Ever since Coach Smart took over as head coach of Georgia, the defense has always been a strength of the Georgia team. Over the past three seasons, Smart has had a wealth of talented players at the defensive end who could make plays and get the ball back to the offense. Smart has sent many of his defensive stars to careers in the NFL. But the big question for Georgia has been the front seven for Georgia. After the departure of Roquan Smith, Lorenzo Carter, Davin Bellamy, and D'Andre Walker, the Dawgs have lost their star linebackers. Not only have they lost their star linebacker but their star defensive end has left as well, in Jonathan Ledbetter. Just last season Georgia ranked near the bottom of the conference in sacks, and that was because of a rebuilding front seven. Georgia was very reliant on the talent of D'Andre Walker, then senior outside linebacker, who was the two-time sack leader for the Dawgs in his last two seasons in Athens. We saw a very conservative defensive play calling by Mel Tucker last season, as he wasn't known to blitz. Which could be one of the reasons why we didn't get after the quarterback very well. So after the loss of D'Andre Walker, Georgia will be tasked with replacing him with a front seven that can collectively rush the passer and make up for the sacks that he gave us last season. Georgia is returning some talent among the front seven, most notably Tyler Clark, Tae Crowder, and Monty Rice. All of three of them will be expected to step up this season and be the leaders for this young front seven, that brought in some very talented freshman in Nolan Smith, Nakobe Dean, and Jermaine Johnson. These three freshmen are being touted as the replacements for the 2017 linebacking group that carried the Georgia defense at times to the National Championship game. Defensive Line The defensive line for Georgia has not been known for its ability to pressure the quarterback and provide sacks, but it has been known for its ability to stop the run. Georgia has done very well up front when it comes to meeting the running back before he passes the line of scrimmage. But one of its flaws has been the middle. Georgia has had some depth issues at nose guard. with the breakout of then-freshman Jordan Davis last year, Georgia finally found it's "guy" to plug up the middle and give the opposing offense fits. Davis is the traditional nose tackle, who is a big guy that is hard to move. He clogs up the middle and makes it very hard for teams to run against Georgia. But depth at that position is very slim, as Georgia has not found a suitable backup for Davis just in case he gets injured as he did before the Sugar Bowl. Georgia got pounded at the line of scrimmage like never before in the Sugar Bowl. The Texas offense knew that if they could exploit the middle of the defense, and get stops on defense then they would win the game. With the mobility and strength of Sam Ehlinger, Texas was able to pick apart the middle of the defense and convert on QB draws. Tyler Clark is going into his senior season and really made a breakthrough in his Sophomore season which was back in 2017. Clark has shown the ability to stop the run but also he has shown that he can pressure the quarterback. In 2017 he 41 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 6 for a loss. Then in 2018, his numbers dropped to 31 tackles, 1 sack, and 4 for loss. With Clark now being the veteran up front for Georgia, it is going to be very important that he not only leads by being vocal but he needs to lead by example. If Georgia can unleash the talent of Clark, which we've seen flashes of, Georgia will be strong up front. Finding that second defensive end to start along Clark is going to very important if Georgia wants to create the "havoc" Coach Smart has been talking about in the offseason. I think Malik Herring the junior defensive end would be the smart choice to pair with Clark, as Herring has shown the potential to rush the passer and stop the run. But we have yet to see his full talent unleashed. If Herring can put it all together in his junior season, it would create a leader for next season. Linebackers One of the most skilled and talented positions on the field for Georgia this coming season will be found at linebacker, as Georgia has a lot of depth, which is filled with tremendous talent and potential. Under Coach Smart, Georgia's defense has traditionally lined up in the 3-4 defense. Three defensive linemen up front and 4 linebackers in the middle. Georgia usually starts two inside linebackers for coverage and stopping the run. While using the outside linebackers for creating a pass rush and covering the open man in coverage. Georgia is returning two of their starting linebackers from a year ago in Monty Rice and Tae Crowder. Rice has the experience between the two even though he is a junior. Rice has proven to be a tackling machine in the open field, resembling the role of Roquan Smith. While Crowder has shown his ability in pass coverage, Crowder last season would usually be responsible for covering the tight end and at times, asked to cover the slot. Crowder the senior from Hamilton, Georgia, will finally be getting his opportunity in the spotlight after watching the likes of Roquan Smith and Juwan Taylor for the past three seasons. Outside linebacker is going to be a question going into the season for the Dawgs after losing the