Like it or not, Todd Grantham has a nickname he’s not likely to shed anytime soon, especially with Georgia fans. “Third and Grantham” was never more evident than Saturday during the Bulldogs’ 24-17 win when they converted 12-of-18 plays on third down.

One theory is that Grantham blitzes more on third down, and thus leaves his defense open for big gains, something that happened on a clinching play late in the game when QB Jake Fromm found TE Eli Wolf as Fromm was being pressured and threw off his back foot.

Grantham in meeting with reporters, including Jacquie Franciulli, this week described how his defense played overall, and if the third downs were frustrating.

“Because we were playing so well on first down, and in the run game, it does become frustrating,” Grantham said. “But at the end of the day, you start looking up at the score and you’re seeing where you’re one possession behind, or get the ball back, that kind of deal. It’s always about the next play. I never really worry about the last play until we’re on the sidelines.”

Grantham said there weren’t many halftime adjustments on the early downs.

“On the third down stuff, we actually played as much pressure, or simulated pressure as say zone,” Grantham said. “But then it goes back to execution and better eye control, better leverage and a little more physical, and if we did all those things, we could have finished a few more plays, and if we finish a few more plays, we would’ve had a chance to win the game.”

Grantham said in SEC games and “possession downs” being third or fourth down, the Gators were 68 percent for the season, which he figured was about fourth in the league. The goal was 65 percent of 66 percent.

“To me, in this game, it was more about being better in those areas,” he said. “That’s what we’ve got to work on and understand that each week, things change. One week it’s this issue, another week it’s this issue, and as a player you’ve always got to compete and find ways, at the end of the day to win games.”

Asked about busts in the secondary, which is experienced, Grantham said, “I think the lack of communication or finishing the play is something that we obviously need to do better. We’ve addressed it and we’ll be better.”

Grantham was proud of the run defense, which he said held Georgia to its lowest regular season total since the 2018 LSU game.