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
Dawg 79
October 11th, 2009
5:26 pm
With our defense, we may need June Jones and his run & shoot to keep up!
FLA DAWG
October 11th, 2009
5:28 pm
YOU HEARD IT HERE FROM FLA DAWG; UGA unloads Bobo & Martinez. Richt remains as Head Coach and also calls the shots as OC. And the new Defensive Coordinator is…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….TUBBERVILLE.
Anyone who knows SEC ball and Tubberville’s history will know this is a recipe for success.
FLA DAWG
October 11th, 2009
5:34 pm
Hey GaGator,
Glad you pointed out that every Game (except one) was played in Florida. We’re a rotten team because of our coaching but giving The Gators Home Field Advantage every year gives an unfair edge every year.
Thanks again for reminding Dawg Nation of the handicap we give The Gators evey year!
jason
October 11th, 2009
5:36 pm
Every UF game could be played in Athens and we still would be 3 for our last 19. Does UGA even have a Home Field Advantage?
Tenn 45-19
October 11th, 2009
5:37 pm
Fla Dawg-
Stupid statement. It wasn’t much of a handicap UF got when Dooley was whipping them every year.
firemarkricht.net
October 11th, 2009
5:38 pm
Here’s something for all UGA fans to consider, especially those whining about “going back to the days of Donnan and Goff”:
Donnan (97-00) 35-13. Richt (06-09) 33-12
Welcome back, Dawgs.
jason
October 11th, 2009
5:38 pm
UGA is also the one who keeps renewing the contract. We could always say no and not reup.
jason
October 11th, 2009
5:39 pm
firemarkricht.net, I said we were closer to the Donnan days than DAWG Nation wanted to admit.
Calm Down
October 11th, 2009
5:39 pm
I think Richt’s strengths (loyalty, honesty and character) are getting in the way of the him seeing the truth. CWM and CMB aren’t getting the job done, and CMR is too loyal to make the change. it will be done for him by AD Evans. CMR needs a tough nosed assistant. It was Erk Russell that made Dooley’s career a success. Dooley’s offenses were weak, and Erk brought the fire, much like BVG did before leaving. Need a tough nosed coach to balance the nice Ritch.
I do believe the bar has been raised so high that few can survive. Dooley couldn’t survive today with his 7-9 win seasons. He lost to Bama, Tennessee & Auburn more than he won. 24 hr sports and all games on TV have made NCAA football a big time thing. Everyone thinks their team should win the NC, but only one can. Our problem is that all the current champs are in our conference.
I still would trust my kid to CMR over Urban, Kiffin or Spurrier. CMR has a great record, many bowl wins & top ten finishes. Let’s not over react to this. Make it too bad and he will leave, and we will get a hired gun who places winning at football over winning at life. This is school and these are kids. This is not the NFL!
jason
October 11th, 2009
5:40 pm
Donnan was not given 9 years though was he? Does Donnan get partial credit for the players he left CMR with?
jason
October 11th, 2009
5:43 pm
I think Richt’s strengths (loyalty, honesty and character) are getting in the way of the him seeing the truth.
That is great for recruits I guess. But those strengths do not mean crap when it comes to managing a football game. In a football game loyalty turns a team to disaster, and honesty is lost. For if honesty was there we would have had a new DC 2 years ago.
jason
October 11th, 2009
5:44 pm
Sorry,
In a football game loyalty (Staying with Joe Cox)turns a team to disaster.
jason
October 11th, 2009
5:52 pm
if any georgia fan is calling for richt’s head they are crazy. granted i havent seen anyone in here upste at richt i hear mostly complaints about martinez. i say fire him and possibly reconsider who calls the plays there. keep CMR he is an outstanding hc and is not the problem in athens
Crap like this is so stupid. CMR put Bobo and CWM at the coordinator spots. How does that not show that he is not a good HC. He is the one in charge, he makes the decisions… He should take responsibilty for some of the “Boneheaded” Decisions he has made.
