Jarvis Jones thinks Dogs’ defense just as good as LSU’s, ‘if not better’
Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones (L) may have inadverently threw down a challenge to LSU when he talked up the Dogs' defense on Monday. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – It was a simple question that was posed to Georgia’s Jarvis Jones during a teleconference call with reporters on Monday. The sophomore outside linebacker was asked if he thought the Bulldogs’ defense was somewhat overshadowed by LSU’s and how he thought the two units stacked up.
Jones answered it quickly and honestly.
“I mean, everybody praises LSU defense, but I know we’ve got a pretty good defense,” said Jones, the SEC’s leader in quarterback sacks with 13.5. “We’re not cocky at all. We’re just going to play. We do our job and get after it on the field. We like having fun. We love playing football. We’re aggressive. We play just as well as them. A lot of people don’t give us credit [for] how we play. I think we play two different styles.”
Then came the line that caught everybody’s attention.
Said Jones: “I think our defense is just as good as theirs, if not better.”
That statement, tweeted out by several reporters, reverberated all the way to Baton Rouge. LSU wide receiver Russell Shephard quickly noticed it on Twitter and forwarded it to his teammates with the message, “is this guy serious?” That was followed by more than a few “ha-ha’s” and multiple exclamation points.
Suddenly, a little interleague argument has developed between the teams about which one has the best defense. Not surprisingly, Jones’ teammates have come to his defense, so to speak.
“He said it, so I’m going to back him up,” Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo said. “I’m going to be right there with him. That’s my brother, that’s my family, so whatever he says we’re all going to back him up. . . . I also can say I believe we have one of the best defenses in the country, right up there with the LSUs. We have some very talented guys on the defensive side of the ball, too, and I can back it up when I say that.”
Said junior linebacker Christian Robinson: “Look at the numbers. We’re hanging. We’re up there in numbers, too. If we go out there and do what we’re supposed to do on this Saturday, we can end up better than they are not just in the numbers but by winning the game. You don’t want to get into word battles, but if they want to go and say things like [Shephard said], that’s the worse thing to do. There has been a lot of teams that go out there and run their mouth a lot and get beat.”
LSU is ranked slightly ahead of Georgia in every major defensive category and the Tigers have done it against a tougher overall schedule. But the Bulldogs are no slouches. They, too, rank as a Top 10 defense. Following are the latest national rankings:
LSU——-Category———Georgia
2——–Total Def.———-5
4——–Rush Def.———-6
3——-Pass Eff. D———-4
2——–Scoring D———10
6——–Passing D———11
16———Sacks————17
The one thing Georgia feels it may have going for it on Saturday is a more diversified offense. The Tigers are very much a run-first offense while the Bulldogs throw the ball a little more. Georgia feels the Tigers’ propensity for wanting to run the ball straight at opponents with their bevy of big backs and dare them to stop it actually plays into its hands.
“They’re not going to go away from their game scheme, so we’ve just got to bow up,” Georgia safety Bacarri Rambo said. “We’ve got to keep attacking and making tackles and not allow big plays. We know they’re going to run the ball, so we’ve just got to be prepared for it.”
Said Robinson: “I think we’ve shown we can hang with teams that run it. Auburn relied heavily on the run and we shut them down. LSU is not shy about their run game. That’s all they want to do and then they’ve got some receivers that can go get it. So we’ll take the challenge, not in a cocky way, but we can hang. So we’ll be ready.”
Said Jones: “It’s a challenge for us as a defense. But you always want to be challenged and you want to step up accomplish those challenges. So it’s going to be a big day for us and we’re looking forward to it.”
An intriguing matchup just got more intriguing, don’t you think?
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683 comments Add your comment
Delusional Dawg
November 29th, 2011
11:23 am
Better yet, maybe LSU could swap with NMSU. Dawgs D is excellent when we play them!
Idiot Dawg
November 29th, 2011
11:23 am
Good grief, what have we got to lose? I think the dawgs hold lswho to negative yardage. Why worry about bulletin board fodder for them. If they’re so mighty we may as well have some fun with it. I think the dawgs throw 5 TD’s in the first half. I think Crowell delivers such good running fakes that the camera man has to zoom out to figure where the ball is. Murray has a field day confusing the lswho Db’s. Why not. If balaama can get a doover and it’s a done deal why can’t we beat the crap of of a tigger.
LongTimeDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:24 am
Whether or not any of us would have made these comments, JJ has the right to be proud of the job the defense has done. They have won 10 in a row after being thrown to the wolves after the first two losses. The team’s ability to come together, refocus, and win has been inspirational. This is the end of a season, if he wants to talk up his team a bit (and honestly in a very non-confrontational manner) he has the right to. Of course no-one has any clue what WILL happen at the game but until then, I for one will just be excited they are playing in the SECCG and have an extra weekend of boozing with friends while we watch our DAWGS!!!
Dail
November 29th, 2011
11:24 am
Final Score:
LSU 31
UGA 9
Jarvis Jones is toking on the stuff with his buddy Crowell.
Alphare
November 29th, 2011
11:25 am
ARDawg,
“UGA defense has the numbers to prove it”.
What numbers, scores included?
WDE
November 29th, 2011
11:27 am
It will be a honor to play the Bayou Bengals of LSU for the SEC championship, they are a true no.1 team and I hope we can make it a great game. We really can’t lose we get a very good bowl game we won 10 games this year and defeated the dastardly foes from UT, UF,Auburn and Tech and we are SEC East champs ! Hat’s off to CMR and his staff and his team that never quit on him or themselves !! Go Dawgs! And what was JJ going to say “Gee they are just great and I hope we don’t get hurt?” We will only win this game by punching LSU in the mouth early and often they won’t back down too good too tough and too well coached but we have to take the fight to them to have ANY chance…GATA!!
ARdawg
November 29th, 2011
11:27 am
There seems to be somewhat of a rattle by the talking heads that nobody can compare or compete with LSU or Bama defense. That is utter bullsnip. They didn’t invent defense and it wouldn’t matter if they did. It’s all where the toe meets the leather these definitions can be made.
Thats not smack talk from Jarvis or the defense. That’s confidence. He can talk all he wants, it’s him and his team mates that will be backing it up or not. LSU’s motivation? More bullsnip. Like they need motivation. Get real
GATA Georgia!!
Silly Thinking
November 29th, 2011
11:28 am
Comparing the LSU defense to the UGA defense is the same as comparing the OK State offense to that of GA State. You rednecks sure are FUNNY this week!!!!
ARdawg
November 29th, 2011
11:28 am
Alphare
Did you not read the column?
nipple Dawg
November 29th, 2011
11:29 am
GO DAWGS!!!!!
Delusional Dawg
November 29th, 2011
11:29 am
Meh… LSU has no chance.
Trust me, this will be a cakewalk for the Dawgs. LSU is overrated.
Yea Right
November 29th, 2011
11:31 am
Comparing the LSU defense to the Jawga defense is the about the same as comparing the OK St offense to that of GA St. You rednecks sure are FUNNY this week!!!
TallaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:32 am
I do not even look at opposing teams’ websites. Why do so many of UGa’s opponents spend so much time talking trash on our website? They are pitiful.
ARdawg
November 29th, 2011
11:32 am
Nobody gave Georgia much hope in 2005 either. Does anyone need a reminder of how that one turned out?
The only SEC team Les Miles has a losing record against? Georgia Bulldogs
SmyrnaBob
November 29th, 2011
11:33 am
Let a sleeping honey badger lie.
btw: this new blog format is awful and very difficult to read.
WDE
November 29th, 2011
11:33 am
@Delusional Dawg chances are darn good that if we played whatever bunch you pull for our stats were pretty good that day too….
DawgFaceBlues
November 29th, 2011
11:33 am
DawgNation is just happy to be in the SEC game. UGA has nothing to lose but the game. LSU has an unblemished record to lose and now looks like bragging rights. Recruiting and confidence will bode well for the Dawgs if we can pull this one out! GO you silver britches!
