Unit Breakdown: Georgia Defense
As the Capital One Bowl approaches, we continue our coverage with a unit-by-unit break down of each team. We start off with the Dawgs’ Defense.
National Rankings
- Total Defense: 27th
- Scoring Defense: 16th
- Rushing Defense: 80th
- Passing Defense: 8th
Conference Rankings
- Total Defense: 6th
- Scoring Defense: 6th
- Rushing Defense: 12th
- Passing Defense: 2nd
Play of the Year
OLB Jarvis Jones-Florida vs. Georgia
With 2 minutes left in the game and Florida driving, Jarvis Jones punches the ball out of Florida TE Jordan Reed just three yards away from the end zone, securing the 17-9 win and ultimately the SEC East. Jones finished the game with 13 tackles, three sacks and two forced fumbles.
Impact Players:
OLB Jarvis Jones- The Georgia defense is led by first team All-American and SEC defensive player of the year, Jarvis Jones. Jones led the nation in forced fumbles with seven, was second in the SEC in sacks with 12.5 (fourth in the nation) and led the nation in tackles for loss with 22.5. At 6 foot-2, 242 pounds and with a knack for making big plays, Jones has NFL Scouts drooling and some experts are predicting Jones to go number one overall in the upcoming NFL draft.
ILB Alec Ogletree- Ogletree led the team in tackles with 98 (sixth in the SEC) and averaged almost 11 tackles per game. Ogletree finished the year with 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one interception. Some experts say Ogletree has first round talent and could possibly develop into a Brian Urlacher-type player.
S Bacarri Rambo- A 2011 AP All-American and a 2012 second team AP All-SEC player, Rambo led the team in interceptions with three (T-7th in the SEC). Rambo also tied for fifth in the SEC forcing three fumbles.
DT John Jenkins- With a deadly combination of power and quickness, Jenkins has the potential to wreak havoc on opposing teams’ offensive line. Jenkins has recorded 50 tackles this season, with two tackles for a loss and one sack. Some experts say that Jenkins could be a first round pick as well.
Team Stats:
- Allowed an average of 18.8 points per game
- Allowed an average of 178 rushing yards per game
- Allowed an average of 174 passing yards per game
- Allowed an average of 351 total yards per game
Notes:
- The Bulldogs defense improved as the season went on. In August and September, the Dawgs’ defense allowed an average of 370 yards per game and ranked 10th in the SEC in total Defense. In October, the Dawgs’ defense allowed an average of 329 yards per game and ranked eighth in the SEC. In November, Georgia allowed an average of 305 yards per game and ranked third in the SEC.
- The Georgia passing defense that ranked 10th in the SEC in August and September ranked second in the SEC in October and first in the SEC in November.
- Georgia could possibly produce four first round defensive players in the 2013 NFL draft.
- Georgia defense held rivals Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech to 10 points or less in each matchup, including a shutout against Auburn and 17-9 victory against Florida.