Georgia Football: Mark Richt and Todd Grantham Receive Contract Extensions

Coming off a season that saw the 'Dawgs go 10-4, it seems Georgia has decided to extend the contracts of both their head coach Mark Richt and the man responsible for rebuilding the defense in Athens, Todd Grantham.

Richt will be pushed through the 2016 season while Grantham has been locked down through the 2014 campaign.

For Mark Richt, this is a big deal. Just a year ago folks were talking about how many wins CMR needed to save his job and if he had the ability to get things back on track for Georgia. This extension is a tremendous vote of confidence for Richt. The 'Dawgs have backed their horse and with a team likely to be sitting in the Top 10 to start 2012, it at least looks like all is well in Athens.

That impression of all being well in the land of the red tops and silver britches is due in part to the other man getting extended; defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Grantham came to the 'Dawgs in 2010 and instantly went to work, resurrecting a listless Georgia defense.

Improvements came from Grantham's mentality and the attention to details in execution that he brought as an NFL guy. In 2011, the Bulldogs really started to turn the corner on defense as their 3-4 scheme featured Jarvis Jones, the SEC's sack leader.

Grantham is locked in through 2014, but if the long-time NFL assistant continues to get the production out of Georgia that he has in the last two seasons, we could be talking about one of the next big-time head coaches. That meme would fit as the SEC has seen their coordinators make the jump to the head spot several times in recent years.

What these extensions do mean is that expectations are back for the Bulldogs. The SEC East is there for the taking and unlike 2011, where the 'Dawgs needed South Carolina to give the division to them, the goal is to win it outright in 2012.

With LSU, Alabama and Arkansas all finishing ahead of UGA in 2011, winning the SEC will still go through the brutal murderers row that is the West, but with some experience and continuity on staff, it looks like the 'Dawgs are going to try and push their way into the discussion.