New LB coach ‘looking forward to’ competing ‘for SEC and national championships’
Warren Belin
The Georgia football team’s defensive coaching staff is whole again.
The final opening on the staff was filled this afternoon, when UGA coach Mark Richt hired Warren Belin from Vanderbilt as a linebackers coach.
The addition of Belin, following last month’s hires of Todd Grantham from the Dallas Cowboys as defensive coordinator and Scott Lakatos from Connecticut as defensive-backs coach, completed the makeover of a defensive staff that was decimated by Richt’s Dec. 2 firing of three assistants.
Belin is a 20-year coaching veteran who spent the past eight seasons as Vanderbilt’s linebackers coach. He also was Vandy’s recruiting coordinator the past two years and special-teams coordinator in 2006-07.
“I’m looking forward to the next step in my career with Coach Richt and the opportunity to compete for SEC and national championships,” Belin said in a statement late this afternoon.
A former Wake Forest football player (1987-90), Belin coached at SMU, William & Mary, Cornell and East Tennessee State before going to Vanderbilt, where his work drew Richt’s attention.
“Warren has had some of the best linebackers and tacklers in the league for years,” Richt said in a statement.
Richt added that when he and Grantham interviewed Belin, “we were very impressed with his knowledge of the game, schemes and fundamentals. He’s going to be a perfect mentor for our players as well.”
Belin will share the linebacker-coaching duties with Grantham, who plans to convert Georgia’s defensive alignment from a 4-3 to a 3-4, meaning three linemen and four linebackers rather than vice versa.
Grantham said last month that he will coach either the inside or outside linebackers with the final hire –- Belin -– coaching the other. Georgia didn’t announce their specific assignments today.
The linebacker position added a player earlier this week when Richt confirmed that Richard Samuel will move there in spring practice. Samuel was Georgia’s starting taiback at the start of last season but had fallen well behind Caleb King and Washaun Ealey at the position by season’s end.
Grantham, Lakatos and Belin join the only holdover on Georgia’s defensive staff, Rodney Garner, who will coach the linemen. Garner also is the recruiting coordinator.
“I look forward to working with Coach Grantham, Coach Garner and Coach Lakatos in installing the new defensive package,” Belin said. “My wife and family are excited about the opportunity to become part of the Athens community, Bulldog Nation and the great tradition at UGA.”
Belin and his wife, Yolanda, have three daughters: 7-year-old Camryn and 4-year-old twins Morgan and MacKenzi.
Please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
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503 comments Add your comment
Reptillicide
February 6th, 2010
12:53 am
Solid, solid hire. Very pleased with this. Anyone who watches SEC football has remarked at one point or another how great Vandy’s linebackers are, despite being dealt 2 star athletes to work with. If there’s one thing aside from the secondary play that I was disappointed with in our defense in the past, it’s been the seemingly underachieving play of our linebackers. I expect that will change with Belin, and I shudder to think what he can do with 4 and 5 star athletes.
He should be able to recruit very well too, he’s already plugged in to the Atlanta area.
chemdawg
February 6th, 2010
1:00 am
Vandy’s had a better defense than Georgia the past two seasons. So, either: (1) they’ve done more than georgia with less ability and therefore coached up lesser players or, (2) Vandy is good at scouting talent compared to Georgia (and the recruiting services)… Since Belin was the recruiting coordinator and a defensive coach, either scenario means Belin was doing his job well.
