Defensive line: Massive changes give Bulldogs great expectations in trenches
Sixth in a series breaking down Georgia’s 2011 football team by position groups. . . .
Noseguard Kwame Geathers (99) spent a lot of time in the backfield at Georgia's G-Day Game, which earned him Defensive MVP honors. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
DEFENSIVE LINE
- Returning starters: DE DeAngelo Tyson (Sr., 6-2, 290), DE Abry Jones (Jr., 6-3, 297)
- Others to watch: Sophomore NG Kwame Geathers (6-6, 350) was the most improved defensive player during spring practice. He’ll be joined in the fall by junior college All-American John Jenkins (6-4, 350) which should dramatically improve the Bulldogs’ interior presence so critical to the success of the 3-4 defense. . . . Sophomore defensive ends Garrison Smith and Derrick Lott and freshman noseguard Mike Thornton are ready to take a step up into the playing rotation.
- Key losses: Defensive end Demarcus Dobbs started 42 games in his career and his versatility and big-play capability will be missed. Brandon Wood and Kiante Tripp also graduated and junior Jeremy Longo received a medical disqualification.
- Key fact: This time last year we were asking if the Bulldogs “had a nose” for the new 3-4 defense defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was bringing to Athens. The answer in retrospect was a resounding no. Tyson started every game at the position but, the truth was, it was not not a physical or mental fit for him. It was a perfect fit for Geathers but, for whatever reason, he was slow to master the techniques required until this past spring, when he was the most impressive defensive player in camp. Add Jenkins and Thornton (6-1, 287) to the mix and that gives the Bulldogs an ideal three-player rotation for plugging the middle.
- Key fact II: Abry Jones was probably under-valued as a defensive end last season, though he certainly earned notice after recording 16 tackles in the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech. He ended the season with 34 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss. Meanwhile, Tyson’s move out to end from nose guard is one of the more interesting and potentially beneficial for the Bulldogs this fall. Playing head up over a tackle is a more natural position than nose for this 6-4, 306-pounder from Statesboro. He managed 36 tackles — he also had 16 against the Jackets — and 7 quarterback pressures as it was. Those numbers should increase as he gets more one-on-one matchups. With Georgia’s talent infusion inside, look for Jones and the other players playing this end/tackle position to contribute more big plays.
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JUCO transfer John Jenkins has been dominant in strength and conditioning drills this summer.
Key developments: The word out of Georgia’s off-season strength and conditioning program this summer was that Jenkins showed up in shape, motivated and, in fact, has proven to be the fastest lineman the Bulldogs have on campus. His impact is expected to be substantial. . . . Griffin’s Chris Mayes, the only other D-lineman signed in the 2011 class, was unable to meet freshman eligibility requirements and has enrolled at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Jenkins’ previous school.
- Key questions: Will Geathers and/or Jenkins prove to be the real deal at nose guard? If so the Bulldogs can expect dramatic improvement on their overall big-play-making capabilities on defense. If not, they will have similar problems as last year.
- Outlook: Encouraging. At the least this would appear to be a drastically improved area for Georgia. But with so many changes in the overall front seven, the Bulldogs will have to go out and prove it on the football field. And lack of depth could be an issue. They will enter camp with just seven scholarship players for three positions. But if the injury bug stays away this area is potentially a team strength.
- Your turn: What say you about Georgia’s defensive line?
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323 comments Add your comment
Dawg1 ur idiot uno 1
July 8th, 2011
8:57 am
enjoy and thanks for arriving so early(wink)
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
9:03 am
Paul N Destin
July 8th, 2011
8:12 am
OK time is running out on the best team in college football (March thru August)….put your hands together for demm UGA Dawgs…
***********************************************************
Here’s a novel concept:
Contribute something to the blog topic or shutup.
CAN YOU READ SON?
READ MY POST!!!
Now if you interpret my post as labeling us national champions and being a kool aid drinker then you need to go back to school and taking Reading Comprehension 101.
Central fla owns uga
July 8th, 2011
9:03 am
murray could not find the end zone lol
Back to Back Baby
July 8th, 2011
9:04 am
USCe with Latimore and Jefferies will shred the choke sign defense in Athens. Buh Bye Mark Richt. Its two in a row and Back to Back for the Garnet and Black.
