Getting to Know our New Recruits: ATH Marcus Allen

IIRC Walls as only 6’1", 290. I think Gotsis at this point is 6’4" or 6’5" and 295, and will add another 20lb to his frame easy.

Both games exposed how undersized we were, especially in the middle.

A 2-gap NT in the 3-4 has to be big and quick, since he can’t be pushed back against a double-team. I don’t want to get into the argument of 1-gap versus 2-gap NT schemes because honestly it doesn’t matter if you don’t have the athletes to play either.

Losing Denzel McCoy to health issues was a big blow to our competition in that area. With TJ Barnes, Shawn Green, and now Adam Gotsis hopefully we’ve helped to put it back.

There’s a definition problem: I’d think you’re not really blitzing unless you’re sending 5 across the line. An ILB with gap responsibilities has to maintain gap discipline, but is not necessarily charging through the LOS.

UGA’s 1-gap scheme uses a lot of stunts, twists, and drop coverages to keep blockers off of ILBs, who make tackles. And we recruit large ILBs. Also, while we play gaps instead of men, the system is still designed to force teams into double teaming the nose and declare either the coverage or blocking scheme – opening up avenues for our LBs to attack the play. We use a big guy (sometimes two) to clog the middle and push plays outside, where the OLBs can make plays. Lots of snaps, one OLB will have his hand in the dirt. Sometimes we play 3 OLBs and only one 1 ILB, personell-wise (obviously, only two can actually line up on the outside).

However, Coach Grantham says that the front is dictated by the coverage, not the other way around. It seems counterintuitive, but the scheme starts with coverage/blitz calls and builds the front off of that. For example, while we play base 3-4, our nickel is 4-2-5.

Also, the 2-gap system has different terminology (bubbles instead of gaps), but has similar responsibilities. There will be a LB or DB with bubble responsibilities that put the same number of men in the box on run downs.

The 2-gap NT pretty much has to be huge, but a 1-gap NT does not. However, it helps.

In 2010, UGA was playing 4-3 DTs at the nose, and it wasn’t great. It really helps to have a dedicated big guy, especially wiht Grantham’s aggressive philosophy. A 4-3 DT has primary tackling and pass-rushing responsibilities. In our 3-4, that is not necessarily true. The DL has gap responsibilities, but the defense is designed more around forcing the offense to declare its protection around the DL, allowing the LBs to diagnose and attack the play. If the offense shifts its blocking to account for the LBs, the DL is supposed to take advantage and make the plays. Those guys, especially the nose, are also supposed to anchor against the run.

While we usually line our guys up in gaps, we don’t always do that. From a head’s up position, the NT can attack either A-gap or charge the center in a 2-gap technique. The idea is that the center will get help from the guard that borders the gap the NT attacks, and there’s no reason to give that guard free warning if you don’t have to.

Also, on both passing and running downs, the NT can adopt a 2-gap technique.

UGA has two solid NTs right now in Geathers and Jenkins, and a lot of what we do defensively is possible because of their particular skills. I’m not sure what exactly we’ll do when they’re gone.

So read my basketball school comment in the appropriate font.

I distinctly remember sitting in the base of the South stands at the 2009 COFH game…where the uGA fan I was jawing with all night had the nerve to say “at least you’re a basketball school” once BeyBey dropped the 4th down pass. He said these words to me in full view of the 4 National Championships signs.