Richt isn’t commanding Georgia players’ respect or attention
Mark Richt's biggest problem? Players may be tuning him out.
Sometimes it’s not about whether somebody is a good coach or certainly a good man. Sometimes it’s just about whether players are even listening to him.
Mark Richt preaches to his players, “Finish the drill.” They don’t.
He admonishes them about missed blocks and blown coverages and stresses the importance of playing with discipline, passion and a sense of desperation. They don’t respond.
He states the obvious: Don’t get arrested. They do.
I am not calling for Mark Richt’s firing here. Not yet. There are still seven games left in the season. That’s enough time for Georgia to turn its season around, play in a respectable bowl game and most importantly send the message that this program isn’t going down like Pompeii.
But right now, I’m just not feeling it.
Needing to bounce back after a loss at South Carolina, the Bulldogs lost to Arkansas at home for the first time in 17 years.
Needing to play with a sense of urgency to avoid falling to 0-3 in the SEC, they fell behind after two minutes, 43 seconds in Starkville and lost to Mississippi State for the first time in 36 years.
Needing to regain some measure of respect just on their own campus, the Bulldogs lost at Colorado — which had lost to California, 52-7, only a few weeks earlier.
You thought Shreveport was the bottom? Shreveport was just the flashing yellow light.
They used to attack. They used to play with confidence. They used to have resolve. They used to win road games. They used to win any games.
Now the Dogs are 1-4, and there’s probably someone at Louisiana-Lafayette thinking, “How did we lose to those guys?” They’re 2-7 in their last nine SEC games, and Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Kentucky are thinking, “We can beat those guys.”
That’s where Georgia is. What does that tell you?
This is about leadership. Either players aren’t following Richt or he’s leading them in the wrong direction. It is becoming clear that he doesn’t command their attention or their respect because, if he was, Georgia wouldn’t be sliding into oblivion.
When college teams lose, certain things get over-analyzed. Here are two of them:
♦ 1.) Recruiting: Some believe Georgia isn’t getting the athletes it used to. Bunk. Watch the games. The Bulldogs are no slower or weaker or smaller than their opponents. Recruiting services have had Georgia’s classes in or near the top 10 annually. If you believed them before, don’t stop believing them now just because it’s convenient.
♦ 2.) Strategy: Football is about toughness and discipline, blocking and tackling. It’s not about the offensive coordinator not calling enough short passes. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo may not be the next Mike Shanahan on offense, and Willie Martinez certainly wasn’t Brian VanGorder’s equal on defense. But Georgia’s slide is not about X’s and O’s. It’s about focus and determination and knocking people down.
Richt’s job should be in jeopardy. Why? Because not only are the Bulldogs not very good, but there is no sign that they are getting better.
The offensive line, expected to be the strength of this team, has been less than average. Freshman quarterback Aaron Murray, the biggest question mark, has been one of their best players. A.J. Green reaffirmed in his first game back from suspension that he is a special player but his presence in Colorado also pounded home the obvious: This isn’t about one player.
Richt gets criticized for not showing enough emotion on the sideline. That might be unfair. But here’s something worth asking: Is he obsessed enough?
There’s no question Richt wants to win. But he has a lot more things important to him in his life now, like taking mission trips to Honduras. It doesn’t mean football isn’t important to him. Anybody who has seen him after losses knows otherwise. But college football coaching, particularly in the SEC, has become a 24/7/365 job.
Richt in a conference with some truly obsessed coaches: Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Bobby Petrino. Watch Derek Dooley and you can almost see sparks coming off his head. If we see that, you know Tennessee players see that.
Do you get that sense with Richt’s players? Are they ready to jump at his every command?
Georgia has players. Georgia has facilities, money and certainly fan support. But right now, there is no direction, and if Mark Richt is leading, the problem is that nobody is paying attention.
♦
Earlier posts:
♦ Now that Braves are here, how far can they go?
♦ Braves make it back to the postseason in typical dramatic style
♦♦♦
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839 comments Add your comment
secbama
October 4th, 2010
5:37 pm
Isaiah Crowell…did you see Bama demolish Florida? BTW ESPN Gameday crew will be in Carolina to follow us again this weekend. Why don’t you and Jadeveon Clowney make a dual committment this weekend and Roll with The Tide!
