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
JB
January 5th, 2011
1:18 pm
willie robinson…………..Quote from Richt in the Athens paper the Monday after the Tech Game
” We couldn’t stop them. We had no one to put in to stop them.” … I read your post…….They ain’t there.
willie robinson
January 5th, 2011
1:20 pm
with the bulldogs i think coach can turn it around but the problem with uga is they are weak on the o line and d front seven until they get better in those areas they won’t win their receivers and tight ends are as deep and talented as i have seen since coach has been here. their backs to me caleb king is’nt that good, i like ealey he’s a good back but he fumbles too mch and carlton thomas is a good but he needs be used on screens and draw plays and get him in space.
CrackDaddy
January 5th, 2011
1:21 pm
I’d love to see the assembly of CMR’s critics take over the reins (Kramer, BIg Dawg, Simple Dawg, No More Donations, et al) of UGa’s football program. Beat their gums, yes, but they’d be hard pressed to beat the University of Valdosta.
bigeasy830
January 5th, 2011
1:21 pm
@ blazerdawg, The Sec west was tought but, South Carolina had the Tigers at home, now I know they crushed them in the SEC title game. But what Oregon did to Tenn was awesome. That team have NFL caliber talent on offense. I an cheering for the SEC but this is not our year. I knew Ohio State was going to beat Arkansas. This is simply not the SEC’s year.
willie robinson
January 5th, 2011
1:23 pm
and last aaron muray had a big time and will be a great quterback but he needs a o-line around him.
Alabama Jack
January 5th, 2011
1:24 pm
Why did it take so long?
Well, there was the 12th arrest and then we had to re-do the plagues that said 7-6, and we couldn’t find the white paint for Russ’s ass and since some of the players were suspended and others were too afraid to play lest they injure their NFL prospects, well, I mean, oh yeah, and there was the prayer meeting and the swimming practice and gosh, we just had lots and lots to do.
Tell the truth
January 5th, 2011
1:24 pm
Mike He is a freshman BOZO!!!!!!
A couple of comments are in line
January 5th, 2011
1:26 pm
“CMR has forgotten more than most people will ever know” about coaching and college football. Yes, he has also forgotten how to win championships …..be they SEC East or SEC Championships or now, small bowl championships.
Folks …………….coaching is not a jobs program. A coach comes in, he is very, very, very highly paid when compared to a surgeon or pastor or a teacher or a small business owner or start up entrepreneur. He knows that it about winning right now and major bowls. He also knows that it will not go on for 25+ years like with Joe Pa or Vince Dooley or Shug Jordan. The name of the game is to win big, win bowls and see a better opp, then take it and move on and end up in the TV sports booth doing bowl games ………………..wealthy. Period.
Richt has not acheived anything important in the last 3 or four years. THIS is why he is paid. His job incentive package is structured with championship, major bowl clauses, bonuses, etc. He knows that he has failed and he knows that UGA still has to pay him. So, he talks alot, he moves the chairs on the deck of the sinking ship and we wait until the end of 2011.
Here is what absoutley could happen …………….again. UGA opens in September and loses in an ugly affair with Boise State in the Ga. Dome. Then UGA could lose again to SC and to MSU and who ever else is in our first 4 or 5 games. Then, McGarity might fire him right then and there. This scenario is a 45-55% chance of happening to UGA.
Folks …………….. THIS can get uglier. Why wait??
Love my Dogs. UGA man, class of 71 & 73.
PS Aaron Murray should be told to never wear his Batman gloves again. That was a joke.
porta pottie
January 5th, 2011
1:27 pm
Jeff, I didn’t take the Librarian Bowl loss for Mark Richt to figure out he had a problem, he knew it after the 1-4 start. It’s like his New Years Resolution is to turn things around with a fresh start and I can feel what he is saying. The new AD knows how Florida gets it done and I think they he will be a big help. Florida State hired a new strength and conditioning coach and it obviously helped them, so I think we’re making some steps in the right direction. Georgia needs a running back, they have a great QB. Let’s hope CMR quits some of the bad habits of 2010??
blazerdawg
January 5th, 2011
1:28 pm
You may be right bigeasy – Oregon is certainly not going to be like Ohio State in the past, and I agree with you that Oregon has a coaching advantage, but I do not see Oregon stopping Cam and the gang, and I believe that Auburn’s d-line has something to prove. This is a big one – the UnderArmour/Nike thing is kind of interesting too.
formerSubscriber
January 5th, 2011
1:28 pm
Hey Jeff … In the real world, some times change only comes after failure. Why did the AJC wait so long to change before losing millions of $ (and subscribers), laying off hundreds and closing off the state outside of the Perimeter?
