BAMANEWSBOT
Staff
New Georgia defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt was hired away from national champion Florida State to fix a unit that was a mere 10th in the SEC in scoring defense last season, a stat that would seem to indicate that the Bulldogs defense might need a personnel overhaul.
Not necessarily. In many ways, the pieces are in place for Pruitt to get a lot out of his first defense.
Back are 10 starters, most notably a group of linebackers that are, without question, the most accomplished group in the SEC.
Pruitt said during his introductory press conference that he wished for Georgia's defense to remain in the 3-4 base it was in last year under Todd Grantham, but it would be versatile with the goal to "get the best players on the field."
That's good news for the linebackers. Led by Ramik Wilson, the leading tackler in the SEC last year who I projected as the best individual linebacker in the SEC for 2014 (you can still vote in the poll until Friday morning), Georgia has four returning starters who piled up impressive statistics last year. If putting the best players on the field will be Pruitt's barometer, the Bulldogs will have a lot of linebacker-heavy packages set to go this season.
What linebacker units might rival Georgia's as the best in the SEC this season? Here are five to watch, starting with the Bulldogs:
1. Georgia (4 returning starters)
Wilson had 133 tackles last season, 20 more than the next most prolific tackler in the league, but he's far from the only Bulldogs linebacker to put up big numbers.
Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins were about as productive a pair of 3-4 outside linebackers as you'll find. They combined for 21.5 tackles for loss, including 11.5 sacks. Throw in the fact that Amario Herrera, who had 112 tackles lined up next to Wilson, is also back, and it's hard to find a more proven group of linebackers anywhere.
2. South Carolina (3 returning starters)
You can actually say the Gamecocks have four returning starters. Skai Moore started four games as a freshman and led the team with 56 tackles to earn Freshman All-SEC accolades and some freshman All-American attention.
Moore and Marcquis Roberts (48 tackles) split time on the weak side and both return. There won't be room to move one to another position as both starting middle linebacker Kaiwan Lewis (54 tackles) and backup T.J. Holloway return, as does "spur" Sharrod Golightly, a third-team All-SEC pick who plays a hybrid linebacker/safety role.
3. Auburn (1.5 returning starters)
OK, this comes with an asterisk. Robenson Therezie (57 tackles, 4 interceptions) plays the "star" position, a spot like the South Carolina "spur" that's a hybrid linebacker/defensive back position. If you count Therezie as a linebacker -- and some think you should given how much the "star" plays near the line of scrimmage in run support -- then Auburn has quite a returning tandem with Therezie and returning weakside linebacker Cassanova McKinzy, who had a team-high 75 tackles last season.
New starter Kris Frost (59 tackles) did not start at middle linebacker last season, but he actually had more production than departed starter Jake Holland (46 tackles), so the Tigers should be solid there.
4. Florida (3 returning starters)
After its season unraveled with seven straight losses following a 4-1 start, it's easy to forget that until things really got out of hand Florida had a defense that rivaled Alabama's as the best in the league.
As injuries piled up and the anemic offense did less and less to help, Florida's statistics slipped in the season's second half, but the Gators were still second in the SEC in total defense (314 yards per game). That all three linebackers are back from that defense bodes well for Florida.
Middle linebacker Antonio Morrison (56 tackles) would have been the Gators' leading tackler had he not missed a third of the Gators' games because of injury. Instead, weakside linebacker Michael Taylor (62) led the team. Also back is starting strong linebacker Neiron Ball.
5. LSU (2 returning starters)
Under defensive coordinator John Chavis, LSU has always had good linebacker play and this year should be no exception. Lamin Barrow (91 tackles) departs but the Tigers return starting middle linebacker D.J. Welter (80 tackles) and outside linebacker Kwon Alexander (65 tackles, 6.5 per loss). There's talk that highly-regarded sophomore Kendell Beckwith might push Welter for the middle linebacker spot, or move into the spot vacated by Barrow.
Others: Alabama lost two NFL-quality linebackers, including SEC co-defensive MVP C.J. Mosley, but the Tide still has talent back, including highly-regarded senior Trey DePriest. ... Mississippi State has two solid linebackers returning, including one of the league's best in Benardrick Wells. ... When 2012 freshman All-American Denzel Nkemdiche was injured early in the 2013 season, Serderius Bryant stepped up into his spot and was also productive and both wound up having good seasons. Here's the problem: Both are small linebackers, so it's not likely that they'll play as a tandem and both are in trouble. Nkemdiche is suspended for the spring and the season opener because of an off-field incident and Bryant has also been in trouble off the field. ... Tennessee returns All-SEC linebacker A.J. Johnson, but has to replace its other starters. ... Arkansas struggled on defense last year, but it does return three starters.
