Defensive line: Do Dogs have a nose for the new scheme?
(Note: I’m on vacation, so the UGA blog is on quasi-hiatus. But rather than shutting down entirely, I thought we could use this lull for a leisurely look at the 2010 football team. I put together synopses of the various position groups, and one posts each weekday -– last week the offense, this week the defense. Please share your thoughts, hopes, concerns, etc., about each position.)
TODAY: DEFENSIVE LINE
- Returning starter: Senior DE Demarcus Dobbs, although his position is the same in name only in the new 3-4 alignment.
- Others to watch: Sophomore Abry Jones is No. 1 on the latest depth chart at left end (as is Dobbs at right end), and junior DeAngelo Tyson is No. 1 at the nose position. Justin Anderson, a junior who missed spring practice after January surgery on his right shoulder, has moved from the offensive line, where he started seven games in 2008 and five in 2009, to the defensive line, where he is expected to be a big factor at nose in preseason practice. The top backups at each position on the post-spring depth chart are senior Brandon Wood at LE, redshirt freshman Kwame Geathers at nose and senior Kiante Tripp at RE.
- Key losses: The defensive line was decimated by the loss of three senior tackles, all of them chosen in the NFL draft — fourth-round pick Geno Atkins and seventh-round picks Jeff Owens and Kade Weston.
- Key fact: The transition from the 4-3 to the 3-4 — three down linemen and four linebackers, rather than vice versa –- comes at a propitious time for the line, given the loss of Atkins, Owens and Weston. One less spot to fill.
- Key questions: How will the talent on hand fit the new scheme? How effective will Tyson or perhaps Anderson be at the critical nose position?
- Recent developments: The move of the 6-5, 330-pound Anderson, decided upon during spring practice even though he was injured, speaks to Georgia’s comfort level with the depth on its offensive line -– but also to concerns about depth on the defensive line and the nose position in particular. Anderson is expected to be 100 percent healthy for the start of preseason practice, and his progress at nose will be a closely watched storyline. Said Mark Richt, speaking of the nose position: “It’s going to be a challenge to see if these guys can really control the double teams that they need to inside. That’s part of the reason we moved Justin Anderson in there — because he is a big, giant, powerful man. And if he can take to it, I think he’s going to be tough to block.”
- Outlook: Very much a work in progress, very much an area of concern.
———-
Links to previous entries in this series:
Tomorrow: Inside linebackers.
———-
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172 comments Add your comment
TROTTINGHOME
June 21st, 2010
10:27 am
Alabama is on Georgia’s schedule…The SEC championship.
npgator
June 21st, 2010
10:29 am
This defense should help stop Florida from hanging 100 points on you this fall but not much less.
K Man
June 21st, 2010
10:43 am
Not worried about the Nose, it’s the DE’s that concern me, we just don’t have the body types this year that Grantham needs to run the 3-4.
I guess you’ll have to rotate to some bulky short guys on 1st/2nd down, vulnerable to the pass, then on 3rd down, have some tall fast guys, vulnerabale to the run.
Murray the Midget
June 21st, 2010
11:01 am
K Man…did you say “bulky short guys”?? You know, I’ve put on a few pounds here lately and was a pretty good two way player in high school (football and badminton).
K Man
June 21st, 2010
11:08 am
Murray–
Really, badmitton, what school? what year?
Only one major difference in
June 21st, 2010
11:29 am
There is only one major difference in state of Alabama vs state of Georgia. Alabama is well, um, Alabama. See the movie Driving Miss Daisy, in which Morgan Freeman, while driving into the state of Alabama for the first time, he says “Miss Daisy, did I tell you about the first time that I drove over to Alabama”? and she says, “well no.” He answers with ” I just crossed the Alabama state line a minute ago and so far, it ain’t much.” Folks …………..that says it all.
Remember Bama fans ……………after Bear and Gene’s ONE YEAR, it has been very, very, very, very lean, with losses to S.E. Louisianna and to Utah? in the 08 Sugar Bowl? That last one was a blow out to a wanna be mid major.
Always be humble and life will be good. Bear preached that. Ask Ken Stabler.
go Dogs.
AltamahaDawg
June 21st, 2010
11:32 am
WHY DO YOU CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO Tide Roll? Geez leave it be. Same old post and it gets 25 responces every time.
Bill W.