59bulldawg
January 5th, 2011
1:29 pm
Richt doesn’t know the meaning of timeliness. Either he refuses to se the obvious or he’s just not paying attention. Whatever it is, it has greatly undermined his position as HC and will probably lead to his dismissal after next season. He’s been asleep at the wheel for the last three and he’s pretty much driven the program over the cliff. That’s a real shame but he has nobody but himself to blame. McGarity’s doing every thing possible to help Richt succeed but I think it’s much too little much too late.
steverino
January 5th, 2011
1:32 pm
will someone please address..what was the deal with Murray wearing gloves in 69 degree weather..
JB
January 5th, 2011
1:34 pm
CrackDaddy……”love to see the critics take over for Richt”………Do you want your 3 million dollar a year Surgeon…Airline pilot etc to have the same results as Richt….didn’t think so.
HE’s paid 3 mil because lot’s of people spend 70 million dollars on this program, and maybe don’t expect a title every year, being competitive would be nice. We beat no one with a winning record.
59bulldawg
January 5th, 2011
1:34 pm
I think he just likes wearing them (cool factor I guess) plus he says they don’t affect his accuracy. Me I’m not so sure about that. But then again I guess I’m old school.
JASon
January 5th, 2011
1:34 pm
Hey, Jeff, you know, I really don’t think you guys have defended Mark Richt enough. Please write 5 or 6 more columns about how great a coach he is.
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
1:35 pm
59bulldawg, if it turns out that we are right what does that say about the real “character” of MR the man. Everyone always highlights his integrety, character, etc, before they criticize his coaching abilty. If the man is really masquerading as a coach while taking our millions what does that say about him. I’m starting to get that aggravated, frustrated, with him, and actually questioning his character for not doing the right thing and stepping down.
Truly study the game of football
January 5th, 2011
1:35 pm
I guess Coach Richt
needs to get some of those Junior College players like Auburn and Bama did.
girldawg
January 5th, 2011
1:37 pm
CMR does not know how to develop talent. He focuses way way too much on one player (AJ Green this year ) that may have proven to be really good in HS and ignores the rest of his talent. We had great talent on this team but they would have a great play get some badly needed yardage and then be sent to stand on the sidelines until they punted usually 3 and out. So his so called superstars could get the job done NOT! I will name some from this year Chris Durham, Orson Charles, Aaron White, Chapas, King, and there are more from this year and other years… can you say Massaquoi?? Rich Rod needs a job and even with his failures at Michigan I think he would be better he does actually show passion for the game. He just needed superstar DC.
bigdawg88
January 5th, 2011
1:37 pm
I like coach Richt, but I am as baffled as he seems to be about what is really wrong. I am concerned about the mindset among the players than anything else. I just think the players at UGA (and elsewhere) think they are better than they really are. All those stars on their scouting reports have gone to their heads. I even see the players coming in thinking the same thing. Guys at the Under Armor practice saying if they all signed together they would absolutely win a national championship! They haven’t even played college ball yet. They’re already full of themselves! Breaking those attitudes down and making them into real winners is something our coaching staff seems to lack lately. And Richt’s demeanor has little to do with it. You can be a nice guy and get your point across. THE BENCH is the most powerful weapon in a coaches arsenal. Start sitting the slack ones and the rest will straighten up.
As far as cutting edge, there are some things you can do on the offensive side, like no-huddle, that would be a help, but I think evaluating talent (current and future) is the biggest thing Richt should be working on.
After the bowl I was finally wanting to fire Richt, but Mack Brown is 5-7. Did he forget how to coach too, or is it passing him by? What happened to the defense? Nobody is talking about how poorly Muschamp did. Gave up more points than we did, and he’s not a first-year guy.
59bulldawg
January 5th, 2011
1:38 pm
You definitely have a point Mobile Dawg! But then again in his mind there isn’t much of a problem and what problem there might be, he thinks he can fix it! Ugh!
