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)

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?

683 comments Add your comment

WDE

November 29th, 2011
1:26 pm

@PAUL7 we would pound the Tide by two scores if they had dared put us on the schedule this year but they didn’t . You know it, I know it the whole world knows it…and LSU will throttle you if you play them again.

I'm Jarvis, and i been

November 29th, 2011
1:26 pm

smokin with Isaiah!

Dawg48

November 29th, 2011
1:26 pm

It’s snowing up here in cartersville

kdubble

November 29th, 2011
1:27 pm

I dont see the problem with what he said….Now go out there and back it up

GO DAWGS!!!!1

Johnny

November 29th, 2011
1:27 pm

WDE arguing with an Alabama fan is futile. They live on a different planet and 99.99% of them could not find Tuscaloosa on a map.

TampaDawg

November 29th, 2011
1:29 pm

@GT Dude, I agree for the most part. Although I don’t think the difference in rankings for SOS between #9 and #25 is as vast as some would say. LSU is awesome, but can be beat. I think us Dawg fans just have about had it with every game, including Coastal Carolina, having the troll nation come on here saying we would see the Dawgs get beat only to still be winning when the clock hit 00:00. So it really doesn’t matter anymore what trolls say, we believe the Dawgs do, as you stated, have a chance. It’s a long shot, but they have proven it before. Nice post.

bo jones

November 29th, 2011
1:29 pm

Do your talking on the field…thats where the game is won r lost. Turn-overs may decide this game.
Good luck to both teams.

Hairy

November 29th, 2011
1:29 pm

The dawgs will be ready, If LSU thinks they will just run the ball down their throat then this will be something to see!

Boy i am ready!
Go Dawgs!

Johnny

November 29th, 2011
1:29 pm

Forgive the folks from Alabama for once you get past football they have nothing else to boast about.

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Tommy Chong

November 29th, 2011
1:32 pm

Keep smokin’ dude!

dogbark

November 29th, 2011
1:33 pm

Johnny when was the last time you were in Athens.

Kerryb

November 29th, 2011
1:34 pm

Alphare, that idiot comment earlier was for IDIOTS like Paul7 that just want to come on here and spew crap about how much we are going to get crushed and not talk sensible about it.

Joey

November 29th, 2011
1:35 pm

Come on TampaDawg (1:29), what else are the tech ladies gonna do? Sit around and dwell on THEIR team?

That, “new sheriff in town!” RambleON!!! told us about in ‘08, has turned out to be Deputy Barney Fife . . .

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

November 29th, 2011
1:35 pm

Tech Fans shut up

What is hilarious is you people were on this blog after your 700 yd performance against Kansas running off at the mouth talking about stomping UGA and running all over LSU for the NC

LOL

Get back to using that fine Sanitation Engineering degree and work hard on scrubbing those toilets at the Varsity

hahahaha

November 29th, 2011
1:38 pm

Silly puppies. What a joke.

SoS are # 43 for UGA and # 3 for LSU

November 29th, 2011
1:39 pm

http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/2011/Internet/toughest%20schedule/tough.html

Click top left Cumulative Official NCAA Strength of Schedule.

Of course, according to resident EXPERT TampaDawg the Strength of Schedule is

NO DIFFERENCE

according to him.

Let’s see :

(1) LSU has BEAT 3 teams currently in top 10 EVERY POLL
(2) LSU has also beat # 22 West Virginia in EVERY POLL.

Mark Richt :
_______________
(0) has BEAT NO ONE ranked in any poll whatsoever and there aren’t any who LATER ON will END UP ranked either.

Joey

November 29th, 2011
1:39 pm

Haha, Flat tire, it seems like yesterday that GT Joe was musing about whether an undefeated Ga Tech should get into the Big Game over a 1-loss SEC team!

And the tech girls call US delusional . . .

hahahaha

November 29th, 2011
1:41 pm

Dawgs will be run out of the house this weekend. Wonder how many of you will comment on that next week. You will not be found. Fairweather fans.

dogbark

November 29th, 2011
1:41 pm

Bill

November 29th, 2011
1:42 pm

Look… I’m pulling for UGA but LSU’s D is tough… I think UGA has a very, very good defense. However, what happened the last time someone called at an SEC defense? That’s right, Tajh Boyd had a rough night and was sacked 5 times and would’ve been more if a sorry ACC officiating crew would’ve called holding a few more times.

GA fans

November 29th, 2011
1:42 pm

we’ll be hollering “Fire him! and Fire HIm! and Fire him!” after this Sat’s beat down.

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1eyedJack

November 29th, 2011
1:43 pm

“That, “new sheriff in town!” RambleON!!! told us about in ‘08, has turned out to be Deputy Barney Fife . . .”

He just acts like Barney. He looks more like Clara Edwards.

Joey

November 29th, 2011
1:44 pm

“Fairweather fans?”
****************************
You mean, like a fan who shows up here for the first time with the posting name, hahahaha?

What, a little embarrassed by that home-game performance last Saturday?

hahahaha

November 29th, 2011
1:44 pm

UGA taken behind the woodshed this weekend. No doubt. Silly little puppies.

Oh yeh, congrats on beating all the weak sisters in the east and losing to the only competition you faced this year. Loss #3 coming up.

Jarvis Jones

November 29th, 2011
1:44 pm

LSU is OVERRATED!

RedandBlackDawg

November 29th, 2011
1:45 pm

Now, if everybody just plays with the heart and intensity of J.J., then they will really give LSU a tussle Saturday, provided we have a half decent running attack. Either way, I am proud of these young guys and the job they have done. UGA’s big incentive is the Sugar Bowl berth, so I want to see them give it all they have.

