UGA safety Shawn Williams rants that Dogs’ defense is ‘too soft, playing wrong players
Georgia strong safety Shawn Williams, here tackling South Carolina tailback Marcus Lattimore, called out Georgia's defense and some teammates for not playing hard enough. (AP photo)
ATHENS – You figured somebody would say something eventually. Monday night, Georgia strong safety Shawn Williams obliged.
The Bulldogs’ senior and de facto defensive captain ripped into his unit for what he called “soft play” all season. And Williams wasn’t above calling out a few teammates, identifying a couple of linebackers he didn’t think were playing up to snuff.
Do you like that Williams spoke out?
- Yes. Somebody needed to give a wake up call. (86%, 1,144 Votes)
- No. He should have kept his complaints in-house. (14%, 189 Votes)
Total Voters: 1,333
Loading ...“We’re playing too soft as a defense,” said Williams, talking to reporters after Monday night’s practice. “That goes for the D-line, linebackers, corners, safeties, everybody. We’re just not playing with the same attitude we were last year. I don’t know what it is.”
Asked if he had communicated his frustration to his defensive mates, Williams said he did during the Kentucky game and he plans to again this week as the Bulldogs prepare for Saturday’s game against No. 2 Florida in Jacksonville.
“After the first series [against Kentucky], I told everybody we played too soft,” said Williams, Georgia’s leading tackler with 51 stops. “They got the ball at the 20 and went 80 yards right up the middle. I came to the sideline and said ‘y’all are playing soft.’ It gets frustrating because I’m sitting here and I’m giving all I got and I feel like I’ve got some guys that are not. I feel we’ve got some guys that are in a whole different place.”
Asked what he thought needed to be done, Williams said, “I don’t know. I’m trying to see if I have to take somebody’s helmet off and slap them and say, ‘what’s going on’? We’re not playing with any emotion right now. Period.”
Willliams then got into specifics.
“Personally, if I was the coaches, I can’t tell them what to do, but I’d have Amarlo Herrera in the game more,” Williams said of Georgia’s starting Mike linebacker. “I wouldn’t bring him out. . . . I want to see Amarlo (Herrera) and (Alec) Ogletree in the game at linebacker; I don’t want to see anybody else at linebacker. I feel like they’re two guys that are going to go out and give you all they got, no matter if they mess up or do right. I feel like they’re going to get to the ball and tackle. That’s what we need.”
As it stands, those two are playing the most at Georgia’s inside linebacker positions. Seniors Mike Gillard and Christian Robinson split time with Herrera at the Mike. But Herrera played less against Kentucky than he has in the previous six games. He came in averaging 7.8 tackles per game. Against the Wildcats he had three, tying his season low.
“I just feel like he’s better,” Williams said. “I don’t know what he’s doing that’s better than them, getting off blocks, getting around blocks. He just gets to the football, and that’s what we need, somebody who gets to the football and tackles.”
More than any specific individuals, Williams indicated it was attitude in general that has seen the Bulldogs plunge down the national defensive rankings. Heading into Saturday’s game against run-heavy Florida, Georgia is ranked 47th in total defense (367.43 yards per game), 72nd against the run (167.86) and 49th in scoring (24.14 ppg). They were top 23 in all those categories to end last season. Kentucky rushed for 206 of their 329 total yards in a 29-24 Georgia victory.
“Right now, Florida plays very physical and they’re going to come out and try to just manhandle you,” Williams said. “So I’m really looking forward to seeing what we do. Somebody’s gonna get punched in the mouth. It’s going to be us or them. Whoever gets punched in the mouth is going to have to decide, ‘what do we do now?’ You’re either going to give in or you’re going to fight back. Point blank that’s what we’ve got to do.”
Williams’ teammates – at least those available after Monday night’s late-finishing practice — concurred with his assessment.
“I understand where he’s coming from,” senior free safety Bacarri Rambo said. “He wants to win and he wants to be the best in whatever he does. I’m in the same boat with him. I see him as a leader and a captain of the defense. He just wants what’s best for the team and the defense. So if he feels like that I feel the same way. . . . That’s what we’re upset about, because we’re not playing the best we can play, not to the potential we have as a defense.”
Said Malcolm Mitchell, who played nearly half the season at cornerback before switching back to defense full time: “Yeah, we’ve got to amp it up. We’ve got to play harder.”
