Lets talk about the Dawgs defensive talent.

[Mr Pickle1]

Greetings board. This is a topic which I wind up talking myself in circles about. UGA's defensive talent is an enigma-sometimes it is there, and sometimes it isn't.

I've heard lots of people say things like- there are only 2-3 good players on the defense. I don't know that I agree with that...but then again, I don't know that I don't. We can all agree that the 3 below players are consistently good-

Justin Houston

Akeem Dent

Brandon Boykin

But is that all? I see Demarcus Dobbs make plays. I see Abry Jones make plays. I see Chris Robinson make plays. I see Marcus Dowtin make plays. I see Sanders Commings make plays. I see various and sundry players make plays. But for whatever reason, they have trouble stringing a bunch of good plays together, AND we stink on 3rd down.

I think a lot of the 3rd down and coverage problems are due to the absolutely horrid safety play we have. We trot out guys who are physical beasts, but really struggle understanding what to do and how to cover. ANd they have thru 2 seperate coaching staffs now.

We do need more talent. This recruiting class is BIG...but more than that, we need the talent we currently have to start playing smarter and more consistently. And we need our talent to be healthy. I can't help but think T.J. Stripling might even be starting at OLB by now, and we'd have 2 monster rushers to help on 3rd down.

Anyway, what do yall think? Rival fans opinions are certainly welcome and appreciated.

[ChuyDawg]

I'm a firm believer that the battles are won in the trenches. We have a very undersized D-line for a 3-4 scheme.

D-line: We need a legitimate 2 down NT that demands a double team to be able to move Tyson to the End. The main reason why the secondary has looked so bad was because we're giving a QB all day to throw on us, no secondary in the country is that good.

OLB: I really have no issues with the guys who played this year, they were tackling machines. What worries me is that we will need 2 new starters next year. J. Jones, D. Morant, T.J. Stripling, and a few others will fight it out. Lots of talent but very little experience. I think Alec Ogletree ends up playing OLB eventually.

Secondary: Not making excuses for the secondary due to the ineffective D-line, too many blown assignments directly from the snap as well. The safeties were just awful. Rambo was not himself all year long and Hamilton was playing 2-hand touch football and getting dragged around the field. Ogletree will not be a safety for long either. We need more physical corners. I like Commings alot, he will get better with experience. Smith and Boykin are splid CB's, I just think they need to be more physical. I can't wait to see what J. Love and D. Owens can do at CB.

Our ILB's were undersized as well. I like C. Robison alot, dude plays with alot of heart, but he just could not get off any blocks. That's why he was benched halfway through the year IMO. Downtin made big strides, I really like him for next year. R. Samuel should be an impact guy at ILB next year as well. We need to add depth at this position, big time.

Overall, plenty of work to get that Junkyard D. going again.

[kingjamez]

The secondary and conditioning have cost us defensively. In the secondary, we do have some young players that are in their first year starting. Conditioning cost us against Florida and Auburn; we start the game off great, we have a great game plan but by the end of the game we simply are too tired to handle big, fast-paced, physical, run-first offenses. We either need 1) more bodies or 2) to be better conditioned.

[tjb]

We either need 1) more bodies or 2) to be better conditioned.

I'll go with 3) Both

Can never have enough big "uglies" on either side of the ball...

[Statick]

My only issues with the D is that our d-line is too small, especially at NT. If we had kids at NT and DE that could consistently stuff the run and get a good rush on the passer, then the secondary wouldn't look so bad at times.

[itsjustafleshwound]

The secondary and conditioning have cost us defensively. In the secondary, we do have some young players that are in their first year starting. Conditioning cost us against Florida and Auburn; we start the game off great, we have a great game plan but by the end of the game we simply are too tired to handle big, fast-paced, physical, run-first offenses. We either need 1) more bodies or 2) to be better conditioned.

Do you think Bean, Kwame, and Thornton will provide the necessary depth next year to put Tyson at DE? What about Smith? Has he progressed as a solid DE?

If so, I feel very good about our line next year, featuring Jones--Geathers/Anderson/Thornon--Tyson.

Edited November 16, 2010 by itsjustafleshwound

[Dawgy]

This answers a lot of question about the D. From CMR himself

Looking for ‘dynamic’ players

The bye week will give Georgia’s assistant coaches a chance to hit the road recruiting.

Richt said that finding the right kind of defensive players to fit into the 3-4 scheme remains a top priority.

"We need to quite frankly get a few more players that can be dynamic for us, that can make a difference," Richt said in Atlanta.

