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
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251 comments Add your comment
DIT
June 12th, 2012
10:48 am
Our first comes @ Mizzou. We will see if our O-line can hold up and put out. I know that their defense is not the best, but it will be good. It’s the atmosphere that will be created in Columbia MO. that will give them fits. If we are able to run the ball in any of our games for 150 yards plus, then I like our chances. Well, that and hold your breath on our special teams.
DIT
June 12th, 2012
10:48 am
Our first “test”. sorry
TampaGator
June 12th, 2012
10:49 am
Spike….
Been reading the AJC sports section ever sense I was a child….many light years ago. I am not planning on changing my habits any time soon. Also….I am a Georgia fan…..after Florida….of course. I pull for Georgia to go 11-1 and finsih second in the SEC East every year. And since Georgia…..next to FSU…..is Florida’s biggest rivalry…..I follow the Dawgs on the AJC a lot.
TampaGator
June 12th, 2012
10:52 am
DIT…..
Your comment about Florida is dead on. I am counting on Peese’s hands on style….and better one on one relationships with the offensive players…..to do the trick this year on the offensive side of the ball. Driskell and Brissett are very talented QBs….but will they avoid costly mistakes in the big games. Time will tell. Both looked sharp in the spring game….but that means very little.
DIT
June 12th, 2012
10:57 am
@TG – Usually takes a couple years for the offense to gel unto a new OC. Of course that’s usually and not always the rule of thumb. I like UF’s chances. I hate it that everyone looks at UGA and So. Car. in the east. When no one in the past looked at UF that’s when they come up and get you.
I’d be surprised in the game on Oct. 27th if either of our teams score more than 14 offensive points. Could come down to which defense scores more. It will be a good one.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
10:57 am
Insider, may we assume that you were not counting TN. in the 5 games that you predicted we were going to lose this season?
SEC Football Morning Coffee: Search Continues for Auburn Shooting Suspect | SEC Football
June 12th, 2012
11:08 am
[...] Georgia defensive line coach Rodney Garner believes that his defensive line is one of the nation’s best, according to the Chip Towers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. [...]
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
11:28 am
You don’t follow them very closely if you describe the bowl loss as “dominated”.
RE: DawginLex
June 12th, 2012
11:31 am
“Sc goes 8-4 or 9-3 and spurrier retires…”
And then, you woke UP! Every summer UGA wins the MNC.SMH This year, your wake up call will occur on October 6th courtesy of the Ole Ball Coach.
@Brainiac
June 12th, 2012
11:37 am
“Yep, Murray is acquainted with USCe’s mediocre defense. He dropped 40+ points on your boys!!!!!!!!!!!!”
The only thing Murray dropped was the ball when he saw Clowney breathing down his throat. He choked the game away…plus, tossed the Int for the TD in the 3rd Qtr to Allen. S
ome mediocre defense….right??? Uhhhh, not so fast my friend.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
11:59 am
tell you what carolina: You don’t worry about the 40+ and we will take our chances on the couple of miscue blowing up in our face again. I’ll take that deal any year.
Spike 80DF
June 12th, 2012
12:07 pm
@TG, well that explains a lot. not sure i’ve ever met a gator that pulls for the dawgs and i’m certain i’ve never heard it the other way around. i think the east is between UGA and UF this year with USCe dropping off after losing guys and ML coming back from ACL injury. some guys never come back from that like before (kregg lumpkin) while other guys barely skip a beat (thomas brown).
Brainiac
June 12th, 2012
12:07 pm
The bottom line is your Game Chikun defense did not allow you to win enough SEC games in 2011 to make it to the SEC East Championship!!!!!!!!!!
Murray’s team is the reigning SEC East Champs and has been quite freqently since CMR came to Athens(Also a number of SEC Championships) and Spurrier’s Chikuns???????????????????????? A SINGLE SEC East Championship ALLTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you are going to brag about all those World Beaters on the Chikun roster maybe you could get them to play as a team and maybe win a second ALLTIME championship but one championship in SCHOOL HISTORY doesn’t impress those outside of CHIKUN KUNTRY!!!!!!!!!
