Georgia’s problem is direction, and that falls on Richt
Here's a common sight: A Tennessee receiver (Gerald Jones) making a catch in front of a Georgia defender (Bryan Evans) Saturday. (AP photo)
KNOXVILLE — The problems just became big picture.
This isn’t just about the quarterback looking overmatched or the coordinators looking lost. It’s not about the schedule or the injuries or maybe some conspiracy theories about SEC referees having an agenda because the team got too excited with an end-zone celebration in Jacksonville two years ago.
Plug in, folks. Georgia just lost to Tennessee like no team should lose to Tennessee (45-19). The offense didn’t score a touchdown. The defense just made Jonathan Crompton look like Jonathan Unitas. Lane Kiffin just schooled Mark Richt.
Six games and they’re going backward. Six games and they’re 3-3, their worst start in 13 years. And you begin to realize: If not for those late wins over South Carolina and Arizona State and surviving mayhem against Arkansas, we could be talking scorched earth at midseason.
This is when you wonder about direction. The same coach who two years ago we were toasting for finishing the season with a No. 2 ranking is now walking off the field and into news conferences looking like toast.
On Saturday, Richt was asked a question one never could have imagined two Januarys ago: “Are you worried about the state of the program?”
His answer: “We didn’t play very good today. We haven’t had a game this season where we played a really solid football game. So I’m concerned about that.”
Is it just me, or did he not completely shoot down the premise of the question?
Let’s make this clear. This is not a “Fire Mark Richt” column. His body of work speaks for itself. But Florida and LSU and Alabama have boat-raced Georgia in the SEC, and of maybe even greater concern is the lack of separation between the Bulldogs and everybody else.
This isn’t a former No. 2-ranked team that has maintained its level of excellence. It’s a program that has regressed. Significantly. Whatever Richt was doing before is not working now. Either the wrong players are being recruited, or the right players are being coached the wrong way.
Blame Mike Bobo for the offense. Blame Willie Martinez for the defense. Blame Stacy Searels, the vaunted offensive line coach, who, by the way, hasn’t done bupkis. Blame anybody you want.
But it starts with Richt. It’s his program. He sets the tone and establishes direction. He is the one coaching at a school that hadn’t started a season so poorly since Jim Donnan’s first year in 1996 (3-5 on the way to 5-6). Richt is the one whose team committed three more turnovers against Tennessee and ranks as the worst in the conference and among the dregs nationally with 16 giveaways and a minus-11 turnover ratio.
Volunteers quarterback Jonathan Crompton threw touchdown passes on three consecutive possessions in the second quarter and finished with four. He had been largely lampooned in Knoxville and had never thrown more than two in his career. Well, with one exception. He threw five against Western Kentucky.
So that’s where Georgia’s defense belongs: in the Sun Belt.
Asked what he would think if he was a Georgia fan watching this game on television, Martinez said: “Well, I am a Georgia fan. I’m not happy. We just got whipped.”
Things are no better on offense. The Bulldogs have failed to score an offensive touchdown in 10 of the past 11 quarters. Against Tennessee, the offense (field goal) was outscored by special teams (nine points, off a kickoff return and a blocked punt for a safety) and the defense (interception return).
Didn’t Richt make his bones in offense at Florida State?
He somewhat came to Bobo’s defense: “I like his play calling.”
When asked if he felt quarterback Joe Cox was regressing, he said: “I’ve got to look at the film before I start making comments like that.”
Just as well. This isn’t the time to be throwing anybody else under the bus.
“We’ve got a long way to go before we become a good football team,” Richt said.
And he should know. He’s the one driving the bus.
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1,679 comments Add your comment
HairyDawg
October 10th, 2009
11:10 pm
JoshVol182 – Mark Richt is a better coach than Phat Phil and Lame Kiffin. He learned under close to the winningest coach ever in Bowden and he’s won 2 SEC titles with UT winning none during that time. Just remember Herschel running over Vols in Knoxville and you’ll remember who your daddy is.
