Big John Jenkins starting to make impact for Georgia at noseguard
Big John Jenkins rarely gets his hands on ball carriers but when he does they know it. (UGA photo by Jim Hipple)
ATHENS – Big John Jenkins got the first start of his brief Georgia career this past Saturday against Tennessee. And while it may not have come as quickly as he wanted, it could not have come in a more ideal situation – SEC road game, night kickoff, national TV, prolific offense, highly-touted quarterback.
“Man, that felt good,” said Jenkins, a 6-foot-4, 340-pound junior noseguard who’s expected to start again this week. “To start in that stadium and under those nights against Tennessee, it felt good. It was big, it was big.”
Jenkins and the Bulldogs played big, too. Including a couple quarterback sacks, they held the Vols to minus-20 yards rushing en route to a 20-12 victory. Entering Saturday’s game at Vanderbilt, Georgia is now third in the SEC and 12th nationally in run defense *85.8 ypg). The Bulldogs are now ranked sixth nationally in total defense (260.5 ypg).
Jenkins and his cohort at noseguard – 6-6, 350-pound Kwame Geathers – are the main reasons for that. As is customary for the position, their impact is not quantifiable statistically. Jenkins and Geathers both have six tackles apiece while Jenkins also has three tackles for loss, a sack and five QB pressures. But a successful play for them is to tie up blockers and hold gaps while linebackers and safeties run loose behind and between them.
Georgia has better-fitting players throughout the lineup in year two of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense. But none have meant more than that 700-pound duo in the middle.
“It’s really helped us,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said. “It’s really solidified what we’re trying to accomplish against the run game. You want the big men in there to help stop the run. But then taking DeAngelo [Tyson] and allowing him to play an end position was big for him. And Abry Jones has had a really good season. So we really got stronger inside and out.”
Georgia is also getting a lot more out of sophomore ends Garrison Smith and Derrick Lott at this point. The dominance of the defensive line has kept the depleted linebacker corps from missing a beat despite several injuries.
But Jenkins is the one who has probably come the farthest in the shortest amount of time. The former JUCO All-American out of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College initially struggled with the transition to FBS football and remained behind Geathers in the rotation until recently.
“It’s good competition, that’s the main thing,” Richt said. “Both those guys are playing well and both those guys are going to play. . . . The good news is we have two guys who can play and know they have to compete for that starting job on a weekly basis. That’s when you really have something going on.”
“I would say I’ve some a long way,” Jenkins said. “I’m making some plays in the games now. I predicted I would play more plays, but things are working. And that’s the thing: I just keep working and working and working. Pretty soon my time is going to come where people will know I’m that dominant guy.”
Jenkins actually was a two-way player and a better-than-average fullback in high school and expressed his desire to Georgia coaches during recruiting to tote the rock at least once in college. But from the sound of things that’s not likely to happen any time soon.
“Pretty early on, he said, ‘You know, Coach, I think I just need to work on noseguard right now,’” Richt said. “But when he gets really comfortable, he’ll be back [at running back] I’m sure.”
The good news for Georgia is Jenkins is getting more comfortable every day.
Sterling Bailey now 100 percent
Freshman outside linebacker Sterling Bailey is practicing at 100 percent without limitations and making a very strong impression on Georgia coaches.
“He’s a very athletic guy and we’re eager to see what he can do,” Richt said.
The 6-foot-5, 260-pound graduate of Gainesville’s East Hall High was out of action all summer while recovering from shoulder surgery he had last spring.
Etc. . . .
Sophomore Chris Burnette is expected to start for the second straight week at right guard. . . . Nineteen Vanderbilt players are from Georgia, including eight possible starters: tight end Brandon Barden (Lincolnton), receiver Chris Boyd (Roswell), cornerback Casey Hayward (Perry), punter Richard Kent (Marietta), WR Jonathan Krause (Snellville), safety Kenny Ladler (Stone Mountain), tackle Ryan Seymour (Kingsland) and receiver Udom Umoh (Fort Valley). . . .Georgia senior center Ben Jones and Vanderbilt junior tailback Zac Stacy are best friends since their days at Alabama’s Bibb County High School.
|– Chip Towers
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151 comments Add your comment
Troof
October 14th, 2011
9:05 am
L.A. BULLDAWG said ” I WANT BAMA!”
LOL! Are you insane? UGA doesn’t belong on the same field as Bama. Can you imagine what that defense would do to Murray? Russ would drop dead from the horror of it all. Holding the Vols running game in check is one thing. Stopping the Bama running game is something entirely different.
