With program declining, Richt had to do something
Maybe Willie Martinez had a plan, but it seldom worked the last two seasons.
The problem is not just when a defense misses too many tackles.
The problem is not just when coverage is over here but the receiver and the ball are over there.
The problem is not just the 90 points scored by Florida in the past two trips to Jacksonville, or the 80 points scored by Tennessee in the past two games in Knoxville or the 10 games — 10 games — over the past two seasons when opponents have scored 34 or more points.
The big problem: Nobody fears playing Georgia anymore.
The Bulldogs need more than a solid game plan on defense. They need a pulse. They need the passion and aggressiveness and bone-jarring collisions we see, hear and practically feel when Florida and Alabama play — when almost any consistent national power plays.
That’s what they were under Brian VanGorder. That’s not what they had become under Willie Martinez.
“I want to make sure we’re playing Georgia ball,” Mark Richt said Wednesday night after announcing the firings of three defensive coaches, including Martinez, his friend and defensive coordinator. “Playing with the type of speed and intensity that it takes to be champions. That’s what we’re looking for.”
Richt made the right move Wednesday, even if a couple of days late. Had the announcement come Monday, as many anticipated, rumors would not have spun out of control over the next 48 hours.
When ESPN reported via Twitter earlier in the day that Martinez had been fired, it was not received well in the Georgia football offices. Why? Because several members of the coaching staff had not been informed yet. No announcement had been made. Even though Martinez’s eventual firing had been expected for weeks — at least since the 45-19 loss at Tennessee in October — that kind of blindside Wednesday could have been avoided, especially during this recruiting period.
Richt didn’t say when he finalized his decision, only that he didn’t inform coaches until Wednesday. “It was definitely not a one-year knee-jerk reaction to this season,” he said. “It was more of a decision that was made over the course of time.”
That course: at least two seasons, maybe three.
Martinez stepped up from secondary coach to coordinator in 2005, when VanGorder left. In his first three seasons, the Dogs allowed 34 or more points four times in 39 games. But in the past two years, they’ve seen opponents roll up 41 (Alabama), 38 (LSU), 49 (Florida), 38 (Kentucky), 45 (Georgia Tech), 37 (South Carolina), 41 (Arkansas), 45 (Tennessee), 41 (Florida) and 34 (Kentucky).
That’s significant erosion. Teams can’t win like that. Programs can’t compete like that. They become second-tier, and that’s were Georgia is right now. Evidence? This season’s record: 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the SEC.
Richt made the right choice, the only choice.
Nobody likes to see people lose their jobs. But the Dogs’ defense has slipped too far. Attitude has slipped too far. How opponents perceive Georgia has slipped too far. The Dogs had become passive, soft, even predictable. They seldom dictated. They mostly reacted.
Richt clearly felt the problem ran deeper than just Martinez. So defensive ends coach Jon Fabris and linebackers coach John Jancek also were let go. But he also must realize that problems usually start at the top. Richt needs to demand more accountability among coaches and players.
In a statement released immediately following the firings, he said, “In the final analysis, I’m charged with providing the leadership and direction for the Georgia program and sometimes that means making difficult decisions. This was one of them.”
It was long overdue.
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635 comments Add your comment
NRBQ
December 2nd, 2009
7:11 pm
How about UGA’s only 3-time All-American, the ‘02 SEC Player of the Year, the ‘04 SEC Defensive POY, the winner of the ‘04 Bednarik Award, the ‘03 & ‘04 Hendricks Award, the ‘04 Lombardi Award, and the ‘04 Lott Trophy as the next defensive ends coach?
Could you ask for more than Pollack’s intensity, energy and leadership?
(He’s way under-employed at the moment)
DawgVoiceofReason
December 2nd, 2009
7:11 pm
dawgfan,
Are you kidding? Next time please think before you post and I hope you’re not driving tonight.
bobby bowden
December 2nd, 2009
7:13 pm
schultz, i am officially putting my name in the hat for uga defensive coordinator.
Another Dawg
December 2nd, 2009
7:14 pm
Glad to hear changes were made, sad to see Martinez fired rather than demoted.
Either way, Schultz is still an idiot. There was no reason this story HAD to happen Monday.
