Dogs’ Lakatos ranked best DB coach hire — ahead of Oklahoma’s Martinez

Mark Richt’s new hires continue to draw applause.

Tom Dienhart, senior college football writer for Rivals.com, lists what he considers the nation’s best position-coach hires of this off-season.

SCOTTLAKATOS250_215UGA

Scott Lakatos

He ranks Georgia’s Scott Lakatos as the best hire among defensive-backs coaches, calling the former Connecticut assistant “an adept teacher and well-respected tactician.”

A familiar name gets an honorable mention in Dienhart’s best-defensive-backs-coach-hire category.  None other than Willie Martinez, Oklahoma’s new DB coach.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s Warren Belin gets an honorable mention as best new hire among linebackers coaches –- behind N.C. State’s hire of Jon Tenuta.

(If you’re wondering, defensive coordinators who double as position coaches weren’t considered. So no mention of Georgia’s other linebackers coach, DC Todd Grantham.)

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109 comments Add your comment

dawg85

February 18th, 2010
8:41 am

Golly. I was really excited about next year with the new coaching hires and talent we have coming back next year but after BuLLdawgs stellar analysis I’m now convinced that Georgia will go 0-12 and that Mark Richt will get fired after we get pummeled by Colorado. Gosh I’m not sure Georgia even deserves to be on the field with those other teams.

dawg85

February 18th, 2010
8:43 am

Like I’ve said before fix the D and a lot of problems go away. CMR is well on his way to fixing the defense.

Cherokee

February 18th, 2010
8:43 am

BuLLdawg is upset that saint simons isn’t posting anymore he misses his buddy……….

jb's house

February 18th, 2010
8:46 am

Grantham will face 4 top scoring offenses in 2010:
#1 Arkansas– 35 points a game
#2 Fla 34 points a game
#3 Ga Tech 33 points a game
#4 Auburn 31 points a game

The good news, none of them have a great defensive staff. So Georgia can outscore these 4 if needed like we did last year against Ark, Ga Tech & Auburn.

Florida, without Strong, will be much worse in 2010.

BuLL***t

February 18th, 2010
8:49 am

BuLLdawg’s posts are pretty funny. You just have to put on hip waders and grab a shovel to get through them.

Bill Belichick

February 18th, 2010
9:01 am

BulllDawg,

The more I think about responding……never mind….

1eyedJack

February 18th, 2010
9:07 am

Hey BuLLdawg, try not to breathe so often…you’re wasting oxygen.

Yellow Fuzz, ya’ll’s 3 point win in ‘08 constituted “stomping a mudhole” in UGA, so using that logic a 30-24 victory should at least qualify as a “beatdown”.

1eyedJack

February 18th, 2010
9:09 am

By the way, have you geniuses “engineered” a solution to that big mudhole Caleb and Washaun stomped in the middle of Grant’s Tomb?

Sick of It

February 18th, 2010
9:34 am

I think the little skirt-clutcher meant Coach November…

CatsFly

February 18th, 2010
9:36 am

Was Fox a good hire for BB? 11-13 overall looks pretty bad to me. I think their SEC record is even more lopsided. But I’m sure UGa fans can find “the best” of something in this record.

FSU

February 18th, 2010
9:44 am

Will some explain what is so great about the new DC Grantham, other than the fact
his name isn’t Willie? He is just a NFL def. line coach and can’t work miricles without great players. GA doesn’t have alot of great players coming back from a sorry def. last year. The 2 best def. tackles graduated and Richt’s 2010 class doesn’t have many def. studs.

jb's house

February 18th, 2010
9:51 am

Grantham? Coach Saban tried to hire Grantham as his defense coach. Will Muschamp, Bud Foster & Kirby Smart recommended Grantham.

That’s all I need to know about Grantham.

Defense Wins Championships

February 18th, 2010
9:55 am

Coach Grantham has been training the Alabama defense for Coach Saban during the off-season for a few years. So if you want to know what his defense looks like, watch some video of Alabama’s defense.

