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
savannadawg
October 4th, 2010
12:19 pm
They Say! Shut up! There are other coaches doing alot more with alot less talent than the third string at this university. You my friend need rose colored glasses.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:20 pm
Thanks, Vixzilla.
Todd
October 4th, 2010
12:20 pm
Shultzie, your nails dude.
Been rooting for nice guys can finish first (Peyton and Dungy).
Think about this. Big picture, looking closer at the MR success to date. Couldn’t one up Ron Zook. Needed help to get to Atlanta on all 3 occassions. Has never one the East outright. Started Joe T. Was willing to waste and entire season of GA football on Coxy last yr. Took for ever to play Knowshon Moreno. Again started Joe T. over Stafford and remember, still brought him back for the Tenn. disaaster at home that yr.
It’s been a crazy ride with MR and Ga football should be able to sweep the
East one yr. Allbarn and Carolina have 30+ Ga guys on thier roster year in yr.
out. Tenn. has to recruit Ga and be successful to have a chance.
Think about this, maybe MR success is just a given at GA to a degree, unless your just way
over your head like Ray Goff was.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:20 pm
Joe — Not many any predictions (yet) but Tennessee has a real chance to win.
Dawg_with_papers
October 4th, 2010
12:20 pm
It hurts me to say this but I for one think TN will mop up the floor with our team.
But You have to take the good with the bad–and there is not much good this year.
GW
October 4th, 2010
12:21 pm
Lots of problems but practices, especially spring, are clearly not tough enough. That falls on Richt. He’s too worried about injuries but they are getting hurt anyway. “Thud” against the scouts ain’t cuttin’ it. This started with the easy blowout against an inept Hawaii team. Coaches and team read the hype during 08 offseason and everything went soft. Only Richt knows if he is distracted/disinterested.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:21 pm
Michael Schraff — Thanks. Sorry your trip was wasted but at least Boulder was nice, wasn’t it?
Ray
October 4th, 2010
12:22 pm
If CMR is fired it will be one of the biggest mistakes in UGA football history. Demoralizing to say the least. We will lose a fine coach and a great man if we lose CMR. Time to for all good fans to come to the defense of our team and our coach.
bugsquacher
October 4th, 2010
12:22 pm
Great article. Right on the money. Richt has to go, not because he is a bad guy, most people like him, he is a good guy and help stabilize the program…. He has to go because he isnt FULL BORE SEC FOOTBALL, GET AFTER THEIR ASS, KNOCK PEOPLE DOWN, WE ARE GOING TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS…….
BEST POINT OF THIS ARTICLE……. the question asked “is there any sign that UGA football team getting better?” The answer is no. Sorry this has happened but Mark, you gotta go! Football is about winning championships…. nothing else……
Bobby P
October 4th, 2010
12:22 pm
Oh, and by the way, I am a really nice man. Can I have a multi-million dollar contract please?
I don't get it.
October 4th, 2010
12:22 pm
Ray WHY does he deserve an apology for Jeff’s comment? I think its DEAD ON! UGA fans deserve an apology for letting this program get out of hand while making boatloads of money in the process.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:23 pm
BigWheat — I respect your opinion but obviously disagree. Georgia has talent to be 4-1, not 1-4. There’s a reason they’re 1-4.
gtdawg
October 4th, 2010
12:23 pm
5150 you are right. I posted on king”s article what I believe. He has earned the right to have a year to fix it. Dooley was 5-5 in year 10, but did not have this mess. It is about attitude. the players are undisciplined mentally,and all the coaching cannot change some of them. I have coached and been on both sides. It is the difference in w and l.
Dawg_with_papers
October 4th, 2010
12:23 pm
You could not have said it better bugsquacher –It’s nothing personal–but as any manger knows–if you do not perform–you get the boot.
the real Old Gold
October 4th, 2010
12:24 pm
Can’t lead without respect.
GT Fan Here
October 4th, 2010
12:25 pm
I think Mark R is a quality human being. I said years ago, it was hard to me to dislike UGA because of Richt. The man has been a quality coach and I think UGA could do ALOT worse without him.
