Talking football with Todd Grantham: ‘We want to attack. We want to be relentless.’
ATHENS – Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham sat Thursday at the head of the long table in the large conference room in what used to be Damon Evans‘ office suite on the fourth floor of the Butts-Mehre building, talking football with a roomful of reporters:
- Grantham said junior DeAngelo Tyson will enter preseason practice as the likely starter at the nose position on Georgia’s defensive line, but that doesn’t mean Grantham sees Tyson as exclusively a nose.
“He’s the No. 1 [nose], but he’s a guy who can give us flexibility and play an end position, too,” Grantham said. “Based on how other guys come on at both nose and end, he can move.”
Grantham is looking for Kwame Geathers, a redshirt freshman, and Justin Anderson, a junior who is shifting from the offensive line, to provide options at nose.
Geathers had a good spring, and his continued development in preseason practice is “critical,” Grantham said.
Anderson missed spring practice with a shoulder injury, so Grantham has never seen him on the field. But the 6-foot-5, 330-pounder certainly has piqued Grantham’s interest.
“He’s obviously, from a size standpoint, a guy we feel like can command double teams in there,” Grantham said. “I know he’s worked hard in the offseason to try to learn the system. He’s going to be somewhat behind just because it’s one thing to learn it in a classroom, but then to go out on the field in 90-degree heat is totally different. If he can come on, that obviously gives us some depth. I’m excited about . . . seeing what he can do.”
- Building depth up front is a high priority for Grantham.
“I believe in playing a lot of guys on the defensive line because up there it’s a relentless approach to the ball each play,” he said. “They’re going to get gassed more than probably some other positions. Sometimes it’s harder, because they’re bigger guys, to get rejuvenated quickly. So rotation is important, and to rotate you’ve got to have depth.”
- Six months on the Georgia staff have reaffirmed Grantham’s view of this state as a recruiting goldmine.
“The talent in this state is everything I anticipated, and I feel like we can reach all the goals we want to reach -– well, I know we can -– if we just stay the course with what we are doing right now,” he said.
- Grantham is excited about the arrival of Jarvis Jones, the linebacker who transferred to UGA from USC. Jones will redshirt this season.
“It will be good to get him around the other players [and] get him introduced to our system,” Grantham said, “… because he’ll definitely make an impact in the future.”
- OK, I know you’ve heard these (or very similar) words from Grantham before. But I thought you might enjoy hearing them again:
“We want to be aggressive. We want to attack. We want to be relentless in our pursuit to the ball.”
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173 comments Add your comment
Joe Hamilton's Designated Driver
July 16th, 2010
10:15 am
Is this the blog about the GT/clempson game?
I just wanted to make sure we gots there on time.
Is that in North Carolina or South Carolina?
jasont13
July 16th, 2010
10:15 am
Harold-Way to go!!! Nice copy and paste job. I see you have changed your alliance from Tenneessee to Alabama and Florida. Funny but Alabama is 22-10 minus the SEC Championship Game. WOW they have only won 2 more conference games than UGA in the past 4 years.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 16th, 2010
10:15 am
QUESTION:
Has Kwame’s Unlce, Jumpy, taught him the Forklift move? If he can execute that move, man he will be a beast!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 16th, 2010
10:15 am
*** Uncle***
Barack Dawg
July 16th, 2010
10:16 am
Mick – thanks for that useless and boring speech. Based on your comments all of college football should just stop because Florida and Alabama are the holy grail. Let me remind you…Alabama has been gone for 10 freaking years because they sucked. Saban will leave and they will suck again. Florida had Meyer come and he has gotten it done but he had Teebow as well. Teebow is gone and Meyer will leave as well.
UGA is improving their recruiting and improving their focus and aggressiveness. It is funny how 1 8 win season has all of a sudden made us irrelevant. I think we are going to be back on track and look to whip Florida’s ass this year, not that it will be easy but it can be done.
If we continue to recruit well and improve coaching as we did in the offseason this year, I think we are fine and the only thing irrelevant is your opinion. Now the it is almost 10:30 so you are going to have switch out the breakfast food to start preparing for lunch and practicing your lines….’You want fries with that….’
Delbert D.
