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Georgia Vs. Kentucky: Bulldogs' defensive coordinator Todd Grantham wants more pressure

Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Todd Grantham wants his defense to get more pressure on the quarterback going forward this season.

Kevin Liles-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

The defense of the No. 11 Georgia Bulldogs has struggled at times this season, and defensive coordinator Todd Grantham knows a key to more success is getting more pressure on the quarterback. Grantham and the other defensive coaches have stressed this since the Bulldogs' 35-7 loss to South Carolina on Oct. 6 (via The Telegraph):

"The coaches are basically just coaching us, telling us we need to get better at getting to the quarterback," [defensive end Abry] Jones said. "But it's not something they really have to say out loud; it was something we were definitely saying to ourselves. And it's something we're focusing on in practice; individually, we're trying to pass rush a little bit better."

After racking up 35 sacks last season, the Georgia defense only has 10 through six games so far this season. Seniors Jones and Cornelius Washington, who combined for nine sacks last year, have only half a sack this year.

Sacks are not always the be-all and end-all when it comes to pass pressure, as Grantham prefers using actual quarterback pressures to measure success. However, that stat is down this year as well, from 158 last season to a pace of 140 this year.

Georgia will have a good opportunity to get some defensive momentum going when they take on the 1-6 Kentucky Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. ET this Saturday in Lexington.

Photographs by coka_koehler used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.