Georgia’s Rodney Garner believes 2012 D-line stacks up with some of his best
Rodney Garner believes Georgia's 2012 defensive line can stack up with some of the best he has coached for the Bulldogs. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS – Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner is not one to toss a lot of bouquets, especially in the middle of the summer with actual games still three months from being played. But he can’t suppress his excitement (a relative term here) when it comes to the group set to hold the line for the Bulldogs this fall.
Noseguards Kwame Geathers and John Jenkins, defensive ends Abry Jones and Garrison Smith and backups Sterling Bailey, Ray Drew, Mike Thornton and Cornelius Washington, provide Georgia with the three most important needs of an exceptional D-line — size, athleticism and depth. They also bring some intangibles to the equation, according to Garner.
“I’m proud of these guys. I really am,” Garner said this past week. “I’m proud of the type of young men that the are. I’m proud of the things they bring to the table, not just from an athleticism standpoint, but for overall work ethic, for leadership qualities, everything. I’ll be honest with you, I’m really honored just to have the opportunity to coach them, just looking at how they’ve matured over the years.”
Garner has coached some great defensive lines in his 15 seasons with the Bulldogs. He stops short of labeling the 2012 group as the best he’s had — for him, the 2000 D-line is a slam dunk in that regard. But he said this year’s line does remind him a little of that unit, which included Richard Seymour, Marcus Stroud, Charles Grant and Josh Mallard, with Johnathan Sullivan as the primary backup.
Seymour (6th) and Stroud (13th), Grant (25th) and Sullivan (6th) all became NFL first-round draft picks, while Mallard and backup Demetric Evans also played in the NFL.
“Four first-round picks on the same D-line; that’s a pretty good deal,” Garner said. “And Tyrone Robertson was supposed to be on that team, too, but he got in some academic trouble and had to go to Hines (Community College). Jonathan Sullivan was the No. 1 backup as a true freshman and he blacked up Richard and Marcus pretty good [in practice].”
Garner wasn’t sure if the 2012 unit is destined for the level of NFL success the 2000 line did, but he likes what he sees in these individuals. His observations:
On Jones, the senior defensive end . . .
“I look at Abry, who I think is a heck of a player who doesn’t get nearly the recognition I think he deserves. I mean, this kid comes to play every day, he plays with energy, he plays with passion. And he’s been a very productive player for us. He made some really good plays last year and did some nice things. I just like his leadership; I like everything he stands for. I’m just looking forward to him having a real good year.”
On Jenkins and Geathers at noseguard and tackle, each of them a 350-pounder . . .
“The two big boys. They’re big men who are very athletic. It’s very rare that you can find guys who are that big who can move the way they move. God was good to them when they got in the line for talent.”
On Smith, the junior defensive end from Atlanta, and Thornton, of Stone Mountain . . .
“I think Garrison might have had the best spring of any of them. He’s coming on like gangbusters. I think he has a chance to really put his mark on that position. And I thought Mike had a good spring, too. He really did. Mike can play.”
On Washington, Drew and Bailey, each making the conversion from outside linebacker to end, or 5-technique tackle:
“Cornelius is adjusting to playing inside, which is different for him. But he’s bought into it and he’s adjusting to it and I think he’ll continue to improve and eventually be a different type of change-up guy in there. . . .
“I think Ray Drew’s going to be really good. Have you looked at how big he is? He’s 280 pounds. [Moving to defensive tackle] was not a negative thing at all; I hope people understand that. He saw it himself. It is what it is. Ray could’ve sat around and starved himself, but it wasn’t going to happen. He’s going to be a 300-pounder; that’s what God intended him to be. Ain’t nothing he can do about it. Next year he’ll probably play at about 290 and the next year he’ll probably be 300. That’s what his body is built for. Him moving in there is not a negative. In a 3-4, that’s just where he needs to be. In a 4-3, he could be a defensive end. He’s a good 5-technique tackle. He’s a great athlete. He’s going to be fine. . . .
“Same thing with Sterling Bailey. That’s what people have to understand. Those are guys who are very athletic at those positions. Sterling’s like 285. Of course he’s coming off that [foot surgery], but he’s a great athlete, too.”