Bazooka Joe
July 8th, 2011
9:04 am
East Repeat – you chickens crack me up…. ONE decent (not great, decent) year in the history of your program (oh thats right, you did win an ACC title back in the 60’s or 70’s….) and all of a sudden you are the 1940’s Oklahoma Sooners.
I’ll grant you that Latimore and Jeffrey are very good players but it takes more than those two. Your problem is QB – Jerry Garcia isnt going to get it done for you. FSU showed how to handle you – smack Latimore hard and often, make Garcia try to win the game for you.
old time dog
July 8th, 2011
9:04 am
The nose is indeed the central cog in the wheel of this defense. If Jenkins and Gweathers(spelling?) are what they are indicated on here to be, then that helps the rest of the defense no doubt. As a couple of previous posters stated there were too many instances where the defense had to play continuously. eYe would like to think there is discussion and communication between Richt,Bobo and Grantham regarding the flow of a game. eYe want to see it.
Bazooka Joe
July 8th, 2011
9:05 am
Back to back – I dont think South Carolina has EVER beaten Georgia two years in a row – wont happen this year either….
Murray the midget
July 8th, 2011
9:06 am
ohh no the ESPN jinx~
Bobo, Bobo, a pirates life for me...
July 8th, 2011
9:07 am
Anyone else think they should give Connor Norman a few plays?? I know he is a little undersized, height wise, for a safety, but he played an amazing G-Day game. The kid has heart, and made the play when it counted.
Thoughts?
LogicalUS
July 8th, 2011
9:08 am
Funny article, the homers at the AJC weren’t asking if UGA had a true noseguard last year, they were crowing about having gotten rid of the previous DC. The outlook last season was “encouraging” also.
Only at UGA and the AJC would have NO returning quality experience and reliance on an unproven JC player who has never even gone thru one practice be a sign of “encouraging”.
But not to worry that Lattimore kid ran for two TDs against the real Cody last season against Bama so not likely the mini-me Cody at UGA will have much of an impact.
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
9:08 am
Murray the midget
July 8th, 2011
9:06 am
ohh no the ESPN jinx~
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Yeah idiot, Herbstreit last year said watch out for auburn, he really jinxed them.
go clean some more toilets bathroom boy
sandman053
July 8th, 2011
9:09 am
Bobo that is the kid I was thinking about earlier not Sailors..He has a Pollack-type motor and heart. I just hope he gets a good look and no telling how much bigger he has gotten
9 out of 10
July 8th, 2011
9:10 am
Hey Just Askin’,
How can Tech fans come on to UGA blogs and talk smack after winning 1 out of last 10 games in football? I’m just asking.
RxDawg
July 8th, 2011
9:10 am
“Abry Jones was probably under-valued as a defensive end last season, though he certainly earned notice after recording 16 tackles in the regular-season finale against Georgia Tech.”
Wait a minute… our DE racked up 16 tackles against the nerds? How in the H did I miss that!?
JDawg1785
July 8th, 2011
9:10 am
Big John will be an animal and Kwame’s spring was no fluke. Loved watching his brother, Robert, play between the hedges as well. Go Dawgs!
sandman053
July 8th, 2011
9:11 am
Logical he didn’t run against Cody last year. Dareus maybe but not Mt. Cody.
Murray the midget
July 8th, 2011
9:12 am
Dawninlex don’t get your red panties in a wad…auburn win still hurts today.
RxDawg
July 8th, 2011
9:13 am
D. Tyson “he also had 16 against the Jackets ”
WHAT!? So our DE and our DT racked up 16 tackles each? That’s unheard of. If I’m a tech fan I’m telling PJ to recruit a whole class of offensive lineman.
1eyedJack
July 8th, 2011
9:13 am
“..who was the walk-on kid that really shined in the Spring game?”
I believe that kid’s name was Conner Norman?
Hopefully this year with this front 7 I won’t get a sick feeling in my stomach every time we face 3rd and long.
Tard Dawg
July 8th, 2011
9:13 am
High expectations = not get arrested.