ARdawg
November 29th, 2011
11:34 am
Talla
They are the haterz and Posers. Mostly Techies too ashamed to use their other 10 blog nicks in fear of being called out
outkasted
November 29th, 2011
11:34 am
man come saturday night when the DAWGS are SEC CHAMPS… there will be alot of LSU, GA Tech Alabama fans smoking that synthetic weed eating crow for those munchies… people talk like LSU has this great offense thats going to go up and down the field and i just don’t see it… since they got 6 DBS who according to the world are the best since sliced bread well lined them up against King Mitchell Brown Bennett Charles Conley and co and we will see Saturday night…
Sec 114
November 29th, 2011
11:36 am
The thing that I think people are overlooking about LSU is their turnover margin. Offensively, they don’t turn the ball over, with only 8 this season. However, they have forced 27 turnovers this year, creating margin of 19, or greater than +1.5/gm. Georgia has turned the ball over 19 times this year, and has yet to play a defense near the caliber of LSU. Georgia needs to focus on keeping possession. You see from above LSU has the #2 scoring defense in the country, but that doesn’t take into account the turnovers they create in opponents territory, giving their offense a short field. Their special teams are good and are very capable of flipping the field. The defense is capable of putting Georgia in 3rd and longs, potentially causing Murray to force some throws which could lead to a turnover, and even worse, a pick 6. Be careful Jarvis when you run your mouth, because they just beat Arkansas worse than you beat Kentucky at home.
TallaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:36 am
jaglaw @ 10:32 –
If Charles hits Mathieu like he hit the Yech player in the middle of the field, I believe Mathieu will be surprised how big and solid O. Charles is. Charles is a grown man; Mathieu is quick but does not have the size that Charles does. What is your take on that angle?
BMDPD
November 29th, 2011
11:37 am
Here… Common Opponents…. Do what you want….
Bama UGA LSU
UF 10 20 11
Vandy 0 28 *
Miss 7 13 3
UT 6 12 7
MissSt 7 10 6
AU 14 7 10
UK * 10 7
I did not factor yards or points off turnovers (offense).
WDE
November 29th, 2011
11:38 am
@Silly Thinking really someone from LSU calling someone from UGA a redneck??…stick your head back in the swamp.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:39 am
DP
November 29th, 2011
9:48 am
What a Delusional Dawg. Jones is the only Dawg defender who would see significant playing time for LSU. Christian Robinson would be on LSU’s scout team.
————————–
Now that’s delusional .. That’s not just delusional, that’s just plain stupid.
DP
November 29th, 2011
11:39 am
“There seems to be somewhat of a rattle by the talking heads that nobody can compare or compete with LSU or Bama defense.”
It’s not just the talking heads, it’s the coaches around the country who watch them on tape and play against them and anybody who has watched them throughout the season. Gary Danielson said before they played that LSU and Alabama had 10 defensive backs between them who would play in the NFL, not just be on a roster, but play in the next couple of years. And their front sevens are just as dominant. They’re the best 2 defenses in college football not just this year, but in many years. Georgia’s defense is much improved but we’re talking apples and oranges. I recall Kellen Moore of Boise State standing in the pocket and picking the Dawgs defense apart. He could have played the game in a tuxedo. Nobody has or will do that against the LSU or Alabama defenses. Ask Derrick Dooley, whose team played all 3, how he thinks the defenses of LSU, Alabama and Georgia compare.
Alphare
November 29th, 2011
11:40 am
ARDawg,
OK, do your scores include these:
LSU: Kentuky 35-5, FL 41-11, TN 38-7, Miss 52-3
UGA: Kentuky 19-10, FL 24-20, TN 20-12, Miss 27-13
DawgFaceBlues
November 29th, 2011
11:40 am
Any Given Saturday!
RxDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:41 am
lol what was Jones supposed to say? “Um, yeh were pretty good but were nowhere near LSU’s defense. Were all pretty scared to show up and play. Maybe we can talk Richt into forfiting the game?”
LSU
November 29th, 2011
11:41 am
If UGA has to throw the ball like they’ve done in the past two games, Murray will be running for his scared little life Saturday. With no running game that’ll likely be the case.
Spaceman Spiff
November 29th, 2011
11:42 am
Looks like the bitter technerds are out in force again…tell us, o’mighty nerds, how is your defense?
GTBob
November 29th, 2011
11:42 am
LSU has given up less yards per game, about 7 less points per game, and has played tougher offensive opponents. So keep dreaming Jarvis.
WDE
November 29th, 2011
11:43 am
@Sec 114 you make some good points on the turnover margins..but when you start comparing how LSU played common opponents don’t leave out Auburn , our D was every bit as good as LSU or Bama’s vs Auburn and we quit throwing the ball in the 3rd quarter…it will take our best game of the year to beat LSU we know that…and we are going to show up and try to play that game. And we played UK without our 1,2 or 3rd string TB’s .
