ATHENS — Georgia defensive coordinator Dan Lanning provided some insight into the intensity the Bulldogs deal with on a daily basis during drill work on Wednesday.
Lanning demonstrated a “punch” technique with a savage swipe on a red tackling dummy, jaw clenched, voice raised, eyes wild.
The outside linebackers group got the message; this might be a bye week, but the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs are still expected to practice at a championship tempo.
Junior college transfer Jeremaine Johnson and Nolan Smith, who came through with the game-winning quarterback pressure in the final minute in the 23-17 win over Notre Dame, roared to life after Lanning’’s demonstration and command.
Lanning explained his coaching style before the season.
“I have a real passion for this game, it’s something I really love to do, and I always tell our guys whenever football is over with, make sure you do something you’re passionate about,” Lanning said during fall camp.
“But I think your players take on your mentality,” he said. “If I coach really casually, and just kind of cruise on cruise control out there, then I expect my players to play that way. So I want to coach with passion so my players play with passion.”
Georgia coach Kirby Smart split practice between the indoor facility and hot Georgia sun, temperatures hovering near 90 degrees during practice time.
The Bulldogs remained without the same players who were not present for Tuesday’s practice:
• OG Solomon Kindley (ankle)
• DE David Marshall (foot)
• CB Eric Stokes (knee)
• CB Tyson Campbell (foot)
Curious cornerback: Ameer Speed (6-foo-3, 211 pounds) is typically the cornerback towering over others in drills, but Aaron Olaluden (6-2, 207) a transfer from Athens Tech looked imposing working with the group on Wednesday.
Olaluden, from Ibadan Nigeria, game to UGA by way of Athens Technical College where he attended for two years while rehabbing an ACL, according to the UGA media guide.
Smart said on Tuesday he was going to give the twos and threes more looks during the bye week.
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