BulldogBen
July 8th, 2011
9:14 am
Way less concerned about the line than the losses of Darryl Gamble, Akeem Dent, and Justin Houston. You don’t simply replace guys like that (and even they underperformed). I’m worried about our inability to create ANY pass rush.
Grantham has pinned his hopes and future career to John Jenkins. If the D doesn’t improve and we go 7-5, he, along with Richt, may be gone. Thus making Grantham decision to leave the Cowboyds tragic.
BulldogBen
July 8th, 2011
9:16 am
Still having nightmares about Brandon Smith covering Alshon Jeffrey.
*curls up in fetal postion*
Chicken Little
July 8th, 2011
9:18 am
The sky is falling! The sky is falling!
how2fish
July 8th, 2011
9:24 am
@LogicalUS excuse me but Cody didn’t play at Bama last year. Cody signed a four-year, $3.385 million maximum value contract with the Ravens on July 26, 2010. So in Oct last year he was a Raven not Bama player..but besides that little fact the rest of your rant made perfect sense…..WOW.
sandman053
July 8th, 2011
9:26 am
lol how2fish….that was the point I was trying to make, but you certainly made it better. I couldn’t remember where he ended up.
WDE
July 8th, 2011
9:28 am
@Ho hum I remember all the talk last year that Murray was too short and slow and had no heart…all that turned out to be wrong..WOW!
Tampa Gator
July 8th, 2011
9:29 am
Jenkins and Geathers are a good combo at NG for the Dawgs. Georgia is looking good for this year. Boise will be tough…..and SC if very good. Win those two, and GA fans will be out of their minds in 1980’s glory. Lose one or both….and GA fans will be ready to jump off the cliff again.
how2fish
July 8th, 2011
9:30 am
@sandman053 I didn’t see your response until I posted its amazing how many trolls never fact check. LOL!
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
9:30 am
Murray the midget
July 8th, 2011
9:12 am
Dawninlex don’t get your red panties in a wad…auburn win still hurts today.
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Shutup bathroom boy. you brought up the ESPN jinx and I bashed you.
You missed a spot in the toilet.
Go back and do it again
War eagle cleaning up the doo
War eagle cleaning up the poo
War eagle-the best janitor in dixieland!!
how2fish
July 8th, 2011
9:31 am
Enter your comments here
Whiskey Breath
July 8th, 2011
9:31 am
Do you think Florida is already putting a “W” in the win column? How the hell do you guys respect yourself after the last 20 years of beatings? Oh, I think it is about time to celebrate the 1980 championship. You guys just don’t kiss Buck’s butt enough.
WDE
July 8th, 2011
9:33 am
@Tampa Gator you have a valid point there is always a band wagon percentage of the fan base…check Gator Nation about 9 games into last season..it ain’t just UGA.
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
9:33 am
Are you drunk whiskey breath?
The blog topic is our defensive line and you spew about florida and buck belue.
Why don’t you try actually contributing to the topic at hand.
you are one of several racking up TROLL points
Spike
July 8th, 2011
9:37 am
Let the big dawg eat!!
Born2Bark
July 8th, 2011
9:38 am
Excited to read Jenkins is impressing so far. Cody was the anchor at Bama and Jenkins is faster and just as strong according to his JUCO coach! Also pumped that Kwame turned it on in the spring. Grantham’s D should be legit now that he has the personnel in place. Tyson back to his natural position, Abry is way stronger and more explosive on the other end, and 2 mack trucks who can clog the middle and make it easier for the LBs. Tree and Jarvis will be killers at LB. A little worried about safety depth, but move Commings there if need be and we should be ok. I get a semi when I think about how good this D should be! GO DAWGS!
DawgInLex aka porta potty guru
July 8th, 2011
9:38 am
keep drinking the kool aid.
AltamahaDawg
July 8th, 2011
9:39 am
I doubt Grantham has pinned his hopes on any one player especially a first year guy. I think he believes Jenkins is a good player and a wide strong body, so I am sure he likes that. I would think he is counting on the entire squad being able to walk to the field that very first series of the first game knowing what to do, going full speed, and not looking around at each other as they did last year. It was especially obvious in the backfield. The linemen were probably as lost, but we would not have seen their uncertainty “displayed” as much from their stance. Without changing one other thing, our DBs are going to be better prepared. It seemed to me that was true as the year progressed, getting burned far less.
