Defensive line, especially in a 3-4, is hard to determine production by numbers as their primary job is to eat up blockers, not to put up big tackles or sacks numbers. In terms of numbers the line for UGA losses 26 solo tackles, 31 assists, 8 TFL, and 3 sacks. They return their top two guys on the line in terms of production in Arby Jones and DeAngelo Tyson (23 solo, 35 assist, 7 TFL, and 1 sack). Tyson should be even better this year as he goes from being an undersized nose guard to having great size for a defensive end in the 3-4. Jones will be more experienced and should improve as well.
Truly the biggest difference on the line will be from how far Geathers has come along this off season combined with John Jenkins now being on campus. The two of them give them a tandem at the nose guard that Georgia simply didn't have last year. Either one would be a huge improvement over last year at the position but with the two of them being able to keep each other fresh and sometimes getting on the field at the same time the line should be light years ahead of where it was last year. Toss in more depth at players like Lott and Garrison develop and I expect this year’s line to be a major strength of the team when last year it was average most games and awful in other games.
Georgia's better D line makes everyone else play better. Especially the D backs.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree. I think it also helps the offense in that getting off the field on 3rd downs will give the team better field position and allow them to run more total plays instead of sitting on the sidelines getting cold.
ReplyDelete