Garner stops short of predicting greatness for this group. But he’s certainly excited about the possibilities.
“They’re a great group of young men,” he said. “I’m eager to see what they can do.”
Chip Towers, The UGA Blog
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
251 comments Add your comment
yellowfever
June 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
Joey, your wrong, I did believe UGA was the best team in the country in 1980!
DawginLex
June 11th, 2012
3:30 pm
bham
Yeah 2.5 favorite
i was surprised at that too
Kmac
June 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
@ Fl Dawg
Fsu won one less game than UGA last year. In Jimbo’s 1st year at the helm they won 10 games. They would have one 11 games but against NCState we were about to score and C ponder fumbled the ball as he was attempting to throw. So if 10 games is bad I will take that any day. I am sure JFisher would as well. I belive that even u will be surprised this year and will wonder how it happened. I wont be surprised
yellowfever
June 11th, 2012
3:33 pm
Paddy, your right on both accounts but I also think he has to compare them against strength of the other teams played.
LakeDawg
June 11th, 2012
3:38 pm
UGA has the potential to have the best defense in the nation. I think that’s what all those guys came back to accomplish. However, potential and actual accomplishment are two different things. We will see. TampaGator is correct in saying the East will be tough this year. Florida and SC will have strong D’s. TN brings everybody back. Should be interesting.
LakeDawg
June 11th, 2012
3:44 pm
BTW Mark it down. UGA will beat UF. Muschump will go down as the UF coach who couldn’t beat UGA. He’s a Ray Gump disciple.
bham dawg
June 11th, 2012
3:47 pm
@LakeDawg… definitely one of the best front 7’s in the entire country. Really hoping that Malcolm Mitchell and Damian Swann step up. Shawn Williams is probably my favorite player on the team and he gets no love. That dude brings the wood.
DawginLex
June 11th, 2012
4:03 pm
Vegas not buying the chicken crap
According to Vegas odds
UGA 12-0
LSU 12-0
Bama 11-1
SC 8-4
home dog to Ark and UGA. Road dog to florida and Clempson
cdpridg
June 11th, 2012
4:19 pm
A Florida State kid on here…..I have nothing against FSU…actually pull for them against UF…..but at the end of the day I take no ACC team serious…..losing to NC State…that is just bad…
cdpridg
June 11th, 2012
4:20 pm
Not to mention they have lost o tech the last couple times….says enough about where that program is
Ghost
June 11th, 2012
4:25 pm
Roll Tide , Why is a tech fan hiding behind Bama, You seen Geathers and Jenkins lately, I didn’t think so, just spouting your usual mindless uneducated drivel.
ARdawg
June 11th, 2012
4:26 pm
FSU has been bad so long, nobody will take them serious until they actually become a threat in the ACC forget a national threat
Snoop Dawg
June 11th, 2012
4:29 pm
Sounds like Grantham’s got the D all tuned up for great things. Great news!
Problem is the offense. Bobo. Friend. Richt. Do these names inspire you?
Why don’t we have Grantham coach the team. Richt can be the QB coach. Bobo can be the Water Girrrl. Friend can walk UGA during the week twice a day.
Hello Kmac
June 11th, 2012
4:32 pm
I think you can make a fortune, “knowing” how all these games are going to turn out Why anti-UGA, most Georgia fans like the Noles, or at least are neutral?
@ozzfest
June 11th, 2012
4:34 pm
I assume you follow college football at least somewhat. Therefore, you probably realize every big time program has a couple of lightweight on the schedule.
NCBulldawg86
June 11th, 2012
4:35 pm
Still no GT article on the player that got arrested. Imagine that!
ARdawg
June 11th, 2012
4:35 pm
Kmac is obviously a GT student. Don’t they know everything?
Joey
June 11th, 2012
4:37 pm
“you people”?
tide roll, you are a race-baiting scumbag. Keep studying your contemporaries Al, Jeremiah, and Jesse. They can show you how to get rich doing it . . .