Williams was asked if he thought some players were worried too much about NFL and complacent because they’ve already proven themselves. Williams is among four Georgia starters that have been projected as first-round draft picks.
“I don’t know if it’s the NFL or worried about messing up or worried about a game down the road,” Williams said. “We’ve just got to do what we do and play physical football. And we’re not. That’s what you’ve got to do to win.”
NOTES . . .
Junior outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who was nominated as a Butkus Award semifinalist on Monday, was not listed on Monday’s injury report. Generally that means he was able to practice without limitations. The 2011 All-American was unable to play against Kentucky due to right ankle sprain. Neither Jones nor any coaches were available to comment after practice… . Starting defensive end Abry Jones was listed on the practice report as “out.” He left the Kentucky game on the second defensive play with a left ankle injury… . Quarterback Aaron Murray was named the SEC’s offensive player of the week Monday for his 427-yard, four-touchdown passing performance against Kentucky. Murray was also tabbed a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award for the nation’s best quarterback on Monday.
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527 comments Add your comment
Frustrated Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:26 pm
Thank you Shawn Williams! I’ve been watching this guy all year, and he brings it every game. He reminds me of Dj Swearinger at SC. Herrera and Tree need to stay on the field all game. Cornelius Washington also needs to step up, and become a force.
DAWG with two bags still over his head
October 22nd, 2012
10:26 pm
Glad to see someone finally step up. More than a little embarrassed that our $5 million coaching staff is missing in action in this department. That speaks volumes and once again shows that we need to completely clean house.
Atta Boy Soldier Boy!
October 22nd, 2012
10:27 pm
Let the Dawgs out. Comments like this cut through the crap we receive from prepared responses. Truth hurts but sets you free.
GATA.
Rance Nix
October 22nd, 2012
10:28 pm
Hello I am a student at the University of Georgia and I made a call to action video for the UGA football team! Shawn Williams is the first player to truly say something and I hope the team is listening. The Dawgs NEED to show up if they want to win this Saturday in Jacksonville.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5GEZIf-SK0&feature=share
GO DAWGS!
FLORIDA DAWG
October 22nd, 2012
10:28 pm
Someone please inform the coaches, maybe they will hear it.
Bernie Matt
October 22nd, 2012
10:32 pm
Now you have to ask yourself, what do potential recruits think, when they see this? “What, you mean if I’m better, CMR, Bobo, Grantham and Garner might play someone else anyway”?. Then you have to ask yourself, with knowing this, what kind of recruits would come here despite this, is it the kind of recruit who would rather have his coach sing happy birthday to him, than push him to his limits on the field?
T-Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:32 pm
Needed to be said. Sad that the coaching staff needs to be called out like this. The car is running but there is nobody behind the wheel.
Also, If you go back and look at the game “tape” you can see that Robinson was probably the worst player on the field. If he plays at all it will be a sign that we really DON’T want to win.
LakeDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:32 pm
Shawn Williams can’t be right. All of the kool-aid drinkers say everything is just fine.
Bernie Matt
October 22nd, 2012
10:33 pm
CMR, it’s time to exit stage left!
DroopyDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:33 pm
Man, I love it…been saying this all season and nice to finally see someone take a stand here….although it’s a shame it has to come from a player and not coach…hopefully our AD reads this..
ZinoDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:34 pm
Just what I have been saying for weeks – D is soft and has no heart.
Gators will kill us right up the middle.
LakeDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:36 pm
Maybe there is hope after all. If the Dawgs play with passion anything is possible. But I will wait and see. I’ve heard big talk from UGA before only to see insipid performance. But this is a do or die game for these seniors and for CMR. Maybe a senior is recognizing it. Richt is in denial.
Yunel's Frosted Tips
October 22nd, 2012
10:36 pm
Shawn Williams just became my favorite bulldawg…………..he gets it……..his overpaid , lazy coaches don’t……
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 22nd, 2012
10:37 pm
Sad that a player has to speak up and say what the coaches should be saying, whether it be via the press or in private, these words needed to be spoken. Seems as though there is dissension amongst the troops. As far as I’m concerned, Shawn Williams could coach out the season for us. At least we’d see a little fire on the sidelines. Herrera may be our best player on defence, or most consistant, and he needs to be in the game from start to finish. I truly believe we have severe chemistry problems on this team and the coaches can’t seem to overcome it. Hopefully, a team mates comments lights a fire under this tearms arse.