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
1:02 am
Hey FL DAWG…..Help me out here a minute…It is a rainy, nasty night up here in north Georgia. Whats the weather like down there? sea-breeze nice? sunny and 70 ? Dadgum cabin fever up here, but I will be down in the Keys in a couple weeks for some much needed fishing, and bikini watching………..But back to reality, I agree completely, I have a very good feeling about this D staff, and liked what I heard from CMR Wed. indicating he plans to get back to ‘hands on’ with the QBs and O play calling. I enjoy your posts, you sound like a damn good DOG.Keep up the good work …and GO DOGS!!! GATA
LGarner4UGA
February 6th, 2010
1:02 am
This seems to be a great staff for UGA. 3-4 Defense should work well, too. I already can’t wait for Fall. Who do y’all think will grab the QB spot, Aaron Murray or Zack Mettenburger. I’ve heard Murray has a good chance, but I’ve never seen either of them play.
charleston dawg
February 6th, 2010
1:11 am
I am happy with the recruiting class. Roby was too small, DaRick got paid. We have a lot of weapons for the 3-4 coming in. These guys will have an easy time coaching up the talent we have. Look what Conn. did to S. Carolina in the bowl game. These guys will get it done. I already like hearing bring Anderson 328lbs over to the d to anchor the middle. We will create madness on all these teams with new QB’s. We will be a whole lot better. Mark my words: Dawgs will make it to the SEC championship within the next two years.
Brian
February 6th, 2010
1:11 am
Lgarner, I like Murray. He’s a dual-threat, and put up great numbers in the talented state of Florida.
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
1:12 am
Reptillicide….How is Belin plugged into the Atlanta area ? Just wondered if you had read something I havent, Im sure his recruting at Vandy brought him down here but was there any other connection ?…Thanks, Regards, RED
JedBurlwood
February 6th, 2010
1:21 am
This looks like a really good hire. IMHO, we’re 3 for 3 in the off-season. I look forward to spring ball, summer practice and next year’s season. I cannot wait to see Richard Samuel backing that line. It only took 2 years for us to figure out that one of the biggest hitters in the history of Georgia high school football who was recruited by most schools as a linebacker should, er … uh … maybe … play linebacker. Hell, Willie should have been fired for not standing up to Richt on that issue 2 years ago. Speaking of Willie, why didn’t 5 cent Robey drag his 5′ nickel inch butt out to Norman to play for his beloved mentor? Seriously, good luck to both of them. Personally, I’m glad we’ve decided to play football instead of track&field. I am fired up about the new hires and our “lack of depth” at receiver. I do not think that our problems have ever been the result of too few skill players. Go DAWGS!!!!!!!
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
1:24 am
L Garner….Everyone seems to think it will be Murray, however CMR didnt bring Mettinberger to sit on the bench. I think you will see a very interesting QB competition this spring. Dont know if you caught it but CMR said Wed in his interview with 680 that he plans to get back involved with coaching up the QBs and O like he did when he first got to UGA. I think all the pieces are in place for a very interesting Spring, Summer, And 2010 season. GO DOGS GATA……Regards RED
STFUAlready!
February 6th, 2010
1:34 am
I would rather have a 2 star that wants to be at UGA than a 5 star that wants the most attention. Quit your bitchin about the Dawgs. You are either in or friggin out! I bet half of you idiots didn’t even play B-Team Ball in Jr High!
LGarner4UGA
February 6th, 2010
1:35 am
I figured we’d see both of them rotating all year anyway. I know Mettenberger is like a Ben Roethlesberger player, tall and heavy with a strong arm. Weird how they are both “berger’s”. He had decent stats that i saw in high school, just wasn’t fortunate to play for a good team with the athletes to help him shine. However, Murray threw for over 2000 yards in high school. That’s impressive. Right now, though, I dunno if I’m more excited to see what the QB’s can do with our high powered offense or what this new Defensive scheme is gonna do. I noticed they speak very highly of Richard Samuel as a linebacker. They say he has potential to be all-SEC and possibly even all-american
D-Set now the O
February 6th, 2010
1:36 am
Looks like CMR has the D pretty much set up to take a step forward. I would hope that Do-Do er… BoBo spits his dip out and goes to friggin work to make sure the O keeps up.
