Georgia Football: Mel Tucker Leaving for Colorado but UGA will be Fine

Defensive Coordinator Mel Tucker is leaving the Georgia Football program to accept the head coaching position at the University of Colorado. Tucker is a great coach, but the Bulldogs will be just fine.

Congratulations are in order. UGA defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has agreed to become the next head coach at Colorado. The deal was finalized today, according to Mike Griffith of Dawg Nation. This means that the Georgia Football program must name a new defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach.

Mel Tucker is known as a great defensive mind. He has extensive coaching experience at the college and professional levels. He’s in his 21st year as a coach. Tucker started as a graduate assistant at Michigan State. He has also served as a defensive backs coach at major NCAA institutions such as Miami of Ohio, LSU, Ohio State, and Alabama.

Mel Tucker also was a defensive backs coach with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in Cleveland after three seasons. Tucker then went on to be defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Chicago Bears.

Mel Tucker served as defensive coordinator under Kirby Smart at UGA for three seasons. His defense ranked number 13 in the nation in total defense and number 15 in scoring defense, for the 2018 season. Georgia was fourth in the SEC in scoring defense allowing 18.3 PPG.

The Dawgs defense ranked fourth in the SEC in pass defense, allowing just 180.5 yards per game. That’s an astounding number considering how often UGA played with the lead. The Bulldogs also ranked fifth against the run. One stat that certainly made Tucker proud, is the fact Georgia was the least penalized defense in the SEC.

As a recruiter, Mel Tucker ranks number 14 in the NCAA according to 24/7 Sports 2018 Recruiter Rankings. Tucker is credited with recruiting current freshmen standouts, cornerback Tyson Campbell, linebacker Adam Anderson, and linebacker Brenton Cox.

Mel Tucker’s new gig as the head man at Colorado, will be his first as a head coach. His only head coaching experience was a five game stint as interim head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2011. With all of his experience and success, Tucker gets a well deserved promotion. Colorado made a wide decision, they hired a good coach.

As much as Mel Tucker will be missed, The Georgia Bulldogs will be fine on the defensive side of the football. Linebackers coach Glenn Schumann is the ideal candidate to be promoted to the Dawgs defensive coordinator. Schumann is credited with the development of linebacker Roquan Smith.

Glenn Schumann is a fine recruiter in his own right. He ranks number nine in the 24/7 recruiting rankings. He is credited with pulling in current players such as linebacker Channing Tindall and safety Otis Reese. He assisted in the recruitment of Adam Anderson as well.

Coach Kirby Smart has a contingency plan in place for coaches on his staff leaving. He understands that coordinators taking head coaching jobs and position coaches taking coordinator positions are a part of running a successful college football program.

Glenn Schumann is believed to be the guy Kirby Smart has been preparing to be the Dawgs next defensive coordinator. Regardless of who runs the Bulldogs defense, it will always have the imprint of coach Smart. Kirby is a hands on head coach, especially on the defensive side of the ball. That is his area of expertise.

Should Glenn Schumann be promoted to defensive coordinator, that would leave the Dawgs with only the defensive backs coach position to fill. This is certainly nothing for Georgia fans to be concerned about, as coach Smart is a defensive backs coach by trade. Kirby played safety at UGA.

Former Georgia Bulldogs safety Bacarri Rambo, would be an interesting choice for defensive backs coach. He would certainly be a popular choice for the fans as a familiar face. His NFL playing experience would be an advantage on the recruiting trail.

Regardless of who is the new defensive coordinator and new defensive backs coach are, the defense will still be a top-notch unit for the Dawgs. UGA is stocked with talented young players, top recruiting classes, great assistant coaches, and most importantly a head coach that eats, sleeps, and breathes defense.

Who should be the Dawgs next defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach? Please leave your choices in the comments below. Stay logged in to Atl All Day for more on the Georgia Bulldogs as they prepare to face the Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl.

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