From Grantham:
"I would like to thank Coach Mark Richt and Damon Evans for the opportunity for myself and my family to be part of the University of Georgia community," said Grantham. "I'm very excited about being part of a staff that will work tremendously hard to return Georgia football to one of the premier teams in the SEC. To the fans and boosters of the University of Georgia, I understand the passion and standard of excellence expected. I look forward to developing an aggressive, physical, attacking style defense that offenses will not look forward to playing against." (emphasis added)From Richt
"I'm excited the search is over, we have our man, and look forward to what Todd will bring to our defense, our team, and our University," said Richt. "I think it is particularly valuable that he has a wealth of experience on the defensive side of the ball at both the NFL and collegiate levels. Now we look forward to moving ahead with the home stretch of recruiting, finishing out the defensive staff, and getting ready for spring practice."The hire has been growing on me the past few days. Especially as it comes out that he was recommended for the job by Frank Beamer and Nick Saban. He's good enough that Saban heavily pursued him to be DC for the Dolphins. Those are directionally good signs.
During his career Grantham has worked under several successful head coaches and defensive coordinators on both the pro and college levels including Frank Beamer and Bud Foster at Virginia Tech, Nick Saban at Michigan State, Romeo Crennel at Cleveland, Dom Capers at Houston, and Wade Phillips at Dallas.
More later. In meetings all day.
BTW -- Don't rejoice over the Cutcliffe rejection notice for UT. If the rumors I'm hearing are true, the Vols could end up with someone better than Cutcliffe (Duke), Calhoun (Air Force) or Kiffin. We'll see how this all shakes out. Hopefully, it ends badly for them.
In 1989, Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry (among others) turned down the UGA job, and we ended up with Ray Goff. That's the scenario we want for the Vols. Not the 2001 scenario where the conversations don't work out with Chan Gailey so we ended up with Mark Richt. You never know how these coaching searches will turn out.
Update -- I was asked in the comments to elaborate on what we were hearing re: UT...multiple sources are now saying that Kyle Whittingham was the runner-up for the UT hire behind Derek Dooley who got the job. The Whittingham rumor was the one we heard from multiple sources yesterday, and that was the one that worried me a little. I am certainly not worried about Derek Dooley. More on that later.
PWD
48 comments:
With all of the qualified college defensive coordinators out there, the best that Mark Richt can do is a pro coach who was a coordinator for only three years before getting fired?
Whenever I've heard Todd Grantham's name the past few weeks, it reminds me of Marion Campbell in 1994. And, that didn't turn out well.
Hopefully, I'll be proven wrong.
CONFIRMED - georgiadogs.com
GATA!
CarolinaDawg,
He's no Marion Campbell. Campbell was a 120 years old when Goof hired him.
In the NFL, a defensive coordinator can't pick his talent. If his top 3 needs are a DT, CB and MLB, the team might draft a WR, QB and Kicker before they get to his problems.
And it's awfully hard to find a coach that hasn't been fired somewhere.
Beats the hell out of Herring or Diaz. Personally, I'm more intrigued by the hire than Groh.
PWD
I always forget we went after Gailey. *Shudder* That could have been HORRRRRRRRIBLE.
Someone should tell UT that they can still keep it in the Vol "family" if they offer the job to Randy Sanders.
Our PR spin on this of course is that although Kirby spurned us for Saban, Grantham Spurned Saban for CLEVELAND
No matter who CMR hired, there are some who are going to dump on the decision. It could have been a clone of Erk Russell, Buddy Ryan or Dick LeBeau and there would be post lamenting that it was a bad decision. I have an idea, how about we give it some time and see how it plays out.
How about sharing those rumors? Just for fun.
Romeo Crennel was fired by the Cleveland Browns ... I kinda think he's a pretty good ocach ...
BTW, the year after the GM in CLE fired Grantham, he too was fired.
This is a solid hire and although not as "sexy" as Kirby it's will likely prove to be better in the long run. Going to a 3-4 that attacks is very marketable to recruits. It's a risk-reward defense, but it worked out good for Bama last year.
