DEL.ICIO.USCOLLEGE FOOTBALL: GEORGIA
Curran leads Georgia’s defensive revival
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, March 27, 2009
Athens — Rennie Curran had the same criticisms of last year’s Georgia defense as most people. He felt, to sum it up, there was a lack of discipline, accountability and consistency.
The all-SEC linebacker doesn’t want to go through that again, and from what he’s seen in the first two weeks of spring practice, he doesn’t expect to.
Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com
Linebacker Rennie Curran prepares to lift more than 250 pounds as part of his workout regime.
Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com
Rennie Curran’s 115 tackles last season were the most by a Bulldog since 1998.
“Definitely, I feel good about where we are headed,” Curran said.
To be sure, there is a long way to go for a defense that allowed an average of 45 points and 378 yards per game in last season’s three losses.
“I think [the problem] was us being undisciplined, not getting after each other [for mistakes], not being consistent every single down,” Curran said.
The result was too many missed tackles, too many penalties, too many blown assignments and coverages.
Too many meltdowns.
Lessons learned, Curran contends.
“I feel like we’re all on the same page [this spring],” he said. “I feel like we got guys who want to do things right and want to buy into the program. If someone messes up on a play, we get after him, but also encourage him. I think we’re building a great foundation that will make the difference.”
He sees the makings, he said, of a defense that is disciplined and fundamentally sound — “and relentless at the same time.”
“I think we have what it takes,” he said, “to be a great defense.”
Those are bold words from a team that ranked 10th in the SEC in scoring defense last season.
“Our mentality,” Curran said, “is to get our swagger back.”
Full-fledged swagger will require a lot more pass rush than Georgia mustered last season, and spring practice hasn’t been revealing in that area because the defensive-end position again is hard hit by injuries.
Otherwise, coach Mark Richt has praised the defense after almost every practice. He has called defensive tackle Geno Atkins “the most dominating player” of the spring — “not to anybody’s surprise, probably.” He has lauded the secondary for interceptions in 11-on-11 work. He has often praised Curran’s play.
Curran, from Snellville, had more tackles last season than any Georgia player in a decade. He was named first-team all-SEC by the league’s coaches. And entering his third season at Georgia, he vows to lead.
“Now, I feel like that is my role,” he said. “There are guys I feel like I can help and encourage through the experiences I’ve been through.”
But he says he, like the rest of the defense, has much room for improvement.
“I’ve got to improve in every area — getting off blocks, being more violent in my tackling, just perfecting every aspect of being a linebacker,” he said. “I want to be one that sets the tempo for the defense.”
