Richt’s plan for change is good, but why did it take so long?
Georgia coach Mark Richt is coming off his worst season as a head coach. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
Mark Richt is not going to fire offensive coordinator Mike Bobo but he did suggest Wednesday that he’s going to be more hands-on with the offense and the team in general from this day forward.
Comment: That’s probably a good idea, given that it’s his job on the line.
Question: Why did it take a loss to Central Florida in the Liberty Bowl for Richt to realize something was wrong?
In his season-ending press conference Wednesday, via our Tim Tucker, Richt said that he’s going to have more time freed up in his schedule “to [spend] more time doing the things I love the most, which is study the game of football …”
Later, he reiterated, “I’m going to have the ability to have the time it takes to truly study the game of football, the trends and what’s going on, so a higher percentage of my time is going to be able to be used for that.”
Those are interesting statements. They suggest that non-coaching activities have been taking up too much of Richt’s time and adjustments will be made in his schedule to prevent that from happening again.
I don’t doubt that can happen. The demands on a college football coach can be enormous, let alone a coach in the SEC. If Richt is going to tweak his weekly schedule and athletic director Greg McGarity does some things to give him more time to be hands on with his players and the game plan, that can only be good for the program.
Loading ...But it shouldn’t have taken a 6-7 season for Richt to realize something was wrong. There have been signs of the program sliding for a few seasons, going back even to the 10-3 season in 2008. The Dogs were preseason No. 1 but were flattened in key games against Alabama and Florida. Both opponents looked better prepared. Both played with a physical and mental edge that the Dogs generally have lacked.
Things obviously have deteriorated since. Georgia is 5-9 in its last 14 SEC games. Since 2009, they’ve lost to LSU, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Arkansas, Mississippi State and Auburn. (Also, Florida twice.). Perception that the Dogs have been passed by other programs in the conference is now reality.
For what it’s worth, I believe the criticism of Bobo has been a little excessive. He deserves some credit for Aaron Murray’s development. In the last seven games of the regular season — before the 10-6 loss in the Liberty Bowl — the Dogs scored 41, 43, 44, 31, 55, 31 and 42 points.
What’s the bigger issue, the offense or Todd Grantham’s defense? In the SEC, Georgia finished fourth in scoring offense and seventh in total offense; seventh in scoring defense and fourth in total defense.
I’ve never believed the problems are as simple as changing plays or schemes on offense or the defense. It’s big picture stuff: preparation, mindset, toughness, focus, edge, consistency. It’s having an identity, knowing what a Georgia team is going to give you from week to week. That whole, “Finish the drill,” thing has been an empty rallying cry.
It’s great that Richt believes that something needs to be done. It just shouldn’t have gotten to this point. The question now is whether this is too big of a hole for him to dig out of so quickly.
– By Jeff Schultz
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575 comments Add your comment
AMS Jacket
January 5th, 2011
11:48 am
Jeff,
Did CMR really not say anything about the discipline or behavior of the players?
In my mind there is no way he can turn the team around if he doesn’t deal with the weak links…
Your column is right on the money…the UGA management team is behind the curve. This will not be what the program needs, especially if Greene doesn’t stay.
RNB
January 5th, 2011
11:49 am
I agree the hole is too deep. This is no quick fix. We just do not have the players at Georgia to make a quick turn around. Should have made a move this year.
Sandman053
January 5th, 2011
11:50 am
SEC CHAMPS: I agree. From what I have heard about Coach T. I think some of that attitude will change. There won’t be group weight sessions ended by holding hands and singing kumbaya..He will likely be the S&C coach you hate. I think if CTG can just get a big guy for NT then the defense will improve 100%. I’m just not thrilled about Bobo calling plays and haven’t been for years.
Yeah I think Spurrier is Darth Visor, but no one can say the man can’t coach. And if he gets rid of Garcia and lets Shaw play next year they are going to be a really tough team to be beat. (Don’t ya’ll have to go there next year?)
