Todd Grantham: ‘I understand who UGA fans want to beat’
Todd Grantham briefs the media, admits meeting Jessica Simpson. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Athens – Let’s stipulate that one or two folks on this planet care deeply about how the Dallas Cowboys fare on given autumn Sundays. But even at the highest level of pro football, there’s a difference in passion between that found in the college game, and this was reflected on, of all places, AJC.com.
A guy (blush) asked readers to submit questions for Todd Grantham. Within 12 hours came more than 350 suggestions. Yes, some were impertinent, but the majority were detailed and incisive, and that says all you need to know about the interest/scrutiny Georgia’s new defensive coordinator will encounter.
And Grantham, to his credit, welcomes it. (At least he did Friday, though it must be noted his first in-person media briefing came well before a Grantham-coached Georgia defense has lost a game.) “That’s the reason I wanted to take this job,” he said. “I understand the passion. I understand who Georgia fans want to beat and where they want to be. And I feel like we can achieve that.”
Grantham has spent the past decade working in the NFL. Not to go all Charlie Weis on you, but it’s clear Georgia’s new DC believes his new team will have a schematic advantage because of his background. Here, responding to a question submitted by Luke, was Grantham’s response about the ongoing quest of pro teams to exploit matchups, as opposed simply to playing a basic defense every down:
“The last 11 years I’ve been dealing with matchups, and that’s what you have to do in the NFL. You don’t get guys running free to the quarterback very often; the best you can hope for is getting a one-on-one. We’re going to find ways to make [opponents] in pass protection make blocks, whether it’s a back kept in or an offensive lineman.”
The 3-4 defense remains a relative novelty in collegiate circles, and that’s one reason Grantham considers it well suited to defuse exotic offenses. (See: Florida’s spread or Paul Johnson’s option. This question was offered by Chem.) “I don’t think there’s any question [the 3-4] can be better,” Grantham said. “We don’t have to declare our pass rusher until we see the formation. We can adjust.
“With the 4-3, you know the four guys who stick their hands in the dirt are going to rush. One of the things about the 3-4 is that you know one of those four [linebackers] is going to be coming 95 percent of the time. You just don’t know which one.”
Grantham has already gone recruiting — he passed his NCAA-mandated test, Steve Spurrier should know — but said Georgia isn’t suddenly in the market for every Grady Jackson lookalike of tender years. (This question was submitted by doodoo bailey and Suwaneedawg.)
“There are two types of 3-4,” Grantham said. “There’s the New England type, where you’ve got a big massive guy up front. We’re going to be a 1-gap team. In Dallas we had Jay Ratliff [a stripling at 303 pounds] make the Pro Bowl. We’ll have a standard [for nose tackles] as we go forward, but we also have to have position flexibility.”
Todd Grantham, you should know, is an impressive guy. He says much of what you’d expect — “We want to be physical and aggressive and relentless … We want the other team, when they get done playing you, not to want to play you again” — but says it in a way that makes you believe he can deliver. He made it known he expects UGA fans to deliver, too.
“I’ve heard [Georgia fans] bark when [a defender] makes a play,” he said, smiling. “Is that true? That’s my question to them.”
One thing more: The guy who asked readers to submit questions posed one of his own, this on a matter of global importance. While with the Cowboys, did Grantham meet Jessica Simpson?
“I did,” he said. Then, kidding, he pointed to reporters’ tape recorders on the table. “Turn those off.” Then this: “I can tell this little story. I was sitting in my office one Tuesday watching film [here he mimicked a guy reared back in a chair with a remote in his hand], and Tony [Romo, Simpson's former flame] walked by. He said, ‘Hi, Todd.’ Then someone else said, ‘Hi, Todd.’
“I’m like this. [Mimicking craning his neck around a corner.] It was Jess. Nice girl. Nice girl.”
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432 comments Add your comment
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
3:44 pm
Gatorsports reports that UF will also employ the 3-4 next year; must be they defensive scheme of the near future.
Brad in Jasper
January 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
Is it just me, or does Todd have a slight Brian Dennehy scowl in the picture above?
Taggart Transcontinental
January 22nd, 2010
3:45 pm
All you bug fans crack me up. LMAO! Please keep your comments to yourselves about how the option is unstoppable until you win a bowl game with it. Just keep telling yourselves that you’re great because you won the ACC. BIG DEAL! Follow it up with a bowl win before you spew more bile on a UGA blog. Anyway, the new guy has me pretty fired up. Grantham sounds like a hard nosed football man and that’s exactly what we’ve been lacking with CWM. GATA Dawgs!
Without-a-clue
January 22nd, 2010
3:46 pm
Why don’t we quit “wishing” the Gators down to our level and worry about getting ourselves up to their’s? That is my final comment for today.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
3:48 pm
DoubleD, they didn’t bail, they got either promotions or jobs with more responsibility. Myer has good coaches that other programs want to hire; how true has that been of Richt? Meyer now has 3 former coaches who are Head Coaches at other schools. What you are saying is the same all of the other recruiters have been saying to this years class; it doesn’t look like it is working does it? You don’t smell trouble, you wish it.
PowerDawg
January 22nd, 2010
3:48 pm
In reference to my last post addressed to gatorman-
I meant to type “DON’T do it again”. My bad. Fat fingers.
Yellow Fuzz
January 22nd, 2010
3:48 pm
ACC CHAMPS !!!
WE”RE THE TALLEST MIDGET!!!
YAY!!!
gatorman
January 22nd, 2010
3:49 pm
PowerDawg, my apologies; wont happen again.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
3:52 pm
Without-a-clue, It is good to see a classy comment from a UGA fan. I actually hope that this staff is successful in every game but one.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
3:53 pm
Yellow Fuzz, now that is class from the Flats.
maddawg
January 22nd, 2010
3:54 pm
Without a doubt the best available coach out there is Grayson Thompson!!
He also has experience with special teams. he’s from the south and would be a perfect fit!!!!!!
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
3:55 pm
maddawg, where is he from, background, etc?
Mark Bradley
January 22nd, 2010
3:56 pm
I have to admit, Conyers, that Grantham is an impressive fellow.
Yellow Fuzz
January 22nd, 2010
3:57 pm
ga gator … sounds like you need a good spanking ….
MMMmmmmmm
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
3:58 pm
Mark, from talking to him, what is your take on why he wanted to come to college?
Mark Bradley
January 22nd, 2010
3:59 pm
UA Alum, Mr. Grantham made no reference to any of Jessica Simpson’s physical characteristics.
PowerDawg
January 22nd, 2010
4:00 pm
Who asked you, nut fuzz. Winning the ACC is like dry-humping your pillow. It only last a couple of minutes and then…I feel funny…what happened?
PowerDawg
January 22nd, 2010
4:01 pm
Who asked you, nut fuzz? Winning the ACC is like dry-humping your pillow. It only last a couple of minutes and then…I feel funny…what happened?
Dictionary
January 22nd, 2010
4:01 pm
“Yellow Fuzz” The lower feathers on a baby rooster’s legs where they pee on themselves.
Mark Bradley
January 22nd, 2010
4:02 pm
To Uga B: I would imagine — and this is just me guessing — that there are more permutations to this defense, which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s more complex. As Grantham noted, somebody’s going to be blitzing just about every down. It’s a question of who.
Taggart Transcontinental
January 22nd, 2010
4:03 pm
The only question in my mind now is how soon Murray will develop to his full potential. With King and Ealey running efficiently, it will take a lot of pressure off of him. I can’t think of another tandem that compares to them. Has anyone heard anything about Dontavious Jackson? He’s another badass RB that came to UGA but hasn’t made much noise yet. Could he be the next “under the radar” RB like Moreno was? Carlton Thomas has proven to be a nice playmaker when given the opportunity. The WR situation is also incredible. Simply loaded. TE’s as well, so I don’t see a weak spot in the O other than a redshirt freshman at QB. But that might not be a problem given that he’s been here for a year already to learn the offense (not to mention the fact that he had 50+ FBS scholarship offers). The future looks awfully bright for the Dawg Nation now that we’ll have a great defense again.
Mark Bradley
January 22nd, 2010
4:05 pm
I think he wanted to be a coordinator, Ga Gator, and he said he’d gone to the pros only to prepare himself for that.
Taggart Transcontinental
January 22nd, 2010
4:07 pm
Mark, is UGA going to hire a ST coach?
Mark Bradley
January 22nd, 2010
4:09 pm
My impression was that Georgia plans to hire another defensive coach.
randdumb
January 22nd, 2010
4:12 pm
Objectively speaking, it would appear Georgia made a good hire considering Grantham’s turnaround achievements, Pro Bowl players under him, and the man Grantham spurned and turned away is thought to be an excellent defensive coach–Saban.
PowerDawg
January 22nd, 2010
4:15 pm
I seem to remember another RS-Freshman that took over for us in 2001. He only won 8 games that first year but one of them was in Knoxville and had something to do with a hob-nailed boot!
Oh, and by the way, he only won more games than any other D-1 QB in history! I’d say he did alright.
Murray will do just fine.
Subject to
January 22nd, 2010
4:21 pm
If this guy Grantham see’s what a mess this program is in with its lack of defensive personnel he will be subject to a comb over in about two years time. Better go ahead for the Willie look.
George Edwards--The New Willie Martinez!
January 22nd, 2010
4:26 pm
Good chance the Edwards hire iwll turn out to be like the Martinez hire.
Saban didn’t like the guy enough to bring him to Bama, and Grantham fired him when he took over at Cleveland.
Willie’s Back, and he’s wearing blue & orange.
