With Georgia’s stars gone, onus falls back on Richt
Now that Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno are in the NFL, Mark Richt may actually enjoy scheming against opponents a little more. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@ajc.com)
ATHENS — John Wooden, who mastered the art of coaching basketball and motivating young men like no one else, once remarked that his favorite national championship team at UCLA was his first. That team in 1964 generally was devoid of stars, other than guard Walt Hazzard, and the Bruins won games on scheme and intelligence and grit. (We should note, however, that when Lew Alcindor announced years later he wanted to come to Westwood, Wooden didn’t respond, “Sorry, Lew. You’re too tall.”)
Coaches love talented players. But more than anything else, coaches love to coach — particularly in college, where there’s a longer learning curve. It follows that Georgia coach Mark Richt is not fretting that his offense lost two center pieces, Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno, to the NFL. He’s actually a little excited. Nothing against Stafford and Moreno, but there’s more room to coach now. There’s a greater importance on creativity and game-planing. In a strange way, the job may be a little more enjoyable.
When I mentioned Wooden’s observation to Richt Tuesday, he said: “I read one of his books this summer. I agree. When I was a coordinator, I always loved going into the games where I was thinking more more about which plays or scheme was going to put the most stress on a defense, not when I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to get the ball to Peter Warrick 12 times this game, otherwise I’m an idiot.’ This is going to be fun. At least I think it will be. Maybe after we get a couple of first downs.”
Georgia opens the season Saturday against Oklahoma State. Points won’t be a problem for the opponent. Oklahoma State is expected to be one of college football’s top offensive teams this season, with possibly the nation’s top quarterback-receiver combination in Zac Robinson to Dez Bryant. Logic dictates that 20 points from the Stafford-less, Moreno-less, Joe Cox-led offense is not going to get it done.
Richt was a quarterback as a player. He built his resume as an offensive coach at Florida State. He has turned over play-calling duties at Georgia to Mike Bobo, but obviously has input in game-planning and monitors things during the game. Suffice to say, there is a greater onus on the two this season. Richt’s OK with that. He acknowledges there’s some unknown about the Dogs, but also recognizes that can make things more difficult for a defense.
“Defenses don’t know a lot about us,” he said. “They know A.J.Green and maybe they know Richard Samuel — or they just know somebody’s going to play tailback and they’ll key on that position more than the player. But other than that, they really don’t know what we have. Heck, we really don’t know what we have. They probably have some doubt about what we’re going to do. If you have somebody there that people know, and they know what that player’s production is, they’ll say, ‘OK, let’s get a plan together to handle these guys.’
“We still have to figure out who is going to make plays for us in games. But I’d much rather have a bunch of playmakers where I’m just thinking about beating a team scheme-wise than with a person.”
There’s an uneasiness in Athens. Keg parties didn’t break out when the polls were released. Last year, the team was ranked No. 1 and opened against Georgia Southern. This year the Bulldogs are ranked 13th and travel to No. 9 Oklahoma State. It’s the first time in 20 years they’ll open against a higher ranked team (Baylor in 1989). It’s the first time in 41 years they open against a top-10 team (Tennessee in 1968).
Richt said of the offense, “We can’t play cautious. We can’t hold anything back that may help us win the game.” He’s thinking about ways to attack. It’s what coaches do.
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167 comments Add your comment
Hillbilly Deluxe
September 1st, 2009
3:22 pm
I’d hate to have one of them onuses fall on me. It sounds painful.
BugKiller
September 1st, 2009
3:28 pm
Our team stands no chance of anything more than 8-4 and 9-3 as long as Martinez remains as the Defensive Coordinator.
And that’s the unvarnished truth.
Gravy Train
September 1st, 2009
3:28 pm
This season, we will again see why Coach Richt is one of the greatest head coaches in America. I am looking forward to watching the Dawgs shock the world in Stillwater and beyond. We should all be very thankfull we have been blessed with such a great man as our coach.
I love flying under the radar.
Mushy, I know.
Schultz, isn’t this when you usually would take a shot at CMR? It almost sounds as though you are warming up to him.
jimmy
September 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
it’s going to be a great day to be a georgia bulldog i’m not worried about coach richt,he is going to give us 30 and the defense is tired of getting kicked so it’s going to fall on willies game plan
Gravy Train
September 1st, 2009
3:30 pm
Bug, either lead, follow or get outta the way. Negativity is not needed here.
