Georgia
An update on havoc rate: The elusive stat for Georgia’s defense
ATHENS, Ga. — The very title sounds thrilling. Havoc price. Thrilling and in addition excellent. A protection is meant to wreak havoc, so why not catalog the speed at which a protection does simply that. Invoice Connelly is credited with inventing the time period, and 4 years in the past the analytics-savvy Kirby Good advised the world it could be the emphasis for his Georgia protection.
4 superb years of protection ensued, together with one which was generationally nice, and two nationwide championships. All resulting from … properly, not havoc price.
First, the explainer: Havoc price is often outlined as the share of defensive snaps leading to a sack, sort out for loss, interception, batted ball or different cross breakups. Some would throw in cross pressures or compelled fumbles the protection doesn’t recuperate. However both means, Georgia’s havoc price, whereas not poor, has been decrease than one would possibly count on given how good the protection has been:
Havoc price (detrimental performs + turnovers + cross breakups):
12 months | % | Nationwide rank |
---|---|---|
2019 |
16.2 |
34 |
2020 |
15.9 |
42 |
2021 |
18.5 |
7 |
2022 |
16.1 |
43 |
The truth is, Georgia final season had the bottom havoc price of the previous 4 nationwide champions:
Workforce | % | Nationwide rank |
---|---|---|
18.9 |
9 |
|
16.9 |
27 |
|
18.5 |
7 |
|
16.1 |
43 |
And whereas cross pressures aren’t a part of that formulation, these haven’t been Georgia’s robust level both. Per Professional Soccer Focus, Georgia has pressured the quarterback (sack, hit or hurry) on 36.7 % of opponent dropbacks throughout the previous three seasons, twelfth within the FBS throughout that span. However UGA has seen its strain price drop in every of the previous two years:
12 months | % | Nationwide rank |
---|---|---|
2020 |
38.5 |
5 |
2021 |
36.2 |
25 |
2022 |
35.9 |
29 |
Havoc performs weren’t a necessity throughout Georgia’s first run to the nationwide championship recreation, the 2017 season, when it averaged 18.1 havoc performs per recreation, thirty seventh nationally. However issues reached sufficient of a low level the subsequent 12 months — particularly in detrimental performs (sacks and/or tackles for loss), the place Georgia ranked second-least within the SEC — that Good made it an emphasis going into the 2019 season. He opened a information convention earlier than the season speaking about it, and gamers talked about it, however since then, it largely disappeared as a dialog level. Maybe as a result of Georgia’s protection was doing so properly, no less than in opposition to most opponents, that the main target grew to become cease the pass-happy offenses like LSU in 2019, Florida in 2020, Alabama in 2020 and 2021 and Tennessee and Ohio State in 2022.
However havoc price has not disappeared as an emphasis behind the scenes.
“(It’s) simply as excessive because it’s ever been. We emphasize it simply the identical,” Good mentioned after Saturday’s apply. “I believe perhaps it was talked about extra within the media by me and it was an emphasis. It’s nonetheless an emphasis in our place room. We talked about it this morning, we talked about it right now. We talked about it within the scrimmage.”
GO DEEPER
What might determine the Georgia QB battle and 4 different spring observations
Good’s purpose is to have a 20 % havoc price per recreation. Within the first spring scrimmage, the protection was round 14 %, in accordance with Good, and the protection didn’t do properly total. However in final week’s second scrimmage, the speed was “25 or 28 %,” per Good, and the protection obtained the higher of the offense that day.
“It’s an excellent indicator of success and failure on protection, and it type of displays offense, too, as a result of we go in opposition to them,” Good mentioned. “Havoc hasn’t gone anyplace. Havoc remains to be there.”
However then Good talked about a key as to what has modified a bit from 2019 when he first proclaimed its significance.
“It’s a matter of are you able to do it with out giving up explosives?” he mentioned. “As a result of on the expense of explosives, it’s not value it.”
Explosives being massive performs, which Georgia was burned by in nearly each obtrusive loss throughout the previous 4 years. (Nicely, three years, since there have been none final 12 months.) As Georgia confronted extra pass-happy offenses, it grew to become selective in how aggressive it was, which was mirrored not solely in cross pressures and sacks:
12 months | Sacks | Nationwide rank |
---|---|---|
2019 |
31 |
46 |
2020 |
32 |
12 |
2021 |
49 |
4 |
2022 |
35 |
27 |
The significance of sacks, or lack thereof, is proven when evaluating sack ranks to total defensive ranks: USC’s notoriously porous protection was tied for tenth nationally in sacks final 12 months, with 5 greater than Georgia. Louisville led the nation in sacks however was solely twenty ninth nationally in defensive yards per play. Pittsburgh was second in sacks and tied for thirty first in defensive yards per play. Solely two groups had been prime 10 in each sacks and defensive yards per play: Penn State and Troy. Solely seven of the highest 25 in sacks had been additionally within the prime 25 in defensive yards per play.