Good to know Georgia hired the guy that trains Saban’s defense.

atl-xmen

February 18th, 2010
10:09 am

“bulldawg the yellow jacket” should be bulldawgs new handle..haha..his stats are meaningless. he has yet to put coach richt won loss record out there against the other teams coaches he keeps mentioning . the fact is bulldawg/jacket man is that uga is better and i mean way better than your tech team and uga is also a top5-7 team in college football during the richt era and could jump to 1 with a national title or 2 in the next 4 or 5 years. you are a joke, just like your jackets

atl-xmen

February 18th, 2010
10:20 am

fsu..uga has about 3 to 4 studs coming in as uga always has good def linemen. they will be a young group but the talent is there.

atl-xmen

February 18th, 2010
10:23 am

fsu..how do you know they are not great? give them a chance to prove it first? uga has about 3 or 4 studs that could step up this year. wait and see

Whooooooooooaaaa!!

February 18th, 2010
10:30 am

We got an FSU fan on here making fun of OUR defense and OUR talent?!?! You gotta be kidding? Taken a good look at your program lately dude? I like the 4th quarter come from behind victory over Jacksonville Freakin State last season, or how about the lost to South Florida? You got NO right to make fun of our team dude.

Gatorbait 17-3

February 18th, 2010
10:47 am

I think FSU is right, FSU will be a much tougher game for the Gators than the dawgs in Jax.. I guess FSU was comparing our defensive lineman just signed
to yours, please don’t even think it was close. Our defensive class is the best
in recent memory.

“Defense Wins Championships” I agree with you too.
That’s why the Gators Def. has been in the top 5 the past several years in every
category. Grantham has a long way to go from to take your def. from 118 in the country to even the top 10.

Gatorbait 17-3

February 18th, 2010
10:52 am

More bad news, the Gators are off the week before the Ga. game, I know how you folks like
those weeks off before big games. Let’s see how you like it when the shoe is on the other foot. Kinda of reminds me how you whine when Tenn offers a package deal to Rogers, but are all for it to keep Ogletree.

robby

February 18th, 2010
10:58 am

i couldnt be more happy and excited about these coaching hires…despite the in the profit motivated in the minute judgments by the media on georgias failures as cmr went through the process…i really cant imagine a more solid and attractive defensive staff…

if hs ballers want a first class education plus a chance to win now and the tutoring required to play at the next level…georgia will match any school in america…all in the most georgeous setting and best college town in america…

who wouldnt want to win for ole Uh-guh?

Bulldog59

February 18th, 2010
11:33 am

CatsFly, the old saying is “you can’t make chicken salad out of chicken sh**” and that’s exactly what Coach Fox inherited. A team devoid of talent and confidence. He’s starting from Ground Zero and is doing a fabulous job! He’s engineered some great wins this year (Illinois, GT, Tennessee,SC, and Vandy.) Imagine what he’ll do when he actually gets some depth in the lineup!

Defense Wins Championships

February 18th, 2010
11:37 am

You Gator fans must not have noticed something very important:

Your best 2 defensive coaches quit working for Urban Meyer and now work for someone else.

Therefor, how you’ve done in the past, no longer predicts how you’ll do in the future.

DawginLex

February 18th, 2010
11:42 am

I’m not stupid enough to guarantee a UGA victory in Jacksonville in 2010. We have blown it way too many times when we shoud have won like 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006.

However, I work with a gator and he admits that the loss of charlie Strong is huge for Florida. Not so much the x’s and o’s but from a recruiting and motivation standpoint. As UGA has proven with Martinez, a talented defense with no emotion and no ability to motivate and make in game adjustments equals a disaster.

I’m excited about Grantham and his staff and his attitude. Now it has to filter down to the kids.

[...] a different note, click here to read about a new Richt hire, Scott Lakatos, being ranked as the nation’s best defensive [...]