F.A. Grantham
October 4th, 2010
5:37 pm
The Dream Team has a new slogan. FINISH GETTING DRILLED!!!!!! Pass me one of them Krispi Kremes!!
Legendary Treatment
October 4th, 2010
5:38 pm
@ Nick
The only stats that matter are wins and losses you fantasy booger eating nerd. STFU already with your meaningless stats.
1-4 is the only thing that matters right now.
The Nature Boy
October 4th, 2010
5:39 pm
I agree w/ what Gordon said…may you RIP
Derek
October 4th, 2010
5:39 pm
Wanna bet? CMR will not be fired so why not do something constructive like go to a game and stay all 4 quarters and be a real fan. I am speaking to all the negative folks who are commenting here. Not much constructive at this place. So, knowing that CMR will not be fired should free you up to talk about other things.
armanidog
October 4th, 2010
5:41 pm
Our graduation rate for football players is 46%. For basketball players it is 17%. We hire an AD, he gets pulled over for DUI. Mr. Adams has done a terrible job as president of UGA. He interfered with Vince Dooley and forced him to resign. I think UGA needs to expect enough discipline to at least graduate 70% of our ball players. Academic discipline will help with motivation. Having separate dorms and exclusive dining halls for athletes are part of the problem. The athletes feel they are hired to play ball and have little emotional bond with the university. UGA has become a factory.
I think we need to hang on to Richt for 5 more years, see how things go until 2015. We can fire Richt and end up like Michigan or Tennesssee, losing 2-3 years of progress. Or we can go for continuity and let Richt know ahead of time we will not renew his contract. In the meantime, we can be looking for a coach.
If you dump Richt in the middle of a contract, you end up paying through the nose for the old coach and the new coach at the same time. That is our money being spent.
I would like to see Michael Adams being replaced first. Georgia has lost some of its academic luster the last 5 years.
Idiots
October 4th, 2010
5:41 pm
5150
c’mon – while i don’t condone the behavior, ealey is no thug. he hit a car in a parking lot. he didn’t hurt anyone or get a dui. he made a typical 18 year old mistake. if he punched a guy in a bar and hurt him. . . ok, that is being a thug ala Tennessee. What happened to those guys??? why don’t you post something on a TN blog about their issues. our guy hit a parked car and another sold a jersey. the florida guy tells his girlfriend she’s dead – really? the punishment doesn’t fit the crime.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
5:42 pm
Nick are you getting people on M Bradley’s blog to agree with you? It seems people on Schultz’s blog are not buying your argument.
Still@theBAR
October 4th, 2010
5:44 pm
Guys did you see where M Bradley posted the picture of me at the UGA v Colorado Game on Saturday? Damn I drink too much. I bought a ticket from a guy at the bar and look what it got me.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
5:47 pm
idiots
I don’t think the punishment fits the crime for sure, but there is weird crap when the coaches punish some players one way and other players another. I was not talking about Ealey and the hit-n-run. They was a situation with him and a teacher in a “Physical” confrontation. It was ruled buy ECI to be a non-event, but the teacher did say they were afraid when it happened. I am not picking on Ealey. Hell while at military high School I wanted to hit a few of my teachers too. AHHAHAHAHA.
IlliniDawg
October 4th, 2010
5:49 pm
Jeff: this is a serious question – and one which is not meant to be offensive or accusatory. I just want to know, have you considered the degree to which your perennial criticism of Richt is due to his being a nice guy? And moreover an outspoken Christian? Is it at all possible that your opinion is colored by a dislike of either or both? I’ll be honest in admitting that I do not like Mike Vick because he symbolizes for me the gangster culture of many pro athletes. That may not be fair to Vick – in fact it probably is not. But I will at least admit openly that my view of Vick is tainted. Is it possible that your view of Richt is similarly prejudiced?
John Dawg
October 4th, 2010
6:00 pm
Jeff… how ’bout a “Who would Georgia look at for new h.c.” article. Kevin Sumlin from Univ. of Houston gets my vote. Don’t forget, he was at Oklahoma when they were in the top 2 every year.
Chris Phillips
October 4th, 2010
6:00 pm
Hi Jeff,
I am surprised that you did not mention that all this “trouble” in Athens will have an effect on recruiting.