Charlie Hayes
June 11th, 2012
4:37 pm
@ Tide Troll- We all know that the offense is the problem. Even CMR knows it. But, it is changing my troll buddy. John Theus (OT) and Brandon Kublanow (OG) are tabbed as “nasty” o-linemen. Theus was the # 1 OT and Kublanow is the # 4 OG in the nation. They have a stable of running backs now and are building the O for a big and bright future. Dont cling on to those crystal balls too long. You will get complacent and then get whacked in the back of the head while your dreaming of past championships. 2012 is Year of the Dawg! Get over it….Go Dawgs!
Kmac
June 11th, 2012
4:42 pm
@Ardawg
if winning 10 games in JFishers 1st year is bad I will take it. If winning one less game than GA last year and then having the opportunity to see GA get their tails handed to them in the sec Championship game is bad I will take it. If beating SC (yes fsu did) a member of the fab SEC happens I will take it! especially when GA cant beat sc for whatever reason. real com equals a GA loss and a look of confusion on Marks’s face.
Ghost
June 11th, 2012
4:43 pm
Joey , you hit the nail squarely on the head with Tide Roll, who happens to a tech fan, Doubt he’s ever been to Tuscaloosa.
Let me enlighten tide roll
June 11th, 2012
4:44 pm
I will be patient and try to explain how recruiting works. If this isn’t enough detail, let me know and I will kindly try to elaborate.
Recruiting is a mutual thing. First a school has to offer, then the recruit has to accept. If either of these parts are omitted, there is no deal. So when you refer to Georgia “allowing these in-state studs to leave,” surely you are not suggesting they should be forcibly enrolled at UGA.
Regarding Theus, he was more highly rated than Greene, although UGA wanted both and offered Greene (see above about how this works).
Some of the examples you like to quote of UGA “misses” become obvious after time. Notice you left off one of your usual examples, after some problems with the law. Also one of your examples is doubtful to be admitted to his school of choice.
As to Devine, don’t know you knew Georgia recruited him. They were not going to offer a package deal with his teammate however, Tech did, good for the Jackets, got some quality talent.
This is shaping up as the nation’s #1 offensive line haul for 2013 if we land Tunsil. If not, it is still an excellent group that will meet needs.
shane#1
June 11th, 2012
4:45 pm
The D line is strong, and the D line is the heart of the defense. The LB’s are strong and deep also, especially if Ogletree’s suspension is only for the first game. The front seven can take a lot of pressure off the D backs, which is a good thing with the suspensions. Again, Smith’s suspension may be only one game. BTW, here in Southwest Ga there is very little hatred for the ‘Noles. Maybe among the Tech fans, but too many local boys have played for FSU for us to hate them, and Bowden was liked by the Dawg fans down here. You know, he kind of talks like us. He spoke at the FCA meeting in Albany and was well received by both ‘Nole and Dawg.
DawginLex
June 11th, 2012
4:45 pm
Alden Bynum rather than Shamire Devine. ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Come on
************************
Shamire Devine had ZERO interest in attending the University of Georgia
Now, would you like to share with us how that is Richt and Bobo’s fault?
Also, speaking of soft. That would be the swiss cheese defense of your beloved Jackets that gets shredded by any team with a pulse.
Do thye have a weight room at Tech tide roll?
Uzzi must be lifting on his own downtown somewhere since he is the only one worht a crap. None of the other guys have any muscle and that’s why they get plowed by UGA, Miami, Virginia Tech every year.
Good ol' Tide roll
June 11th, 2012
4:47 pm
Keeps bringing a knife to a gunfight, with the usual results.
Ghost
June 11th, 2012
4:57 pm
Kmac, Georgia leads the South Carolina series 43-16-2 Carolina has never beaten Georgia 3 years in a row, and it won’t start this year. Perhaps you should run your mouth on how good FSU is when they can handle Wake on a regular basis FSU is 2-4 vs Wake over the past 6 years. Georgia is 14-1 vs ACC since Richt arrived.FSU should be good this year but playing in the ACC they should be good every year.
