Georgia Football: Why the Defense Will Carry the Team to an SEC Championship

The old adage "defense wins championships" could not be a more true statement—just look at the Baltimore Ravens championship team back in the 2000. That Ravens team managed to make a magical run with one of the worst offenses in the league, winning the Super Bowl in a league dominated with teams with All-Pro quarterbacks with a mediocre Trent Dilfer lining up under center.

Similarly, the SEC has dominated the Bowl Championship Series in recent years due to its great athleticism, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. With this being said, Georgia's defense is poised to carry the team throughout the 2011 season.

Great defenses start in the front seven and to say that the Bulldogs will have playmakers in the front seven would be an understatement. Georgia's defensive line and linebacking corps are composed of some of the best athletes in the SEC.

Junior college transfer John Jenkins is a 6'4", 340-pound nose guard who reportedly runs a sub-5.0 40-yard dash time. Pair him up with fellow nose guard Kwame Geathers, listed at 6'6" and 340 pounds, and 6'2", 310-pound DeAngelo Tyson and opposing offensive lines could potentially have 1,000 pounds between these three down linemen.

The linebacking corps composed of Jarvis Jones, Alec Ogletree, Christian Robinson and Cornelius Washington has been touted as one of the most athletic linebacking corps in the whole SEC. Sophomore athletic freak Ogletree—a converted safety—and highly touted redshirt sophomore Jones—a transfer from the University of Southern California—are expected to make big play after big play for the Dawgs this year.

All in all, the front seven for the Bulldogs will be bigger, faster and much improved from last year's front seven.

Georgia is in need of some players to step up, especially early on in the season as the Bulldogs open the season against Boise State and South Carolina in Weeks 1 and 2. As the defense enters its second year under Todd Grantham and his 3-4 scheme, look no further than the defense to answer this call.