Sacks are nice once they occur, and nearly all the time derail offensive drives. However the very best defenses solely common 3.85 sacks per recreation, and there are a median of 10 offensive drives per recreation. Defenses want consistency in cross strain, and that’s the place quarterback pressures supply a extra correct indicator. And Georgia has been OK there however not spectacular.
Havoc price additionally doesn’t clarify why Georgia shut down Tennessee however struggled in opposition to Ohio State. It was higher in opposition to Tennessee: 16 % versus 13.6 % in opposition to Ohio State. However that’s not a large hole. (It could clarify the dominance in opposition to TCU, the place Georgia’s havoc price of 23.5 % was a season-best. However the second-worst havoc price of the season was in opposition to Oregon — solely 10.3 %, and but the Geese solely managed three factors.)
GO DEEPER
No certain factor, however Georgia’s protection has an opportunity to be generationally nice once more
That brings us to what was really the energy of final 12 months’s protection. Nicely, there have been two strengths.
Third-down protection: Georgia ranked second within the nation final 12 months, letting opponents convert solely 26.6 % of the time. Solely Marshall was higher.
Crimson-zone protection: Georgia additionally ranked second nationally right here, in landing share (38.2 %) and scoring together with subject targets (67.7 %). The truth is, opponents did worse, normally, the additional they obtained down the sphere.
Georgia yards per play allowed rank:
Yardage | Nationwide rank |
---|---|
Past the 50-yard line |
35 |
21-50 |
10 |
1-20 |
1 |
For all of the emphasis on havoc, Georgia succeeded final 12 months as a result of it was a traditional bend-but-don’t-break protection, excellent for a staff that had an excellent offense. Complementary soccer, as Good usually mentioned.
This 12 months, Georgia has the substances to return to having among the best defenses within the nation. Expertise, returning starters, returning manufacturing. It could possibly carry a much less skilled offense. Which may be one motive Good has continued to evangelise havoc: As a lot because the numbers the previous 4 years are underwhelming, the very best price was that 2021 season, largely due to detrimental performs: 101 out of 969 performs by opponents that season had been a sort out for loss. That was the influence of getting 4 future first-round picks on the line of defense.
That’s additionally maybe why, now with Jalen Carter off to the NFL, Good seemed like this the opposite day when requested in regards to the inside line of defense.
“I be ok with the depth. Do we’ve havoc makers and practice wreckers?” he mentioned. “I don’t know that we’ve obtained that. We now have to attempt to manufacture that.”
Havoc makers and practice wreckers. The phrases of a coach who, 4 years later, remains to be searching for a protection that wreaks havoc.
(Photograph of Warren Brinson (97) : Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)
Georgia
Georgia’s all-time JUCO transfers
Georgia’s all-time JUCO transfers
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia’s lawsuit against the NCAA, claiming a player’s time in junior college should not count towards his overall years of eligibility, was granted an injunction last week. This will allow Pavia, a former JUCO transfer to the Commodores, to pursue another year of eligibility.
The ruling prompted UGASports to attempt to discover Georgia football’s all-time JUCO transfers with the thought of: What if, like Pravia’s, the NCAA playing career of each of Georgia’s nearly 100 (from what we discovered) all-time JUCO transfers could be extended another season or two based on their time attending junior college? In other words, imagine if former JUCO transfers-turned-Georgia stars like Stetson Bennett or Devonte Wyatt had been granted an additional season(s) of eligibility with the Bulldogs because of their time previously spent in junior college.
After scanning over eight decades of newspaper articles, player rosters, and signee listings, we have assembled Georgia football’s all-time JUCO-transfer team, along with a “notable reserve” at most positions. Only those players whose time in junior college counted towards their overall years of eligibility were considered. Players who attended a preparatory school, like Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, which isn’t recognized as counting towards playing eligibility, were not considered. Also not considered were the few Georgia players who briefly attended classes at a junior college but never played football there (like star running backs Tim Worley and Keith Henderson at Northeast Oklahoma A&M in 1987), and therefore did not lose any playing eligibility. Selections were made based on their Georgia playing careers. Listed below each player is his JUCO followed by the seasons he later lettered at Georgia.
