From David Hale’s blog:
… In the secondary, Brandon Boykin said much of the language and technique is the same as what the Bulldogs ran in past seasons, the teaching manner of their new defensive backs coach, Scott Lakatos, suits the players well. And while the bulk of what Georgia is running remains the same among the secondary, there are a few key differences.
“When the ball’s in the air, he teaches to get your head around and look for the ball,” corner Jordan Love said. “Last year we were playing hands to the receiver, and that’s an adjustment we’ve had to make.” [Emphasis ecstatically added.]
Me so happy.
Get The Picture 
Is it any wonder why our turnover ratio was so bad last year? ‘Hands to the receiver’ what does that mean? Tackle him after he catches the ball??
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Knowing where the ball is makes it easier to defend?
That’s crazy talk.
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shocking isn’t it? 😉
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This all sounds good, but until proven otherwise, my position will be that “fundamentals” is to 2010 what “leadership” was to 2009.
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Fair enough, but you can’t learn fundamentals if they’re not being taught in the first place.
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You’re right. It’s just that “fundamentals” seems to be the buzzword for this season, and I bought into all the “leadership” hype last season and look where that got us.
I mean, it’s not as if Martinez never coached “fundamentals” . . . I hope. It’s all about which fundamental concepts are being coached. So far it looks like the right ones are being taught, but we won’t know for sure until we see the player preform on the field.
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That’s the whole point. Apparently Martinez DIDN’T teach fundamentals, which translated into a secondary that couldn’t get an INT, and couldn’t make a tackle.
Last year, “leadership” may have been the buzz word, but leadership was never an issue in 2008. Fans wanted to BELIEVE that it was the issue, but in reality, we just had 28 season-ending injuries and that’s why we lost 3 games. Also, we were never the #1 team in the country, despite the pre-season ranking. Of course the fans wanted to blame it all on Stafford and Knowshon. So naturally when the word “leadership” got used prior to 2009, the fans were happy to take it and run with it saying “See! THAT’S what we didn’t have last year!”
In the case of defensive fundamentals (from the secondary in particular), it’s not as subjective as saying the 2008 squad lacked leadership. No, the 2009 team very clearly lacked good fundamentals. The proof is in the turnover margins and total points allowed.
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Wait. How are you supposed to know when the ball is in the air when you’re not looking for the ball? Is he also instilling some sort of sixth sense for your DBs to just “feel” when the ball is released from the QBs hands while they are looking the other way? If so, then you are REALLY onto something with this guy.
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You don’t think the guy you’re covering is going to give you an indication he’s the target?
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Well Kind of. As a former DB, you must be able to keep up with the receiver obviously, and that is best done running stride for stride even if you are faster than he is. There is No way to do it back pedaling etc. If you look back while running with him, he has the advantage of knowing where the ball is and where he is going. The old hands on tricks are being called far more nowadyas as we know!
So watching him is crucial of course so as to not to let him get free. The only way then is to “sense” when he is going to make the catch from myriad ways: eyes, arms extending etc. then turn and make the play.
But ultimately it is a feeling!
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You can anticipate it. College DB’s study film, ya know… so every route that the WR is going to run, they’ve seen it on film. You have a pretty good idea when the ball is going to be in the air on a slant, post, flag route etc…. and on a fly it’s easy to tell when the ball is in the air because the receiver almost always has to turn and try to create space.
In addition to that, you can watch the receiver’s eyes. Obviously he’s not running with his head craned around looking at the QB the whole time either, so when he turns to look for the ball, that’s your cue to be ready too.
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After watching the poor technique the last few years that is music to my ears. Obviously there’s technique and feel involved. I don’t think Lakatos is teaching back pedaling to cover someone. Cover the guy but when he indicates a throw is coming his way find the ball. That’s primarily for fly routes where the DB is having to run with the receiver with his back to the QB. Crossing routes are easier to pick the ball up on. Our DB technique in recent years seemed to be “tackle after the catch”.
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Praise the Lord and pass the biscuits!! I have never understood why DBs wouldn’t react to obvious clues. If I were a QB in a game that was’t close I might just have some fun and drill the back of that red helmet to see if I can cause them to have to undergo the concussion test. If it wouldn’t make me puke, or cause me to be committed by my friends/family, I would break into a chorus of Happy Days Are Here Again!
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But, But, some said that Willie knew what he was doing!
What a joke…we learned that in freakin High School. How sad is that?
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It’s mindboggling that when Willie first became DC he wanted more turnovers and we actually got them, then to turnaround and hear this. I always thought he was a pretty good position coach until I’m hearing this. Why did Stoops hire him?
I just don’t know what to think.
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Honestly I think he just neglected to teach the DB’s as well as he should have after he became DC. He seemed like a good DB coach before his promotion… I think DC was too much to put on his plate.
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It comes down to getting smart players not just athletic ones. CSL has guys in the NFL that UGA wouldn’t recruit. He may actually play guys who can out think their opponent. Terry Hoage, a somewhat famous UGA football player, was not too fast but he was real smart and because of that he spent a long time in the NFL playing for the Eagles.
The other bit of good news is we won’t be recruiting midgets for DB’s any more.
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Given:
1. Since every single person that comments on football ever was saying that “Oh, yeah. They’re always gonna have to call that if the defender never turns around to find the ball. Yeah, sure, it’s a pretty tight call, but if the guy never turns around, you gotta throw the flag. You know, if he had turned to find the ball in the air even a little they wouldn’t have blah, blah, blah…”
2. Every single game between the “Dancing on the Ceiling” touchdown celebration penalty that was, in Jax, and the “OMG did you see how happy that kid was to score that clutch touchdown late in this crazy conference game at home” celebration penalty that wasn’t, in Sanford against LSU, was called against UGA as tightly as possible by all conferences’ officials that ever got a chance.
I just never figured out why the previous defensive coaching staff might not want to try to lessen the probability of a foul being called, if even a tiny bit.
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Coming Down the Track, I had thought about fewer pass interference calls as soon as I read about Dawg DBs turning to find the ball. I am wondering if all the attention being paid to proper tackling techniques and footwork might also reduce penalties. I would think that proper form reduce facemask penalties, leading with the headgear, and hits to the head. Also, a team that has good form and proper footwork looks like a well drilled football team. IMO, if a player LOOKS like he knows what he is doing he will be less likely to draw a penalty. If a player looks sloppy, then penalties are more likely.
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Right?!
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