Richt said Georgia has lacked "a big beast in there" at nose guard "to demand and command that double team."

Georgia’s safeties have had to be more involved in the run game, which has made the Bulldogs more vulnerable to the pass.

[SacFalcFan]

This answers a lot of question about the D. From CMR himself

Looking for ‘dynamic’ players

The bye week will give Georgia’s assistant coaches a chance to hit the road recruiting.

Richt said that finding the right kind of defensive players to fit into the 3-4 scheme remains a top priority.

"We need to quite frankly get a few more players that can be dynamic for us, that can make a difference," Richt said in Atlanta.

Richt said Georgia has lacked "a big beast in there" at nose guard "to demand and command that double team."

Georgia’s safeties have had to be more involved in the run game, which has made the Bulldogs more vulnerable to the pass.

meaning we are hitting the juco circuit to find some players to help us.. we need immediate help defensively.. bigtime help.

[Billy Ocean]

meaning we are hitting the juco circuit to find some players to help us.. we need immediate help defensively.. bigtime help.

Couch said he wasn't interested in playing NT in the 3-4. Are there any other JUCO NT prospects that you've heard about? How about JUCO DE recruits, other than Toby Jackson? I would like to get Cornellius Carradine at OLB.

[TyroneDawg]

I am really excited about Jarvis Jones. I expect him to make a big impact next season.

[CalDawg]

My belief all season long has been that our d line was sorely lacking. Tyson is not a nose tackle and even he knew it. He wanted to play DE. Dobbs is a great person, but not an SEC caliber DE in any scheme, IMO. I've watched numerous replays focusing on him and he just doesn't have the athletic ability. Jones will be okay at DE next yr, but wasn't ready to play on a 3 man line as a true soph.

There have been other issues, like lack of depth at olb and no single coverage lockdown cb, but it all started with the d line that required adjustments that left us vulnerable. I think the safeties will be okay once the other issues are worked out.

I liked Grantham's gameplans, except for last weekend. I had hoped we would attack Newton in the backfield a lot more than we did. I think that's what Saban will do.

[kingjamez]

Granthan's game plan for Auburn was fine. If I'm going to complain about a game plan, it's the offenses -- EAT clock. We stopped Auburn numerous times and on offense we should have been chewing clock like crazy to prevent them from getting the ball back.

[Mr Pickle1]

My belief all season long has been that our d line was sorely lacking. Tyson is not a nose tackle and even he knew it. He wanted to play DE. Dobbs is a great person, but not an SEC caliber DE in any scheme, IMO. I've watched numerous replays focusing on him and he just doesn't have the athletic ability. Jones will be okay at DE next yr, but wasn't ready to play on a 3 man line as a true soph.

There have been other issues, like lack of depth at olb and no single coverage lockdown cb, but it all started with the d line that required adjustments that left us vulnerable. I think the safeties will be okay once the other issues are worked out.

I liked Grantham's gameplans, except for last weekend. I had hoped we would attack Newton in the backfield a lot more than we did. I think that's what Saban will do.

I think that AU is just extremely difficult to stop. Attacking Newton in the backfield is all well and good, but he is so escapable, so fast, and such a good thrower, you're just asking for tons of busted plays and 40 yard runs and passes if you start blitzing 6-7 guys a lot.

Quite frankly, we needed Dobbs/Tyson/etc to just flat out win more at the LOS, meaning we could pressure him better with a 4 man rush.

[GAbred]

There weren't very many stops on defense. 10 Auburn possessions and 7 tds. That is terrible. Chewing the clock would help but not getting off the field on 3rd down has killed the team all season. Whether CTG has blitzed or set back in coverage it hasn't worked.

I'd say the talent is there except in the secondary. I think the front seven has done fine except with scrambles. Against backs they have done decent. The secondary however, has been bad. Took to long to bench Cuff for one. Lakotos has disappointed me. I thought with what he did at Ucon with that talent, he'd really get these guys going.

Next year is make or break for everyone. Should win 10 at a minimum.

[Mr Pickle1]

There weren't very many stops on defense. 10 Auburn possessions and 7 tds. That is terrible. Chewing the clock would help but not getting off the field on 3rd down has killed the team all season. Whether CTG has blitzed or set back in coverage it hasn't worked.

I'd say the talent is there except in the secondary. I think the front seven has done fine except with scrambles. Against backs they have done decent. The secondary however, has been bad. Took to long to bench Cuff for one. Lakotos has disappointed me. I thought with what he did at Ucon with that talent, he'd really get these guys going.