sack leader in D'Andre Walker. Georgia has shown the ability to be able to recruit and this past offseason they brought in two outside linebackers that have been talked about for some time in Nolan Smith and Jermaine Johnson. Nolan Smith the number one recruit in the nation, state, and position will be expected to make an early impact for the Dawgs this season off the edge. While Jermaine Johnson the JUCO Junior from Independence, Kansas will be looking to bring experience to a linebacking room full of potential and skill. We also cannot forget about five stars inside linebacker Nakobe Dean as he will likely be getting reps off the bench this season for the Dawgs. Dean showed in high school to be a great tackler and very good cover linebacker. So Dean could be making an impact as well for the Dawgs. Georgia is returning outside linebacker Brenton Cox who is going into his sophomore season who will be battling for a spot in that starting outside linebacker position. Cox needs to show the coaches his ability to get after the quarterback if he wants a chance at winning the job over a freshman. Azeez Ojulari received a redshirt last season after making just four appearances. He played extensively against Texas in the Sugar Bowl and made three tackles, so I think if he can keep developing he could be someone to get a few snaps a game for Georgia. Overall I think we will see a very talented linebacker core that could be rotated from game to game as it is filled with talent and I'm sure we will see a lot of player development from the group. If they can provide a steady pass rush as a group, this could be a very dangerous group of players for years come.
0 Comments
I didn't have 3 or 4 or 5 stars nor did I care to get them, or attend those 247 / rivals, opening camps, I played on my football team and made it to Georgia with 0 stars, after I signed they gave me 3 stars...stars & camps don't matter. Underdog: a loser or predicted loser in a struggle or contest (Merriam Webster Dictionary) Brian Herrien is a perfect example of an underdog, someone who was predicted not to succeed. A kid from Douglasville, Georgia, who attended New Manchester High School, and received no stars on 247Sports or any other recruiting database. He was an underdog. Nobody thought he had a chance of making Division One, because of the fact that he had no "stars". But the fact is, in his senior season at New Manchester High School, Herrien put up some great numbers which led to great accomplishments. He ran for 1,873 yards and 14 touchdowns and returned two touchdowns on kick returns. He led all 5A running backs in those stats according to his University of Georgia Football Roster Biography page. It wasn't until after he signed with Georgia that he received that three-star rating that he was talking about on Twitter, Tuesday. It is safe to say that has been his motivation for the past four years of his College career, he has been trying to prove everyone wrong, by succeeding. On his first career rushing attempt, in the 2016 season opener against North Carolina, Brian Herrien ran for a 19-yard touchdown. He was the number 3 Bulldog running back on the stat book as he rushed for 363 yards on 62 carries, only behind, you know who. Then in 2017, we saw his yardage decrease as the arrival of D'Andre Swift took more snaps and became a hidden gem. Herrien rushed for 265 yards on 62 carries for the Dawgs in his Sophomore year. Then just a season ago, he was the team's third-leading rusher with 295 yards on 50 carries. The biggest accomplishment of the season was his first career receiving touchdown against Texas. Now after the departure of Elijah Holyfield, after his successful junior season. Brian Herrien will finally get the chance to be one of the top two backs on the depth chart. He will be battling a rising sophomore in James Cook and eventually a healthy Zamir White for that number two spot behind Swift. Herrien has shown flashes throughout the three years he has attended Georgia, the first one being the touchdown against North Carolina. But the biggest question is, does he have the talent and ability to do it consistently? Herrien has only carried the ball 174 times in his career and has yet been able to put up more than 400 yards rushing, but that is due to a lack of carries. Herrien does deserve credit for staying healthy throughout his between the hedges and has shown himself to be someone whom you can depend on. Herrien works hard no matter what and leads by example to his younger teammates. If he can put it all together and play well for the Dawgs he could have a future in the NFL. But what does he bring to the table? Herrien has been a proven go to on goal line and short yardage situations as he has the power to get that extra yard. He is only standing at 6 foot but has the power of Elijah Holyfield and the speed of Sony Michel. So based on the fact, that Herrien usually was brought in on goal line and for short yardage situations. I expect Herrien to play that same role this season but in a more expanded way. He showed that he has the ability to play out of the backfield and be a receiving back for Georgia, so I think we could see him split attempts with Cook in that role. I think Herrien could see at least 15 carries a game if he does beat out the competition for the number two spot on the depth chart behind Swift. In 2018 Georgia was trying