Fletcher Page ranks the Georgia position groups here. Whatever you may think about his individual rankings (I’d move the special teams unit up some, and maybe drop QB a slot), what it should really tell you is something I’ve heard muttered for a while, namely, that the Dawgs still have a ways to go in having across the board SEC-level talent on defense.
One of these days, it’s going to dawn on us just how good a job Jeremy Pruitt did last season dropping the defensive scoring average over eight points a game from 2013 – in the spread, HUNH era, to boot. Dude can coach a little.
Get The Picture 
It will be interesting to see who takes Swain’s place as the on-field leader of the defensive backfield. After the great purge, we are lacking juniors and seniors. One or two of our younger players will need to step into this role.
We also need to develop on-field leaders in the front seven.
LikeLike
Swain? Good one, Verne. Gotta say, it drove me crazy for 4 years listening to him butcher Swann’s name. But I guess that’s part of the charm?
LikeLike
“Yes, sir!” 😉
LikeLike
The Defensive line worries me, too. There appears to be a lot of talent and now with a year of new S&C and Rockers coaching we should be greatly improved, but I worry about the yards we gave up to Florida and Tech. Can that be shut down?
The new ILBs should help a lot with the run. Against Florida, I kept hearing we were not setting the edge. Who does that DEs or OLBs?
LikeLike
That depends on looks and assignments. OLB has that job often, asking them to force certain run plays back inside. We did that poorly in the FU game. Tech just matched us up and ran at where we left too much room with the damn dive play. Once we over committed to shore that up, they started to pitch outside where we couldn’t get to the edge in time.
LikeLike
On defense we’re equipped to handle the spread. Not so equipped to handle power football. The good news for now is that there are more of the former on the schedule. We just can’t have SOS or saban in a position where they can salt a lead running off tackle. If we can take leads into the second half vs. teams that can run with power we’ve got a chance to be special. We need to be the team riding our running game in the final quarter. If we are, the sky’s the limit.
LikeLike
I don’t know if Spurrier has the horse to do that this year. That Wilds kid is okay, but he’d be 4th on our depth chart.
LikeLike
But OL last year allowed them to play keep away from us. I think they held the ball the final 5 minutes. Rush defense cost us every loss in 2014. Hope Pruitt is working on a new scheme because we will get tested in 4-5 games this year with the power dive.
LikeLike
Big Trent Thompson has something to say about that dive
LikeLike
Hope you are right, he is on my daily prayer list.
LikeLike
So confused. What do you mean we dont have SEC talent on defense. Havent you heard that with the resources and talent in GA we should win the Super Bowl every year?
What about those resources?
LikeLike
I think I understand what you are saying about Pruitt’s coaching ability, but I will be a lot more impressed when he figures out the run-stopping thing. When you get out-smash-mouthed by Florida and tricked by Tech, both of which your much-criticized predecessor seemed to figure out……..
LikeLike
The UF and GT games do temper my praise, but the way Pruitt made chicken salad out of that secondary was remarkable. Reminds me of how Stacy Searles got so much production out of a no-name OL his first year. Let’s hope Pruitt doesn’t also regress like Searles in year two.
LikeLike
runs off the talent….then gets praise for making due with less talent even though his defense cost us a chance to play in the playoffs.
hope springs eternal for the new guy.
LikeLike
The talent ran itself off.
And an 8+ point drop per game in defensive scoring isn’t hope. It’s reality.
LikeLike
true dat
I think having run off a lot of the trouble makers and scaring the rest of the team straight is a major reason we haven’t had any off field issues this summer. knock on wood
LikeLike
Agreed and further changed in S&C. The S&C coaches are the members of the staff that have the most contact with the players when practices are not being held. The team needed discipline and from the outside seems to be getting it.
LikeLike
lulz…this is nonsense.
CMR has been kicking guys off the team for 14 year. You think now they get it? Chances are the lack of issues has more to do with removing the limits on contact and hiring more staff to maintain the contact than any sort of scared straight nonsense.
LikeLike
Richt on his own does not instill discipline, we saw this when BVG moved on. KIcking players off the team is a last resort move when the coach has not earned respect. Scaring the team straight is more than just the threat of finding yourself no longer on the team.
LikeLike
BVG installed a lot of discipline in Odell Thurman, that’s for sure.
LikeLike
UGA has always faced suspension because public policies, and yes not everyone can be saved. However, it did get out of hand after BVG left. If it was BVG, or other coaches I don’t know but Richt without a strong strong DC is a recipe for a struggling program.
LikeLike
Yep and yep.
LikeLike
yeah that talking in class is a sure sign of not wanting to be here any more.
LikeLike
“Want” had nothing to do with it. He was on probation after kiting checks and was expected to follow the rules.
If you’ve got proof that there was some sort of agenda on Pruitt’s part to run Matthews out of town, please share your information with us. I’d love to hear it.
LikeLike
Trigga was a bad apple. The team is better off without him. Just wait. He’ll do something at the Barn, too.
LikeLike
When he does we won’t know about it.
LikeLike
The offense methodically moving the chains helped, but I still want to know how Pruitt neutered Auburn’s offense so well last season. Lord knows Saban and Bama didn’t.
LikeLike
Which is the most confusing part of the defensive picture, to me. My guess would be that in the case of Auburn, talent and coaching matched up better than, say, with Florida.
The statistical improvement is great, but what I notice is the difference in overall defense from South Carolina, which threw the ball all over the field on us, and ran the ball reasonably effectively, to Auburn.
Florida and Tech may have been a combination of talent and scheme. If that’s true then we can hope Pruitt has adjusted that area. Again, we sure as hell will know pretty early in the season.
LikeLike
Talent, scheme, and motivation.
Georgia was eliminated from from the SEC championship the night before the Georgia Tech game while Tech was motivated with new life during its off week when Duke unexpectedly lost two games.
Georgia went into the Florida game on a letdown after being given the false expectation it would be playing the game with its best player. Georgia shuffled its backfield and moved JJ Green back to defense in preparation for an event that many knew wasn’t going to happen. Florida had spent the previous two weeks motivated to atone for its most embarrassing defeat of the year.
Georgia went into the Auburn game motivated with its best player returning while Auburn entered the game still stunned from its 4th quarter giveaway to Texas A&M the previous week.
LikeLike
Uncle Mo’s little shithead stepchild
LikeLike