University of Georgia Athletics
New Georgia Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham Addresses Media
January 15, 2010 | Football
ATHENS, Ga. --- New Georgia defensive coordinator Todd Grantham held a 25-minute teleconference late Friday afternoon after being named to his position with the Bulldogs earlier the same day.
Grantham, who will remain on the Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff for as long as his team is in the NFL playoffs, is in his second season with the Cowboys after spending three seasons as defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns (2005-07), and six years as defensive line coach for both the Houston Texans (2002-04) and Indianapolis Colts (1999-01).
“I want to thank Mark Richt and Damon Evans for allowing myself and my family this chance to come and coach at a school like the University of Georgia and in a great area like Athens,” said Grantham. “This isn’t my first opportunity to return to coaching college football over the last 11 years. But I loved the passion and excitement Georgia fans, boosters and alumni have. I want to bring in an aggressive-style defense that fans are excited to watch.”
“I’m as excited as I can be and while this process took a while, I feel we got the right man for the job with 100 percent certainty,” said Bulldog head coach Mark Richt. “I am getting to know him better and I have more confidence right now in him not only being the right man for our defense, but also the right man to help our guys grow into men. ”
An 11-year NFL veteran coach, Grantham also has an extensive resume in the collegiate ranks. He served three seasons as the defensive line coach at Michigan State (1996-98). He added the title of assistant head coach in his final season in East Lansing in 1998. Grantham also spent six seasons (1990-95) at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, coaching defensive ends and inside linebackers from 1990-91 and defensive tackles from 1992-93.
While at Michigan State the Spartans ranked 19th in total defense in 1996 and 13th in 1997, making consecutive bowl trips. In 1995 the Hokies ranked first nationally in rushing defense, fifth in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. Virginia Tech racked up 50 sacks en route to the Big East title and a Sugar Bowl triumph over Texas in 1995.
Grantham told Bulldog fans what they should expect when the defense takes the field in 2010.
“I want to have big, physical guys out there who are relentless every play,” Grantham said. “I want to get after everybody we play. I want as a defense that the team we just played doesn’t want to play you anymore.”
Grantham’s initial response to recruits will be simple.
“If you’re excited about enhancing your performance, developing your craft and being aggressive, then I think we can have fun at the University of Georgia,” he said.
Grantham stated that he would be working with Georgia’s linebackers and that decisions on the rest of the coaching staff had not been made. He also mentioned in his teleconference that he would be transforming the Bulldog defense into a “3-4” structure rather than the “Multiple 4-3” structure that Georgia has used recently.
“We will be using the ‘3-4’ structure with an aggressive style of play,” Grantham said. “Our pass rushers will be coming at the ball to make a play. But we will still be able to move to multiple looks depending on how our opponents set up.”
Rising senior linebacker Darryl Gamble will be not only be directly coached by Grantham, but will also be learning the new “3-4” system.
“I haven’t played in ‘3-4’ style defense, but I have seen a lot of it watching the NFL,” Gamble said. “It looks like an aggressive defense that does a good job getting guys to he ball. I’m excited about getting it going.”
At the conclusion of the 2009 regular season, the Cowboys' defensive unit ranked second in the NFL in scoring defense (15.6 points per game), fourth in rushing defense (90.5 yards per game), seventh in sacks (42.0 per game), and ninth in total defense (315.9 yards per game). The Dallas defensive unit finished eighth in the NFL in total defense in 2008 and led the league with 59 sacks - 13.5 coming from the defensive linemen.
Grantham mentioned one of the major differences he has noticed between professional and college football.
“In pro football, you take the players you have and make it work,” said Grantham. “In college football, you can rank your players and find ways to get your playmakers on the field and that is another thing that excites me about this opportunity.”
Sophomore defensive back Brandon Boykin had a unique source to get a review on his new defensive coordinator.
“I was pretty excited to hear we had hired Coach Grantham and that the search was finally over so we can start learning his system,” said Boykin. “My cousin, Tashard Choice, plays running back for the Cowboys so I was able to call him up and he said Coach Grantham was a great coach and that we got a good one.”
Boykin also said this was a chance for a new start for everybody on the team.
“I think this is a fresh start for everybody and that’s a good thing because the people who thought they weren’t playing enough can prove themselves and try and earn a spot, and the ones who were playing will have to prove themselves again and work hard to keep those spots,” Boykin said.
Grantham’s hire comes just days after junior linebacker Rennie Curran and junior safety Reshad Jones declared early for the NFL draft. The Bulldogs are expecting back six of the 11 players who started for them during the 44-20 Independence Bowl win over Texas A&M on Dec. 28.