to replace their number one receiver from the magical 2017 season. Wims was by far Jake Fromm's favorite target out wide for the Dawgs. Wims had a great senior season, as he recorded 720 yards and 7 touchdowns, on 45 receptions. Wims was a very reliable target in big games as he found the holes in coverage and exploited it. Now, going into the 2019 season Georgia will be tasked with replacing 2,335 yards and 27 touchdowns, on 155 receptions. This offseason Georgia lost their top four receiving targets to the NFL Draft, and just a few weeks ago, they lost JJ Holloman to off the field issues which forced his exit from the program. It is a very daunting task for Kirby Smart and receiving coach Cortez Hankton, who is going into his second in Athens. Hankton showed DawgNation that he is a very good coach on the field, as he got his top three receivers to the NFL after a very successful 2018 season. Hankton also has proved his worth on the recruiting trail as he has convinced three rising freshmen to come to Athens and further their career at one of the premier programs in the nation. Not only did he help bring in freshman, but he was able to land graduate transfer Lawrence Cager from the University of Miami. Cager is the most experienced wideout by far for the Dawgs this season and will be expected to learn the playbook before the end of fall camp, and start the season as a day one starter for the Dawgs. Last season Cager recorded 374 yards and 6 touchdowns on just 21 receptions in his junior season at Miami. Cager went from 70 yards and 1 touchdown on 8 receptions, his freshman year, to the numbers he put up this past season. When talking to Brent Wilson of Bulldogs Maven about the receiving this season he said this, "I’m not too worried about it. I think we lack experience, but we have plenty of talent at receiver, and I know a few of them will step up." He also went on to mention this, "It’ll be a committee for sure. D-Rob and Simmons are good. Cager brings some experience, but I’m really sold on Pickens. I think Landers will be good too." He points out the fact that Georgia is very inexperienced at receiver this season, but they do have plenty of talent to choose from. Georgia has done a tremendous job of recruiting top talent to come to Georgia and play wide-out. Players like Tyler Simmons who will be heading into his senior season has played behind Mecole Hardman, as they both provide speed out wide and have the ability to play in the slot. Simmons will be getting plenty of touches from Fromm this season. Demetrius Robertson who transferred from California before the 2018 season last year is expected to step up for the Dawgs after a year of being in the system. Robertson played against Austin Peay but did not get reception, but did record a touchdown off a jet sweep. In his time at California, D-Rob showed his agility and hands to be a threat for Georgia this season. If healthy I expect him to be a top player. I also spoke to Stepfan Salter, who is a big fan of the blog said this "Kearis Jackson..... , DRob and Lawrence Cager Tyler Simmons going to surprise everyone and No one counting Blount Those first three will open up the O like never before I think Pickens will contribute but Blaylock will be more effective I don't think everyone realizes how good our TEs going to be also....." Salter brought up the two big-time freshmen who chose Georgia this offseason and will definitely get some reps this season. Pickens has the size, speed, and hands to be the number one receiver on the depth chart on day one of the seasons. He showed in high school that if you put in his reach that he will go all out to get the ball, but he isn't finished after catching the ball. No, he will fight for the extra yards and will try to get in the endzone every time he gets the ball. Blaylock who is a long time Georgia commit excites me whenever I see him play because he looks like he could be the starting slot receiver for Georgia this season. He meets the criteria of a Jake Fromm favorite receiver. Whatever he lacks in size, he makes up for it in speed and ability. Georgia will be looking to include some inexperienced players who have had a year or two in the system but really never got the play time. People like Matt Landers, Trey Blount, and Tommy Bush, all have the talent to make an impact this season. I think Landers and Bush will get the most opportunities just because of the potential they've shown. But don't count out Blount who has been playing behind Hardman, Ridley, and Godwin. Blount could very well be a 5th or 6th player on the depth or could come in and provide an immediate spark to the offense. I think we'll see what we saw at the beginning of the season last year with the Dawgs receiving core, there wasn't until after the LSU game that Fromm and the receivers were on the same page and started to go on a rampage from then on. Make sure to follow both of the contributors of today's post on Twitter, @RodrigoSpecs, and @StepfanSalter The start of the regular season is getting closer, and closer as we speak. Only 57 days until Georgia opens up its season on the road against Vanderbilt. It could be a formidable challenge for the Dawgs on the first game of the season. Vanderbilt cannot be overlooked by the Dawgs, because if you remember back in 2016 the Dawgs lost to the Commodores when Georgia failed on a fourth down conversion.
