Georgia looks to shore up run defense before taking on Nebraska’s ‘Big Red Machine’
Georgia linebacker Alec Ogletree racked up a lot of tackles against Alabama (11), but too often it was not at or near the lilne of scrimmage. (AP photo by Dave Martin)
ATHENS -- For all the adoration heaped upon Georgia’s defense and its cavalcade of all-star players this season, it hasn’t been all that good at the one thing considered a cornerstone of being great – stopping the run.
The fact is, the Bulldogs exited the 2012 regular season ranked among the bottom third in the nation in rush defense. They’ve given up an averaged 177.77 yards per game, which is 77th among 120 FBS teams.
Most notably, the last time we saw it in action, the Georgia defense gave up 350 yards on the ground to Alabama in the SEC Championship. For all the debate about whether the Bulldogs should have spiked the ball or not in the closing seconds, it could be argued the inability to stop the run is the reason they lost the game 32-28.
“Some of it was just wrapping them up better,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said of the Alabama debacle. “I told them going in, ‘You’re not going to be able to knock these guys down. You might knock them down a time or two, but if your goal is to just knock them down, you’re not going to be able to do it. You’re going to get embarrassed. You’ve got to wrap up and run your feet until you get them on the ground.’”
That didn’t happen. Eddie Lacy rushed for 181 yards and T.J. Yeldon for 153. And most of the Crimson Tide’s production came between the tackles. Linebackers Alec Ogletree and Mike Gillard were unable to bring the down their backs at the point of contact and safeties Bacarri Rambo and Shawn Williams spent more time unsuccessfully trying to snatch away the football than stopping the Bama’s backs progress.
The Alabama game continued a disturbing trend toward the end of the season. It was the third game in a row in which the Bulldogs gave up 300 or more yards rushing. Including contests against triple-option specialists Georgia Southern (302 yards) and Georgia Tech (306), Georgia gave up 958 yards rushing during that stretch. It came on an average of 58.6 attempts and 5.4 yards per carry.
“It is surprising considering how well we did last year in the run game and having most of the guys back,” said senior linebacker Christian Robinson, one of 10 starters back for a defense that finished 11th in the nation against the run in 2011 (101.21 ypg). “We just gave up too many big plays, too many big runs. Those factor into why it may look so bad. But we should have been better and we have to be better in this last one.”
Enter Nebraska. The Bulldogs’ opponent in the Jan. 1 Capital One Bowl in Orlando comes into the game ranked eighth in the nation in rushing (254.5 ypg). The Cornhuskers are led by sophomore running back Ameer Abdullah ( 1,089 yards, 8 touchdowns) and dual-threat quarterback Taylor Martinez (973, 10). Both players are averaging more than five yards a carry.
The Bulldogs are a double-digit favorite over Nebraska. But if they’re not able to control the Cornhuskers’ rushing attack, they could be in trouble.
“Personally, I don’t think we need to do different,” senior linebacker Mike Gilliard said. “We just need to go out there and continue to do what we’re doing. I have 110 percent, complete faith in our defense against the run. I don’t think we need to change anything. Just keep doing what we’ve been doing, everybody run to the ball and play fundamental, sound football and we’ll be all right.”
Gilliard’s attitude reflects that of defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, who insisted he’s not disappointed in the Bulldogs’ run defense this season.
Grantham said Georgia’s stats against the rush are a bit “skewed.” He called the games against Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech “irrelevant” due to the unique nature of their schemes. And the Bulldogs played their first four games without two of their better run defenders in Ogletree and Rambo, who were suspended.
“We were pretty low in points allowed this year,” Grantham said. “As a matter of fact, lower than we were last year. That’s really more important than anything. We got to the SEC championship game two years in a row. To me those things are more important than stats.”
Georgia did have a few run-stuffing efforts. Missouri managed just 102 yards on the ground, Vanderbilt just 106 and neither Florida (75), Ole Miss (46) nor Auburn (57) managed.
