A chat with new linebackers coach Warren Belin
(Updated)
When Georgia recently hired Warren Belin as a linebackers coach, it didn’t specify whether he would be responsible for the inside or outside linebackers in the Bulldogs’ new 3-4 defense.
Inside, Belin said Friday.
New defensive coordinator Todd Grantham will coach the outside linebackers.
“Todd and I will be working really together with the linebacker corps, [but] I’ll be focusing on . . . the inside linebackers,” Belin said. “There may be times in certain drills I may have to work with the outside linebackers as well.”
Completing what he called a “whirlwind” first full week on the job in Athens, Belin spoke with reporters on a conference call, his first media availability since being hired to complete the Bulldogs’ revamped defensive coaching staff.
Although acknowledging that inside and outside linebackers are distinct positions in the 3-4 defense in terms of skill sets, Belin said the core philosophy for both groups will be the same: “doing a great job with fundamentals and . . . playing with speed, being great tacklers and being productive players.”
“The outside linebackers, obviously, will be coming off the edge and bring[ing] a lot of pressure,” Belin added. “But we’ll also be bringing pressure with inside linebackers as well.”
Belin is a 20-year coaching veteran who was Vanderbilt’s linebackers coach the past eight seasons. He also served as the Commodores’ recruiting coordinator the past two years and special-teams coordinator in 2006-07. He said Georgia coach Mark Richt has talked with him and other assistants about “how we’ll divide up” special-teams coaching duties.
“We are currently working on some of those details and getting everything worked out, what we’re all going to bring to the table in trying to get better in our special teams area,” Belin said.
Three of Georgia’s four defensive coaches are new, with Belin, Grantham and secondary coach Scott Lakatos joining the lone holdover from last year’s defensive staff, line coach Rodney Garner.
As for how he came to be hired by Georgia, Belin said: “Coach Richt has been following my career for quite some time. . . . A couple of people recommended me to Coach Richt, and he followed through with that. After recruiting season was over, he contacted [Vanderbilt] Coach [Bobby] Johnson to ask permission. I came on the interview — had a really good interview with Coach Richt and Coach Grantham –- and I’m fortunate to have a chance to be a part of this great program.”
Since he has been on the job –- his first day was what he called the “whiteout,” the snow that hit Athens on Feb. 12 –- Belin has been busy. “I’m learning,” he said. “We’ve been meeting defensively as a staff, getting to know our defense and the package that we’re installing.
And he has started to get to know his players. “My philosophy for my players –- and I’ve sat down and told all of those guys the first day -– is: honesty No. 1, fairness No. 2, and then 100 percent effort and attitude on and off the field,” Belin said. “If you do those things and do them right every day, you have a good chance to be successful.”
On a different topic, here’s a story on the changes that will come to Stegeman Coliseum after this season.
Please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
229 comments Add your comment
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
2:21 pm
ga gator (bawless imposter) you stupid a$$ this is an AJC blog and not sure if you ever checked but its not Athens Journal Constitution. If you didnt have such an inferiority complex you wouldn’t mind people responding to UGA slams of Florida.
GATA
February 19th, 2010
2:22 pm
Enter your comments here
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:23 pm
N.GA.DAWG, lets see; you are predicting that you will not lose but 1 or maybe 2 but beat Florida, correct?
GATA
February 19th, 2010
2:23 pm
FL Gators Suck!!! Its that simple!
Pocnce Really???
February 19th, 2010
2:24 pm
So if your new DC doesn’t work out then… the you fire CUM….Ponce De Leon you are just a UGA hater…picking KY and SC over UGA to win the east….you just tryin to stir the pot…but unfortunately I enjoy the sad comments made by haters….And yes as a UGA fan I will pick them to win the EAST…
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:24 pm
Pocnce Really???
So now since you haven’t won one since 1980 its a MNC? How about Richt just winning one and then you can talk.
GATA
February 19th, 2010
2:25 pm
Ponce .. It is simple: FL is going to loose to LSU and Bama, so it really doesnt matter if we beat you or not. You will loose it on your own!
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
2:25 pm
I’m cute. I use dollar signs when I want to use vulgar language to express my inner Gator. Why am I the embassador for the Florida Gators for the entire state of Georgia? I cruise articles looking for comments to put an orange and blue spin on it. Work ‘em, Silly Gators!!!
N.GA.DAWG
February 19th, 2010
2:26 pm
im talking about fla da. can you not read? we dont play lsu and bama. that is why i do not think the gators will make it.
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:27 pm
Pocnce Really???, well at least you have the nads to predict them winning the east. Stand up boy!
