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
Jordan
November 29th, 2011
1:55 pm
@JB
Our O isn’t really that good! WHAT!?? Do you watch SEC football?
People have been saying that all year, and what did we do… We have blown out every single competitor (except Bama) by double digits! When are y’all gonna realize that this isn’t the same ‘O’ from last year? We’re Miles better (pun intended)!! GEAUX TIGERS
Toccoa Dawg
November 29th, 2011
1:55 pm
And next years leader on D is born.
BurytheBone
November 29th, 2011
1:55 pm
Best team in the country……… LSU. Unbeatable……..Not. The game will be decided on saturday. Not by a bunch ESPN noitall’s. Nor by a bunch of loser troll’s. I think the dawgs have their work cut out for them. And I think the are ready to except it. But no matter who win’s I will still love my DAWGS. their my boys. So like the team, True fans got your back. Thanks for making our season more intresting than Tech’s. Hunker Down JYD’S
GA fans
November 29th, 2011
1:55 pm
You guys are obsessed with the little techmites…your too dumb to “get it”–the College Football world can’t stand you—not just little techmites. Look at the Coaches Poll, or the Fan Polls. You’re just a mid level SEC team, that’s it.
perk
November 29th, 2011
1:56 pm
DP – not so much tobasco on your gumbo.
WDE
November 29th, 2011
1:56 pm
@LSU we have played 2 top 10 teams Boise and USC were at some point both in the top 10. Your bunch is a legit no.1 and it will be an honor to play you for the SEC title Saturday, I only hope your coaches and players think like you do…but since they are so well coached I don’t think so. We are looking forward to the game.
Joey
November 29th, 2011
1:56 pm
Who’s the “turd joke?”
The SEC East Champs.
Or a techie named, hahahahaha?
Hmmmmm?
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
1:56 pm
@JC “Your defensive Coordinator needs a lesson in class.”
Let’s not start that again. Any coach going after another team’s players, rather than manning up and going straight to a coach, is about as unprofessional as it gets and his lack of manhood showed.
Gorilla Biscuit
November 29th, 2011
1:57 pm
The only beatdown this weekend will be Coach Fishfry beating Al “the zombie extra” Groh.
perk
November 29th, 2011
1:57 pm
loved Bradley’s article yesterday and the 2003 Saban quote that if you don’t play in your conference championship – you shouldnt be allowed to play for the NC. short term memory loss? total hipocrisy
WDE
November 29th, 2011
1:58 pm
@GA fans hey you hate us we get it…newsflash we hate you right back…your dismissed.
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
1:58 pm
Yeahhhhhh. Hey guys. Look at us. We’re trying to be relevant. We are SEC east champs. Woooohooo. Yeaaahhh.
Jokes. all of you.
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:01 pm
Jones be smoking that stanky stank sticky icky with his boy Isiah.
SC fan
November 29th, 2011
2:02 pm
The only reason you are playing ga is because of your lucky schedule not having to play any of the big 3 from the west. Enjoy the lsu beatdown.
beanster
November 29th, 2011
2:02 pm
The only thing I fear about Jordan Jefferson is him kicking a member of the Dawgs’ D in the back of the head while they are down on the ground.
And nooowwww, the Blunt Award goooes to ...
November 29th, 2011
2:03 pm
Jarvis Joooones!!!!
WDE
November 29th, 2011
2:04 pm
@hahahaha you were correct on one point sonny…your sorry alright…by the way who is your team?
Toccoa Dawg
November 29th, 2011
2:04 pm
Its great to watch these techies come on a Dawg Blog and rant after the beat down they got at their own place. Hey Techies who is playing for their conference championship That’s what I thought. Now go sit in the corner and stfu.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 29th, 2011
2:05 pm
hahahaha
LOL
Yea look at us; the team from the SEC LEAST crushing the mighty Jackets from the North Ave Ghetto
And relevant;
Tech has played in 1 of the 4 BCS level bowls in the last 45 years.
Now thats relevant
LOL!!!!!!
BurytheBone
November 29th, 2011
2:05 pm
@SC fan……Didn’t Auburn beat you at home? With or without Lattimore?
kevin
November 29th, 2011
2:07 pm
SC Fan,
Sour Grapes much? You beat us early in the year in a game that UGA handed to you. Even Spurrier acknowledged that SC was outplayed and lucky to come out with a win. You lost at home to and Auburn team that UGA utterly annihilated towards season’s end. Come on.
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:08 pm
WDE? Fo realz? YOU are talking smack? Good lord man, even if i was a Vandy fan i would feel better about my team after the beatdown ya’ll took this weekend. Wow, that is some attrocious football yall play over there in West Georgia.
BurytheBone
November 29th, 2011
2:09 pm
Where is SC fan? Did she get mad and leave
Wolfman
November 29th, 2011
2:09 pm
Wonder if we would be talking contract extension if UGA would have had LSU, ARK, and ALA on their 2011 schedule???
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
@hahahah, whatever Isaiah smoked, he probably got it out of the back of a Tech player’s trunk. Pretty hefty stash back there.
doggone
November 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
Why are Dawg fans always worrying (talking trash) about GT… forget yesterday and think about tomorrow. Thats the one that counts!
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
WDE. What was that Iron Bowl score again.? Dayyyyyumm.
Take Clint Moseley and go pout for another year.