Mike Smith
October 4th, 2010
12:25 pm
Jeff, your wrong about the X’s and O’s part. You can have all the talent in the world, but if you don’t call the right plays, your going to lose. There has definitely been a slide in focus on the team, but that is not just Richt. A lot of that comes from the coordinators. Richt is responsible for the team overall, but Martinez and Bobo are responsible for their respective units. That is why they have the “Coordinator” title in the first place.
Martinez’s defensive gameplans were soft and very vulnerable to the short pass. Once Van Gorder’s players were out of the system, UGA became mediocre very quickly on defense. The defense completely lost its aggressiveness. That is a direct reflection on Martinez. The defense has already made strides under Grantham which only proves my point. Unfortunately, the D isnt good enough to win games by themselves yet, which leads me to the offense.
Bobo is the same. The offense has looked ill prepared 3 years in a row. Once the players graduated that Mark Richt coordinated, things have slid on an annual basis. Bobo is directly responsible for preparing the offense and calling the gameplan. It took him an entire quarter to realize his best player was back on the field. He constantly moves away from what is working into a stubborn “power running” gameplan that has not worked all year.
Richt made the mistake of handing over the coordinator positions to guys that were not ready for them yet. The program has been on a slide ever since. I think he fixed half of the problem with Grantham. Now he has to fix the other half with Bobo.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:25 pm
Scott — excellent comments.
Saint Simons
October 4th, 2010
12:26 pm
uga (((( 1 & 4 )))) hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
12:26 pm
UGA 10 Fulmer Cup winner, 09 not ranked, 08 #7, 07 #9 tied, 06 #9 tied. Sounds like UGA is been headed in the wron direction for a few years now.
Ray
October 4th, 2010
12:26 pm
The reason Jeff owes an apology is that he equated CMR’s missions trips to the teams decline (in Jeff’s opinion). That is unfair. Why make such an intimation? It is been sad to see so many comments on all of the AJC blogs from folks ridiculing Richt’s religious beliefs and practices. Jeff, your intimation was a low blow. Think about your own life. Does your strongest convictions help or hinder you in your professional career?
bugsquacher
October 4th, 2010
12:28 pm
Jeff, you are right……..
facilities…..check
funds…..check
fan/booster support……check
player talent……check.
hmmmmm…… whats left?
coaches…… this is the problem…….
dawgfacedboy
October 4th, 2010
12:28 pm
With the recruiting and facilities a “rebuilding year” should be in the neighborhood of 8-4, plain and simple. The expectation should be to compete for the SEC every year. We don’t. We never beat Florida which means we have to win out and that isn’t very realistic, especially wheny are 2-4 against UT in the last 6 years. This program is going down hill, fast. The question is how long will the apologist hang on before finally lettin go.
Dork_Simons
October 4th, 2010
12:28 pm
Laugh it up fuzzball–we’ll see your “triple threat” stuff soon enough.
True Bulldog
October 4th, 2010
12:28 pm
Cofan you are stupid for real.
Tweets that mention Richt isn't commanding Georgia players' respect or attention | Jeff Schultz -- Topsy.com
October 4th, 2010
12:29 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Bertromavich Reibold, Jeff Schultz. Jeff Schultz said: Georgia’s players aren’t following leader, and that’s on Richt http://bit.ly/cpstP1 [...]
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:30 pm
Ray — I’m not knocking mission trips or Mark for taking mission trips. I’m saying he has a lot of other things in his life, including mission trips, and that a lot of times that does affect one’s coaching and job performance. So let’s not jump the rails here.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:30 pm
Thanks, Dawg_with_papers.
dawgfacedboy
October 4th, 2010
12:30 pm
another observation- when AJ green was on the field our offense looked better as a whole. Blocking, running, everything looked better. As soon as he left, we reverted back.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:31 pm
Thanks Todd.
J Clay
October 4th, 2010
12:31 pm
Very good article
Tide Rising
October 4th, 2010
12:31 pm
Jeff,
You’re spot on about the respect and discipline thing. At Bama Saban had quite a mess to clean up with 7 players arrested his first year. He booted most of them and now regularly boots players just for breaking team rules let alone getting arrested. The players have a sense of respect bordering on fear which is a good thing. Its no coincidence that we’re having a good run on the field while not having had a player arrested in 14 months. That discipline is the same on and off the field and that seems to be what Georgia is missing.