Kmac
June 11th, 2012
4:59 pm
@ Ardawg
If u dont know who Timmy Jernigan is please do some research (fres All Amer) B Werner (nasty DE) Brandon jenkins (All American De) Lamarcys joynor (Saftey that will knock your block off) Greg Reid, Karlos Williams, Telvin Smith,Xavier Rhodes, Anthony mcCloud, Everett Dawkins, demonte McAllister, Nile Lawrence-Stample. I can go on. FSU has depth for ages ARdawg. Talented Depth that will break your nose and tear Acl’s and deliever concussions to people. Bring on the season already!
bham dawg
June 11th, 2012
5:02 pm
tide roll must be on the payroll bc there is no way his comments get posted and mine get blocked… i didn’t even make a racist comment
Joey
June 11th, 2012
5:02 pm
Missouri 37, Georgia 13 So much for Grantham’s defense.
***************************************
Mizzou may score 37, techie, but it will be (like SC and LSU last year) fake punts, pick-6s and TD runbacks from Murray fumbles or maybe punt or kickoff returns.
Mizzou won’t get more than 21 on Grantham’s D, and that shouldn’t be enough to get outta there with a narrow W.
bham dawg
June 11th, 2012
5:02 pm
seriously what’s going on
Kmac
June 11th, 2012
5:05 pm
@ Shane #1
I am just having fun because I know what FSU is bringing to the table. No harm intended I am just anxious (probably more than the team but I dont think so) for them to get to show everyone who they are. Shane that defense in T-Town is wicked
Bigboy
June 11th, 2012
5:06 pm
Tide roll you should worry about your own team pal.Hopefully we will see you in Atlanta and then we can talk all kinds of smack to each other.
shane#1
June 11th, 2012
5:11 pm
Kmac, no harm no foul. I am sure you know that some Bugs like to get on here and pose as Dawgs, Not that I blame them.
TampaGator
June 11th, 2012
5:13 pm
@GTDawg……
What the hell are you talking about??????
@Kerry B……
Muschamp has already said Powell is way ahead of schedule, looks good, and he expects him to play this coming year at some point during the season. But…..I think it will be hard for him to come in an subplant Larentree McCray and Donte Fowler at the position. McCray is moving over from the right side and is a beast….and Fowler will soon be.
@Big Boy…..
Yep. Heard all that before…..in the spring and summer. Not much in the fall.
@Joey…..
I didn’t say Florida’s defense was better. I said NCAA 13 rated it higher (more points for total defense than Georgia). But….since you did say it…..I will agree that I do believe that, in fact. As I said, no trade on the DL. The only Dawg LB I would trade for is Jones. Florida’s secondary is second to none….and a lot better than Georgia….and much deeper.
bham dawg
June 11th, 2012
5:23 pm
@TampaGator… ill give you the secondary by a slim margin. when we don’t have everyone suspended then it is pretty close. If you don’t think alec ogletree would be yalls best linebacker then you don’t know talent
WDE
June 11th, 2012
5:26 pm
Didn’t that vaunted gator D give up the lead to a Bobo/Murray offense? If Bobo can’t coach and Murray cokes under pressure riddle me how great that D was?
ARdawg
June 11th, 2012
5:49 pm
Kmac
Then “take it” there then guy and good luck with it. FSU has been all hat and no cattle for the last 10 years. About the time UGA smacked that @zz last in the Sugar bowl they’ve never recovered. Now here you are on a UGA blog talking smack with the “You know” and “take it to the bank”, laughable at best. Save the bragging at the end of the year and not after your latest dismal one, okay?
ARdawg
June 11th, 2012
5:52 pm
Kmac
I’ll stay away from the fan blogs/radio stations/ESPN’s opinion on your boys. You should do the same. I’ll wait for them to prove it on the field of play where it all takes place, nawmeen?
ARdawg
June 11th, 2012
5:55 pm
Big Boy
I don’t look for Bama in the Ga Bowl this year either. Unless LSU just implodes, I don’t see anyone stopping that bunch of sophomores from last year. Like Les or not, them boys are good. Outcoached and young in the NC game. They’ll be back and this time with Metz
Joey
June 11th, 2012
6:00 pm
Tampa Gator, my point wasn’t really that UF’s D-line may or may not be better than ours, it’s just that you felt the need to tell us about it, on the UGA Blog, where we UGA fans are getting a precious little info on OUR defensive line . . .
