Georgia’s defense looking to stem the tide of big plays
According to the Bulldogs, they're really not far off from playng defense at the level they were last season, when they finished fifth in the nation in total yardage allowed. (AJC photo by Bob Andres)
ATHENS – When talk at Tuesday’s weekly news conference turned to the big plays given up by Georgia’s defense, Mark Richt interrupted. “I don’t want to talk about the South Carolina game anymore.
“They beat us, they beat us soundly and congratulations to them,” the Bulldogs coach said. “But we’ve moved forward past that and now correcting mistakes is important.”
Trouble is, Georgia’s mistakes on defense this season have not been limited to the 35-7 drubbing it received in Columbia. The Bulldogs have given up yardage in large chunks to everybody they’ve played this season. The gashes the Gamecocks left in Georgia’s defense were just more notable because of the gravity of the situation.
Against South Carolina, Georgia gave up three plays of 20 or more yards – including a 62-yard pass completion. But that was more the rule than the exception this season. The Bulldogs have given up at least three plays of 20 or more yards in every game, including Buffalo and Florida Atlantic.
In total, they’ve allowed 21 plays of 20 or more yards and 14 plays of 30 or more yards. Missouri recorded the longest pass play (69 yards) and Florida Atlantic the longest run (48).
“It’s not disappointment because we know we have the ability to do just as good as last year or better,” senior cornerback Sanders Commings said. “We’re more angry than anything. We’ve just got to find that swagger and take it to the field on Saturday and we’ll be OK.”
That’s a far cry from what was expected from the 2012 defense, which came into the season drawing comparisons to Alabama, LSU and South Carolina. The Bulldogs were fifth nationally in total defense a year ago.
“There’ve been 13 explosive plays in the pass game in the first part of the season,” said defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who defines “explosive plays” as 24 or more yards. “That’s way too many. You can’t, but if you take those plays out we’re pretty much where we were last year from a yards per attempt standpoint. But they are there, so you have say why they’re there and you have to make sure you make the proper corrections.”
The chief explanation the Bulldogs offer for that is “miscommunication.” Players and coaches are trying to be careful not to offer it as an excuse, but having four starters miss a total of 12 games due to suspension contributed to that problem. The issue hasn’t been as much playing without those players as it has been all the residual personnel changes that resulted.
For instance, Georgia had three different free safeties in the first six games and three different boundary cornerbacks. Amarlo Herrera started the first four games at “Mo” inside linebacker but has started the last two at “Mike.” Each has distinctly different responsibilities in the passing game.
The end result has been the occasional wide receiver or halfback running free in Georgia’s secondary and two Bulldogs pointing at each other at the end of the play.
“We have no excuses for anything, no matter who’s in or who’s out,” said Herrera, who admitted his misread led to Tennessee’s running back Rajion Neal scoring a wide-open touchdown on a pass in the flat. “. . . Sometimes it’s complicated; we’ve got a lot of things going on out there. If one person doesn’t hear a call or understand what they have to do, then it can mess up everything.”
If a common denominator can be drawn from the Bulldogs’ first six games it is that their defense has taken its biggest licks in the first half. With the exception of the 48-3 win over Vanderbilt, Georgia allowed at least two first-half scores to every other team it played.
Of the 145 points the Bulldogs have allowed this season, 94 have come in the first two quarters of play. That’s an average of 15.7 points for the first half. Conversely, they’ve given up barely a touchdown on average – 6.8 points — in the second half.
That could be the sign of a couple of things: One, Georgia coaches aren’t anticipating what teams are going to do against them; and two, players aren’t reacting well to things they’re seeing for the first time.
“I think everybody has a little something new for you, especially the first couple of opponents,” Richt said. “You can only prepare for what you see. Sometimes there will be things that can catch you off guard but you can correct. Some of it you just get over-aggressive when it comes to stopping the run and wanting to be physical and all that kind of stuff.”
Those halftime adjustments are one of the reasons for optimism for this group, Grantham contends.
“Early on we had some young players that were playing new positions,” he said. “They see something new and sometimes they don’t fit up the right way. Once you get them on the sideline you can show them what it is, they have a tendency to play better. If you look at all our games it’s kind of gone like that. But that’s a credit to the players because they hung in there and kept playing. They understood what we had to do and they made corrections and we won the game.”
It’s bound to get better this week. In Kentucky the Bulldogs are facing an offense that is currently ranks 13th or 14th in the SEC in scoring, total offense, rushing, pass efficiency and third-down conversions. The Wildcats are currently playing without their top two quarterbacks and will start true freshman Jalen Whitlow on Saturday.