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
11:50 am
JDawg, there are so many problems at this point we need a dry erase board and just start over. Nothing is working in Athens. Football, like life is basically simple. Incompetent people make it complicated by not having a clear plan.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
11:50 am
“It gives us Dawgs hope that a couple of special players will rise to the top this upcoming year.”
It takes team chemistry to make a team special and great. You guys have all the talent in the world but yes, it does take leadership like guys like Tebow and Newton. Those guys were/are leaders.
Snoop Dawg
January 5th, 2011
11:50 am
Adams and McGarrity need to be actively finding a quality replacement for Richt THIS YEAR. This is BS…
OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! No more money from this alumnus until hope and change are restored.
DawginLex
January 5th, 2011
11:51 am
Posted this on Bill King’s blog:
Read between the lines boys.
He is making changes while salvaging his staff.
He is going to call the plays. Regardless of what he is saying, he will now be calling the plays. This is what is needed and he is doing it.
Putting Papa Bear Van Halanger in charge of the mentoring program is another great move. He now has bad a$$ Coach T in charge of S&C and bada$$ Grantham in charge of the defense. Richt is now back in charge of the offense.
Make no mistake, Mark Richt is back to being Coach Richt because he knows that he has to.
Call me a fool if you want to, but I’m pleased. I wanted him fired after the bowl game but now if he is truly going back to coaching, I’m happy and willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
just wondering....
January 5th, 2011
11:52 am
…why we can’t run the ball on 4th and inches on the two against UCF?
…Why we only got 80 yards rushing against UCF?
…when are going to stop throwing the ball 50 yards downfield on 1st down?
…why can’t we get more three and outs?
…when are we going to get some leadership on the field from a linemanand a linebacker. When the players have to look at a freshman qb and suspended reciever for leadership, something is wrong.
Paul in RDU
January 5th, 2011
11:52 am
Richt rightly didn’t wash UGA’s laundry in public but I wonder what was taking up his time and keeping him away from coaching.
According to Tim Tucker’s column
“Richt said director of player development John Eason, a former wide receivers coach, and administrative assistant Dave Van Halanger, a former director of strength and conditioning, will handle certain duties that previously fell on the head coach. Eason serves as the football program’s academic liaison, and Van Halanger heads a new mentoring program for the players”
Sounds as if the off-field problems have affected the on-field performance.
It looks to me as if UGA made a great hire with McGarity. These issues are not new and the previous AD obviously did little to help Richt
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
11:52 am
“Yeah I think Spurrier is Darth Visor, but no one can say the man can’t coach. And if he gets rid of Garcia and lets Shaw play next year they are going to be a really tough team to be beat. (Don’t ya’ll have to go there next year?)”
Yeah, we go there next year but Spurrier has never beaten Auburn while coaching at USC. We’ve been a thorn in his side for years.
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
11:53 am
How long has it been since we’ve had a “true” leader on the field? I know I’m missing a few but Pollack and Greene are the last ones that really come to mind. That’s part of coaching, finding character, quality players that are leaders.
Marie
January 5th, 2011
11:55 am
bitch bitch bitch…
D A Double U G
January 5th, 2011
11:55 am
POAD,
A Tech fan on the recruiting blog just called Chip Towers out for being a UGA homer in his recruiting news.
Check out what Chip Tower’s response was……..
“Ramblor: My assignment this week is to cover the Under Armour All-America game down here in Florida. There are 10 Georgia kids in this game and, at the moment, none of them are considering Georgia Tech. James Vaughters said he may reconsider Tech if Jim Harbaugh leaves Stanford and I’ve reported that. The kids down here are all talking about the Dream Team concept. National analysts from ESPN, Rivals and Scout are writing about, too. It’s a legitimate storyline and a fluid news item because of the events that are taking place here in Florida tonight.
I’d like to write more about Georgia Tech while I’m down here but I can’t make it up. I’ll invite you to share with me/us any tips or leads you may have and will be happy to engage in any discussions you’d like to initiate. That said, I’ll be traveling from Orlando to St. Pete shortly and there’s not much I can do during a 90-mile commute.
