Jarvis Jones: ‘We’re gonna … try to be the best defense in the nation’
Ryan Black covered spring football practice in Athens for the AJC on Saturday and filed this report:
ATHENS — Jarvis Jones accomplished a lot last season. He was named to nearly every All-American team. He was a finalist for the Butkus Award. And he led the SEC in sacks (13.5) and tackles for loss (19.5) for a Georgia team that won the Eastern Division.
But if Jones doesn’t replicate those stats and accolades in 2012, he said he will have failed to live up to his own lofty expectations.
“I can do better than I did last year,” Jones said after Georgia’s first full-pads session of spring practice Saturday. “I’ve definitely got to improve myself. . . . Anything less than what I did last year is a failure.”
Coming off such a dominant first season as a Bulldog after redshirting in 2010, Jones was asked if he feels he is now “the face” of Georgia’s defense. Always quick to deflect attention from himself, he dismissed that notion in favor of a team-oriented outlook.
“I’ve got a role to play. Everybody [does],” Jones said. “I think I’m one of the leaders on the team, and I’m definitely one of the players who my teammates listen to. We got a lot of leaders out there. We got Alec [Ogletree], Shawn Williams, Bacarri [Rambo]. . . . We don’t try to stand out among each other. We all push each other and try to get each other to get the ball rolling. That’s why I think we’re so close. We’re headed in the right direction to do some good things this year. We all believe in each other, and we communicate well. We just enjoy doing what we do.”
Just a few months ago, Jones, Williams and Rambo had to choose whether they would return to Georgia or depart for the NFL. Jones said he did not try to push Williams or Rambo in either direction.
“I just told them whatever decision they [made] —- if they decided to go pro — I’m always going to be in their corner and believe in them and wish the best for them,” Jones said. “But they came back, and we’re gonna take this thing up another level and try to be the best defense in the nation.”
Since spring practice opened on Tuesday, the defense has dominated the offense in drills. Jones pointed out that part of the reason is that the defense brought back more experienced players, “especially up front,” where the offensive line is trying to replace three starters.
“[The offense] is getting a bit frustrated, but that’s what we want,” Jones said. “We want to put them in situations where they can learn and they can improve, so down the road when the season starts, we’ll be a much better team.”
As good as the defense looks to be this fall, the Bulldogs are young at Jones’ outside linebacker position, since both Cornelius Washington and Ray Drew have started to work into the rotation at defensive end. Jones said he isn’t worried, though, since his younger teammates are picking up things “real quick.”
Besides, to meet his goal of eclipsing the season he had last year, Jones admits there is still a lot he needs to learn himself.
“Coaches are still putting new things in there, teaching me new things, teaching us as a defense new things,” he said. “Even when you get to the pros, I think you’ve still got a lot of room for improvement. It never stops.”
– Ryan Black, for the AJC
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144 comments Add your comment
m
March 25th, 2012
8:18 am
bet you can’t stop the option this year
Dap01
March 25th, 2012
8:35 am
Jarvis is the DGD!. He and his abilities and his leadership gives the Dawgs hope.
Jarvis is the man.
RedandBlackDAWG
March 25th, 2012
9:03 am
I rad an interview J.J. gave to another recruiting site, yesterday, and I would not be so quick to say this is his last year. He talked about having two more years to achieve his goals while at UGA, and one very big one, was to be a three time all American, and get his degree from UGA. He is a top flight athlete and he could very well be a three time All American. I think the success of the UGA team, this year will greatly influence his decision. His attitude epitomizes what all players for UGA should strive to have. There is a lot of potential this year for these young men.
ole dawg
March 25th, 2012
9:13 am
@Why has….. if you are a real dawg fan please check your information and keep up with what is going on a little better. We all know that Richt has said that if Murray were to get hurt early in the season that HM would probably play and take over the reins. He is being prepared to play early if that were to happen. Please stop blathering away with your long (and numerous) posts and check your info before you post a much shorter (hopefully) one. Thank you and have a wonderful day!
