There’s too much comfort, too little accountability, at Georgia
Mark Richt needs to realize that the Georgia program can't survive on autopilot any longer. (Brant Sanderlin/bsanderlin@AJC.com)
ATHENS — Smart coaches don’t go to sleep one night and wake up the next morning dumb. They don’t suddenly design bad plays, or create bad game plans, or recruit bad players.
They don’t suddenly forget how to prepare and motivate a group of young men (even if at times seemingly way too much energy is being spent worrying about the color of their helmets or jerseys).
Mark Richt is not dumb. He did not wake up one recent morning less of a football coach than he was when he led Georgia to two SEC titles. But by now he probably has realized something: He has to change. His methods have to change. Everything that might affect direction and atmosphere has to change.
Richt did not wake up dumb. But he did wake up to find the Bulldogs no longer rank as an elite program in the nation. Or in the SEC. Or in the state.
Things got too comfortable. The program has been on autopilot for too long. You watch the results — the Bulldogs are a shockingly pedestrian 10-7 since the Alabama debacle last season — and you see how Richt reacts, in that, “Don’t worry, it will all work out because it always does,” kind of way. Fans can’t help but wonder, “Where’s the fire? Where’s the anger?”
There’s also this question: Where’s the accountability?
The problems at Georgia are similar to those that can afflict any long-time success story. The Bulldogs have declined partly because they’ve grown stagnant. Autopilot doesn’t work in sports. It’s why coaches get fired so often, particularly in “emotion” sports like football and hockey. Old messages and old methods have a limited shelf life.
Georgia doesn’t need a new voice. It just Richt to raise his voice — or his foot. The program needs some tension.
Question: Do you think anybody in Gainesville or Tuscaloosa feels “comfortable”? Ever. Or do you believe like I do there is always some tension in the air? And do you believe like I do that the assistant coaches who work for Urban Meyer and Nick Saban, and the athletes who compete for them, always are on edge? There’s never a chance of things getting stale.
I don’t get that feeling at Georgia. Didn’t have it last year, either. There has been too much comfort. There has been too little accountability. Richt will tell you that he’s a different guy out of public view, that, “People who know me know I have an edge.”
Know what? I don’t want to have to go looking for it. If a team lacks an edge, the coach’s edge is buried too deep somewhere. Or it has been dulled like an old knife. That’s Georgia right now: no edge. The Dogs are like a dull, rusty old knife that really only works in the Vanderbilt game.
“If you’re going to be accused of something,” Richt said Tuesday, “being accused of being a nice guy is not the worst thing.”
Not really. Not if you’re losing.
Richt defended his resume at Athens, as he should. Then he took the appropriate detour: “It’s not like we’ve just been floundering around. [But] this year we have been, let’s face it. I don’t like it.”
It remains to be seen what he does about it. He can shake up his coaching staff. He can change his schemes and his approach to recruiting.
But the major changes need to be bigger picture. Coaches and players need to be worried more about playing to a standard. Fearing the head coach wouldn’t hurt. They’re sloppy. They’re undisciplined. That’s not talent. That’s coaching.
Where’s the accountability? Why don’t these problems exist at Florida or Alabama?
Mark Richt: Is anybody listening to you anymore? If not, why not?
Richt knows these issues can’t be fixed during the season. “It’s got to be more of a tweak than a wholesale change,” during the season, he said. “But [after] every season, you must reevaluate. You must.”
He’s not dumb. He should know where the problems start.
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423 comments Add your comment
Mutts R Stupid
November 4th, 2009
5:08 pm
Fire Mark Rectum, Fire Mark Rectum….
Mutts R Stupid
November 4th, 2009
5:09 pm
Fire Mark’s White Rectum
JDawg
November 4th, 2009
5:16 pm
Hey “JDawg is a Moron” – no techie here – Class of 85. What are you a Dawg wannabe? Favorite movie Titanic? You probably think we should still have Ray Goff in charge. I like Richt and defend him all the time. We are a top 25 PROGRAM – not team, at the moment. That means we should have a Top 25 head coach (check), Top 25 facilities (check), Top 25 talent (check), Top 25 fan base (check), Top 25 expectations (check), and Top 25 Offensive and Defensive coordinators (OH *&^%!!!). However, Richt owns the show. If we still have either one of those knuckleheads next year, I am off the Richt bandwagon. Our defense can’t tackle and has no intensity. Bobo is the only OC in the SEC who passes on almost every 3rd and 3. Anyway, back Richt for now… by the way I’ve got some Betamax tapes you can have.
Barry Jay
November 4th, 2009
5:45 pm
Richt will, I believe, do the right thing this year. He will make staff changes.
What we all better get in our heads, though, is that next year will be a transition year too. We will not compete for the SECC until 2011 and beyond. That is assuming we don’t lose some key players to injury and/or the NFL.
