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Georgia football: Predicting UGA’s next Defensive Coordinator

By Alistair Penny

ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Mel Tucker looks on before the 2018 SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - DECEMBER 01: Georgia Bulldogs defensive coordinator Mel Tucker looks on before the 2018 SEC Championship Game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 1, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images
Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images /

Alistair: Derrick Ansley, DB Coach Oakland Raiders

Mel Tucker’s ability to be a trusted lieutenant rather than a ‘defensive guru’ was one of the reasons why he was such a valuable part of this staff. He was obviously a key part of game planning, game calling and scheming, but he did so as a part of a coaching setup where everyone is on the same page and that page is given to them by the head coach. This is Kirby Smart’s defense and it’s not changing any time soon.

All of the coaches on the defensive side of the ball other than Tray Scott worked at Alabama when Kirby was DC. I fully expect him to bring in another so to make for an easy transition which is why Ansley is my choice. Not only does he have familiarity with Smart and the scheme, but like Tucker, he’s already established himself as an excellent defensive backs coach, which is a position that matters a whole lot to Kirby.

Ansley has climbed his way up through the coaching ranks. He started out as a GA at Bama while Smart was there before becoming a full-time DB coach at Tennessee where he worked with none other than Jim Chaney and Sam Pittman. Like those two, he was cleared out when Butch Jones arrived in 2013 (how dumb does that look now) and went to Kentucky where in three years, he became one of the most sought-after assistants in the country. Nick Saban brought him to Alabama to take over from Mel Tucker (lots of dots to follow here guys) and in his two seasons there, all he did was deliver one of the best secondaries in the league.

Put simply, Ansley is one of the best young defensive minds in the country. He’s excelled at coaching players in the same system Georgia currently runs and can recruit like his hair is on fire. Sounds like a Kirby Smart kind of guy. He’ll likely need the DC title to be lured from the NFL even if the Raiders are a train wreck and it would be well worth it. He’s exactly the kind of coach that Smart has done so well in bringing in the past two seasons.

Top 5 juniors from the 2018 season. dark. Next

I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Glen Schumann join Ansley as a co-defensive coordinator. Schumann is already heavily involved in creating the game plans and clearly has a very bright future as a game caller. I could see him getting that title bump while Ansley comes in and gets play-calling responsibilities. A lot of people forget just how young Schumann is and I expect him to follow a similar path to Kirby Smart although it will take some time. He’s still only been an on-field coach for three seasons. In the meantime, Ansley would bring UGA a premier coaching talent and recruiter who will seamlessly fit into a very talented coaching staff and likely will be a head coaching candidate himself in 2-3 seasons.

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