’Dogs defense fully stocked

Georgia Coach Mark Richt didn’t have to rebuild his defense after nine starters opted to return to the Bulldogs instead of enter the NFL Draft.

Georgia Coach Mark Richt didn’t have to rebuild his defense after nine starters opted to return to the Bulldogs instead of enter the NFL Draft.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

— The 11th in a series previewing SEC football teams.

A large pack of Georgia defensive players, including All-America safety Baccari Rambo, considered leaving early for the NFL Draft after the Bulldogs’ run to the SEC East title last season.

They all elected to return.

With nine starters back for the nation’s No. 5 defense, plus key offensive talent like quarterback Aaron Murray, Georgia was an overwhelming choice of SEC media to defend its division title this fall.

The Bulldogs, whose 10-game in-season winning streak was its longest since the 1982 team went 11-0 in the regular season, have designs on more than a repeat.

“We’re still hungry,” receiver Tavarres King said. “We did make it to the SEC championship, but we didn’t win it. That’s something that we want to do, and it’s something that we feel like we can do.”

With Mark Richt, the dean of SEC coaches, entering the 2011 season under considerable pressure, the Bulldogs went out and lost their first two games against Boise State and South Carolina.

After rallying to win 10 games in a row - against a schedule that did not include SEC West members Alabama, Arkansas and LSU - to clinch the division crown, Georgia fell to LSU in the SEC Championship Game, then lost a late lead to fall to Michigan State 33-30 in three overtimes in the Outback Bowl.

Georgia finished fourth in the SEC in total defense, but the teams ahead of the Bulldogs - Alabama, LSU and South Carolina - have lost key contributors from last year.

“We all came back for a reason,” said outside linebacker Jarvis Jones, who led the SEC with 13 1/2 sacks and added 49 quarterback hurries. “Last year we had a pretty good season. We came up short in some games, but I think we’re more mature now.”

Richt praised Jones for setting the off season tone for the Bulldogs.

“He jumped right out immediately and said, ‘I’m coming back, I’ve got things to improve on as a player and a person,’ ” Richt said. “I think that was the catalyst for some other guys to decide to stay as well. Nine out of 10 guys did stay. That bodes well for the leadership of this team.”

Georgia welcomes back defensive end Abry Jones, but did lose tight end Orson Charles, who left for the NFL as a junior, and experienced what has become annual off season issues, leading to the dismissal of tailback Isaiah Crowell on felony weapons charges. Rambo, linebacker Alec Ogletree and cornerbacks Sanders Commings and Branden Smith also are reportedly facing early season suspensions for various offenses.

Rambo’s eight interceptions ranked second nationally a year ago, while Ogletree led the team in tackles in each of the final five games after returning from a broken foot.

Richt kept the team’s suspension plans close to the vest at SEC media days last week.

“I’m not going to update anything other than we know that Sanders Commings has a two-game suspension,” Richt said. “Anything else we’ll let you know sooner or later, but not at this moment.”

The Georgia offense, which ranked No. 2 in passing in the SEC (behind Arkansas), No. 3 in total offense, No. 4 in scoring and No. 7 in rushing, is led by the junior Murray, who passed for 3,149 yards and a school-record 35 touchdowns and had a hand in 16.4 points per game, which led the SEC. Murray also threw 14 interceptions, four more than any other SEC player, so his decision-making skills need to improve.

Georgia also returns its top five wideouts, including King, Malcolm Mitchell and Michael Bennett.

Mitchell worked out at cornerback in the spring and is projected to play primarily on that side of the ball, though Richt suggested he could be a two-way threat like Champ Bailey years ago.

Richt took Georgia’s spot as the media favorite to win the East in stride.

“I hope the media’s right this time,” Richt said. “But we haven’t done anything yet. ... We know our league is tremendous. We know the Eastern Division is going to be a rough road.”

Next LSU

About the Bulldogs

LAST YEAR 10-4, 7-1 (first) in SEC East RETURNING STARTERS Offense 5, defense 9, specialists 0 SURE THING Linebackers, secondary UNSURE THING Running back OFFENSIVE MVP Quarterback Aaron Murray DEFENSIVE MVP OLB Jarvis Jones

SEC TITLE SCENARIO The Bulldogs are the media favorite to win the SEC East. With their backbone being a veteran defense, and plenty of offensive talent on hand, the Bulldogs should be one of the SEC’s best. If the revamped offensive line can help produce a solid running game, Georgia should be in the mix.

Sports, Pages 19 on 07/28/2012