By Jimmy Hyams / @JimmyHyams
No coach on the Tennessee staff has a better understanding of the Georgia football program than Rodney Garner.
The Vols’ defensive line coach worked at Georgia from 1998-2012. He coached there when Kirby Smart was a player. He coached there when Kirby Smart was an assistant.
“I spent a lot of time there,’’ said Garner, who was Georgia’s assistant head coach for eight years. “I know Kirby well.’’
He also knows that the top-ranked Bulldogs have one of the best defenses the SEC has seen in a decade, and that Georgia’s overlooked offense averages over 38 points per game.
Georgia (9-0) is a 21-point favorite over Tennessee (5-4).
“Obviously, they’ve done a great job recruiting, coaching,’’ Garner said. “I told my group this is why you came to UT, for moments like this, for this stage.
“We’re not going to cower down, we’re not going to back down. We’ve got to bow our necks up and go out there and play with passion and play hard, but we’ve got to play smart. One thing I have been proud of (for) our young men this year, they have played extremely hard. Sometimes we haven’t played as smart as we need to play.’’
Garner said his unit must “compete and leave everything we’ve got on the field for 60 minutes. We can’t bring anything back into the locker-room.’’
Garner’s defensive line competed hard for 60 minutes and 99 plays (actually 103 when you count plays nullified by penalty) in a scintillating, ulcer-inducing, head-scratching 45-42 victory at Kentucky last Saturday.
How do you lose time of possession 46:08 minutes to 13:52 and still win?
How do you allow an opponent to gain 612 yards and still win?
How do you give up 12 of 17 conversions on third down and still win?
Garner said he got a plethora of texts proclaiming UT’s win was an exciting game to watch.
“I can’t say it was an exciting game to coach,’’ Garner said. “It was a special game to coach, but I would prefer to have less excitement.’’
Garner added: “It was good to watch those guys never give up and continue to fight and band together as one and not worry about who got the credit, who got the glory. That, at the end of the day, it was about Tennessee winning the game. For us to win a game like that, late, end the game like that, overcome adversity, I think we grew. And that’s what it’s all about, it’s about growth and I definitely think we took step in right direction with that victory.’’
Garner was asked how tired his defensive linemen were after the exhausting contest.
“They could have made some stops,’’ Garner said, not showing much sympathy. “Obviously, if you want to get off the field, all you got to do is stop them on third down, then we get off the field.’’
Garner said the defense played 103 gradable snaps.
“It’s a lot of snaps,’’ Garner said, “but at the same time all we’ve got to do is make some stops and get the offense the ball back because we have a prolific offense that’s very explosive and every time they got the ball, they’re a danger to score points.
“We’ve got to correct some things defensively … so we can play better on third down and be better on third-down efficiency.’’
Tennessee’s third-down defense has been disastrous the last three games. Kentucky (12 of 17), Alabama (15 of 20) and Ole Miss (11 of 21) have combined to convert 38 of 58 third downs.
If Georgia is able to convert 65% on third down, UT doesn’t have a chance this Saturday (CBS, 3:30).
Garner applauds no bowl-ban decision
Tennessee’s administration announced last week it would not impose a bowl ban for this season despite the NCAA violations committed by the football program, a story we broke.
Were the players excited?
“I think everybody was excited,’’ Garner said. “I don’t think it was just the players; the coaches, I hope the fan base.
“I came here in February I think there was probably a lot of distrust (among the players). There were a lot of questions about a lot of things. Obviously, there were a lot of young men that left the program for whatever reasons. And for these guys who have stuck through it and gone through what we’re asking them to do to try to change culture and get this thing back on the track it belongs — these guys deserve this opportunity. I’m extremely grateful to the administration for their stance on that.’’
What bowl does Garner prefer?
“I just want to go to a bowl,’’ he said. “That’s the one thing I told the guys: I am spoiled. My career as a player and as a coach, I think I’ve been bowl eligible except for the year we were on probation (Auburn, 1993) and couldn’t go to a bowl. So, I’m real spoiled.
“I expect to go to a bowl. My kids expect to go to a bowl and so it’s good. I really don’t care (which bowl). I just want to see them be able to get the fruit of their labor. That’s what it’s really all about.’’
Garner sees no problem recruiting defensive players
There’s a perception that it will be easier for Tennessee to recruit elite offensive players due to the fast-pace style of play, than defensive players who might not want to be on the field for 99 snaps.
Garner disagrees.
“I think we play an exciting brand of defense to try to complement our offense,’’ said Garner of a defense that has recorded 73 tackles for loss and 24 sacks in nine games.
“Obviously, we’ve got to get more difference makers on our side of the ball so we can be more effective. (But) I don’t foresee that (recruiting on defense) being an issue. When you look at Knoxville, you look at this University, you look at our facilities, man, we’ve got a lot to sell. We’ve got a lot to be proud of. We’ve just got to do it the right way and get kids that want to be a part of it. And want to come to UT for some of the right reasons. And they feel like they’re going to be developed athletically, academically, socially, spiritually. We’re approaching it from a wholistic approach.
“I really don’t see that being a hinderance. I think it’s going to be an exciting brand of football.’’
While UT played 99 official snaps against Kentucky, Garner said he rotated eight or nine defensive linemen.
“We try to keep them fresh,’’ Garner said. “Our goal is to try to play the fourth quarter like we played the first quarter. That’s the mindset behind it. And also try to keep wear and tear off the body. It’s like a tire. You’ve only got so much tread life. And when that tread count gets low, you’ve got to change the tire.’’
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