Hey Gatorbait 17-3

February 18th, 2010
12:13 pm

The only “bad news” is they didn’t teach typing at Saint Edna’s All-Girl Catholic School of Her Magnificent Grace…

Or you
wouldn’t
be typing your sentences like
this
you retarded Gator fan. Or maybe your just 12
years old.

Florida Devastated By Losses...

February 18th, 2010
12:37 pm

Florida Gators

Lost 13 Starters
(5 on offense, 7 on defense, 1 on Special Teams)
Lost 5 Underclassmen
(Including CB, DE, & Safety)

Lost 5 Coaches
Including Head Defensive Coach Strong & Recruiting Coach Gonzales)

AceDawg

February 18th, 2010
12:45 pm

So long as we have a couple guys talented enough to get a pass rush, I have a feeling Grantham will have guys hitting hard and playing much better this year. The defensive style of Martinez was failing so greatly, we don’t need to have more talent on defense this season than last to be significantly better.

I really hope Richard Samuels can be a beast on defense. He’s definitely fast, and what didn’t work as a tailback may be great as an LB.

Defense Wins Championships

February 18th, 2010
1:10 pm

Steve

February 18th, 2010
1:25 pm

I don’t know which I should read War And Peace or BuLLdawgs post.
I guess War and Peace because of time factor.

UGA Offesne On The Rise...

February 18th, 2010
1:25 pm

UGA finished the last 3 games of the season (not including Bowl):

#1 in SEC East in Scoring
#1 in SEC East in Rushing Yards (by a mile)
#1 in SEC East in Time of Possession

Phone Check Homey

February 18th, 2010
2:12 pm

Al Groh voted best coaching hire by Hoveround.com

Defense Wins Championships

February 18th, 2010
2:19 pm

Todd Grantham voted best defensive head coach hire by Saban, Muschamp, Foster and Smart.

Phone Check Homey

February 18th, 2010
2:27 pm

Al Groh voted best DC hire by Moses, Abraham, and Methuselah

Bama Defense Devastating Losses...

February 18th, 2010
2:36 pm

Bama lost 9 of the 11 defensive starters in 2009:
3 DL’s
3 LB’s
3 DB’s

Dawg Master

February 18th, 2010
3:41 pm

With all these top coaches, UGA should easily win the SEC east next year. Florida’s in disarray and lost most of their top talent. Tennessee? Get real–UGA beats them by 24. It will be the Dawgs against bama for the SEC title—mark it down! UGA is back!!!!!

ugaaccountant

February 18th, 2010
3:43 pm

“Steve
I don’t know which I should read War And Peace or BuLLdawgs post.
I guess War and Peace because of time factor.”

I wonder if one day the history books will talk about this era as the age of the blogs.

Or perhaps excerpts from BullDawgs post’s will be useful as subject matter for doctoral level studies in the English Literature department.

ugaaccountant

February 18th, 2010
3:52 pm

FSU
“Will some explain what is so great about the new DC Grantham”
Saban tried to hire Grantham before he turned to Smart. Tells me alot about him.

“other than the fact his name isn’t Willie?”
Addition by subtraction. Willie got nothing out of this team that has multiple NFL draftees just this year.

“He is just a NFL def. line coach”
He’s held a variety of college and NFL jobs, including NFL DC where he was reasonably successful without much talent. He lost that job due to managerial turnover not his individual success, because he was an undeniable success.

“and can’t work miricles without great players. GA doesn’t have alot of great players coming back”
That’s where you are wrong. Our freshmen and sophmores on defense were quite good last year and were extremely strong recruits.

“from a sorry def. last year.”
Yeah, could have been better. Hence why Martinez is gone.

“The 2 best def. tackles graduated”
3, but fortunately we have depth and are switching systems anyway to one where different types of DT’s are needed.

