The atmosphere around the Bulldog locker room is one of both excitement and uncertainty as newly hired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is set to meet with the team for the first time Friday.

BACCARRI RAMBO

“I would say it’s a little bit of both,” sophomore defensive tackle Abry Jones said. “We’re really uncertain of how we’re gonna do in a scheme knowing it’s our first year running it, but there’s also excitement seeing other teams who run the 3-4 [defense] and how much success they’ve had.”

Running a pro-style defense may seem like a risky proposition, but redshirt sophomore safety Bacarri Rambo is intrigued by the opportunity and feels that the new 3-4 style will open things up for him and the rest of the defensive secondary.

“It’s different than what other colleges run and I think we’ll have a lot of people confused,” Rambo said. “With a 3-4 you can do more stuff. It’ll force the quarterbacks to throw bad passes and it will really affect the secondary because it means we can make more plays and get more turnovers with that 3-4 defense.”

Though the players have yet to meet with Grantham, the fact that their new defensive coordinator comes to Athens with an NFL pedigree makes a good impression.

“He’s got NFL experience and he already coached at the college level so I think he’ll come in and do a good job,” Rambo said. “He’ll help us out a lot with whatever defense we run. With him being a recent NFL coach and me planning on going to the NFL when my time comes, I feel like he’ll prepare me and others for the NFL.”

With spring practice right around the corner, the Bulldog defense — with Grantham at the helm — will start coming together soon as Georgia players and coaches alike look to rectify the recent defensive struggles between the hedges.