ugab
March 25th, 2012
9:17 am
I have had enough this best defense in the nation and Heisman talk..The player need to play ball and quit talking so much.. We all know what preseason talk will get you. The bottom line.. The dawgs are weak at CB. So the defense in not going to be the best in the nation. I would say the defense will be OK, but with a few weaknesses. A good OC will exploit Uga’s weaknesses on defense.. IC is a great RB!!! IC will not win the Heisman because the OL is also a weakness on the team..Teams already know when and where bobo is going to run the ball. Defenses is going to blitz Ga’s OL because of the inexperience.. Hopefully Bobo will have some short passes added to take the pressure off of Murray.. He will see more pressure this coming up season than Murray has ever seen. This is the SEC. Without experience and depth, winning comes hard.. No team every wins the NC without depth and experience.. It takes alot of Seniors and Juniors..
ugab
March 25th, 2012
9:21 am
We all know CMR will not have these young players ready.. MR takes to much time off from football. MR let’s the players swim. Preparation is the key to winning.. MR gets out coached by all the great coaches..
RedandBlackDAWG
March 25th, 2012
9:27 am
UGAB,
The CB’s are not weak at UGA, the deep depth is just not there right now. There is a big difference there. Coach Grantham is a master at getting the best athlete in the right position, and he will the CB position sufficiently manned and ready to defend. With the front seven UGA has, opposing QB’s may not have to worry too much about the CB’s of UGA that much anyway, as it is hard to throw a decent pass on your back.
As pertain to the UGA OL, yes there is an experience problem at three of the five positions, but there is no talent problem. UGA was very big and pretty slow last year at OL, but this years version will be lighter but a lot faster on the field. They will make some holes in the defense and once they do, UGA has RB’s that will get through them and get some yardage. Also, do not forget we have a 280 TE that can block, and catch passes so I just don’t see all the problems you talk about, as being major ones.
Blackoutanyone?
March 25th, 2012
9:35 am
Statistically speaking.. they could be the best this year. Of course they wont play anyone until Atlanta. Roll Tide!!
TampaGator
March 25th, 2012
9:38 am
LSU and Michigan State averaged 37.5 points on the Georgia defense in the SEC championship game and in the bowl game (both losses). I would say that defense still has a lot to prove. But Jarvis Jones is a great playber, no doubt. The defense should be helped out by having more depth. But South Carolina (really good defense and a much improved offense), Florida (really good defense and an improved offense), and Vandy are going to be a lot better in the East in 2012. And I think Missouri’s offense is going to challenge Georgia for sure. We will see.
TampaGator
March 25th, 2012
9:41 am
Blackoutanyone???
You better worry about LSU in the West. Bama is losing a lot of really good players to the NFL. Ask Florida, not easy to replace that kind of talent.
Kenny
March 25th, 2012
9:46 am
Wow, you guys have some crazy bloggers!
ugab
March 25th, 2012
10:04 am
A great D plays 4 quarters.. Last season ended on a bad note.. The Defense did not impress the last few games, JJ was not really a factor the last 2 games. Good teams know JJ is coming and chop block JJ. It looks like JJ had enough the MS game of getting hit in the knees. D Pollack made plays when the TEAM needed them the most. I’ve seen JJ take off a few plays. If JJ had the drive DP had, JJ would be the best there is to offer.
ugab
March 25th, 2012
10:04 am
thanks for the crazy blogger comment.. we know it..
ugab
March 25th, 2012
10:11 am
Everyone keeps saying Uga has an easy schedule this season. Vandy will be better this season. Vandy should of beat the dawgs last year. Fla will be better. Fl should of beaten Ga last season.. Missouri is going to exploit the dawgs weak CBs. SC is going to be awesome. It looks like the teams MR barely beat last season are better. It looks like the Dawgs are rebuilding on OL and having problems at CB?????? Why is everyone thinking Auburn is not going to beat Uga? Do not forget VG and WM are at Uga. I know that is not sayn much for Auburn. VG and WM knows the simple Offense ran by MR and bobo.
