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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Post-spring depth chart: Front seven on defense

We now return to our regularly scheduled update on how Georgia looks after spring ball. Today’s installment: The defensive line and linebacking units, which got a pretty good overhaul in the offseason, and will get more this summer.

There were transfers: Alec Ogletree joined the inside linebackers, and Jarvis Jones was shifted outside, a move that the coaches said paid off well. DeAngelo Tyson was shifted from tackle to end, where he is more comfortable.

There were departures: Nick Williams and Marcus Dowtin left the program, creating depth issues at inside linebacker. And there will be arrivals: John Jenkins at nose tackle, Ray Drew at outside linebacker, and a trio of freshmen at the inside spots (Amarlo Herrera, Kent Turene and Ramik Wilson).

Once again, this depth chart will just look at the current players and how it looks after spring practice. Some players – like Kwame Geathers, and perhaps Cornelius Washington – really helped themselves. But August will tell a lot.
Here you go:

DEFENSIVE END

Starter:
DeAngelo Tyson (Sr.)
Top backup: Garrison Smith (Soph.)
Also: Matthew DeGenova (walk-on, Sr.)

CHANCES IT STAYS THAT WAY FOR THE OPENER: 98 percent … Tyson’s move to the end frees him up to see if he can improve on the 1.5 sacks and seven quarterback pressures he managed last year playing in the trenches at nose tackle. He’ll keep his spot barring injury, but the other side of the line could get interesting, as we’ll explain. Smith is the top backup now after playing seven games as a true freshman, but a bunch of hybrid DE-OLB could factor in the mix too.

LOOMING: No incoming recruits are listed as a DE. Sterling Bailey could play that spot, but a) he’s hurt and may redshirt, and b) he would start as that hybrid DE-OLB spot. The same goes for guys like Dexter Morant and T.J. Stripling.

NOSE TACKLE

Starter:
Kwame Geathers (R-Soph.)
Top backup: Mike Thornton (R-Fr.)
Also: None.

CHANCES IT STAYS: 30 percent. … Jenkins is on his way in and unless he shows up overweight and lazy, he should start. But Geathers’ strong spring means he can push hard for the spot or play some at end.

LOOMING: Besides Jenkins, freshman Chris Mayes is on the way. Mayes gets forgotten a lot because of Jenkins, but he’ll have four years of eligibility and was a four-star prospect. He’s only listed at 295 pounds, so if he’s going to play nose, he’ll probably redshirt his first season while putting on weight.

DEFENSIVE END

Starter:
Abry Jones (Jr.)
Top backup: Derrick Lott (Soph.)
Also: Smith, DeGenova.

CHANCES IT STAYS:
60 percent. … As we mentioned, this spot could end up belonging to Geathers. But we’ll see in August how serious the coaches are about doing that. If not, Jones started six games last year, but didn’t have any sacks. Lott spent most of last year on scout team but has a lot of potential.

LOOMING: See other end spot.

“WILL” LINEBACKER

Starter:
Cornelius Washington (Jr.)
Top backup: Chase Vasser (R-Soph.)
Also: Dexter Morant (R-Fr.), T.J. Stripling (Soph.)

CHANCES IT STAYS: 50 percent. … Drew will be given a chance to take the starting spot from Washington. The “Will” (weakside) spot is what Justin Houston played last year, so it’s a prime spot for racking up sacks. Washington has great size (6-4, 260) and athleticism. If he can show enough drive in August he can hold off Drew, who would then become a candidate to play some at defensive end. But it seems likely that Washington and Drew will split time, much like Washington and Darryl Gamble did last year.

LOOMING: There’s Drew as well as Bailey. It also makes sense to include Morant and Stripling, each of whom sat out spring practice as they rehab injuries. Stripling was playing last year before tearing his knee at Colorado. If he is in good shape, he’ll be a factor at one of the outside spots. Ditto for Morant. Each has good size (Stripling is 6-6 and Morant is 6-7) but are a bit on the light side.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Starter:
Christian Robinson (Jr.)
Top backup: Mike Gilliard (Jr.)
Also: Brandon Burrows (R-Fr.)