Dawgs2009
September 1st, 2009
3:31 pm
This week is going to drag by! At least it is not a night game and we don’t have to wait all day. I suspect that the defense will be very aggressive in a good way. having Jeff Owens back, next to Geno, will free up the pass rush. Once the middle is clogged, the backs will have to go to the outside and our speedy linebackers will be there.
Saturday seems like a month away.
Some Sense
September 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
Yeah, no kidding. BugKiller, that’s awful. Anybody can be a redneck.
Larvell "SugarBear" Blanks
September 1st, 2009
3:37 pm
Shultzie,
I am more than a little shocked that you didn’t take a shot at CMR. I hope you save your shots for WM. That is the biggest question mark going into the season. I think we all know what kind of motivator Coach Richt is. The bigger question and possibly the lead of this column should be what motivates Willie? Apparently it is not going to the possibility of losing his job since he has his friend as Head Coach.
C. Tampa Ironworse
September 1st, 2009
3:40 pm
Did I miss something? Didn’t the Dawgs go 9-3 or something like that with the “NFL All Stars”? I’m kinda tired of hearing how UGA is reloading after the departure of all their great players. If they’re reloading…the gun didn’t have bullets to begin with. UGA should have a fine season, but let’s drop that they lost all their ammo. Last year the Dawgs shot blanks for the most part.
PS: UGA IS bringing back the bowtie…so that’s something.
comicman
September 1st, 2009
3:42 pm
No picture of Danica Patrick? What’s up with that?
Robert Daniell
September 1st, 2009
3:42 pm
It’s going to be a great season opening game for Georgia!!! I absolutely love the fact we’re playing a top ten team, instead of the Cobbtown Goat Ropers. This should reveal alot about this year’s Dawgs. I feel Willie and the boys are going to shut some folks up…for a week anyways!! Georgia WILL play great defense in this game!!!! They are tired of hearing their coach, as well as themselves, being put down. When those Okies see that RED and Black blurr coming their way…..POWWW!
Go you Hairy Dawgs!!!!!
CLTDawg
September 1st, 2009
3:43 pm
I agree with those arguing against bugkiller. Remind me, but didn’t we end the season 2 years ago doing pretty well? Didn’t our defense play outstanding against Hawaii? I do believe the Martinez was out DC back then as well.
While I would have like to see CMR bring in Chavous from Tennessee, it is not CWM’s fault that our players forgot how to tackle last year and only tried to bump players our of bounds.
Bring on the pokes!
Lady OSU
September 1st, 2009
3:43 pm
Enter your comments here
Dawgs73
September 1st, 2009
3:48 pm
Gravy Train – I almost cried reading your man crush post about our fearless leader…PUKE! Dude, you are smoking something serious and need to increase the dosage. I would dare say that most folks would agree that Mark Richt is pretty stand up guy, but please be more objective and remove your head from his A!!
BugKiller
September 1st, 2009
3:50 pm
The difference between you and me, Gravy?
I am leading.
You’re just getting out of the way.
I want the team to be the best it can be.
You’re satiated with Martinez’s mediocrity.
A Georgia team with Martinez as defensive coordinator will never be the best it can be. He’s hopelessly out-classed, unprepared, unable to make in-game, snap adjustments, and more frequently than ANYONE is willing to admit, his defense falls flat in the biggest of games.
2005 Auburn. 2006 West Virginia. 2006 Tennessee, Vandy, and Kentucky. 2007 Tennessee. 2008 Florida.
You NEVER saw a defense coached by BVG fail like the defenses coached by the head coach’s BFF have failed.
You wanna be a blind homer? Fine. That’s your deal. You have to be the one to convince yourself day after day as the defenses under Martinez continue to fail that Richt ISN’T too emotionally attatched to his best friend, that Richt ISN’T making the same mistake that his mentor, Bobby Bowden did in the SAME SITUATION with his son, Jeff.
Me? I like to believe that as awesome as Richt is, that he’s human. And human beings make mistakes.
So while you’re ready to beautify St. Richt, I’m calling him out for his mistake of not firing Willie Martinez because Martinez is his best friend, and THEN going and giving the man a raise to the 2nd highest paid DC in the SEC when he’s easily the WORST DC in the SEC…
… when NO ONE wanted him.
