Richt needs to end speculation about Martinez
If Willie Martinez has coached his final game in Athens, we should know soon.
I’m not sure what to read into Mark Richt’s sudden decision to cancel his scheduled Sunday night conference call with media members because of a reported “family function,” other than, well, a reported family function.
But with strong and protracted speculation that there are going to be significant changes on his coaching staff at Georgia — including either firing or demoting defensive coordinator Willie Martinez — Richt should not let this matter linger much longer. Either announce the staff will remain intact or make changes. The public guessing game helps nobody.
This generally is the week firings happen. (Virginia already has fired Al Groh.) It’s an important time in recruiting, and teams also want to get an early jump on potential replacements. There’s no reason to wait until after bowl games. Bowls generally are inconsequential, as it relates to a coach’s job security.
All that said, it would stunning if Martinez is back, certainly as coordinator. Martinez’s supporters shouldn’t get too drunk over the 30-24 season-ending win over Georgia Tech. The Bulldogs played better defense at times against Tech than they had this season. But the Jackets were held to only a field goal in the first half largely because Georgia’s running game kept Tech’s offense off the field. They had only four possessions. (The others: missed field goal, interception, time expired.) If any coach redeemed himself Saturday night, it probably was offensive line coach Stacy Searles, not Martinez.
In the second half, Tech scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions and fumbled to end another drive near midfield.
As our Tim Tucker points out, Richt has done little to defuse speculation that he’ll make changes. Sometimes saying nothing on the subject — as he has done most of the season — is a greater indictment than anything else. Bottom line: Martinez’s body of work, and certainly the Dogs’ defensive problems the last two seasons, speaks loudly. Change is needed.
But regardless of Richt’s decision, he needs to clear the air quickly.
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481 comments Add your comment
how2fish
November 30th, 2009
1:39 pm
Richard Dawson …er Dick…if our guys could catch every pass that hit them in stride in the hands UGA wins by 20.FIRE YOURSELF you BUG !
Casual observer
November 30th, 2009
1:40 pm
The first couple of drives in each half are all coaching. How well did they prepare and how well did they make adjustments. UGA has gotten down quick on several occasions at the start of games and at the start of the 2nd half. Down 14-0 to Fla before I even got done popping popcorn and UT came out in the second half pretty damn quick too!!
Joe Cox played like a RS Fresh not a red shirt senior this year. Not to mention he didn’t get any better as the season went on. The same problem plagued the dogs all season, turnovers and penalties and good coaching should fix the both of them.
Bobo is way over his head and Martinez is clueless. Talent is there. Remember how promising some of these players are now and see how they look 2-3 years from now. Stafford was a projected #1 pick out of high school so it wasn’t like Bobo coached him up.
Dawg Fud
November 30th, 2009
1:40 pm
there you are Saint Simons! how goes it?
pilgrim
November 30th, 2009
1:41 pm
In honor of Richt and the Bulldogs’ stunning victory, I think we should all delay writing on blogs until the end of the season. Or at least until our family functions are done.
Greg Norton
November 30th, 2009
1:42 pm
Don’t fall into the two boxes of chocolate covered cherries “deal” at the supermarket. There’s only 10 in the box, compared to 20 in boxes where the cups are transfigured in the right way.
Snoop Dawg
November 30th, 2009
1:42 pm
Yo Dawgs,
Funny how the conversation has become whether Willie will be Free. The conversation ought to be to which Bible school Preacha Man, Water Girl, and the Medicine Show will go.
Looks like ole Markt Wreck is still pretty adept at passing out the Koolaid to the docile Dawg Nation… Yo…
mudcat
November 30th, 2009
1:42 pm
JB, that’s stench, not stinch. That Tech degree is really paying off, eh?