BankerDawg
June 12th, 2012
12:07 pm
I have been a GA fan too long to start making predictions in June about wins and losses. I will say that our front 7 should be top 3 in the nation. As someone already mentioned, Alabama and LSU have shown us that defenses win championships. To all UGA fans, look how far we have coem since the Willy Martinez defenses. Grantham has done a heck of a job and has us back to being relevant again. The Oline and special teams should be our only concern.
I agree about our strength of schedule. Really? At SC, Jax, and Auburn and thats not tough? Ive said it before, show me a tougher divisio schedule or tougher conference schedule than that outside the SEC.
Brainiac
June 12th, 2012
12:17 pm
I will patiently await the barrage of “But y’all didn’t beat anybody with a winning record since The Civil War and we ain’t happy about y’alls EEE ZEEE schedule”. I told all you non-believers that McGarity has a Brother-in-law who is responsible for SEC scheduling!!!!
Bitch all you want but life is good in DAWG NATION because we have just signed McGarity to a nice fat contract extension. Maybe you Chikuns should have hired McGarity instead of Spurrier!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!
dawgenuff
June 12th, 2012
12:19 pm
Never, in the SEC do we “not play anybody” You should never underestimate USCe,Florida,or even Tennesee and Auburn! Maybe everone will underestimate us when we play LSU or Ala. in the SEC championship! We will have the no#1 defense in the land. Easy schedule I think not. Ohio State,USC, and Texas had a schedule like this for years and everyone said it was cool and voted them in the top 5 every year,why not us? It will be “the year of the DAWG! Got that Tampagator!
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
12:21 pm
I’ll bet that when the smoke clears, UGA’s will end up ranking right there with most any team with a respectable SOS.
dawgenuff
June 12th, 2012
12:31 pm
In 1974, the Atlanta Falcons had the best defense in the NFL! For a 14 game schedule, they gave set the all-time record , for a 14 game schedule by allowing the fewest points. They only gave up 127 points all year,and they had 27 interceptions that year. They were led by DC Jerry Glanville and were called the Gritz Blitz! The sad thing was the Falcons only had a 7-7 record that year! Can you imagine how bad their offense was?
Chaz Henry
June 12th, 2012
12:36 pm
They will “choke” against any team with a winning record. Love that last drive against Mich St, humpers.
G-Dawg
June 12th, 2012
12:54 pm
Just because some SEC east teams have gone through a transition, doesnt mean it’ll always be a lesser division. I remember for the longest Sec West wasnt that strong, only LSU and Auburn were giving teams a hard time. Bama wasnt even an after thought. But blaming the Dawgs for having an easy schedule…it complete nonsense. Not our fault teams are going through coaching changes. Hell, Bama had the easiest schedule last season…outside of LSU. And no Arky doesnt get any love yet.
Florida did a great job with the Pease hire..and their defense is going to be legit. Dawgs still have alot to prove, mainly with consistency.
As for this FSU talk, great recruiting, alotta talent…but havent seen any substance on the field to think they’ve turned the corner quite yet. Started last year with all the talk about being a darkhorse for a NC. But after the back to back losses, they were never mentioned again. Havent seen any resilience established in them as of yet. And talking about weak schedules…what has the ACC really shown anyone??
Spike 80DF
June 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
Chas Henry, at least spell it right…..
7576DAWG
June 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
The biggest difference at Georgia from last year will be we will have a running game. Crowell couldn’t do it all as a Freshman and this year Malcombs attitude is right and will be giving it his all to get playing time , Crowell will show last year was no fluke and the maturity difference will be obvious from the first game. Marshall and Gurly will be the depth that wasn’t there last year. Murray will get a lot of help this year. After the Missouri game we will know a lot. Sure wish we were at full strength for that game.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
1:02 pm
Sure Chaz, 40% of last years Top 10. Barely winning records, right?
daddo
June 12th, 2012
1:42 pm
Bama, with the best offensive line in the country, will blow through your defense if u make it far enough to play us. Blow through.