One thing you seem to forget; we might have a new DC but it’s not because the old one was fired, he was hired away, just like Mullin was. Meyer isn’t afraid to hire someone who might get credit for being a good coach.
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
2:29 pm
ga gator (bawless imposter) I’ll bet you talk like Mr. Weir the figure skater. So why don’t you use your real handle Johnny boy.
Ga Gator is right...
February 19th, 2010
2:29 pm
I myself find your post funny and childish…most haters quotes are far from the truth…most are having a bad day and just want someone to join them…In reality, no one can really predict the future. But hey man don’t be made at someone commenting on your posts…you got the recongition you wanted…you “stired” the pot…congrats…
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:31 pm
N.GA.DAWG, you might be right but LSU hasn’t beat UF in Gainesville in a long time and they didn’t exactly have a great QB last year and he’s coming back. Oh I forgot, he beat you guys last year in Athens.
N.GA.DAWG
February 19th, 2010
2:32 pm
no the ref did.
N.GA.DAWG
February 19th, 2010
2:32 pm
the gt grad ref at that.
Ponce Really???
February 19th, 2010
2:34 pm
If I stand up I have to bend over to type…Did you see where Martinez was hired by OU and the national media said it was a good hire…I think he was a great position coach just not a good DC…On thing you seem to forget sunshine, I am not as stupid as you act…The year before UF last chanpionship what happened to that other co-DC…why wasn’t coach strong named there in the first place…
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:36 pm
N.GA.DAWG, how did the ref do it; by not throwing a flag when Charles Scott broke about 6 school girl attempts at a tackle. By the refs throwing a pay back flag on LSU, by allowing Cox to throw a pic as time expired. UGA fans sure whine about refs.
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
2:37 pm
Of course all people who make fun of the Gators have a lisp or want to handle Johnny.
N.GA.DAWG
February 19th, 2010
2:37 pm
i admit fla loaded up again this year but they lost the core of the team. i just dont see them beating bama and lsu. that means they will have to sweep the east. and that wont be as easy as it has in the past.
Ponce Really???
February 19th, 2010
2:39 pm
I believe there where two holding calls that should have been called as well. Dude when the national media and the SEC office says we were robbed..it’s not whining…it’s agreement..leave it to UF fans to still be in denial…
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:40 pm
Ponce Really??? Strong was actually lucky Meyer didn’t replace him when he came. He brought Greg Mattison (who is now with the Ravens) and made them Co-DC’s. Most coaches usually clean house when they come in but he obviously saw something in Charlie Strong. Strong should have been hired at Auburn instead of Chizik but rumor was they didn’t like it because he had a white wife.
N.GA.DAWG
February 19th, 2010
2:40 pm
that would have been a different outcome if the flag was not thrown on aj. anyone who thinks any diff. is just dumb. im not talkin about makeup calls just 1.
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:42 pm
Ponce Really???, talk about denial. You guys are 8-6 at home over the last 4 years with losses to KY and Vandy and all of a sudden you hire some dude named Grantham and you think he was the second coming of Van Gorder; who had a losing record to the Gators by the way.
GA GATOR???
February 19th, 2010
2:42 pm
See now that’s funny…Having an intelligent conversation with UF on Friday is priceless…On thing is for sure…we don’t like you and you don’t like us…I agree with N.GA DAWG and Ponce that both UGA and UF will have a tough time winning the east…especially with UK and SC in the fold…
N.GA.DAWG
February 19th, 2010
2:45 pm
lets see how well fla does without tebow,dunlap,haden, hernandez, ect ect.
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
2:46 pm
ga gator(bawless imposter) of course you are typical of a fan who can’t win an argument so you resort to copying handles or being cute, but thats ok; I sure you will be like this all the way to your annual trail of tears to and from Jax; oh I forgot you are from auburn.
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:48 pm
N.GA.DAWG, you might be right, but then again they have depth from several top 5 recruiting classes in a row. I do think it will be closer this year than the last couple of blowouts.
Ponce Really???
February 19th, 2010
2:50 pm
Ponce Really??? So you think that no matter who CUM hires they are just going to roll..I never said Grantham was the second comming…actually I think he is a guy that bud foster, will muschamp, and kirby smart recommended to CMR. Also, he is the same guy that has coached under Nick Saban, Dom Capers, Romeo Crownell, and Wade Phillips….Not to shabby don’t you think…Who has your current DC worked under. Also, Coach Saban used to have him come back and talk to his coaching staff in the summer…I think it wil take at least two years for him to have his defense fully installed…The second coming of Erk Russsell would have had more punch… Erk won a NC…Van Gorder did won the Boyles Award, your best DC to date was? Stoops not strong..
Ponce Really???