Don’t worry Dawg fans. You’ll get your shot at Bama next year and the following. That will be more than enough to hold you over for 4 more years. If by some luck you manage to make it to Atlanta this year, CMR should take the Houston Nutt approach and beg for mercy from our Dark Lord Saban! LOL!
31 YEARS AND COUNTING DAWG FANS SINCE YOUR LAST NATIONAL TITLE! LOL!
RTR!
Eaassyy
October 14th, 2011
9:08 am
Thomas B, what are three reasons for the drop off since 2007 in your opinion? More importantly, starting today, what should be done to improve moving forward?
Mobile Dawg
October 14th, 2011
9:10 am
I think there are at the least three to four options for every play, every situation. No way a DC out thinks a good OC. He might “guess” right on occasion. Bobo, way to predictable. Not a lot of imagination to our offense. I like your analogy, they know what’s coming and they still can’t stop it, we’re not there yet.
DawginLex
October 14th, 2011
9:13 am
Funny thing about competitors Troof, you know people that don’t back down from anyone or anything??
We want UGA to win out
We want SC to lose 1 time to help us out
We want to be in the Dome
To be the best you have to play the best.
On paper, we have no shot.
I guarantee you Bama or LSU or Arkansas gets our best shot.
So go ahead and spew all your crap. No one on the UGA staff or any of the players pay attention to you or to me.
Mobile Dawg
October 14th, 2011
9:14 am
Drop off in record only since 2007. Problems were surfacing in 2005. The foundation didn’t collapse until 2010. The tail has been wagging the dawg since 2005, the coaches have finally shown “some” signs of regaining control, although there are still incidents that indicate the job isn’t completely done. Tweeting the opposing coaches, players deciding not to wear protective gear.
doodoobailey
October 14th, 2011
9:15 am
Power I, toss sweep, Jenkins hitting the end of the line first followed by Figgins and Crowell……I’m calling it on the next 4th and 2….or just FB blast him up the middle.
I was reading recruiting rankings from a couple years ago…Richard Samuel and Boo Malcome, both 5 stars at RB…WTF happened?
DawginLex
October 14th, 2011
9:15 am
whiskey
He commented about the defense all the time from 2001-2005, when we actually had one.
Now, he knows our defense is actually legit again.
He knows his bread is buttered with the defense as long as Bobo is calling plays.
Hopefully next year, Bobo goes back to QB coach and Richt takes back playcalling with our improved defense and we actually win something.
Mobile Dawg
October 14th, 2011
9:20 am
Agree with your post Lex, however a lot of people are putting the cart before the horse. We’ve got a lot of work to do to win out just in the SEC. If we take it one game at a time, and continue to improve every game, we have a shot to win out. Rest assured, neither UF or AU will lay down for us, those are two tough competitors for the Dawgs.
Going to the dome again would be good experience to build off of for some of these young Dawgs, if they don’t get to traumatized and develop PTSD from the shelling they might get. Actually the “Defense” could probably keep us in the game, it’s the O that concerns me.
c mccall
October 14th, 2011
9:25 am
all the other coachs talk about geathers being the main man on the defensive line.Kwame has played great all year but the media only talks to jenkins.I’m proud of the way john is playing but give credit to where credit is do.Geathers is the real run stoper on this team.
DawginLex
October 14th, 2011
9:25 am
If we manage to wade through Vandy, Florida and Auburn unscathed, our fanbase will be real excited to go to ATL if MSU or Ark can help us out.
Make no mistake though, we have a lot of football left that will be very tough.
The mental hurdle of jacksonville is big enough to make us all vomit.
One interesting thing, if we were to win out, how many years has it been since we would have beaten
UT
Florida
Auburn
in the same year?
1982?
how2fish
October 14th, 2011
9:27 am
@Mobile Dawg your and DLex’s post hit it on the head..one game at a time and who doesn’t want a chance to play the best in the Dome?? Vandy this week focus folks !
Tobias Funke
October 14th, 2011
9:28 am
Can we please get an IGNORE button on these blogs? Every other online newspaper in Georgia has that option.
If you are not a Dawg fan on here and continually TROLL away, then you are one sad, sad person. Get a life.
JB
October 14th, 2011
9:31 am
All that needs to be said. We have not beat a ranked team since sometime in the 2009 season. I’m not sold yet.
I’m in year 3 watching Dawgs jockey for a second tier bowl game, hoping someone else gets beat to make something good happen. I have seen improvement over last year though.
