re: Why all the picks for UGA to win the east over SCAR?

quote:

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It's just the faith they put in the talent we usually have. Also even though it is a new defense the general consensus is that Pruitt is a major step up from Grantham.

Mason doesn't have to be totally spectacular also, Gurley and Co can carry a good bit of the load. We just need some decent work out of the play action from Mason and for him to manage the game.


Our OL and Secondary are my biggest concerns. We lost some exp. on the line and our secondary is decimated from transfers/Athens-Clarke County PD/and Pruitt cracking the whip a little too hard.

I personally feel a 9-3 or 10-2 season with a 2nd place SEC East finish behind SC.

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Well, overall the matter may be a moot one, because in recent years even when USC has beaten UGA, UGA has still found a way to go on and win the division (except last season of course), but a good question to ask:


Who was the better defensive coordinator for UGA - Willie Martinez or Todd Grantham?


The reason I ask is, when Grantham came in and replaced Martinez, UGA Nation was soundly united in declaring that he was a prohibitive improvement over Martinez. A "major step up", one could easily say...

(T. Grantham)

Year - Total D Rank (SEC / CFB)- - Score D Rank (SEC / CFB)

2013: #8 / #45 - - #10 / #79
2012: #6 / #32 - - #6 / #18
2011: #4 / #5 - - #6 / #23
2010: #4 / #23 - - ##5 / #36

Average Rankings:

5.5 / 26.25 - - 6.75 / 39.0

(W. Martinez)

2009: #7 / #38 - - #10 / #63
2008: #6 / #22 - - #10 / #58
2007: #3 / #14 - - #3 / #18
2006: #3 / #8 - - #4 / #20
2005: #5 / #18 - - #4 / #8

Average Rankings:

4.8 / 20.0 - - 6.20 / 33.4

(B. VanGorder)

2004: #4 / #8 - - #3 / #9
2003: #2 / #4 - - #2 / #3
2002: #4 / #15 - - #1 / #4
2001: #6 / #49 - - #3 / #17

Average Rankings:

4.0 / 19.0 - - 2.25 / 8.25


The averages seem to indicate that Martinez ultimately was the BETTER DC for UGA than Grantham was, and produced the better defensive seasons between the two.

We may need to wait and see more pudding with Pruitt, IMO....