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
Lowcountry Bulldawg
July 8th, 2011
9:54 am
Thats the beauty of College football, lose the first game and so many will think the season is over. Why? Because we do not have a playoff. The NFL you can go 7-9, win your division and still have a shot. College football EVERY week matters. You not only have your teams game to watch, but five other games that every week seemingly are must see TV. Lets just hope for about 35% of our fanbase we do not lose that first game so they do not start the sky is falling argument on Labor Day.
Tide Roll
July 8th, 2011
9:55 am
And you know Tennessee likes the upside of OT JuJuan James 6′7″ 330lb. N.Gwinnett High, and Freshman All American! Even you Kool Aid drinking delusionists who try to pass as rational human beings, would admit these guys would have made a difference in your astounding loss to Middle Florida.
WDE
July 8th, 2011
9:55 am
@tar and feathers party got anything to back that up with ?
Football Insider
July 8th, 2011
9:56 am
Paysite has the initials of D R.com
Check it…Actually, I don’t think it is pay site. So it’s public. Rant off. (clue)
WDE
July 8th, 2011
9:58 am
@Tide Roll really astounding loss…hmmm what was that Louisiana community college your bunch lost to a couple of years ago….
Troll Power Ratings
July 8th, 2011
9:59 am
Let me help. Here is a TECH blog article you TECHIES must of overlooked. Of course it did have “Georgia Tech” and “receivers” in the same sentence, so it may have seemed a bit odd and not registered. Knock yourselves out. I think there have already been about 4 posts:
http://blogs.ajc.com/georgia-tech-sports/2011/07/08/tech-looking-for-answers-at-wide-receiver/?cxntfid=blogs_georgia_tech_sports
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
10:01 am
tide roll
You still haven’t answered my question. All you have done is spew crap about an OL who plays somewhere else.
How is the SC tackle/guard going to be a mismatch for our DL when he will be facing 1 of 3 black DL who are the same size or bigger thaan he is. I also love how you know what Spurrier is going to do with his players position wise. I also love how you think that just because a kid is from Georgia, he automatically wants to go to Georgia and it is always richt’s fault when he doesn’t.
Are you really that stupid? I hope all your posts are just crap to try and get under our skin and you are REALLY not that dumb.
Homepage | MrSEC.com
July 8th, 2011
10:02 am
[...] Big changes – key word big – along the Georgia defensive line coming this [...]
truedawg
July 8th, 2011
10:03 am
Look out SEC this D is for real. only question is maybe secondary. No one will have alot of success runnign the ball on UGA this year. Not saying Lattimore at Sc isn’t the one of the best RB in the nation, just saying he’ll have under 100 yds rushing vs Dawgs. I’d say maybe first half a lil but by second half , too beat down to run. Only way to beat the Dawgs this year is through the air, and better be fast at it, because pass rush will be beastly as well. GO DAWGS!!
sandman053
July 8th, 2011
10:03 am
Yeah nothing on any site that I found. Still not sure what one you are talking about Insider
Tide Roll
July 8th, 2011
10:04 am
Be sure to read the article on our latest commit, 6′7″ 310 lb. OT Brandon Greene, from Atlanta’s Cedar Grove entitled “The Sky’s the Limit”. The kid’s an Under Armour All-American, and another James Carpenter! ROLL TIDE. and thanks Georgia. You’ve been great to us.
Football Insider
July 8th, 2011
10:05 am
Sandman, I gave you a clue as to the one I am talking about in my post above.
Hearing it is on Scout too on the boards there.
Dawg Tired
July 8th, 2011
10:07 am
If Tyson continues to grow like he has in this article, 6′2″ & 290 lbs. in first line of article to 6′4″ & 306 lbs. in 5th paragraph, we just may have the largest dfensive end in history before the season starts. What’s he eating? Put the rest of the linemen on his diet and workout schedule asap!
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
10:09 am
tide roll
won’t answer me huh?
Oh well I guess you really are a TROLL or the highest order.
Later moron
Football Insider
July 8th, 2011
10:09 am
Nevermind, what I said. Seems a dawg fan trolled his own board.
Carry on dawg fans.