GO DAWGS and GATA

TampaDawg

November 29th, 2011
1:46 pm

Dear Mr. hahahaha,

Apparently, you aren’t on here much. You weren’t on here after the USCe game. You weren’t on here after the BSU game. We lost those games and afterwards, WE WERE HERE. Maybe you are just a fairweather troll willing to make statements of ignorance based on no facts whatsoever. But we were here. Go home to your blog tech fan. At least there, you can try together to justify not firing CPJ. Have fun with that.

Dawg FANS

hahahaha

November 29th, 2011
1:47 pm

Joey, yeh, with a name like that you are just a message board phenom. Everyone knows you huh? A real internet tough guy. Whatever dude. I will be back on here on Sunday after your beatdown. You won’t show up.

WDE

November 29th, 2011
1:47 pm

@hahahaha troll boy win or lose I and most of the Dog fans will be here next week…we are after all playing with house money…no one thought we would be SEC East champs after starting 0-2 this is allllllllll good !!! We get to play the no.1 team for the SEC title what is not to love??

Big Lunch

November 29th, 2011
1:47 pm

Jarvis was professional in what he said. He gave LSU props and then gave his teammates props. Well done.

Honky Talkin

November 29th, 2011
1:48 pm

Step away from the crack pipes Dawgheads. You’re 2-2 agains ranked teams. LSU is 7-0 against ranked teams. LSU 42 – UGA 10.

hahahaha

November 29th, 2011
1:48 pm

You would be fourth in the West on your best day. Pitiful little puppies.

JC

November 29th, 2011
1:48 pm

Are you guys serious? You lost to South Carolina, which is the 4th best team in the conference, behind LSU, Bama and Arkansas. I like your team and because I want a playoff I am pulkling for you from a far, but the reason you are there is your schedule. Incidentally, I saw the Vandy game…. ouch. Your defensive Coordinator needs a lesson in class.

TampaDawg

November 29th, 2011
1:48 pm

GA fans

November 29th, 2011
1:42 pm
we’ll be hollering “Fire him! and Fire HIm! and Fire him!” after this Sat’s beat down.

———————————————–
Pretty close to the dumbest statement on here. Considering that UGA fans are really just happy to be in the game and would be happy with a close, hard-fought game, which I think it will be. Hard to think ANY dawg fan will yell fire him (outside of maybe the moron Thomas Brown) after getting to 10 wins in a season where many thought 8 or 9 would be pretty good.

LSU

November 29th, 2011
1:49 pm

Jones must be smoking weed with the other guys. I think I will point to the actual results of the same teams played to refute his dumb statement.

hahahaha

November 29th, 2011
1:49 pm

SEC east champs. WOW? You guys sure are proud of that. And you had to wait until USCe stumbled to back your way in.

1eyedJack

November 29th, 2011
1:49 pm

Ol’ Granny always said when you’re feeling sorry for yourself to just remember; “You could have been born a nerd and gone to Georgia Tech.” ;)

LSU

November 29th, 2011
1:50 pm

And chip how comes you ignore schedule strength. This isn’t the nfl. We played 3 top 10 teams. How many has uga played? ZERO..until Saturday
44-14

Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville

November 29th, 2011
1:50 pm

UGA fair weather fans???? Really

I think that award goes to Alabama and FL fans

If UGA wins 10 games they want a contract extension for the coach, at AL and FL your fired

LOL WOW Stupidity still reigns supreme on this blog

Fair and Balanced

November 29th, 2011
1:51 pm

Ga can’t win his one UNLESS…Lsu plays mediocre and Ga plays like it did vs AU.

WDE

November 29th, 2011
1:51 pm

@hahahaha and your already calling folks tough guys are you there Butch? For your information Joey is here often, he is a Dawg as am I…stick that where the troll don’t shine little fella…have a nice day.

Joey

November 29th, 2011
1:51 pm

Been here three years. Haven’t change my posting name either, techie, even after a 6-7 season, hahahaha.

Gorilla Biscuit

November 29th, 2011
1:51 pm

The only thing Tech will be beating this weekend is their own flaccid stingers.

They Arrogant

November 29th, 2011
1:52 pm

LSU has the most arrogant fan base in the NCAA and if LSU made a comment like JJ did they’d get more support for it. I’ve had it with LSU. GEAUX DAWGS!

JB in Blakely

November 29th, 2011
1:53 pm

Georgia’s defense is for real. LSU is little better on defense than the Dogs though. Tigers offense plays into the strength of UGA’s defense. I don’t really fear Jefferson beating us throwing the ball, to be honest.

I am greatly concerned our O line will not be able to open up holes or protect Murray. LSU is better on special teams, that’s a given.

I hope I am wrong, but I think this will be a close low scoring game that favors the Tigers in the fourth quarter, unless the defense can force some turnovers in both halves that we turn into points.

hahahaha

November 29th, 2011
1:53 pm

OOOOOOOhhhhhh. I’m sorry, I don’t come here often. My bad. I don’t spend all my time on the ajc message board. Sue me.

Your turd joke of a football team will get its a** handed to it this weekend. You are just worried I am right.

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You're funny

November 29th, 2011
1:53 pm

Every post you have EVER POSTED to this blog said that I should SHUT UP, that if you cannot say POSITIVE KOOL-AID posts, to move on.

Now, according to YOU, it is JUST THE OPPPOSITE.

Poor little YOU cannot come in here and say a thing without being

HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT