| 19 January 2010
Todd Grantham, UGA's newest Defensive Coordinator, has his work cut out for him. Grantham, the Dallas Cowboy's former defensive line coach, was named last week.
Georgia fans have shown a mixed reaction to the hire. While many UGA faithful are still trying to get the Willie Martinez memories out of their mind, many wonder if Grantham will stay in Athens for the long haul.
In our opinion, Grantham is a solid coach. His history shows that he knows how to coach-up talent and he will show immediate success for the Bulldogs. Outside of coaching in the NFL, Grantham has never been in a position to coach the level of players that UGA will be able to land.
Who is Todd Grantham and what is his coaching resume?
Todd Grantham is originally from Pulaski, Virginia and is a Virginia Tech alum.
Coaching History:
1990-1995: Virginia Tech Defensive position, line coach (DE, ILB, DT)
1993-1995: Defensive Line Coach
Highlights: In his final season with the Hokies, was the defensive line coach of the nation's #1 rushing defense, #5 scoring defense, and #10 total defense. The Hokies had 50 sacks that season while winning the Big East and Sugar Bowl.
1996-1998:
Michigan State Defensive Line Coach of the nation's #19 (1996) and #13 (1997) total defense. Back-to-back bowl trips. Assistant Head Coach in his final season.
1999-2001: Indianapolis Colts Defensive Line Coach
Highlights: Was the defensive line coach of the largest turnaround in franchise history. Granted, the Colts had drafted Peyton Manning at the same time, but no one can argue the defensive turnaround that did occur. The Colts registered 56 sacks in two seasons, a franchise record.
2002-2004: Houston Texans
Moved to the Texans after Indy's Jim Mora was fired. Defensive Line Coach. Showed that he could work with unheralded players after losing several Pro-Bowler's to injury.
2005-2007: Cleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator
Fired after fielding a bottom feeding defense. It was Cleveland.
2008-2009: Dallas Cowboys Defensive Line Coach
The Cowboy's improved from #13 scoring defense to #2 during his tenure.
Todd Grantham was a hot defensive line coach in the NFL. His over all record shows this fact easily. While he is a top-flight defensive line coach, does he have the management skills to be a top notch defensive coordinator, even at the collegiate level? That remains to be seen.
Grantham has already announced he will be switching UGA to a 3-4 defense in 2010. This move will allow the team to use more aggression against their opponent, while giving the Bulldog players 'on the job training' for the next level.
While there was a solid reason for each move on his coaching resume, outside of his alma mater, Grantham has never coached at any stop longer than two years. Given the volatile nature of the NFL, it can be explained away.
Is Grantham at UGA for the long haul? That also remains to be seen. While he did spend six seasons with the Virginia Tech Hokies, once the NFL came calling, Grantham was gone. Can that happen again? Fans can certainly expect Grantham to be pursued by NFL teams in the future. He has already proven his capability at the next level.
The Bulldogs threw serious money at Grantham to attain his services. Many wire reports indicate that Coach Grantham will make a reported $750,000 per season. Fans can thank the UT Lane Kiffin experiment for causing coordinator's salaries to soar to new heights.
Outside of the NFL, UGA fans' next line of worry should come from Virginia Tech. If and when Frank Beamer decides to retire, would Grantham be interested in returning home as a potential defensive coordinator? That is a very real possibility.
At least for the moment, Mark Richt has attached his cart to Grantham. Will this hire save Richt's legacy in Athens or if the Bulldogs show little to no improvement, will it lead to Richt's departure? One thing is for sure, Grantham brings a high energy level to the Bulldogs.
Source: Wikipedia