I'm just glad it's over. If Richt likes the guy, that's good enough for now. The proof will be in the pudding. Anything is better than what we've seen the past few years.
"I always forget we went after Gailey."
Did we really? I was overseas during that search, and thank God. I would have been horrified to learn we were seriously considering Chan Gailey.
perhaps UT should go after Gailey...that would be DIVINE!
Who did you hear it may be for UT that would be better?
Let's get it on! GATA. I am ready for SPRING.
Spill the bens. Who is TN looking at that worries you....
I'm waiting for a new defensive coach to talk about developing a passive, mental, soft-shell style defense that offenses will not look forward to playing against.
Lovie Smith is who the Vol posters and ESPN are talking about. I'm not sure how great a hire he would be. He's had 2 good seasons three years ago as an HC and is 52-44 overall.
Some Vol posters last nite were campaigning for Jim Mora, Jr. It's like they've learned nothing.
Time will tell if this hire works out, but I'm a bit surprised at 750K a year. For a former NFL d-line coach who hasn't coached in college for a decade? Is that salary the going rate now in the SEC for a coordinator?
REALLY excited about this. The guy has a proven track record. Could turn out to the best decision CMR has ever made.
Out of all the pro names being tossed around, I like Grantham's the best. Youth, experience, good stats and a proven product on the field all make me glad this is Grantham instead of Herring or Sanders.
All in all, I'm excited about this hire and looking forward to hearing who the staff will be and how they'll structure this defense.
I preferred to have someone with more experience going up against spread offenses on a regular basis. Is this not a legitimate concern?
Personally I think UT would be wise to bring back the "Claw-fense" as head coach.
Oh yeah! I love it! Better to over pay for proven NFL talent than unproven collegiate talent...IMO! This is the beginning of great things to come!
I know you don't usually go in for the rumor mongering, but can you give a hint as to who the orange creamsicle mess is looking to? Since my wife went to UF and me UGA the UT misery is the one thing we both agree on.
WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!
This was the name I was most excited for all along.
GO DAWGS!
Looks like Derek Dooley will be the guy at Tennessee. A shame.
I love this decision.
3-4
3-4
3-4
3-4
3-4
3-4!!!!!!
AGRESSIVE ATTACKING DEFENSE!
GATA
So....how do we rank this hire? Based on his experience, he seems like a worthy candidate to me.
"I look forward to developing an aggressive, physical, attacking style defense that offenses will not look forward to playing against."
God I hope this becomes a reality. It'd be nice to have an aggressive defense again.
Grantham wasn't exactly a bust in Cleveland. In his three years as DC, the Browns defense ranked 11, 12, and 16 in PPG--so he was in the top half of the league every year.
In contrast, Brian van Gorder's Falcons ranked 18 and 24 in his two years as DC in Atlanta--meaning Grantham's worst year was better than BVG's best year. I think we'd all agree BVG was a pretty decent DC at UGA, so perhaps Grantham will be just as good.
I wouldn't make too much out of these rankings, and I'm certainly don't think these stats prove Grantham is a better DC than BVG--there are just too many variables. I think it does prove that Grantham's results as a DC in the NFL shouldn't be of much concern, though.
No idea what to think of Dooley to UT.
I am hearing that Derek Dooley to the Vols.
You said it fishwater...
The thing for every Georgia fan to do here is to welcome Todd Grantham to the Bulldog Family, support the team and the coaches, and get to the games before rushing to judgment.
USC fan hated Pete Carroll when he was hired (as choice number what? 4? 5?) Now, do you think they are glad to see him go?
The splash this hire makes isn't today or tomorrow. It's on September 11th and 18th, on October 9th and 30th, and on November 13th and 27th.
Derek Dooley is Tennessee's top choice, according to ESPN, although Houston's Kevin Sumlin remains a possibility.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4829107
"In contrast, Brian van Gorder's Falcons ranked 18 and 24 in his two years as DC in Atlanta--meaning Grantham's worst year was better than BVG's best year."