“Certain games we do well and other times we don’t do what we need to,” Robinson said. “We need to be more consistent.”
The Alabama game exposed one of the Bulldogs’ weaknesses, which is depth along the defensive line. For all the accolades John Jenkins, Kwame Geathers and Garrison Smith have received this season, the drop off was pretty steep behind them. Ray Drew, Cornelius Washington and Mike Thornton are good athletes but are undersized when it comes to defending smash-mouth football. As a result, Jenkins, Geathers and Smith played nearly every snap of the Alabama game.
“I thought we got tired at the end of the game,” Grantham said. “I think we’ve got to continue to work and develop some depth. I think if we do that they’ll be fine.”
Georgia hopes to address that through recruiting and up-and-coming players such as redshirted noseguard John Taylor. In the meantime, they’ll have to go with what they’ve got versus the ‘Huskers.
“I think we could have done a whole lot of things better this season,” All-American outside linebacker Jarvis Jones said. “I think we could have played the run better; I think we could’ve played the pass better. I think if we eliminate the big play from Alabama at the end of the third quarter or beginning of the fourth or whatever it was, I think we shut the game out right there.
“It’s just small things, discipline things, we’ve got to work on going into this bowl game. I think if we take care of that, I think we’ll be fine.”
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154 comments Add your comment
JB
December 19th, 2012
4:11 pm
Altamaha….. I agree…..but it takes 2 years to develop them…then you need depth….and we seem, as others do, have a lot of injuries…..and most of these guys are just big….and not talented. 20 IS too many
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:13 pm
They also gave up almost 200 more against Wisconsin than we did against Alabama. Also, Nebraska hasn’t been able to throw the ball when it has counted. Sorry, but you must have not watched the Big Ten Championship Game. I did, and Nebraska’s run defense and quarterback were atrocious.
Bip
December 19th, 2012
4:14 pm
Remember,Georgia QB Alan Murray doesn’t play well against top ranekd teams, he’s 2-11 record, and 0-2 in Bowl games.
Murray has thrown 6 int’s in his last 2 bowl games.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:16 pm
maybe saban will write a book years down the road and richt can read up on how to win championships. it seems the book Homer Smith wrote really helped him on game time manangement.
It sure would be a better read than Gene Chizik’s book.
Bip
December 19th, 2012
4:16 pm
Defense held UCF to 10 points in 2010, and Murray still lost the game, due to 3 int’s.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:18 pm
Remember,Georgia QB Alan Murray doesn’t play well against top ranekd teams, he’s 2-11 record, and 0-2 in Bowl games.
Murray has thrown 6 int’s in his last 2 bowl games.
Against Alabama, Aaron Murray threw for 260 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT. Better than most have fared against Saban’s defense. And it’s not all on Murray if we win this game. Gurley and even Marshall will have a say in that as well.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:20 pm
Yeah, but he was a freshman then and didn’t have the luxury of a good run game to work with. And it was two interceptions, not three. Georgia’s team around him and Murray himself are much better than in 2010.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:26 pm
And 4 picks in last two bowl games. Not 6. That still sucks, but you’re inflating these stats to make them look worse.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:29 pm
It’s Aaron Murray, genius. And two interceptions per game. Are you a Nebraska fan or just an idiot?
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:30 pm
Any cute guys out there looking for a date tonight? If so, please let me know! I have no life and need some action!
That sounds about right. You and SSI should get as room.
John
December 19th, 2012
4:33 pm
Awwww Bip that was cute. I have a co-worker who might be interested in you. Should I ask?
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:34 pm
*a room. You just don’t get it. This isn’t Alabama, einstein. This is Nebraska. They lost HUGE to Wisconsin and Hio State, two teams Alabama is much better than. They only beat Georgia by four. Nebraska can’t stop anyone’s running game so even if AARON Murray struggles, they will just hand the ball of to Gurley and Marshall. No team that gives up 530 yards rushing to Wisconsin is going to stop our running backs. Please don’t tell me you are this stupid. Also, Metenberger only had 30 yards passing more than Murray and the same number of touchdown passes. And Manziel is better than Murray and every other quarterback, he won the Heisman.