CHANCES IT STAYS: 95 percent. … The name for this position is generally the “Mike” inside linebacker, i.e. the captain of the front seven. Robinson was given this position based on his experience and leadership. Barring injury he’ll hold onto it, especially given that Ogletree is still learning his position and Samuel sat out last year.

LOOMING:
Herrera, Turene and Wilson are the signees, and you’d figure that at least one will play. The depth issues on the inside are a concern with the departures of Dowtin and Williams.

INSIDE LINEBACKER

Starter:
Alec Ogletree (Soph.)
Top backup: Richard Samuel (Jr.)
Also: Gilliard, Burrows

CHANCES IT STAYS: 85 percent. … The coaches like Ogletree at this spot, so he’s not likely to get much of a push from Samuel, or get moved back to safety. Still, Samuel has enough potential that he should see the field. Burrows and Gilliard saw a lot of time in spring practice too because of injuries. That helps the depth a bit, but it seems apparent the only two inside guys the coaches feel very confident in right now are Robinson and Ogletree.

LOOMING: See above.

“SAM” LINEBACKER

Starter:
Jarvis Jones (R-Soph.)
Top backup: Reuben Faloughi (R-Soph.)
Also: Morant, Stripling.

CHANCES IT STAYS: 75 percent. … The only way Jones doesn’t start here is if he gets moved back inside for some reason. Otherwise his ability will be too much to keep off the field. Faloughi, Morant and Stripling will need to show they can play and not be much of a drop-off. Burrows could also shift back outside.

LOOMING: Drew could always switch over to the other side, but it would likely only be to spell Jones. The depth at end is slightly worse than OLB.

25 comments:

Suomynona said...

I am feeling much better about the up coming D than I was a year ago. We seem to have more speed, athleticism and play makers in the two deep.

Anonymous said...

No experience really anwhere, no one been productive experience at any position.

Anonymous said...

Agreed. This is as much hogwash as the article Seth wrote about "Where the Next Round of Bulldogs could be Drafted." There isn't anyone on the roster on offense or defense really anywhere. No one has productive experience at any position except for QB, and he is no good at not being sacked, making first downs, converting 3rd Downs, winning football games as Starting QB, or beating any even reasonable football team.

BZ said...

Has anyone heard where Williams and Dowtin are transferring to or are they even playing football somewhere???

Anonymous said...

That makes me want to use the word "hogwash" at my next chance

Benjamin Ray Zambiasi said...

Mike linebackers are significant playmakers. They are not "given" the position due to leadership and experience but "earn" the M out of shear respect & playmaking ability!

Robinson has to step-up!

Suomynona said...

I honestly don't know what you naysayers want. You moan about not playing the best because we play favorites. How do you expect players to get experience? I guess in your make believe world EVERY FREAKING PLAYER HAS 2 OR MORE YEARS EXPERIENCE. Yup that's the ticket never start a guy unless he has experience - makes perfect sense.

Now the new defensive staff has identified the guys that want to play and have the ability to play and you moan about that. WTF do you people want? You can't have experience and new blood. EVERY player on the two deep roster was offered by just about every major school in the SEC.

Some of you are chronic whiners.

NRBQ said...

Dear 5:03 F-tard:

If your goal is to make every sensible reader of Seth's blog hate your guts, congratulations. You've finally succeeded at something in your life (sic)!

Suomynona said...

To the real college football fan I apologize but dayum some of these knuckleheads have finally done what they intended - pissed me off.

Anonymous said...

How much experience does Tyson have at DE? Geathers at NT? Jones at DE? Washington & Robinson have unproductive experience. Ogletree & Jones have never played a down. Going to be some kind of learning curve with the front 7.

Anonymous said...

I feel pretty good about O&D. I think both will be improved. Maybe not overpowering, but improved. We do have too many players playing new positions, but it appears some of our new players-- J Jones and K Geathers have really stepped up. Some of experienced players like D Tyson, A Jones, C Washington, C Robinson, Boykin, Commings, Rambo will continue to be steady even if playing slightly different positions. And transfer Jenkins will be key to help plug the middle with Geathers.