Chris
Gregory
October 4th, 2010
6:01 pm
Jeff wrote a pretty big statement: “Richt’s job should be in jeopardy. Why? Because not only are the Bulldogs not very good, but there is no sign that they are getting better.” No sign Georgia is Getting Better? None. Are you looking for signs of improvements or just negatively biased? I’ve seen over a dozen ways Georgia has gotten better than alst year. I don’t know what team Jeff’s been covering, but by virtually any fair or objective standard, Georgia’s not getting better, Georgia is getting markedly better.
Gregory
October 4th, 2010
6:08 pm
Seems like AJC writers like to come up with new theories. Never do anything, just theorize about everything. Most of their theories are wrong, if not all of them. I don’t guess AJC ewriters have spent much time on a football field as an SEC head coach, so they have no practical experience to draw from. So they create concepts, abstractions, theories, makes them feel useful, let’s call Jeff’s newest one, the “You can’t be spirtual and win a National Championship” theory. Lame, easy to negate, but I’m sure he’ll come up with a new theory tomorrow, that’s all bloggers ever do, theories, theories, theories. And usually wrong.
jc_atl
October 4th, 2010
6:08 pm
Richt’s coaching has been suspect for years. How many years in a row has he allowed his teams to be amongst the most penalized in the nation? (Oh, and I’m talking ON THE FIELD penalties, not the number of criminals and future felons he recruits.)
I mean, how committed are you to your job when you let something OBVIOUS go like penalties, year in and year out? Watch other SEC teams – yes, they commit fouls, but not nearly as numerous as those at UGA. It’s incomprehensible that Richt, if he gives a ****, wouldn’t crack heads to change it. My guess – he’s over it. He’s ready for a big fat payout and not have to deal with the incredible demands of being an SEC head coach.
John Dawg
October 4th, 2010
6:08 pm
Gregory, did you go to Tech?
gunter
October 4th, 2010
6:14 pm
Jeff, once again you are way off base like many of the so called Georgia fans. I’ve been a Georgia fan for longer than you’ve been breathing. I’ve watched seasons come and go, it’s not life and death….it’s smashed mouth SEC football and currently we are getting our behinds handed to us. Coach Richt is an excellent football coach and an even better leader and man of character. We would be foolish to fire him. Most of these ignorant so called Georgia fans would have fired Bob Stoopes last year and last time I checked Oklahoma was doing pretty well this year. You guys need to lighten up and support the young men and their coaches.
Again this is college football, played by 18 and 19 year old kids that don’t do everything right every time…………give em some time
AltamahaDawg
October 4th, 2010
6:15 pm
jc, Would UF be a SEC team? Always one of the most penalized teams in the nation.
John, a true Dawgs fan
October 4th, 2010
6:18 pm
5150, PLEASE GET OFF!!!!! Don’t you have a job or something to do???????
You must need attention from everyone.
GOOOOOOOO, Dawgs!!!!
Gregory
October 4th, 2010
6:19 pm
“You can’t be Spiritual and win a National Championship Theory”
Tressel at Ohio State.
“You can’t be a nice guy and win a National Championship Theory”
See Tony Dungy.
“You can’t go on mission trips and win National championship Theory”
See Urban Meyer and Tim Tebow.
“You can’t have a close family and win National Championship Theory”
See Les Miles.
“You must be obssessed with only your sport to win National Championship Theory”
See John Wooden.
Anybody got anymore theories so I can debunk the nutty theories. This is fun.
The 2nd Most Interesting Man Alive
October 4th, 2010
6:22 pm
Jeff is right about everything………except one. This job—-being an SEC head football coach—–requires a totally dedicated driven workaholic with no room in his life for anything except football. And it’s just because of his record that we should let Coach finish the season and then move on to what most matters to him. I don’t often read the Sports pages, but when I do…..I read Schultz. How bout them Dawgs.
AFDawg
October 4th, 2010
6:22 pm
Jeff, You’ve been the first journalist to lead the charge to get rid of Richt. Personally I agree with you. Georgia needs a fir and brimstone kind of coach — like Saban (his players and coaches are scared to death of him). I’m just wondering though — does it pain you to ahve to lead the cahrge against such a nice guy with such a great family, etc.? Personally, I think he’ll be all right. I see Richt ending up rebuilding a Sun Belt team somewhere into a respectable 8-5 record every year.