Ramble On
November 30th, 2009
1:42 pm
30-24, Nerds. Eat it.
atl-xmen
November 30th, 2009
1:42 pm
sadawg south carolina ran out of downs because uga stopped them…if not for a cox int on a screen they would have lost by at least 10..lsu game was pretty much stolen from us with that lame call and ark couldnt stop us all night but our defense stopped theirs..uga would beat south carolina and ark 8-10 times easy..uga has the better players..tenn recruits just as well as the dawgs but have more seniors on the off side of the ball which gave uga problems when uga couldnt rush the passer..give tenn credit for excuting their game plan very well..
tech fan
November 30th, 2009
1:43 pm
It’s funny how bad tech played and how well ga played but we still almost won. doh
SadDawg
November 30th, 2009
1:44 pm
Hey Phil, I think you have selective memory. “Without losing to LSU, we don’t lose to TN.”??? Man, they kicked our ever-lovin butts!!! Three of the last four years!! Yeah, we coulda pulled the LSU game out, but don’t you think Ark, SC, AR, GA Tech are saying the same thing about games? You’re grasping at straws trying to defend Martinez. Numbers don’t lie, so good luck…
Tee
November 30th, 2009
1:45 pm
Recruites that want to go to UGA for Willie — let us not forget that Willie is also the Defensive Backs coach and name one DB that can tackle?
Willie SUCKS — he couldn’t call Bingo Numbers in a barn.
Fire this JERK and get someone who can TEACH tackling and call defensive plays.
This guy has to go.
atl-xmen
November 30th, 2009
1:45 pm
anyone checked those rosters yet and compared how many upperclassmen uga has playing with the teams ahead of us in the sec?
PHIL
November 30th, 2009
1:48 pm
RICHARD you’re an idiot if you think the phantom block int he back call against OSU on the punt that was returned to the 2 yard line didn’t keep is from winning that game. We obviously played poorly, but that would have won that game. If you don’t think the two excessive celebration penalties against LSU cost us that game your head needs to come out of your butt. Two weeks later that crew was suspended for those, other bad calls in that game and more in the game that cost ARK a win over UF. First time a crew has ever been suspended.
Sad Dawg you think I’m have selective memory? I think you’re another idiot who has never played or coached a game of football past little league. Losing to LSU took alot out of those kids who aren’t robots as some seem to believe they are.
atl-xmen
November 30th, 2009
1:51 pm
tech fan..funny how uga freshmen and sophs ran throuh , around and over those upperclassmen all night..and tech was lucky that uga settled for field goals or it would have been worse..tech was no where near winng that game..not with that high school offense getting shut down ..only 98 yards the first half..what a joke of a team..cant wait until those gaily players leave..i see another 8 year beat down of tech when that happens maybe worse if paul isnt fired first..
Tebow vs. Stafford
November 30th, 2009
1:51 pm
Tebow has gotten worse each year in yards and td’s, completion %, etc, 2007 was a good year for Tebow, 2008 was ok, 2009 has been bad QB stat wise.
Meyer is NOT improving Tebow, Tebow is getting worse each year.
Stafford improved each year at Georgia in yards, td’s, completion %, and Rating.
Georgia did a better job at improving Stafford than Florida did at improving Tebow.
Stafford went #1 pick in the NFL. Tebow is projected to be undrafted in the NFL by Mel Kiper.
Tebow could have been a GREAT LB or TE and had a great NFL career. The talent was wasted by meyer’s desire to win a champ, at cost to Tebow’s future career.
JJ
November 30th, 2009
1:52 pm
Saint Simons,
As much as I truly do hate you, your posts were often pretty comical. I mean, after the Tennessee game you posted with the name “Saint Crompton.” Even us UGA fans thought that was pretty original. We miss you around here. Come on back. My days are not the same without your stupid, annoying, and sometimes funny posts.
