UGA defense was near-dominant in 2019. Where Dan Lanning sees needed improvement
Georgia’s defense took an abnormal thrashing at the hands of eventual title winner LSU in last December’s conference championship game. The Bulldogs gave up 349 passing yards, 37 points and couldn’t depend on the team’s backbone at the chance at the ultimate prize of a playoff berth.
By one glance at the final box score, it would seem like the Tigers’ offense overmatched Georgia’s defense that had been stout in every other game. In some ways, that’s true. But on many occurrences, it came down to the final 10% of each play. The insufficiencies in finishing proved costly.
“We don’t want to discredit (them),” Dan Lanning said. “Ultimately, we didn’t finish on plays. We were in the right place at times and didn’t capitalize.”
Lanning, a second-year defensive coordinator in Athens, noticed it a lot when rolling back the tape from that 37-10 defeat. There was a lot of positive by the defense that prides itself on dominating SEC-caliber opponents. Georgia might’ve gotten to the quarterback, but couldn’t get a sack. It might’ve perfectly fit a gap, but no tackle or turnover came of it.
The Bulldogs were almost successful, but couldn’t quite finish.
Each year, Georgia has a new mantra or a different way to approach its core philosophy. It’ll still keep the “havoc rate” as a priority, but the focus shifts to how the Bulldogs perform at the end of plays or games. They want to ensure that the result is some game-changing tackles or turnovers. It’s an element of defense that becomes more vital in a shortened 10-game season in which Georgia plays a “real team,” as Lanning put it, each week in the SEC.
“We’re wanting to finish on 100 percent of the plays, even if we’re behind on the first 80 percent,” Lanning said. “How we finish the play, that’s what leads to success.”
Georgia has been touted for its defensive stability entering the 2020 season. The unit emerged with a case to be the nation’s best under Lanning (who recently received a contract extension and raise). The Bulldogs in 2019 allowed 12.6 points (No. 1 nationally), 74.6 rush yards (1st), and 275.7 total yards per game (3rd). No other defense matched Georgia in allowing only two rushing touchdowns through 14 games.
The unit’s setback, however, came in the passing game with allowing 201 yards per game (31st). Georgia does return most of its defensive backfield with sophomores Tyrique Stevenson and Lewis Cine expected to have prominent roles.
Lanning has the chance for a clean slate with many returners. Georgia can shore up its deficiencies, but there’s also a practice of humility when the team asks itself, “What can we do better?”
“We have to start from scratch,” Lanning said. “By no means are we the ’85 [Chicago] Bears. We got a lot of work to do, but our guys are embracing the challenge. It starts with the details.”
There’s a unique dynamic with the Georgia defense. The Bulldogs have an upperclassman anchor at each level — senior cornerback Eric Stokes in the defensive backfield, senior inside linebacker Monty Rice protecting the middle and junior big-bodied tackle Jordan Davis (who Lanning has “high expectations” for) on the defensive line.
Look deeper than the stars and there’s a young player on the rise in each group, too. Stevenson and Cine made strides as newcomers. Sophomore linebacker Nakobe Dean has potential. On the defensive front, second-year pass rushers Nolan Smith and Travon Walker made crucial plays in 2019. Lanning said the growth of a second-year player is an “exciting” element when developing his group.
“You have to be pleased, as an older player, to know that everyone you’re playing with on defense knows the system,” senior safety Richard LeCounte said. “We are able to grasp the concepts and are able to play at a high level.”
A year after Georgia thrived on the title of “no-name defense,” there’s a chance for players to make their statements in a shortened season. Lanning wasn’t too fond of the moniker, but has plenty of hope and lofty expectations for a refreshed group that didn’t lose too much star talent — Tae Crowder was the lone draftee in the seventh round, and JR Reed signed an undrafted free agent contract.
There should be a deeper group of next-level players next spring. But most of them returned to Athens to finish writing their script.
“I know that any of us could go and start any game and be the superstar,” Stokes said. “We’re all out here competing trying to be the best that we can be.”
Georgia’s defense has tuned out the publicity around its production. Lanning gets a tall task of improving a dominant output last season. His biggest goal, however, is to finish — a play, a game or a season.
Who could do that best for Georgia? Lanning might have his own dream team.
“We have a bunch of dogs,” said Lanning, who couldn’t single out an “alpha dog.” “We have a lot of unselfish players. A lot of guys want to be on the field on fourth down. There’s a lot of guys on our defense I would go to war with right now.”
This story was originally published August 25, 2020 at 10:13 AM.