“We’re ready to get back to being the same type of defense we were last year,” Herrera said.
That’s still a steep climb. At the moment Georgia is ranked in the bottom half of the SEC in virtually every statistical category. Nationally, the Bulldogs finished last season fifth in total defense, 11th against the rush, 10th against the pass and 23rd in points allowed. This season their ranking in the same categories is 50th, 67th, 39th and 51st, respectively.
“That was the first half of the season,” Commings said. “I think last year we played our best ball in the second half. Hopefully this year we will, too.”
Grantham believes the timing is right for marked improvement.
“I love bye weeks,” he said. “We took a hard evaluation of the things we were doing and made sure everybody understood it, because the main thing is being on the same page and doing their job. [The players took a workman’s like approach in the bye week and I’ve seen progress. I think as we move forward with the continuity we have, we’ll be fine.”
MORE GEORGIA FOOTBALL
- Notebook: Defensive star Jarvis Jones ‘questionable for Kentucky
- Schultz: Does Bulldogs’ NFL talent have their heads somewhere else?
- A quick look at Georgia’s next opponent: Kentucky
- Bulldogs players and coaches talking about moving forward
- With ultimate goal still intact, Dogs focus on ‘winning every game’
- South Carolina loss boost Georgia’s chances in East
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188 comments Add your comment
Lonnie
October 17th, 2012
1:12 pm
Tell it. I totally agree! We are 5-1 #11 and we will be fine!!!! Trust me I attended Georgia in the 80’s. There was definitely some shenanigans. In addition, coach Dooley had a losing bowl record! Never recruited a top QB! And with one of the best teams in Georgia history he went 44-4 but lost 2 bowl games. Should have had 2 national championships. Yes we are losing to the good teams but I am a dawg and I support our coach. Let’s expect a great game Saturday and cheer them on!
Uncle Kirk
October 17th, 2012
1:13 pm
There you go Flat Tire….let it all out. We will listen to you. We will try to help you with that self esteem problem. How is that flat tire coming?
DawginLex
October 17th, 2012
1:13 pm
A lot of stuff has happened since 2007 you idiot
What the HE!! do you want me to say?
Richt kept Martinez and Jancek too long. Want to know why Minter is at LSU? Jancek thought he was too slow.
McGarity kept Richt after the 2010 season when he could have fired him. He is the AD and Richt is the coach. Your never ending griping is not doing a dam thing except wasting space and continuing to make you miserable.
I don’t get what it is you want. Richt is not going to get fired sport short of a meltdown with Florida and even then, McGarity may decide to keep him.
I had high expectations for 2012. I have stated my opinions. You continue to spew your inane vomit which does no good sport.
Continue your misery. You spend all day on these blogs saying the same thing over and over and over again.
I’d say that is the definition of insanity that you like to point out about UGA football all the time, wouldn’t you?
browndog
October 17th, 2012
1:15 pm
Seems like everyone wants to say the problems at UGA are not happening at other universities. Might want to take a look at Texas. More money than they can ever spend, the pick of the top athletes from Texas, and Mack Brown never knew how to coach.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
October 17th, 2012
1:37 pm
DawginLex
I didnt realize that drinking too much kool-aid leads to anger management issues
Now lets get something straight; you were the one like always butting into a conversation Im having with other bloggers to quickly step in to defend the current coaching staff; I wasnt even talking to you and yet you post some article that try’s to validate your delusional beliefs about us playing a national title;
I just responded; then Im talking to another blogger and once again you have to step in and put your delusional two cents in again
Hey Im sorry I dont fall in line with the rest of you delusional Disney Dawgs and think everything is chipper or is going to be fixed
Now again I need an answer; you said
“You don’t win with someone else’s players in football. You coach the players you have.”
So why havent we beaten a top 20 team in 4 yrs
Can you answer that or not
Uncle Kirk
October 17th, 2012
1:52 pm
But I am trying to help you through your insecurities flat tire.
Don’t stop now…..hahahaha
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
1:57 pm
Here we go! the same dozen idiots are on here calling for CMR head everyday. Yu guys obviously have no perspective on UGA football and have only started watching in the last couple years. GET OVER IT. CMR is here to stay and is the best coach UGA has EVER HAD. Please find something else to do, you are wasting your time in a very very small monority
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
2:01 pm
.770 win perc.
2 SEC Titles
2nd Nationally in AP Final Poll twice
Pulled out of 1 NAT CHAMP GAME by voters
Now what did Donnan and Goff do w/ NFL caliber talent? 3rd in East every year
CMR has vastly improved our program, I don’t want to chase my tail trying to find the ‘next Saban’.