Again, this blog is as much yours as it is mine, so feel free to initiate discussions about any recruiting subject you’d like.”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
11:56 am
“How long has it been since we’ve had a “true” leader on the field?”
Stafford.
Sandman053
January 5th, 2011
11:57 am
SEC CHAMPS he had never beaten Florida in Gainseville either…I just never know which SC team is gonna show up. The one he brought to Auburn looked dang good and that game wasn’t over until late. The Jeffrey kid they have has a younger brother/cousin/something who will be a freshman there this coming year.
On another note it is nice to meet someone on here from AU who like bigtim from Bama is not so warped over there team that it is difficult to talk with them. You are the kind of fan that is fun to talk to on here.
KimZ'spackage
January 5th, 2011
11:57 am
Dirtiest thing ever heard on TV circa 50’s “Ward don’t you think you were a little hard on the Beaver last night.”
Dirtiest thing never heard in the Richt house circa 2011 “Mark don’t you think you were a little to soft on the puppies this morning.”
Skyhook
January 5th, 2011
11:57 am
J Dawg.
Not saying he does not have passion about coaching. I think he has other interest that take away from that passion. I’m not saying that is the way it should be, but to compete at this level, aganist this type of competition, you can’t afford to have other interests.
Lombardi put it best “You’ve got to pay the price” We all as we get older see our priorties change.
You can get away with that in the WAC or ACC. You can’t in the SEC or the NFL.
When you realize that you can’t do that anymore, you get out. Meyer did, and I think Mark is going through a period of introspection and asking himself “do I want to do this anymore”?
By the end of 2011, we will know the answer.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
11:57 am
GT: Graduating Iranian terrorists since 1885.
Sandman053
January 5th, 2011
11:58 am
That should have been bigtime from Bama and also that should be their team not there team.
C from Marietta
January 5th, 2011
11:59 am
This is really starting to sound like a broken record. CMR will NOT be fired as much as Schultz and bloggers want him gone. Give it a rest.
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January 5th, 2011
12:00 pm
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2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
12:01 pm
Sandman053
I’m a die hard SEC fan who pulls for SEC teams in bowl games NO MATTER WHAT! I want the SEC to succeed because the rest of the country hates us. I was so pissed at Arkansas last night, even though I can not stand Petrino, and I even threw the remote at the tv. Which by the way, gives me an excuse to go by a new tv! Anyway, Small Ten fans are proclaiming the death of the SEC because ONE Small Ten school beat an SEC school. What’s really funny is that it took O State over 30 years to beat an SEC school in a bowl game. THAT is pathetic!
Small ten is 1-3 against the SEC this bowl season and I think they’re something like 1-5 in bowl games as well. The SEC is 3-4 right now but we still have three games left and I will be cheering hard for KY and LSU and on Monday night I will be shouting WAR DAMN EAGLE at the top of my lungs.
This is BS
January 5th, 2011
12:02 pm
At least I won’t have to waste money on going to a bowl game next year
McGarity is a joke
He should force the firing of Bozo after his stellar double field goal performance
Enjoy your last year in Athens
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:02 pm
Stafford was never a leader. He was soft and pampered. He had so much natural talent he could overcome a poor work ethic. The players saw it and never truly respected him as their leader.
DawginLex
January 5th, 2011
12:03 pm
DJ Shockley was the last true leader we had.
gdawginkalamazoo
January 5th, 2011
12:04 pm
POAD, They let Schultz on TV? I am glad that we have been down the past couple of years just to help you feel better about your Tech team.
McDawg
January 5th, 2011
12:04 pm
nothing wrong w/ BoBo-if our line can’t crank out 3yds it has nothing to do w/ playcalling
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
Mobile Dawg
Stafford was a great QB no doubt. Didn’t he bolt for the NFL his JR. year? Anyway, I remember when UGA had Hines Ward and I never ever ever ever understood why that guy didn’t win the Heisman. In fact, I don’t think he was a candidate. And what’s really funny is I don’t even remember who won the Heisman when he played at UGA.