All-JUCO-transfer – OFFENSE
Georgia’s All-JUCO offense is headed by Stetson Bennett who, among many other accolades, has to be one of the greatest JUCO transfers in college football history. Also under center is Ken Schulte, who starred at the same JUCO as Bennett in the mid-1950s before coming to Georgia. Schulte, however, could never quite take the Bulldogs’ starting job and finished with only 42 career yards of total offense in 15 plays. Although he did not letter, quarterback Mark McKay of Visalia (Calif.) Junior College was a member of Georgia’s 1980 national championship team. Eventually transferring out of UGA, McKay returned to California where he was a standout at San Diego State in 1982 and 1983.
At running back, transfer Tony Mangram was promptly Georgia’s starting tailback to begin the 1984 season and led the team in rushing through a few games. He was later moved to fullback and started a game at cornerback as a senior in 1985. After rushing for 3,570 yards and 35 touchdowns in two seasons at Merced (Calif.) Junior College, Odell Collins of nearby Jefferson, Georgia, was an instant fan favorite in Athens. Although he totaled just 32 touches as a Bulldog, his final one—a 10-yard touchdown run against Georgia Tech in 1996 on Senior Day—is one to remember with respect to the late Collins.
At wide receiver, Hason Graham totaled 1,834 receiving yards in three seasons. Javon Wims led Georgia’s 2017 national title game team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches. After junior college, Nate Lewis was one of the nation’s top punt returners at Georgia in 1987 before transferring to Oregon Tech and later playing in the NFL for six seasons. Bill Herron, a right end for Georgia in the late 1950s, is slotted at tight end. Although totaling just 15 career catches, Herron’s game-winning touchdown reception from Fran Tarkenton against Auburn in 1959 is still regarded as one of the program’s all-time greatest plays.
Each of the first-team offensive linemen was considered a starter for at least one season at Georgia. After a year at Wake Forest and a year at Ferrum (Va.) Junior College, Joe Happe came to Georgia as one of the program’s first JUCO signees in some time. An offensive guard at Ferrum, Happe was a two-year starting center for the Bulldogs and an All-SEC honoree as a senior in 1981. Although he never qualified academically, offensive tackle Alex Vega deserves mention because of his sheer size. At 373 pounds, Vega remains—30 years after his signing—the heaviest signee in Georgia football history.
The kicker, Brandon Bogotay, served as Georgia’s backup placekicker for three seasons from 2009-2011, scoring 10 points and kicking off a combined 29 times.
All-JUCO-transfer – DEFENSE
When it comes to JUCO transfers, you could say that Georgia is “Defensive Lineman U.” Headed by first-round pick Devonte Wyatt, 12-year tackle Jason Ferguson, and current long-time veteran John Jenkins, nearly every defensive lineman listed played multiple seasons in the NFL. Other JUCO-transfer defensive linemen also worthy of mention include Toby Johnson, Chris Mayes, and Jermaine Johnson.
At linebacker, it’s head shaking to think of either Odell Thurman, Dwayne Simmons, or Kendrell Bell getting a season or two added to what were already spectacular careers. Each could be defensively dominant and take over a game. Rich Robich was an interesting case of a recruit who signed and played for Ole Miss as a true freshman (and made tackles vs. Georgia) in 1994, transferred to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College in 1995, transferred to Georgia in 1996 when he was redshirted, before playing a significant reserve role for the Bulldogs in 1997 and 1998 (and made tackles vs. Ole Miss).
Georgia’s effort in the early 1980s to recruit the West Coast for quick JUCO defensive backs and wide receivers ultimately landed secondary standouts Ronnie Harris and Jeff Sanchez. A first-team All-American as a senior in 1984, Sanchez earned first-team All-SEC honors for each of his two seasons at Georgia. Ben Smith was a terrorizing “hit man” as a cornerback before being moved to safety as a senior when he intercepted 10 passes. Worthy of mention because of his nickname alone, “The Hit Man,” Jakar Hamilton was a part-time starter for Georgia in 2010 before transferring to South Carolina State and later appearing in the NFL.
What do you think of our listing of Georgia’s all-time JUCO transfers? Who did we miss?
Georgia
New Year's Eve celebrations & dining in North Georgia | 2024-2025
NORTH GEORGIA – Ring in the New Year in style with an array of exciting celebrations across North Georgia! There’s something for everyone to enjoy. Whether you’re looking for a glamorous night out or a unique way to welcome 2025, these top picks will help you make the most of New Year’s Eve.