PHIL
November 30th, 2009
1:53 pm
Oh and Sad Dawg I don’t think Tech is saying anything at all. They got waxed. And if numbers don’t lie, tell me why you believe Martinez is so bad when two years ago, when he had enough talented players with experience, we had the number 2 defense in the nation? He must have suddenly forgotten how to coach? We don’t have many good experienced players and we had a bad year. Get a life and get over it.
gdawginkalamzoo
November 30th, 2009
1:54 pm
Hell of a game plan that Richt had Saturday. I hope he gets back into setting up or helping to set up the game plan from here on out. Bobo is still new to his position so I think Richt should still have a handing what’s going on with the O. Can’t complain about the D either on Saturday but I don’t think it saves Willie’s job unless we move to the ACC where 7-5 can win the conference any given year. I don’t think anybody ever said that Willie wasn’t a good guy, he just hasn’t produced results being DC. Demote him to DB coach again. No shame in saying that it just didn’t work out.
EricADawgFAN
November 30th, 2009
1:58 pm
Fire Martinez immediately after the season is officially over.
Urban Meyer
November 30th, 2009
1:59 pm
Coach Willie Martinez is a very good DC. If UGA is silly enough to fire him, I pray that he lands a job with another SEC East team.
Bob Davie
November 30th, 2009
2:01 pm
Folks, let me tell you something: Willie Martinez is an OUTSTANDING coach. Fans need to exercise a little patience. Firing a coach just because he gave up more points than any other defensive coordinator in UGA history is a bad, bad move. I’m gonna tell you something: this isn’t the way you build a dominant program. You can’t just go out and fire coaches who don’t perform. These guys have families and it’s really tough on them when their dad gets fired. They’d much rather go to school at the local elementary school and be heckled for having a failure of a dad than to watch their dad get a chance to move on to a school/career for which they’re more qualified.
BUT, if Coach Richt DOES decide to let Willie Martinez go, there’s one guy out there I think the UGA fans would be excited to hear about ; Kevin Ramsey.
booger
November 30th, 2009
2:01 pm
so maybe GT would trade for Willie. Might be an upgrade.
Urban Meyer to NFL?
November 30th, 2009
2:01 pm
Speaking of Meyer, CBS seems to think the NFL is where he ends up next season. Check it out:
http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/12585042/meyer-going-to-nfl-believe-it-numbskulls
Mobile Dawg
November 30th, 2009
2:02 pm
Yeah zoo, Tee a few posts back calls Willie a Jerk, wonder if he knows the meaning of the word Jerk?
For what it’s worth as much as I liked the game plan offensively for this one we still have to execute. A number of games the O-line didn’t execute very well. A lot of good things came together for this one, I attribute it to an increase in CMR’s intensity.
gdawginkalamzoo
November 30th, 2009
2:02 pm
Is the ACC Championship game Thursday night? Isn’t that when the ACC usually plays?
SadDawg
November 30th, 2009
2:02 pm
Phil, why the name calling? Fact is, our defense has crumbled since ‘07. We have allowed 30 or more point 10 times the past 2 seasons, 40 or more 6 times. And, Tech got waxed? We won by 6 after being up by 14!!! So LSU “waxed” us?? Get over yourself…
Ben
November 30th, 2009
2:02 pm
Where is that clown Saint Simons??? FOOL!
booger
November 30th, 2009
2:02 pm
Notre Dame will have some great personnel available soon and before the bowl game I bet.
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR (Waf-SS, ret.)
November 30th, 2009
2:04 pm
The idiotic fans who want to sack Martinez are totally disgusting. Look at the tech game. The Tech defense was excellant and shut down one of the best offenses in the country and the probable ACC and Orange Bowl Champions. People who know nothing at all about coaching are trying to fire martinez. Did you know that several of these characters have outstanding Income Tax and property tax liens against them here in Georgia and also in Florida. I do not trust people wjo do not file their Income tax returns. People who do not file their Income Tax returns should be run out of the state instead of trying to run Mr. martinez out. Just go to the courthouse records if you do not believe me. These idiotic fans need to be shut down and forced to file their Income Tax Returns. Richt, Martinez, and Bobo are okay by me and That settles the matter, folks. Now shut up!!!!!
Lane Kiflin
November 30th, 2009
2:04 pm
For once, I agree with Coach Meyer. Willie Martinez is an excellent coach. I can’t believe UGA would even consider letting this guy go. I’m hopeful that Richt will decide to retain him for another year.