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
1:37 am
Charleston dawg……Did you read or hear they were planniing to put Anderson on the D line? Sounds ok to me, but I remember reading that Kwamee Gathers had been considered the MVP for the red shirt/ scout team on the D side of the ball. If I am not mistaken ol Kwamee is a good 330lb and 6ft 6in sounds like a pretty good NT to me as well. Frankly I think we should be loaded at D line….And I love it ! GO DOGS !! GATA. Regards, RED
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
1:49 am
L Garner….its all good my friend ! I do think it should be pretty interesting to see Samuel at the LB position, I remember when we were recruting him, his coaches reported that on numerous occations as a Senior in HS, game officials asked his coaches to get him to ease up on his hits ! And fast ! dude was the fastest guy on the team in 2008. Should be fun.
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
1:58 am
D Set……IMHO Coach Bobo got the keys to the O a little early. Hence…CMR comments on 680 Wed that he intended to get back to coaching up QBs and O like he did when he first got here, good move, if you ask me. I do believe coach Bobo is a very bright guy, and popular with the players ,but CMR stepping back in could only help Bobo, and the O……Regards, RED
Da'Richt
February 6th, 2010
2:01 am
Will hiring a new coach in a failed, undedicated athtletic dept with poor coaches such as Bobo, Lilly and Garner really help?
Heck no.
Parential losers in the SEC.. Can you say UGA!!!!
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
2:04 am
The QBs rotating for the first few games, mabe, but I think after game three or four you will see one or the other take the keyes to the car, just my opinion.
JedBurlwood
February 6th, 2010
2:07 am
Red, I couldn’t agree with you more. Samuel will be a beast at linebacker. I am not one to question CMR and staff as they forgot more this week than I’ll never know but I never understood the Samuel at tailback thing. You are correct about the “hitting too hard” incident. It is a fact. He was asked by the officials to lay-off. The good news is that he’s smart too. He should be up to speed at the position by opening kickoff. I’m also happy that Kwamee was able to enroll last summer. He’s got to practice and, more importantly, get his academics squared away. I hope he plays nose-tackle instead of offense but, either way, he’s supposed to be a freak. (even by Geathers standards) Good things!
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
2:10 am
Da Richt……Lilly is gone my friend….and didnt you guys up at UT try to hire Garner away from us in 08 ? Give it a break pal , youll be ok
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
2:21 am
Jed B….. the only logic I could see behind putting Samuel at RB was the fact that King was hurt and just had a hard time getting it together, and nobody seemed to realize how good Waushaun Ealey was going to be, does seem like a waste, but the upside is Samuel will have 2 more YRs reeking Havook on the other guys O..should be alot of fun watching..ya think ?..Regards, RED
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
2:35 am
Jed B ….I might be wrong, but I am pretty sure coach Garner and the grad assistants had Kwamee on the D side most all of last year on the scout team. From what I read he was about the best thing they had on scout team D. And you are right ,Dude is a flat-out monster. Mt. Cody who? I believe he will make Uncle ‘JUMPY’ proud. ya think ?
JedBurlwood
February 6th, 2010
2:50 am
Red,
You are dead on. As I said, I am always happy to defer to Richt and crew for football decisions and I am excited about the next 2 years with Samuel at lb. As for Kwamee, I always thought he was a d-lineman but I read an article recently(pre-Grantham) in which Garner said they may move him to offense. As long as he’s on our side, it’s good but I see him on defense and you’re right, I’ll bet and hope that he makes Jumpy proud. I suspect he’ll make us proud too.
RED DOG 77
February 6th, 2010
3:05 am
Jed B….Yer Dern Tootin My friend…….Goodnight to you and all BULLDOG NATION……GO DOGS !!! GATA
JedBurlwood
February 6th, 2010
3:30 am
G-night Red. Nice talking to you. Go Dawg!!! GATA!!!
rambo 18
February 6th, 2010
4:56 am
Mark richt name user…don’t speak, ever. You’re a moron. 33 season ending injuries in the past two seasons would wipe out anyone’s depth. And, not for nothing, I’ve never heard the man offer an unprevoked excuse. Go back to your soap operas.
MESSENGER
February 6th, 2010
5:13 am
What about the Offense ?