You try and defend that, Gravy. Go ahead. Defend the indefensible.
Willie M's Revenge
September 1st, 2009
3:51 pm
Willie will earn his keep this season… defense will show dramatic improvement. On Saturday, the tackling will resemble the Michigan State game. GATA
JB
September 1st, 2009
3:52 pm
Don’t forget Dawg fans, Tech is opening up at Jacksonville Paint and Body at 11 or so Saturday morning. Get you rat hats and your favorite pizza request and get there early. gonna be packed, i’d say 30,000 plus with the auto union and all. yipee……..
Cdawg
September 1st, 2009
3:52 pm
It will be an interesting match up, hopefully not to much to chew.
BugKiller
September 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
Oh, 2008 against Alabama, too.
Murphy
September 1st, 2009
3:53 pm
T-Bone picked the wrong opponent for stadium dedication day. The Big 12 is not to the same level of competition as the SEC and Saturday will show that.Someone tell T-Bone money doesnt buy championships.With all that money he spent he could have bought 3 Nick Saban’s and still had money left over.
Nick
September 1st, 2009
3:55 pm
Onus means “burden” or “obligation” for those who wondered. Yeah I did too. I like it!
Go Dawgs!
Old Dawg
September 1st, 2009
3:55 pm
This just in … the Cowboys starting TE just quit the team and the only returning DB was arrested last Friday. Yes, OSU’s loaded offensively but these distractions can’t help prepare for the biggest home opener in the history of their program.
Can’t help saying it: I’m a man! I’m 40 years old and he’s just a kid.
Gravy Train
September 1st, 2009
3:58 pm
Yeah 73! It is better for people to think you are an idiot rather than open your mouth and prove it. I know that since Coach Dooley retired as HC, the following staffs have been slim pickings. Don’t think FSU wont come sniffing around when Bowden hangs up his head phones. Coach Richt and his boys give us a shot at championships every season. There are over 100 other teams that wish they could say that. Georgia used to be one of the wishers before Coach Richt arrived. I will gladly acknowledge that any day friend.
Dear Mr Bug Killer
September 1st, 2009
4:00 pm
Can you please go back and review the following seasons -1984 thru 2000? Dooley averaged 7 to 8 wins over his last 5 yrs. Goff, well, enough said. Donnan was another 8-win guy. Richt is a 10-win guy. I trust Richt and his numbers speak volumes. You, sir, are the type of fan that NOBODY wants to claim – you expect 13-0 season EVERY year or the coaches are idiots. You are also the guy that is the “loud mouth know-it-all” who loves to scream from the stands (or my guess, from home at his TV). THANK GOD, you only represent the minority. Stay inside, because I think the sky is falling!
Jeff Schultz
September 1st, 2009
4:02 pm
Gravy Train, Larvell – I neither go into a day or an interview to “warm” or “take shots.” I form opinion based on actions and words and results. Always have. … On Martinez, I gave him an opportunity to speak 2 weeks ago in a column. Here’s the link if you missed it. http://blogs.ajc.com/jeff-schultz-blog/2009/08/19/martinez-not-backing-down-from-aerial-assault/
We’ll see what happens now
Comicman – Sorry. I’ll try to work Danica into the game column from Stillwater.
Shards1967
September 1st, 2009
4:03 pm
In 2009, the UGA D is far better. Jeff Owens in the middle and Marcus Washington and Jouston Houston at DE, Bryan Evans at Safety, will make us better along with Cummings Sanders and Rambo, in the UGA backfield, etc. Houston for now is on three game suspension but will be fresh when we need him vs LSU,etc. We will win 9 or 10 and get a decent bowl. NO NC this year but 2010 and 2011 ………….we make a run and that is all that we can count one year in and year out.
Goooooooooooo Dawgs !!!
Harry Dog 73
UGA IIV
September 1st, 2009
4:04 pm
Go Dawgs! Stay thirsty my friends!
DawginLex
September 1st, 2009
4:04 pm
bugkiller,
I have been critical of WM also but, the injury excuse is gone. Everyone is healthy that matters. If he implodes now, he doesn’t have anyone to blame but himself.
I’m hoping he succeeds. firing assistant coaches only leads to disaster most of the time. There are exceptions but most of the time, it is the old “3 envelopes” joke and Richt would have just opened the 1st envelope.