Carson
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
Sounds like Greg found a very clever way (press conference) to give Mark one more shot at correcting the ship. I’ll admit I am like most Georgia fans. I love CMR. He’s been great for our school and our program, but its time for a change, and I think a change that is more than “I now realize that I am a football coach and Im supposed to coach, not do excel spreadsheets on the grass growing rate on the practice field”. Come on… Focus on cutting edge football!!! Here’s and idea, lets focus on having no arrest. Lets focus on not kicking a field goal on 4th and goal at the 2! No more running the 3rd string RB on 2nd and 23. Doesnt everyone agree that you try for a nice 10 yard play that will give you a manageable 3rd down? I’ve watched this team my whole life and Im sick and tired of buying the gear and the tickets and the gas to travel and all the $hit talk throughout the year. Lets play football like all the high schools play. Hard nosed Georgia Football. Come on… Cutting edge? Give me a break!
Dawg Tell
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
After reading Richt’s comments, I have come to believe he is the next Governor of Georgia or he will run for a national political office. He is getting so good at press conferences that it would make Sonny or Deal proud of him.Say a little something on this side of the fence and than a little something on the other side. My God what a politician.If nothing else,he will have a future in politics!
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:05 pm
Agree Lex….We had some defensive players, Blue, Bailey, that played some good football but not sure they were really leaders. The players did however look up to them and respect them.
LADawg
January 5th, 2011
12:06 pm
He is saying the same thing he said when he turned the reigns of the offense over to Bobo. More time does not equal better coaching.
Mike
January 5th, 2011
12:07 pm
Jeff … the reality of it all is this … no matter how much stronger, tougher, faster, or bigger we get … when the heat is on and it’s 4th and Inches, we will kick a field goal instead of punching someone in the mouth. When it’s 40 seconds left in the half and we have the ball, we will kneel on it and just try again at the start of the 2nd half since we get the ball anyway instead of trying to get some points … instead of using your big playmaker to set the tone, you will use him as a decoy, instead of going to him early and establishing him as the decoy later in the game …
Point is, we can get stronger and nastier through hard work and appearance alone. But when the chief is mentally cautious, those under him will play that way.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
12:07 pm
Dawg Tell
I’d vote for CMR for governor over Nathan Deal ANY day of the week.
Sandman053
January 5th, 2011
12:07 pm
Yeah I wasn’t pleased with Arkansas last night either. I can’t believe they dropped that many easy passes. I know Mallett throws with a lot of gas, but geez, they knew they were coming and have been catching him all year. Terrible defense on both sides and terrible preperation on Ark. end I think. I am NOT a Petrino fan. I was pulling for them, but having said that it couldn’t have happened to a better guy than Petrino.
Bama Dawg Red
January 5th, 2011
12:08 pm
If BoBo is not the problem??? How about 2nd and it doesn’t matter, the whole stadium knows we are going to go with a running play!!!! As for the 3-4 defence…..never saw it…..was 4-3 all year and still NO blitzes!!!! What gives? RIcht needs some FIRE!!!!
Same ole same ole
January 5th, 2011
12:10 pm
There were a lot of things for the dawgs to celebrate this year. Let’s see…
1. A drunken, whoring athletic director with red panties in his lap.
2. Twelve players arrested. And 41% of UGA football players are arrested during their time at UGA.
3. A player suspended for violating NCAA rules.
4. Winning the Fulmer Cup for the most players arrested.
5. Winning the title of #1 party school (i.e., the most drunken student body in the USA).
6. A sleazy assistant coach who razzes opposing players, unethical coaching conduct in violation of NCAA rules.
7. A super sleazy head coach who thinks he’s a saint, but recruits thug wannabes, gangbangers, and illiterate morons.
8. A 6-7 record despite having a team full of 4- and 5-star recruits.
That’s really something to be proud of!
