Grantham: Dogs can be better than Florida, Texas, Southern Cal
Athens – I’m pretty sure Georgia fans are going to love these words from Todd Grantham, the Bulldogs’ new defensive coordinator:
“Over the last 11 years [in the NFL], I have evaluated a lot of players from this state –- not only players of the University of Georgia but players that have played everywhere else, too,” Grantham said today. “And I have always believed -– and I believe to this day – that if we took the best players in the state of Georgia and within a five-hour radius of our school, if they come to the University of Georgia, then we can win the SEC championship and compete for a national title. And I think you can be better than Florida, you can be better than Texas, and you can be better than Southern Cal – if those players came to the University of Georgia. So that’s what excited me about coming here.”
Grantham’s hiring a week ago has been well received by Georgia fans, who probably will like it even more after hearing the intense new guy in town talk about being better than Florida, Texas and USC. . . .
A few other things from today’s session with Grantham:
– Turning down Nick Saban: Yes, Grantham confirmed, he was offered a job in 2005 as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator by Saban, the noted defensive genius. But Grantham, who previously worked for Saban at Michigan State, turned down the Dolphins’ job to take the defensive-coordinator position with the Cleveland Browns instead. “Basically it got down to a geographical decision, really,” he explained, noting that Cleveland is closer than Miami to his Virginia hometown.
– Evaluating his new players: Grantham said the first step is to study film on them. “Right now what I’ve done is with the two graduate assistants, who I can tell you do a great job; these guys are unbelievable. I’ve had those guys [Todd Hartley and Mitch Doolittle, who famously filled in as coaches when the staff was short-handed for the bowl game] pull off about 25 or 30 plays of each [player]. That kind of gives you a feel for the player. So we’ll look at those and get a feel for each guy.” Soon Grantham will get to know the players in the off-season program, and then he’ll have them on the field in spring practice. “It’s a process that will be ongoing all the way up until next [season], but you got to start somewhere,” he said. “And we’re going to start with the evaluation of what they have done so far.”
– NFL vs. college: Grantham, whose first two coaching jobs were at Virginia Tech and Michigan State, spent the past 11 years in the NFL. He said he went there initially to enhance his future as a college coach. “I always had an aspiration to coach in pro football, and the reason is that it is the graduate school of coaching. It’s the best players, it’s the best systems, and it is the best coaches to a point -– not that there aren’t great coaches in college. But you do get challenged up there. So I looked forward to that challenge. But, really, I wanted to do that to enhance my career in college. I have always had aspirations of being a coordinator and a head coach one day, and I felt like, what better [than the NFL] on your resume when you to into a home [recruiting]? . . . That way when I walk into a home, my resume could speak for where I could help the kid go. And that’s really one of the reasons I went to pro football. Over the past 11 years, there have been some opportunities to come back to college, but the timing was never right and I never felt as strongly as I did about this job.”
Also: Grantham says Rodney Garner will remain the Dogs’ D-line coach.
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323 comments Add your comment
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:29 pm
“Oh well, when ignorance gets started it knows no bounds.”
You have certainly proved that with your posts!
Go DOGS
January 22nd, 2010
8:30 pm
1eyedJack = Louie?
January 22nd, 2010
8:21 pm
Exactly what “truth” am I not handling, stupid arse?
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:31 pm
Good point GaGator. We have know one to blame for 2007 but us. Just goes to show you how tough SEC east is. Don’t like the Gators at all. But I tip my hat to ya’ll. You have our number right now. But in fairness, ESPN does not throw alot of roses our way, LOL
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:32 pm
Hey Jaybird, don’t argue with me, I’m an idiot,….at least my doppleganger is…just ignore me.
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:32 pm
They were equally good hires for the specific schools. Groh was the only available with ACC experience and Grantham’s fire is exactly what UGA needs at this time.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:33 pm
“Hey Jaybird, don’t argue with me, I’m an idiot”
You gotta know your place in life. I’m glad you’ve found yours and admitted it. Good for you!
