UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > September > 16
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Pass defense a problem for Dogs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
UPDATED
Coming into the season this was supposed to be a strength for Georgia. But heading into the fourth game — and the first against a truly prolific passing attack — there the Bulldogs sit, 86th in the nation and 11th in SEC in pass defense (236 ypg).
I have to admit I’m kind of surprised to see that. Considering the talent and experience in the secondary, the supposed skill at linebacker and the depth up front, I just didn’t think the Bulldogs would be at the bottom of the league in any defensive category this season, particularly pass defense. Granted, defensive end was a question mark from the beginning and no one has really emerged as a premier pass rusher so far. But if you recall that was a concern this time last year and eventually Marcus Howard stepped up and Georgia ended up leading the SEC in sacks. So that could still pick up (or not).
But after going back and reviewing a replay of Saturday’s game against South Carolina (thank you, TV gods, for the miracle of DVR), I would have to conclude that most of Georgia’s problems in the fourth quarter were strategic.
The Gamecocks gained 166 of their 271 passing yards — or 61.3 percent — in the final quarter alone. Most of that production came on the final two drives as Georgia lined up in a three-man front, dropped eight into a deep zone coverage and occasionally sent a linebacker on a delayed blitz (which never worked). Not until South Carolina got deep into Georgia territory did the Dogs pop out of that and go back to a four- or five-man front and some man-to-man or Cover 1 (single safety, man underneath). Coincidentally or not, that’s when the Bulldogs created the two turnovers.
In retrospect, probably the biggest factor was South Carolina quarterback Chris Smelley. He was dead on and in rhythm like no one has ever seen him before. Ehen Georgia gave him even the tiniest target, he zipped it in there. At least a couple of the Gamecocks’ big plays came on busted coverages by linebackers, one by Darius Dewberry trying to cover big tight end Jared Cook, who’s a special player and one by Rennie Curran getting beat by a running back on a wheel route. They also got big chunks with wideouts running short posts and simple slants to the inside of Georgia’s corners. And three times the Bulldogs were flagged for interference, one on CB Asher Allen, one on LB Dannell Ellerbe (covering Cook) and one on FS Reshad Jones.
All in all, it wasn’t really as bad as I first thought. But the Dogs better tighten it up considerably in practice this week. You can bet Arizona State’s Rudy Carpenter — the active Pac-10 leader in passing attempts, completed passes, passing yards, touchdown passes and 300-yard games — is licking his chops in anticipation.
What would be your strategy? More aggressive packages to get pressure on Carpenter (with the obvious risks if you don’t get there) or stay cautious and make them pay underneath?
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR WILLIE MARTINEZ WASN’T AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS UNTIL AFTER TUESDAY’S PRACTICE. IN FAIRNESS, HERE’S MOST OF WHAT HE HAD TO SAY ABOUT THE BULLDOGS’ DEFENSIVE BREAKDOWNS LAST SATURDAY:
On being ranked 86th nationally against the pass:
“Are we ranked 86th nationally? OK. Where are we in the rush? [12th, he’s told]. That’s where you’ve really got to concentrate. Most games are won defending the run. Last year we gave up 140 yards and one 40-yard carry against South Carolina. To us, we thought that was the difference because they were able to hold onto the ball at the end and really hurt us in the running game… . We want them to throw the ball. Again, we want to execute better against the pass. We’ve got to be better, no doubt about it. We’ve got to stop giving up big plays.”
On S.C.’s late success throwing the ball:
“We blew three coverages. That was huge. You can’t do that. One guy making a mistake just breaks down the whole defense. They had four big plays and three came on the last three series. What concerns us is that we gave it to them. You can say what you want but must of the big stuff we gave to them because we blew coverages. That’s on us… . What concerns me is we weren’t able to execute the defense. One guy effected each one of those drives. Whether we were rushing enough or not, we mixed that up. We were rushing three, we were rushing five. We did six, we did seven. We knew the go-to guy was Jared Cook.
“The bottom line is we won and guys found away to make a play. That’s exciting. We needed some adversity. We needed to play a close ballgame. Those are positives you take from that. The concerning thing was we didn’t execute the defense. You can always talk about what-ifs.”
On whether line-up changes are imminent:
“There could be (personnel moves). But some of the guys that made mistakes earlier in the ballgame came back to make some big plays in the game, too. Heck, we’ve just got to execute better. That’s your challenge as a coach.
Were they too cautious going to a three-man fronts late in the game:
“No, because we bring pressure out of that. You sit there and do enough studying and ask enough offensive guys, they don’t know where the pressure is going to come from. It’s really a 3-4 defense. There could be eight guys coming or seven guys coming. There’s some illusion to it, too. You don’t klow who’s coming. You can rush, three, you can rush five, you can rush two.”
That’s enough about that. Here’s some links for your perusing pleasure:
Sun Devils down but not out
Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson said he hadn’t slept in two days at his weekly news conference on Monday. But him and Carpenter sound very motivated for Georgia… .
Ticket buzz in Tempe
According to georgiasports.blogspot.com via stubhub.com, the price of tickets for the Georgia-Arizona State game dropped because of the Sun Devils’ loss to UNLV. Of course, most Georgia fans snapped up their tickets long ago. Many resorted to buying ASU’s season-ticket special from earlier this year for just $99… .
Callaway battling
Here’s some good insight from Birmingham columnist Ray Melick on the work former Georgia line coach Neil Callaway is doing as head coach at UAB.
Wanna good laugh?
Check out the “look-alike threads” going back and forth on Arizona State’s Scout site. You’ll have to click on it to understand what it is but it’s definitely all in good fun.
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