As for my team, does it matter? Any team, other than Ole Miss, has more going for it than the War Tigers.
WDE
November 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
@hahahaha see if you have actually ever been here before you would know I’m a Dawg fan..by the way who is your team there Spanky?
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:12 pm
I told you. I don’t camp out here so my mistake for thinking WDE is actually a Georgia fan. Geez.
Your puppies are about to be crushed on Saturday.
BurytheBone
November 29th, 2011
2:12 pm
@WDE, hahaha doesn’t have a team, he plays with hisself. Sure he has never seen the gridiron
Paula
November 29th, 2011
2:12 pm
LOL!!!!!!!
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
2:12 pm
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:08 pm
WDE? Fo realz? YOU are talking smack? Good lord man, even if i was a Vandy fan i would feel better about my team after the beatdown ya’ll took this weekend. Wow, that is some attrocious football yall play over there in West Georgia.
——————————
Does that crap there even make sense? What beatdown did “we” take this weekend WDE? What is goober talking about? And yes, after Vandy, SC and UGA represented the SEC in beating up the little ole ACC, I feel pretty good about it. The weak SEC EAST succeeded in going 3-1 against the ACC this weekend. How did that taste hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah?
WDE
November 29th, 2011
2:13 pm
@hahahaha and if your just afraid or ashamed of your team your right it doesn’t matter..take your shots the Bull Dog Nation already has taken your measure, you have been measured you have been weighted and you have been found wanting…enjoy your little trollverse.
beanster
November 29th, 2011
2:13 pm
“As for my team, does it matter?”
What a coward. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:13 pm
Want to bet Crowell goes out in this game with some sort of injury. He will mentally quit. LSU will make his a** quit.
beanster
November 29th, 2011
2:14 pm
Let me guess: Clemson?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
TampaGator
November 29th, 2011
2:14 pm
Jarvis…..you gotta believe, my friend. Great attitude and belief in your team. I think you guys will go out and play hard, representing the East well. But LSU is just too good and too deep on defense, and the defensive secondary is just a lot better. Offensively, I think you guys match up well with LSU. Defensively, LSU is just better. They win, but you guys give a great Dawg fight and do yourselves well……but who knows….maybe you shock the world with that kind of attitude and belief.
TampaDawg
November 29th, 2011
2:14 pm
doggone
November 29th, 2011
2:10 pm
Why are Dawg fans always worrying (talking trash) about GT… forget yesterday and think about tomorrow. Thats the one that counts!
—————————-
Because they are usually the ones on here talking crap and usually posing as another team’s fans since their teams sucks.
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:14 pm
LSU
LSU
LSU
LSU
you hear it? You will be my biatches this weekend.
PAUL7
November 29th, 2011
2:15 pm
WDE LOL ask the opposing coaches which TEAM has the BEST D…….ask moseley the au qb ” BAMA is the BEST D we have faced ALL ( including ga )year “…….its been sooooooo long since you people were in the SEC championship ya’ll have lost the marbles
P-Smith
November 29th, 2011
2:15 pm
Hey tampadawg that didn’t come out of a techie truck. thats my truck the pulpwood express.
ADMan
November 29th, 2011
2:15 pm
GTBob…. we’re sitting here in the office laughing our ass off at your posts.Your team gets smoked by the Dawgs last weekend after you boasted for months on here how the bugs would beat Georgia and all you got now is “sure glad we’re not playing LSU”….ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Tech is a third tier college team at best. You guys need to drop down to AA ball. You can’t even fill up your stadium each Saturday unless your playing a major Conference or ranked team, and then the majority of the fans in the stadium are pulling for the other team. Grow up little boy…act like you’ve got a pair and quit making excuses. Your arguments sound like a beaten man!
jasperdog
November 29th, 2011
2:16 pm
intraleague or interdivisional?
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:16 pm
beanster? that does make me laugh.
guess what beanster and WDE? I will see you on Sunday when y’all are nowhere to be found. You will get owned on Saturday.
Then all those flags that have suddenly reappeared on cars will go back to gathering dust.
doggone
November 29th, 2011
2:16 pm
so that means we have to do the same?
TampaGator
November 29th, 2011
2:16 pm
hahahahaha….
I think LSU is going to win Saturday and you may be laughing after the game is over…..but I don’t think it will be because LSU crushed Georgia, but because LSU won a closer than expected game. I think Georgia will put up a good fight until the 4th quarter….and just maybe….shock you into crying.
WDE
November 29th, 2011
2:17 pm
TampaDawg the troll formerly know as Hahahaha was under the impression that so many of the slower of wit trolls that slither by think that I am a Auburn fan, not realizing that WDE are my initials and not the battle cry of a school that is still after 100 years of playing football in the throes of an identity crisis really are the Tigers or War Eagles?? Next troll please…
RCB
November 29th, 2011
2:18 pm
Auburn played LSU ,UGA and Alabama. Check out the scores even where Alabama was trying to make a “statement” to the BCS.
hahahaha
November 29th, 2011
2:19 pm
WDE. All you little puppies have fun stroking each other till Saturday. I will be back on Sunday to rub it in your faces. Probably won’t find many of you here.
WDE
November 29th, 2011
2:20 pm
@RCB ssshhhhhhh! ESPN doesn’t want anyone to think like that UGA beat Auburn worse than Bama and we didn’t even try and score after the first half…but mum’s the word.