Saint Augustine
January 22nd, 2010
4:28 pm
Dear Coach Grantham:
Welcome to the south. When you finish washing and waxing coach Meyer’s limo please fill it up with gas too! Thanks.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
4:29 pm
Redshirt freshman QB? What’s the big deal? Plenty of them have been successful. Got more to do with what’s between his ears, besides, he will have gone through two Spring camps and two Fall camps. He was almost as highly rated as Stafford…2nd or 3rd Pro Style QB. Hopefully he will have more dedication to the film study.
Elmore Spencer
January 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
Oh, and by the way, he only won more games than any other D-1 QB in history! I’d say he did alright.
Other than Colt McCoy who broke his record last year.
Taggart Transcontinental
January 22nd, 2010
4:30 pm
Subject to, are you drunk? Personnel has NEVER been a problem at UGA other than with the coaching staff. Your remark implied that UGA doesn’t have defensive players. Are you serious? You might want to check the latest recruiting reports and get back to us and reality. While you’re at it, check the rosters of the NFL and let me know how many UGA defensive players are out there. Trust me…there are many.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
4:34 pm
Colt, admittedly, had a better cast around him.
Taggart Transcontinental
January 22nd, 2010
4:35 pm
1eyedJack, I love your enthusiasm and, believe me, I share it…somewhat, but there’s a LOT to be said for actual game experience. I love our chances for a great season this year but I’m just a little concerned about the QB situation. Go Dawgs! GATA!
Cunk Rogers
January 22nd, 2010
4:36 pm
Grayson Thompson can handle inside or outside linebackers and special teams. I believe he studied Beamer’s approach to special teams and produces the same results.
randdumb
January 22nd, 2010
4:37 pm
I think Grantham eats Alligators for breakfast–Gator meat is actually quite tasty, I like to toast it first, deep fry, then grill.
JCubby
January 22nd, 2010
4:39 pm
FIRST!!!
Saint Augustine
January 22nd, 2010
4:39 pm
How tall is Aaron Murray really. I heard 6-1 (like Joe Cox) till I saw him stand next to Joe Cox on the side line. I bet he’s not 5-10. Hahahah
For the Record
January 22nd, 2010
4:40 pm
Grantham said he had several other inquiries to come back to the college level during the past 10 years, but it never felt right. Georgia was different.
He said he first had contact with Mark Richt about the job during the week of the Cowboys’ game against New Orleans (which was Dec. 19, by the way) and the two talked on and off from there.
Lakatos said Grantham called him in December to let him know that it was a possibility and Grantham asked him then whether he’d be interested in a job at Georgia, should things work out.
Obviously they did, and now both are in Athens.
Pembroke dawg
January 22nd, 2010
4:40 pm
Aaron Murray = Quincy Carter maybe but certainly no Matthew Stafford
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
4:42 pm
Taggart T, I feel your pain brother, but the fact remains that there is no one on the roster that fits that bill, unless you think Logan is the answer, which I don’t. CMR/CMB wouldn’t let him throw the ball when he did get in and when he did throw he didn’t impress.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
4:45 pm
Augie, Murray will have more completions and yards this year than Nesbitt will have had for his career.
TampaGator
January 22nd, 2010
4:47 pm
GAGator…Florida ran the 3 down linemen a lot this year using the joker package…3DL, 3LBs, and 5DBs. Edwards will bring in the standard 3-4 to add to the mix. But the Gators will also be in the 4-3 a lot due to the amazing talent and depth they have at the DT position.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
4:48 pm
I will have just as much confidence if Big Metz wins the job.
De' truth
January 22nd, 2010
4:49 pm
For a change of pace: “Sports: Shaq Misses Entire Second Half With Pulled Pork Sandwich”. That(courtesy of Onion) is FUNNY!
jerry
January 22nd, 2010
4:50 pm
People are talking about dominating Florida now that Grantham is on board. Not so fast, you thought BVG was pretty good and he went 1-3, mainly because the Guru’s offense scored 10,13,13 in the three losses. He better be good.
2Dawgs
January 22nd, 2010
4:50 pm
To paraphrase: The O scores points but the D wins games.
TampaGator
January 22nd, 2010
4:51 pm
il5…..Channing Crowder played for both Strong at Florida and Edwards (LBs coach for the Dolphins), and Channing said that Edwards is the best defensive coach and defensive mind he has ever played for. I will take his opinion over your opinion any day. And Strong is one hell of a defensive coach…and Channing thinks Edwards is better. Good enough endorsement for me…from an All-Pro NFL LB.
Yellow Fuzz
January 22nd, 2010
4:55 pm
1eyejacked,
“Augie, Murray will have more completions and yards this year than Nesbitt will have had for his career.”
How about interceptions? Bet Nesbit got more first downs last year than Murray gets in his 2 year career at georgia.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
4:55 pm
We’ll score enough points to win…our’n is gonna have to stop their’n. It can be done!!!