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:34 pm
I think maybe the pendalum has swung over to the SEC west as being the toughest. Mullin can really coach and Auburn has one of our past (Cam Newton) QB’s coming next year and he is a real beast. Of course Nutt, Saban and Miles are all good coaches.
Almost Five(5) Time the relevance 1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
Groh happy with first week — updated
12:51 pm January 22, 2010, by Doug Roberson
57 comments
____________________________________________________
Todd Grantham: ‘I understand who UGA fans want to beat’
12:31 pm January 22, 2010, by Mark Bradley
271 comments
Yeah! Come with your come…..Sissy fool!
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:35 pm
Truth still hurts a lot huh nerd? Your team is an imposter. Your “new sheriff” is shooting blanks.
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:36 pm
Jaybird from Blakely,
You’re ok and a realist. Good posting without the garbage in between. My posts have posed questions and facts. Some have answered with flames and some with reason. You’re the latter, to your credit.
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:38 pm
Did not know we were arguing. People are entitled to look at things their own way. If most people think Groh is a better DC that CTG, so be it. But CTG will be in the winning locker room more than CAG when Dawgs play Tech.
GaGator, the only time ESPN ever jumped on UGA bandwagon was 2007. But that’s okay. ESPN is not the know all, end all of college football. They just own the right’s to it.LOL
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
8:38 pm
Great posts guys; I gotta go watch Glenn Beck on O’reily
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
Poser…you’re an A$$hole…to your credit.
randdumb
January 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
1) Everytime Mark Richt has an 8 win season, he follows it up with a Natl Champ worthy type of year, see 2002 13-1 & 2007.
2001 8 wins
2002 13-1 won the SEC
2006 8 WINS
2007 11-2 finished #1 ranked
2009 8 wins
2010 11-2 or 13-1
2) Every 10 years, starting at 1980, Richt’s college, Miami, or the team he coaches, Georgia, has appeared in the National Championship.
1980 Georgia
1990 Miami
2000 Miami
2010 Georgia
3) The last 5 Natl Champonships have featured someone’s name that starts with an “M”, and has no more than 5 letters.
Miles, Mack, Meyer, Mark (2010).
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:39 pm
1eyedJack,
Thank you sir. I have enjoyed our “duel”. You are worthy opponent. God bless
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:41 pm
I’ll leave the rest to the 1eyedJacka$$ that has a bigger mouth than brain. If you took the time to review my posts you would see a little reality beyond just being a fan. Reality is a good thing, delusion and blind fandom is something else. Both Tech and UGA made good hires. UGA has a larger fan base, larger stadium, better recruits, more money, etc. but the past two years have not been stellar ones for the boys in Athens. I hope both teams have a great 2010 and are both undefeated when they meet in November. I don’t think that will be the case but wouldn’t it be fun if they did? It would be very hard for ESPN to have a bias toward the great state of Georgia wouldn’t it? Peace.
randdumb
January 22nd, 2010
8:43 pm
2010 will be the year after everything lines up.
Why?
1) Richt gets EXACTLY 90 wins
2) In 9 seasons
3) By 2009
4) Jersey #9 at Miami when he played QB
5) Mark Richt’s name has 9 letters
6) Best final poll years were 2002 & 2007, 2 + 7 = 9
1eyedJack
January 22nd, 2010
8:45 pm
Jaybird from Blakely,
The feeling is mutual. You’re a DGD!
Jaybird from Blakely
January 22nd, 2010
8:49 pm
Randumb, does all this mean we are gonna finish with 9 wins?
ga gator
January 22nd, 2010
9:01 pm
Jaybird from Blakely, My prediction is 10-3 including the bowl game.
30-24 Dawgs - WE RUN THIS STATE
January 22nd, 2010
9:21 pm
Grantham has impressed with his opening comments and attitude.
What really matters is the product on the field, looking forward to this season and making it 9 out of 10 vs. tech.
Louie
January 22nd, 2010
9:25 pm
Well, where do I start.
This topic is a JOKE. Who does Grantham thinks he’s kidding.