Excellent point. But in fairness to BVG, the Falcon's secondary has only recently shown flashes of not sucking. Atlanta's defensive talent is more to blame for their ranking than Van Gorder's coaching.
Let's not forget that Bill Bellicheck was fired as the HC in Cleveland and things worked out just fine for him at his next job in New England.
Time will tell on Grantham, but so far, I REALLY like what I hear!!! GATA
Looks like Kyle Whittingham was ahead of Dooley, but turned them down as well.
"Whittingham met with Tennessee officials who flew into Provo on Thursday night. Whittingham was offered the job, but turned it down Thursday morning, according to sources close to the Tennessee search."
Finally.... I look forward to WATCHING OUR OWN aggressive, physical, attacking style defense that offenses will not look forward to playing against.
GO DAWGS
Paraphrasing from Chris Mortenson on Buck and Kincaid this afternoon when asked about his thoughts and what he has heard re: Grantham: Essentially a tough and fiery coach with the only NFL knock on him being maybe "too fiery" for dealing with the athletes at the pro-level.
I know that no commentator is going to get on and just blast a hire, but this to me this is great to hear. Sounds just like what the Dr. ordered for UGA where, at this time, there can be no such thing as "too fiery." (outside maybe Jim Leavitt)
I don't think getting fired at Cleveland is a huge knock. That has been a terribly run organization with absolutely no talent. The fact that he finished in the top 1/2 of defenses while there is actually really good. The fact that Saban trusted him to be D-Coordinator on his biggest career move I think is more demonstrative of his abilities. I, for one, am excited. Anyone else want some of this Kool-Aid?
Irishdawg that works both ways. Have you seen the talent that Cleveland had while Grantham was there?
Best wishes to Derek Dooley. I will pull for him every weekend except when it is against the Dawgs (or would somehow work against the Dawgs).
I love Grantham's D-line background and initially I think we're gonna be better. I'm still worried about switching to a 3-4 base, though. It's not like the NFL. You just don't find many 6-3, 350-pounders who are 19-21 years old. We'll see. I know this: Grantham can't be any worse than Willie.
This is AWESOME. Sounds like not only does he have some tremendous talent but that players RESPECT him. The only missing piece(s) now are to get the team unified under player leadership and keep the penalties to a minimum.
AS for USC/UT position changes, as a West Coast Dawg, I feel bad for UT...but not that bad. UCLA fans have put away their riot gear since Chow is staying.
Happy 50th birthday, Nique!
Dooley's Bluetick Dawgs-May It Never Be Said!!!
No way Sam. That would be like pulling for Richt's son in every game except GA, if he went on to coach Florida. He is the enemy now! We need to exert our dominance on UTK in Athens this year, no matter the coach! And Grantham is goin to wear the SEC out!
-Mayo
I won't pull for Dooley any weekend. Tenn is the only team that I would like to see lose every single week, no matter who they play.
"You just don't find many 6-3, 350-pounders who are 19-21 years old"
both of the cowboys NTs are around 310lbs. You don't need a huge fatars at NT.
Ryan: does that mean that you can never pull for another team? Does that mean I cannot pull for Navy and Air Force? I see no issue with wanting Dooley to be somewhat successful. If UGA beats UT and UT wins the rest of its games (and UGA wins all of its games), I see no harm in wishing Dooley well. Heck I will make the argument that it works in UGA's favor to have its opponents have some level of success.
Ryan: I was not saying you or anyone else should do this. I spoke for myself only.
Muckbeast: I think every UGA fan has a rival that he or she cannot stand. UT is below GT and UF in my rankings. However, I will have a hard time if UT breaks out those black tops again with orange pants. Ugh.
This whole thing is awkward since my gf is a big UT fan. We just call the UT-UGA game the Angry Sex Bowl because one of us is guaranteed to be really pissed that night.
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