Leave Vandy Alone
February 6th, 2010
6:13 am
I keep hearing about Bobo, but come on guys look at how many points we are averaging. The man is doing something right.
MESSENGER
February 6th, 2010
7:06 am
Let me get this straight please, obviously I must be fuzzy on this.
LOST to LSU
LOST to Florida
LOST to Tennessee
LOST to Kentucky
http://www.secsports.com/sport_stats/football/confldrs.htm
2009 SEC Football
SCORING OFFENSE G TD FG XPT 2XP DXP Saf Points Avg/G
1. Arkansas 12 58 14 56 0 0 1 448 37.3
2. Florida 13 56 21 52 0 0 0 451 34.7
3. Auburn 12 50 14 49 0 1 1 395 32.9
4. Alabama 13 47 29 39 2 0 0 412 31.7
5. Tennessee 12 47 13 44 0 0 1 367 30.6
6. Ole Miss 12 46 15 42 0 0 0 363 30.2
7. Georgia 12 39 19 37 1 0 1 332 27.7
TOTAL OFFENSE G Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Avg/G
1. Florida 13 2928 2823 849 5751 6.8 51 442.4
2. Arkansas 12 1632 3640 778 5272 6.8 54 439.3
3. Auburn 12 2566 2622 842 5188 6.2 45 432.3
4. Alabama 13 2806 2573 884 5379 6.1 44 413.8
5. Ole Miss 12 2194 2673 800 4867 6.1 42 405.6
6. Tennessee 12 2038 2707 821 4745 5.8 45 395.4
7. Miss. State 12 2731 1732 821 4463 5.4 30 371.9
8. Georgia 12 1885 2457 725 4342 6.0 36 361.8
RUSHING OFFENSE G Att Yards Avg. TD Yards/G
1. Miss. State 12 555 2731 4.9 21 227.6
2. Florida 13 521 2928 5.6 26 225.2
3. Alabama 13 550 2806 5.1 27 215.8
4. Auburn 12 511 2566 5.0 21 213.8
5. Kentucky 12 509 2319 4.6 26 193.2
6. Ole Miss 12 453 2194 4.8 20 182.8
7. Tennessee 12 446 2038 4.6 18 169.8
8. Vanderbilt 12 451 1920 4.3 12 160.0
9. Georgia 12 407 1885 4.6 14 157.1
PASS OFFENSE G Comp Att Int Pct. Yards Avg. TD Avg/G
1. Arkansas 12 232 403 9 57.6 3640 9.0 31 303.3
2. South Carolina 12 228 402 9 56.7 2811 7.0 18 234.2
3. Tennessee 12 218 375 13 58.1 2707 7.2 27 225.6
4. Ole Miss 12 190 347 17 54.8 2673 7.7 22 222.8
5. Auburn 12 198 331 7 59.8 2622 7.9 24 218.5
6. Florida 13 218 328 5 66.5 2823 8.6 25 217.2
7. Georgia 12 175 318 16 55.0 2457 7.7 22 204.8
FIRST DOWNS G Rush Pass Pen Total Avg/G
1. Florida 13 150 123 13 286 22.0
2. Alabama 13 143 114 15 272 20.9
3. Tennessee 12 118 126 14 258 21.5
4. Auburn 12 131 107 10 248 20.7
5. Ole Miss 12 111 124 11 246 20.5
6. Arkansas 12 86 140 18 244 20.3
7. Kentucky 12 132 85 13 230 19.2
8. Miss. State 12 140 78 11 229 19.1
9. South Carolina 12 86 125 16 227 18.9
10. LSU 12 96 104 17 217 18.1
11. Georgia 12 87 108 14 209 17.4
3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS G Conv. Att. Pct.