The mutts will NEVER and I mean NEVER get the MAJORITY of the best players within a 500 mile radius. These kids don’t want to be in raunch-town athens. Are you friggin kidding me?
These blue chip players know their pipe dream streams through Fla., Ala., and even Tenn.
GT is also grabbing MORE than ever. Ask cmr about J. Dwyer and how hard he went after him.
STILL L M F A O
Chancie
January 22nd, 2010
9:52 pm
As an innocent bystander with no dog in the fight, Ikinda agree with Louie about the better players being leary about coming to Georgia. After being projected #1 two years ago, they have no general direction or disipline. Just my perspective.
Froggy the Gremlin
January 22nd, 2010
10:04 pm
Well, now you doggies have a coordinator just as delusional as your fans. CMR is the CPH of football. Do less with more. Doggies will never amount to squat in the AFATO conference.
PAUL JOHNSON
January 22nd, 2010
10:07 pm
Oh Louie I hate to tell you but in the last 10 years we squeeked out one 3 point win over the Dawgs and all our fans believed it was the start of something good. Now after all our best players left, we are back to being bottom feeders. St. Simons disappeared and so should you. I should have stayed at GA Southern where my system could win games. I know we’ve lost 2 straight out of conference games but at least we have our ACC schedule next year.
Jeffs Mama
January 22nd, 2010
10:14 pm
Son after winning the big one this year don’t go running your suckhole. We are returning 2 defensive starters so expect us to lose to UL Monroe again and heaven forbid we don’t have to get hammered by a Ute again. We WILL NOT even win the West next year so quit setting us up for the big embarrasment we will be. And why are you even reading and commenting on Georgia stories? Getting SCARED????
Krogunner
January 22nd, 2010
10:23 pm
It’s easy to run your mouth in January. We’ll see how it plays out come October-November.
hirsutedawg
January 22nd, 2010
10:36 pm
1990 Co-Champions.
GT=Best Buy / Geek Squad Employee
January 22nd, 2010
10:48 pm
Louie
January 22nd, 2010
9:25 pm
Right on cue Louie…such a simple minded popsicle puffer!
superDawg
January 22nd, 2010
11:36 pm
This is the spark that will fire the cannon.Great things on the way for UGA football,and the SEC should take notice.
UGA is the NFL Pipeline
January 22nd, 2010
11:59 pm
Grantham is right on about Georgia being loaded with talent. The NFL agrees with Grantham. With a great year from Grantham in 2010, recruiting will go through the roof in 2011.
Georgia has 45 players in the NFL right now.
Georgia ranked higher than Florida, Tenn, Bama, or LSU
Here’s the link that shows how many players from each college team are in the NFL. Bama really low, for example.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/alumni-tracker/school/5813
Saturday Links 23Jan « Leather Helmet Blog
January 23rd, 2010
4:07 am
[...] Links 23Jan Grantham: “And I have always believed -– and I believe to this day – that if we took the best players in the state of Georgia and within a five-hour radius of our [...]
Recruiting Update 23Jan « Leather Helmet Blog
January 23rd, 2010
4:16 am
[...] Grantham: And I have always believed -– and I believe to this day – that if we took the best players in the state of Georgia and within a five-hour radius of our school, if they come to the University of Georgia, then we can win the SEC championship and compete for a national title. And I think you can be better than Florida, you can better than Texas, and you can be better than Southern Cal – if those players came to the University of Georgia. So that’s what excited me about coming here.” [...]
BuLLdawg
January 23rd, 2010
4:29 am
Do I think Todd Grantham is better than Brian VanGorder ?
Yes. Next question ?
Todd Grantham who is on campus 22 January 2010 quote : ““Right now, take the players that you have here, the players that are committed and you basically rank those players. I think it’s important that you find ways to get your best players on the field. That’s what we’re going to do over the next few months. We’re going to be evaluating the players that we have right now. We’re going to be teaching them the system. We’re going to work to find out the things that they do well and find ways to put players in position to be successful to make plays. Ultimately, you have to make plays on defense and to do that you have to have guys that are playmakers. I think you do that by getting your best players on the field. I think player evaluation is critical.”