GT For You And Me
December 2nd, 2009
7:15 pm
Ask Richt to fire Wommack to…. PLEASE………
cattle dawg
December 2nd, 2009
7:16 pm
How bout Elin Woods as dc. She sure seems like a fiesty one to me.
bobby bowden
December 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
i’ll be a perfect fit. the players are the same age as my great grandchildren.
Coach Mike Smith
December 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
Sad day for these coaches and their families. We can’t loose sight of that. I hope we get some great men and leaders as replacements. I also hope these coaches who lost thier jobs right before Christmas will land on their feet. Go DAWGS!
DawgVoiceofReason
December 2nd, 2009
7:17 pm
GT For You And Me,
As shocked as you may be by it, beating Tech was not his best performance, although certainly a fine accomplishment against the (formerly) number 7 team in the country. I can understand, though, why you would want to insult Coach Richt, seeing as how your coach choked in the end, like his star wide reciever.
30-24
HBTD
perk
December 2nd, 2009
7:18 pm
is RG going to Tennesse State? (Tennessee State coach James Webster Jr. resigns)
bobby bowden
December 2nd, 2009
7:18 pm
bobby bowden defensive coordinator
tommy bowden defensive backfield coach
jeff bowden defensive ends coach
what a team we’ll make!!
GT For You And Me
December 2nd, 2009
7:22 pm
DawgVoiceofReason: I didn’t attempt to insult Richt. He just doesn’t have as big a set as CPJ. But he does have some… None of you expected him to fire Willie after the win. I gave him credit for having some.. That’s all.. No insult intended….
cattle dawg
December 2nd, 2009
7:23 pm
What about charlie strong getting the louisville head job. Im telling you,all signs point to urban myer to notre dame.
MiltonDawg
December 2nd, 2009
7:24 pm
$$ to spend and UGA needs to hire a new DC soon. signing day is 2 months away. glad to see richt taking some actions, that should resonate with recruits as well.
BamaBob724
December 2nd, 2009
7:24 pm
Word from deep in the athletic dept is that Tommy Tuberville is currently talking with Richt about a substantial package to be UGA’s next DC. Not sure if that’s a good move.
Paul in RDU
December 2nd, 2009
7:26 pm
From Mark Schlabach’s column:
<<>>
Bout Time
December 2nd, 2009
7:26 pm
Cantondawg
I’m a big fan of CMR but the last two years have been a mess. My post was about his ability to make the hard decisions. Remember his mentor Coach Bowden said he was worried CMR was too nice to be a head coach at a big time program. But thanks for letting me know that CBSSPORTS is where I need to go for sports info.
Paul in RDU
December 2nd, 2009
7:27 pm
From Schlabach
Rodney Garner, Georgia’s defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator who also carries the title of assistant head coach, was the only defensive assistant to survive Wednesday’s moves.
Asked if Garner is a candidate as defensive coordinator, Richt said “We have not talked about that at this point.”
Good bye Willie............
December 2nd, 2009
7:28 pm
It had to happen…the D was floundering…I wish these guys success, but it wasn’t working!
GO DAWGS!!!
Mike Oxbig
December 2nd, 2009
7:29 pm
YELLOW FUZZ–is that what you have between your legs? How many a$$ whippings by us is it going to take for you to get the picture? Ga Tech means absolutely NOTHING in this state! UGA blows the doors off of you and we still run off 3 coaches. Why?? Because beating your sorry program is not any sort of accomplishment! Go back to your knitting…hope you make your dot-head husband happy tonight…
BVG Rules
December 2nd, 2009
7:31 pm
Hire back Van Gorder! Pay him whatever it takes—$1.5 mil per year should do it! He’s the best in the business and can build another SEC title D.
WOW
December 2nd, 2009
7:32 pm
Best of luck to Willie. Bobo needs to go too. The avg. results he’s gotten with world-class talent have been remarkable. After watching the play-calling against OK State, LSU (particularly first-half), and UK, I’m ready to say that BOBO MUST GO.
BE#3
December 2nd, 2009
7:32 pm
Willie and Co. are not out recruiting. From Coach Richt’s teleconf today: In relation to recruiting, Richt said the remaining coaches on his staff would pick up the load, as Martinez, Jancek and Fabris would not have anymore recruiting responsibilities even if they decide to coach the bowl.
