Watchwords for UGA football: Aggression and accountability
Todd Grantham: No advocate of bend-but-don't-break. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
The one good thing spring games do is remind us that college football isn’t played on paper or even in cyberspace. It’s a game of talent, and seeing firsthand is the easiest way to determine which team has it and which team doesn’t.
Georgia, as ever, has talent.
Georgia, as hasn’t been the case, now has the chance to maximize those resources.
At least on defense, Georgia football had become the equivalent of Georgia Tech basketball: Lots of players, not much coaching. It wasn’t so much that Willie Martinez didn’t know what he was doing but that what he was doing was out of step with the way college football in the 21st Century needs to be played.
Bend-but-don’t-break was so last millennium. If you’ve got top-shelf talent — really, when doesn’t Georgia have top-shelf talent? — you must be the aggressor. Indeed, the whole history of Georgia football is founded on the Bulldog defense being tougher than the other team’s offense. Think Erk Russell and his head-butts. Think Ben Zambiasi and his nervous stomach. Think Ben Smith and Champ Bailey and Greg Blue and all those big-hitting DB’s.
In the Georgia locker room after every game, you see four letters inscribed on the white board: GATA. Loosely translated, it stands for “get after them aggressively.” (I stress: This is a loose translation in a family newspaper.) The Bulldogs under Martinez failed too often to get after anybody aggressively enough. The result was too few turnovers induced, too few sacks made, too many opposing drives left unstopped.
Three months on the job, Todd Grantham appears to have a keen understanding of GATA as a concept. The Bulldogs didn’t show a lot of wrinkles in Grantham’s 3-4 scheme at G-Day on Saturday — “Everybody will be watching this tape,” Mark Richt said afterward — but that wasn’t the point. Of greater importance were the various angles of attack available under the new system and the new coordinator’s conspicuous zeal.
Said Richt, speaking of Grantham’s displays of sideline emotion in the glorified scrimmage: “That’s what you want.”
But that’s not, as we know, Richt’s way. The head coach is clinical and low-key, and that’s fine so far as it goes. We can’t expect Richt to be someone he isn’t, but the trouble with Richt’s program had become its lack of accountability. Put simply, it had become too easy to play for the Bulldogs. It won’t be easy to play for Grantham, and that’s a good thing.
Back to accountability: Already we see that one offseason misstep — Zach Mettenberger’s arrest in Remerton, Ga. — stands to leave an imprint on the coming season. The race to be the No. 1 quarterback is very close, but Mettenberger has relegated himself to being a runner-up. He has been suspended for the opener against Louisiana Lafayette on Sept. 4, and if you’re thinking, “He could turn around and start the next week” … no, he can’t.
Georgia plays South Carolina in Columbia on Sept. 11. The Bulldogs are guaranteed to start a new quarterback in Week 1; there’s no way Richt will want to do the same, this time on the road against an SEC opponent, in Week 2. The idea of scheduling Louisiana Lafayette as an opener is to get ready for the Gamecocks. Owing to his suspension, Mettenberger can’t be ready.
And that sends a message. Mettenberger isn’t the first Bulldog to be suspended, but he’s a local favorite. He’s from adjacent Oconee County — heck, his mom works in Georgia’s football office — and still he has to atone. It’s a high price for anyone, let alone an 18-year-old, to pay, but it says something about accountability.
Georgia football had begun to drift. Too many guys weren’t being coached up, and too many guys were getting away with too much. The guess here is that the trip to the low-rent Independence Bowl has left a mark on the Bulldogs’ famously laid-back coach. The guess here is that his players and coaches won’t be hesitant to get after somebody in the foreseeable future.
The guess here is that the Bulldogs are on their way back — and not to Shreveport.
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94 comments Add your comment
Meatlake
April 12th, 2010
4:20 am
last
jack
April 12th, 2010
4:52 am
FIRST!
jack
April 12th, 2010
4:52 am
LAST
Football! » Blog Archive » Watchwords for UGA football: Aggression and accountability | Mark …
April 12th, 2010
4:52 am
[...] post by Mark Bradley and software by Elliott [...]
dagnabit
April 12th, 2010
5:14 am
On the way back to 45 – 42 ?