He is NOT Redshirting 9 of the Very Best Top Football Players, and then go 8-5 without them. That strategy has not worked. Oh, it’s worked if you like looking at the won/loss record of LSU and Florida in the same timeframe Coach Richt has been here, and see that BOTH of them have been BETTER than us. It’s worked if you look at Alabama and see that they too have passed us by. That’s 4th in The SEC for UGA. It’s worked if that is what you want. What you settle for. To be 4th in your own conference, never mind that during the Coach Richt Era not only are all these SEC teams a LOT BETTER than we are, but that on the National Stage so too have all these teams been BETTER in the Coach Richt Era than we are :
Southern California
Texas
Florida
Alabama
LSU
Boise State
Oklahoma
Ohio State
All of these teams are not only FAR MORE SUCCESSFUL overall than we have strapped ourselves with in the Coach Richt Era, but every single one of them except for Boise State has WON IT ALL.
3 out of 20, that’s what we’ve done in our own Division of our own Conference, never mind the National Stage after you get out of your own Conference. Out of our own Division of our Conference we are 3 wins out of 20 games against Florida.
They have totally killed us recruiting. Truth be told they have recruited the very top football players from the state of Georgia. They always have. They own us.
They own Coach Richt at 2-7 for us.
Todd Grantham understands that we UGA fans want more than that. We want to be better than that.
He knows we are out-recruited in our own state.
He knows we have left 9 of not our best players but 9 of the best players in all of America on the Sidelines, Redshirted in a season we sorely needed them at 8-5 with horrid losses to horrid football teams like 7-6 UNRANKED both Kentucky and the vols.
And, we tried to Redshirt Washaun Ealey the Number 11 Tailback Nationally we recruited last year too. Until the 3rd quarter of the 5th game, then we ripped the Redshirt Off Washaun Ealey.
Todd Grantham will tell Coach Richt and Mike Bobo to get Washaun Ealey on the field in Game 1 last year, were he here. That he is a hard player for his players to stop.
And, he wouldn’t be looking at Richard Samuel and Caleb King as our Saviors when it is obvious to everyone you have to play favorites to put those 2 ahead of Washaun Ealey. The season before this, Richard Samuel and Caleb King proved that they don’t catch the ball well, don’t block well, do not hold on to the football well, and do not run well. Not as well as Washaun Ealey.
Todd Grantham also knows that UGA has sent our Secondary Defensive Backs to the NFL for the time when he got started in the NFL 11 years ago, and that we don’t have those players on this Defense this year, or last year or the year before.
What we once had, we haven’t had.
We lined up All-America Secondary Players in our Backfield my whole lifetime. I picture them. They are indelibly in my mind, clearly. Those players go elsewhere from our state. Now. We don’t get them.
Beat Florida. Yeah. Right.
I think we have some this coming season. I really do. In fact, I know we do. I have seen them. Not that they got to play much.
Knowshon Moreno Redshirted.
So we only get to see him 2 years.
The best Running Back we’ve had in 3 Decades.
And, we Redshirt him.
B.S.
Leading the nation in Turnovers and Penalties and Arrests/Suspensions EVERY YEAR since the very day DJ Shockley graduated with Honors in 2005. That’s 5 years ago now.
3 of the last 4 years, UGA Bulldogs have no business claiming that we are even deserving of being a Ranked Team in the Final AP Poll Top 25.
3 of the last 4 extremely disappointing seasons, because our Offense sucks.
We don’t evaluate talent well.
We don’t.
We needed Todd Grantham. I hope he stays here a long time for us before becoming a head coach elsewhere. I still do not think we have any strategy whatsoever on play calls, either. But, I am certainly aware of the fact that he ranks players and figures out how to get the best players on the field making plays.
That part I am totally clued into.
We have NOT done that.
We are going to have a very successful year for Todd Grantham. He is a smart guy. He can look at this Defense as well as anyone can. It takes just a few moments to realize that UGA did not have good players in the Secondary last year. Those guys are all gone.
