How can a defensive front be so good at stopping the run, but struggle to generate a consistent pass rush?

“That’s a loaded question. That’s a lot to ask,” Georgia defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said to reporters.

Georgia is allowing only 3.4 yards per rush, but giving up 285 passing yards a game. Opposing running backs are swarmed close to the line of scrimmage, while quarterbacks are granted time to exploit the pass coverage.

“In the run game we’ve got guys that are just hungry; hungry to get to the ball,” said linebacker Rennie Curran. “In the passing game we’ve got more assignments, where sometimes we might flinch, or sometimes if we’re in man a guy might end up open. Some guy might get picked and leave a wide receiver open. Things like that are going to happen in the passing game.”

Georgia held Oklahoma State Heisman hopeful Kendall Hunter to 75 yards on 23 carries, and Arkansas speedster Michael Smith to 59 yards.

The excellent run defense is a double-edged sword, because teams are loading up pass plays against Georgia. But the Bulldogs haven’t found the same success in defending the aerial attack, ranking last in the SEC against the pass (112th nationally) and total defense (97th nationally.

Martinez said the discrepancy between the pass and rush defense isn’t because of one lagging area.

“Everything is tied in together,” he said. “You can’t have good pass coverage if you don’t have a good pass rush, and vice versa. Just concentrating on the whole total package and trying to put more pressure on the quarterback with the front four and being more disciplined in coverage. Those are simple things.”

South Carolina threw 53 times against Georgia while Arkansas attempted 39. Add in Oklahoma State’s 22 attempts and opposing teams have thrown 114 times against Georgia. That many Bulldog chances to get to the quarterback, reaching their destination only four times. That’s less than four percent of the time.

Clearly, opposing coaches are scheming to take advantage of a lacking pass rush and coverage.

“I’ve got to do a better job as a coach and put our guys in a better position and we’ve got to execute,” Martinez said. “.But the good teams will make you pay. We just have to clean it up. I’ve got to do a better job coaching and we’ve got to do a better job executing. Bottom line. No excuses, we’ll just play through it.”

There is no easy answer in fixing the problem, Martinez said. Critics and fans are looking for a quick fix, but the answer isn’t glamorous.

“It’s just about playing assignment football,” Curran said. “That’s something we have to improve on in practice and just get in that film room.”

So, it’s back to the practice field for the Bulldogs, where outside criticism isn’t heard, or much of a concern.

“We realize that there’s always going to be some criticism, but it’s time to put that on the back burner and play our game and fight hard,” Curran said. “We realize that we’re all we’ve got-we’ve got each other. We have to go out there, not worry about the criticism and try to improve in practice.”

Despite the alarming numbers, Georgia has pulled off two SEC wins, and Curran said the Bulldog defense has learned from their mistakes.

“We’re doing the right things as far as keeping together and working hard,” he said. “A lot of times [against Arkansas] there were points where we could have been discouraged but we didn’t and it’s really building us up. We know where we’re at as a defense, and I feel like we’re not that far from being great. If we can take care of these assignment busts and coverage skills here and there I feel like we can start to shut people down.”