Georgia’s defense has been horrible this season. At the halfway point, the Bulldogs are ranked 105th in the nation in points allowed at 33.7 per game.
But that tells only part of the story for Georgia’s 4-2 start (3-1 SEC). Turnover margin has been an even bigger issue — the Bulldogs are 14th in the league at minus-4.
Heading into the seventh game of the season Saturday against Vanderbilt, Georgia has just five takeaways all season, with one interception and four fumble recoveries. Two of the recoveries came on special teams.
“It (has been) discussed a lot,” said Shaq Wiggins, a freshman who has started the last two games at cornerback. “More than usual… . We’ll just listen to our coaches and hopefully we’ll be able to make more plays on the ball.”
Said freshman safety Quincy Mauger: “It’s definitely being emphasized. Turnovers do make a big impact in games. We have to win the turnover ratio to be a factor… . We just have to make them when we get an opportunity.”
The lack of takeaways is particularly surprising since the Bulldogs are doing a decent job of pressuring the passer. Their 16 sacks ranks third in the SEC and they’ve had 13 in the last four games. But they’re not knocking the ball loose, a speciality of former outside linebacker Jarvis Jones.
“We’ve just been focusing on getting guys on the ground rather than get the ball loose,” said freshman outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, who has four sacks this season. “We’re going to work on that all this week.”
Said Georgia coach Mark Richt: “We’ve got to continue to try to get to some bad throws and make the pick or cause a fumble, whatever it may be.”
Georgia’s offense hasn’t committed a high number of turnovers with nine. Only six teams in the league have turned it over fewer times.
“It’s frustrating, obviously,” Richt said. “You look at the two games we lost, we lost the turnover ratio.If we break even in turnovers, there’s a chance we win both those games. When you turn it over, it’s very, very difficult to win.”
Recruiting coordinator reprimanded: Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity confirmed Monday that the Bulldogs' director of on-campus recruiting was suspended for five days after committing a secondary NCAA violation.
Darryl Jones, who has been in that role for 17 months, mailed out letters to high school juniors on Aug. 30, two days before recruits are allowed to receive mailings by NCAA rule (Sept. 1). McGarity said Jones assumed the mail would not actually get delivered until after the 1st, but several reached their destinations on the 31st.
Practice/injury update: The Bulldogs conducted a one-hour practice Monday in full pads. Tailback Todd Gurley (ankle) and free safety Tray Matthews (hamstring) participated but were limited only to running. For the first time all season, wide receiver Jonathan Rumph worked out and was not included on the injury report. Linebacker Ramik Wilson sat out with a bruised knee.
“It was a pretty good day today,” Richt said. “We definitely got better. It was a good start to the week and we’ll need to keep that going. I thought the guys showed a lot of focus and energy today.”
Captains: The captains for the Vanderbilt game, as determined by the coaching will be center David Andrews, quarterback Aaron Murray on offense, defensive end Garrison Smith and fullback Corey Campbell as the special-teams representative.
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