Ghost
March 25th, 2012
10:35 am
@Why has Mark Richt made AP Poll Top 10 only once after 2005 ? May I borrow your chrystal ball that tells you Florida, Missouri, Auburn and Tenn, have absolutely no chance of being top 25 teams in 2012.
What a stupid stat 10 win seasons by Mark Richt opponents. How about the stat where Richt has won 10 or more games and how he did against those opponents? Is it everyone one is bad when Georgia has a good season. Go back to using the Thomas Brown handle.
Jeff Pyburn
March 25th, 2012
10:36 am
UGA has had some over rated QBs and Jeff Pyburn and Aaron Murray are two of them. Murray chokes and you can see it when he drops back with the stiff rush oncoming. Pyburn had board hands and was very emotional and really should have remained at Running back.
Murray cannot handle it mainly, because he is too short and that is why his passes many times are so off the mark. It is like he has to throw the ball from the bottom of a well ……………..his passes are too arching and float many times. Yes, with some more experience under his belt, Murray SHOULD BE better but it is his emotional defecits that bother me, when under the gun in REAL important games.
We shall see. I hope that QBs LeMay or Mason will be well prepared. I would not red shirt Mason. Up to him, I suppose. We shall see.
Go Dogs.
ARdawg
March 25th, 2012
10:42 am
ugab
If you are referring to the bowl game, no, the defense didn’t let up. They were gassed. CMR and Bobo’s inept offensive play calling is the reason. 3 and out along with Mich St rallied and played a good game and were better coached. The Dawg defense will be much improved over last year
sho'nuff
March 25th, 2012
10:54 am
Yeah right, you love these kids running up and down the field making you rich! We get that, but you want them put in jail otherwise!
Tide Rising
March 25th, 2012
11:10 am
TampaGator,
We’re not too worried. No. 1 ranked recruiting class in 4 of the last 5 years according to rivals.com 4 OL starters return and the no. 2 recruit in the nation the previous year in Cyrus Kuandijo steps in to start at tackle. Several great backs return so losing trent richardson won’t be felt with Eddie Lacy stepping in for his shot and 2 former 5 star tailbacks in Dee Hart and TJ Yeldon.There are people at Alabama who actually feel Lacy could be better than Richardson.
On defense we lose 5 starters but the backup talent that we’ve had behind those 5 guys is nothing short of embarrassing. The likely new starters at corner and safety are both former 5 star recruits rated no. 1 or 2 at their respective positions coming out of high school Milliner and Ha Ha and that doesn’t even include Landon Collins coming in. The D line will be even better and deeper than last year if that’s possible and the 2 linebackers who will be stepping in have been waiting for a couple of years now for their shot. Going into Saban’s 6th year we are deeper and more talented at every position than we’ve ever been.
Tide Rising
March 25th, 2012
11:16 am
The Georgia defense is all bark and no bite. A middling big 10 Michigan state team showed how soft they are- the same Michigan state offense that had -32 yards rushing against the Alabama D in the same bowl the year before moved the ball easily against Georgia .
Dawgs built up good stats last year playing against the weakest schedule in the SEC while dodging the 3 western powers of Alabama, LSU, and Ark during the regular season. These guys are paper bulldogs and while they put up a fight against LSU in the first half both LSU and Mich state exposed them as being average at best.
Tide Rising
March 25th, 2012
11:45 am
Why does my one friend always make fun of me for sleeping with my sister?
ARdawg
March 25th, 2012
11:55 am
“Dawgs built up good stats last year playing against the weakest schedule in the SEC while dodging the 3 western powers of Alabama, LSU, and Ark”
Wow that’s rich. Cupcakes aside, Bama’s schedule in 2011 was near identical to Bama’s sans LSU and AR. UGA dodged those all daunting “Western Powers”? So were Bama’s stats padded too? LOL, you are one funny bammer goober. Schedules are schedules guy and developed years in advance. If you weren’t such a Gomer, you’d know that
You want me to post how Mark Richt has done vs teams who had 10-Win Seasons ?