July 16th, 2010
10:17 am
Now, the Lakotas are an American Indian tribe.
atlxmen
July 16th, 2010
10:17 am
spurrier won’t be ripping anything but that visor off his head and flinging it to the ground. = )
sc will do the usual 7-6 record with losses to UGA and Fla.your defense is not as good as it was last year and UGA hung 41 or so on you guys.
DawginLex
July 16th, 2010
10:18 am
The only thing Spurrier is gonna be ripping up after losing to UGA again is his contract as he announces his retirement.
The loss will make it 1-5 vs Richt and UGA.
atlxmen
July 16th, 2010
10:21 am
redneck lover haha..i never said i played at georgia. just that i was a former player. unlike you my nerdy little friend. have fun playing warcraft
Careless about Fairness
July 16th, 2010
10:22 am
in all fairness – you did not go to Dartmouth, I know for sure. If you did, you would not be commenting on college football. You would be on a financial blog bitching about a trust fund. Trust me – I have quit a few friends from Dartmouth and they could care less about college football and would not be caught dead on a blog about college football in the South. So step up, be a man, and say Yellow Nerd.
Nevertheless we could careless about your opinion you R$@$#%# Yankee yellow nerd fan in hiding.
harold
July 16th, 2010
10:23 am
THIS GRANTHAM GUY SHOULD HAVE BEEN ATTACKING AT CLEVELAND AND HE MIGHT HAVE STILL HAD A JOB. MORE WALK LESS TALK!
so ga dawg
July 16th, 2010
10:25 am
JB is a spanker
Damon Evan's Lawyer
July 16th, 2010
10:27 am
” I refuse to answer that question, next question”? ” Red panties you ask? ummmmm…………next question”?
Berzerk8dawg
July 16th, 2010
10:29 am
Yellow Hammer- Grantham has been in the NFL over a decade he is a very good judge of Talent. That being said the depth chart is not set in stone at all but he has one because he needs that to start installing and organizing his defense. Thats why he is the coach and getting paid so much. Does that mean they are not still going to compete? Hell no. ALot of coaches name starters after spring but there are going to continue to compete still. He knows what he is doing.
Bassey
July 16th, 2010
10:30 am
If Bill Bellicheck couldn’t turn about the Browns, loserville USA, then nobody else could, including Grantham. But improving the Browns from 4-10 to 10-6 was impressive, ask Bill Billacheck.
In all fairness
July 16th, 2010
10:31 am
What does college football fandom have to do with anything???that’s like saying all people of a certain race are a certain way…same principle. You must be a bigot of some sort with that kind of mentality. My degree has nothing to do with what sports I like or anything like that…its just a place where I took classes and graduated. Last year was my first full year in Georgia…but I dont really have a team that I like. Your absolutely right when you say Dartmouth doesn’t have many sports fans…but it doesn’t mean I cant learn to like the game. I used to follow ND and Ohio State as a kid…but I was never a huge college fan. I like the NFL better…. Wow you guys are close minded idiots. I sure as hell wont be supporting UGA football…Your the one being a ignorant fool….but I wont get in an argument with someone who probably never even went to UGA…I am not a Tech fan at all.
Are you serious
July 16th, 2010
10:40 am
journalistic integrity. How long have you been reading the AJC? You have many more journalisitc let downs coming your way. Destin Dawg you gonna be at crab island this weekend?
Go Dawgs
Bama Dawg
July 16th, 2010
10:44 am
Destin Dawg, you are right on. Unfortunately some of the idiot, supposedly Dogs fans, posting on here will be calling for CMR’s scalp if we don’t go undefeted this year. Hopefully the era of the Junkyard Dogs is on the horizion.
How2fish
July 16th, 2010
11:22 am
harold we are still not listening..
O'Keefe Gym Strangler
July 16th, 2010
11:28 am
Really hoping the Dogs can win the East this year…would love to see an Auburn/UGA rematch for the SECCG a mere three weeks after the first game.
But first Florida and Alabama must be dethroned…
GO JACKETS!
AltamahaDawg
July 16th, 2010
11:28 am
I’ll give him credit for one thing. He has known from day one, the key phrases to use to excite the Georgia faithful. Lets hope it translate to the field.
BTW, football mind……..telling everybody that he wants to put pressure on the opposing team as a strategy to help win football games, is hardly showing his hand. Good grief. And our roster is not a secret. I don’t think letting on that the guy that are on scholarship at a particular position are actually GOING to be the guys playing at that position. I fell comfortable with Grantham announcing to the table that he does not have any hidden aces under his chair.
