The Georgia Bulldogs allowed 30 or more points five times during the 2008 football season and five times again last year, which helped lead to the firing of defensive coordinator Willie Martinez.
Dallas Cowboys defensive line coach Todd Grantham was hired by head coach Mark Richt in January to replace Martinez and implemented a 3-4 scheme, so how has he fared? A point better in one aspect, as the Bulldogs have allowed 30 or more points four times this season and yielded 29 to Colorado.
Georgia has yet to face Georgia Tech, which scored a combined 69 points the past two seasons against the Bulldogs, but Richt believes his defense has improved under Grantham and will improve further next season.
“We’ll definitely be better a year from now defensively because we won’t be brand new,” Richt said. “Our players will understand our coaches better, and our coaches will understand our players better. I’m sure Coach Grantham had some learning experiences just playing through the league one time and getting out of the pro game to the college game.
“I think all those things will come together for our improvement.”
The Bulldogs (5-6) began preparing Tuesday for the Yellow Jackets (5-5) and their option offense. Redshirt freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, who suffered a bruised knee and a chest contusion during last Saturday’s 49-31 loss at Auburn, did not practice and remains day-to-day for the Nov. 27 matchup.
“It’s always tough to simulate their offense,” Richt said. “The better job the scout team does, the better chance we have. It wasn’t anything to write home about, but it was a start.”
Grantham said his defense worked a little bit on Georgia Tech during the spring and summer. A win by the Bulldogs would make them bowl-eligible for a 14th consecutive year, which would result in practice time they otherwise wouldn’t get if they missed out on the postseason.
“I think it’s really important, number one for our seniors, because I think they deserve it,” Grantham said. “I think we’ve got really good senior leadership on our defense, and I think those guys deserve to go. I do think it gives you an opportunity to practice and allows you to get more reps for your younger players and that you can use that to your advantage, so it’s something we want to get accomplished.”
Lacking big punch
Richt was asked Monday night during a WFSM radio interview in Macon if the Bulldogs lacked an impacting tailback, such as South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore or Auburn’s Michael Dyer. Georgia’s Washaun Ealey and Caleb King each had hopes of a 1,000-yard season but didn’t reach 1,000 yards as a tandem until last Saturday.
“We could really use a home-run hitter at tailback for sure,” Richt said. “I’m a big fan of Caleb King, Washaun Ealey and Carlton Thomas, too, but to say they have played in a prolific way is not happening.”