He has also developed a better DL situation on the whole (as well as more experience), before Jenkins. At the very least, Jenkins adds some depth at a critical position, which is something Grantham never had last year. Hopefully he is more than just: at the very least.
I’m not worried about losing Houton. He was fine, but I think you can just plug in somebody else there, and be just as effective as he was. Gamble and Dent, the worse thing about losing them is: wished they could have been back for year 2. But big picture, I’d trade losing pretty much ANY great player from last year for a lot of average players having more experience in this system any day. I don’t think they were great, I don’t think our other LB are only average. I think we have improved at that spot on the whole.
Big Dawg
July 8th, 2011
9:41 am
Fellow Dawgs,
Coach Richt is in the progress of righting the ship, so to speak, it took a lot to replace his close personal friend Coach Martinez. Hopefully he also has learned the lesson that you have to be able to line up and punch the other team in the mouth, that finesse just does not win Championships. We will see real fast if in fact the Dawgs have turned the corner or not with them p;laying Boise State and South Carolina the first 2 weeks. Hopefully there will be a lot of pleasantly surprised Dawg fans including myself.
Go Dawgs
Football Insider
July 8th, 2011
9:43 am
Caleb King is in mighty big trouble. News to break later today.
Ted M
July 8th, 2011
9:44 am
2 guys from the defensive line last year were drafted and drafted pretty high.
Why was that such a weakness?
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
9:45 am
Football insider
Provide a link or go back to TROLL VILLAGE
Carlton
July 8th, 2011
9:46 am
D-Line will be greatly improved. I’ve said before that the best addition in this “Dream Team” of 2011 was John Jenkins, not Isaiah Crowell. He is a natural NG, which is the most important position in a 3-4 defense. The NG commands how the line runs, and is supposed to command how the offense he’s playing against runs based on his ability to disturb the line. Our inside linebackers (samuel, who played LB in high school) and Alec Ogletree (do we even need to explain why he’s great?) will be behind Jenkins blowing s*** up. Our D will be greatly improved in the second year of the 3-4 (it already WAS improved in the first year under Grantham-see..2009 D stats vs. 2010).
It’ll be a special season. Write it down.
Go Dawgs!!
Tide Roll
July 8th, 2011
9:46 am
Look for Carolina to move Atlanta Creekside’s massive Rokevious Watkins (6′5″ 340lb.) OL outside to offensive tackle to create a similar mismatch that they had with him at offensive guard last year. Richt simply has to begin keeping some of these studs home. Watkins, like Milledgeville native and Bama All-American OT James Carpenter, will be a NFL 1st rounder
WDE
July 8th, 2011
9:48 am
Look there is Tide Troll ……..yawn.
Troll Power Ratings
July 8th, 2011
9:49 am
TECHIES are in full-bloom envy mode. Note they are the first posters on almost any UGA blog topic. Thanks for caring, dorks.
Tide Roll
July 8th, 2011
9:50 am
Another 1st rounder: Bama OG and Atlanta Westlake native Chance Warmack.(6′4″ 320lb.) If Richt is to survive, he must end this continuous migration of in-state stud OL(s) to the very teams he competes against!
Football Insider
July 8th, 2011
9:50 am
DawginLex,
Pay site, I cannot provide links to any pay sites per the blogs rules here at the AJC.
You ever wondered why King transferred to Texas for a couple of months between JR and SR season of high school and then came back to GA? i.e. it has to do with his grades. Seems like he just never could get the classroom part of it down.
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
9:51 am
tide troll
How will it be a mismatch if he is facing 1 of 3 BLACK defensive linemen who are the same size as he is or bigger?
sandman053
July 8th, 2011
9:53 am
which pay site Insider?
I know no links
tar and feathers party
July 8th, 2011
9:54 am
NCAA will cancel mutts’ season after Boise State beats the mutts silly! Too much lying, cheating, and stealing in Athens, imho.