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:43 am
Silly Thinking
November 29th, 2011
11:28 am
Comparing the LSU defense to the UGA defense is the same as comparing the OK State offense to that of GA State. You rednecks sure are FUNNY this week!!!!
———————-
You know, the only people that usually call us “rednecks” are GT fans. So I guess comparing GTs offense to UGA’s offense is like comparing Kellen Moore to, well, Tevin Washington.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:45 am
GTBob, still trolling trying to take jabs I see. Is it that lonely being a tech fan? I occasionally pull for Tech but people like you make it so hard.
Mexdawg
November 29th, 2011
11:45 am
Hey I understand that we are going to have to play our best game of the year and win the turnover battle to even have a chance against a great LSU team.I get it but maybe MUNSON can send us a little lady luck and get us to HUNKER DOWN ONE MORE TIME.Who knows maybe Larry will be able to make the call OH LOOK AT THE SUGAR FALLING FROM THE SKY.It hope it´s a great game.LET THE BIG DAWG EAT:
BigGame
November 29th, 2011
11:45 am
UGAs D is decent but its DEFINITELY NOT on the level of LSU/BAMA/SCAR.
Here’s why:
#1 – UGA played a MUCH EASIER SCHEDULE than the above mentioned teams
#2 – UGA D line is no where near as disruptive as the above mentioned teams – so it puts pressure on secondary; Just wait for the NFL drafts and every one of you UGA fans will see the truth
#3 – Coming back to that easier schedule – UGA barely beat Vandy/Tenn/UF
Keith Marshall – Come on down and be the next UGA 5-STAR RB to fail…1 out of 5 UGA 5-star RBs live up to their hype so sign-up and roll the dice…
GT Joe
November 29th, 2011
11:46 am
Hey GTBob, did you ever repair my UGA blow-up doll you borrowed?
Delusional Dawg
November 29th, 2011
11:47 am
TallaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:32 am
“I do not even look at opposing teams’ websites.”
Few can compete for sheer hilarity.
Spaceman Spiff
November 29th, 2011
11:48 am
@ Tampa
GTBob still thinks that the ‘nerds can beat UGA…
Frank Lane
November 29th, 2011
11:48 am
this has the makings of a great game if the DAWGS show up.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:48 am
Again Georgia fans, we have heard the same crap ALLLL year from people like GTBob and the other band of merry trolls. Who cares? Their life has to suck to actually WANT to go start negative crap on another team’s blog.
Remember 2005 Dawg Fans!!!! Remember 2005!!!!
JD
November 29th, 2011
11:48 am
For all you folks that want to stir the pot, what do you expect this young man to say? He was asked a question and he truthfully answered it from his perspective. He is leading the SEC in sacks. So it seems to me that if anyone could and should answer the question it qould be him. Should he not have confidence in his teams defense or should he say ” oh no we can’t do anything with LSU”. Let the game play out and we’ll all see what happens. I for one would love to see UGA win because maybe that will convince the BCS idiots that we need a playoff system.
GTBob
November 29th, 2011
11:49 am
TampaDawg, then don’t pull for Tech. You think I care? If your players think they are better then they really are then they are going to get called out on it. Sorry.
RxDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:49 am
I’m tellin ya guys, the key to this game is UGA’s running game. If we can RTDB on a consistent basis, we have a great chance to upset LSU.
GT Joe
November 29th, 2011
11:49 am
GTBob bit a hole in my UGA blow-up doll. First thing he has ever been with and he goes and ruins it!
Dawg48
November 29th, 2011
11:49 am
Richt can out coach miles!
Miles has a winning record against every SEC team but 1, Georgia.
UGA has beat them several times with less talent.
Remember les was on the hotseat as well going into this year.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
11:50 am
Yeah Spaceman, they can actually. Once every 11 years or so.
schmeckdawg
November 29th, 2011
11:51 am
I think the issue, is our Offense vs.their Defense.
I just want to rack some a$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Delusional Dawg
November 29th, 2011
11:52 am
I agree with JJ. I actually want him to be delusional… Like me. He’s a DGD!
Big Albany Dawg
November 29th, 2011
11:53 am
RIGHT OR WRONG, IT’S STILL MY TEAM. GEAUX DAWGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!