1. Florida 13 81 165 49.1
2. Auburn 12 67 164 40.9
3. Alabama 13 74 182 40.7
4. Ole Miss 12 64 158 40.5
5. Tennessee 12 66 165 40.0
6. LSU 12 58 148 39.2
7. Kentucky 12 69 177 39.0
8. Georgia 12 59 152 38.8
PENALTIES G No. Yards Avg/G
1. Ole Miss 12 62 482 40.2
2. Kentucky 12 55 487 40.6
3. Tennessee 12 59 488 40.7
4. Alabama 13 64 560 43.1
5. LSU 12 76 569 47.4
6. Miss. State 12 67 590 49.2
7. Florida 13 83 645 49.6
8. Vanderbilt 12 75 600 50.0
9. Arkansas 12 83 654 54.5
South Carolina 12 76 654 54.5
11. Auburn 12 85 707 58.9
12. Georgia 12 99 839 69.9
TIME OF POSSESSION G Poss. Time Avg/G
1. Alabama 13 435:41 33:30
2. Miss. State 12 381:18 31:46
3. South Carolina 12 370:50 30:54
4. Tennessee 12 369:21 30:46
5. Florida 13 398:06 30:37
6. Kentucky 12 359:57 29:59
7. Ole Miss 12 353:52 29:29
8. Arkansas 12 352:43 29:23
9. Georgia 12 351:01 29:15
Gained Lost
TURNOVER MARGIN G Fumb Int Total Fumb Int Total Margin Per/G
1. Alabama 13 6 20 26 6 4 10 +16 1.23
2. Arkansas 12 16 11 27 5 9 14 +13 1.08
3. LSU 12 5 13 18 4 7 11 +7 0.58
4. Florida 13 3 20 23 11 5 16 +7 0.54
5. Tennessee 12 14 9 23 6 13 19 +4 0.33
6. Kentucky 12 6 16 22 8 11 19 +3 0.25
Vanderbilt 12 7 12 19 6 10 16 +3 0.25
8. Auburn 12 7 12 19 12 7 19 +0 0.00
9. South Carolina 12 10 6 16 10 9 19 -3 -0.25
10. Miss. State 12 8 17 25 13 17 30 -5 -0.42
11. Ole Miss 12 8 9 17 9 17 26 -9 -0.75
12. Georgia 12 2 8 10 11 16 27 -17 -1.42
Yes, Mike Bobo is doing just great as an Offensive Coordinator.
David Crisp
February 6th, 2010
7:23 am
The best thing about our defensive coaches is that they know how to coach-up. Trust me, that is one of the most important traits you want in a coach. My guess is that we will have a top ten defense this year, but me thinks the offense is suspect; Bobo will be feeling the heat big-time if the offense under performs.
MESSENGER
February 6th, 2010
7:27 am
No, Mike Bobo is GONE.
Coach Richt said this time last year he wasn’t getting rid of either Mike Bobo or Willie Martinez.
He is stubborn.
He has no choice but hire some real football coaches.
Either that, or leave.
Whatever happened to
February 6th, 2010
7:30 am
MY SOURCES INFORM ME THAT KIRBY SMART WILL BE COMING HOME TO GEORGIA BY 2PM TOMORROW, I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE IT!!!!!
MESSENGER
February 6th, 2010
7:47 am
Kirby Smart and his wife cannot help us with our woebegone offensive coaching staff, nor their results
Reality
February 6th, 2010
7:48 am
If he wants to win SEC titles, he better go coach at UF or Bama. Going to UGA is a step down from Vandy.
Louie Jr.
February 6th, 2010
7:54 am
Louie- You are my idol.Please don’t be mean to me. You calling me a “neck” not only hurts my feelings but you are also diminishing my thoughts of you. Kind of like looking in a mirror, a father and son, an apple falling close to the tree. I’m an appendage of you, Louie, so don’t be so harsh on me or yourself! Gosh…..
poopdawg
February 6th, 2010
8:13 am
Messenger no doubt Bobo has been pretty predictible. Joe Cox just didn’t handle the pressure very well last year which made Bobo even more predictable. UGA began to establish the run game last year against UF but Cox wasn’t able hit the open receiver, poor decision making. Running the ball effectively opens up the play action pass , but the timing of the pass action is critical. It seemed to me when we started running the ball it meant running every 1st and 2nd down call, very few play action passes on 1st and 2nd down. Maybe Cox’s inconsistent play made Bobo more conservative. Regardly Messenger Aaron Murray will improve our QB play, he’s smart mobile and will not be denied. Hopefully Bobo can improve his thought processes during games by having Murray pulling the trigger. The penalties ? GO DAWGS
Paddy
February 6th, 2010
8:16 am
Goldtimer……have you ever read a football coaches resume? Do the research before you pop-off.