That’s ok though, I hope UF is better, so we can begin to swing the momentum back towards the East again.
Joey
June 11th, 2012
6:08 pm
bham dawg, you are correct about Ogletree. It was no coincidence how much better the D got when he recovered from the injury. I think after this season, he will be right with Jones in the draft rankings. He will probably be about 250 lbs this year, with safety speed. Grantham needs to make plans on being without his services in ‘13.
GtDawg
June 11th, 2012
6:11 pm
@TampaGator you know what im talking about. One of those bad apples on his way to UF.
Brainiac
June 11th, 2012
6:29 pm
@ Tampa gator:
Best I remember several teams dominated FSU’s D last season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
logical jacket
June 11th, 2012
6:38 pm
http://www.wsbtv.com/news/news…-sexual-/nPQ6q/
Audit: Ga. Tech professor using school trips for sexual escapades…..
ATLANTA —
State authorities want to know if a prominent Georgia Tech professor was using university trips for sexual escapades.
Georgia Tech paid Professor Michael Meyer a big salary, and records show he spent nearly $100,000 on state travel in the most recent four years.
Meyer is a former chairman of Georgia Tech’s department of civil engineering and an internationally recognized expert on urban transportation.
But sexually suggestive emails written while Professor Meyer was traveling for Georgia Tech caught the attention of Georgia Tech’s legal office, which called in the auditors.
One of the references in it is to a 2011 trip that Meyer took to Bangkok, Thailand and there’s a specific reference to the Nana hotel.
The report said it’s known for being right next to Bangkok’s red light district.
In an email about the trip, Meyer said, “The Nana is everything you said it was….great location!!!!!” He went on to say, “I want to tell you the sex trade is unbelievable. Gorgeous women to stay the night with you for $30 to $40.”
The audit includes a picture of the professor and notes, “Dr. Meyer’s travel expenses certainly give the appearance of thinly veiled vacations.”
Badland Dawg
June 11th, 2012
6:41 pm
Mizzou is going to give Ga. a football lesson Ga never puts there first 11 on the field.Grantham is going to have his hat handed to him..Mizzou 27 Ga 10 good luck bobo..the old ball coach will have something to say about this too…..They are good………
TampaGator
June 11th, 2012
7:06 pm
GTDawg……
Sorry to inform you…..Muschamp does not recruit “bad apples.” But…you on the other hand….are ripping an eighteen year old kid who has never done anything to be called one…..but you certainly have.
TampaGator
June 11th, 2012
7:12 pm
@bahmDawg…..
If I correctly recall…..Ogeltree plays MLB. Florida has this year’s all-SEC MLB in Joe Bostic. And yes, Joe Bostic is better than the talented Ogeltree right now. So is Jelani Jenkins at OLB. But Jarvis Jones would start at the other OLB position for the Gators. Both Bostic and Jenkins have put on major muscle and needed weight under the new S&C coach….and neither has lost of step….very fast. Now…both are big and strong….and very fast. And both will be high draft picks into the NFL this year (Bostic a senior and Jenkins a junior).
TampaGator
June 11th, 2012
7:20 pm
Braniac…..
Like Oklahoma….with 23 points when they had everyone. Clemson scored on everyone. Stopped no one. FSU’s defense was dominate in their last 6 games….period. And they will be more so this year. Tons on redshirt freshmen and true freshmen that are extremely talented…..to be added to an already young and very talented D……and I hate the Noles….and can see that. But do they have a QB that can consistently move their offense….that is their issue.
tenn.DAWG
June 11th, 2012
7:31 pm
Just toughen-up the 0-line,the D-line will be fine.
Big Surprise
June 11th, 2012
7:37 pm
Big surprise, the AJC (Red and Black) posts another Georgia is o great article. the two best Defensive ends play for South Carolina. Murrayis already acquainted with both. Ga has the better odds because they only play two real teams next year. The question remains, can Murray bet a top twenty team?