Richt believes Georgia is poised for a bounce-back season
Georgia coach Mark Richt believes the Dogs can avoid some of the problems that plagued recent teams. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Here’s a sneak peek at a column that will appear in print in this Sunday’s special AJC College Football Section. The 34-page section will preview Georgia State, Georgia Tech and UGA seasons, the SEC and ACC, top games, Heisman candidates and more.
Nine years ago, Mark Richt lost his first SEC game as a head coach (to South Carolina) and started 4-3 in a conference that generally doesn’t allow for long honeymoon periods, at least not outside of Vanderbilt.
It wasn’t the usual backdrop for what would happen in the next four years. Richt went 44-9 overall and 25-7 in the SEC. He won two conference titles at a school that hadn’t won one since 1982. He won a Sugar Bowl.
What has occurred since at Georgia is less a market correction than it is a changing landscape. Think of the SEC as a boulevard of resort hotels. Richt built what seemed like Xanadu in 2002. The problem came when Les Miles, Florida and Alabama built more lavish structures down the street.
LSU, Florida and Alabama didn’t just win SEC championships. They won national championships — the last four, in fact. Over that same period, Richt went 20-12 in the SEC without making it to the conference title game once.
Xanadu began to look like a slightly weathered Marriott.
Which brings us to 2010. Georgia is not crumbling and Richt is not on the firing line. There has, however, been a leveling off in Athens. To deny that would be like a hotel owner ignoring the other properties that are stealing his business.
The Dogs are somewhere back in the vapor trail left by Florida and Alabama. Richt’s not in denial — otherwise he wouldn’t have fired three assistant coaches after going 8-5 (4-4) last season.
The question now: Is this the bounce-back year? Possibly. Richt may never have a better chance to quiet critics.
The potential pitfalls of starting a redshirt freshman quarterback, Aaron Murray, should be minimized by an experienced offensive line and two key weapons for Murray to feed: A.J. Green and Washaun Ealey. The defense should be significantly improved under Todd Grantham (who is switching to a 3-4).
The schedule? Instead of opening against Oklahoma State in Stillwater, as in 2009, the Bulldogs open against Louisiana-Lafayette in Athens. They don’t play Alabama. They don’t play LSU. They do play Florida, but it would be surprising if the Gators didn’t feel the loss of nine starters in the first five rounds of the NFL draft, including: Tim Tebow, Joe Haden, Maurkice Pouncey, Carlos Dunlap and the serial eye-gouger, Brandon Spikes.
There’s also this: Richt just feels better about his team. Granted, all coaches like their team before opening kickoff, but Richt’s confidence is rooted in something legitimate: strength and stability on his offensive line.
“I like our maturity on offense,” he said. “You see it especially up front, even the non-glamour positions if you want to throw in the fullbacks.
“There’s something about when your offensive linemen are your sages, your veterans, your leaders. When they’re running it, things tend to go well. They’re pretty grounded. They’re not glamorous. They’re really the most unselfish guys on the team. ”
Glamour seldom is Georgia’s problem. It seldom gets more glamorous than Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno in the same backfield. But that was in 2008, and a pre-season No. 1 team wound up getting drilled by Alabama and Florida, losing at home to Georgia Tech and settling for the Capital One Bowl.
Georgia’s problems have been in other areas: a lack of discipline, sometimes passion, sometimes just a seeming willingness to punch the opponent in the mouth.
Experience and the arrival of Grantham, who’s far more fiery than Martinez, should help in those areas. But fire starts at the top and Richt needs to light one with his team.
This season could start well — very well. If the Dogs can get past early tests against South Carolina and Arkansas, they could be 8-0 going to Jacksonville. But Richt knows better than to play “the schedule game.”
“I used to do it more than I do now,” he said. “What year was it – Stafford’s freshman year [2006]? I kind of did it that year a little bit. We didn’t have a great season. Everything looked different than it was. So I don’t do that any more.”
The Dogs were coming off Richt’s second SEC title that year but they went 4-4 in the conference in 2006. The landscape changed. Richt, going into his 10th season, realized Georgia required some renovation.
