As Georgia works through the early stages of preseason camp, defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach Glenn Schumann is seeing a group that is beginning to understand how quickly it can play.

For Schumann, that doesn’t necessarily mean the Bulldogs have simplified their defense. Rather, experience is allowing players to process information faster and play with greater confidence.

“The game’s moving the same speed; they’re playing faster,” Schumann said.

Georgia’s defense continues to develop

Georgia has also made an effort to simplify how it communicates the defense. Schumann said the coaching staff evaluates its terminology each year during self-scouting, looking beyond the statistics to determine whether certain calls or explanations can be made easier for players to understand.

The defense might not change, but the way it is communicated can.

“We try to streamline the terminology more and more where there are hiccups,” Schumann said.

That approach should help a defense with several players stepping into bigger roles this season.

One area Schumann is particularly encouraged about is the edge group. He pointed to the growth of Quintavius Johnson and Gabe Harris, both of whom took on significant workloads last season after having limited experience.

Johnson’s progression was especially notable. He went from barely playing to taking nearly every snap, giving him a level of experience that Schumann said can’t truly be duplicated in practice.

“We always wanna say that we wanna make practice harder than the game,” Schumann said. “But there’s nothing that replicates game experience.”

Depth is important

Now, the expectation is for those players to build on that experience.

Schumann said playing on the edge requires much more than simply rushing the passer on obvious passing downs. Players have to be able to set the edge against opposing offensive tackles and tight ends, which requires strength, technique and the right mentality.

That makes depth particularly important for Georgia.

The Bulldogs want to have five or six players capable of playing at a high level between defensive end and Jack. That would allow Georgia to rotate players, keep them fresh and maintain the effort level Schumann expects throughout a game.

Chase Linton is one of the players pushing for a bigger role.

Schumann described Linton as a disruptive player who has added strength and bulk while maintaining the aggressive style that makes him effective. Although Linton isn’t one of the bigger players on the defensive front, Schumann said he plays with plenty of strength.

“He throws his body around with kind of reckless abandon,” Schumann said.

Linton’s ability to transition from defending the run into a pass rush is another trait Schumann likes. Rather than only producing in obvious passing situations, Linton has shown the ability to create pressure on normal downs as well.

Competition heating up across the defense

The competition isn’t limited to the edge group.

Georgia has several experienced safeties along with younger players fighting for opportunities. Schumann said the early portion of camp is largely about making sure everyone gets enough reps to be evaluated fairly.

That will begin to change once the Bulldogs start scrimmages.

“I always view the first scrimmage as moving day,” Schumann said.

The first scrimmage can move players up or down the depth chart, with the second scrimmage helping establish more of a pecking order as Georgia gets closer to game-week preparation.

Even then, Schumann said development won’t stop for the players who aren’t immediately at the top of the rotation. If a player can help Georgia win, the coaching staff wants to find a role for him.

That mentality also applies to Zayden Walker, who showed flashes late last season and is now working toward becoming a more complete linebacker.

Walker was unable to participate in spring practice, so he had to be particularly intentional about his preparation in meetings and over the summer. Schumann said Walker has handled that process well and has continued to make progress during camp.

For Schumann, the development of Georgia’s defense is ultimately about the daily work. His time at Georgia and Alabama has allowed him to learn from some of the best coaches and leaders in the sport, but he doesn’t view that growth as something that ends.

Every day provides another opportunity to get better.

“Every day has to matter,” Schumann said.