Grantham, who will remain on the Dallas Cowboys’ coaching staff for as long as his team is in the NFL playoffs, is in his second season with the Cowboys after spending three seasons as defensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns (2005-07), and six years as defensive line coach for both the Houston Texans (2002-04) and Indianapolis Colts (1999-01).
“I want to thank Mark Richt and Damon Evans for allowing myself and my family this chance to come and coach at a school like the University of Georgia and in a great area like Athens,” said Grantham. “This isn’t my first opportunity to return to coaching college football over the last 11 years. But I loved the passion and excitement Georgia fans, boosters and alumni have. I want to bring in an aggressive-style defense that fans are excited to watch.”
“I’m as excited as I can be and while this process took a while, I feel we got the right man for the job with 100 percent certainty,” said Bulldog head coach Mark Richt. “I am getting to know him better and I have more confidence right now in him not only being the right man for our defense, but also the right man to help our guys grow into men. ”
An 11-year NFL veteran coach, Grantham also has an extensive resume in the collegiate ranks. He served three seasons as the defensive line coach at Michigan State (1996-98). He added the title of assistant head coach in his final season in East Lansing in 1998. Grantham also spent six seasons (1990-95) at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, coaching defensive ends and inside linebackers from 1990-91 and defensive tackles from 1992-93.
While at Michigan State the Spartans ranked 19th in total defense in 1996 and 13th in 1997, making consecutive bowl trips. In 1995 the Hokies ranked first nationally in rushing defense, fifth in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. Virginia Tech racked up 50 sacks en route to the Big East title and a Sugar Bowl triumph over Texas in 1995.
Grantham told Bulldog fans what they should expect when the defense takes the field in 2010.
“I want to have big, physical guys out there who are relentless every play,” Grantham said. “I want to get after everybody we play. I want as a defense that the team we just played doesn’t want to play you anymore.”
Grantham’s initial response to recruits will be simple.
“If you’re excited about enhancing your performance, developing your craft and being aggressive, then I think we can have fun at the University of Georgia,” he said.
Grantham stated that he would be working with Georgia’s linebackers and that decisions on the rest of the coaching staff had not been made. He also mentioned in his teleconference that he would be transforming the Bulldog defense into a “3-4” structure rather than the “Multiple 4-3” structure that Georgia has used recently.
“We will be using the ‘3-4’ structure with an aggressive style of play,” Grantham said. “Our pass rushers will be coming at the ball to make a play. But we will still be able to move to multiple looks depending on how our opponents set up.”
Rising senior linebacker Darryl Gamble will be not only be directly coached by Grantham, but will also be learning the new “3-4” system.
“I haven’t played in ‘3-4’ style defense, but I have seen a lot of it watching the NFL,” Gamble said. “It looks like an aggressive defense that does a good job getting guys to he ball. I’m excited about getting it going.”
At the conclusion of the 2009 regular season, the Cowboys' defensive unit ranked second in the NFL in scoring defense (15.6 points per game), fourth in rushing defense (90.5 yards per game), seventh in sacks (42.0 per game), and ninth in total defense (315.9 yards per game). The Dallas defensive unit finished eighth in the NFL in total defense in 2008 and led the league with 59 sacks - 13.5 coming from the defensive linemen.
Grantham mentioned one of the major differences he has noticed between professional and college football.
“In pro football, you take the players you have and make it work,” said Grantham. “In college football, you can rank your players and find ways to get your playmakers on the field and that is another thing that excites me about this opportunity.”
Sophomore defensive back Brandon Boykin had a unique source to get a review on his new defensive coordinator.
“I was pretty excited to hear we had hired Coach Grantham and that the search was finally over so we can start learning his system,” said Boykin. “My cousin, Tashard Choice, plays running back for the Cowboys so I was able to call him up and he said Coach Grantham was a great coach and that we got a good one.”
Boykin also said this was a chance for a new start for everybody on the team.
“I think this is a fresh start for everybody and that’s a good thing because the people who thought they weren’t playing enough can prove themselves and try and earn a spot, and the ones who were playing will have to prove themselves again and work hard to keep those spots,” Boykin said.
Grantham’s hire comes just days after junior linebacker Rennie Curran and junior safety Reshad Jones declared early for the NFL draft. The Bulldogs are expecting back six of the 11 players who started for them during the 44-20 Independence Bowl win over Texas A&M on Dec. 28.
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