Now we find out what the place looks like.
♦
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283 comments Add your comment
jarvis
August 26th, 2010
4:35 pm
Who throws at a 46% completion clip?
Wo Fat
August 26th, 2010
4:35 pm
jarvis…so sorry but Pollack was a red shirt freshman when richt arrived as was D Greene
DawginLex
August 26th, 2010
4:36 pm
No OL is good enough to run the ball all the time on 8 and 9 man fronts.
Richt has been 50/50 run/pass for 9 years and it should stay that way.
I realize we are going to play it close to the vest in 2010, at least early on. As Murray matures, the playbook will be expanded. Right now, punting and avoiding turnovers in a tight game(which SC will be)will be an improvement from 2009. Just break even in turnover margin and that is a 16 turnover upgrade.
Non-delusional Dog
August 26th, 2010
4:37 pm
Someone mentioned Richt wins 8-10 games PER year. Actually, he averages 10 wins PER year. The two 8 win seasons were the low points, Richt averages almost 10.5 wins the other 7 years. 9 years at one school is an eternity in the coaching profession, so we have a pretty good idea of UGA tendencies under Mark Richt.
Concerning the talent level, yes, UGA does recruit better than most, BUT over the last five years LSU and Florida have out-talented the Dogs, and Bama has over the past three. It is a matter of record that Richt has not hauled in the number of elite 5* players those three schools have. I think you will see that begin to change this February.
The evening out of the talent with the Floridas and Bamas, plus the new defensive coaches, is why I am bullish on the Dogs.
athensdawg
August 26th, 2010
4:37 pm
“it sure is nice to have an offensive line”…..
It sure is nice that it’s taken you 10 years to figure that one out, coach.
Einsteindawg
August 26th, 2010
4:38 pm
All of you defending CMR with his “10 wins a year average” need to know that it translates into a 7-4 season back in the 10 gane regular season. Is that worth $3M a year?
TXJacket
August 26th, 2010
4:41 pm
Look, I am a GT fan, but you have to admit it would not be surprising if UGA went 10-2. UGA doesn’t do a great job when there is pressure on the program – there is no pressure this year. Further, look at their sked – it is one of the easier years UGA has had in awhile. They may not be the best team, but the should have a good record.
jasont13
August 26th, 2010
4:42 pm
I think Coach Richt has gotten to the point where all he does is mess with the jock sniffing media. Just like the stats from last night. How do you score 38 points but the QB on threw for 127 yds and the running backs ran for less than 100 yds. Its called why should I tell you so you can spin it anyway you want too.
POAD
August 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
No-EINSTEIN-but-aDawg 10 wins today translates to 7-4 in a 10 game regular season? I think it would translate to a 7-3 with a bowl shot. Your EinsteinDawg so you know the math better than me I am sure.
NOTSO FAST
August 26th, 2010
4:43 pm
`They have a dream recruiting class, a new defense, great receivers but a new quarterback and the same Coach. Coach R is great at recruiting but making game time adjustments has never been a strength. Now is the time to dream before the season starts.
69dog
August 26th, 2010
4:44 pm
secfan, you are right. CMR is average at best.
I will never agree with how2fish and his ilk.
DawginLex, as a1969 Grad of UGA, I can tell you I have been around enough to see plenty of great coaches and motivators. Unfortunately CMR is nowhere near either.
Gatorbait 17-3
August 26th, 2010
4:45 pm
NW Georgia Dawg
August 26th, 2010
4:34 pm
I read this in the AJC today.
Knee condition ends UGA lineman Owens’ career
5:09 pm August 25, 2010, by Tim Tucker
ATHENS – Georgia backup offensive lineman Jonathan Owens‘ college football career is over.
Owens has been granted a medical disqualification because of a knee condition, UGA coach Mark Richt said today. The disqualification means Owens no longer will be able to participate in intercollegiate athletics.
