ATHENS, Ga. — Through the years, the formula for the Georgia defense has been simple: Talent plus depth equals being able to rotate in players and packages like chess pieces, depending on the opponent and situation.
But having those players know their role in the chess match is just as important, as pointed out by Travaris Robinson, a defensive assistant who went from Alabama to Georgia this year.
“Some of the things that we do here are a little different from Alabama,” Robinson said. “Kirby (Smart’s) done a really good job, and coach (Glenn) Schumann, of changing some of the different things that we did and making it not as complex. And I think our guys are able to play faster because of that.”
The formula for another great Georgia defense might be in place. There are future first-round NFL Draft picks and plenty of other talent, with Smart overseeing everything. But there’s a reason Smart has made “assume nothing” the mantra this season: The formula doesn’t always work out.
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Last year, the defense couldn’t stop Alabama in the fourth quarter, and the Bulldogs missed the College Football Playoff. Last season was one of four during the Smart era in which the Bulldogs didn’t finish in the top 10 nationally in defensive yards per play. (They were 11th.) Yes, they were still fifth in scoring defense, but having a shut-down defense or merely a good one can be the difference between winning a championship and not.
No one should be expecting a repeat of the generationally great 2021 defense. But how close could this year’s unit come? Talent, depth and coaching aren’t the questions. These are …
Mykel Williams, right, expects to play some outside linebacker this season for Georgia. (Joshua L. Jones / USA Today)Will Williams be unleashed?
Georgia doesn’t necessarily need more sacks; it ranked ninth in the SEC in that category last year but still had the top-ranked pass defense. Still, a better pass rush would be nice, and that could take pressure off a young-ish secondary.
That brings us to Mykel Williams, potentially one of the top picks in the 2025 draft, who played mostly defensive end last year but is going to get about 60 percent of his snaps, in his estimation, at outside linebacker this season. It will depend on the package, but the main reason is to get him after the quarterback more.
Schumann cited how certain players are groomed to play multiple roles with the idea of eventually excelling.
“Mykel is one of those guys, and he’s going to affect the game in a variety of ways this year,” Schumann said.
Will Walker become a star?
This is almost the same question as above: Jalon Walker has huge potential and versatility, playing inside and outside linebacker. But where does he get his snaps? CJ Allen and Smael Mondon are the probable starters inside, Williams outside, with the experienced Chaz Chambliss coming in for run situations.
Walker, however, is too good not to get on the field as much as possible.
“We have a responsibility in two ways in everything we do,” Schumann said. “One is to do what’s best for this team and for this defense to be successful as a unit. Those guys care about the collective goals. That’s probably why they came here: the connection and the ability to play and compete for championships. Two, we have a responsibility for each player to put them in the best position to have a career in football, if their ability gives them the ability to do that.
“So with Jalon, we have to expand his role because he’s a talented player, and the best way to expand his role is to continue to develop him as a hybrid player while also maximizing his opportunities to do what he does best. He’s really improved in both areas.”
Does the secondary drop off?
Georgia had the best secondary in the SEC last year by basically every metric: opponents’ yards per attempt, total passing yards, the most interceptions (14) and the fewest passing touchdowns given up (13).
But that secondary lost three draft picks, including a cornerback (Kamari Lassiter) who shut down his side of the field, and the top returning cornerback (Daylen Everette) was picked on a lot by opposing teams last year. As good as safety Malaki Starks is, he can’t cover the entire secondary. And as many recruiting stars as the other defensive backs have — including Daniel Harris, Julian Humphrey, Joenel Aguero, Ellis Robinson and KJ Bolden — experience matters, which is why senior walk-on Dan Jackson might start at safety against Clemson.
“The margin for error, all right, is very small back there,” said co-defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach Travaris Robinson. “When you make a mistake, it’s 7 points. When you’re a defensive lineman and jump out of your gap, the linebacker has a chance to tackle him. If you’re a linebacker and you miss the tackle, well, the safety has a chance to make the tackle. Well, the safety is the guy who hasn’t played a lot of ball or doesn’t think he can get it done or makes a mistake, (and) it’s 7 points. We’re on the back level. It’s like being a quarterback. We’ve got to do a lot of different things from a communication standpoint; we’ve got to be on the same page.”
After saying all that, Robinson indicated true freshmen such as Ellis Robinson and Bolden might get a shot. After all, Travaris Robinson had true freshman Caleb Downs at Alabama last year.
“We have guys do it every place I’ve been,” Robinson said. “If a guy’s mature enough to do it, can do it from a mental standpoint and a talent standpoint, then he’ll be just fine.”
What about the run defense?
Georgia’s rush defense — as measured by yards per rush attempt — was in the top three in the nation every season from 2019 to 2022. It was 37th last year, yielding 13 touchdowns. (It was no worse than eight rushing touchdowns during the previous four years.) Yes, a lot of the damage was done by rushing quarterbacks, like Auburn’s Payton Thorne uncorking an 81-yard run. But there were holes for tailbacks, like Missouri’s Cody Schrader (112 yards on 22 carries), Georgia Tech’s Jamal Haynes (81 yards on 15 carries) and Alabama’s Roydell Williams (64 yards on 16 carries).
Are those eye-popping numbers? Not compared to other programs, but Georgia has been so used to stuffing opponents from running and putting pressure on teams to pass against it that any leakiness in the run game was noticeable.
Georgia is hoping Nazir Stackhouse, now a fifth-year senior, has a big year, or perhaps sophomores Jordan Hall and Christen Miller, although Hall might not be ready for the opener.
The play of the inside linebackers in particular will figure into this. If Georgia’s run defense is more consistent this year, it will go a long way toward Georgia having its winning formula again.
(Top photo of Kirby Smart: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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Publish date : 2024-08-06 21:59:00
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