Just accept it. Next year we will be led by a redshirt freshman QB. Our secondary will be very young. Our O Line must improve a ton for our running game to have a chance. The D will be coached by a new DC and possibly have a new scheme for players to absorb. Just accept it…next year we be hard pressed to come in second in the SEC East. It is not impossible…if Richt and his new staff have a killer year of coaching.
We all will be better off if we just lower expectations and accept that the program will be back to seriously challenge for the SECC in 2011 and 2012.
PHIL
November 4th, 2009
6:39 pm
Jeff, I was just wondering how much sports you actually played. Back when you would have been playing I might agree that fear motivates an athlete to play better. Today, I would totally disagree with ANYONE who thinks you can motivate a 6-8 32o pound 21 year old with fear. One reason why is won’t work is that they have nothing to lose. They aren’t even going to lose PT. Why do you think Reshad Jones wasn’t scared of losing his job after the way he played against Tech last year? Because there is no one remotely as good as he is to take his place. There’s no body else to put in that could do as well as him. So exactly what is it you think these guys should fear? A stern yelling at? PLEASE! Just turns kids off. Watch Saban show his butt sometimes ans see what the players do , they just tune him out until he gets finished. Why is it you think Spurrier hasn’t had a QB make it to the NFL since Danny Werful (sp) ? He yells and screams and pitched fits and throws his visor and they just tune him out until he is finished. Then pick up where they left off and use their talent to win at the college level, but it takes brains to win at the pro level and if all you’ve done is tune your coaches out for 4 years, it ain’t happening. So what exactly do you think the players would fear?
The other thing I am glad of is that CMR doesn’t answer to you or these other idiots that have never played or been in a team situation that want to see more “fire.” Ever heard of Tom Landry? He did pretty well in his career as a mild mannered man.
I will accept any blame you may want to place on the current staff for recruiting poor players. But not to be able to execute what they are taught to a high level is all on the players. As you said before, the defense that finished overall #2 in the nation was coached by the same man that coaches them today. He didn’t wake up and forget how to do it. The difference int hen and now? Players. I don’t care how many stars some recruiting service puts by their names, it just means that all that can be evaluated that way is their physical ability. Their minds and decision making ability cannot.
Franklin Co.
November 4th, 2009
7:01 pm
Somebody said that the dawgs quit this year playing the Gators and the Vols. Well, don’t forget last year the same thing happened with the Gators and the Tide. I don’t claim to be smart enough to know how to correct the problems with this team. DISCIPLINE seems a good place to start.
Gator Dawgpounder
November 4th, 2009
7:04 pm
Phil, get your facts straight; Doug Johnson, Jesse Palmer, Rex Grossman. It is on the players, but it is also on the staff to coach em up, as Spurrier would say. Look at Riley Cooper, probably a little better than average, but yet he is vastly improved this year over last. All of what you say is true, but at some point it is either on the coaches for not recruiting the right players or not developing the ones they had.
Yellow Fuzz
November 4th, 2009
7:06 pm
“YellowFuzz –”Look at the Weedwackers falling from the sky!” You stole my line. I wrote that 10 years ago. I want credit!”
My bad Jeff. The credit is all yours.
where is staff when you need him?
November 4th, 2009
7:49 pm
all this weeping because two guys wanted millions…..
PHIL
November 4th, 2009
8:43 pm
Gator, surely you jest when you call those people professional quarterbacks????? Taxi squad members other than Grossman who was pitiful, yet they were very successful college QB’s with more talent than anyone has a right to have. But all the yelling and screaming and fear mongering in the world couldn’t make them good enough to be professional players. That was the point of the article, that CMR needed to be more fear put into the players. My point was that there is nothing a college D1 player has to fear as long as his behavior doesn’t warrant expulsion from school. But I do understand how you could take the whole point of the post was that UF doesn’t produce professional QB’s. I’m just happy that as a Gator you can read and operate a word processor. It’s quite an accomplishment.
Speaking of behavior, do you think that thug Spikes has a fear of the coaches at UF??? hmmmmm? If he can do that and get a 1/2 game suspension against powerhouse Vandy, what do you think he has to fear? Here, they kick athletes off teams for missing classes and appointments with tutors. Oregon suspended a player for a year for throwing a punch. But UF suspends this Neanderthal a half game for what people all over the country call the cheapest shot ever seen in football at any level. What is it that you think he has to fear from the coaches at UF?? That long talk Cryer had with him? Bet it scared the dreadlocks off him.
Why do I want to look at Riley Cooper? He isn’t a Spurrier protege’. Like Tebow, he is an average white boy that is a product of a system that works in college football. When Tebow is gone, unless you get a replacement just like him, (doubtful) your team will be right back where it was before him. Good, but not unstoppable.
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2009
9:52 pm
Yellow Fuzz. That’s cool. Just kidding. Any time I get quoted, it’s a natural high. Also, I make 7 cents in royalties.
