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Down a “collaborator,” Georgia DC Lanning talks Texas’ playmakers

by:Bridgeland0730•12/29/18
Sam Ehlinger
Sam Ehlinger (Will Gallagher/IT)
Sam Ehlinger (Will Gallagher/IT)

Sam Ehlinger (Will Gallagher/IT)

In the early portion of Texas’ season, much was made about the “collaborative effort” regarding offensive playcalling from the Longhorns’ coaching staff. Georgia is preparing to play a game with its own collaborative effort after former defensive coordinator Mel Tucker took over as head coach of Colorado.

Like Texas, the head coach is the brains behind the operation on his side of the ball, but Kirby Smart gave defensive coordinator responsibilities to outside linebackers coach Dan Lanning for the Sugar Bowl. Despite that shift in responsibilities, Lanning maintained it would be a group effort on defense.

“You know, a combination of Coach Smart, Coach [Glenn] Schumann, Coach [Tray] Scott, and myself are working really hard to put together a great plan and have a great plan for these guys,” Lanning said. “But when we get into the game, a lot of times those decisions have already been made.”

Lanning was part of a defensive staff that coached a unit 28th in the nation in rushing defense and 15th in passing defense. The Bulldogs gave up more than 250 yards through the air twice all season, one a 41-17 win over South Carolina and the other a 66-27 win over Massachusetts.

In advanced metrics, Georgia was much more proficient stopping the pass than the run. The Bulldogs were 57th in rush defense S&P+, but third in pass defense S&P+. With that in mind, Georgia was able to limit flexbone option Georgia Tech to just 2.8 yards per carry. They were able to limit Alabama to its third lowest point total of the season in the SEC Championship game.

Not surprisingly, Lanning mentioned wide receivers Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson as two players the Bulldogs were preparing for in the bowl game.

“Obviously, Texas is really talented at wideout,” Lanning said. “When you look at it on paper, what sticks out most is their size. They’re big guys, can really stretch the field, and have connected on a lot of explosive plays this year. You talk about plays over 20 yards, they’ve had a lot of those.”

Without Thorpe Award winner Deandre Baker, Lanning knows it won’t be easy to limit Texas’ tall receivers.

“So for us it’s a unique challenge, but I think that’s something our players are really, really excited about,” Lanning said.

In addition, the player responsible for putting the ball in the hands of Johnson and Humphrey stood out to Lanning, who saw the likes of Joe Burrow, Drew Locke, Kellen Mond, and Nick Fitzgerald this season. Lanning saw in Sam Ehlinger what many opposing coaches and Texas fans saw this season.

“He’s a good decision maker, and he’s not careless with the ball,” Lanning said. “I think the threat that probably shows up to us on film is when there isn’t something there, he has the ability to run with his feet and take off and create plays, which he’s done a great job with all year.”

The Bulldogs’ two losses this season were against LSU and Alabama. While the Tigers’ Burrow, the Tide’s Tua Tagovailoa, and Ehlinger all have very different games, Lanning noted how the threat of the run from the quarterback worked against them in 2018.

“Both can hurt you with their feet if you don’t do a good job being accountable for the quarterback,” Lanning said of Burrow and Ehlinger. “I think that’s something that we’re prepared for.”

Despite not ending up where they probably expected to be, in the College Football Playoff, Lanning said he wanted to make sure the defense he was responsible for was ready for the test the Longhorns would present to his team. “Our number one goal here is to come take care of business when it comes to the game,” Lanning said.

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