SteveR
October 11th, 2009
5:55 pm
The last few years have seen far more “off the field” issues with players. Are we recruiting more social deviants to keep up with the Gators?
HobNail Boot Backatcha
October 11th, 2009
5:59 pm
I think Crompton’s 52 yard pass to Gerald Jones to put the game away was a hobnail boot in Jawja’s posterior.
firemarkricht.net
October 11th, 2009
6:05 pm
Donnan (97-00) 35-13. Richt (06-09) 33-12
jason, to your post where you write, “CMR put Bobo and CWM at the coordinator spots. How does that not show that he is not a good HC.”
I think the results of his decision to hire those guys as OC and DC is an example of why he isn’t a good head coach.
DawginLex
October 11th, 2009
6:05 pm
Here is my prediction:
1.) Martinez will resign at year end if not before
2.) Fabris will resign at year end if not before
3.) Jancek will remain on staff and be re-assigned to a new position
4.) Bobo will remain on staff as QB coach.
5.) Richt will return to calling his own plays.
Somewhere along the way through all of this, I am seeing the old “make 3 envelopes” joke.
I think Coach Richt is about to open the 1st envelope.
jason
October 11th, 2009
6:10 pm
We are on the same page. I honsetly think the bulk of his success was built on Donnan’s (Greene/Pollack) players.
He recruits atheletes not football players, and then has noone to teach them to become football players. We can beat teams we out talent. We cannot beat teams that we are outcoached.
jason
October 11th, 2009
6:13 pm
firemarkricht.net, What amazes me is everyone running to defend CMR, but throwing Bobo and CWM, hell the rest of the staff under the bus. Who in the HELL do they think is resposible for these incompetent Coaches to have jobs? Just too FREAKIN funny.
Harleydawg
October 11th, 2009
6:14 pm
The problem in my eyes is the lack of a killer instinct. We haven’t seen a killer instinct out of the Bulldogs since they humiliated Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. There is no urgency, there is no passion…and to watch Coach Richt on the sidelines may just point to the reason why. He looks indifferent. Meyer, Saban and now Kiffin has show the tenacity of a killer instinct. Is Coach Richt coaching, or is he preaching. I’ve had enough of this ‘kinder, gentler,’ breed of bulldog.
Also, cut the crap of playing rap music in Sanford Stadium. Only play it when the Dawgs have momentum. For instance, playing “Soulja Boy” as the Dawgs took the gas out of Auburn in the first ‘legitimate’ Blackout was perfect timing. Cut out playing that crap when they are behind in score. If they are behind, just let the band play fight music. Enough ‘hip-hopping’ Sanford Stadium.
firemarkricht.net
October 11th, 2009
6:14 pm
Cool.
BTW, Dawgin Lex…I hope Richt doesn’t go back to calling his own plays…that didn’t seem to go well. If I’m recalling correctly, the Dawgs were sliding offensively and Richt promoted Bobo to OC and soon after handed play calling duties to him.
We need a brand new OC.
jason
October 11th, 2009
6:15 pm
If your OC SUCKS, your DC SUCKS, Your STs Coach SUCKS, your PT Coord SUCKS, your LB coach SUCKS…. Is it me or is it that Your SACRED Christian HC Might SUCK most of all?
Calm Down
October 11th, 2009
6:15 pm
Let’s see, we could get:
Tommy Bowden
Chan Gailey
Mike Shula
Phil Fulmer
Tommy Tubberville
Ty Willingham
Lou Holtz
Yea …. make the change! “WE WANT CHANGE”
firemarkricht.net
October 11th, 2009
6:20 pm
Jason, you are right as rain, amigo.
Although I doubt the university will make such a drastic change immediately, they should begin to look at who might become available in the next year or two to replace Richt.