Non-delusional Dog
August 26th, 2010
4:46 pm
Remedial math class for you Einsteindawg. Giving you the benefit of a doubt, by going 10-2 in the regular season, and losing the bowl game, you wind up with a 10-3.
10-3 is a 77% winning percentage, which translates to 8.5 wins to 2.5 losses in an 11 game season, a significant upgrade over a 7-4
Einsteindawg
August 26th, 2010
4:47 pm
Thanks Poad and you’re correct. But unlike the past when a bowl invitation was a reward for a great season and matchups were pretty good, our Dawgs had a slightly better than .500 winning percentage. Today, the NCAA needs 64 teams just to fill out the bowls and when was the last time we played a team that was the favorite?
greg
August 26th, 2010
4:48 pm
Gatorbait 17-3
August 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
Jeff,
I can’t believe theses dawgs fans haven’t burned you at the stake. How do
you get away with saying Georgia has been left in the vapor trail of the Gators and Bama.
Your right about the offensive line, the starting 5 are very good, but you just lost the backup LT for good and of the remaining 7 offensive linemen, only 2 have any experience, the other 5 are all freshmen. Like all teams, injuries will be critical.
Hey doofus, this backup OL you speak of played in a total of ONE (ONE!!!!!) game last year. He was a backup only in the sense that he was on the team and an OL. At least do a bit of research before you post and make yourself look stupid.
PTC DAWG
August 26th, 2010
4:49 pm
Internet Coaches abound….
Einsteindawg
August 26th, 2010
4:51 pm
And, how many Boise States, Louisiana LaFayettes, Troy States, Ga Southerns, Middle Tennessees, Arkansas States…you get the picture, did we have back then? We played 10 solid football teams, so give me a break. I want us to win, I just think we could do better with a head coach.
Dawg Gummit
August 26th, 2010
4:53 pm
All of the Techies and other teams fans are right. I am a big Dawg fan but we have declined since our preseason #1 ranking. Maybe the changes will turn things around this year and at least the on-field discipline will improve and stupid penalties, turnovers will go down. I am afraid we will be hamstrung at quarterback but have never saw AM play to know if he has SEC talent. I am scared if he gets hurt the season goes in the tank. If AM plays ok I think 9-3 maybe 10-2 is possible, but would bet on 8-4. If we go 8-4 will this satisfy other Dawg fans on this board?
Gatorbait 17-3
August 26th, 2010
4:53 pm
greg
“At least do a bit of research before you post and make yourself look stupid”
I did jerk, maybe you should look it up. You have 12 offensive line now, 5 starters and 2 backups with experience and 5 freshmen
Gatorbait 17-3
August 26th, 2010
4:56 pm
BTW Greg, experience in 1 game is more than the 5 freshmen
Einsteindawg
August 26th, 2010
4:57 pm
Sorry…I meant idaho States. (But I’m sure we’d beat Boise State, too).
76-DAWG
August 26th, 2010
5:00 pm
69dog and a few more-
Your criticism of CMR is not fair. I graduated from UGA in 1976 and back when you and I were at UGA , you recruited a great running back and let him run the ball 30+ times a game. All the good SEC teams mainly ran the ball , ran out the clock and a last minute field goal won the game for somebody. Now to compete on a national level the SEC teams had to develop a passing game along with a great running game. CMR is just trying to keep up with the other great SEC programs.
papadawg
August 26th, 2010
5:07 pm
We had a supposedly all pro passing in Stafford and where did that get us. We have the running game in place and so what if they stack the line, that doesn’t always work. Murray can get his legs under him and have games where he don’t beat ourselves and dang the Defense has to be better this year right.
17 of 20
August 26th, 2010
5:19 pm
CMR, the great one averages 6 wins per season in the SEC. That my friends will get you 2nd place in the east every year, and 4th place in the conference.
dawgfan
August 26th, 2010
5:20 pm
Why do the haters get so butthurt when someone says we could win 10 games?