Gators 3x National Champs
October 10th, 2009
11:12 pm
Georgia be scared….be very scared.
Frank Lane
October 10th, 2009
11:13 pm
We should be publishing the Fife Factor, average plays run before you shoot yourself in the foot. Ours was the worse in football going into this week. I think it was even worse for this game.
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:14 pm
awj, I’ll mail my resignation in. just like my guys mail it in on the field.
Darren
October 10th, 2009
11:15 pm
Ed,
Aren’t you supposed to ask Rush before you say anything political? Be a good little sheep and don’t break the rules.
Seriously though, listening to anything come out of the mouth of someone who spent eight years on his knees in front of the moron form TX is just a waste. Or…is it that you like being on your knees, Ed? Airport bathrooms?
The redneck trash down here used to at least know football. Just like the GOP used to know something about foreign policy and economics.
Now you both know squat. What a joke.
BTW – there’s some real football on ESPN2 if your willing to learn.
Early Curly
October 10th, 2009
11:16 pm
Hairydawg u know who your daddy is. THOSE GATORS!!
Paul's Johnson
October 10th, 2009
11:16 pm
Willie Martinez:
“pauls johnson, are you a holy roller or just stupid?”
I’m a roller…. you’re stupid a tool.
Link Report this comment
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:18 pm
bob, penalties, injuries, offense putting us in a bad position, what more can i say? would you have me replace byran evans? with reshad jones? come on man! makes me feel young at practice being able to out run those guys!
Nate
October 10th, 2009
11:18 pm
Sign the petition:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/fire-ugas-def-coordinator-willie-martinez
Free Willie!!!
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:19 pm
joe cox is such a super scout team qb. i love that guy. my men intercept every other pass. what more can you ask for??
Xdawg70
October 10th, 2009
11:20 pm
Memo to Mark Richt: It is a big deal.
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:20 pm
nate, dont matter what you guys say. cmr is my bro, my hero, my saviour and soul mate.
old dawg
October 10th, 2009
11:21 pm
someone pointed out that Richt has better results that Goff and Donnan. Well yea. Most anyone would.
That is not the issue. Huge revenues for UGA ride on the football program. A superior football program generates positive results on multiple levels. We have the right tools available. The fans and the school have the right to expect excellent results from those entrusted with responsibility for managing that program.
How many times does this have to happen before we realize something is WRONG and the folks earning Massive Dollars demonstrate they can not or will not fix the problem.
How many times have we seen the Bulldogs show up for important games and, especially on offense, not do anything in the first half? Anyone remember the sugar bowl in Atlanta? LSU? Many others.
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:22 pm
how many of you guys make more than me?? $500k a year. then you can blog me.
Nate
October 10th, 2009
11:22 pm
Willie,
Will you sign the petition? It is our way of showing our Christian support of your efforts at UGA.
God Bless
Buzz Belle
October 10th, 2009
11:22 pm
Look back on my post and I told you if you didn’t stop the crap about the stupid ref call, Tenn would up and bite you. You took your eye off the ball and they did. You are falling apart and after all your high fiving, end zone dancing, arrogant “we’re better than you” attitude, we are all smiling in your loss. This is what happens. I personally hope you keep Richt, you deserve him!
Tim Tebow
October 10th, 2009
11:22 pm
I can’t wait until I get to run over the Dawgs for the final time. This one is going to be UGLAY…
Prince Miller
October 10th, 2009
11:23 pm
Thank goodness none of you have noticed that I’m throwing games.
coach smith
October 10th, 2009
11:23 pm
Partisay
just ignore the FACTS on UT’s OWN website
Last year UT went 5-7….idiot
3 years ago they went 5-7
2 years ago they went 9-4 and kept UGA out of the SEC Championship
IT IS ON UT’s OWN WEBSITE…I provided the link
Tenn has not had a 10 win season in a LONG while much less the 11 win season you are claiming
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:23 pm
old dawg, i got some florida tickets i can sell you.
