FOOTBALL
Coach Mark Richt
On the Georgia team drawing inspiration from Erk Russell’s death in 2006 and how it compares to Larry Munson’s death…
“We are going to honor his memory at the ballgame with a decal on our helmet. We have a pretty good look at what it’s going to look like. It wasn’t quite what we were working on, but it will be something that will be very recognizable and obvious that we are honoring him. The thing that’s a little bit different with our guys in their relationship to Erk Russell is that we invited him to come my first year. He spoke to the team, but he also spoke to the defense.”
“There was a time where not only that group got to hear him, but we kept the video of it. From time to time we would show it to the defense, more so than the offense, because he was really talking about what he did with the defense. Our guys knew who Erk Russell was. They might not have been sitting in the room when he was there in person, but just about every defensive player that has come through here has seen the video. I don’t remember the last time we have seen it, but it’s probably time to pull the thing out. I think they felt like they had some type of a relationship. Some of the guys knew a lot about Larry Munson, and some of the guys didn’t know a whole lot about Larry Munson just by virtue of the fact that they’re young and may not have been a Bulldog fan before they came to Georgia. Our players are very well aware of who he is now. We talked a little bit about him after practice yesterday just to make sure everybody knew who he was and what he meant to Georgia football.”
On facing Georgia Tech’s offense for the second time under UGA defensive coordinator Todd Grantham…
“I think the second time through is very helpful for Coach Grantham, our players and this system itself. I think it should help, but you still have to slow it down.”
On Georgia’s defensive improvement from a year ago…
“One of the biggest statistics was third down defensive efficiency, getting people off the field on third down. If you remember a year ago we were not very good at all at that. I can’t tell you how many times we got people in third and long, then they made it. We’ve gotten those third down stops and that changes everything. You look at our time of possession, part of it is the offense being proficient and doing well, but part of it is the defense getting off the field, a lot more three and outs. If you get a first down and go again, maybe the second time you are out of there on third down where before people had some fairly long, sustained drives on us because we just couldn’t get off the field on third down. By far that’s the one stat that has made the biggest difference along with the turnover ratio, the amount of takeaways. Those are the two that hit me the most.”
“Todd spent a year in college again. In college you defend so many offenses compared to what you defend in the NFL. In the NFL everybody is a lot alike. There are a few differences here and there, but they are a lot more common than not, and in college it’s just vast the different types of offenses you have to defend and gain experience with your players and your system against it. I think a lot of guys got bigger, stronger, faster. I think a lot of guys grew up. We got a lot of people in the right spots. Even the coaches besides Coach Grantham understand what we are doing, because Todd was teaching everybody.”
On Georgia’s run defense facing Georgia Tech…
“I don’t think it matters what you are ranked against the rush when it comes to playing Georgia Tech’s offense. If you played Georgia Tech, Navy and Georgia Southern, you aren’t going to lead the nation in rush defense. That’s what they do and they do it so well. The teams that we’ve been playing are a little bit more common in what they are doing, you can call it conventional or whatever you want. The types of running game that we’ve seen we’ve stopped extremely well, but the type of running game we are about to see is not the same and the percentage of run-pass is very different. If you are going to average ‘X’ amount of yards per game, and historically 80 percent of your total is rushing, even on a bad day they are going to rush for 250. If you give up 250 rushing you think it’s horrible if you are trying to lead the world in rush defense. There is no correlation between that stat, in my opinion, to try to make some kind of prediction.”
On Georgia Tech’s Tevin Washington…
“He became the starter late in the season. I’m sure those games helped him go into this season and be more prepared. He kind of hit the ground running. If you remember those first two or three games were just phenomenal the amount of yards and the amount of points and the passing game that went along with the running game. It was very scary to see. He is a whole lot better now than he was a year ago just by virtue of the fact that he’s had that experience.”