We Redshirted 9 of the Best Players in the Nation.
That doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out, either.
We have a hell of a lot of Number 7 in the Nation Best Recruiting Classes, 10 in a row now according to Both Rivals and Scout.com.
We have, in short, a not solid or very capable starting 11 on Defense, we have in fact a Great Defense this coming season.
And, the 2 Best Kickers on one team in America. We just have a weak offense.
Todd Grantham came here because he considers this an opportunity in his career. He is not an UGA man. He is a football coach.
Todd Grantham is not a Coach Richt guy either. Loyalty. Give me a damn freaking break RED DOG 77.
Why did he come here ?
To teach us with 11 years NFL experience that which we have demonstrated we have no clue about.
Rank them, get them on the field, coach them to be in position to take advantage of what they do well, but mostly get them on the damn field and leave them on the bloody hell field, making plays – the playmakers. . This will catch on at UGA and it will catch on with the Recruits.
You have a 53-man roster in the NFL. You cannot have your Best Players not play. Every other team has 53 players. You get your 53 players the best 53 and you play the hell out of them.
B.S. on this Redshirt our best football players and then go out and embarrass yourself against lousy 7-6 UNRANKED Kentucky and lousy 7-6 UNRANKED vols.
Kick-Off Coverage should be Todd Grantham’s JOB ONLY.
We still have to do something about the damn offense. We cannot waste these years of Todd Grantham with the FAILED OFFENSE of Mike Bobo. He doesn’t even try to make 1st down on 3rd and 10. No effort. He has beat NO Final AP Poll Top 10 team, losing EVERY GAME. He is 5-6 vs the Final AP Poll Top 25. And, worse yet he has even LOST to FOUR (4) TEAMS UNRANKED in the Final AP Poll Top 25.
We cannot line up, call a play without a penalty, and even execute the poorly designed play the players are not coached how to execute without a Turnover Fumble or Interception, never mind the play was never designed to be a play to gain 10-yards on 3rd and 10. And, under Mike Bobo, we do THAT EXACTLY against Top 10, against Top 25 and against UNRANKED teams.
Coach Richt Era 17-19 vs Final AP Poll Top 25 plus 8 Losses to Unranked teams
That is JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH RED DOG 77. And, there is NOTHING you can say that will SHUT ME UP ON MY POINT that you are and I am NOT satisfied with :
Coach Richt Era 17-19 vs Final AP Poll Top 25 plus 8 Losses to Unranked teams
So, do NOT get all hyped up on your Kool-Aid and tell me we are WINNING ANY DAMN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP when after this season we LOSE 14 seniors and another half a dozen Juniors. Beat Florida. B.S. Now I return you to your FEEL GOOD LIARS hyping the crap out of Coach Richt’s coaches on the Offensive Side of the Ball where they have done NOTHING. DISNEYdawg RED DOG 77.
Rank them, get them on the field, coach them to be in position to take advantage of what they do well, but mostly get them on the damn field and leave them on the bloody hell field, making plays – the playmakers. . This will catch on at UGA and it will catch on with the Recruits
We continue to be out-recruited in our own state, with only 3 better at sending their high school players from their state to the NFL. In the Secondary, on both lines, and especially on offense. Oh, yeah, we are really going to beat Florida RED DOG 77, and win National Championships like Florida you tell us all RED DOG 77 while telling us we cannot talk about anything but how great we’ve been in the Coach Richt Era. You ain’t beating Florida when they take not only their best players there, but your best players here too RED DOG 77.
Win P.
January 23rd, 2010
5:25 am
Stranger things happen. Who would have thought 5yrs ago that Urban would win 2 Nationals at Fl.? Whould would have thought Saban, a not-so-hot, NFL coach would bring Al. to a National Championship in 3 yrs.? If you don’t “believe”, why should anyone else? Even Kiffin has that quality.