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Not necessarily. In many ways, the pieces are in place for Pruitt to get a lot out of his first defense.
Back are 10 starters, most notably a group of linebackers that are, without question, the most accomplished group in the SEC.
Pruitt said during his introductory press conference that he wished for Georgia's defense to remain in the 3-4 base it was in last year under Todd Grantham, but it would be versatile with the goal to "get the best players on the field."
That's good news for the linebackers. Led by Ramik Wilson, the leading tackler in the SEC last year who I projected as the best individual linebacker in the SEC for 2014 (you can still vote in the poll until Friday morning), Georgia has four returning starters who piled up impressive statistics last year. If putting the best players on the field will be Pruitt's barometer, the Bulldogs will have a lot of linebacker-heavy packages set to go this season.
What linebacker units might rival Georgia's as the best in the SEC this season? Here are five to watch, starting with the Bulldogs:
1. Georgia (4 returning starters)
Wilson had 133 tackles last season, 20 more than the next most prolific tackler in the league, but he's far from the only Bulldogs linebacker to put up big numbers.
Leonard Floyd and Jordan Jenkins were about as productive a pair of 3-4 outside linebackers as you'll find. They combined for 21.5 tackles for loss, including 11.5 sacks. Throw in the fact that Amario Herrera, who had 112 tackles lined up next to Wilson, is also back, and it's hard to find a more proven group of linebackers anywhere.
2. South Carolina (3 returning starters)
You can actually say the Gamecocks have four returning starters. Skai Moore started four games as a freshman and led the team with 56 tackles to earn Freshman All-SEC accolades and some freshman All-American attention.
Moore and Marcquis Roberts (48 tackles) split time on the weak side and both return. There won't be room to move one to another position as both starting middle linebacker Kaiwan Lewis (54 tackles) and backup T.J. Holloway return, as does "spur" Sharrod Golightly, a third-team All-SEC pick who plays a hybrid linebacker/safety role.
3. Auburn (1.5 returning starters)
OK, this comes with an asterisk. Robenson Therezie (57 tackles, 4 interceptions) plays the "star" position, a spot like the South Carolina "spur" that's a hybrid linebacker/defensive back position. If you count Therezie as a linebacker -- and some think you should given how much the "star" plays near the line of scrimmage in run support -- then Auburn has quite a returning tandem with Therezie and returning weakside linebacker Cassanova McKinzy, who had a team-high 75 tackles last season.
New starter Kris Frost (59 tackles) did not start at middle linebacker last season, but he actually had more production than departed starter Jake Holland (46 tackles), so the Tigers should be solid there.
4. Florida (3 returning starters)
After its season unraveled with seven straight losses following a 4-1 start, it's easy to forget that until things really got out of hand Florida had a defense that rivaled Alabama's as the best in the league.
As injuries piled up and the anemic offense did less and less to help, Florida's statistics slipped in the season's second half, but the Gators were still second in the SEC in total defense (314 yards per game). That all three linebackers are back from that defense bodes well for Florida.
Middle linebacker Antonio Morrison (56 tackles) would have been the Gators' leading tackler had he not missed a third of the Gators' games because of injury. Instead, weakside linebacker Michael Taylor (62) led the team. Also back is starting strong linebacker Neiron Ball.
5. LSU (2 returning starters)
Under defensive coordinator John Chavis, LSU has always had good linebacker play and this year should be no exception. Lamin Barrow (91 tackles) departs but the Tigers return starting middle linebacker D.J. Welter (80 tackles) and outside linebacker Kwon Alexander (65 tackles, 6.5 per loss). There's talk that highly-regarded sophomore Kendell Beckwith might push Welter for the middle linebacker spot, or move into the spot vacated by Barrow.
Others: Alabama lost two NFL-quality linebackers, including SEC co-defensive MVP C.J. Mosley, but the Tide still has talent back, including highly-regarded senior Trey DePriest. ... Mississippi State has two solid linebackers returning, including one of the league's best in Benardrick Wells. ... When 2012 freshman All-American Denzel Nkemdiche was injured early in the 2013 season, Serderius Bryant stepped up into his spot and was also productive and both wound up having good seasons. Here's the problem: Both are small linebackers, so it's not likely that they'll play as a tandem and both are in trouble. Nkemdiche is suspended for the spring and the season opener because of an off-field incident and Bryant has also been in trouble off the field. ... Tennessee returns All-SEC linebacker A.J. Johnson, but has to replace its other starters. ... Arkansas struggled on defense last year, but it does return three starters.
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