June 21st, 2010
11:33 am
IMO, the DL will take a few games to jell with the new scheme in live action. Not too worried about the size of the DE’s. UGA lacked pressure on the QB and RB’s last season so the speed of the DE’s will help with that. You guys forget Cornelius Washington could split as a LE or RE. Guy doesn’t weigh but 250 but runs a 4.29!? Not too many O lineman can hang with that. To an earlier point on here, I’m more concerned with the secondary making sure they stop folks.
75 days to go and counting!
GATA
Greensboro, Georgia
June 21st, 2010
11:34 am
————————————–
……Nesbitt for Heisman……
————————————–
MountainDawg
June 21st, 2010
11:35 am
The success or failure of the D-Line is paramount for the entire D (& team). The game’s won or loss (primarily) in the trenches. If these kids can crush the pocket, fill the running lanes & pressure the QB (consistently), the Dawgs may get lit up. Here’s to hoping they man up & “get’r dun”.
MountainDawg
June 21st, 2010
11:36 am
***Correction (above) – if they can NOT crush the pocket, fill the running lanes & pressure the QB (consistently), the Dawgs may get lit up.
td
June 21st, 2010
11:39 am
Roll Tide is really St. Simons from last year. He is masking as a Bama fan but he is really a nerd.
RxDawg
June 21st, 2010
11:44 am
“Alabama is on Georgia’s schedule…The SEC championship.”
touché
superDawg
June 21st, 2010
11:46 am
How can you tell if your son has been recruited by Alabama? When you get home there is a oil spot on the driveway and your dawg has vienna sausage on his breath.
AltamahaDawg
June 21st, 2010
11:48 am
Defense will have more energy, aided by a fresh new staff with no baggage, new talent. They will be more exciting to watch. I doubt very seriously it will surrender fewer yard than past couple of years though. It will surender fewer points which is a pretty easy goal. The rest of team will also stop insisting on spotting the other guys 14, so Grantham will get credit for that as well. We need his first year to be viewed as a turning point. recruiting, interest, fan support depend on it. This will not be a championship defense this year BUT it will apear to be a squad headed in the right direction. Partly because everybody is so tired of the negativity that the actual stats won’t feel as bad.
As far as the transition from 4-3 to 3-4, I think that get way too much attention. Nobody is purely one or the other all the time, and once the action starts, I doubt the average fan is going to be able to point out the nuances.
txdawg
June 21st, 2010
12:01 pm
My biggest concern for the season so far is game #2 against Steve Spurrier. That man is a great coach and I think he will do a great job in scheming against a new 3-4 defense. I expect to be behind at the half, then I am concerned that Aaron Murry will try to do too much in the 2ns half. Not trying to be pessimistic, just real. What do you think?
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:01 pm
Garrison Smith was rated the #2 DL by Scout, he’s a powerhouse. Look for him to make some noise at DE right away. He has a motor that reminds some people of David Pollack. We’ll see.
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:04 pm
Pollack was 6 2, bout 265. Not super big for a DE, but had a motor that never stopped.
GT Dog
June 21st, 2010
12:06 pm
superDawg…you left out the second part of the joke!
DawginOH
June 21st, 2010
12:11 pm
Good post, AltamahaDawg. I totally agree. This season’s D will be a work in progress, but should be fun to watch nonetheless. If anything has been instantly improved, it’s the attitude and approach of the new defensive coaching staff. This will definitely rub off in a good way on the players and should pay instant dividends. I was so sick of the “wait and react” approach of CWM and company.
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:13 pm
Garrison Smith was recruited hard by LSU, Florida & Alabama. The guy has a motor that runs all day long. Like Pollock. Can’t wait to see him get after some offenses. #2 ranked DL on rivals and scout, Garrison Smith is a load of non-stop force and energy.
DawginOH
June 21st, 2010
12:16 pm
txdawg, I see where you’re coming from. The game at SC will be a very early challenge for the Dawgs and should show a lot about the way the season will unfold. But we’re been lucky in that game more than once over the past few seasons, as USC usually finds a way to lose it, regardless of whether the game is a defensive struggle or a shootout. I’m hoping for the same result this year, but that’s not a game that I would circle as an easy W.
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:16 pm
TJ Stripling is a nightmare for offenses.
#3 ranked DE rusher in nation by rivals.
Sr year, 117 tackes, 22 for loss, 21 sacks.
21 SACKS!
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:20 pm
Garrison Smith was #1 ranked pass rusher, #3 quickest in country by Rivals.
Had 108 tackes, 22 for loss, 14 sacks, for 7 forced fumbles.