ED FROM ELLIJAY
October 11th, 2009
6:21 pm
martinez has to go, bobo has to go, fabris de’s and special teams , has to go , searls ??? play younger players. forget cox and brian evans. WHY?????? CAN’T THE COACHES SEE THAT RAMBO IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN EVANS?? WHY PLAY COX NOW WHEN WE HAVE NO ONE READY FOR NEXT SEASON?? I THINK I SHOULD GET MY CONTRIBUTION MONEY REFUNDED. GET SOME DAMN COACHES WHO HAVE SOME FIRE AND IMAGINATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR FORGET MY MONEY NEXT YEAR. GET KIRBY SMART!!
firemarkricht.net
October 11th, 2009
6:22 pm
Calm Down…you’re so darn cute!
In case you missed it:
Donnan (97-00) 35-13. Richt (06-09) 33-12
You should add Donnan to your list. We could get the same results AND save about $2 million every year!
NEXT!
jason
October 11th, 2009
6:25 pm
firemarkricht.net, I might get in trouble for saying this, but it ia always happening to UGA. I don’t prtend to know how long the AD has been there, nor the School Pres. All I know is Goff came in and recruited well, but could not coach. He left Donnan with talent. Donnan could not beat UF, UA, UT, the big games and was fired. Enter CMR who was handed a helluva lot of talent from Donnan, and it is the ame song and dance. We win games by out talenting the oppisition. When talent is equal, we are flat out getting out coached. It is the DAWGS culture to underachieve year after year. CMR raised the level of expectations for DAWGS fans with his great start. Now that the bar has been raised he is not measuring up. We are in a bad state of regression. We still have the talent, we just don’t have the coaches to develope it.
Motivational Plans
October 11th, 2009
6:25 pm
Mark Richt needs to correct all of this by coming up with some new taunting penalties! It worked against florida in 07! Come on mark—those unsportsmanlike penalties will do the trick—get your coaches thinking outside the box! Also, how about another blackout????
TheEagles
October 11th, 2009
6:26 pm
Wow I love seeing the fair-weather bandwagon UGA fans after a loss! Fills my body with joy!
HobNail Boot Backatcha
October 11th, 2009
6:27 pm
DAWGS SUCK, What an embarrassment to the SEC. It used to be Vandy, Kentucky, MsState that were the gimme games. Now its just UGA. That smell the Dawgs left in Knoxville is the smell of a decaying program! EEEWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!
firemarkricht.net
October 11th, 2009
6:35 pm
Jason, I think you are right on with your assessment, although I hope that what we’re seeing is not what we’re seeing. Do you know what I mean?
If the pattern IS a result of institutional thinking, then it’s a problem WAY beyond a blog or a new head coach. BUT a new head coach is a good place to start.
Mikey
October 11th, 2009
6:36 pm
The fact that this blog has over 1500 comments tells us all we need to know.
We are pissed off and we can not take this any more.
We can accept losing if we played hard and lost in a close game but to be completely outcoached and smacked in the mouth will not fly.
firemarkricht.net
October 11th, 2009
6:38 pm
The Falcons are replaying the UGA-TENN game, with the Falcons as TENN.
Calm Down
October 11th, 2009
6:38 pm
firemarkricht.net,
Was Donnan so bad?
“Donnan was then the head football coach at the University of Georgia from 1996 to 2000. He compiled a 40-19 record during his tenure. He was the first football coach in school history to lead Bulldog teams to four consecutive Bowl victories. Under Donnan, the Bulldogs won the Outback Bowl in 1997, the Peach Bowl in 1998, the Outback Bowl in 1999, and the Oahu Bowl in 2000.”
Adams fired him because zealots like yourself expect nothing less than 12-0 every year. Grow up!
Miller lite
October 11th, 2009
6:42 pm
dawgs are awful …watch the passion, enthusiasm the falcon players are displaying ..poor coaching cmr.