February 19th, 2010
2:52 pm
I forgot a couple of more coaches that are respected amongst there peer…Coach Lakatos and Coach Belin…
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:53 pm
Ponce Really???, dont know much about the new guy except he has coached in 2 Superbowls; not too shabby? You ARE correct about Erk. Lets see our best to date would be Charlie Strong; 2 NC’s; how many did Erk have?
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
2:55 pm
Ponce Really???, I actually think more of the 2 assistants you hired; Lakatos and Belin than Grantham. Grantham was fired in his only DC stint and didn’t call plays at Dallas.
Whopepr Dawg
February 19th, 2010
2:59 pm
Special Teams – I just hope “divided” doesn’t mean not focused on. I also hope that whoever was the proponent of the directional kick offs which result in giving the ball to the opponent on about the 40 is gone.
chazzo
February 19th, 2010
3:00 pm
Divided? Just be sure that all the coaches are telling the players the same thing. It didn’t seem that way last season.
Ponce Really???
February 19th, 2010
3:03 pm
As the DB coach…Erk had one…I have always admired Coach Strong…even when he was at SC under Coach Lou Holtz…Is Coach strong a legend like coach Russell…Do you know why he was fired in Cleveland?…How many superbowls did he win…How many plays did he call…What is his coaching tree?
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
3:05 pm
I think having a civil debate amongst college football fans means taking every topic and turning it into a Florida Gator pep rally. I do not need the drum line because the constant back slapping I do congratulating myself while typing my insightful comments. It’s great to be a Gator.
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
3:12 pm
ga gator (bawless imposter) you must be lost little johnny weir.
Jax Dawg
February 19th, 2010
3:13 pm
Leave Jacksonville out of this crap.
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
3:16 pm
Ponce Really???Time will tell about Austin, but like what has been said before on here, its more about the players than the coaches. Willie Martinez wasn’t the greatest, but he didn’t miss tackles in the Kentucky and LSU games. I look at it this way; Meyer has at least 4 former assistants as HC in College football now, so he must have either good judgement in hiring or developed them well. So either way I think it must of been a good hire.
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
3:16 pm
I am a homophobic person who hates US olympians.
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
3:18 pm
ga gator (bawless imposter), who said anything about homosexuals? That must be what you concentrate on.
AltamahaDawg
February 19th, 2010
3:18 pm
UGA was the top or very near the top in punting, punt return, PAT, FG last year. And traditionally is every year. Where did it become a fact that our entire special teams were not well developed or coached? Its just factually wrong.
The ONLY area that has concern was KO, and to some degree KO return, although we did have 2 run back for TD.
On the oft-mentioned KO team, UGA was right in the middle of the SEC pack which isnt that difficult seeing how the entire league was within a handfull of yards. UGA was better than the NC Bama, fwiw. The top teams last year were near the bottom the year before. Fl has been near the bottom in KO, WITH coach meyers coaching it himself in the recent past.
We had a Frosh and almost no able bodies 2 years ago, and improved the actual ball placement so much this past season, UGA lead the SEC in TB. We need a couple more back-up LB on the squad, and a tweak at corraling and tackling, and nobody is going to mention this again.
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
3:20 pm
AltamahaDawg, special teams have been the least of your problems; heck you had 2 of the best in the SEC.
Yellow Fuzz
February 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
Whatever.
See you in November.
Looking forward to returning to Stegleman or Stockleman Stadium or whatever it’s called.
I call it………
(((((((((((((((((((((((((( 45-42 )))))))))))))))))))))))))) stadium.
And I’m looking forward to the SEQUEL!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahah.
Ponce DeLeon
February 19th, 2010
3:29 pm
Ponce Really???, you asked who his coaching tree is? Paterno, Jim Caldwell, Mike Holmgren, Schembechler, Lloyd Carr and Ken Wisenhut. Not to shabby, you think?
Yellow Fuzz
February 19th, 2010
3:31 pm
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( 45-42 ))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
3:31 pm
Yellow Fuzz, Tech or anyone in the ACC should be looking forward to a rematch with any SEC team. If UGA or S. Carolina were in the ACC you would of come in 3rd.
Yellow Fuzz
February 19th, 2010
3:32 pm
Sometimes I laugh so hard that a little bit of pee comes out.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Yellow Fuzz
February 19th, 2010
3:32 pm
(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( 45-42 )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Yellow Fuzz
February 19th, 2010
3:33 pm
Yellow Fuzz
February 19th, 2010
3:32 pm
Sometimes I laugh so hard that a little bit of pee comes out.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
LOL, I didn’t post that
ga gator
February 19th, 2010
3:33 pm
Yellow Fuzz, that does it……….out!!!!