Georgia football: 4 reasons the Bulldogs' 2020 defense could be Kirby Smart's best yet
If there’s one thing you could count on at Georgia last year, it was a defense that not only kept points off the board but consistently took the opposition’s running attack out of the equation. The most rushing yards it gave up in a game was 163 yards to Kentucky (in a water-logged affair that saw Lynn Bowden only throw it 15 times) while allowing 2 touchdowns on the ground all season.
The passing defense, while good, was carved up by Joe Burrow in the SEC Championship Game, but in fairness, almost every team that faced the eventual national champions had it happen to them. Burrow’s LSU team also scored 37 points, the most UGA allowed; the next highest point total allowed was against South Carolina (20). No other opponent scored more than 17.
It was a dominant defense, but still lacking in specific areas. Georgia finished 7th in the SEC in sacks (31) and tied for 9th in takeaways (16). In fact, the takeaways are the lowest since Smart arrived and well shy of the high-water mark under Smart of 27 set in 2016. The 31 sacks are an improvement over the 2018 mark of 24 but still 3 shy of the most a Smart-coached team has had in Athens.
But there’s a chance that the pieces are in place in 2020 to make up the most complete defense in the Smart era: one that not only thrives on limiting opponents through the air and on the ground but enjoys a consistent pass rush and can generate takeaways on a much higher level.
Here are 4 reasons it could happen:
Georgia didn’t suffer many crippling defensive losses, all things considered
Georgia’s defense didn’t see close to the attrition the offense sustained. That’s not to say there were zero key departures from the unit: big nose tackle Michael Barnett and defensive tackle Tyler Clark have graduated, as have middle linebacker Tae Crowder, safety J.R. Reed and backup defensive end David Marshall.
Granted, that’s a good chunk of production that will need to be replaced in 2020, and a great deal of experience as it’s a group that played in the program’s first national championship game since 1980. At the end of the day, it could have been much worse.
Depth, depth and more depth
Despite losing 5 key players, Bulldogs fans shouldn’t be too worried about the potential of the defense losing a step.
Sure, Barnett’s gone, but a former Freshman All-American in Jordan Davis — an 8-game starter as a sophomore in 2018 — will be ready to slide right in at the nose tackle slot. Malik Herring’s decision to return for his senior season, along with the return of Devonte Wyatt and a fully-healthy 5th-year senior Julian Rochester, should adequately compensate for the graduated linemen. SEC All-Freshman pick Travon Walker provides another layer of depth behind the Dawgs’ veterans up front.
And it’s not as if the linebacker corps is completely in trouble with Crowder’s exit: Azeez Ojulari, the Dawgs’ top returning pass rusher, will man the interior alongside leading tackler Monty Rice (89 tackles in 2019) and Walter Grant. There’s also plenty of talent in the rotation — sophomores Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith, juniors Adam Anderson, Channing Tindall and Quay Walker and senior Jermaine Johnson come to mind, among others — that give Georgia an LB room that is fairly deep.
The depth on the defensive roster extends to the secondary, where Tyson Campbell and Eric Stokes will man the corners while the safety unit received an enormous lift with the decision by Richard LeCounte to return for 2020 instead of declaring for the NFL Draft.
Mark Webb will hold down the Star position but can easily be spelled by Divaad Wilson. Rising sophomores Lewis Cine and Tyrique Stephenson were able to make immediate impacts at their respective positions last season and will be counted on to be important parts of the rotation once more in 2020, while senior DJ Daniel joins Stephenson to form a strong cornerback quadrant with Campbell and Stokes.
The newcomers and redshirts are highly-rated and can contribute immediately
The Dawgs have been blessed to see a number of recruits contribute right away on defense, including Cine, Dean, Stephenson and Walker last year. There’s no reason to think that things will be any different with the incoming class.
While Georgia has plenty of help on the defensive line, a player like Warren Brinson, Jalen Carter or Nazir Stackhouse could work their way into the rotation as defensive tackle is a spot set to see significant turnover after the season ends. Speedster Kelee Ringo, who will eventually be charged with erasing downfield receiving threats, is another potential piece in a deep cornerback group. Safety Major Burns has a chance to make a little headway in a backfield that loses backup Otis Reese to transfer but will feature LeCounte and a group of returnees in Cine, Webb and Wilson.
It will continue a positive trend over the past several years
Last year, Georgia surrendered the country’s 4th-lowest total yards per game mark at 274.2. The breakdown: 198.5 through the air (24th nationally) and 75.7 on the ground (3rd in FBS) — while giving up just 12.5 points a contest, tied with Ohio State for the 2nd lowest total in the country.