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:35 pm
Gurley ran for 122 on the best run defense in the nation. Nebraska can’t stop the run. Not good for Nebraska. I’m not saying our defense won’t surrender some points, but their defense is horrific. Did you actually watch them play this season?
John
December 19th, 2012
4:36 pm
“Jarvis Jones” just ignore him man. He is some teenager with no life just on here to get you worked up. Don’t you get it? He, we, and pretty much everyone knows that UGA will take care of Nebraska. He is just trying to get you worked up. He is a sad little kid with no life so he is here to get off on you and other UGA fans getting mad. You won’t see him again of course after UGA wins.
Tony
December 19th, 2012
4:37 pm
Bip is probably a Tech fan. If not, why is he so obsessed with Aaron Murray?
DawginLex
December 19th, 2012
4:39 pm
Georgia 56
Nebraska 24
Read ‘em and weep tard
DawginLex
December 19th, 2012
4:40 pm
The time over on the flats is
9:18
Jarvis Jones gives Muschamp nightmares
December 19th, 2012
4:40 pm
John, that sounds about right. He also fails to realize Nebraska ain’t South Carolina. He also seems to fail to get it through his thick skull how much Gurley will tear Nebraska up. He reminds me of a Missouri troll who guaranteed a win over us and then deleted his account after the game. But hey, he’s probably some nerd in high school like you said. You can’t fix stupid.
DawginLex
December 19th, 2012
4:42 pm
Bip changes blog handles like most folks change underwear
Across the wide Missouri-oops
Vandy Sandy-oops
Vols rule-oops
Gator chomp-oops
Yellow fuzz-oops
Try again
Tony
December 19th, 2012
4:43 pm
Maybe Bip needs to get on here to vent his frustrations. Maybe the girl he liked rejected his invitation to the prom. Maybe his mommy didn’t hug him enough. Or maybe he didn’t get called on when he had his little hand up. That, or of course, his team lost to Georgia and so he is whining for that reason.
Dawglasville
December 19th, 2012
4:43 pm
Bip – What is your previous troll name and who is your school?
Bip
December 19th, 2012
4:43 pm
Aaron Murray holds no records and has been the worst UGA QB ever! UGA got lucky this year against Tech. We should have won!
DawginLex
December 19th, 2012
4:43 pm
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bip
December 19th, 2012
4:44 pm
Actually, I wasn’t rejected by a girl. I have never even talked to one. That’s why I play on UGA blogs all day and have turned to men. I just hope that one day I get asked out by one!
Tony
December 19th, 2012
4:45 pm
Murray isn’t the only player on the team, you little troll. If you think your sorry defense can stop our running backs (even Ken Malcome), you don’t watch much football. Plus Murray won’t have much pressure because we’ll be up big so early.
Tony
December 19th, 2012
4:47 pm
A couple of those posts weren’t mine. I think that’s obvious. Oh well, like John told a poster earlier, let the little guy play by himself, let’s not provide attention. I’ve got to go get something to eat anyways.
Big Dog
December 19th, 2012
4:53 pm
Tech sucks, their fans need to get off our blogs.
DawginLex
December 19th, 2012
5:00 pm
Stealing my blog handle?
Goodbye
You are banned
Joey
December 19th, 2012
5:06 pm
JB, we shoulda beat UK by 50 points.
Just saying . . .
MY Dawg
December 19th, 2012
5:09 pm
There were tackling issues during that game,but that wasn’t what cost them the game. The 2 three and outs Ga had before the final stop on Alabama is what cost the game. The offense being unable to move the ball much less score is the difference. the defense had to spend too much time on the field. Look at the time of possession in the game. Several times Ga stopped Alabama but after they had gotten at least one 1st down. the offense got the ball several times and went 3 and out. Keep the time of possession even and Ga wins …..