I disagree with you somewhat on BVG. LSU in the dome in 2003 was a complete beatdown. Granted the offense got obliterated by LSU’s defensive front but the D got whipped all night. BVG also had headhunters in the defensive backfield and we just haven’t had one lately.
WM has the opportunity to make up for last year and it starts Saturday.
Gravy Train
September 1st, 2009
4:05 pm
Bug it’s a new season. Get over yourself already. Get behind our players and coaches or get gone. It’s that simple.
Can’t wait to see what Orson and Marlon are gonna open up. Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get to see Samuel run all over some Cowboys, and I mean through them, not jumping over.
Calhoundawg
September 1st, 2009
4:06 pm
I so hope the folks who have trashed Willie and act like they’re some kind of genius pundit when commenting about his supposed ineptitude have to choke down thier words come Sunday morning. I’m also sick of hearing about the “three” of Oklahoma State supermen. Last time I counted there were eleven players on the field at one time. Georgia is so freakin’ loaded with talent on both sides of the ball … I guess that’s one reason they’ve been so successful in the Richt era. Seems like we heard all of this hype last time we played them. They didn’t show up then, and they won’t show up Saturday. When the actual game is over Saturday, the media will have made fools out of themselves as well as everyone else who “picked” OK State. How in the hell the seventy-something rated defense they were last year ends up in the top ten this year is laughable. No SEC team is going to be intimidated by a third-rate Big Twelve team who lost four of their last five games (including bowl) last season. Overrated, over-hyped, new stadium vs. a bonified SEC contender hell bent on redemption = Big Disappointment. What time is the Bama game…? Go Dawgs !!!!
C. Tampa Ironworse
September 1st, 2009
4:09 pm
Is Willie Martinez’s Defense nicknamed WMDs? Wow!!!! They’re missing from Iraq AND Athens, GA. Giggle…
Dawg in Lady OSU
September 1st, 2009
4:13 pm
Lady OSU…..you want me to enter you?
DawginLex
September 1st, 2009
4:19 pm
4:13 pm post=the most puzzling post I have seen in years on these blogs.
BugKiller
September 1st, 2009
4:26 pm
Gravy, he man, you want to back a coach who publicly keeps on blaming his players for not executing, without excepting ANY blame on himself, not even the least little amount, and okay, whatever.
I’m always behind my team.
But I refuse to be a blind homer. I refuse to not deal in truth when it stares me in the face.
Again, that’s your problem that you must deal with.
As to the SEC Championship Game at the Dome in 2003, that was ONCE that a BVG defense gave up 30 points.
EVER.
MArtinez? It’s happened 11 times. Then again, a BVG defense never let Vandy drive the length of the field at Sanford Stadium at the end of the game to win.
A Martinez defense did.
Dawgs73
September 1st, 2009
4:27 pm
Gravy Train – I don’t even have to post a comment in return of your rose colored blindness…BugKiller beat me to the punch.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2009
4:35 pm
bugkiller,
Other than the points given up in those 11 games, overall, what is your beef with WM? do you think we are not aggressive enough? Not innovative enough?
How would you approach this game coming up? I can tell you that most likely he is not going to change philosophy. He will blitz selectively and hope that he doesn’t need to by getting pressure up the middle and allowing the DE’s to make plays. No pressure up the middle and the DE’s are exposed.
Would you blitz more this week? Richt is telling this guy to not give up the big play. It is his philosophy. Would you change that?
not bashing, just curious.
1eyedJack
September 1st, 2009
4:37 pm
Why does every blog become a referendum on Willie Martinez. He ain’t going to be wearing a helmet or shoulder pads this Saturday. He may not be the greatest coach in the world (like Paul Johnson, snicker)but it’s hard to beat anybody, including Vandy and Kentucky when half your guys are standing on the sideline in street clothes. Let’s give the man the benifit of the doubt with a healthy bunch and see what he can do.
route66
September 1st, 2009
4:37 pm
Everyone has a game plan(Okl St) until they get punched in the mouth(Ga)GO DAWGS
Jeff Schultz
September 1st, 2009
4:40 pm
C.Tampa — Is that original? First time I’ve read it.
dagnabit
September 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
Gravy Train; maybe you need to keep it simple.