That 12.5 points per game average is actually 6 points lower than 2018, when the Dawgs allowed 180.5 yards passing and 130.6 yards rushing to end the year with the 13th-ranked mark in total defense (311.2).
During the Playoff season of 2017, its 13.2 points allowed was tied for 3rd in the country, while its 158.3 yards/game passing defense (2nd), 112.6 yards/game rushing defense (12th) and 270.9 yards/game total defense (4th) were all top 12 or better nationally.
So it’s tough to point to any true down years defensively since Smart arrived in Athens. Looking toward 2020, the hope is that an improved pass rush and a secondary that could take on more of a ball-hawking mentality will see that passing yards mark trend back toward 2018 numbers, while the retooled rushing defense has a shot at picking up right where it left off.
Azeez Ojulari will man the interior? This is news to everyone, including him, I’m sure.
Perhaps my phrasing was poor here – by “interior” I meant the linebacker corps as a whole.
I get the sentiment but the position he plays and the position of the other linebackers are as different as a tight end and a center. I think it’s an important distinction to make given UGA has more tested depth at the EDGE linebacker spots compared to the interior linebacker spots. Rice and Dean are great but there are some question marks behind them.
I appreciate the articles by the say Sydney, It always helps me get through the off-season. Keep doing what you do. Sorry if I came off snarky. I enjoyed the article.
All good – thanks for the kind words!
Well he was a 5-star recruit
I think we’ll have to get used to the low takeaway totals until the interior defensive line takes a step beyond just plugging up the blockers.
What UGA did a lot last year was play some cushion zone that allowed some space underneath on 2rd and long but forced a lot of 3-and-outs. They also went with press man at times but the important thing is that with Campbell and Ringo, they have long, fast corners who would do well in bump and run, forcing routes to develop longer and for QBs to hold the ball a second longr. And if you give UGA’s D-line and LBs an extra second, they are going to get a lot more pressure, sacks, forced early throws that could lead to INTs, etc.
Barring injuries/suspensions the 2020 defense will be better than the 2019 defense.
There some absolute beasts about to come into their own – Dean, Smith, Cine, Walker, Johnson, Wyatt, Rian Davis etc.
A motivated, 5th year Rochester will be a force.
LeConte will be a great leader.
“If they can’t score, they can’t win”
Depth will be important with the apparent change in offensive philosophy. More open offenses don’t burn clock.
Definitely a concern nobody is mentioning. Still, passing game opens up the run game and makes it easier to burn clock should they need to in theory. Frankly, based on last season it’d be a risk I’d be willing to take.
“More open offenses don’t burn clock”
Stalled drives, scoreless quarters/halfs and 3-and-outs don’t exactly help or motivate the defense.
What does one have to do with the other?
Hello
A flailing, low scoring offense stresses the defense more than a high tempo, quick scoring defense.
… more than high tempo, quick scoring offense
I didn’t say otherwise. But, it has nothing to do with my comment. LSU didn’t flounder on offense, but was something 75th in time of possession. UGA was 18th.
There could be more three and outs and they may score much faster. Both of which will require the defense to be on the field more often.
Excuse me. LSU was 47th ranked TOP.
That’s fair…3 and outs don’t either.
The Defensive unit needs REST & if a drive lasts 1 1/2 minutes…heck the big guys are not ready to come back on the field. Look at how Alabama’s D-unit’s looked the past few years…with a Tua-led offense scoring really fast. The big-uns gotta have time to breathe.
What you fail to mention is that not one single junior-eligible player left the defense.
Also, our defense rotates players more than any other in the country, so even with the losses of some seniors on defense, they’re being replaced by sophomores and juniors who already have a ton of reps, like Cine replacing Reed.
This Georgia defense won’t be “could,” this Georgia defense WILL be the best in the country in 2020. If the offense can improve just the slightest bit, we will win the SEC.
Why the offense will be better, much better, in 2020
The offense will benefit greatly from the elite, best in the nation defense – time of possession, field position and hopefully more turnovers.
Better offensive scheme – more balanced, less predictable, utilize more talent, throw to the dang TE
2019’s glaring deficiency – the WR corps – will be coached up, upgraded etc.
No longer coaching/scheming to protect the starting, one and only QB.
Jamie Newman’s production improves markedly with the elite talent he will be surrounded by. Newman will throw for 3200+ and burn defenses with his legs. True deep ball threat, mature, seasoned, bonafide leader, motivated to make the NFL.
I think we will see offensive scoring on par with the 2017 UGA offense.
Hopefully you are correct regarding Newman…His running is for real, but not sure about the arm…yes, he can sling it a mile…but to what color jersey ? He played in the ACC, remember & he’s unproven in the SEC.
cojones in 3, 2 …
LOL, don’t project. I have no interest in crashing this cheerleading fest, I’m not a Moron troll like you.