Gregory
October 4th, 2010
6:23 pm
Jeff’s definition of success? Wins and losses. See recent comments on this blog. John Wooden’s definition? Getting better, has nothing to do with wins and losses. By Wooden’s definition, a guy with real world practical collegiate level head coaching experience, Richt’s getting better, and successful this season.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
6:25 pm
John You must be on a lot too if you know I am on.
Don’t you have something about Richt? UGA has 7 TDs in their 4 losses.
6, 12, 24, 27 points. UGA needs to stop people from scoring yes, but the Dawgs really need to SCORE.
Gregory
October 4th, 2010
6:26 pm
There’s 2 kinds of people in this world, doers, and theorist. Richt’s a doer, writers? well, they like to pontificate and type up words. But they never DO anything. Talk, talk, talk.
LakeDawg
October 4th, 2010
6:27 pm
Best article I’ve read on the subject. Jeff you’re right on the money. Its about passion and want to. If you have that, then everything else falls into place with UGA’s talent. They still may be outcoached by Saban, Meyer, etc., but they wouldn’t be losing to the Missy States of the world. This is the SEC. A team can’t coast in this conference on pure talent like FSU did in the 90’s. Everybody must be obssessed or you fall behind. Football in the SEC is serious business. Just ask the fans.
John Dawg
October 4th, 2010
6:28 pm
The Nevada staff might be one to look at too.
AltamahaDawg
October 4th, 2010
6:29 pm
On the penalties: if by “over it” you mean spent the entire offseason talking about it. And currently in the best quarter of the nation at less than 44 yrd a game. Better than Alabama, better than Florida, better than Auburn, Kentucky, Vandy, LSU, ARk. Better than Oklahoma, Boise State, Mich. State. on and on…..
The Imam
October 4th, 2010
6:31 pm
Losing four out of five is BAD, real bad. But it’s not the big disgrace that everybody is whining that it is. The REAL disgrace is 10 ARRESTS!
These guys were supposed to be role models, icons. Who’s the team disciplinarian? I say give the job to a Muslim. Don’t jail ‘em, just kill ‘em.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
6:32 pm
Gregory I don’t think Jeff is saying Richt is not doing something maybe just not doing all he can to win. If Richt is not doing all he can to win, then how long will the Dawg Nation want to keep him as the coach. UGA fans want a winner and the question is. If Richt doesn’t get the ship in the right direction how long does he have. Richt’s last 2 year record in the SEC is not good and is going down fast.
Delbert D.
October 4th, 2010
6:33 pm
Well, you could start with the mind-numbing Philosophy 101 postings form around 3:00 to 4:00 pm.
Tony
October 4th, 2010
6:33 pm
So right Jeff.
Love your inisights. You’re a genius. We see the world the same way.
This should be Richt’s priorities:
1- Football
2- Football
3- Football
4- Friends
5- Family
6- God
Denver
October 4th, 2010
6:33 pm
I love our Dawgs. Let’s not forget all of the good things that Coach Richt has accomplished. Just like everyone else in the bulldawg nation, I want our dawgs to compete every year. The fact is that we are not competing. I think the AD has some tough choices ahead. I’m not ready to throw our coach to the side of the road.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
6:35 pm
Delbert are you talking to me and answering for JOHN? AHHHAH
How was your day at work? It was Monday but I hope it was not too bad.
dawgette
October 4th, 2010
6:41 pm
Watching a replay of the UGA/UC game, my husband pointed out something on the Dawg sidelines. CMR was talking to #50 and the player WALKED AWAY! CMR walked after the player, spoke to him again, and, again, the player walked away. My husband pointed to that episode and said “That sums up the problems at Georgia. The players don’t fear Richt or respect him”.
Reggie
October 4th, 2010
6:42 pm
Just got home from dinner. Anybody commented on how Jeff’s article went off on Richt’s mission trips? I am stunned, shocked, and in disbelief.
Did I miss something?
Was Jeff S seriously ranting on Richt’s missions work, as if that’s why Georgia’s lost 4 games? Because of mission trips? Serisously? Has Richt been on a mission trip in the last 4 or 5 weeks? Bizarre stuff folks.
Mission trips?