DawginLex
October 14th, 2011
9:34 am
JB
You gotta admit though it would be funny if we won out and Richt beat UT, UF and AU in the same year and it would be the 1st time since 1982 it was done.
And people will still want him fired
and people will say big deal because all 3 of them are down from past glory
JB
October 14th, 2011
9:35 am
Lex, if we beat all of them this year, it should be noted that when was the last time Fla, AU and Tenn. stunk all in the same year?
Whiskey Breath
October 14th, 2011
9:36 am
Funny to hear you guys talking about beating Florida. It’s that time of year again! Time for tough guy talk from the dawgs and Bulue is the toughest. ” Bring on the Gators.” I think they are shaking in their
cutoffs thinking about their thrashing. You dawgs are cracking me up.
Where is Saint Simons
October 14th, 2011
9:37 am
Has anyone seen or heard of Saint Simon, where ever you are, please come back I miss you.
JB
October 14th, 2011
9:39 am
Lex, if Richt beats Fla and ends up even at 8-4, he’ll be back with some type of extension for recruiting purposes. I don’t think McGarity will lather him up for 4 or 5 more years because I don’t think he’s 100 % sold. McGarity knows 100 times more than we know about the state of the program, and I think anyone with a brain can see that Richt is not out of the woods. improving, yes. playing SEC championship football. Far from it.
DawginLex
October 14th, 2011
9:39 am
The mental hurdle of jacksonville is big enough to make us all vomit.
********************************
Whiskey
I just posted this. Did you not read it or choose to ignore it since it makes your post worthless drivel?
Number 1 task for UGA
October 14th, 2011
9:40 am
Football is a team sport and it appears that UGA on D is building some QUALITY depth for the first time in a very long while. Lott was mentioned here and Garrsion Smith and they need to be mentioned because they came to UGA highly regarded and they are contributing on the D line with Abry Jones, D’Angelo Tyson and John Jenkins and Kwame Gathers & Co. We also are building some QUALITY LB depth.
OUR NUMBER 1 TASK is to win in Nashville. Then, we take a week to rest, rehab the legs and various injuries.
Defeat Vandy is our most important job.
Go Dogs.
JB
October 14th, 2011
9:43 am
Saint Simons went into hiding after some bad losses and will resurface here under different names from time to time.
JB
October 14th, 2011
9:45 am
I agree about the defense. The Stats, although against pretty weak teams, look pretty good. I want to see them play a ranked team before jumping to far on the bandwagon.
PTC DAWG
October 14th, 2011
9:47 am
The rival fans are SO easy to spot. You guys keep up the good work.
“That dawg want hunt”. LMAO.
Joey
October 14th, 2011
10:08 am
“We’ve got a lot of work to do to win out just in the SEC. If we take it one game at a time, and continue to improve every game, we have a shot to win out.”
****************************************
Mobile Dawg, I’m not so sure the offense is improving. It looked great vs SC, but now looks good for a quarter or half (or until we get a lead), then starts the 3-and-outs.
Bobo has got to do better – stay on the gas til the game is out of reach. Richt, himself called Bobo’s play-calling late in games, “ultra-conservative,” but he has a head-set, so he hears the plays being called.
I don’t understand it.
KingTony
October 14th, 2011
10:21 am
Jenkins is doing good against the cupcakes, he didn’t do well in the first two games.
AltamahaDawg
October 14th, 2011
10:59 am
WARNING: The following post is a limited perspective on a very specific issue. Please do not offer a rebuttal in the form of an argument of an exagerated point invebted solely for the purposes to avoiding an actual disagreement of said specific issue. This post in no way serves to evaluate the overall performance of the Georgia Bulldog offense or in any way exonerates the Georgia coaching staff from any an all responsibility for the performance of the offense in general.
AltamahaDawg
October 14th, 2011
11:04 am
I’ll just start using that disclaimer from now on.
And now, the post:
I’d be willing to bet that I could watch a SC game, pause the action after every down, and predict the next play with the same accuracy of any of the Georgia fans claiming to know what we will do every time.
And I’d be willing to be that if I pinned that same person down to estimate the percentage of time that we actually do whatever play they claim we do all the time they would be grossly off the mark.
AltamahaDawg
October 14th, 2011
11:08 am
I’d also be willing to bet that even a casual fan could watch pretty much any game (college or pro) and guess the general playcalling 60% of the time, not knowing a thing about the teams. And with any familiarity of thier history/players/philosophy, and a working knowledge of the game, up that to pretty much the majority of their calls.
how2fish
October 14th, 2011
11:09 am
@AltamahaDawg agreed its not that easy to predict what is coming.
