Started By
Message
2023 Defense Thoughts
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:23 am
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:23 am
Just thinking about this seasons defense and trying to be objective as possible.
On a scale of:
Poor / Average /Good /Very Good
DL- I feel they were in between average and good. Probably top 25% in D1. Just didn’t have a dominant player to hold it down and disrupt consistently.
Lbs- I feel they were also in between average and good. A little weaker DL than the last 2 years hurt this group IMO. Opposing teams OLines were getting some extra push and disrupting our LB pursuit angles a lot. Plus just being younger and less experienced played a role. Out of position a good bit. Talent wise I think they were good enough to be dominant had they had a JD or JC type linchpin on the line.
DB- very good rating and I believe the group was so strong that it covered up a lot of the issues going on in the front 7. We had some really great stretches of defense as a result of tremendous coverage efforts and open field tackling on the edges and after short to medium length receptions. This group carried the defense so much that they brought the entire defense unit up to being one of the top units in the country.
Considering everything together, I feel the defense was good enough to carry us through to a 3rd title. I did have flashbacks of the 21 SECCG and didn’t like the scheme against Bama. It was very similar to 21 where we just tried to contain Young with few blitzes and a spy in the middle. I feel like you make a guy like Milroe beat you by facing some havoc in his face and if he does tip the hat. We weren’t real aggressive. In fact, pretty vanilla and still almost won. It’s really a testament to how good our DB was this year that they were able to do what they did Saturday with the scheme we employed. I can stomach a loss better knowing we took an aggressive stand and the guy was good enough for the occasion. Might have caused some errant throws resulting in an Int or a fumble in the backfield. Just seemed we played real conservative on both sides of the ball most of the night.
On a scale of:
Poor / Average /Good /Very Good
DL- I feel they were in between average and good. Probably top 25% in D1. Just didn’t have a dominant player to hold it down and disrupt consistently.
Lbs- I feel they were also in between average and good. A little weaker DL than the last 2 years hurt this group IMO. Opposing teams OLines were getting some extra push and disrupting our LB pursuit angles a lot. Plus just being younger and less experienced played a role. Out of position a good bit. Talent wise I think they were good enough to be dominant had they had a JD or JC type linchpin on the line.
DB- very good rating and I believe the group was so strong that it covered up a lot of the issues going on in the front 7. We had some really great stretches of defense as a result of tremendous coverage efforts and open field tackling on the edges and after short to medium length receptions. This group carried the defense so much that they brought the entire defense unit up to being one of the top units in the country.
Considering everything together, I feel the defense was good enough to carry us through to a 3rd title. I did have flashbacks of the 21 SECCG and didn’t like the scheme against Bama. It was very similar to 21 where we just tried to contain Young with few blitzes and a spy in the middle. I feel like you make a guy like Milroe beat you by facing some havoc in his face and if he does tip the hat. We weren’t real aggressive. In fact, pretty vanilla and still almost won. It’s really a testament to how good our DB was this year that they were able to do what they did Saturday with the scheme we employed. I can stomach a loss better knowing we took an aggressive stand and the guy was good enough for the occasion. Might have caused some errant throws resulting in an Int or a fumble in the backfield. Just seemed we played real conservative on both sides of the ball most of the night.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:29 am to Dirk Dawgler
Def. Missed having a game changed on DL. Bunch of really solid veterans, but no one consistently flashed imo.
young LB got some good experience this year. Mondon took a step back imo. Jones and Chaz at OLB...disappointing. Would be fine rolling with Wilson, Allen, and Walker. Apparently Jones hasnt been able to work out much due to past shoulder surgery. Maybe a year in weight room will help. He has the build.
Secondary gonna be strong again next year I think. Curious who plays the Star. Think Humphrey and Everette will be good corners. Incoming guy Ellis is supposed to be the truth. Starks back. Bullard maybe back.
Definitely talented bunch this year, but missing that consistent disruptor from past teams.
young LB got some good experience this year. Mondon took a step back imo. Jones and Chaz at OLB...disappointing. Would be fine rolling with Wilson, Allen, and Walker. Apparently Jones hasnt been able to work out much due to past shoulder surgery. Maybe a year in weight room will help. He has the build.
Secondary gonna be strong again next year I think. Curious who plays the Star. Think Humphrey and Everette will be good corners. Incoming guy Ellis is supposed to be the truth. Starks back. Bullard maybe back.