Uuggh...
July 8th, 2011
10:10 am
SCBoy…it remains to be seen as to whether or not Lattimore has shaken off that vicious hit from the FSU game. Even if he has…Spurrier will need to be a bit more creative than he had to be in last year’s game in the 2nd half. Granted the same play worked over and over and over agian. That won’t be the case this year.
I think our 2 NT will make an enormouse difference in the way the whole defense performs and I am excited to see it!
Wasn’t there some discussion on this blog of getting together a campaign to send Garcia cases of beer to keep him sharp during camp?
Dawg Tired
July 8th, 2011
10:11 am
You’re welcome TR. Without Georgia players you would not be competitive in the SEC (maybe not even in the ACC for that mater). Competition is good for the conference.
truedawg
July 8th, 2011
10:13 am
With all the GA players that Bama is having to get, just says no one is Bama born and raised there has any skills..Nothing good comes from Bama. Looks that way to me Tide roll, from what you say about getting players from GA.
I’d be worried about all that tallent you brag about having and you still got your butts handed to you last year. Best coach in the world according to bama fans? best players? hummm ..planing on blowing any more big leads this year to AU? overeated #1 preseason..talk about weak east and lose to Sc again?
GO DAWGS!!!
JOE
July 8th, 2011
10:14 am
Caleb King has officially flunked out of school………….wow
sandman053
July 8th, 2011
10:17 am
Joe any backup on that statement?
Tide Roll
July 8th, 2011
10:18 am
I almost forgot. Jenkins, Geathers or whomever, are going to have their hands full with Ole Miss., Atlanta MLK and Remington watch list Junior center A. J Hawkins (6′4″ 330Lb.) Are you guys even capable of seeing a pattern here. Can’t you see that these are the very athletes that could have made Uga competitive and they’re all in state kids! What does is take for you Kool Aiders. These guys were your problem solvers, and they’re now with the very teams you need to beat to be successful!
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
10:20 am
We will beat Olemiss to death. 38-10
Bama won’t make it to Atlanta again except for the chicken bowl
Arkansas 2011 SEC West champions
Bama might lose to Penn state
OC_Dawg
July 8th, 2011
10:20 am
Wow! DeAngelo Tyson grew 2 inches and gained 16 pounds in only 5 bullet points!
Mutts goes from contenders to pretenders every year
July 8th, 2011
10:20 am
hear same bs every year from fleabag nation. win something, then you can brag retards.
RxDawg
July 8th, 2011
10:20 am
@Dawg Tired
July 8th, 2011
10:07 am
LOL, I noticed that too.
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
10:22 am
Mutts goes from contenders to pretenders every year
*****************************************************
Yeah we hear the same BS from the TROLLS like you every year too.
Big man hiding behind a computer who bags groceries at Walmart, never had date, never played a sport and lives in his momma’s basement.
What became of St Simons?
July 8th, 2011
10:23 am
Since St Simons can’t brag about a win anymore, his favorite tactic is to pretend to be a fan from another SEC school. He was a Gator or a Bama fan last year at this time, then he became an Auburn or SC fan. I wouldn’t take the bait.
choke! the offical drink of the uga bulldawgs
July 8th, 2011
10:24 am
says it all.
mean machine in red and black
July 8th, 2011
10:24 am
Plain and Simple: Besides QB, this is THE strength of this team.
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
10:24 am
He is still a techie but calls himself Saban.
big john 360 lbs
July 8th, 2011
10:25 am
Big John Jenks is coming to town and ready to be a difference maker. He will stuff Lattimore and put him on the bench the whole 2nd half, just like he did in most games last yr.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
July 8th, 2011
10:29 am
Just askin’:
Just asking is just stupid…One of those dawg fans who only sends lip service to the program and no money….
mutts goes from contenders to pretenders every year
July 8th, 2011
10:29 am
win something loser then you can brag. now get back to do what you do best. cleaning toilets !
Uuggh...
July 8th, 2011
10:30 am
JOE…can I get a reference on that post?
robodawg
July 8th, 2011
10:31 am
This is just what we need to get back to championship caliber play. UGA in ‘02 and ‘05 (and ‘07), and the recent successes of LSU, Auburn, and Bama, all had weaknesses, but all had dominating defensive lines. Championships are won on the D line.