I-DOG
October 14th, 2011
11:18 am
I’m glad that we have these three SEC wins and think we will handle Vandy this weekend. Still, we really can’t talk about the SEC East until and unless we actually beat Florida.
Brantely won’t play against Auburn, but if he plays against us with another two weeks to heal… they will be a different team and possibly coming off a three game losing streak (depending on what happens this weekend). I think that would make for a difficult game and we have to prove that we can beat someone with equal (or even superior)talent.
Florida took care of TN pretty handily and I like the way our defense is playing, but until we actually beat Florida I don’t think we can be considered favorites in the East. If we lose in J-ville that would be 3 losses and we would be behind in both tie breakers (FL and South Carolina). Win there, and we exercise some demons and we have a real shot at the SEC East.
AltamahaDawg
October 14th, 2011
11:20 am
WEll, actually I was saying that it is pretty easy.
At least in the terms that I believe the “I can tell you what Bobo is going to do” is talking about. That is: of cource being familiar with any team, you know the tendencies and that’s true with any team.
Now if you were to stop the action and ask them the route, player, hole, or formation they are going to do it from, folks are just flattering themselves to claim to know that. You know, since Coach Bobo himself doesn’t know that.
Thomas Brown
October 14th, 2011
12:03 pm
Eaassyy, 2007 ? The drop-off happened after 2005. It is talent. Talent in coaching staff hired by Mark Richt and talent playing football on the field after 2005, I submit because of the coaching staff decisions about how they are recruited, how they are handled when they get here and who they actually play and who they do not play, along with the issues of recruiting way too many at some positions and leaving glaring holes at other positions, often years and years and years in a row at the same position, holes left wide open in recruiting, while again stock-piling other positions.
What can be done ?
(1) Drink the Kool-Aid and say how great it is to recruit the # 7 average rank every year of the 11 years to-date without regard to the holes and without regard to how they are motivated, and without regard to the Favorites only given the chance, and therefore get along great with those here who feel only DISNEYdawgs.com statements can be made about how great it is 14-13 vs SEC East after 2005. Or,
(2) Get rid of the offensive coaching staff. Hire a Special Teams Coaching staff. Upgrade Strength and Conditioning by not moving people to other positions, but upgrading the whole idea to get every scholarship football player on the field, playing, and to coach him up in the 5 years he spends here only 1 of 85. Don’t feed them until they all gain 25 lbs. but run their behinds off until they puke and then tell them to run some more with the puke running down their chins – keep going. Set it up so if they do that, and if they go to class, and work on improving, that they will actually play. All this moping around, transferring out of the program, never qualifying, not going to classes, not getting into the games, and not having a game plan with them in mind such as 2 # 1 both who need to play offense together –
Look, just fire the coaching staff. We ain’t goin’ nowhere. Just don’t tell me I have to be group # 1, when group # 2 is where ALL OF US ARE # 27 in won/lost after 2005 through this day today, talking about Florida in 2 weeks and a day, when we have a game vs Vandie (Cupcake # 5 in a row now) that not 1 poster has spent 1 moment discussing. Why is that ? Because they are all counting their chickens about wow that is 5 in a row wins.
And, not 1 worth a complete darn.
JAWJeRDAWG
October 14th, 2011
12:04 pm
Just FYI to all.
There is a new synonym poster to my handle:
GAWGADAWG
October 13th, 2011
10:31 pm
I welcome his posts and his synonym, but just wanted to say that he is not I.
My handle is based on my name.
The JAW reflect my initials, and I am a Jr; thus, the JAWJRDAWG part.
The e was added to expand the name phonetically to reflect Georgia.
Welcome GAWGADAWG.
Just a note that I haven’t changed my posting handle. Have a good weekend all.
MarineDog
October 14th, 2011
12:26 pm
I think that after the SC game when our special teams and offense gave up practically 28 points, Richt decided that he wasn’t going to give the offense a chance to lose another game. Maybe that’s why after get get a decent lead going into the third quarter that they practically shut the offense down because the defense is able to hold the line. I think that he’s not to happy with some of the decisions that Murray has made but he doesn’t have enough confidence the Hutson won’t make the same mistakes or bigger mistakes. In order words, he’s not willing to experiment with a qb change this far into the season. I think that we will see the same strategy this week, but come the FL game, he will throw in everything but the kitchen sink. Because the FL game could turn out to be the most important game of the year, especially if SC loses again and I think they will lose at least 2 more games between MS, Fl, or Ark. Nothing to back up this theory, just my opinion.
