Georgia’s defense needed a leader.

The Bulldogs have given up 125 points in their last three games, a streak unmatched and unprecedented during the Mark Richt era in Athens.

Enter defensive tackle Corvey Irvin, a senior junior college transfer who wasn’t even a starter at the season’s start.

Irvin filled senior Jeff Owens’ spot on the field after he tore his ACL in the Bulldogs’ season opener against Georgia Southern. Now he’s trying to do the same off the field too.

“We didn’t have anyone left. We lost our leader, our vocal leader, in the beginning of the season, which was Jeff,” Irvin said. “We really didn’t have anyone else to step up because everyone was following his role. Somebody had to be the bigger man, somebody had to step up, and I put it on my shoulders.”

Owens had been the vocal leader of a defense that was regarded as a strength coming into the season. That void was left empty, and the Bulldogs have surrendered more points in a three-game span than they have since 1996 – needless to say, not an enjoyable stretch for any defense.

“I don’t feel like we’re having enough fun out there. Football’s supposed to be fun,” linebacker Darryl Gamble said. “I think it’s getting more like a job, just going out there and try and get things done the way coaches want it without having fun.”

“We didn’t have fun the past two weeks like we’re supposed to have fun. Jumping up and down, [tackles for loss], sacks, interceptions. We’re not really worried about nothing else,” Irvin said.

“I know Auburn’s been talking a little trash, we’re not worried about that. We’re worried about playing good Georgia defense and having fun.”

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In his second year in Athens after transferring from Georgia Military College, Irvin is just behind linebacker Rennie Curran for the team lead in tackles for loss and sacks. He hasn’t had a full four-year career as a Bulldog, but he’s still a senior on a defense that needs leadership.

“I’m a senior, and no matter what you are, a senior’s supposed to step up and do what’s right,” Irvin said. “After [Kentucky] quarterback [Randall Cobb] gashed us the way that he did, I just said enough is enough and it’s time for my opinion to be heard.”

Added Gamble: “I’m just glad somebody came up and said things need to change.”

That said though, cornerback Asher Allen knows as well as Irvin does that motivation has to start with the individual.

“I never think that somebody yelling or something like that is going to motivate you,” Allen said. “It’s got to be about you personally and what you’re going to do. I think everybody just has to take responsibility for themselves.”

Allen said he has “40-plus” hats, including one for every Major League Baseball team and straw hats for golfing. But what his defense will really need Saturday is a rally cap, and Irvin is looking to provide it.

“I’m going to be a leader on the field Saturday. When I make plays, when they make plays, we’re jumping up and down, we’re getting excited,” he said.

“We’re out to hunt man. We’re trying to kill.”

It’s not Willie’s fault

Many fans are quick to point fingers at Georgia Defensive Coordinator Willie Martinez for the Bulldogs’ recent struggles stopping opponents, but his players are quick to defend him and lay it on their shoulders.

“People don’t know what they’re talking about,” defensive tackle Corvey Irvin said. “Coach Martinez is a great coach, he’s a great guy. I love him. He’s not out there playing. It’s us. They should criticize us.”

Martinez took over the defense in 2005, leading the Bulldogs to the eighth-best scoring defense in the country in his first season. They were the country’s No. 8 total defense in 2006 and the 14th-best in the nation last season.

True, the Bulldogs have given up 125 points in their last three games, a stretch unmatched since 1996, but those calling for Martinez’s head may be a little premature, Irvin said.

“[The coaching staff] is prepared, they study film, they know what’s coming,” he said. “Every play they call is designed to stop what’s coming because they know what’s coming. They really can’t criticize coach on that. They should take it out on the players.

“We’re going to defend him this weekend and do our thing on defense.”

-Tyler Estep