STARKVILLE — The Todd Grantham defensive scheme gives two basic jobs to defenders on the line of scrimmage, based on their position.
Defensive tackles are asked to, as Grantham likes to say,” build the wall,” which means hold up the flow of offensive linemen trying to move downfield to block linebackers. Anyone outside of them is asked to set the edge, the process of combatting blocks to squeeze outside runs to the inside and take away secondary gaps for inside runs.
Gerri Green is the perfect man for the latter.
He’s shown just that through MSU’s (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) first three games with 12 tackles, two of them for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. The pivotal role he played in the win over LSU will stay as crucial as MSU goes to Georgia (3-0) 6 p.m. Saturday at Sanford Stadium (ESPN).
“You look at his body type, it really fits his body type well,” MSU head coach Dan Mullen said. “He’s got size, he’s got some athleticism and it does make him tough because he’s got the size, the instincts and the physicality to be a linebacker that hangs in there on the run, but the athleticism to disrupt the pass game some. He’s a big help. I’m happy for him because you see him playing at a much higher level now.”
The man that moved Green to the position, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, put it more simply: “He’s made to be an outside backer.”
Green’s officially listing as a linebacker has not changed, but the position takes on a much different meaning in Grantham’s system. Green spends most of his time on the line of scrimmage alongside defensive linemen in Grantham’s scheme, throwing him into a position of high leverage.
Against offenses based in downhill, under-center run games such as LSU and Georgia, Green spends most of his day taking on tight ends and tackles to affect rushes of all types. It’s not easy work, but he’s come to love it.
“I took it serious,” Green said. “Playing against guys like (left tackle) Martinas (Rankin), (right tackle) Stewart Reese and (tight end) Jordan (Thomas), (tight end) Farrod Green, they gave me good looks throughout the preseason, in the spring and even now, they give me good looks.
“I watch the NFL and I see guys that play the same position as me. I try to watch their game to see what they’re doing.”
Green added that the summer training program prepared him well for the rigors of the position. The job requires more nuance than simple aggression.
“It changes from 300-pound tackles to athletic tight ends, It’s a role that calls on me more than people probably see sometimes, but I take it on,” Green said. “I try to hit them the same way. It’s very physical because those guys are in the SEC, they’re physical tackles, physical tight ends.”
Green proved that ability in contributing two tackles, but ultimately did more for teammates than himself. Green bottling up runs led to tackles for a loss for Jeffery Simmons and a push upfield helped J.T. Gray get his one tackle for a loss.
While Green’s recent work has been primarily in run-stopping, he has flashed the ability to affect passers. He forced the fumble that led the Jeffery Simmons’ fumble return for a touchdown against Louisiana Tech.
At one point in the LSU game, Green said he and defensive end Montez Sweat told each other to, “meet at the quarterback.” They nearly did: LSU quarterback Danny Etling left the pocket to avoid both of them.
However, Green will likely be asked to do more of the same run stopping against Georgia. Grantham knows this week will be more difficult than the last.
“They have several NFL backs. Sony (Michel) and (Nick) Chubb both, both of those guys will be playing on Sundays,” Grantham said. “They’ve got really bright futures. Both of those guys are dynamic in how they run.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter, @Brett_Hudson
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