Just as Bama plays football with few turnovers, few mistakes, not beating ourselves, having no player arrests Georgia is the exact opposite- multiple player arrests on a team that beats itself with untimely penalties, turnovers, I believe last year Georgia was 111th and 119th in the nation in turnover margin and penalties. And at the same time this year they’ve sewn up the Fulmer cup.
The Bama players not only respect their coach but they flat out fear Saban. Its time Richt instilled a little bit of fear into his team.
bugsquacher
October 4th, 2010
12:31 pm
think about this question, dawg nation……
do you think the Georgia Football program is getting better?
if not, a change in leadership is the answer…….
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
Mike Smith (not that one): Do you really believe Georgia is 1-4 because Mike Bobo is calling the wrong plays?
poopdawg
October 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
Fair article, i believe Schultz and poad are the same goober.
SoCal Dawg
October 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
Fire CMR and do him a favor. Then he can get hired in the WAC, do have the work yet win the conference year after year. Maybe even have a 16, 17 ,18 game winning streak. Maybe even be discussed as a BCS buster. I’m not being facetious… very serious.
Nauseated
October 4th, 2010
12:33 pm
Jeff, 5150 P.O.A.D., Dwayne, Jeremy Knipe, Vixzilla, joe, Ted M, Intensity Needed, Scott, WAKE UP, Limeydawg, Cobb Dawg, savannadawg, Cofan, get off Mark Richt’s back!! Get off NOW! NOW!!
Buckeye
October 4th, 2010
12:34 pm
Like the McDonald’s ad…….”Lovin it!”
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:34 pm
Thanks J-Clay
GoodTimes
October 4th, 2010
12:34 pm
I’m a Tech man, and I never thought I’d hear myself say it, but….I don’t wish any more bad fortune on the Dawgs. My Gator friends know: Georgia is a dangerous team. I can’t promise that Y’all will win 8 games, but it could happen. Meantime, before you run off a successful coach like CMR, better make sure what’s out there. It could be worse.
Jeff Schultz
October 4th, 2010
12:34 pm
Tide Rising — I think you hit it on the head with that “respect bordering on fear” reference.
RxDawg
October 4th, 2010
12:35 pm
Good post Jeff. I support Richt more than most Dawg fans (that blog anyways). But this is hard to argue with. It’s the consistancey with how this team has been carrying itself, how it’s been playing on the field, how they get arrested over the stupidest stuff that has Richt’s job in jeapordy.
TexasDawg
October 4th, 2010
12:35 pm
Cobb Dawg, you make an excellent point about Dooley. I met Rodney Hampton on a plane once and I asked him who he liked better Dooley or Goff as a coach, and he said, “I liked Goff better because he was a nice guy and an easier coach, but I like PLAYING for Dooley better because we won more games.” Says it all. The trade off for these guys not getting to act like other college kids is winning games. I think somewhere along the way, CMR forgot this. He inherited some really good players that were hungry to win and he helped them do that. Then for some reason, we started getting players that expected to win but for some reason CMR has not been able to do it with these later groups of players. As someone said, the SEC coaching biz is 24/7/365. I really wonder if CMR can commit to that. He does seems to have other competing interests. Did anyone see the ESPN show on Bama this summer? Saban’s wife had to come visit him in his office for 30 mintues during fall camp, and Saban shrugged his shoulders and said, “Hey, if she does not come here, then we won’t see each other, and that is just the way it is. She knew it when we got married, it has been that way for 30 something years, and it is not going to change anytime soon.”
trey
October 4th, 2010
12:37 pm
Good article Jeff
I think if the dawgs finish with a respectable record (not likely) that BOOBOO gets fired and Richt gets a pass. If they finish with a pathetic record of 2 or 3 wins then Richt and his wagon of goofs are outa here.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 4th, 2010
12:37 pm
Why should anybody get off RICHT’s back? It is like a bobslead. It is fun scary ride down the hill. Just for fun I would like a STAR get in trouble at UGA right now. Then you will see what richt is really all about.
kevin
October 4th, 2010
12:38 pm
Blame the poor, needy people of Honduras. If they would get their acts together, then CMR could stay here and obsess about football.
