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Georgia hopes more bodies at outside linebacker creates more problems for opposing offenses
System
Posts: 11,121 admin
Georgia hopes more bodies at outside linebacker creates more problems for opposing offenses
ATHENS — Georgia’s outside linebacker room looked a lot bigger during Tuesday’s practice.
Comments
This is my biggest concern for the defense going into this season - not the secondary but the outside LB position and being able to do (2) very important things that we were not good at last season: 1) set the edge 2) effective pass rush…too many long runs and big plays during last season because our edge collapsed and we got burned. We also didn't cause much havoc at all unless we brought the house. The 4-5 guys up front have got to be able to get to the QB without having to bring more bodies. Expecting some of these newer guys to step up.
I'm also concerned with how the defense set the edge last year, and the pass rush, except from the interior, has not been great for a couple of years. Travon Walker was the first overall pick in the 2022 draft but only had six sacks his last year, so UGA has never maximized individual players in terms of getting to the quarterback. The scheme requires the outside LB to pinch inside on play fakes to prevent the inside run, which frees the inside backers to loop around to the outside to contain the outside run. The injuries at ILB last year left the young guys exposed on some of those plays if they were slow diagnosing. Hopefully, they'll improve, or the coaches will adjust the scheme.
why are we always using Walker at ILB? He is clearly our best OLB pass rusher specialist, and when we really need to put pressure on the Qb, they kick him out there?
I was thinking the exact opposite. In '23 UGA fell to 18th in run D from #1, 1 and 2 the previous 3 seasons. The 2 freshmen ILB's (33, 5) struggled mightily there last year. JWalker is probably the best ILB on the team against the run. Yet he was moved outside where he put occasional pressure on the QB while teams ran more easily through the freshmen LB's.
Seems to me being a stonewall up the middle would be more valuable than occasionally getting pressure on the QB. The way UGA recruits there should be plenty of other players to rush the passer.
Chaz is a DGD but if we really want to put our best players in, he’ll be a substitute, not a starter.
who should replace him?
According to this article: Wilson, MPemba, Walker, TID, GHarris, JGreene, JJA and MWilliams.
If Wilson, GHarris and MWilliams can't supplant CChamblis from the UGA starting line up this D is in trouble.
never ceases to amaze me how little fans know.
Is Chaz the best? No. But if any of those guys were better they’d have played over him last year. He catches too much grief from dawg fans. He’s not as good as Nolan Smith (not many are) but he’s not Brenton Cox either.
Never ceases to amaze me how little some fans know.
Wilson, MPemba and Harris were freshmen last year. Any fan who has followed UGA during CKS's tenure knows he doesn't start freshmen unless they are exceptional.
JJA and Greene are freshmen this year. They weren't here last year. TID was hurt last year and MWilliams played DE last year. THAT's why none of those guys played over Chambliss last year.
Actually your take was not well thought out( and a little lazy). Neither was CR's. A well thought out take would've been that Greene, TID, probably JJA and maybe even MWilliams are DE's not OLB. But it is camp so coaches are experimenting and guys are getting tried doing different things. Happens in every football camp. Unlikely that Greene and TID play much if any OLB. Haven't seen enough of JJA to know what his ceiling might be at OLB. But until he develops physically freshman JJA's best position to contribute this season may be spot duty at OLB.
Watch how many guys play over Chambliss this year. That will be indicative how good this D will be.
Never ceases to amaze me how little some fans and some junior writers for Dawgnation know.
Quite a word salad to say there were no better options than Chaz last year.
Good luck with your blog
"Is Chaz the best? No. But if any of those guys were better they’d have played over him last year." Either those players weren't there last year, were hurt, played different positions or were freshmen not ready to play.
THAT's why Chambliss played last year. Not about last year. About this year. Based on this article UGA coaches looking pretty hard (7 players mentioned) at developing a better option than Chambliss.
Word salad. I see your major was not journalism. Sometimes it takes a full explanation for some fans to understand. Sometimes even that doesn't work. SMH.
Good luck with your football apprenticeship. You will learn a lot here if you keep your eyes open.
sorry I hurt your feelings bud
For those of you arguing about Chaz and his role on this defense:
Chaz is the best at setting the EDGE for the defense.
Until that changes, he will be playing on most 1st downs, and on several non-obvious passing downs. That's just how it is.
Like I said, once they feel someone has surpassed Chaz's ability to stop the run and set the edge, then we will see them more on typical running downs and situations.
End of story.
I said it last year and I will say it again. IF Chambliss is UGA's best option and starter at OLB for the season then the '24 D is not a championship defense. Same goes for Dan Jackson.
He will play and get his rep's but I expect him to be phased out as the younger players develop. How long will that take? IDK. But someone (or 2) will need to break out for UGA by the playoffs.