MY 2 cents
October 14th, 2011
12:37 pm
If there was ever a game to line up in the I formation with Figgins and Crowell or whoever and just pound,pound, pound, this is the game to do it. This defense kept Alabama in check for the 1st half. Wear them down and put them away, cause if we dont it may get ugly in Athens Sunday morning. I know, I know we should win this game, but Vandy has me concerned. There will be trick plays. They are gonna pull out all the tricks. They have nothing to loose. We better be ready.And I think we will.
UGA 28 VANDY 10
Thats how I see it. Any thoughts.
JAWJeRDAWG
October 14th, 2011
1:01 pm
MY 2 cents
I just hope we can win the Vandy game without any trick plays.
If we can block on the O line and be able to run the ball with success and mix that with the short passes and maybe a couple of long ones, and if the D plays like they have since the SC game, we should beat Vandy without giving FL anything new to scheme to defend.
Then in the UF game, bring out whatever it takes to move the chains and get into the endzone.
Just my 2 cents. .. Go Dawgs!
Thomas Brown
October 14th, 2011
1:28 pm
28-10
G-Dawg
October 14th, 2011
1:37 pm
T. Brown…quit monopolizing these blogs. It wastes our time hearing these rambling irrational stats. you DO NOT paint an entire picture by adding up random numbers to prove your point. you’re completely biased!! otherwise i’d actually stop and read these long winded comments. BLAHHHHH
G-Dawg
October 14th, 2011
1:38 pm
and i’m with L.A. Dawg….bring on BAMA!! regardless if we’re ready or not at the end of season!! to be the best, you gotta beat the best. each game is a measuring stick!!
G-Dawg
October 14th, 2011
1:39 pm
and GT trolls are starting to annoy me more than Gator trolls!!
Troof
October 14th, 2011
1:47 pm
Lex, I have no doubt that UGA will compete. Unfortunately their best effort will be for naught. The defense Bama has put together is overall better than the 2009 version, which was BCS champion quality. The scary thing is for the East is that the LSU defense is very young and will be great next year. I wouldn’t count on the East winning the SECCG next year either.
Nov. 5th decides the SEC Champ and 1/2 of the BCS title game. That’s the bottom line. The rest is simply window dressing.
Half Century Dawg Fan
October 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
Troof, the games have to be played on the field, not in your mind. If we take care of business and make the SECCG, we will show up ready to play. I hope we get the chance to face either Bama or LSU, two outstanding teams for sure.
Jordan
October 14th, 2011
5:18 pm
http://isportsweb.com/2011/10/14/georgia-vs-vandy-preview/
concern
October 14th, 2011
8:13 pm
Some are saying the SEC is not that strong. Does that mean competition may not be good enough for a SEC team to reach big game. Thats what happen to Auburn. May happen this year when voters chatch on.
Mobile Dawg
October 14th, 2011
11:27 pm
Come on Chip, this is the second post today that’s been filtered out?
Homepage | MrSEC.com
October 16th, 2011
8:39 am
[...] has plenty to fix before it plays Florida in Jacksonville in two weeks.8. Junior college transfer John Jenkins is starting to make an impact at noseguard for Georgia. 9. Is Georgia ready to take on Florida? Bulldogs coach Mark Richt [...]
Fletcher
October 16th, 2011
10:55 am
If the big guys are doing so well at nose tackle, how does a team like Vandy run up the middle untouched? Happened more than once. They may be big, but is it coaching? Does not make sense to have a big guy in the middle and a lane so open you could drive a truck thru it.
jc_dawgs
October 17th, 2011
8:35 am
Maybe I’m imagining it…but I swear that Ga is a much better Defense when Big John is in the game. I was at that Vandy game and it certainly looked that way….especially in the 1st half. Detroit may have Suh but we got big John!
ugab
October 17th, 2011
9:51 am
Man! DTs are looking better than we were last year. We still need more pass rush from the 2 big guys in the middle and the DEs. Washington is missed. GEATHERS ALMOST HAD VANDY’S QB IN THE ENDZONE. Great play by vandy’s Qb to get away from Geathers. Geathers beat his man on the ol, them he crushed the rb trying the block him too. Go Dawgs! Keep your Cool against Fl
ugab
October 17th, 2011
9:53 am
Vandy did have some good runs up the middle!!! Fl coaches are going to notice these things.