Gravy Train
September 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
Bug, it’s called accountability. One day, when you have a job, you will be held accountable for your actions. Players are no exception to the rule, I think both Coach Richt and Martinez have adressed that ubtil they were blue in the face this past off season. Even guys like Joe Cox, Jeff Owens and Rennie Curran acknowledged this fact. I guess you are a Bush guy and don’t understand accountability. Hopefully our players now do. Willie can’t make the play he can only call it. If one guy out of eleven fails to execute then the play usually falls apart. Clearly, you have never played or coached football. And with that I say good day to you sir.
It’s a new season and a new attitude. I wont let guys like you drag us down.
BugKiller
September 1st, 2009
4:47 pm
Anyone who knows anything about football knows that the Willie HAters who know nothing about football always complain about “blitzing.”
How about the fact that his defenses never seem as fully prepared as they could be?
That’s a coaching problem.
How about when you have two weeks to prepare for an opponent, you give up 45 points.
That’s a coaching problem.
Players who play undisciplined, leading the league in penalties.
That’s a coaching problem.
Players with poor fundamentals (something that could NEVER be said about a BVG defense).
That’s a coaching problem.
Players who have breakdowns at the worst time, giving up a big play to lose the game.
That’s a coaching problem.
You look at Georgia defenses under Martinez, especially as BVGs players have filtered out, and they aren’t fundamentally sound, they’re not disciplined, they need big, grand emotional gestures to play well (Florida 2007), they routinely play as if they’re unprepared, not ready for every possibility.
What is it with you people who continue to defend Martinez, defend the indefensible?
Why do you refuse to see the truth staring at you in the face? How many more years of mediocre defense would you accept?
You people amaze me.
BugKiller
September 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
Gravy…
… you talk about accountability and REFUSE to hold Martinez accountable?
Does your hypocrisy know no bounds???
OZZFEST
September 1st, 2009
4:48 pm
As for the hype on OSU’s superstar QB, RB & WR….let me remind you that WE only scored 14 points against USC, 10 against UF, and 17 against Auburn last year WHEN WE HAD THE “MOST TALENTED BACKFIELD IN AMERICA” along with MoMas & AJ.
Georgia 31-19.
dan
September 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
“When I was a coordinator, I always loved going into the games where I was thinking more about which plays or scheme was going to put the most stress on a defense, not when I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to get the ball to Peter Warrick 12 times this game, otherwise I’m an idiot.’
Personally I feel that an offensive coordinator should focus more on plays and scheme even with superstar players! In fact, I think it actually helps the star players and take less pressure off them. That’s what I felt hurt UGA last year. There would be weeks where the Game plan completely revolved around Stafford and the passing game or Knowshon and the running game. Things got a little too predictable. The best game the offense played last year was against LSU. Bobo did a really good job mixing it up and kept the LSU defense guessing( throwing passes to Chapas and Southerland, getting the Tight Ends more involved), and Stafford and Knowshon still put up good numbers. When the Dawgs are able to mix it up, they usually win by a large margin. I think that’s going to be key this year. They can’t get hung up on trying to force the ball to AJ Green in triple coverage. They need to spread the ball around. I think UGA can be pretty potent on offense if they get the RB’s involved in the passing game and the TE’s MUST step up again! Cox is tailor made for a hurry up offense.
Nativebird
September 1st, 2009
4:49 pm
C. Tampa Ironworse, great great points! What’s worse, losing your two “stars” off a 9-3 season, or waking up to the realization the two “stars” who delivered that whopping 9-3 season viewed your football program as literally nothing but a step to a rookie NFL contract?
DawginLex
September 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
So, are you going to answer my questions or not. We understand you think he is mediocre. I wanted to know what you would do differently given the overall philosophy for the defense is coming from the head coach.
Do you not acknowledge we are playing the same scheme now as we did under BVG?
Joey
September 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
Uh, DawginLex, LSU was the BCS National Champion that year, and that’s the only time 30 points were scored on BVG’s defenses in his 4 years. But you’re right, WM has a lot to make up for. I hope he can, but I’ll believe it when I see it. Go Dogs.
DawginLex
September 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
Maybe I’m hoping for something that can’t happen. 2 things actually.
1.)a dialogue with bugkiller
2.) A “WMD” to destroy the Pokes Saturday
Gen Neyland
September 1st, 2009
4:56 pm
The 2009 season for Richt doesn’t have the pressure of a national spotlight. His UGA team either will exceed expectations or it won’t. With that kind of non-pressure, he can’t go wrong…this year.