2012 Defense

[Braveguy06]

So I read alot of message boards talking about how we are in so much trouble with the loss of allen, gilmore, ingram, and robertson. First not many people knew how good ingram was and it is my opinion that clowney helped ingram become the star he was as a senior. Gilmore was good but very raw. Quarles and Jerideau will make a good duo inside so DT doesnt have me worried at all. Allen could of been the most underrated player we had but I think Holloman does well to fill the spur postion. I have faith in victor to handle his side and may be a better true CB coverage wise than gilmore was. If auguste can beat the injury bug then he should play well. Only true ? mark is Brison Williams and I have high hopes for him. As far as EJ goes, I cant say that im not glad he is gone. I think he got a little to much credit from the players making plays. Our defense isnt going anywhere no matter how much people wish for it.

[Mt. Lattimore]

Its nice having 4 senior linebackers.

[scz71864]

Originally Posted by Mt. Lattimore

Its nice having 4 senior linebackers.

wont be nice next year. But yes it will be nice to have the experience and leadership

[Braveguy06]

Got some great LB on the way in who should make a impact.

[Goofyboy]

So I read alot of message boards talking about how we are in so much trouble with the loss of allen, gilmore, ingram, and robertson. First not many people knew how good ingram was and it is my opinion that clowney helped ingram become the star he was as a senior. Gilmore was good but very raw. Quarles and Jerideau will make a good duo inside so DT doesnt have me worried at all. Allen could of been the most underrated player we had but I think Holloman does well to fill the spur postion. I have faith in victor to handle his side and may be a better true CB coverage wise than gilmore was. If auguste can beat the injury bug then he should play well. Only true ? mark is Brison Williams and I have high hopes for him. As far as EJ goes, I cant say that im not glad he is gone. I think he got a little to much credit from the players making plays. Our defense isnt going anywhere no matter how much people wish for it.

I disagree with many of the details of your post, but think the overall conclusion will prove correct.
With Gilmore, we lost much more than raw talent. He knew the schemes, how to cover, and tackled well. However, getting Auguste back to pair with Hampton offers promise.
Ingram was a unique presence with attributes that let him contribute in ways that are unusual for a DE/DT. He made Clowney better more than the other way around. However, I think Clowney will assume some of that versitile, multi-dimensional role beginning this year. Don't be surprised to see him in the forward punting team blockers. That would make me nervous as an opposing coach.
I agree that Quarles will likely be even better, and that Jerideau may turn some heads (in helmets, even).
Allen was truly a presence - superb tackler, opportunist, playmaker, and a confident coverage man. I, too, think Holloman could be even better with his size, speed, experience, and intelligence as a player.
Markette will be missed, even though a backup - he made plays on D and special teams, but we have some others, including incoming freshmen, who show speed and promise.
I also like the comments from other posters about what I see as an upgrade at linebacker. I think we'll have size options, and experienced backups (if healthy) that we've not seen before. I think the LB options will give Ward the opportunity to be more aggressive both in rushing the DL and in blitzing that seemed riskier to EJ because we didn't have the linebacking in place to attack rather than just defend. The overall size and speed at LB look to me to be the biggest upgrade on defense. I also think our offense will likely be much more of an assest to our defense than last year.

[Braveguy06]

Gilmore has made good plays but he was also beat alot. Wasnt it gilmore who left cobb wide open when we lost to kentucky??? Even in the draft they said he was good but raw but they could mold him. Clowney & ingram made each other better due to the fact 1 of the 2 always doubleteamed which left the other open. Ingram has said many times that playing beside clowney really helped him step up his game. Past is the past regardless of opinion. Still feel like this defense can match last years or do better.

[SR4-AJ1]

They also said it looked like gilmore got beat more than usual because he was trying to make up for other peoples mistakes. He is a loss that could hurt us the most due to his experience and playmaking abilities IMO

[cockypanther]

The proven depth in the secondary is what worries me a little bit. There are a lot of sophmore and freshaman in the secondary who are talented players and could possibly emerge this year and help out. It's never a bad thing to get good athletes on the field early on in their career. We will be scary if the likes of Christian, McWilliams, Elder, Marcus, and Royster give us some quality playing time this year. I'm very excited to see what our secondary can become in the next couple of years.

[cockypanther]

Just read over my post again and I guess it should say the unproven depth.

[cocky2476]

let me guess those are uga fans and clemson fans, right now they are trying to make their selves feel better. getting beat a few years in a row does that to you. you can mark it down we will have a better defense this year.

[MillerTime843]

I call 11 interceptions this year and 5 by Swearinger

[GamecockUltimate]

Originally Posted by MillerTime843

I call 11 interceptions this year and 5 by Swearinger

only 11...i think it needs to be higher than that

[GamecockUltimate]

look at it this way, new guys have always stepped up for us. you had the Brinkleys then Norwood, then DT, then Ingram and Clowney, now DT and Clowney..and even in the secondary you had all those guys we put in the NFL but you had Allen who replaced darian stewart. We will be fine. New guys step up

[Roosterboy]

Mark it down...Kelcy Quarles will have a monster season from DT...and I think Ahmad Christian will shoot up the chart to be our nickle back.

[dieselcock]

every year we have guys like Norwood,Rice,McKinley,etc that everyone freaks out about replacing...The thing we need to see is we are a team that recruits very well now. We use to rely heavily on a couple of great players every year to keep us in a game...Now,they win as a unit..Now,we have coaches who know the strengths of every player and puts them in a position to make plays...we will be fine! I'm not saying those guys are not missed when they leave...I'm just saying we should be looking forward to reloading.

[SwimCock]

Just like our baseball team, our football program is great at targeting outstanding recruits and then developing them so that they can step in and contribute when they need to.

[Goofyboy]

Just like our baseball team, our football program is great at targeting outstanding recruits and then developing them so that they can step in and contribute when they need to.

We're two years away from 7-5 and one year away from sucking in a bowl game. I don't see a dynasty yet. I do think you are on the right track about the look for the future, especially since we seem now able to redshirt quality players to get them ready for this level as opposed to earlier years having to use them before they were fully ready. Now we seem to only rely on the exceptional athlete for early playing time.

[Gamecockfanatic4]

Originally Posted by Goofyboy

We're two years away from 7-5 and one year away from sucking in a bowl game. I don't see a dynasty yet. I do think you are on the right track about the look for the future, especially since we seem now able to redshirt quality players to get them ready for this level as opposed to earlier years having to use them before they were fully ready. Now we seem to only rely on the exceptional athlete for early playing time.

he didn't say we were a dynasty at all, every school that can get them uses the top young players early

[GamecockJames]

The only losses that can possibly hurt this team on defense are EJ and Gilmore. Of all the players that keep getting mentioned Gilmore was the only one to start every single game from the moment he stepped on campus. All those other guys got buried on the depth chart behind somebody else. Nobody expected Ingram and Allen to make all of the plays they did last season and now that there gone ppl are claiming two steps backwards. Those ppl are not very smart.

Besides the next time somebody starts talking that talk ask them to name some second and third stringers on our defense they can't do it because they don't know anything about our defense. I can guarantee you before last season most of these ppl had never even heard of Antonio Allen or Melvin Ingram.

That's what college football is guys leave and other ppl step up.

[Coondog]

Victor Hampton will ba a lockdown corner this year. This kid is the real deal wait and see.