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2009
9:53 pm
Phil, I was a terror of a left winger in street hockey, and a scrappy second baseman.
ckgator
November 4th, 2009
10:09 pm
Hey Jeff – way too much emotion this week on the Spikes / eye-gouging, Williams / late hitting thing. I agree that Spikes should be suspended – half game or full, either way.
Is it me, or is this the “official year of unnecessary drama?”
Reporters Notebooks | Football Picks
November 5th, 2009
8:30 am
[...] Schultz, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: There's too much comfort, too little accountability, at [...]
Hal
November 5th, 2009
9:44 am
Jeff, never said YOU said fire anyone… these no brain posters are guilty of that.
GatorDawgpounder… if we’d skated by with just the 5 injuries you mentioned for your team in ‘08, we’d have won teh BCS instead of you. 18-5…. means we had 13 MORE players out than you did. Not an excuse bro, at some point excuses turn into facts.
Abilene
November 5th, 2009
3:33 pm
In my opinion, Richt needs to go after this season. There are better coaches out there.
If we were in a conference weaker than the SEC (which means almost any other coference), Richt’s coaching might be good enough, although we would still have the discipline problems because of the lack of character in his recruits. But this is the SEC, and the Dawgs are not able to compete with the likes of Florida, Alabama, and LSU, and now maybe Tennessee, and don’t forget South Carolina.
Fire Richt now and let’s move on.
Abilene
November 5th, 2009
3:34 pm
Waaaaaay too much comfort, and nooooo accountability. That’s a bad recipe for the future.
Hal
November 5th, 2009
4:27 pm
then dear Abilene…
you’re an idiot…. a sloberring buffoon who needs to go cheer for another team.
falcon qb matt lice
November 7th, 2009
12:12 am
F_ ck Richt!
falcon qb matt lice
November 7th, 2009
12:16 am
PERJURY!
Jeff Schultz
November 4th, 2009
3:56 pm
From All Of Us Black Players — First of all, if you’re African American, you don’t speak for all African Americans. You speak for you. Please change your screen. I strive to keep race out of this. Thanks.
Mark you are a skillful race baiter. you always have been. Yea, you are right here however, he doesnt speak for me.
bulldogmike
November 7th, 2009
11:30 am
You idiots who keep asking to see more of Logan Grey are no judge of talent at all. Grey is not a quarterback at the DIV 1A level…..and never will be. He may have a place on the team but not at quarterback. Defensive back maybe. Cox is adequate to win games, but not by himself. I don’t know of a quarterback that ever played the game that could overcome the problems UGA exhibits on the field (maybe Michael Vick). CMR needs to get those freshmen QB’s some experience for next year…damn the redshirt!! If he doesn’t, he will be answering the same questions next year that he’s NOT answering this year. And it may ultimately cost him his job and UGA an excellent coach. Look what happened to the JAX JAGUARS after they fired Tom Coughlin during a period of transition in QB. Tom went on to win Championships with another team, while the JAGS wallowed in mediocrity. Same can be said for the Tony Dungy/Tampa Bay Bucs and will be said about the Auburn/Tuberville situation in the future. CMR is a good coach many would be honored to play for, be he is letting pride get in the way of common sense.
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November 7th, 2009
11:53 am
[...] This week included coach Mark Richt suggesting starting freshman Aaron Murray with an eye toward next season would be “like quitting.” He then dismissed any speculation that he was too nice, as if his personality has somehow led to the program’s decline. [...]
Don Wilson
November 7th, 2009
2:47 pm
I really think we need a Never Quit attitude and I just don’t see it in Richt at all.He dont show much emotion at all until it’s too late ..DEEP into the season he now decides to point to plays the refs miss and now that he did they start throwing flags on a Florida team that hasn’t been flagged all year..TOO BAD it was late at near the end of the game,but they were hit with quiet a few after that .Ive seen play after play that should have been red flagged and Richt stood Idle..he could have thrown the challenge flag on too much celebration after the AJ score on LSU that cost us the game and saw AJ did half if anything more than Tebow does every single game “BUT HE DIDN’T IN THE GEORGIA GAME HMMM Held his emotion in check with UM on his case I bet..nothing was going to ruin beating Georgia even if Tebow had to be ilenced..wonder why Richt doesn’t command that same respect????? another hmmmm Well I think the man we need for this or other job on this Georgia team is a man who NEVER QUIT And that man’s name would be DAVID POLLACK. We seriously need to put his name out there ..that Guy never quit and broke his freaking neck hitting men that were really too big for him..His heart alone got him to the NFL not his size for sure..He will butt heads with the players like ERK did,yes even with a previous broken neck,he will.If not a head coach a for sure DEFENSIVE ONE ,No doubt .TIME TO THROW SOME NAMES OUT FOR SPOTS HERE JEFF