Born2Bark
July 8th, 2011
10:31 am
Chip, do you think Joe T will give you a lot of specifics and stats when you meet with him to discuss the new S&C approach? I’m eager to know who has seen the most benefit. Thanks!
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
July 8th, 2011
10:31 am
Mutts goes from contenders to pretenders every year:
WE CAN ALWAYS HANDLE THE JACKETTES!!!! 9 OUT 10 PUTS A SMILE ON EVERY DAWGFACE….
Reverb
July 8th, 2011
10:33 am
ESPN ranks SC #1 D line, Fla #4, UGA #7 in SEC. I’d put UGA D Line #4 in SEC East until they improve on 3rd downs, and against the run.
http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/23880/sec-position-rankings-defensive-line-3
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
July 8th, 2011
10:35 am
Tide Roll:
WAS THAT LA TECH THAT YOU BOYS LOST TO A COUPLE YEARS AGO? AND I THINK OLE NICK WAS IN THE HOUSE FOR THAT ONE…
Realist
July 8th, 2011
10:37 am
The Blecher Report may give the perennially optimistic dawg fans a dose of reality. He predicts loses to Boise & Carolina and being 2-2 before Richt’s last game, the loss to Miss. State. Hopefully the new AD will finally get a coach that keep up with Alabama, Auburn, Arkansas, Carolina, Florida, LSU, & Miss. State. The AD is very familiar with Dan Mullin at Miss. State and will hopefully pry him away.
Read it and weep.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/742112-college-football-2011-105-early-picks-against-the-spread-from-vegas-early-line
sandman053
July 8th, 2011
10:38 am
Born2Bark: I too would love to know some S & C stats. I know from the debacle in Memphis until start of Spring the weight gains were phenomenal. I would love to hear what the differences are from end of Spring practice to the beginning of camp. I think those two numbers will be huge indicators of where we stand, but all in all I am excited to be a Dawg.
Reverb
July 8th, 2011
10:40 am
Phil Steele not high on Georgia’s D Line, higher on Gamecoacks and Gators. Tenn got a big JUCO transfer too, and looks better than Georgia on D-Line. Georgia ranked #4 in SEC East D-Line out of 6 SEC East teams. Better than Kentucky & Vanderbilt. Worse than everybody else.
Mutts goes from contenders to pretenders every year
July 8th, 2011
10:45 am
Mutts can not beat ANY TEAM from Florida. HAHA Losers!
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
10:45 am
Reverb
So we believe those Phil Steele ratings but ignore the prediction of UGA winning the East
I get it now.
Thanks for clearing that thought process up for us
Reverb
July 8th, 2011
10:45 am
Georgia D-Line last season was in SEC:
9th in tackles for loss
9th in sacks
12th in 3rd down conversions against winning teams
12th in fumble recovered against winning teams (1 all year)
Couldn’t get much worse in those key areas. Not sure the D-Line coach knows what he’s doing, good recruiter, Garner is not a good d line coach.
DawginLex
July 8th, 2011
10:47 am
Isn’t it time for you to re-post your Aaron Murray stats?
Reverb
July 8th, 2011
10:49 am
D-Line gave up 27 td’s in the red zone, more than anyone except Vandy & Kentucky.
Also, forced less field goals in the red zone than anyone in the SEC.
http://www.cfbstats.com/2010/leader/911/team/defense/split01/category27/sort07.html
CHDawg
July 8th, 2011
10:52 am
Reverb,
You know how accurate predictions are, don’t you? They are fun for us fans, but they are almost always wrong. I think UGA will have a strong line this year. I think UF will have a strong D line this year and they will be a lot better than even Gator Fans are figuring.
Troll Hunter
July 8th, 2011
10:53 am
Just don’t feed them and they’ll go back under their bridges.
Nick Saban
July 8th, 2011
10:53 am
Nothin like the fresh optimism of dawg fans before the regular season squashes it. I hope I’m wrong but Richt gets canned at the end of the season. Book it.