I’m pretty sure that SC, Ark and everybody else is not going to refer back to the quotes from the summer about who he is excited about to derive at their game plan. I wish!
Just curious, have you actually ever played poker? There is this very annoying aspect of that game where folks arent always honest about thier intentions. (please refer to the G-day game footage)
How2fish
July 16th, 2010
11:29 am
In all fairness sorry but your not reading all the blogs if you think the blogger are fair or unbiased did you read the Bradley rants about Damon..not saying he was wrong but he wasn’t even trying to come off as unbiased. There was one blog closed about the DUI issue but heck there were 2-3 more going at the same time that were open to comments…really its a blog and not journalism…its yellow journalism , rabble rousing , pot stirring etc call it what you will but don’t think its going to be unbiased..just my 2 cents thanks for keeping it civil by the way.
FRED
July 16th, 2010
11:29 am
WHAT A CHANGE FROM THE OTHER GUY WHO RUINED OUR DEFENCE.
TardDawg
July 16th, 2010
11:32 am
In all fairness, UGA is AVERAGE AT BEST.
Burdell
July 16th, 2010
11:37 am
Fred…did CWM run through it with decar?
YELLOW HAMMER
July 16th, 2010
11:54 am
JB— GEORGIA has been in all the papers across the country,,,red panties and all… just sayin
kevin
July 16th, 2010
11:58 am
Mick,
Yeah, it’s really far-fetched to think of UGA winning the SEC in the next 2/3 years when we have won it 2 of the last 10 and been in the game 3 times. You’re a moron.
Hunker Down
July 16th, 2010
12:10 pm
Who made it to Dawg Night?
TardDawg
July 16th, 2010
12:18 pm
Kevin, just because your boss at the Athens Wal-Mart has been talking up the dawgs this year, it doesn’t mean that they’re going to be good – you are delusional. They may be a lock for 3rd in the east…at best.
Jackson
July 16th, 2010
12:23 pm
The D will be much upgraded versus the last few seasons. Martinez’s Defensive Philosophy centered around Defensive Ends getting great penetration in order to pressure the QB. Occasionally blitzing LBs/DBs to create pressure. The problem that got created was our linebackers had too much responsibility and not enough edge speed. We just didn’t have the right skill position players to make the D work and Martinez didn’t have the ability to adjust. In comes coach G…. the 3-4 is premised on having the linebackers create a delayed pressure. It forces teams to account for all 4 linebackers versus 3… at the second tier you are having to trap 2 linebackers vs one and therefore it becomes a more aggressive D. It will have the potential to struggle against run heavy teams. Having said that, this defense allows more flexibility and doesn’t center around requiring certain players to win on every down. Our D won’t be a top SEC D this year… Alabama, Auburn and LSU will probably be ahead of us. What you will see is fewer roughing the QB plays and late hits. You will see an uptick in DB calls – holding and pass interference – but you will get that with more aggressive play and quicker ball release from the opposing QB.
The D will fundamentally be challenged by how efficient we are in the number of plays our Offense is able to produce. Unfortunately, watch the game tapes over the last two seasons and we ran less plays than our opponents. I love the air it out and score the deep play action bombs… but if we have a shot of having a lights out D it comes from keeping the D fresh. If we start seeing a lot of 3 and outs, we are again in trouble. Murray scares the crap out of me because he doesn’t show great accuracy. It is very difficult to teach that and it is critical. Hopefully, Booboo puts together a better run package (i.e. NO MORE quick toss sweeps) than last year. I mean we have the beasts to run the ball…. we are Running Back U…. get back on that horse.
Pat
July 16th, 2010
12:49 pm
Todd Grantham is good at football.
MaDDAWG72
July 16th, 2010
12:51 pm
Way to go To the Statesboro Georgia BOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tyson and HOUSTON
GO DAWGSSSSSS!!!!!!!!
bitter harold aka thugs inc
July 16th, 2010
12:52 pm
i have this ability to talk out of my bottom and have no idea what im talking about because i grew up in LA (lower alabamma) its great to be stupid, go bammer, ps maybe bamma gets da slick from tennersa when he is forced to transfer!!!
wsewell525
July 16th, 2010
1:09 pm
I don’t mind losing, but I don’t like losing how we did last year. The team just looked like it didn’t care. Too many players playing off of talent, instead of team. in 07, we had the team working together, and that’s the difference. 3-4, and todd’s passion will do good in UGA. Win or lose, we just need to get more sacks, and pressure the recievers. There going to make a mistake somewhere in there.