Been Waiting For Somebody to Step Up
October 22nd, 2012
10:39 pm
Thanks Shawn! Now…after our big win…show some love to your band of brothers.
Let’s storm the beach at Normandy Saturday. GATA.
Bigdawg606
October 22nd, 2012
10:40 pm
Can’t say I disagree with Williams, however he was guilty of a completely unnecessary 15 yard penalty that, along with this outburst, is indicative of the lack of team discipline that is responsible for the lack of results in big games we have seen over the last 6 years. And really the let downs we have seen throughout Richt’s tenure. Mark Richt is a good human being, but those people don’t win national championships. People like Spurrier, Saban and Meyer do. You’ve got to have no scruples or compasion and care about nothing but winning. That’s what it takes in modern college football. Take your choice UGA fans and live with it…
Tampa Gator
October 22nd, 2012
10:40 pm
There was a play that I watched in the Florida vs. South Carolina game on Saturday that explains what WIlliams is saying. A SC player was running towards the sidelines and started to let up to see what the oncoming Florida player, Jon Bostic, would do. What he did was not let up but to lower the boom on the player that was not going 100 percent……and as Bostic hit him hard…..Matt Elam came on and plowed into him and almost knocked Bostic over. That was two players that were playing all out and no concern for their own well being. And the SC player did not make a play the rest of the game. During the game, the SC offensive players simply looked scared and confused because of how hard they were being hit and by the enormous power, stength, and speed they saw on every single play….with out letup. And do you know why……because the head coach of Florida was standing on the sideline making sure every player was doing just that….and so were all of his assistant coaches. The Florida players have definitely taken on the personality of their coach…and are following his directives on how to play the game. On the other side, I do think Georgia has taken on the personality of their head coach, which is too laid back and non emotional during games. And I think Grantham has also taken a step back under Richt’s directive on the sideline. I am not sure that is good because Georgia sure played with a lot more emotion and desire last year. As a Gator fan, I hope that continues for one more week. But I think Georgia players will come out with a lot more emotion for this game. But, frankly, I think the Florida players are stronger, better conditioned, and faster…..on the defensive side of the ball. Georgia has the advantange on the other side of the ball in key skill areas. And I think that will make the game close for most of the game. But I think Florida will have more to offer in the fourth quarter….if the game is still close one way or the other.
Rise Up Hairy Dawg!!!!!!
October 22nd, 2012
10:41 pm
Strap it on Dawgs! LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE! KNOCK THE SLOBBER OUT OF THE GATORS!
DAWG NATION...THIS IS WAR!
October 22nd, 2012
10:42 pm
LET’S GO TO WAR WITH THE GATORS IF THAT’S WHAT THEY WANT. LET’S GIVE IT TO THEM. NO REGRETS…REMEMBER.
LET'S HIT SOMEBODY
October 22nd, 2012
10:43 pm
PUNCH IN THE MOUTH TIL THE GATORS STOP GURGLING!
Bobby Bowden
October 22nd, 2012
10:43 pm
Tampa Gator Hope you are wrong, but good comments.
ugab
October 22nd, 2012
10:43 pm
OMG! It is about time someone stepped up to the plate and called everyone out. Williams is calling his defense out. This is a good thing. If those guys are worried about the draft, and don’t want to play smash mouth football,then take them out and put a freshmen in. Win or lose. I wish those guys would of went pro. It would of been the best thing for ga.
Layinlow
October 22nd, 2012
10:44 pm
Where are the disney dawgs tonight? I figured at least one of them would show up to try and do some spin control. The kool aid bucket must be running dry.
Tampa Gator
October 22nd, 2012
10:44 pm
Sorry for the long above email. But will Williams is saying will determine if Georgia plays well Saturday and if they will have a chance to win over the Gators. But it is hard just to turn it on for an entire, one game. We will see.
J Clay
October 22nd, 2012
10:44 pm
Dawgs win by 10 this weekend….then likely get run out of the building by Bama or LSU…..If that happens, what happens with Richt?
Tampa Gator
October 22nd, 2012
10:46 pm
Let’s Hit Somebody…..
Gators do not have mouths to hit. But they have long snouts with a lot of very sharp teeth and a tail that will whip you down. Just saying.
LakeDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:46 pm
I’m totally sick of this soft crap we get from Richt teams. Even if its just for one game, lets GATA! Nothing would warm my heart more than to see the Dawgs swarming the ball and passing out haymakers.
ugab
October 22nd, 2012
10:47 pm
LET’S GO TO WAR. BABY. !!! WOOOOOH. IT IS TIME. WILLIAMS IS CALLING THE DEFENSE OUT. IT IS TIME TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. SCREW THE DRAFT. LET’S GO BIG D. THIS D SHOULD BE ALOT BETTER THAN LAST SEASON. OUR TIME! OUR TEAM! NO FREAKING REGRETS!! THERE YOU GO..
Jefferson Davis Hogg
October 22nd, 2012
10:47 pm
Tampa, one point you make stands out above all to me and thats “teams defininetly take on the personality of their coach”…..How true!. Your coach amongst others have a fire in their belly’s that their teams feed off of. Looks like my team has taken the personality of CMR. valium overdose. At least Shawn Williams broke the mould.
LakeDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:48 pm
Its easy to hold a Gators mouth closed. Just sayin’…
Tampa Gator
October 22nd, 2012
10:48 pm
JClay…..
If Georgia beats Florida….I doubt LSU will run them out of the building in Atlanta…..because LSU will not be there and because LSU hardly ran Florida out of anything. But Bama will….and they might.
North Georgia Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:49 pm
I agree with several of those who have posted tonight. I’m glad Williams is still passionate about the team and how the defense performs. Someone needs to be. Also, his personal foul penalty was uncalled for in the game. But at least he cares about what’s going on, can that be said about a lot of the other guys? Not really. Where is John Jenkins lately? He was a force the second half of last season. I don’t think Robinson or Gillard should be playing much either, but maybe they are better than Herrera is pass coverage or in certain situations. I do know that Ogletree is a beast at linebacker and Herrera is solid against the run.
TIM BUCK
October 22nd, 2012
10:50 pm
It’s easy to punch them in the mouth, but can the Dogs do it all game….I HOPE SO,but I’m going to hold my breath.
Tampa Gator
October 22nd, 2012
10:50 pm
Lake Dawg….
Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, and South Carolina might disagree with you about those Gators.
LakeDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:51 pm
A head coach doesn’t do much coaching. Assistants handle that. What a head coach does is set the tone. He doesn’t have to be a hard ass. There is more than one way to skin a cat. He can also be a guy that exudes excitement and intensity. I think that is model that Richt aspires to. However, he just doesn’t have it in him.
CC
October 22nd, 2012
10:51 pm
GATA Shawn! I hope you knock Driskell’s head off Saturday. Them UF players need a good old fashioned Georgia country boy butt kicking.
DFence
October 22nd, 2012
10:53 pm
Geez….what a train wreck we have become. We can talk all we want about who needs to play and who is a coaches pet and who isnt… The real truth is we have players who aren’t afraid of consequences and that is all the feet of Mark Richt and his staff.
North Georgia Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:53 pm
Florida has a very good defense, especially their linebackers and safety Elam. But offensively I think they are a little overrated. Do you know how many rushing yards Gillislee had against South Carolina? 39. Total yards for Florida- under 200 of total offense. They forced turnovers and got short fields and this made their job easier, but don’t confuse their offense with Alabama or Oregon. They forced a fumble inside the 5 and a fumble on a kickoff return. Granted, they did a good job to force the turnovers and not settle for field goals, but that’s no explosive showing.
Hairy Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:55 pm
Gotta play harder AND smarter. We’re making way too many mental mistakes to go along with physical ones.
North Georgia Dawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:57 pm
If Georgia gets hammered this weekend, I am done with Richt as a head coach. I think he is a decent coach, but a lousy motivator and doesn’t see the big picture sometimes. (For example, waiting so long to fire Martinez.) Martinez should have been fired without a doubt after 2008, but he waited another year until they were so bad it could cost him his own job.