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:10 pm
Ward was another guy we didn’t realize was so good until he left. He was before CMR’s time though. The reason I asked that question is that it would appear that Richt doesn’t seem to be able to identify true leaders in the recruiting process. Tuberville was pretty good at identifying talent that wasn’t necessarily graded high.
Belcher
January 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
He says he wants to “study” football!! What the hell have we been paying 3 million$$$ for?????
UGA 72 74
January 5th, 2011
12:11 pm
Jeff — UGA vs. Tennessee history question. Why has UGA only played Tennessee 40 times in football?
bart
January 5th, 2011
12:12 pm
I don’t know how many second and third chances you can give somebody. I hope if we don’t see significant progress next year that McGarity will fire Richt. We can’t continue to pay him almost 3 million dollars a year because he’s a “good Christian man.” I’m afraid he has dug us into too deep a hole to get out of in a year, and I’m not sure he’s the guy to do it anyway. We’ll just have to wait and see. I do think with the favorable schedule next year that at least 9 wins and a victory over Florida being one of those should be the absolute minimum for him keeping his job, maybe even 10 wins.
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:13 pm
Great point LA Dawg….
saban
January 5th, 2011
12:13 pm
Please keep Richt.
I have arranged for the Walmart in Athens to put my National Championship Trophy on display so all you folks can slobber on in while you buy your red panties and little choak dawgs.
Going to be a tough evening with all your HS Stars going out of state.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
12:14 pm
Sandman053
Arkansas has the most penalties in the SEC and that really hurt them as well. The dropped passes were horrible and those dropped passes cost them TD’s. Arky has a terrible defense which also hurt them. The way the ESPN announcers were talking you’d think that O State was the best ever. When Arky blocked that punt I was sure Mallet and company would score. O State is not fast and Pryor is NOT Cam Newton. I got so sick of them talking about how Pryor was so similar to Cam. LOL. If Pryor is similar then why don’t the numbers add up?
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
12:15 pm
Mobile Dawg
I was a little bewildered when I’d read that CMR wanted to recruit Cam as a tight end.
Paul in RDU
January 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
Heisman Trophy winners when Hines Ward was at UGA
1994 Rashaan Salaam Colorado Running Back
1995 Eddie George Ohio State Running Back
1996 Danny Wuerffel Florida Quarterback
1997 Charles Woodson Michigan Cornerback/Wide Receiver/Punt Returner
Not exactly the same standard as in 1981 – 86 (Allen, Walker, Rozier, Flutie, Jackson, Testaverde)
Rick
January 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
I see lots of Techie and Gators fans are voting in Jeff’s HIGHLY UNSCIENTIFIC POLL.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
12:16 pm
saban
I hear Walmart has a sale going on. 28-27% off of everything. WDE!
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
12:18 pm
Paul in RDU
Wow, didn’t realize that. Eddie George is the only one out of that list of winners that did anything in the NFL. Woodson is having a good year with Green Bay but it’s now 2011. What took him so long? LOL
Macclenny_dawg
January 5th, 2011
12:18 pm
Until Richt tells me he will become more aggressive in every aspect of the game his words are like trying to put a bandaid on a cut artery!!!! We did not block a punt all season!!! Why!!! Because we have guys halfway down the field getting ready to block for a fair catch!!!! Bobo’s playcalling goes exactly like this. On 1st down pass if its incomplete got to run on 2nd down Always!!! Where did the slant pass and screen pass go this year??? Play action only works if you can only run the ball!!! I personally think the game of college football offensively has passed Richt and Bobo bye!!! There is no creativity in our offense yet Richt said 2 years ago we would have a offense that fits our starting qb!!! Well it didn’t work for Cox and looked like we kept Murray in 3rd and long all season. I actually didn’t think he would have kept from getting hurt!!! Bottom line is there will be no coaches coming in so I just don’t see attitudes changed from the players standpoint!!! The players are the ones that have to belief in the coaching staff and I sure hope they do because I have lost all faith in Richt!!! He coaches not to lose instead of coaching to win!!! SEC CHAMPIONSHIP OR BYE BYE RICHT!!!