Best defense ever, good for you.
Newman a beast, SEC poy, more power to you.
UGA winning the SEC, if you say so it must be true
Like shooting fish in a barrel
except the fish are smarter
Defense should be as good or better as long as they stay focused and don’t get full of themselves.
The depth helps with that. If somebody’s effort and/or production falls off then there is always somebody waiting for their opportunity.
Good point. Do you think you’ll have a couple transfers this off season because of depth?
I’m really interested in your offense this year. I’ll be tuning in to your spring game for sure.
Have already had one transfer, Otis Reese, a former 4-Star LB/Safety transferring to Ole Miss.
One thing in UGA’s favor is the fact Lanning and Smart play so many people on defense. One doesn’t have to be a starter to get significant starts on defense at UGA.
@TDOW do you think a fast pace offense will prove to be a decrease in defensive efficiency because of more time on the field?
Biggest transfer “danger” would probably be LB or WR in my opinion, but the rotation at the former kind of eases my concern a little bit. I think there’s a pretty good buy-in culture all around–I wouldn’t have been surprised to see guys like Netori Johnson or Ameer Speed look for greener pastures by now (knock on wood), but they haven’t, and it’s helped a lot.
@KirbySmart what about the QB room? Think one or maybe two might leave?
Why would a QB leave? Newman is a grad transfer and only has 1 year left. Beck is a true freshman, Mathis is coming off of brain surgery, Bennett already transferred out and came back. I can’t imagine any of them leaving. Mathis and Beck will be competing for the starting gig next year and could take over this year if Newman struggles or is injured although I’m not sure how much contact Mathis is going to be allowed to have. I’m sure they’re going to take all precautions with him.
With Vandergriff coming next year, I can easily see someone or maybe two leaving. Hopefully, Brock will redshirt. That would help. Kind of depends on how good Beck actually is.
I could see Mathis leaving it he loses the backup job to Beck this season.
Mathis is the best bet to be gone. There’s no benefit for Bennet to leave. He tried that. Football is probably not his future.
Mathis has a high ceiling and will probably be able to find playing time somewhere else if he can’t crack the starting position. I doubt he leaves even if he loses the backup competition. He just came off a year of no football activities, and might not really get back into the swing of things for a minute. So no one will probably leave this offseason, but next if Beck beats out Mathis for starter, Mathis is gone. If Mathis beats out Beck and lights it up? Beck is gone, and they have to figure out how to keep brock.
Great point Gatorsallday.
I’m really excited to see Dean and Smith in year 2. Defense is stacked. I have a good feeling about our offense too. Go Dawgs!
Facts
This may be our best defense ever. Looking forward to seeing me some Kellee Ringo. Hope we can keep Dan Lanning. I think he is going to be a hot commodity.
Kirby already had his best defense ever at Alabama in 2011. That won’t be topped.
Yeah, and the prolific offenses of today make that task all the more difficult IMO.
You have no idea if it’ll be topped or not.
You are absolutely right, I cannot predict the future. It certainly would be nice if I could.
It’s just my opinion and a pretty strong one at that. As KirbySmart himself just said above, the way offenses are now it will be tough to top.
I’m excited to watch a number of the yound studs on defense mature. Especially among the OLBs, DLs, and CBs.
Adam Anderson might be the biggest beast on the team by year end. He got better every game last year. That is a fast man.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see a 2-4-5 defense next year with a LB rushing. Gotta get those fast LBs on field some way.
That’s a good point, with a rushing LB, it will take a 2-4-5 type feel.
They been loaded nothing new. What is new hopefully Mac isnt in first year and he should hopefully have the same QB as last yr who was solid 260 2 TDs 0 int.
Also super excited to finally have quality depth on DL Secondary and OL
Getting Braun Walker and Leonard on Campus in Dec plus Ethan White and last yrs group with another with Savage and Hev. Hevesy ain’t the best recruiter but he’s a great at coaching
I’m interested to see about Waivers for Shorter Lingard and Pounce. One should get it at least I imagine hopefully 2 lol theres logic to it
My dumbass said Mac lol he’s the one that left us with absolutely trash depth in the secondary and DL
Had Polite at 280 playing DT lol what a stupid dip
Now we str8 loaded with all different types of DTs pass rushers on edge and from LB and Hopper as a great coverage guy
Really weird yo said this on a Georgia article……Trolling would have actually made more sense.
LOL you lost?
smart is going in the right direction of recruiting a kid like tony grimes (his story is the kind of kids i would be proud to see at georgia )instead of zach evans types—–period
I see your four reasons for 2020 being CKS’s best defense yet, and raise you four reasons he wont.
Orgeron
Mullen
Saban
and me.