Watchwords for UGA football: Aggression and accountability | Mark … | All Topics Blog
April 12th, 2010
5:16 am
[...] Matthew Razak wrote an interesting post today Here’s a quick excerpt Mark Bradley of the AJC writes that there seems a new urgency about the Georgia Bulldogs’ football program. [...]
Lowcountry Bulldawg
April 12th, 2010
5:42 am
To consistently laying down 30-24 whipping on Tech.
Good article and it sums of the defensive approach over the past three seasons perfectly. I am hopeful that we can see a defense finally play at full speed and not either have the DP’s on the heels or out of position. A Georgia defense that can go at 100% speed and keep there composure and eliminate the penalty’s, something Athens has not seen in 5 years!
Marcus
April 12th, 2010
5:46 am
Good article, Mark. We are in a mess with the QB situation. Mett would likely have been named the starter immediately after G-Day, but he made a dumb mistake with the arrest. Murray or Gray will have to step up for the 2010 season and I have confidence in either of them getting the job done.
dagnabit, I believe he means on the way back to contending for the toughest football conference in the NCAA and continuing to win the state championship.
TheAntiMe
April 12th, 2010
5:56 am
Here’s hoping that Todd Grantham can get the Dawgs defense to, as in the good ole days, be meaner than a junkyard dog! Come on on Dawgs, get after their axes!
lanier
April 12th, 2010
6:16 am
Sadly I am afraid the DAWGS are quickly on the way to becoming the state’s minor team and I don’t buy that their talent is superior to their SEC foes. You can only coach up a player to his max ability and I see them thin there
The switch to the 3-4 D may help some as it can help to make up for talent shortcommings. I hope so
Watchwords for UGA football: Aggression and accountability : Team USA American Football Stars and Stripes
April 12th, 2010
6:40 am
[...] Much more here [...]
SimpleDawg
April 12th, 2010
7:01 am
Uh-oh, Our best QB will not be the starting QB when the season begins…….
The Dawgs appear to be deeper in talent on Offense than on Defense, but there seems to be plenty of talent on both sides of the ball.
Murray needs to really step it up…..he or Logan Gray will have to start the season, although Mettenberger was clearly the best QB on the field. That big arm will certainly open up the field for the running game,
Hope springs eternal……
FLdawg
April 12th, 2010
7:03 am
You are focused on our new D.
Lets take a look at our Offensive coaching, player development, play calling, game planning.
2009
OKST, we scored 10pts.
AZST, we scored 20pts, shut out in 2 and 3 qtr, Cox 2 ints, pick six. AZST went 4-8 last year, bottom of Pac 10.
LSU, we scored 13 points AT HOME.
Tenn, we scored 19 points
FL, we scored 17 points
KY, omg, we led 20-6 at halftime, we were SHUTOUT in the 4th qtr in our own stadium
We “developed” Joe Cox for 5 years?
The spotlight is now on CMB and CMR for consistent execution of the O. No More Excuses.
Go You Hairy Bobo Dawgs!
zino
April 12th, 2010
7:04 am
Logan Gray throws like a girl.
Lanier – you don’t have a clue buddy. Go drown yourself in the lake.
Jimbo
April 12th, 2010
7:07 am
dont much matter when the head coach dont hold staff accountable until the roof caves in, and would rather run a popularity contest and try trick gimmicks than actually coach, himself
rcf
April 12th, 2010
7:07 am
We can’t expect Richt to BE someone he isn’t
The idea of scheduling Louisiana Lafayette as an opener is to BE ready for the Gamecocks
To BE or not to BE, that is the question!
BugKiller
April 12th, 2010
7:22 am
Umm… doesn’t anyone realize that Z-Mett was throwing against our second string the whole day?
Did anyone who went actually WATCH what was going on?
Logan Grey, who stunk it up against the first team, played with and against the second string in the 4th quarter.
And he moved the ball.
Z-Mett’s performance against the SECOND STRING DEFENSE proves nothing.
Why?
Because right now, especially at linebacker, our depth sucks. Our first line defense is going to be a beast. But except for Geathers, our second string doesn’t have much to speak of.
So please, Mark, and others, enough with Z-Mett being the “best.” I’ll be the first to admit, the kid LOOKS like a damn good QB. He’s tall, he throws 30 yard frozen ropes.
But he didn’t do it against anyone capable of playing defense in the SEC this year. Our second string offense, especially the o-line, is much better than the second string D. Z-Mett strived off of that benefit on Saturday.