Milburn Drysdale
July 16th, 2010
1:13 pm
SC boy. Spurrier and/or the Chickens have not been a factor in the SEC since he got to Colombia, and quite frankly he will not this year either. Try beating UCONN before you talk smack.
ReedHallRat
July 16th, 2010
1:32 pm
I used to room with a freshman named “Mick”, at UGA, in 1956…When he graduated, he became a Sports writer for the Atlanta Journal..Hmmmm…I wonder if maybe..?
ReedHallRat
July 16th, 2010
1:38 pm
Also…I read, quote: “We want to attack and be relentless..” Wow… How novel…What a unique approach to SEC defensive football…Wonder why someone didn’t already think of it before NOW?..I can’t WAIT to see if it works..Imagine, sidestepping blocks and getting in the QB’s face, and actually HITTING a receiver or a running back, “making them pay”…Dang…
bitter atlxmen
July 16th, 2010
1:39 pm
you have to love me because i never have the courage to make a comment without using the word redneck or cracker or some race bs, see im a bamma fan with a very small brain so forgive me that im stuck in the 60’s era and can’t try to fit into a world free of the race card, hahaha
Damon Evans
July 16th, 2010
1:51 pm
Relentless? Is that the same as low rent rendezvous ?
jack bull
July 16th, 2010
1:57 pm
just what i thought, all that talk when CTG came into town about the nose not having to be a large guy, total BS!! we may be dumb, but we’re not stupid..anyone who knows just a little about the game of football knows that when you run a 3-4 defense you have GOT to have a 300+ pounder at the nose to take on all the double-teams that are come that way to be affective.
Football mind
July 16th, 2010
2:08 pm
Hey idiots,
NFL compared to NFL.
SEC compared with college football.
Not even in mighty Dallas will the wins be so tough a scrutinized.
No other football level or league is tougher than the SEC…get a clue idiots of course I wasn’t saying SEC vs. NFL….. will CTG be coaching vs. NFL teams? Did he coach vs SEC teams at Dallas? Then how could you possibly draw that from what I had said.
By the level he is currently on it will be tougher to win than the other level he was at….there I broke it down to the third grade level for you guys.
I’m a mother fu****king football genius
ugakev
July 16th, 2010
2:41 pm
To those that say were irrelevent . . Number two in football sales behind only big texas after an 8-5 season. Suck on that one for a while i know it stings! Go dawgs
meh
July 16th, 2010
3:08 pm
I can’t wait til the season gets started. GATA!!!!
first
July 16th, 2010
4:21 pm
notice how Richt is not sending any defensive players to SEC media Days…?
He’s a smart guy…doesn’t want the defensive players peppered with questions and to give up any info inadvertenly…!
ReedHallRat
July 16th, 2010
4:22 pm
I’m curious…I know the origin of the cry, “GATA !” But the reason I know, is that I’m OLD..All those youngsters out there who have NO IDEA as to its origin or its meaning, raise your right mouse…Don’t be ashamed…’Fess up.
ReedHallRat
July 16th, 2010
4:27 pm
It’s probably prudent, to not send anyone to SEC Media Days who can’t spell “inadvertently”. I learned to spell at UGA, contrary to popular belief..
dagnabit
July 16th, 2010
4:55 pm
Bring it on ,Grant.
tt
July 16th, 2010
5:50 pm
Thank God we are in a new era. my expectations are in check, but where the dawgs were taking two steps back this should be a big step forward. Season is around the corner…slow down on the booze boys..this could be fun.
tt
July 16th, 2010
5:54 pm
Shut up Tiger…no one cares. Arent you late for a date…or do they not have Morrisons Cafeterias to cruise at St Andrews. Damon Evans and Tiger should get together…..so long as Damon is doing the driving. Hey Mark Richt ARE YOU AWAKE? Just checking.
BUZZ SAWYA
July 16th, 2010
6:35 pm
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