Dr. Phil
October 10th, 2009
11:23 pm
I am a Georgia graduate, and I have been embarrassed for years by the player arrests, penalties, ring sales on ebay, unsportsmanlike conduct, and sanctimonious attitude of the coach. The turning point of the program was the “Soulja Boy” dancing on the sidelines and the end-zone outrage against Florida. Woody Hayes, a truly great coach, was fired for less. Richt has been the guy that kept Adams in office. Don’t think for a second that Adams will return the favor.
TampaDawg86
October 10th, 2009
11:24 pm
I couldn’t of said it better myself. It’s going to be a rough year! Go DAwgs I have faith we can pull it out!
Nate
October 10th, 2009
11:24 pm
Willie as a good Christian you are not suppose to worship false idols, like CMR.
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:25 pm
nate, i cant sign the petition. it would be going against my principles a believing man. i believe i am the best and no one can say i’m not.
Nate
October 10th, 2009
11:25 pm
Willie as a good Christian you should know not worship false idols.
Free Willie
Ed
October 10th, 2009
11:26 pm
Darren, I don’t get my marching orders from Rush, although I do share his love of tormenting liberals like yourself. Actually, I wasn’t that big of a Bush fan – he wasn’t nearly conservative enough for my tastes and the rash decision to invade Iraq before we took care of business in Afghanistan is still a head-scratcher. The problem: your party gave us Al Gore and John-freakin’-Kerry as alternatives, so I’ll pass on your lectures. You finally managed to elect a Democrat that might actually make Bush look like a Rhodes Scholar before he’s done screwing up this country.
Airport bathrooms? Sounds like the voice of experience to me. Do you recommend it, Darren?
Nice of you to acknowledge the GOP’s former expertise. However, I don’t recall 10% unemployment during Bush’s tenure and Obama has managed to take the admittedly huge Bush deficits and send them through the stratosphere after only a few months in office, so maybe the GOP is still the better choice, however flawed.
Ahh, a Tech nerd. Win one game in 8 years, and you guys are the arbiters of “real football.” Congrats on last season’s victory, that pulls you guys to within what, 20 games in the all-time series?
What a joke, indeed.
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:26 pm
nate, cmr is the giver of the good life as far as im concerned.
bob
October 10th, 2009
11:26 pm
“Gators 3x National Champs”
Scared of you beating a team 13-3? Yeah, not really scared after tonight, we expected something like 40-3, teebow must have blurry vision now, oh well now he has an excuse as to why he cant play in the NFL
coach smith
October 10th, 2009
11:26 pm
Roll Tide
Talk to me when you have won an SEC championship in the last 20 years
The Water Girl
October 10th, 2009
11:26 pm
Oh Willie, you’re soooooo…
UGA83Alum
October 10th, 2009
11:26 pm
Let Richt lose to tech again this season, and Richt will not be able to turn the AC high enough to get cooled from the heat during the off-season. Sure, Richt will get 2010. If he is smart, he will hire new coaches and get help with the offensive side of the ball. Richt needs to update the offense. The offense is too predictable. BUT let Richt lose to the nats in 2010 and we won’t have to worry about it. The $$$ Alums will take care of Mark Richt.
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:28 pm
water girl, im at five guys burgers waiting. what do you want to eat?
Paul's Johnson
October 10th, 2009
11:28 pm
Willie Martinez:
Willie Martinez “aka” “isle 5 clean up at the Peachtree Industrial Publix”, you better go snuggle with your boyfriend and watch some Lifetime Channel presentation rather than post anything on a football blog.
Tebow
October 10th, 2009
11:29 pm
I’m gonna stomp the life out of those little sissy Chihuahua dawgs. Willie’s dawg’s! That’s Richt! er, uh, I mean that’s Right!