Definitely talented bunch this year, but missing that consistent disruptor from past teams.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 6:42 am to Dirk Dawgler
Heres the highest graded player by position
Daylen was 61.3
Mykel was 69.5
Daylen was 61.3
Mykel was 69.5
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:00 am to dawg-fan#1
Jalon Walker highest graded at position and only played 12 snaps. Ridiculous
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:42 am to K9
quote:
Jalon Walker highest graded at position and only played 12 snaps. Ridiculous
He wasn't tasked to hold the edge. It's a completely different job when you only have one job (rush the passer).
Posted on 12/4/23 at 7:55 am to meansonny
Don't not really care...not like Chaz and Jones were great at edge setting either.
He played 12 snaps and had two sacks. Probably best on our team at matching milroes athleticism. Keep him on the field. He probably gets burned a few times, but worth the risk imo.
Thought this was a chart from just Bama game but it is whole season I guess. Pretty sure he still was highest graded in Bama game too.
He played 12 snaps and had two sacks. Probably best on our team at matching milroes athleticism. Keep him on the field. He probably gets burned a few times, but worth the risk imo.
Thought this was a chart from just Bama game but it is whole season I guess. Pretty sure he still was highest graded in Bama game too.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:13 am to K9
I think Sonny’s point was that when Walker was in, he literally just spied or rushed. He had no other responsibility. I agree though in principle. I’d sacrifice OK edge setting for poor edge setting if it meant more consistent pressure and sacks.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:16 am to K9
My take: when we have an early season issue show up it’s probably real and we need to stop trying to explain it away or make excuses. We couldn’t stop the run all year and got pushed around in the trenches.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:20 am to dawg-fan#1
My bad it's for the whole season
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:25 am to Dawg7730
I agree. I also feel like Williams regressed too. I also wasn’t sold on the “veterans” on the D-Line. Hopefully Jarrett, Hall, etc mature more physically in the offseason. They’re definitely more talented, just not ready physically.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 8:52 am to Dirk Dawgler
Our front 7 aren't as talented compared to our NC teams.
No doubt that's a high bar but that's what it takes to win national championships.
No doubt that's a high bar but that's what it takes to win national championships.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:04 am to Dirk Dawgler
The game was lost mostly because the offense didn't play well after the first drive. Had they played close to what they did all season, UGA beats Bama. Yes, the defense wasn't as good as the 21 and 22 seasons but...
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:10 am to gulfportdawg
Well, bama made adjustments. When they saw how hobble Bowers and Ladd were, they stopped doubling and went man. No windows to throw in.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:14 am to Spaceman Spiff
So, it's ok for Saban to make an adjustment, but not Bobo?
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:15 am to gulfportdawg
The bigger question is why were those two out there to begin with?
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:23 am to K9
quote:
Keep him on the field. He probably gets burned a few times, but worth the risk imo.
Yeah.
Kirby didn't want to win this one anyway.
He got lazy with personnel decisions.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:28 am to meansonny
quote:
Kirby didn't want to win this one anyway.
That would explain us not being us.
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:31 am to Spaceman Spiff
Ladd should have been pulled after he was severely limping.
You cannot tell me a hobbled Ladd is a better option than any of the other receiver options we had available.
Kirby made a statement after Bowers got injured that an injured Bowers was a better option than Delp and Luckie or Spurlin. This tells you all you needed to know about him keeping them both in injured in the end. And it was to a detriment as the secondary did not have much of an issue after it was clear Ladd was slowed down.
I feel we had a better option to choose from in the second half that could have made plays
You cannot tell me a hobbled Ladd is a better option than any of the other receiver options we had available.
Kirby made a statement after Bowers got injured that an injured Bowers was a better option than Delp and Luckie or Spurlin. This tells you all you needed to know about him keeping them both in injured in the end. And it was to a detriment as the secondary did not have much of an issue after it was clear Ladd was slowed down.
I feel we had a better option to choose from in the second half that could have made plays
Posted on 12/4/23 at 9:32 am to Spaceman Spiff
The defense was fine, we gave up 27 points once and that was to Bama. Can’t expect to hold every opponent under under 20 points every weekend and win. Eventually they will have a bad day or you are going to run into a really good team.
Posted on 12/9/23 at 5:31 pm to Dirk Dawgler
I'm always amazed to see lesser teams with lesser talents get more out of their guys. Our D line was simply awful rushing the passer. Rushing does not involve standing up dancing with the O lineman.
Our linebackers are fast but we don't have a big, elite linebacker.
D backs are good but not great. Seems like they seldom look back for the ball and take a lot of penalties because of it.
Our linebackers are fast but we don't have a big, elite linebacker.
D backs are good but not great. Seems like they seldom look back for the ball and take a lot of penalties because of it.
Latest Georgia News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News