“and Richt’s 2010 class doesn’t have many def. studs.”
Look at the class again. It is ****ing loaded. We have 2 safeties/OLB that could start from day 1, plus 3 DL that are among the top handfull overall prospects in our state. Plus some more for depth. Our class may have been small, but player for player it is among the best in the country. Look at the rankings again for the players we’re actually relying on in the near future and you’ll realize it.

jackhammer

February 18th, 2010
4:05 pm

Anybody seen Louie out there? I’m begining to think Louie can’t grab his own caboost with both hands. As for the puppies, I have to admit it looks good. They’re gettin Stardavent(sp)back and they have 7-8 reall good OLs. You throw in the two running backs and Murray won’t have to throw very much. Good be a good year for the pups.

ugaaccountant

February 18th, 2010
4:51 pm

Jackhammer – ah Sturdivant, that’s a name I’d forgotten. Can’t hurt to have someone back that was once viewed as an All-American candidate.

oledawg

February 18th, 2010
5:32 pm

Haven’t any of you gotten it yet? BuLLdawg ain’t no Bulldog! He’s in training and that’s why he pees all over Dawg blogs. And he doesn’t raise his leg.

jb's house

February 18th, 2010
6:07 pm

Richt got FSU to 5 National Championships as Offensive Coordinator.

We’ll need the Offesne to carry Georgia for these 4 games because each opponent scores over 30 points a game (luckily–all have weak defensive staffs):
Arkansas, Fla, Ga Tech, Auburn

Grantham’s D can handle the rest of the schedule easily.

Should be a National Championship run for Georgia with this schedule.

Gatorbait 17-3

February 18th, 2010
6:55 pm

jb’s house

Sorry jb, but you don’t play for NC’s with 7-5 records——yes I know the truth hurts.

Gatorbait 17-3

February 18th, 2010
6:56 pm

Do you really think your new DC can take that sorry defense from 118th in the country
to the NC, I don’t think Soooooooooooooo.

jb's house

February 18th, 2010
7:53 pm

Saban, Smart, Foster, Muschamp think Grantham is the guy to get it done.

I’ll go with their opinion instead of yours.

jb's house

February 18th, 2010
9:09 pm

UGA was ranked #48 in 2009 in defense, not #118, you were only off by oh….

70 teams….too funny.

Gators Ranked #93 in Red Zone Scoring

February 18th, 2010
9:13 pm

Don’t see Gators improving 88 spots in 1 year.

No National championship for the Gators in 2010. Too far to go.

Gators Ranked #90 in Red Zone Defense

February 18th, 2010
9:19 pm

Dopn’t see Gators jumping 85 spots in one year here either. Just too far to go. No National Champs for Gators in 2010. One of the worst teams in red zone scoring on offense AND defense.

jb's house

February 18th, 2010
10:07 pm

Grantham can absolutely turn it around in 1 year, he’s already done it for the Colts and Browns.

Colts went from 3-13 to 13-3 in 1 year.

So, yes, it will be done by Grantham in 1 year, no doubt about it.

Hiram Dawg

February 18th, 2010
10:10 pm

I doubt ranking the assistant coaching hires accomplishes much, other than wasting life’s limited time. But all indications are that Lakatos is a fine coach. I’m glad Dawgs searched to find a qualified candidate – that goes for Grantham and Belin too. Would have been much more concerned if they hired another inexperienced homey (Bobo, McClendon) or one of Richt’s old buddies (Martinez, Van Halinger). Hiring people who are actually qualified for a job usually produces results.

Lakotas Great Hire

February 18th, 2010
10:12 pm

What will more likely happen is UGA will score 7 more points than 2009 on offense, and give up 7 less points on defense.

That’s a 14 point swing.

2 ways to do it, offense 7+ and defense 7-, or just defense 14-.

Defense has been so bad, at 28 points a game, that will be easy to improve by 7-14.

Offense is bringing back 10 starters, should improve by 5-8 points.