On the advantage of preparing for the SEC Championship with the Georgia Tech game being at noon…
“If we have a noon game, I probably should relax and enjoy it, but I watch the coaches’ copy of the offense, defense and kicking. I actually get a chance to even look a tad bit of the next opponent. That’s usually what you do on the next day. So I get to knock out a lot of that stuff personally, which allows me on Sunday to really dig in to the opponent, instead of spending Sunday trying to clean up what happened on Saturday. I think all the coaches would take advantage of that time. We aren’t worried at all about it because we don’t even know who the heck we are playing. We are truly digging in on this one.”
On Jarvis Jones being named a finalist for the Butkus Award…
“I’m not surprised that he’s a finalist for any award. Of course with his performance, if you watch him, you would think he deserves to be in the mix. People around the country look at stats and compare. When you lead the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss, it draws attention to you, and also the fact that we’ve been winning lately I think helps, and what the defense has done as a whole. All those things help. I’m not surprised by that at all.”
On Branden Smith…
“Most of the snaps he’s had for us have been defensively. He’s done a nice job with that. He’s been the kick returner and the punt returner at different times. He’s had a few offensive plays here and there that have been outstanding for us. Certainly defense is where he’s had the most impact for us.”
On Quintavious Harrow…
“I’m really proud of him because he really has made a name for himself. When we looked at him we felt like at the very least he would be a great special teams player. He is what you’ve seen. He runs very fast and he’s fearless; he’s tough. He’s a football player, and that’s the greatest compliment you can give a guy. Right now, just like a lot of rookies in the NFL, they make the club because they are a special teamer. They make plays in the special teams which gives the position coaches confidence that they’re a tough football player, they’re reliable and we need to get this guy some reps. I’m sure in the spring he’ll be seen a little bit differently than just some redshirt freshmen who didn’t play a snap. He’s a guy who will be seen as a guy who has made big plays in big games and proved he’ll hit you and proved he’s a tough football player.
On Thanksgiving plans for Georgia’s players…
“A lot of them go to Rodney Garner’s, but there are a lot of teammates who take teammates home with them. Coach Garner’s family has been gracious to bring a bunch of the guys over there, whoever wants to come. All the coaches’ homes are open to the players. I think once that Garner meal got rolling, guys got excited about that, so a lot of them go there. I think it’s a tribute to Rodney and Kim Garner to open their home to those guys.”
Safety Bacarri Rambo
On defending the triple option…
“We have to play assignment football. If one person misses an assignment, then Georgia Tech will have the chance to make big plays. Everyone needs to do their job, stay focused, run to the ball and play full speed.”
On playing Georgia Tech…
“We always get excited when we play Georgia Tech. We have to go out and handle business. Everyone is really excited this week.”
On being from Georgia and playing in this rivalry…
“It means a lot to play an in-state rival being from Georgia. I got recruited by Georgia Tech so that adds something to do. I’m just glad to be around these guys. We’re going to go out there and take care of business on Saturday.”
On winning for the seniors…
“We want our seniors to have the chance to have the Governor’s Cup for their senior year. We’re going to go out and have fun with the seniors on the team and hopefully come back with a win.”
Linebacker Christian Robinson
On the rivalry…
“It’s a big in-state rivalry. It’s a good week to play football at Georgia. There is a lot riding on this game and the team is ready.”
On being from Georgia and playing in this rivalry…
“This rivalry means everything to me, being from Georgia. If we lose, then I know that I will be hearing about it from the Tech fans that I go to church with. That’s a big reason that we’re so motivated to win this game. I know for me personally, that’s adds to the excitement.”
On preparing for Georgia Tech’s offense…
“We’ve been focusing on the fundamentals of football, cut blocks and things like that. Georgia Tech’s offense is nothing like any other team we play this year. It’s going to be physical game and we have to be physical with them.”
On playing in the last regular-season game…
“This is the last chance for our seniors to play in the game and we want to send them out with the Governor’s Cup. That is a big thing for us. We want the seniors to remember that they were able to beat a lot of teams that people said we couldn’t beat.”
No comments:
Post a Comment