BE#3
December 2nd, 2009
7:33 pm
Looks like Tech needs a DC. Maybe Willie can move to Atlanta.
Why are the Techies on here?
December 2nd, 2009
7:34 pm
Shouldn’t they still be hiding in shame or getting ready to play that farce of a championship game this weekend?
The ORANGE BOWL deserves an 11-2 team
December 2nd, 2009
7:35 pm
……….second-tier, pedestrian, declining,
David
December 2nd, 2009
7:37 pm
About time!!!!!!!!!!!! However in my opinion this decision is about two years too late.
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:38 pm
BVG has done a great job in Atlanta this year. Oh by the way, I have been drinking.
The ORANGE BOWL deserves an 11-2 team
December 2nd, 2009
7:38 pm
The Independence Bowl in Shereveport last year matched up
Northern Illinois vs Louisiana Tech.
This year it will be
Georgia vs _____________ who ?
pilgrim
December 2nd, 2009
7:39 pm
49 – Florida
45 – Georgia Tech
41 – Florida
Hmmmm…..
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:39 pm
And smoking dope and crack.
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:40 pm
Getting ready to hit the Oxycotin. BVG is the BEST!!!!!!!!!!
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:41 pm
Texas A&M. What do I win?
Ben
December 2nd, 2009
7:42 pm
Folks….Our next DC will be John Tenuda!!! It’s already in the works in Athens, plus he knows the recruiting area very very well from his GT days!! He was the lone bright spot for GT in the Gailey era. Tenuda brings the attacking D back that VanGordor had when he was DC in Athens..The Dawgs will be feared once again in 2010!!! This hiring will be TurnKey.
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:46 pm
Tenuta?
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
VanGorder?
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
Ben?
Bobo Should have gone first
December 2nd, 2009
7:47 pm
I thought the Defense was pretty good at times. Offenses of today are good. The 10 to 9 score is rare.
It is hard to play good defense when you have one first down per quarter.
The OL was bad.. The QB play was awful.. The TE play was bad… TE and RB play was average.
I guess Bobo and CMR might get a DC hire to bail their bu++s out of deep water.
The old 14-7 games again.
45ACP
December 2nd, 2009
7:49 pm
10-2 in the ACC is the same as 7-5 in the SEC.
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:50 pm
Anybody want to argue that the ACC is a better football conference than the SEC?
Bwwwwwwwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!
I didn’t think so.
danny c
December 2nd, 2009
7:51 pm
OK. This what everyone wanted. Who you gonna get now?
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:52 pm
45, I kept on thinking that the new would wear off quick on this poking fun at Jackets.
I was Wrrrrrrrrrr, I was Wrrrrrrrrrrrr, I was Wrrrrrrrrrrrr.
I did not know that I was not correct.
cattle dawg
December 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
Chris Hatcher meets with CMR this week about the oc job.
RNB
December 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
Kirby Smart is overrated. Everyone knows it is Nick Saban who is in control of the Tide defense. Georgia would be better off with Van Gorder but it’s doubtful he will leave the NFL. Give Garner a chance. With good coaches to coach linebackers and DB’s I think he would be successful.
Cuz
December 2nd, 2009
7:53 pm
Glad you asked Danny C, His name is Dick Bumpas and he is the DC for TCU.
GJW
December 2nd, 2009
7:56 pm
So much for Richt not having the “guts” to fire his friends…..
atltiger15
December 2nd, 2009
7:57 pm
tenuta…seriously, how many pts did his ND defense give up. I’d bet twice as many as UGA’s. PLus ND played a poor schedule other than your USC, PITT, STAN
The ORANGE BOWL deserves an 11-2 team
December 2nd, 2009
8:00 pm
GT was 2-1 against the SEC this year
UGA was 4-4 (500)
……………………….
7-5 IS SECOND-TIER PERIOD.
dawgbone
December 2nd, 2009
8:01 pm
You know I’ve been on that fire willie bandwagon for the last month or so, but it just occured to me. What if the players just aren’t that good? I mean Willie can’t make the tackle or give the needed boost to break up a pass. Our defense was pretty good in the latter part of 07. Just a though that came to mind.
RNB
December 2nd, 2009
8:01 pm
Tenuta would be better at a SEC school that actually has athletes.