Dewayne
December 19th, 2012
5:24 pm
UGA should win this game if they are motivated. If not Nebraska will look like the Black Shirts of the early 90’s and run all over UGA. So it’s up to UGA if they are up for the game. This Nebraska team is no where near the Black Shirt team.
Mayedog
December 19th, 2012
6:09 pm
Agree with an earlier post I read making the following point:
WRAP UP and focus on the tackle, not stripping the ball if you are the first point of contact. Too many times the player was able to gain extra yards while our guy was “up high” trying to strip the ball. Turnovers are great but more times than not, the benefit is in the STUFF!
TACKLE FIRST, turnover second!
Any questions?
Chris
December 19th, 2012
6:52 pm
That pictcure of Ogletree grabbing up around the shoulders says it all. Well, it says part of it. Richt’s comments about “you can’t just try to knock these guys down or you’ll get embarrassed” says just as much. Instead of in the 13th game of the year the HC suggesting to the players how they should tackle, somebody in summer camp should suggest that if YOU DON”T TACKLE LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO YOUR BUTT WILL BE ON THE BENCH!!! The difference between Bama and UGA is simply the fundamentals, and they are better at those than we are. As a matter of fact, we just don’t play fundamentally sound and that is absolutely unacceptable.
1969 Graduate
December 19th, 2012
7:13 pm
Interesting for the coach to sound like he’s suggesting wrapping up guys you’re tackling. How about, “Either wrap them up with your arms, and drive with your legs until they’re on the ground, or you’ll be running the stadium stairs all next week.”
I don’t think we match up particularly well against Nebraska unless we tackle very, very well, and play fundamentally sound football.
In 6th grade peewee football we knew to tackle right or we’d be running laps all week instead of practicing with the team. I don’t get it that this “knock ‘em down” stuff is a part of Georgia football.
Stripping the ball is sexy as all get out when it works, but tacking has got to come first. Blocking and tackling and holding onto the ball – gotta do these things first and foremost.
Oh, trolls and Nebraska fans, please keep up all the talk about Georgia being soft. I love hearing it.
Go, Dawgs!
KeepDreaming
December 19th, 2012
7:19 pm
WE GAVE UP 350 Yards Rushing against Bama and Gilliard doesnt think we need to change anything….
Now I see why he got called out by Williams…
Game Changer
December 19th, 2012
7:31 pm
Will Mark Richt with the blessing of lame duck UGA Pres Michael Adams lie and keep John Jenkins eligible with illegal class grades for the bowl game just as they did for the 2012 season??
E-from Riverdale
December 19th, 2012
7:44 pm
Grantham is not a good DC, but Richt will keep him regardless. And you are right if Alabama defense had given up that many rushing yards, some heads would have rolled. Grantham thinks he should be making the amount of money Kirby Smart makes at Alabama. Grantham has even made Bobo look complitant.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 19th, 2012
8:23 pm
I wonder what all you blathering, negative spewing idiots on here would be doing with your pathetic bitching about anything and everything UGA had UGA got that last 5 yds on the last play of the game. I have witnessed very few college football games that I enjoyed more than the 2012 SEC Championship game except for the last play. That game drew the biggest TV audience of the 2012 season.
UGA would be gearing up for ND instead of Nebraska and most of your hogwash would be saved until after the game but you GENIUSES would still have tons of dumba$$ posts on here even if UGA won the NC. If y’all could read your crap before you post maybe some small deviation in your BS would be noticed ……………and appreciated!!!!!!!!!
Same lame brain dumba$$es now are after CTG that were kissing his a$$ and wanting CMR fired and CTG hired.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 19th, 2012
8:40 pm
@ Altamaha Dawg:(#;59 post)
Excellent post my friend. Best of the entire lot!!!!!
I know there are many others of the same opinion as you but just don’t care to get into a pi$$ing contest with trolls and Single Digit IQs!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Altamaha dawg = DGD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 19th, 2012
8:43 pm
Ogletree is the BEST NFL prospect on the team!!!!!!!!!