March 25th, 2012
11:58 am
You ask, I comply :
30-33 Lost 2011 Michigan State Outback
10-42 Lost 2011 LSU Georgia Dome
42-45 Lost 2011 USCe Sanford Stadium
21-35 Lost 2011 Boise State Georgia Dome
06-10 Lost 2010 Central Florida Liberty
31-49 Lost 2010 Auburn at Auburn
24-31 Lost 2010 Arkansas Sanford Stadium
30-24 Win 2009 Georgia tek at Atlanta
17-41 Lost 2009 Florida at Jacksonville
10-49 Lost 2008 Florida at Jacksonville
30-41 Lost 2008 Alabama Sanford Stadium
Steve
March 25th, 2012
11:59 am
What’s funny is these morons don’t get that UGA does not make or set their SEC schedule.
You want me to post how Mark Richt has done vs teams who had 10-Win Seasons ?
March 25th, 2012
12:01 pm
Sorry guys. I have no life or friends. All I do is go on UGA blogs and take my free time to look up stats that make UGA look bad.
You want me to post how Mark Richt has done vs teams who had 10-Win Seasons ?
March 25th, 2012
12:01 pm
Ghost March 25th, 2012 10:35 am
“@Why has Mark Richt made AP Poll Top 10 only once after 2005 ? How about the stat where Richt has won 10 or more games and how he did against those opponents?”
_______________________________________________
0-4 for 2011
0-5 for 2010
1-3 for 2009
1-3 for 2008
3-1 for 2007
2-2 for 2006
1-3 for 2005
3-2 for 2004
3-3 for 2003
3-1 for 2002
2-3 for 2001
19-30 for 11 years vs end season top 25
http://www.cfbtrivia.com/cfbt_detail.php?teamname=Georgia&fry=2009&thy=2009&spl=on&cres=3&jpl=on&sortby=Year
9 Different SEC teams have gone 0 or 1 Loss on their entire season
since we last did :
FLO 3
ALB 2
AUB 2
LSU 2
_____
9 SEC teams since we last did who have 0 or 1 loss for season
Mark Richt vs teams who ended up top 25 AP Poll all 11 yrs :
09-14 Loss Sakerlina 2001 # 13
26-24 Win vols 2001 # 4*
10-24 Loss Crocodiles 2001 # 3*
17-24 Loss Allbarn 2001 Unranked**
31-17 Win Georgia tek 2001 # 24
16-20 Loss Boston College 2001 # 21**
27-25 Win Alabama 2002 # 11
13-20 Loss Crocodiles 2002 Unranked**
24-21 Win Allbarn 2002 # 14
26-13 Win FSU 2002 # 21
30-00 Win Climpsum Farmers 2003 # 22
13-34 Loss LSU 2003 # 2*
13-16 Loss Crocodiles 8-5 in 2003 # 24**
41-14 Win vols 2003 # 15
10-17 Loss LSU 2003 # 2*
34-27 Win Purdue 2003 # 18
45-16 Win LSU 2004 # 16
14-19 Loss vols 2004 # 13
06-24 Loss Allbarn 2004 # 2*
24-21 Win Wisconsin 2004 # 17
10-14 Loss Crocodiles 2005 # 12
30-31 Loss Allbarn 2005 # 14
34-14 Win LSU 2005 # 6*
35-38 Loss West Virginia mountaineers 2005 # 5*
33-51 Loss vols 2006 # 25**
22-24 Loss Vandie 4-8 in 2006 Unranked**
14-21 Loss Crocodiles 2006 # 1*
20-24 Loss Kentucky 2006 Unranked**
37-15 Win Allbarn 2006 # 9*
31-24 Win Virginia Tech 2006 # 19
12-16 Loss Sakerlina 6-6 in 2007 Unranked**
14-35 Loss vols 2007 # 12
42-30 Win Crocodiles 2007 # 13
45-20 Win Allbarn 2007 # 15
41-10 Win Hawai’i 2007 # 19
30-41 Loss Alabama 2008 # 6*
10-49 Loss Crocodiles 2008 # 1*
42-45 Loss Georgia tek 2008 # 22**
24-12 Win Michigan State 2008 # 24
10-24 Loss Okie State 2009 Unranked**
19-45 Loss vols 7-6 in 2009 Unranked**
13-20 Loss LSU 2009 # 17
17-41 Loss Crocodiles 2009 # 3*
