It’s football season, and today continues a series where I preview the Georgia Bulldogs position by position. Today’s section focuses on the defensive backs.
Inconsistent and young a year ago, the defensive backs enter the 2011 season as one of the most experienced units on the Georgia Bulldogs roster
2010 Recap
Starting safety Bacarri Rambo finished second on the team in tackles and lead the secondary with 82 tackles during his sophomore season.
Rambo also finished with three interceptions, which tied the team lead with cornerback Brandon Boykin and cornerback Sanders Commings.
Boykin started 12 games last year, following his Sophomore season where he also started 12 games. He is also the lone senior in the Bulldogs’ secondary this year.
Cornerback Branden Smith made eight starts during his sophomore season, adding eight interceptions and 17 tackles.
Alec Ogletree started the last four games of the season at strong safety, but during the off-season, he made the transition to inside linebacker.
2011 Outlook
The reason the secondary will be better this year, isn’t because they return starters at every position, along with key backups. But because the defensive line will be much better.
But why will a unit that plays 15-20 yards behind them be better?
Because with the addition of John Jenkins and emergence of Kwame Geathers during spring practice, the Bulldogs added the most important piece of the 3-4 defense, the nose guard.
With Jenkins and Geathers at nose, that means the defense will be able to defend the run more effectively, and get to the quarterback faster creating coverage sacks.
Cornerbacks Boykin and Commings will start, but junior Branden Smith is competiting for a starting job. Even if he doesn’t start, he will get on the field a lot as the nickel defensive back.
Commings is also working at safety during fall practices. Richt said that he will continue to practice both spots, because some games he will play corner, and other games where he will play safety.
The two starting safety spots will be junior Bacarri Rambo and junior Shawn Williams. If one of them were to go down, Commings might come over to safety, or senior Jakar Hamilton would step in. Redshirt freshman Marc Deas is also in the mix.
The starting secondary is comprised of all juniors and the lone senior Boykin. Boykin, Smith, Commings, Williams and Rambo have combined for 57 career starts, Boykin leads with 57.
With all the experience at this position, the secondary should play very well this upcoming season, but the main reason why they will be better is the two 350 pound mountains that will play in the trenches.
