Defense Wins Championships

I discussed the offense earlier and stated very boldly that they will outshine the defense in 2007. By no means is the Dawgs defense going to be shoddy. Defensive Coordinator Willie Martinez has found his groove.

Granted, we lost both defensive ends, Quentin Moses and Charles Johnson. But you knew right after the Chick Fil A Bowl that Johnson was going pro. He’s such a badass, he tackled everybody but the referees. We also lost two sturdy linebackers (Jarvis Jackson, Danny Verdun Wheeler) and one SUPER linebacker – Tony Taylor, who led all linebackers nationally with seven interceptions. And I’ll even miss uber-firey safety Tra Battle. He was unafraid to take on anybody, including coaches. But there are young players to step in at each position.

Most people agree the biggest question mark will be the linebackers. Brandon Miller is coming back for his senior year (was he REALLY contemplating going pro?). It’s time for him to produce. Even though his size (and pleas from the Bulldog nation) suits him for defensive end, his insistence to play linebacker has been rewarded by moving him to the middle. I hope he and the coaches know what they’re doing, but Marcus Washington has experience just in case. In fact, I feel better about the sam and will positions. Darius Dewberry and Dannell Ellerbe are poised to take over on each side and both are faster than their predecessors (as long as Ellerbe gets his own vehicle). I’m not even sure those guys will be starting at the end of the year. The two Akeems (Hebron and Dent) are machines according to reports, so there’s plenty of depth there.

Jeff Owens and Kade Weston are the two tackles and I just love what I see from each of those guys. They have the young, but talented Geno Atkins and Ricardo Crawford to rotate in. It may seem that there will be a drop off at DE considering how formidable Moses and Johnson were, but they didn’t really come around until late in the season. It just may take awhile to figure out who will step up there. Outside of undersized Marcus Howard (222 lbs) and Jeremy Lomax (230 lbs), there are some young guns who will fight it out, though you’d have to give the edge to Roderick Battle (playing time) and JUCO transfer Jarius Wynn (he’s just a hoss).

In the secondary, cornerback Paul Oliver will be a man among boys. You can leave him one on one with the best there is and not worry. The other corner will be manned by Bryan Evans, who came on late in the season when Remarcus Brown was having issues (ie. getting beaten despite his speed). Kelin Johsnon and CJ Byrd will probably start at the safety spots, though most think redshirt freshmen Quintin Banks and Reshad Jones are primed to be the best safety tandem EVER.

I have no idea who will punt. Brian Mimbs is listed as the starter, but we’ll find out just how good incoming freshman and Georgia legacy Drew Butler really is. And in 2005, Thomas Flowers did a heck of a job returning punts until he got hurt. Then Mikey Henderson did a phenomenal job in 2006. We all know how nice it is to have depth in special teams.

This defense could turn out to be great. Or they could take seven games to find a rhythm. Which wouldn’t be horrible because we play the Gators in the eighth game.