#2 BAMA FAN
January 23rd, 2010
5:35 am
The new defense cord. at Georgia speaks the truth. The dawgs can win a NC if it closes its borders
and cherry picks 5 star and 4 star recruits from Florida and Alabama and in the Carolina’s also. I am
preaching to the choir but the dawgs must improve the defense and stop the stupid penalty’s that will
get you beat against good teams. Bama fans get to talk crap after winning the NC and it feels GOOD!!
RTR
Win P.
January 23rd, 2010
5:35 am
Bulldawg, 4:29 post what is your point?
BuLLdawg
January 23rd, 2010
6:17 am
QUOTE by
RED DOG 77
“we ,my friends will begin winning championships like Fla has in recent years…….It is our turn now”
END QUOTE
What’s my point ?
Duh.
17 of the last 20.
BuLLdawg
January 23rd, 2010
6:29 am
Wake me up when we beat Florida.
Wake me up when we have the kind of facilities Florida has.
Wake me up when we recruit like Florida does.
Wake me up when we have the kind of coaching staff Florida always has.
Wake me up when we are 50% bigger than Florida is.
Wake me up when we win 3 National Championships since 1996 like Florida.
Wake me up when we talk our biggest rival to play only 45 minutes from our campus ?
BuLLdawg
January 23rd, 2010
6:31 am
DISNEYdawg
QUOTE by
RED DOG 77
“we ,my friends will begin winning championships like Fla has in recent years…….It is our turn now”
END QUOTE
jimmy price
January 23rd, 2010
7:01 am
is it SABAN or SATAN
BOOGIES THE MAN FROM HARTWELL GA
January 23rd, 2010
7:14 am
BuLLdawg …………..
A tekkie WHO NEEDS TO STAY IN FLA. AND GET OFF THIS PAGE . GLAD HE HAS A GA. MEDIA GUIDE TO GIVE US ALL THIS INFO HE WISHES TO REPORT.
…………….WHO CARES ?……………………. GO TO RAMBLIN ON AND FILL UP THEIR PAGE WITH YOUR CRAP.
MAKE THE POINTS SHORT AND SWEET AND STOP MAKING US SCROLL PAST YOUR COMMENTS. MUST CAUSE TYPING CRAMPS.
Louie
January 23rd, 2010
7:37 am
Well, where do I start. Like I said, doggies are fools to think you will get the cream of the crop.
Those days are long gone. CPJ will claim his share along with SEC front runners.
The scraps will slumber down to athens and , like always under achieve.
GT will bolster the Defense under CAG, CPJ will have it going on and the CELEBRATION will be OVER.
STILL L M F A O
Louie
January 23rd, 2010
7:58 am
Be back in the afternoon. Later .
JADEN
January 23rd, 2010
7:59 am
thanks louie, cant wait. what a nerd
Grantham roundup: early returns look promising. « Get The Picture
January 23rd, 2010
8:29 am
[...] it sounds like he knows what he wants to emphasize to recruits. “I always had an aspiration to coach in pro football, and the reason is that it is the graduate [...]
UGA = Under Grown A**holes
January 23rd, 2010
8:55 am
When was the last time UGA ever fulfilled their so-called potential based on their incoming class draft rank or talent on their roster? They will once again fall short in the SEC, and to be honest, no one outside the state of Georgia will give a s**t.
The UGA Football program is a Legend Only In Its Own (small) Mind!!
Gatordowneast
January 23rd, 2010
9:10 am
Grantham would also tell little children that he believes in the Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa Claus…what is he supposed to say. One thing is for damn sure…he and his family will surely enjoy living in Athens more than Cleveland. And I would add a second slam dunk…he will coach his team in front of far more fans in the SEC than he ever did in Cleveland!
jeff
January 23rd, 2010
9:25 am
I am cautiously optimistic…..seems like I have heard this before…when Coach Richt came to Athens…..the players in the state…etc etc…we can win NCs…..i would love to see it finally. we have had 9 years and never seem to get over the hump….not sure why?
MDAWG24
January 23rd, 2010
9:34 am
Man, I really like this guy. It remains to be seen if he can turn this defense around but I’m liking what I’m hearing and think he will do a fine job for dawgs.