Since we are under two months until the season begins, Dawg fans are starting to cast their predictions about what will happen this season. So I have decided to join in on that, but I will be giving you 5 bold predictions for the 2019 Georgia Regular Season. 1. Georgia will go 12-0 in the Regular Season An undefeated regular season has been long in the running for the Bulldogs. The last time the Dawgs have gone undefeated in the regular season was in 1980, the same year they won the National Championship. The Dawgs for the past 2 seasons on paper had the teams to go undefeated in the regular season and maybe even go on to win the National Championship. But mid-season hiccups took that accomplishment away from those teams. Back in 2012 and 2002, both teams were on the verge of going undefeated but suffered mid-season hiccups. In 2002 it was Florida who caused the Dawgs to have a hiccup and in 2012 it was South Carolina. It seems that when the expectations have been high, Georgia has failed to live up to those expectations. We can all say in 2017 it was not a realistic goal to make it to the National Championship game. Nobody expected it to happen. But Georgia flew under the radar and did exactly that. I predict that the Dawgs will break that curse and have an undefeated regular season for the first time since 1980. 2. Jake Fromm will be a finalist for the Heisman Jake Fromm has been doubted throughout his college career up to this point, as many of his critics have called him a simple game manager. And the examples they give as their supporting evidence is every game that Fromm has lost. While Fromm has a career record of 24-5 as a starting quarterback, four of the five games he lost were not his greatest showings as a quarterback. The only exception is the SEC Championship game last year against Alabama, where Georgia lost by a touchdown. Many say Fromm put up the best performance of his career but fell just short of being able to lift the Dawgs to victory. But the other four games showed his flaws as a quarterback. Statistically, Fromm was the second-best quarterback in the SEC behind Tua of Alabama. Fromm threw for 2,671 yards and 30 touchdowns. He finished second in passing touchdowns and passing efficiency rating at 171.3 only behind Tua. I predict that Fromm will better his numbers tremendously from a year ago, even though a complete overhaul of his receiving core was carried out by the NFL and legal matters. 3. D'Andre Swift will have 2,500 total yards Swift has proven himself over the past two seasons as one of the most complete running backs in College Football. He is a proven back who has the speed and agility to weave through the holes and proved very dangerous in the open field. Not only is good at taking handoffs but he is a reliable target out of the backfield. Swift is arguably the best receiving back in the SEC. I predict and I assure you Swift will get 2,500 total yards after the regular season concludes. 4. Georgia will beat Florida by Four Touchdowns The biggest news this offseason for Gator fans have been the playful shoots Florida head coach Dan Mullen has directed towards the University of Georgia during spring camp. Mullen is coming off of his first season in the swamp with the Gators and failed to do anything notable in SEC play and anything nationally that showed improvement. The Gators went 10-3 in Mullen's first season and had a Peach Bowl win as the most notable achievement This isn't going to be considered bold by many Georgia fans but I think with all the trash talk Mullen has done, he would consider it bold. So, I predict Georgia will end of smacking the Gators by four or more touchdowns, paying Mullen back for the Spurrier-like mouth he has used this offseason. 5. Georgia Defense will rank Top 5 in the SEC in sacks Coach Smart after a disappointing bowl game loss to Texas and at the beginning of the spring, he proclaimed his wish of producing a defense that would make "havoc" plays. Which we have determined that he wants to the defense getting after the quarterback and getting sacks and causing turnovers. Georgia's defense in 2018 at times was on the field too long because they weren't causing havoc, and when you look at the National Championship caliber teams their defense is usually always getting after the quarterback and causing turnovers. I predict Georgia to be top 5 in the SEC in sacks. I think this defense has the secondary to lock down receivers and give the front seven time to shed blocks and get that quarterback. |
Harrison Reno
Is the founder and author of Top Dawg Blogging. Harrison has been blogging for the past 4 years Archives
April 2020
Categories |