Just watch the draft!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Georgia looks to shore up run defense before taking on Nebraska’s ‘Big Red Machine’ – Georgia – Dawg News
December 19th, 2012
8:43 pm
[...] more: Georgia looks to shore up run defense before taking on Nebraska’s ‘Big Red Machine’ ← Back to Home Tags: athens, bulldogs, dave, focal, game, georgia, jarvis jones, mark [...]
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 19th, 2012
8:52 pm
@ Vel Crow:
How big of a deal is it to run all over a team but still get beat by 30 points?????
Only the USCe game was a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So many GENIUSES posting on here and so little football related employment in their futures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NCDawg
December 19th, 2012
8:57 pm
I’m tired of hearing about the schedule. The schedule was not as hard as some years but that is just the way it goes. We will be back to the SEC championship game and we will win it… sooner than most of you screaming mimis think. We lost the SEC championship game because of pure dumb luck.
In the end we lost 2 games and neither was a shocker. South Carolina did to UGA what UF did to South Carolina. A perfect storm. The Tide escaped humiliation… by 1 freaking fluke play. Yes, humiliation. If you rush the ball for 350 yards you should have 5 or 6 TD’s at minimum. You should be able to run out the clock on the 2 most critical possessions of the game. You should not have a team rip through you like a hot knife through butter on the games final possession. Those of you that want to play the “the Dawgs gave up 350 yards” game need to look at what Bama did not do with that.
1 fluke play. Sure the schedule played a part but the Dawgs won the games they were supposed to win… no slip ups to the sisters of the poor. Sure we lose a bunch of guys on the defense for next year but we will be LOADED on offense. Need I remind you Auburn won the BCS championship with a mediocre defense? The Dawgs defense needs to be good enough early to stop games from becoming shootouts. The offense will move the ball… and score alot.
So stop with the “we blew our only chance for the next 1/2 century” crap. I think we will be pleasantly surprised next year.
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 19th, 2012
9:03 pm
@ DIP:
You and Tony need to head back home, wherever home is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Somewhere out there a couple of Villages are missing their Idiots!!!!!!!
Nother thang!!!!!!! This is a Big Boy Blog and you two are not qualified so be quiet when adults are corresponding!!!!!!!!!
Brainiac (CMR/UGA Fan For Life)
December 19th, 2012
9:11 pm
@ NC Dawg(8:57 pm post)
Damn Good Post Bro!!!!!!!!!!
It is great to see others like you putting the inbred trolls and Single Digit IQs in their place!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t worry too much because Dawg Nation, as a whole, will swamp these little FOOLS by about 100,000 to 1. All combined their little negative blathering is approximately the equivalent to a fart in a tornado!!!!!!
NC Dawg = DGD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Otismyman
December 19th, 2012
10:14 pm
Not Even Sure what yall are talking about…but i do know that the Dawgs gave the Tide all they wanted and other than a great play by a AL/LB or DE on the last play UGA was going to the BCS! We took a shot and missed with a “golden bullet”! Proud of my Dawgs and hope that most Jr’s stay to see this class through all the way to the BCS!!!
monty
December 19th, 2012
10:21 pm
I really don’t know how 3 games in a row over 300 yards rushing against you is acceptable. But I suppose if I were Grantham and my defense had been embarrassed like that I would say something foolish like that too,or, just admit that my boys just didn’t get the job done.
monty
December 19th, 2012
10:23 pm
And 1 more thing. And this might be what separates GA from BAMA. I cannot imagine that happening over at Bama, but if it did. I gaurantee that Kirby wouldn’t say his guys did alright. .
Dawg89
December 19th, 2012
10:28 pm
That SEC championship game still hurts.
JoJo
December 19th, 2012
10:46 pm
Bip,
By far, some of the most cogent blog posts I’ve ever read. You obviously must be a college football coach, you simply know so much.
Thanks a lot for sharing your keen insight and unrivalved college football genius.