He Hate Gator
October 4th, 2010
6:43 pm
Right you are Jeff…unfortunately have a lot fans living in the past not the present….at $3mill plus per year, you should be on a short leash, perform or you’re out…can’t sit on your laurels. Mark never realized the intensity brought to the other programs in the SEC when they upgraded…same mistakes made by the ousted coaches at Tenn and Auburn. Mark should have been paying attention but caught up in his success at what had ocurred the first few years, and never had a clue as to what was happening around the league. Do you think Urban or Saban go to church on Sunday after games or are already studying their next opponent?
BarryW
October 4th, 2010
6:46 pm
As much as I hate to read Schultz’s article, I must admit that, at this point in the season, most of it is true. The facts he mentioned about the team are accurate and yet difficult to accept, particularly when the head coach is a fine man, a wonderful human being and a man all Bulldog Fans and opponents alike should respect. However, we all realize that big time college football coaching is a bottom line job and for the moment, things do not look good.
Two timing factors have been mentioned above (and within Schultz’s article:) “at this time” and “for the moment,” so why don’t we just all cool it for awhile – in spite of a lousy start, there are “7 more games.” In spite of a few idiots who like to vent their uneducated frustrations hourly, why don’t we give the man a chance to right the ship. He has earned that “in the good years,”and he deserves it. No one is hurting more, or more disappointed than Mark Richt and his coaches. Go Dogs! GATA!
Mike
October 4th, 2010
6:49 pm
This article is in the Twilight Zone.
You guys know Georgia has improved in turnovers and penalities and Richt’s been on his team about those 2 since Jan? I checked.
Turnover margin is down by 1600% from last year. 1600%!!!!
Penalties are down from over 8 a game, and about 70 yards a game, to close to 6 a game, and about 40 yards a game. Up almost 30%!!!
The team’s worked extremely hard in those 2 areas, a real slap in the face by the writer to say they’re not working hard for their coach. Disrepsectiful to the team, and the writer isn’t paying attention.
Wow, stunning stuff.
This is bizarre.
He Hate Gator
October 4th, 2010
6:51 pm
Reggie, no, he’s not saying that they lose because of a mission trip, don’t put words in his mouth, the point is the appearance that the football program is not CMR’s primary interest and that he’s not giving it the attention it needs to stay competitive and has become a 365 days a year job in the current environment as opposed to the environment a few years ago…
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
6:52 pm
I can’t believe Jeff didn’t write about——–VICK Getting HURT——— ! That might not have had all that many hits but maybe close.
Are there any——VICK——-Lovers out there?
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
6:53 pm
I guess Jeff Schulzt wanted to talk about all the DAWG BEATERS and just not one Dawg beater.
Ed
October 4th, 2010
6:56 pm
Legendary, to follow up on Sad Dawg’s post, Wally Butts wasn’t too shabby, either. 4 SEC titles and a national championship in ‘42. Georgia football was pretty bad between Butts and Dooley’s eras. Richt started off great but has been slipping big time.
Mike
October 4th, 2010
6:56 pm
I’m gonna suggest everyone send a quick e-mail to the AJC editor letting them know if you or for or against Jeff Schultz’s statements about Mark Richt’s mission trips.
Public Editor, Shawn McIntosh, 404-526-5819, insideajc@ajc.com (Taking comments about fairness, accuracy and our news coverage and editorial pages)
paint
October 4th, 2010
6:57 pm
Both of today’s articles were examples of good journalism. Spot on, non offensive, and open for debate. Love everybody here’s passion for the program, and with vested interest I personally think that we ultimately see how this year plays out. Complain or praise all you want, your voice does make a difference. Go Dawgs!
John Dawg
October 4th, 2010
6:58 pm
Mike, get real
Dawg Boy 88
October 4th, 2010
7:00 pm
http://pricezack.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/alcohol-sales-through-the-rough-in-the-state-of-georgia/ very interesting read. good points about uga football
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
7:01 pm
GET READY the UGA v Colorado game is on Fox Sports South on replay. I have to see the end because I don’t care what the coaches say that looked like the FLEA FLICKER for the funble to lose the game.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
7:03 pm
MIKE you need to reread the article. You smoked to much turf to understand waht Jeff said and Jeff has answered people all day about the post. Cry that you team is losing and not the a SPORTS WRITER called him out.