Go (insert redneck accent) Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwgs
jason
October 11th, 2009
6:42 pm
firemarkricht.net, I thought what CMR did that was so great when he got UGA was he closed the borders to other teams. Remember Donnan who took Sanks and never looked at Lewis. CMR changed that when he got here. That was the ticket, keep the instate players home and we could compete with any team in the country. CMR is starting to lose the recruiting battle to UF, UT, AUB again. I know we can’t have all the players in state, but it sure looks like the best ones are going to other schools, and we are stuck taking the leftovers. We may pull a Staff, Murray, Charles occasionaly, but instate recruiting is where will maintain a competitive advantage. Looks like alot of UGA’s bust are homegrown OL.
jason
October 11th, 2009
6:43 pm
Calm Down, I actually agree with you. What if Donnan had the 9 years that CMR has had?
jason
October 11th, 2009
6:44 pm
Actually Donnan’s downfall was naming Quincy Carter starting QB before he was even signed. Remember, something like 3-4 QBs transfered that year.
BigDawgBen
October 11th, 2009
6:56 pm
I am still proud to be a Dawg fan and always will be, but when will the leadership at the University of Georgia wake up and realize that something is not right. Did we even get into the Red Zone Saturday? I dont remember the last time that has happened? Just because Mike Bobo was a quarterback at Georgia does not mean he can be an offensive coordinator. Also, who ever told Martinez he can coach? This started at the beginning of last year. After last season changes should have been made. After this season changes have to be made. Yeah sure Stafford, Moreno, and Massaquoi are gone but how long are we going to use that excuse?
I am tired of being average at best. This coaching staff has done the least with the most talent I have ever seen. Come on guys! Someone needs to wake up!!!
jason
October 11th, 2009
7:01 pm
I feel compelled to repost this:
If your OC SUCKS, your DC SUCKS, Your STs Coach SUCKS, your PT Coord SUCKS, your LB coach SUCKS…. Is it me or is it that Your SACRED Christian HC Might SUCK most of all?
Bobo's Mama
October 11th, 2009
7:05 pm
Y’all need to quit bashing our team. They just aren’t as good as they have been in years past. Maybe Vanderbilt will be nice to us next week. At least we don’t smell like corn dogs.
Lou Vales
October 11th, 2009
7:05 pm
IF you are an ELITE program it is imperative that you go into EVERY season trying to go 12-0. 12-0 gets you to Atlanta for sure and 13-0 gets you to national championship game. I guarantee you that Florida, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma were ALL thinking 12-0 befpore this season started. When a program starts thinking 12-0 is a CRAZY goal tht is when it starts to fall apart.
Captain Herb
October 11th, 2009
7:13 pm
Mark Richt for Nobel Peace Prize!
chazzo
October 11th, 2009
7:17 pm
“Kiffin hopes to use win over Georgia in recruiting”
Wow… You think? How can the AJC run that article and call it news?
Hokie in waiting
October 11th, 2009
7:17 pm
If the dogs season is over, why does your blog have 16 pages, and if your teams are so great, GT, UA, UF, UT, why are you on a UGA blog bashing UGA.
MNC BCS game this year, VT vs BAMA, we will be there to revenge that first game! Mark it down! Maybe present an argument against it, cause I can’t see it happening any other way.
Hokie Who
jason
October 11th, 2009
7:19 pm
Lou Vales, I completely agree. I go into the season looking at our (UGA’S)schedule saying things like this is what I see as a win if we play to our potential. Like this year, I knew there were going to be some close games, but I thought we would have only one loss headed into JAX to face you guys. But as usual, UGA never fails to lay acouple of EGGS every year.
chazzo
October 11th, 2009
7:19 pm
Donan’s downfall, I have been told is that Q. Carter was a coke head. His pro career seem to reflect that.
Denver Dog
October 11th, 2009
7:20 pm
Whoever used my moniker, thanks, I don’ t think I could’ve said it any better except that maybe we get to ski after we play golf.
Lou Valle, how is that going for Oklahoma this year? I agree with you though.
Denver Dog
October 11th, 2009
7:21 pm
Chazzo, you are right, Joe Hamilton was his dealer.
jason
October 11th, 2009
7:22 pm
chazzo, So in other words had Donnan stayed at UGA for 9 years, we would most likely have had a MNC appearence, but we also would be under probation for the next 20 years. Donnan just looked shady…