30-24 Win Georgia tek 2009 # 13
27-34 Loss Kentucky 7-6 in 2009 Unranked**
06-17 Loss Sakerlina 2010 # 22**
24-31 Loss Arky 2010 # 12
12-24 Loss Missy State 2010 # 15
31-34 Loss Crocodiles 2010 Unranked**
31-49 Loss Auburn 2010 # 1*
27-29 Loss Colorado 5-7 in 2010 Unranked**
06-10 Loss Central Florida 2010 # 21**
21-35 Loss Boise State 2011 # 8*
42-45 Loss Sakerlina 2011 # 9*
10-42 Loss LSU 2011 # 2*
30-33 Loss Michigan State 2011 # 11
**without the win over Mark Richt, opponent ends up not ranked
* Mark Richt vs teams ending up AP Poll Top 10 all 11 yrs
ARdawg
March 25th, 2012
12:01 pm
Steve,
They’re Bama fans, void of any logic or intellect. You can’t expect them to comprehend reality
Beast from the East
March 25th, 2012
12:03 pm
Defense shoud be solid, but an injury or two at CB (like UF had last year) and it could be tough against passing teams. The offense will be a question mark due to the OL and WR’s. Solid at QB and RB. I expect UGA’s season to be much like last year…10 wins.
Thomas Brown,"trust me i’m not satisfied”
March 25th, 2012
12:05 pm
I-A Winning Percentage after 2005
2005 season was 8 yrs ago now this up-coming 2012 season
01. .9240 at 73-06 Boise State
02. .8461 at 66-12 TCU
03. .8000 at 64-16 LSU
04. .7922 at 61-16 Southern Cal
05. .7804 at 64-18 Oklahoma
06. .7777 at 63-18 Auburn
07. .7692 at 50-15 Ohio State
08. .7692 at 60-18 BYU
09. .7682 at 63-19 Virginia Tech
10. .7594 at 60-19 Oregon
11. .7594 at 60-19 Wisconsin
12. .7564 at 59-19 West Virginia
13. .7435 at 58-20 Texas
14. .7435 at 58-20 Utah
15. .7246 at 50-19 Alabama
16. .7179 at 56-22 Penn State
17. .7051 at 55-23 Auburn
18. .7051 at 55-23 Oklahoma State
19. .7051 at 55-23 Cincinnati
20. .7000 at 56-24 Missouri
21. .6835 at 54-25 Georgia
Current 8-year period Mark Richt :
# 49 at scoring Touchdowns
# 57 at going 3 and out on Offense
You want me to post how Mark Richt has done vs teams who had 10-Win Seasons ?
March 25th, 2012
12:07 pm
Again, sorry guys. No life here. Me and Thomas Brown. At least we have each other, in bed.
Beast from the East
March 25th, 2012
12:10 pm
Thomas Brown,
Where do you get your numbers from? UF has been 63-18 during that timeframe, yet don’t make the list?
ARdawg
March 25th, 2012
12:13 pm
Beast
We’re not in as bad as shape at the corners as many wish to believe. The D should be much improved from last years decent season. I expect a solid D and an early struggling O. All CMR and Bobo need is an excuse to stay conservative and they have one. No imagination or expectations on offense. Hopefully the running game will turn the corner and Murray will step up and finally be a leader. If not, expect much of the same
Beast from the East
March 25th, 2012
12:16 pm
ARDawg,
I do think the run defense and the pash rush should be stout, but I’m not sold on the corners due to lack of experience. Time will tell. I think if the OL gels quickly, then the offense could be pretty tough with the stable of backs you have. I don’t know how smart the move of Mitchell to defense is. Only time will tell if the other WR’s can step it up.
