, 2013
10:04 pm
Murray has thrown 15 interceptions from his own 20-40 yardline giving the opponent a short field.
AJ McCarron has thrown 1 interception on his own 20-40 yardline.
This is also Grantham’s fault that Murray throws 15x more interceptions on his own side of the field than AJ.
Delusional UGA Fan
February 18th, 2013
10:08 pm
On 3rd down and 10 yards+ in 2012:
Aaron Murray completed 50% of his passes.
AJ McCarron completed 72% of his passes.
This is also Grantham’s fault, Murray has nothing to do with this either.
Delusional UGA Fan
February 18th, 2013
10:14 pm
in 2012 Murray ranked #1 in the SEC in longest plays of 10,20 yards, 30, 40, 50
AJ ranked #5.
This proves Murray doesn’t take unnecessary risk and tried to manage the clock well with long drives.
Delusional UGA Fan
February 18th, 2013
10:19 pm
Georgia under Murray’s leadership since 2010 ALWAYS beats Alabama in passing yards, but always loses to Alabama in rushing yards.
Bama has won 2 National Championships back to back.
UGA 0.
This shows how street smart Murray is.
Bulldawg35
February 19th, 2013
1:04 pm
Your wrong wrong and wrong delusional fan…..Murray needs to improve on his turnovers….but that has nothing to with giving up about a 1000 yards rushing in the last four games…..it don’t matter where the defense started on the field they were giving up big yards up the middle regardless of what position they were in
BurrowingBill
February 19th, 2013
4:53 pm
I’ll say this, if Murray continues his losing ways in big games, like say Murray loses to Clemson, SC, Florida, and LSU, and goes to 1-13 vs. teams that finish top 20, he will NOT get drafted by ANY NFL team.
It’s come to that, Murray either starts winning more than 10% of these kind of games, or his football career is done.
The NFL doesn’t care if you can beat Coastal Carolina.
KDawg
February 19th, 2013
10:43 pm
UGA has finished in the top 25 in defensive scoring the last 2 years, and was #11 in rush defense in 2011, and still, no SEC Championships.
Uh huh, look like Mr. Aaron Murray is da issue.
NFL teams know the game.
NFL teams want Grantham, they don’t want Murray.
KDawg
February 19th, 2013
10:46 pm
Grantham forced more turnovers than Saban in 2012 (uga HAD 13 INT’S AND 17 FUMBLE RECOVERIES TO bAMA’S 29 TOTAL).
Murray turned the ball over 3x more than AJ IN 2012.