The guys a game changer.
ugaclassof2004
June 21st, 2010
12:28 pm
I’m calling it right now, BAMA will lose 2-3 games this year. You heard it here first.
how2fish
June 21st, 2010
12:30 pm
Hey you guys seem to have run Tide Roll off the blog…Great Job !
Dawgforlife
June 21st, 2010
12:31 pm
everyone seems to be missing roll tides point…he claims we are being racist becasue we recruit some white offensive linemen…he is obsessed with it…roll tide…UGA has 4 out of 22 white starters…how can a team who starts 18 of 22 black players be accused of racism?…we start the best players regardless of color…Boiling is going to be a first round draft pic….Ben Jones is all SEC…and as far as Davis goes…if he is not one of the top linemen, he will not start…worry more about Ala. a team which the “Bear” only intergrated because of Sam Cunningham’s running all over his completely white team.
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:33 pm
I see why UGA’s so big on Deangelo Tyson at Nose. The kid’s awesome. Ranked #1 quickest pass rusher by rivals, #3 pass rusher, #1 athlete, he’s a quick dynamo and one of the best athletes on the team.
how2fish
June 21st, 2010
12:36 pm
DawginOH great point the USC game will be HUGE this year..but seems like we say that every year.
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:36 pm
I think A. Jones can be solid. 28 sacks in 2 years in High School over at Northside. Rivals had him ranked #3 quickest DL, #4 best pass rusher.
K Man
June 21st, 2010
12:41 pm
Dobbs gets to the QB, got 15 QB pressures and 4 1/2 sacks last year, has his best games against the best teams. Bigger the stakes, better he plays. Loves pressure.
ugaclassof2004
June 21st, 2010
12:43 pm
BAMA was +19 in turnovers last season. No way they generate that this year. The D-Line and secondary is much less experienced than last season. You have a mediocre QB in Greg McElroy who will be exposed this season. And on top of that: Ole Miss, Miss. State, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Auburn ALL have bye weeks prior to playing Bama. Any of those teams are capable of pulling off the upset. Nonsense I hear you Bama fans say? Need I remind you that this is a program that is only a few years removed from losing to ULM and Utah. Bama still has a decent season, but it will be the 10-2 or the 9-3 variety instead of 14-0.
SEC fan
June 21st, 2010
12:48 pm
Dog Fan in South Carolina -
Way to go by proving my point!
“The Comments posted by SEC fan is quite laughable.” Try using “are” instead of “is”.
Talk about not passing English 101 as you referenced. At least you spelled the word “dog” correctly.
POAD
June 21st, 2010
12:48 pm
POAD name theif/s come see me next time you are at “Bobby Dodd Stadium @ Grant Field” Gate 8 Sec 224 Row 5 seat 39. We will have a talk and a Jack & Ice.
FromtheBARstool
June 21st, 2010
12:50 pm
What? Do you want me to wait until 2011?
THWU(sic)GA
June 21st, 2010
12:58 pm
Let’s run some things down…..
A) Your football team or (dream team) went to a (DREAM BOWL) in shreveport( 2nd worst SEC BOWL)!!!
B) You lost to Kentucky at home for the 1st time since jimmy carter was president!
C) Your hoops team sat at home while GT was ranked and enjoying the NCAA tourney and played for ACC TITLE!
D) Your baseball team got swept by GT and beaten 25-6 on your OWN FIELD AND YOUR FANS POURED OUT BEFORE THE 4TH INNING! GT was in regionals, again..ugay sat at home!!!!
I just want to say that in football, we finished ranked ahead of you last year in all polls, were ranked ahead of you in basketball in all polls last year and finished ahead of ugay in baseball by miles! GT enjoyed a BCS football game and ACC TITLE ( I missed what channel UGAY was on playing for any title)….Baseball team swept ugay and the Hoops team finished ahead of UGAY and went to the NCAA tourney. 2 of 3, UGAY SAT AT HOME!!!
Your football team fell short of expectations 2 straight years as you were preseason #13 last year and finished not even in the top 30! You baseball team was in college world series 2 years ago and now one of the worst teams in the SEC! That’s awesome!!! Seems GT has had a much better year redneck, only a joe dirt like you with no brain could try and argue the facts. When you end up ranked behind a team, you can’t say you are better, PLAIN AND SIMPLE! You didn’t finish ahead of GT in any of these 3 sports and even though you won a rival game in 2 of them, you guys sports teams sucked for the most part! You play to earn a postseason bid, and when your at home, you just SUCK! Enjoy mediocrity yet again in 2010 LOSERS!