ARdawg
March 25th, 2012
12:54 pm
Beast
I’m not sold on MM playing D either although, that is what he was recruited as and flourished playing at Valdosta. No doubt he is an athlete and likely will make big contributions no matter where he plays. The OL is a big question but always a tough call. When Georgia is supposed to have a good stellar line, we don’t and when nobody expects anything from them they get solid. It’s been that way the entire MR era. Tough call. The difference will be if Murray stands up to be the QB he’s capable of
Beast from the East
March 25th, 2012
1:39 pm
No. 1,
No telling who will win the QB battle. Brissett seems to be the more confident of the two, but Driskell is the more talented. Heck, I’ve read Tyler Murphy has looked the better than both of them early this spring. I’m pretty sure it’ll be this fall before anyone knows for sure.
Dawg Haus
March 25th, 2012
1:45 pm
Sic ‘em, JJ!
Paddy
March 25th, 2012
2:26 pm
Miz Zou……..Is this the best Mizzou team ever? It better be!!!
Joey
March 25th, 2012
2:32 pm
“Coach Richt knew what he was doing in hiring Coach Grantham.”
********************************************
Now that’s funny right there.
Richt kept his buddy Willie in charge until everybody in the football world was laughing at him and Willie.
But go ahead Richt-fan-boy and give Richt credit for Grantham.
Jawjah is a joke
March 25th, 2012
3:13 pm
I am as well as I have no life or friends. Or a woman : (
Football Guy
March 25th, 2012
6:35 pm
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahah………………………….
………………………………………………………..
…………………..
gt4ever
March 25th, 2012
6:37 pm
Grantham is a JOKE!
RedandBlackDAWG
March 25th, 2012
6:47 pm
GT4ever,
The only real joke I have seen on the AJC was fans of G.T. trying to pretend they have a football team. Even Willie M. only lost one time to G.T. Now I don’t care who you are, that’s funny right there.
kral
March 25th, 2012
6:53 pm
I wish …I could be a big enough joke that the Dallas Cowboys would hire me
gt4ever
March 25th, 2012
6:57 pm
OK RedandBlackDawg…… You just keep drinking the grape kool aide… Grantham is a clueless, classless JOKE! Period…. But hey, you guys are very much familiar with clueless and classless….
kral
March 25th, 2012
7:07 pm
so you know him personally or basing everything on two incidents during the heat of competition …not saying what he did was right…just think…maybe your a joke to draw a conclusion
ole yeller
March 25th, 2012
7:19 pm
Coach “G” will have this “D” ready to go. Just watch………..
ole yeller
March 25th, 2012
7:23 pm
I bet coach Franklin keep his mouth shut when he and Vandy comes to Athen this season. Just facts like Coach “G” or not, he is a firey man that looks after his troups. Ask Vandy Coach James Franklin.
LogicalUS
March 25th, 2012
8:27 pm
This is getting SILLY.
Overhyped and awaiting an implosion very soon.
Let face reality, this “best defense” just came off giving up 75 points in its last two outings which averages out to giving up 37.5 POINTS A GAME!!!
Who is the moron leading these delusional beaners down this silly path again this year???
Thomas Brown = Mr Negativity = 13-1 East (blogger) = Techie
March 25th, 2012
8:30 pm
@you wanted me to post……. And @ Thomas Brown……
You are one and the same and also known as 13-1, etc.
You need lots of help and medications. We all know you are
A fool posing as a disgruntled Dawg fan. Your long rambling blogs
Make me think you are a manic, possibly schizophrenic Tech fan!!!
Go away dude
LogicalUS
March 25th, 2012
8:33 pm
“Franklin keep his mouth shut ”
Why? His offense had just punked Grantham’s pitiful effort all over the field and the man lost to a lucky tackle by a punter. The only solid tackle on the field that night for the “greatest defense in college football history”.
I suspect that Franklin is licking licking his chops looking forward to going against the undiscplined Grantham again in 2012.