FAYETTE COUNTY
Trilith Guest House – Prologue Dining & Drinks
When: 5-10 p.m., Dec. 31
Where: 350 Trilith Parkway, Fayetteville
What: Savor a four-course dinner featuring dishes like seared scallops, cowboy ribeye, and decadent desserts. Afterward, toast to 2025 at Oliver’s Twist Bar & View on the rooftop.
How Much: $95 per adult, $55 per child 12 and under
Reservations
FORSYTH COUNTY
NYE Forsythia Ball Drop
When: Dec. 31, 8 p.m.–midnight
Where: Forsyth Courthouse Square
What: Family-friendly celebration with food trucks, music, games, and a Forsythia ball drop.
How Much: Free
More Info
All NYE Lists
If you would like to submit an item to be added to a list, please send an email to joyce.lupiani@fox.com.
Georgia
Texas ran all over Clemson, and the Longhorns may have Georgia to thank for that
AUSTIN — Yeah, yeah, sure. Georgia has beaten Texas twice already this year. The Bulldogs have done their best to ruin a perfectly good season on the Forty Acres. If not for Georgia, well, Texas wouldn’t even have had to go to work Saturday.
But hear us out: Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.
After all, Texas got another Bevo Walk, one more time for an experienced senior class to soak in the atmosphere of 101,150 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. It gave the Longhorns one more opportunity to hear Matthew McConaughey get weird on the sound system. Most importantly, it gave the Longhorns another opportunity to get back to what they actually do really well: Run the damn ball.
In a 38-24 win over Clemson in the first round of the College Football Playoff, Texas outmuscled and then outran the overmatched Tigers defense for a season-high 292 yards and four touchdowns. Texas will take its regrouped ground game back to Atlanta, site of the most recent loss to Georgia, to play Arizona State in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on Jan. 1.
Texas split things up pretty evenly: Quintrevion Wisner and Jaydon Blue each got two. Wisner did most of the hard running early; Blue — who had touchdown runs of 38 and 77 yards, the latter coming after Clemson had closed within one score — did the speed work. End of the night: Blue had 146 yards, Wisner, who didn’t play in the fourth quarter to rest a knee he “banged” late in the first half, had 110.
It was, in a lot of ways, just like coach Steve Sarkisian drew it up after Georgia held the Longhorns to 31 yards 10 days ago in a 22-19 overtime loss in the SEC Championship.
“One of the first bullet points I put up in the room was ‘run to win,’” Sarkisian said of his workweek message to his team. “We needed to run to win this game. And we’re going to need to run the football to advance in these playoffs. That’s what playoff football is about. So, we really challenged them on the run game.”
They responded. Just as they did the first time Georgia beat them back in October and held the running game to 29 yards. Texas followed that up with three 200-plus-yard games on the ground in the five games ‘twixt Georgia meetings.
Against Clemson, it was important to demonstrate that the issue was just a Georgia thing. Clemson was the perfect opponent for Texas to reestablish the ground game. Clemson entered the playoff ranked 73rd in the country — last among the playoff teams — in run defense. There was a weakness to exploit and eventually a message to send to the rest of the remaining playoff field: Sarkisian may have been a quarterback once and may remain a quarterback at heart, but Texas will run to win. Arizona State, consider your Sun Devils warned.
“The run game is really important for us on a lot of levels,” Sarkisian said. “One, our offense is better when we can run it, because then the balance can really kick in for us. It opens up a lot that we do. When we can run it effectively, teams have to prepare for a lot when they’re getting ready to play us.”
On Saturday, this is how effective Texas’ running game was: It literally didn’t matter who was where on the offensive line. Texas got left tackle Kelvin Banks, who missed the SEC championship game, back Saturday, but lost center Jake Majors and right tackle Cameron Williams on successive plays late in the first half. Guard Hayden Conner moved over to center and Cole Hutson moved into the offensive line, which was jumbled to say the least. Worked good enough to spring Blue on a 77-yard TD run through the right side three plays after Clemson had cut a onetime 28-10 lead to 31-24. On both of Blue’s long touchdown runs, Ewers had checked off a pass play after reading the Clemson defensive set.
It was also good vindication for Blue, who dealt with issues holding on to the ball earlier this season, and had fallen into more of a secondary role to Wisner.
“The guys up front, those guys paved the way for me,” Blue said. “We made a big emphasis that we’re going to have to run the ball in order to win this game.”
For that, Texas can somehow thank Georgia for the reminder.
So far, so good: See photos from Texas’ first-round College Football Playoff win over Clemson in Austin
Find more Texas coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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