German Shepherd Dawg
February 6th, 2010
8:25 am
West of Athens – are you a sequel to East From Eden?
German Shepherd Dawg
February 6th, 2010
8:27 am
No apologies for the literary joke, although it isn’t as funny as some comments by Goldtimer and Ga Gator.
Hey gator, I need a new belt!
GaGator
February 6th, 2010
8:35 am
I’ve got a nice belt made of Gatorbait dawg, how many can I send you.
takedowndawg
February 6th, 2010
8:42 am
gagator, is it really true that your newly hired DC/George Edwards in Jan.. has left meyers and fl to go to BUFFALO!!!!!I Maybe you should be more concerned about your own asst. coaches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dogcrap
February 6th, 2010
8:56 am
you mutt fans SUCK SO BAD!!
GaGator
February 6th, 2010
8:57 am
He was just the CO——Def. Coordinator, funny how you trashed his hire, yet he becomes
an NFL DC and Grantham has to stay at UGA. The Gators can easily promote from within and just get a LB coach——-so I’m not worried at all, and certainly about playing UGA.
Louie
February 6th, 2010
9:05 am
Well, where do I start.
Interesting radio interview I heard at 5:30 this morning from former so called doggie great champ ( chump) bailey on site at the Super Bowl.
When asked his thoughts on the recent hires involving defensive coaches at uga, he said ” We had several issues of not playing the type of defense known at ga. I don’t know if the new blood will change what we have seen the last few years or not, but something had to be done, for sure.
We can only hope the new faces will bring back the respect we expect.”
Humm…
Hope….
RESPECT….????
Wait a minute, you run this state !!!!!!!!!!
Own this state !!!!!!!!!
From one of your own……
You gotta be kidding me!!
Was letting CWM and his cronies go the move to make ???
The proof might be in the pudding, like real soon.
OH, and before I forget, has anyone heard from jackhammer ???
Check back soon, go you hairy humpers.
STILL L M F A O
joydawg
February 6th, 2010
9:07 am
gagator, volsrule: go p$#@ up a rope.
nie job
February 6th, 2010
9:08 am
This guy created some of the best linebackers in the league over the last several seasons. Did I mention he was a the recruiter and special teams coordinator. nice little package for the dogs. This guy can teach fundamentals, develop special teams and recruit? Sounds like some of UGA biggest holes over the last couple of years
takedowndawg
February 6th, 2010
9:09 am
gagator, yes he was JUST your DC. Not an important position and nothing to be concerned about for an OMNIPOTENT program like fl. No worries, no worries..!!!!!! By the way, I think that you may have me confused with someone else. I never trashed George Edwards. I thought he was a good hire. But truthfully,of the two DCs, I like Grantham better regardless of your opinion. Nick Saban certainly wanted him in Miami. Good luck, on your DC job search!
Erk Russell
February 6th, 2010
9:16 am
For all you guys trashing the fact UGA hired someone from Vandy, remember I was coaching at Vandy when Coach Dooley brought me to Athens.
PaPa Pooooooooop
February 6th, 2010
9:31 am
Enter your comments here
Vick=Dog killing Thug
February 6th, 2010
9:33 am
good to hear Samuel is now a LB Hit hard, pick up the fumble and watch him run. Gotta love it
Papadawg
February 6th, 2010
9:33 am
ALL RIGHT! New Defensive staff, good defensive recruits GO DAWGS