Anonymous said...

Notwithstanding the statement by Seth that : "TE Aron White: He’s actually bigger than Charles, and character is in his corner. Georgia had four tight ends drafted between 2002-2007, but none since then."

Seth says that Aron White has character in his corner. Do you mean, character, such as Aron White saying that the QB who should have been Starter after the failed 2008 season for the Game 1 2009 Zach Mettenberger should not have been so severely punished ? The same Aron White who has dropped so many passes from now too little Aaron Murray ?

9 catches for Aron White all of 2010 season. 9. -0- TD catches.

This is his Final Year of eligibility. He has a Grand Total of 25 catches in his entire UGA career, slightly less than 9 catches per season.

Seth says

DRAFTED. Aron White will be Drafted, according to Seth.

Twaddle.

Wait. There's more.

"FB Bruce Figgins: Again, he doesn’t even start yet, and just moved to fullback. But if he does show he can play the position, why wouldn’t an NFL take a flyer?"

9 catches his entire career at TE. I said when we kept recruiting and signing all these TE, that we needed to recruit Fullbacks, for example, instead. Here we are now season number Five (5) for Bruce Figgins and he has all of 9 total catches as TE. Seth ? Oh, why wouldn't an NFL team take a Flyer on Bruce Figgins, now shuffled off to the an obvious hole with no Fullback on the roster, and none recruited.

Gibberish.

But, wait now. It gets even better :

"And you never know:
DB Jakar Hamilton (decent size, and athletic), TB Caleb King (if he has a good year)"

Rubbish.

Jakar Hamilton doesn't even play, either. No productive experience.

None of these guys do.

TB Caleb King. # 1 Football Player in the State of Georgia 2006. This is 2011.

Seth says if he has a good year 2011, that Caleb King Drafted.

Nonsense.

TrboDawg said...

The best response to trolls is to ignore them.

Keep up the good information coming Seth - those of us unfortunate enough to not have all the answers appreciate your hard work.

word verification; 'comon' - as int 'com'on man, give it a rest!"

Anonymous said...

Yeah, right.

Caleb King is going to be Drafted by The NFL.

Great information.

21 Losses last 5 years - more than 4 + a year.

give it a rest : the Kool-Aid

Anonymous said...

^^^ doesn't know what the he'll he's doing^^^

PTC DAWG said...

Thanks for the good info Seth.

The Trolls make me laugh. It must be tough being them.

Doug said...

Wow. There are some really dumb posters on here.

Keep the articles coming Seth. I enjoy reading them during the doldrums of the off season.

Anonymous said...

Awww! BuLLLLLLLLdawg needs a diapey change!

Unknown said...

Good info. All those anonymous posters are hilarious. Gonna be a long summer.

Joeski said...

Proof positive of how some people are never satisfied: When Richt plays the players with experience, he's 'playing favorites', when he plays the young guys 'OMG! NO EXPERIENCE!!!!1!'

Please, take your tripe back to the AJC blog; many of you Anons are killing the brain cells of intelligent fans here with your inanity.

MyrtleDawg said...

Seth, I think the Tech Trolls have discovered your blog. It may be time for a "sign in to comment" comment page. Keep up the good work. Thanks for all you do.

TrboDawg said...

"tripe" - what a good word, gotta work that into the conversation today...

PTC DAWG said...

It's been past time for a "sign in to comment page"....

There is a reason I don't look at AJC columns/comments anymore.

Anonymous said...

Agreed.

Yes.

Far better to come in here and Seth tell us that Caleb King is going to be Drafted by The NFL.

Just lot better comments in here.

If you drink Kool-Aid.

Seth Emerson said...

What I actually wrote:

And you never know:
DB Jakar Hamilton (decent size, and athletic), TB Caleb King (if he has a good year), T Trinton Sturdivant (if he rehabs and decides to keep trying football).

Read more: http://dawg-extra.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-05-02T07%3A30%3A00-07%3A00#ixzz1LQG3ISWV