Gatorbait 17-3
August 26th, 2010
5:22 pm
Papadawg
August 26th, 2010
3:25 pm
Maybe we ought to have Murray go to Fla. and get counseling from what his name, you know the gator coach who gets the jitters so bad he has chest pains
Papadawg
Are you talking about the coach with TWO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS in the past 4 years and has just finished 3 straight years of 13-1.
Do one of the above and then we will talk.
Heath
August 26th, 2010
5:22 pm
Funny how it was a normal conversation until the Jortsnation and NATS fans showed up. What a shock. I guess it’s because UGA fans are so classless.
Gatorbait 17-3
August 26th, 2010
5:27 pm
What’s up with all this HATE, can’t someone have a difference of opinion without hating the opposite view? Jeezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Just because I don’t like any of Obama’s policies, doesn’t make me a racist, but I’m sure
I’ll be called one by the liberal left or one of the leaches they give money to.
TampaGator
August 26th, 2010
5:36 pm
Jeff….
SERIAL means…..continous, successive, one after another.
I believe Spikes only did the eye thing one time. Take your shots…but at least do it honestly….would you!
By the way….Spikes is in the NFL….and RSfr Jelani Jenkins (one of the top LB recruits in the country) and Soph. Joe Bostic (a dynamic player) are both top of the line middle linebackers. Jelani is 6′0 and 225 and runs a 4.4 in the 40…and hits like a tank. So Spikes will not be missed much in the middle….but opposing teams will still feel like they got their eyes altered two or three times in each game…by either Jelani or Joe. Florida sends one to the NFL….and will soon send another from the same position.
1eyedJack
August 26th, 2010
5:45 pm
I wish we played Georgia Tech the first game of the season so we could ruin their season every year.
For all those supposed Dawg fans clamoring for Coach Richt to be replaced by a “championship caliber coach”, who you gonna get?
Let’s see:
Are you willing to pay what it would take to lure Saban or Meyer away from Alabama or Florida?
Les Miles is probably going to be free next year if not earlier. Even LSU fans don’t want him any more.
Mack Brown? Right.
Jim Tressel? See Saban and Meyer. Besides, who wants a coach who wears a sweater vest?
Pete Carroll? USC was in a mess before Kiffin took over, why do you think he bolted.
Maybe we could get the guy from Appy St.
TampaGator
August 26th, 2010
5:47 pm
Also….Jeff….the only concern in Gainesville…as far as replacing a player with just as good or better player….is replacing Cunningham and Dunlap in pass rushing situations.
Tebow replaced by John Brantley (no problem at the QB position)
Cooper replaced by Carl Moore (just as good or better at WR)
Hernandez by Omaris Hines (wait until you see this guy)
James
1eyedJack
August 26th, 2010
5:48 pm
I forgot. Bobby Bowdens available too.
TampaGator
August 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
opps…hit the submit by mistake….but you get the picture….the only concern for Gator fans is at DE…pass rush only. Stars at all the other positions being replaced.
Loran, What a ya got ?
August 26th, 2010
5:50 pm
LORAN,
WHATAYA GOT ?
Beast from the East
August 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
TampaGator,
How’s retirement going? Done any fishing?
Richt, I want to be like him
August 26th, 2010
6:01 pm
http://flashlightmediagroup.com/sabanmovie/
86Dawg
August 26th, 2010
6:08 pm
TampaGator…you can’t possibly believe Spikes ‘only did the eye thing one time”…come on, get real. That crap goes on constantly, he just got caught on camera doing it blatantly that “one time”.
And yes players from all teams do all kinds of dirty crap under the pile, anyone who believes otherwise has never played the game…even in H.S. that stuff happens. No pedestals here, I’m just sayin’…
Beast from the East
August 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
86Dawg,
Agreed. Goes on most plays that there is a pile. Just part of the game, until you get caught.
Simple Simon
August 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
Richt’s 1st 9 years vs. Bear Bryant’s 1st 9 Years:
Win %:
Bear- .690
Richt- .769
Top 10 Finishes
Bear- 1
Richt- 6
Top 3 Finishes
Bear- 1
Richt- 2
National Championships
Bear- 1
Richt-0
Simple Simon
August 26th, 2010
6:42 pm
Saban’s 1st 9 years as a head coach to Richt’s 1st 9 years as a Head Coach.