We’re sitting pretty now
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
2:05 pm
90% of fans support CMR including the ones who make all the decisions, so all you are doing is being a naysayer and negative nancy, and nobody likes that!!!! Get behind this team or go pull for Auburn. they have that amazing NATCHAMP that you want so bad. Oh yeah they suck and have no consistency. Saban has had 5 jobs in 15 years, so has Meyers(you’re fav coaches). So how long till this ‘next coach’ takes off for greener lands?
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
2:08 pm
ESPN analysts don’t know anything but loud talk…how many predictions do they get right? They are there to strum up guys like you. UGA was a real laughing stock before CMR got here.
DawginLex
October 17th, 2012
2:11 pm
So tell me what answer do you want einstein?
It all happened and no amount of your griping is going to change it
Here’s one for you to further send you into orbit:
1.)We win out
2.)We play in SECCG and lose
3.)We win our bowl game
4.)End up 12-2, ranked #5 in the country
5.)Richt retires to join his wife on the mission field
6.)Bobo gets named head coach
7.)Staff stays intact except for hiring an OC who installs the spread
BOOM!!!
I hope your blood pressure meds are on order!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
You act as if we all are ok w/ losing a game or two just because we support our coach. I would love to go undefeated every year, but it’s not realistic. BY the way,
HOW MANY OF THE LAST NATCHAMP have been undefeated? Get back to me on that one, everytime an SEC team wins the NAT CHAMP they have 1 loss buddy
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
2:36 pm
Flat Tire, it is obvious you are not even a fan. You probably are just a front runner, or like GTech and just trying to stir up stuff. You are on here everyday saying the same 3 tired lines. WAKE UP its not changing at HC. When we do win our NATCHAMP under CMR we won’t have to woory about sanctions or probation. Just wondering what negativity you will come up with then
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
2:39 pm
90% of fans are proud of CMR including the ones who actually make decisions. By the way they got into that position by being productive members of society ‘with jobs’. Sitting around crying on a newspaper blog is not how you make progress. Oh wait thats not your intent, you don’t want UGA to win! What else would you do with your time.
aldogg2121
October 17th, 2012
2:44 pm
Real Dawg Fan, you need to pull your head out of your butt and wake up. “When we do win our NATCHAMP under CMR” Hahaha get real dude. National championship-caliber coaches do not get blown out in big games year after year after year after year after year.
DawginLex
October 17th, 2012
2:46 pm
didn’t say I wanted it.
Just told you a made up scenario
You really need to go back to school ma’am and learn how to comprehend what you read.
DawginLex
October 17th, 2012
2:55 pm
real dawg fan
Whatever pinhad flat tire tells you to do, do the opposite and you will be assured of having a much better life
Don’t let this miserable mushroom brain ruin things for you
We all want Georgia to win
He thinks his never ending complaining is helping
All it is doing is shortening his lfe
aldogg2121
October 17th, 2012
3:01 pm
You guys are funny.
Go Dawgs!!!
Real Dawg Fan
October 17th, 2012
3:04 pm
No one is happy with losing.
Its obvious thats why you are so mad. You are a loser at life.
You think you have the finger on the pulse of college football. Tell me this genius, how come FSU is just now recovering from CMR departure 12 years ago.
How bad was UGA before he got here?
Enough said…i want to win too. I just know a better way to accomplish it than you
Here we Go
October 17th, 2012
3:29 pm
For the last 6 years and maybe more since CMR our problem has been the O/L.Until they(coaches) decide to put the emphasis on the O/L we will continue to be a mid-tier program.We now have the running backs but not the O/L.What does it take to open their eyes and see that Bama,LSU, and now the Gators have solid O/L.That is what it takes to win in the SEC.Tide Roll runs his mouth on this blog about our O/L,but I have to agree with what he has to say about our problems in O/L.
jsmooth
October 17th, 2012
3:32 pm
@ DIT:
a man after my own heart. Way to put things in perspective. People climb on and off these college bandwagons, however, there are much more important things in life to spend our time, attention and money. Thanks for being a Man of God, loving your wife and being a honorable Dad. This is what the world needs more than anything, A man with Godly priorities.
Big Wally
October 17th, 2012
3:41 pm
The short version, or interpretation of the entire article…………..they are doing a horrible job of coaching on defense, which comes to a shock to no one who has watched them.
Ga/Fl.Stillman dog
October 17th, 2012
3:58 pm
They plain out suck
Big Wally
October 17th, 2012
3:59 pm
Another little suggestion for the Defensive coaches…it’s not a good thing when half of your players are still running from the sideline to their positions, when the offense is about to hike the ball.