Chris
June 12th, 2012
1:51 pm
I am very concerned about the Mizzou game in September. I have lived in Kansas for 8 years now and travel frequently to Columbia for business, and live close to Missouri. I am a diehard SEC and Georgia fan but I am so sick and angry not having 4 key defensive starters for the Mizzou HOME game. It will be their first SEC home game at that. They have developed good talent, have an athletic QB that can run in their spread offense. They also picked up the nations top high school receiver to boot. IF we can get by Mizzou and get the DB’s back I feel we can have a banner year. Just makes me sick that these young men chose stupidity over the team, again. Mizzou plays the run well, so the O-Line better be ready and Murray better have his A game on to throw the ball around. Go Dawgs!
ARdawg
June 12th, 2012
2:38 pm
Brainiac
You are correct sir. Those pimple faced 13 year olds have enough on their plate without my recent comparisons. I am so ashamed
bitter dawgggs fan/insider
June 12th, 2012
2:41 pm
First, great— “SCRIBE”—-TOWERS—-We dont get alot on the recruiting page, Its like this—-
————robert n from grayson—best friend from grade school might commit to shorter collage
—what do ya think?, writen by michael cravell——–thats what we have been used too—-
————A TROLL WRITING ABOUT TROLLS ABOUT TROLL STUFF—HAHAHAH
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
2:50 pm
daddo must believe Alabama is going to be waiting to play the winner of the SECCG again.
TampaGator
June 12th, 2012
3:02 pm
@DIT…..
Florida will run the same plays that Weis brought to Florida. Peese is adapting to the offense, not the players to Peese. What Peese has done is incorporate more motion into last year’s offense, as he thought the offense was too predicable. Boise confused teams with their motion, as Peese intends to incorporate that confusing for the opposing teams into Weis’ offense. The Florida players love it already. They will run one play with several different sets and different types of motion so the opposing team will have more difficulty predicting a certain type of play is about to be run. The Florida defensive players said after the spring game that they had difficulty recognizing plays and responding to them. It has worked for Boise, and I hope it works this year for the Gators. Much, as I have stated, depends on the play of Driskell and/or Brissett. I think the Gators are going to be the surprise team in the SEC this year. Their defense is going to be very, very good.
TampaGator
June 12th, 2012
3:09 pm
AltamahaDawg…..
Michigan State moved the ball at will against Georgia in the second half of the bowl game. I watched the replay of the game…..and that was obvious. The MSU QB picked Georiga apart in that second half….as Georgia was worn down by a very big and strong MSU OL. Georgia’s defense should be stronger this year as a result of a lot of the redshirt freshmen being ready now to contribute in a significant way…..allowing the starters on defense to get some rest during games.
TampaGator
June 12th, 2012
3:13 pm
P.S.
Florida just won the NCAA track national championship……and the Florida baseball team is headed back to Omaha. Go Gators!
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
3:32 pm
So they “dominated” so bad that they would have only lost by 10, without our mistakes.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
3:42 pm
I believe he was 15/27, and 2 ints, in that second half. That’s what they call “picked apart” is it?
Bigboy
June 12th, 2012
4:18 pm
Yeah MSU dominated UGA about how we dominated the Gators in JAX last year then.The Gators might not win another one in the series for three years.TampaGator I know you don’t really believe the Gators are a true SEC contender this season.MAYBE next year but not 2012.
SOUTHGADAWGG88
June 12th, 2012
4:24 pm
IDK TampaGator…Folks think we might have a tough time with Mizzo but I don’t think you guys get by Texas A&M in week two.That is going to be the shocking early season upset in the East.After losing to LSU and SC I see you guys coming in to the WLOCP with 3 losses.
The Real Brains
June 12th, 2012
4:36 pm
7576DAWG
June 12th, 2012
1:01 pm
The biggest difference at Georgia from last year will be we will have a running game. Crowell couldn’t do it all as a Freshman and this year Malcombs attitude is right and will be giving it his all to get playing time , Crowell will show last year was no fluke and the maturity difference will be obvious from the first game. Marshall and Gurly will be the depth that wasn’t there last year. Murray will get a lot of help this year. After the Missouri game we will know a lot. Sure wish we were at full strength for that game.