Next year is make or break for everyone. Should win 10 at a minimum.

Next year should/could be better,but I'm not sure. If Houston leaves, we don't have a single proven passrusher. If Green leaves, we don't have an no.1 wr. Teams will put 8 in the box, take away Charles, and force King/Brown to beat man coverage on the outside.

Houston and Green are such a huge part of what we do, losing them would be a big blow.

[CalDawg]

Next year should/could be better,but I'm not sure. If Houston leaves, we don't have a single proven passrusher. If Green leaves, we don't have an no.1 wr. Teams will put 8 in the box, take away Charles, and force King/Brown to beat man coverage on the outside.

Houston and Green are such a huge part of what we do, losing them would be a big blow.

You kind of veered into offensive analysis, so I'll throw in my two cents worth on that subject. Aaron Murray is a versatile weapon that a good offensive coordinator can build an offense around. For that to happen, we need a good offensive coordinator.

[Mr Pickle1]

You kind of veered into offensive analysis, so I'll throw in my two cents worth on that subject. Aaron Murray is a versatile weapon that a good offensive coordinator can build an offense around. For that to happen, we need a good offensive coordinator.

I'm not a Bobo fan, per se, buttttt....when the players have been suited up to play, the offense has been extremely explosive.

I don't think the problem is that he isn't good, it's that he has issues which have become very tiresome: Mainly the tendency to go away from stuff that's working great before they've proven they can stop it. If he could fix that, I think we'd be gang busting.

Admittedly, the offense only works with good talent at Qb and elite talent at WR....but this is UGA. If we don't have that talent, we have no one to blame but ourself...and there's hardly a system that would work wonderfully without great talent at at least some positions. I think we all ask : is there a way to tweak the offense to make it less clunky and more user friendly for guys who aren't A.J. Green caliber athletes? Can we get a better rhythm of playcalling AND sustain it?

But those seem like issues that can be addressed through improvements to Bobo's approach, at least theoretically. I wouldn't cry if we got a new offensive co-ordinator, particularly one from the pro's, OR a guy who was willing to be a little more creative...but we can win with this offensive scheme and playcaller. Could it be better? Yes. Is it what is causing us major issues since Green got back? No.

What's easier? Getting more great wr's to come here, or finding a great offensive co-ordinator and retooling the team based on what he wants to run?

[Billy Ocean]

I don't think the problem is that he isn't good, it's that he has issues which have become very tiresome: Mainly the tendency to go away from stuff that's working great before they've proven they can stop it. If he could fix that, I think we'd be gang busting.

But those seem like issues that can be addressed through improvements to Bobo's approach, at least theoretically. I wouldn't cry if we got a new offensive co-ordinator, particularly one from the pro's, OR a guy who was willing to be a little more creative...but we can win with this offensive scheme and playcaller.

Bobo ends up outsmarting himself with his play-calling. He tries to put himself in the shoes of the opposing DC and guesses what would surprise the other guy. Then he pulls that play outta his a$$ rather than simply continuing to utilize what works. That's how momentum dies in an otherwise successful offensive series.

It would be best for UGA and Bobo if he moves on. He needs to grow as a coach by getting out from under Richt. I want an OC either from the NFL or a guy who has worked in a pro-style offense like USC or Stanford. I don't want him to come in and make wholesale changes in terminology and route trees because that would cost us wins next year. It needs to be a guy who can check his ego by not implementing his entire system in one off-season. Next year merge the new stuff with what has previously worked and by season 2 the team would be able to handle the new guy's whole system.

[Dawgy]

Bobo is not leaving. This is CMR's offense + Bobo is an excellent QB coach... to the extent that he is now nationally recognized. And with Murray, it'll just continue to grow. Would you want Gary Patterson to hire a D-coordinator that has his own philosophy?

Also, everything is based on perceptions. I have compared in detail, our offensive performance under Richt and under Bobo, and Bobo's offense has beaten Richt handily in every category that matters. Just know, what sometimes looks stupid or silly is that only because execution is lacking. I would say this though- the offense is quite complicated, and it takes players too much time to get used to it. By the time they do, they graduate. The biggest thing we can do is to simplify the offense a little bit to allow newer players to play at full speed. I promise you that will work wonders.

To be clear, I would not be unhappy if Bobo left- we can get better there. But he is not our problem.... our D is.

Edited November 18, 2010 by Dawgy