Unleash the JYD (aka: The Sham)
October 4th, 2010
12:39 pm
I’M SICK AND TIRED OF ALL THE WHINING AND CRYING FROM THE FAIR WEATHER FANS! EITHER THEY ARE CLOSET TECHIES OR NOT REALLY MEMBERS OF THE DAWG NATION. MY TICKETS ARE TOO EXPENSIVE… THE GAME TIMES ARE TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE… WHAAAAAAAAAAA……WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA… CRY ME A RIVER YOU WANNABES (OR GO JUMP IN ONE)!
WHAT WE (THE REAL DAWG NATION) NEED TO DO IS SHUT THE H#!! UP AN ROOT OUR DAWGS ON EVEN HARDER! DEMAND EXCELLENCE AND ROOT FOR THE DAWGS THE WHOLE WAY THROUGH! LEAVING THE STANDS IN THE 3RD QUARTER IS EMBARRASSING AND INEXCUSIBLE. IF THE TEAM LEFT THE FIELD EVERYTIME YOU SAT DOWN HOW WOULD YOU FEEL?
NOW I AM NOT ADVOCATING FOR BEING A BUNCH OF SHEEP, BUT CMR KNOWS WE ARE P!$$#D OFF AND HE KNOWS THAT HEADS MUST ROLL. HE HASN’T FORGOTTEN HOW TO COACH, BUT EVIDENTLY SOME OF YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DAWG…
NOW GRIT YOUR TEETH, LICK YOUR WOUNDS AND TEAR INTO TO ANYTHING THAT COMES OUR WAY THAT EVEN SMELLS LIKE OUR NEXT OPPONENT! ATTITUDE IS THE ONLY THING WE NEED TO RIGHT THIS SHIP AND THAT COMES FROM UNLEASHING THE INNER JUNK YARD DAWG!!!
SIC’EM DAWGS – GATA!!!!!
Brandon
October 4th, 2010
12:39 pm
Really? Richt isn’t a good coach and can’t win in the SEC. He has won, two SEC championships in the 10 years here. Bad luck kept him out of the natl championship game with other teams going undefeated. Florida made it to a natl championship with two losses, and Georgia couldn’t get to a game with only one. Just plain bad luck and the result of no playoff. I agree the standards seem to have slipped and that a change might be needed. Just know, if we cut ties at the end of the season, we’ll lose most of a pretty good recruiting class since many have said they will go elsewhere if there are wholesale coaching changes. Change may be needed, but we need more playmakers and with his record and what he’s done for this university Coach Richt deserves his shot. I would argue he represents his school and represents better as a person better than both Meyer and Saban. If nothing changes then next year it’ll be time to pull the plug…but to insult a great man and a proven coach is just plain ignorance and anyone jumping off the bandwagon, please don’t let the dust choke you on the way off. Go Dawgs!
76-DAWG
October 4th, 2010
12:40 pm
I think CMR is going though the same thing that a lot of family’s go through when both parents want to be friends with their kids. One of the parents has to to be the disciplinarian, the one that deals out the punishment when your kids get into trouble. When they screw up they have to recognize what they did wrong and the pecking order in the family and accept what is handled down . Your kids may not agree with the decisions but they HAVE TO RESPECT YOUR DECISION AND YOU.
I think that is what is going on at UGA. Enough of the players don’t fears CMR or respects his authority, so it affects the team in a negative way. What does Spurrier and Saban and Myers to a degree have in common . All of the players know who is in charge, there is a large degree of fear built into the way these men coach. When someone is thinking about not doing right the players will say ” I better not, I certainly don’t want Spurrier or Saban on my a##. ” But at UGA when a player is in a position not to do exactly the right thing they will say ” I’m going to do it CMR want do much if anything.”
If CMR want to just be friends with the players then he needs to let Grantham do what it takes to get the attention of the players. When Granthem busted the players butt on the sideline a few weeks ago I Applauded. It was great. SOMEBODY HAS TO BE THE DISCIPLINARIAN .
poopants
October 4th, 2010
12:40 pm
5150 POAD – You need to get a life and/or a job. It’s obvious you dislike UGA. We get it. The least you could do is add something constructive to this conversations.. Sheesh.