And who is going to block for these 4 and 5 star High School All Americans? The UGA O-L was horrible last year and will be worse this year. Murray will be running for his life and the tackles for loss will add up……then you keep that UGA defense( which will be good) on the field too long in big games and the losses will come a little easier….just saying.
SOUTHGADAWGG88
June 12th, 2012
4:44 pm
The UGA OL is going to be the same it has been over the 11 years of CMR’s tenure…good enough to get the job done
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
5:06 pm
The O-line was not “horrible” last year. We have all seen horrible lines over the years, here and others. This wasn’t that. They were insufficient at a couple of positions compounded by very little depth. That’s a problem when we faced the bigger, faster, Dlines. But “horrible” doesn’t accomplish what they DID do. And 5′6″ RB didn’t really help the perception.
Not sure what you base being worse on this year either. They are deeper in numbers and return several starters. I actually think they are more settled as far as who will be in there, than some of the switching they did last year. Not much better, or about the same would be a more logical conclusion.Or even calling it a ?? would be true.
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
5:07 pm
And irrespective on how good Coach Friend really is, any position coach is going to be a lot more comfortable in his second year.
LOL
June 12th, 2012
6:55 pm
You think the UGA OL was Good? Fair? Average? They were pourous at best and the scrambling, negative plays big game losses prove it.
KEEP FOOLING YOURSELF!
LOL
June 12th, 2012
7:03 pm
AltamahaDawg
June 12th, 2012
5:07 pm
And irrespective on how good Coach Friend really is, any position coach is going to be a lot more comfortable in his second year
Anything to make u sleep better at night and hope the suspensions, and temperment play is better.
TampaGator
June 13th, 2012
7:28 am
@Bigboy…..
Domination is outscoring another team 33 to 14. And yes, that is what mighty Michigan State did….. scored 33 points on the Dawg defense in the second half including overtime. That is NOT good defense. That is just the truth. Michigan State blocked Georgia’s defensive line in the second half and picked apart the Dawg secondary. Georgia scored aroun 24 (if I remember) on the Gator defense the entire game…..and I know at least 14 of those points came after a very short drive at the end of the first half after a Rainey fumble and on a miracle 4th down TD pass after another Gator turnover. Hardly the same kind of domination.
@SouthGeorgiaDawg….
Texas A&M will be under a new system and a new QB and a new coach. And none of them will have seen a defense like what the Gators will bring to show the 12th man. I do not see them upsetting the Gators. And I have not checked the schedule, but Florida generally plays South Carolina after the JAX game. And yes, I believe the Gators will lose to LSU down there. So would Georgia.
TampaGator
June 13th, 2012
7:30 am
Enter your comments here
TampaGator
June 13th, 2012
7:31 am
…….but Georgia doesn’t play LSU or Bama next year….do they? Be very thankful for that.
Bulldawgman49
June 13th, 2012
7:31 am
So excited what this D-line will do this yr. And with the LB’s behind them oboy it’s going to fun to watch . 82 and counting . GO DAWGS!!!!!
AltamahaDawg
June 13th, 2012
8:23 am
Are you disputing what I said, there Mr. LOL? (how old are you to use a nick like that, BTW). because I didn’t actually see you dispute the comment.
Chris Mike
June 13th, 2012
11:18 am
This defense will be good as advertise. The only thing that concern me is but guys like Ray Drew in the inside. Look at Hightower from bama he weighed about 270 at LB or Upshaw he weighed 290. 3-4 sceme suppose to have big inside and outside linebackers this means they can take on blockers. WoW UGA get a clue! Only big line backer we got now is J. Jones and Tree the others are 230 pounds at best.
mountain dew!
June 13th, 2012
4:40 pm
Hey, Tampa gator yeah, but didn’t yall lose too F.S.U.? Lol!!!
Kmac
June 13th, 2012
5:56 pm
@ Mountain Dew!
Didn’t LSU blow UGA out of the building like they did not belong! UGA sucks. Fsu is much better sucker
Jay
June 14th, 2012
11:09 pm
Georgia needs to go back to being physical….It’s know secret why Ala.wins National Championships..They play Physical