Georgia Football: Coaches getting creative with Defensive Line

Getting slimmer and fitter:

One of the big differences that I’ve noticed in the reports that are out there is that the defensive line does seem to be built a bit differently this year. The coaches seem to realize that they do not have many natural 300lbs+ guys who can naturally move around in the way that the team needs them too. Therefore, they have decided to focus more on slimming them down and getting them as fit as possible.

This is where strength and conditioning director Scott Sinclair comes in. He’s become an increasingly visible part of UGA’s success and this is one of the reasons why. Kirby Smart needs his linemen to be slimmer and fitter, but also strong enough to manhandle big offensive linemen. That’s not a given but it is something that Sinclair has been working on since signing day when UGA realized that they would have to take this approach.

This is also a change that we’re seeing a bit on the offensive line. Yes, there are still some monsters like Ben Cleveland and Isaiah Wilson there. However, all of the linemen on both sides of the ball have lost some weight since coming in. It seems that the Dawgs are looking for young players who have exceptional size when they arrive in Athens. Then they can get their size and weight down to where they want it to be, rather than trying to bulk guys up.

This approach is a bit of a gamble from Smart, but it’s one that could work out. I don’t expect to see any change from the offensive line, but the defense could really benefit. If their rotation develops enough so that they can keep bringing in fresh legs to go after OL’s, then the Dawgs might be able to overcome their lack of size up front. It’s a risk, but it’s one that Smart had to take considering the makeup of his squad.