Win %
Saban .638
Richt .769
Top 10 Finishes
Saban 1
Richt 6
Top 3 Finishes
Saban 0
Richt 2
Beast from the East
August 26th, 2010
6:47 pm
Simple Simon,
Great post. Richt is the best. Why waste yuor time comparing to a coach as lowly as Saban? How about Knute?
ATL Dawg
August 26th, 2010
7:01 pm
Tampa Gator I know what the term “serial” means. However, would you not agree that “ONE” eye gouging incident is enough? Spikes was and is one heck of a football player, but he also was a straight up PUNK! Kinda of like saying “But he only did it one time”. One time was enough. He stereotyped himself for the rest of his career with that “ONE” incident.
Tide Rising
August 26th, 2010
7:02 pm
Beast,
Patrick Sulley aka simple simon has made his presence known.
Simple Simon,
Don’t you know we Bama fans already know Saban sucks. We accept it. Please. Quit rubbing it in!
Mark Richt is a fine coach with a lengthy record of success and consistency in winning. He deserves better than Simple Simon.
GIVE ME A BREAK
August 26th, 2010
7:15 pm
Richt is still under water? THWG!!!!
Mike Smith
August 26th, 2010
7:17 pm
I think schedule alone will net them a 10 win season.
If they can win 8 playing @Oklahoma St., South Carolina, @Arkansas, Arizona St., LSU, @UT, Florida, Auburn, @Ga Tech and Texas A&M in a bowl last year, then why not 10 this year?
They won those 8 with Joe Cox at QB (servicable but no Stafford for sure), no running game for 1st half of the season, a bad defensive scheme, and one of the worst turnover ratios in CFB.
There is no reason to expect 9+ wins this year in the regular season alone.
bamaguy
August 26th, 2010
7:19 pm
It sounds to me like Simple Simon is trying to convince himself that Richt is an elite coach. When there is a crystal football in Athens get back to us.
gcs
August 26th, 2010
7:23 pm
Is there an echo in here? Oh yeah, this is the year. I can just feel it.
Right.
.
dawgfan
August 26th, 2010
7:38 pm
How about this TampaGator. Spikes was a serial PUNK. I keep hearing everyone talking about what happens at the bottom of piles. What pile? There was no pile when Spikes eye gouges Ealey. If there had been it wouldn’t have been caught on camera. He did it openly where all the world could see it. The fact that he thought he could get away with it is Exhibit A on how arrogant Florida was last year. That’s the most astonishing thing about it. How he apparently thought he could get away with it.
Anyway, Spikes will be happy in the NFL where he can kick the ball in to the stands like the classless punk that he is. He’s a sterling representative of the Gator Trash Nation. That’s for sure.
Good evening.
GoDawgsGOOO
August 26th, 2010
7:46 pm
GT fans complain about how UGA opens up against a week opponent, and their right. All UGA does is open up against a week opponent, GT’s whole SCHEDULE is against week competition. If GT beats UGA this year, then start talking trash. Oh, one other thing, GT’s running back last year was a fatty and he wobbled when he walked. Just an observation.
CHDawg
August 26th, 2010
7:58 pm
Here is my view: good to great offensive line; backs, receivers and tight ends. QB unknown at this point, but I think he will start strong and get better all year. Injuries will be critical at key positions. Defense – shaping up in all areas with the big unknown being the line. I don’t know what to think there, but I’m inclined to think the coaches will make it happen up front. Kicking game also good to great. Turnovers and penalties much better this year. Toughest games: UF and Auburn. Likely to be tough games: GT, SC, ARK and MSU. Wait to see on UT and UK to see how they handle changes. I say we gel and run the table–2010, the year of the Dawg. Obviously, it is going to take everything going right for a change! Injuries or weakness in any of the key spots would cause problems, and we could lose a couple of games and be a great team–we have some great teams on the schedule.