Perspective, people. Perspective.
F-105 Thunderchief
April 12th, 2010
7:23 am
Nobody last year thought Mettenberger could tie his shoes, much less win the QB job. But being a knucklehead cost him the job, not his play on the field.
KJ
April 12th, 2010
7:30 am
Whoever taught Jimbo English in high school needs to be fired on the spot.
Watchwords for UGA football: Aggression and accountability | Mark … | Sports news live
April 12th, 2010
7:32 am
[...] Read more: Watchwords for UGA football: Aggression and accountability | Mark … [...]
dawgma
April 12th, 2010
7:34 am
We’ll see about the QB. It’s Aaron’s to lose. I would like to hear a lot more about how our o line is fixed for tackles. We got our tails whipped in the trenches last year.
The Shreveprt bowl may be the best thing to happen to UGA ball since that kid named Hersche showed up.
We’ll see.
l
who cares?
April 12th, 2010
7:37 am
Who cares?
Lanier, that is
April 12th, 2010
7:38 am
the stupidest comment i have ever seen on here.
UGA Slobberknocker
April 12th, 2010
7:48 am
I hope youre right, Mark. For once
UGA Slobberknocker
April 12th, 2010
7:51 am
The idiot above asks “Who cares? My question to him…If you dont. why are you reading the blog and then commenting, you moron?
Big Al
April 12th, 2010
7:56 am
Defense is to be played with aggression. For the last few years, the Dawgs have played a watch and then react type of defense. As almost everyone will agree, it did not work. Now we are going to be aggressive and make the offense react to what the Dawg defense does. And that is how defense, at least a successful defense, should be played.
Goldtimer
April 12th, 2010
8:00 am
Yeah, they are back. Back to fielding teams like Ray Goff’s that annually underperform.
H
April 12th, 2010
8:03 am
Yeah, I agree with BugKiller. Mett looked great and clearly has talent, but he was at a huge advantage going up against the 2nd string D with the 2nd string O. Was hoping that Aaron would lock this thing up on Sat–clearly didn’t happen, though. This will be an interesting summer/fall.
Reality
April 12th, 2010
8:05 am
Mettenberger was far and away the best QB at G-Day!!!!
Logan Gray showed that he has a weak passing arm and can’t get the ball down field to AJ Green.
Aaron Murray made panicky bonehead decisions like Joe Cox.
RomeDawg
April 12th, 2010
8:06 am
Good article! One down year out of 10 isn’t worth changing your coach for. How many teams would love to have an 8 win season be the “low” point?
Predictable
April 12th, 2010
8:09 am
What would a UGA forecast be without a reference to some player being in trouble and/or suspended?
d-wood
April 12th, 2010
8:15 am
Why has everyone annointed Mett as the best quaterback after one good scrimmage? Spring football consisted of 2 other scrimmages and 12 practices. I sure the coaches who witnessed every play each quarterback made this spring will take everything into consideration when naming a starter. Not to mention we still have summer practices. When Mett played against the 1st team defense at other times this spring he did not put up the same type of numbers. During the G-Day game, Mett had all day to throw the ball while Murray and Grey were getting a lot of pressure. Mett may end up being the best but let’s hold off on all the accolades. One game does not determine the starter. If we are going to base our starters off of this game then Wooten should be a number 1 option at receiver.
Dawgonit
April 12th, 2010
8:19 am
USC’s defense is nasty even with Norwood gone. Going to be tough no matter who is at QB. Will need to run the ball but they will stack the box and dare us to throw. Going to be tough in Columbia this year. Loss.
AthDog
April 12th, 2010
8:21 am
Great crowd at G Day, and I have to say to you, MB, that this is the best article I’ve read in awhile. And, of course, I’d be remiss without mentioning: 30-24, 8 of 9.
HBTD
Herschel Talker
April 12th, 2010
8:22 am
MB – nice read. Well done.
BugKiller – I agree with you. Well said. Let’s get some perspective, but at least Mett is looking like a player.
AthDog
April 12th, 2010
8:23 am
Also, MB, my theory is that the new defense will take a game or three to really gel. New scheme is totally unlike any we’ve played, and the guys playing it are not ideally suited to it, especially along the D line. They’ll do fine, and I believe we’ll end up much better on D this year. I just think it’s going to take a few games.