Ed
October 10th, 2009
11:29 pm
Darren, I just switched to ESPN 2. You’re tied against a program that is 2-3 and completely dysfunctional. And they’re driving. Congrats, you must be proud.
Simply the Truth
October 10th, 2009
11:30 pm
Just think, Fulmer’s recruits and the Kiffens just outplayed and outcoached St. Bobby’s prized pupil BIG TIME. Still think that getting rid of Bobo and Martinez is going to cure everything? Who is running the show? As long as no pressure is applied to the HC, nothing is going to change.
daddo
October 10th, 2009
11:30 pm
It was the refs. We win out from here and win the conference. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha…………..
SLP
October 10th, 2009
11:31 pm
Do you all remember when Richt decided he needed to be more of a CEO than a coach? it was about 3 years ago. He went out and interviewed several CEO’s in the private sector and asked them about leadership. That is when he turned the play calling over to Bobo. It is also when he said that this would provide him with the time to have one on one meetings every week with his players so that he could develop them into productive young men.
I thought at the time that it was a bad move and I have been proven right. Bobo just doesn’t get it. Richt needs to be calling the plays again. You know, actually coaching. CWM is over his head as well. Van Gorder was more effective and we need to find someone else like him.
Ginger, you hit the nail on the head. Kudos to you, J-Shoo, as well. Great article.
Dawg fans…..send an e-mail, be nice and clean, to AD Damon Evans and let him know how you feel.
hairy dawg
October 10th, 2009
11:31 pm
Its quite apparent that a change is needed. I think Richt’s coaching style is no longer viable in the SEC.Saban ,Miles and Meyer have elevated their respective programs into the elite levels in college football while UGA’s program has steadily regressed.When the large donors have had enough[ which is now I hope] they will decide its time to dismiss Richt and not any time before then.Maybe that is who we should be airing our concerned voices to.
Ed
October 10th, 2009
11:31 pm
38-35 FSU. When you referenced a “real program” Darren, were you referring to Tech or FSU?
Fire Willie M.
October 10th, 2009
11:32 pm
Please Fire WM now !!!!!!
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:32 pm
paul, my debit card is good at publix, yours is on the dont take list.
Nate
October 10th, 2009
11:33 pm
Willie,
Maybe you Tebow can get together with the giver of life but as his “water boy” if he will take you. Even an immaculate conception will not change UGA’s woeful defense.
God Bless Willie- Lord Please FREE WILLIE!!
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:33 pm
fire willie m.: honey is that you? go to bed please.
Rexwinn
October 10th, 2009
11:33 pm
The Gators are under rated.
JoshVol182
October 10th, 2009
11:34 pm
Count the rings and wins Hairydawg. For your Hershel Walker running over Bill Bates, I’ve got Peyton Manning being stuffed at the goal line, only to back out and find an open receiver in the end zone. I’ve got Eric Ainge carving you guys up 2 strait years. I’ve got Tee Martin making you guys look slow. I’ve got Crompton, freaking Crompton putting up 300 yards and 4 TDs on you. If Richt is a better coach than Kiffin, then why did Kiffin school him today?
He Hate Gator
October 10th, 2009
11:34 pm
When does basketball start? I like the new coach…he’s undefeated!
Darren
October 10th, 2009
11:34 pm
Ed,
Nerd? That’s a little harsh. Perhaps a little frustrated that brains are back in vogue?
Stupid just ain’t cool no more, Ed. It get’s us into wrong wars, it screws over the poor, and it ruins traditionally good football teams.
Willie Martinez
October 10th, 2009
11:34 pm
nate, i suggested my man tebow wear those verses under his eyes. makes great photo ops.
Neyland Stadium Groundskeeper
October 10th, 2009
11:35 pm
Will someone please send me Mark Richt’s mailing address? I just found several of his players assess on the turf at Neyland Stadium and would like to return them. Rocky Top You Will Always Be Home Sweet Home To Me…Good Old Rocky Top Tennessee….Woooooooooooooooo!!!!!