Louis Skolnick
November 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
Richt could be headed back to FSU. Looks like a vacancy there after BB has some downtime.
Damon Evans
November 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
Think about it….UGA’s worse team in recent yrs beat Tech’s best team in recent yrs. Willie’s D played assignment football very well. Tackling was much better…except for Vance Cuff…that guy couldn’t tackle CPJ!
Lane Kiffin
November 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
Remember I have to keep my promise….
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR (Waf-SS, ret.)
November 30th, 2009
2:06 pm
The idiotic fans who want to sack martinez are totally digustin. Look at the Tech games. The Tech offece was excellent and UGA’s defense shut it down. These fans need to file their taxes and quit trying to fire Richt, Martinez, and Bobo.
Urban Meyer to Notre Dame?
November 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
I don’t know about the NFL and what CNS Sports thinks, what does CBS Sports know?
I’d say Notre Dame is more likely, USA Today builds a vERY strong case for that, he is Catholic, was named after a Pope, he used to coach at Notre Dame, he called it his DREAM JOB, read for yourself:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/kerasotis/2009-11-17-meyer-weis-notre-dame_N.htm
Mr. Thomas Anthony "The Taxman Cometh" Jones, SR (Waf-SS, ret.)
November 30th, 2009
2:07 pm
Tech offense was excellant and Matinez’s GA defense shut it down. Enough said.
Booger
November 30th, 2009
2:08 pm
Louis, I think Willie can be saved. He’s a work in progress as we all have to humbly confess. Excellent game at Bobby Dodd for him. That drop by baybay didn’t just happen – it was caused!
Louis Skolnick
November 30th, 2009
2:09 pm
Right on, booger.
Urban Meyer
November 30th, 2009
2:09 pm
People, enough with the rumors concerning my next job. As long as there are fine coaches in the SEC like Willie Martinez, I’ll be right here at Florida. It’s my desire to compete against the best, and W. Martinez is the best!!!
Bob
November 30th, 2009
2:09 pm
It seems like Willie would voluntarily make an exit. I think he is a good coach, overall, but sometimes, people just work out in different situations. I wish him every success…wherever else he goes next year.
ToccoaDawg
November 30th, 2009
2:10 pm
for once I agree with the bug blogger
Russ GATA
November 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
Me thinks Mark Richt knows a little more about football and people than you. Just a guess.
Urban Meyer
November 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
I love Willie Martinez. If someone wrongs Coach Martinez, they’ll have to answer to me.
flagboy?
November 30th, 2009
2:11 pm
Louis Skolnick
November 30th, 2009
2:05 pm
Richt could be headed back to FSU. Looks like a vacancy there after BB has some downtime.
Jimbo Fisher is the next coach of FSU. . . it’s already in the contract.
Victor
November 30th, 2009
2:12 pm
Here’s a theory, long shot or coincidence. Jerry Glanville recently resigned at Portland State. I’ve googled and really cant find a reason other than lack of support from the University and an upcoming pay cut for he and his staff. Long story short, Jerry may be on the market. We all know Jerry lives, breaths and sleeps defense. He wasnt great at being a head coach but is excellent at running defenses. I can also confirm he is back home in North Georgia. Longshot or coincidence??
ToccoaDawg
November 30th, 2009
2:12 pm
clean house martinez has to go so does special teams coach
Taco
November 30th, 2009
2:13 pm
Sign him to long term deal or hire Charlie Wiess!
The Entire Dawgnation
November 30th, 2009
2:14 pm
We will not tolerate Willie Martinez for another season. Richt, either fire Willie or convince him to resign because we will not tolerate his incompetence for another season. Send Jancek and Fabris packing also! We rather like you Richt, and would love to keep you, but deliver SEC Titles and an occasional national title to us (you’ll never do that with Martinez, Jancek and Fabris on staff ever gain) or you’ll go the way of Goff & Donnan.
— The Dawgnation
Booger
November 30th, 2009
2:14 pm
Louis, I’m thinking Brian Kelly might need Willie with him at Notre Dame.