SOUTHGADAWG88
April 12th, 2010
8:25 am
A spring game don’t mean much look at Logan Gray last year.Everybody was talking about how good he looked then the real season came.
Dixie Clear
April 12th, 2010
8:29 am
the arrest totals will continue to rise!!…..jail visits??
Dawg Master
April 12th, 2010
8:31 am
With Grantham in charge and his 3-4 D, look for the Dawgs to dominate the SEC on the D side of the ball. They are loaded with talent and now have the best defensive coach in the league. Dawgs win the SEC East—bet the house!
SOUTHGADAWG88
April 12th, 2010
8:34 am
The defense has a new attitude and all but I am concerned about the run defense.
boohoo
April 12th, 2010
8:43 am
More hopes and dreams for all you bandwagon dumb b@#$%^ds only too have yet another dissapointing season, How do you sell a kid on uga when they have done nothing since the early 80s. Still love the latest on prohibiting tailgating in certain areas because you cant clean up after yousself. Thx uga and its fair weathered/bandwagon fans for the entertainment.
Tailback U
April 12th, 2010
8:55 am
Great article Mark, I just wish after watching Met play saturday
the competetion for the job was as open as it would have been
if Met had not screwed up. The kid was impressive. Do you think
the difference in pressure and expectation between Murray and Met
played a big part in how they performed ? Met looked loose and
I got a sense that Murray was perhaps feeling the pressure more
of the big moment. Met of course had to no reason to feel as
much pressure since a bad performance likely only solidified third
string for himself.
Bradley G
April 12th, 2010
8:59 am
Yes, Z-Mett only played against the 2nd-string D. But, can anyone name anyone on the 2nd-string OL? He was under pressure most of the time he was in the game, and he stepped up in the pocket and made some nice throws. I’m not saying he should be annointed the starter in game 3, but don’t totally discount his performance Saturday either.
RAMBLE ON!!!
April 12th, 2010
9:00 am
haha, good one Mark.
Back to Cell Block #3
FBR
April 12th, 2010
9:06 am
Good article, but you left out the best example of all —- Thomas Davis.
JB
April 12th, 2010
9:09 am
Aaron is still the guy…..Youtube this kid in H.S and watch….He also gives us a real new dimension with his legs and instincts to make things happen, and has a lot better arm than Cox. He’s a winner.
Herschel Talker
April 12th, 2010
9:10 am
RAMBLE ON!!! –
How about a nice, warm glass of 30-24?
What school simply has 0 arrests??
April 12th, 2010
9:14 am
What school goes through an entire year w.o. one arrest? Kids leave, they quit, they are injured and do not heal up as fast, so they bolt or do stupid things and they get arrested from time to time. Today’s kids ……….reflect today’s society. Most of the kids today have some sort of attitude. My kids are very successful, now in their late 20s but at 18, they had some attitude and it came from being in nice Alpharetta digs.
Vandy, sadly lost a kid a couple of months ago in some sort of shotting for goodness sakes. See? No school is immune. Tech always has players getting arrested and that has been going on since the mid 90s with the three linemen that worked over that little bitty girl on N Avenue. She was all they could handle, I might add.
The bloggers here that suggest UGA’s kids are unique with their troubled past are jealous of UGA and ALL that goes with it. UGA boasts a gorgeous campus, traditions both sports and academic and social, pride, vast $$$$ support and a brand name that is second to one. Plenty of NCs are in the trophy cases. Plenty of our finest footballers go on to the NFL glories and become legends there.
UGA is the ONLY school to win 8 or more for 13 years in a row and this season we likely will add another 10. CMR is one fine coach and a finer man. He has assembled a quality group of new coaches and the sky is the limit for UGA in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Gooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs. Sic em! Woof, woof, woof.
mark
April 12th, 2010
9:17 am
BOOHOO and Ramble on – Are you really so hard up for entertainment tat you have to get on a UGA blog in an attempt to put down a football program that has OWNED this state for years? I know things are back at Tech, but I guess it is worse than I think. Maybe if you take some of that money you use to pay the one-and-done basketball payers and use it in the football recruiting process you can build a better team. Wait, better yet, maybe you can build a tickle pile octagon, or ring of tickle death!!! Oooohhh, the possibilities!
Paddy
April 12th, 2010
9:25 am
Jimbo….you want to try that post again. What language was that?