THWG
UGA Class of '94
June 21st, 2010
1:08 pm
Hey Tide Roll,
How many times are you going to post the same information? I’ve read it at least 10 times on numerous blogs and still don’t give a rat’s @$$ about who you think should start on our offensive line. Worry about your own team. After all, you did have some key losses on defense (McClain, Cody, Arenas, etc.)
Dawglasville
June 21st, 2010
1:16 pm
THWU(sic)GA – Thanks for running down a few things for us. If you are happy, we are happy. You can go back to your blog now.
8 out of 9
June 21st, 2010
1:19 pm
Hey THWU(sic)GA and St. Simons,
(((((((((((((((((30-24))))))))))))))))
(((((((((((((((((73-66))))))))))))))))
(((((((((((((((((8 out of 9)))))))))))
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Get ready for another beat down next year which will make 9 out of 10.
Oh, and don’t forget……WE RUN THIS STATE!
Bulldog59
June 21st, 2010
1:24 pm
This article points out the second part of the two-headed monster Coach Grantham has to tackle in 2010. Not only does he have to teach the 3-4 from scratch, he doesn’t exactly have the correct personnel to do it. We’ll definitely have our ups-and-downs in 2010, but we should be vastly improved.
JS
June 21st, 2010
1:26 pm
Dog Fan in South Carolina – Dumbest post ever! That’s better than being first.
Russ the wonder dawg!!
June 21st, 2010
1:27 pm
Roll Tide….he repeats the same nonsense every week. like a broken record…can you come up with something new and refreshing to entertain us with…than the same list of players you spit out each week? geez louise!! unoriginal.
Tide Rising
June 21st, 2010
1:30 pm
Tide Roll,
I’m not even sure if you’re a real Bama fan since no Bama fan that I know says Tide Roll. Even dawg fans know that we say Roll Tide and not tide roll.
I like to read the dawg and Tech blogs just to see what’s going on with the local teams since I’ve lived in ATL 20 years. I assume you like to do the same. I might have a comment if its something that’s just an observation or something the dawg fans might find of interest. But your comments are the same drivel day after day. Something about UGA losing a lot of their instate talent, why is so and so starting or not starting on their O-line, etc. How many times do you have to repeat the same stuff? And damn if your spelling and grammar isn’t embarrassing.
If you’re going to post the same stuff over and over at least do a trial run on word with the spell check on. Better yet just do what I do and read the blog but keep idiotic comments to yourself. Or if you make a comment on someone else’s blog make it something objective or interesting. It beats flame throwing with poor spelling and grammar.
how2fish
June 21st, 2010
1:35 pm
THWU(sic)GA let run this by you Bug..we stomped a mudhole in your AZZ this year so bad you went to a major bowl where IOWA stomped a even bigger mudhole in your AZZ..your best team in a decade got bitch slapped in your house by the worst UGA team in a decade they proved the ACC’s weakness for the world to see..your Wattle Neck Goon of a coach was so outmatched he tried to use the forward pass 4 plays in a row..to no avail..and God man could Iowa have beaten your Azz’s any worst?? Iowa!
Tide Roll
June 21st, 2010
1:39 pm
You UGA fans finally gopt something correct. I Am an idiot that does not know what the hell he is talking aobut!
Barack Dawg
June 21st, 2010
1:40 pm
TROTTINGHOME – Alabama is not UGA’s schedule – Arkansas or Auburn will the west this year not Alabama…Already had Chesik and Petrino over for a beer. The conversation next year will then proceed to where Saban is going to coach next and we will not longer hear from Roll Tide.
DawginLex
June 21st, 2010
2:40 pm
Anyone that calls the University of Georgia “UGAY” is doing so to mask his own sexual issues.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
June 21st, 2010
2:42 pm
THWU – UGA beat you in bassetball and football last year and how did you do in that great Bowl game. All this proves is Tech was over rated.
chazzo
June 21st, 2010
2:42 pm
Some of these guys looked better than starters in last year’s games. It all comes down to how hard they work.
DawginLex
June 21st, 2010
2:44 pm
Folks are going to see real fast in 2010 that COACHING MATTERS ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL.Our defense was run by the biggest idiot on the planet during the last 4 years. If Grantham is anything close to Van Gorder, we will win a lot of games.