G-Dawg
October 17th, 2012
4:27 pm
Flatty…you’re on a roll this week!!! LOL Everyone getting fired up!!
GEO
October 17th, 2012
4:46 pm
Pressure on the Q B , so sick of seeing 4 d backs across the middle while plays are developing in front of or behind them Wait and see defense needs to stop!
Joey
October 17th, 2012
5:07 pm
“BY the way, HOW MANY OF THE LAST NATCHAMP have been undefeated? Get back to me on that one, everytime an SEC team wins the NAT CHAMP they have 1 loss buddy”
****************************************
By the way, HOW MANY OF THE LAST NATCHAMP have gotten blown-out 9 times in 4+ seasons? Get back to me on that one, buddy.
Richt has been doing nothing but embarrassing UGA since the start of ‘08, losing 20 games, and getting his ass kicked badly 9 times.
Do you not realize that – no other high paid coach gets blown-out that much!
jerry
October 17th, 2012
6:57 pm
I just want to commend Coach Grantham for installing a “complicated” defense. Most people wouldn’t be that brave, what with the academic problems that have been associated with the program.
D-Day
October 17th, 2012
7:14 pm
The Gators will have a field day with the dwags. It won’t be pretty, either. Dwags go down hard.
Jeff
October 17th, 2012
7:57 pm
You gotto be kidding. They have not been able to stop anyone this season short of Vanderbilt. Pathetic.
DawgNole
October 17th, 2012
8:46 pm
DawginLex
October 17th, 2012
2:55 pm
real dawg fan
Whatever pinhad flat tire tells you to do, do the opposite and you will be assured of having a much better life
Don’t let this miserable mushroom brain ruin things for you
We all want Georgia to win
He thinks his never ending complaining is helping
All it is doing is shortening his lfe
_____________________
Shortening his “lfe”? Is that such a bad thing?
UGA’s Jarvis Jones looks doubtful for Kentucky, but Jordan Jenkins says he’s ready | UGA sports blog
October 17th, 2012
9:08 pm
[...] Georgia’s defense looking to stem tide of big plays [...]
Bobo
October 18th, 2012
3:57 am
Mark Richt is the coach of the year – if you’re a ‘Bama fan! – Roll Tide!
HoneyBadger Has the Munchies
October 18th, 2012
9:25 am
Only Georgia can be six…SIX GAMES into the season and still do not have a sound punt or kick returner! And still having to make excuses for the defense…Really Mr. Grantham, “If you take away the 13 plays of 24 yards or more we are where we were last year.” Come On Man! That is only a MINIMUM of 312 yards over six games…MINIMUM!
Dawg Deep In DoDo
October 18th, 2012
11:32 am
Sanders Cummings, Do you and GEORGIA a favor, SHUT UP! Being suspened isn’t helpful to your defensive numbers. Oh and where is Ray Drew?
TossSweep
October 18th, 2012
12:38 pm
“There’ve been 13 explosive plays in the pass game in the first part of the season,” said defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who defines “explosive plays” as 24 or more yards. “That’s way too many. You can’t, but if you take those plays out we’re pretty much where we were last year from a yards per attempt standpoint. But they are there, so you have say why they’re there and you have to make sure you make the proper corrections.”
WHHHAAAAT???????
But if you take those explosive plays out???? Well then every DC in the country should say that about their team as well.
You don’t hear that from Kirby Smart, do you?
Homerun or consistent singles/doubles?
October 18th, 2012
1:49 pm
So, here’s the dichotomy:
Either UGA shoots for National Titles (which, historically, it doesn’t a record of that kind of performance) or it shoots for 9 or 10 win seasons consistently. You can’t have both. To achieve top line performance, does UGA bend the rules of recruiting? Hire a bigger name coach? Fire the AD? I don’t think so. That’s not the strategy at UGA from the top down. It never has been. And, that’s nothing to be ashamed of in reality. For example, the University of Miami reckless abandon of rules and behavior allowed it to intimidate and win profusely during the 80s and early 90s. However, today it is paying for that type of behavior b/c you can’t sustain it. You will get caught and the long-term ramifications are detrimental. Think housing sector and non-performing loans for you non-football readers.
From my view from my seats since 1968, UGA is a proud program with a loyal fan base (but not a rabid loud bunch) that seeks stability in revenue from season ticket renewals and bowls. Yes, occasionally, when the stars align and other programs are in flux, UGA will go a run of 3-4 years of outperformance but only to revert to its historical mean performance.
The analogy that fits UGA perfectly is that it is the Wisconsin of the SEC.
C from Marietta
October 19th, 2012
10:16 am
@ Homerun or consistent singles/doubles?
Well Said!