LakeDawg
October 22nd, 2012
10:58 pm
UGA D can stop the Gators O if they go out and play. If I were CTG I would stack the box and play man to man. UF doesn’t have explosive receivers. It would also get the Dawgs playing aggressively. Their zone is soft and has the players thinking too much. For the life of me I can’t understand why CTG hasn’t been more aggressive in his scheme. The 3-4 is supposed to be an aggressive D. The Dawgs have to quit playing not to lose and play to win. If UF smokes them on deep routes, so be it. At least we go out swinging.
ugab
October 22nd, 2012
10:59 pm
Tampa Gator,
I love the way the coaches at fl are coaching. It is unreal.I watched Muschamp get onto one of his players in the beginning of the SC game for a penalty. He basically jacked the player up and got into his face. Now that is football!! Hell I seen our local high school coach get into the players face. That;s football. Physical, emotion, passion, discipline. Man I could be a coach.lol
Florida coaches are getting after it this season. It is paying off. I don’t even see any the assistants for the dawgs doing anything but collecting a check. THAT IS THE TRUTH. bobo is up in the booth with a big fat dip in his mouth. CMR has got his hand on the mic of his ear set, doing nothing. DEAD HEAD.WE NEED SOMEONE TO LIGHT THESE PLAYERS ON FIRE. THE TALENT HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS. IT IS TIME FOR A HARD NOSED SEC COACH THAT DEMAND EXCELLENCE.
bwell
October 22nd, 2012
10:59 pm
FINALLY!!!!!!!! SOMEONE STEPPED UP AND CALLED THEMSELVES OUT. I’M PROUD OF SW………. hopefully the players will wake up and answer the freakin call!!! all season you heard the crap we goood blah blah blah but where the heck is 360lbs DL JJ where is he at KG showed up at KY. Ga need some fire lit up under them this week. and I hope this HELP…… Great job SW light some more players up! FINALLY I true player calls someone out….its about freakin time. Play hard, practice hard and knock the freak out those darn gators on sat. Im in Afghanistan win it for US overseas that got our on fight going on go dawgs!!
drbasic1
October 22nd, 2012
11:00 pm
SC Dawg
I agree 100% with what you say. I was there when ERK was, a player quit we would never see him on the field again. Those guys would have run through a brick wall for coach Russell, because they did not fear him, but had respect for him. I do think Richt did a VERY BAD thing by toning down Grantham all because some lady heard him cussing on the sidelines. We need fire and brimstone when they screw on those helments and go to battle. If you are afraid to get hurt as it may affect your “DRAFT” status, you have no loyalty to the team or team concept……our time, our team, no regrets…..hmmm was it just a saying, or did it mean something in your heart?
Tampa Gator
October 22nd, 2012
11:02 pm
North Georgia Dawg…..
Here are more important stats from that game.
Time of possession. Florida 35 minutes. SC 24 minutes.
3rd down conversions. Florida 7/16 SC 3/14
One thing to remember for Saturday……Florida does not try to win games with its offense. They do not lose it with their offense. But they use their offense and special teams to establish field position and contol the tempo of the game. What Florida tries to do is win the game with an overpowering defense…..ask Texas A&M, Tennessee, LSU, and South Carolina.
ugab
October 22nd, 2012
11:03 pm
LAKE DAWG,
You said it,”Atleast we go out swinging.” Have CTG even played any 3-4 this yr??? It looks to me he is playing safe. Bring Jones or another Lb aroung the end and that is it. I liked it better when all the lbs where waiting behind the DL to make the tackle.
GB's Hamburgers
October 22nd, 2012
11:03 pm
Shawn has laid it out. If the team is soft whose fault is it and isn’t this a perpetual problem? If they are not playing the right players (this is something players know well) whose fault is it. Tough coaches begat tough players. Years ago UGA had an abundance of both.
bardawg
October 22nd, 2012
11:03 pm
I think that Grantham has had to tone it down because it conflicted with Richt’s philosophy of not demonstrating any emotions on the sideline. Maybe Grantham, who at least tries to show some cajones sometimes , should be promoted to head coach, and ,if we retain Richt, keep him as the offensive coordinator, move BooBoo back to quarterbacks coach. In other words, let’s shuffle the deck a little bit and maybe, just maybe we’ll attain some level of success beyond a ten win season. I’m real damn tired of watching other teams in the SEC do a whole lot more with less, we have squandered so much talent at UGA , it’s really just sickening. THere is NO excuse for us not to be playing for the National Championship this year.
ugab
October 22nd, 2012
11:07 pm
CMR needs to let CTG coach. If he says a few cuss words, so what!!! He is a defensive coach. They have a right to cuss. CMR needs to retire and be an minister. Football has cussing and always will have cussing.
LakeDawg
October 22nd, 2012
11:08 pm
I think Richt neutered Grantham. Called him out for yelling at the players. Grantham sold his soul by staying for a big raise.