Bullwinkle
January 5th, 2011
1:38 pm
o snap
UGA Insider
January 5th, 2011
1:38 pm
Word is that Nathan Deal does NOT like Mike Adams. If you want to fire someone he is the one that needs to go.
Zack Mettinburger's Mom
January 5th, 2011
1:39 pm
Obama/ Biden = Richt/ Bobo. This is richt’s lame duck year and he will try to just not screw it up anymore than it is already screwed up.
A question about UGA's future D linemen and LBs?
January 5th, 2011
1:39 pm
Does anyone out there know if Bean Anderson and the Gathers kid from SC are truly big boy nose tackles that can hold up and occupy two O linemen?? Can these two men play big boy ball? Are they THE MISSING LINK ( s ) for UGA’s D line???
Richard Samuels and that Jarvis Jones kid ( USC tranferee) could be starting LBs for UGA. If so, that means that UGA in 2010 played their # 2 D unit the entire year, thusly setting up some improvement? in these specific areas next year?? Does experience matter in the SEC or do bulk and brute strength only get it done?
Like to hear some feed back on these two questions, please.
Go Dogs.
JB
January 5th, 2011
1:41 pm
Georgia fans get a lot of grief on here for being verbal about this, maybe hostile, and some comments on here about it would lead some believe that WE are the only ones like this…….
NOT SO FAST MY FRIENDS……………When Zook was at Florida, they were just as vile, maybe worse. When JoPa at Penn St. slipped up there 3 years or so ago, they were vocal. and lordy, Shula at Bama, Gailey at Tech….We heard it all….and more……So back off that we’re out of line……We want better for our University like all of them did…..
Jeff Schultz
January 5th, 2011
1:41 pm
JSS — Just living the American dream.
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
1:43 pm
I’m not a true acadamian Insider so I can’t really comment on Adams. I haven’t heard anyone associated with athletics say anything good about him. I need to write him a letter and see if I get the same response I get from my congressman. Have you heard from me yet “Hartman Fund”?
AFDawg
January 5th, 2011
1:43 pm
Dawgs are in huge trouble without a leadership change. Not taking care of the Bobo problem is unforgiveable. Next year we will beat Coastal Carolina, Vandy and New Mexico State. Ole Miss is a toss-up. That will be it.
bigdawg88
January 5th, 2011
1:43 pm
…And another thing. Is it just me or did we call a LOT less audibles this season? Is that due to Murray’s inexperience/aptitude, or a change in philosophy?
I will say one thing that really bothered me about the play-calling. Why put Branden Smith in there when all you’re going to do is run a reverse with him – EVERY TIME!?! If you’re not going to throw deep to him, don’t bother letting him play offense. That’s just gimmicky for no reason and it didn’t fool anybody. Sorry, I just had to get that off my chest.
5051 P.O.A.D.
January 5th, 2011
1:44 pm
5150 POAD is paul and al’s beotch.
ga gator
January 5th, 2011
1:45 pm
bigdawg88
Muschamps Defense was ranked 2nd, UGA 39th. Texas problems were on offense not defense.
Tell the truth
January 5th, 2011
1:45 pm
Mobile Dawg Ahhhh nooo – got your panties in a wad because you can’t get your way??? You want Richt to quit- to eat dirt and die, eh??? Well it’s not gonna happen buckaroo. All you unhappy campers are gonna have to put up with him again next year!!! It just breaks my heart for ya. I hope he wins the SEC and then quits and goes to a university with some grown up fans.
GT
January 5th, 2011
1:45 pm
Put a Johnson or Spurrier in this place. The press boys have little affection for either one but you can take what they say to the bank. Mainly they say what they think is wrong, try not to sugarcoat it whether it is one of their players or an assistant coach or themselves. They are usually upset and cranky, not caring if they are overly polite to the press,pleasing or hoodwinking the press is not going to win one game for them. You can tell Richt is not changing anything, he just lost another player to the law. I think Richt is one of those people that does it all politically correct but in the end produces very little. I see guys like him in all paths of life, above it all, not getting involved, not cluttering his life with other people’s problems. He is almost out there with the rest of us looking in, like he can’t understand these crazy kids either. He is the piano teacher that shows up at the house at 4 and leaves at 5, what happens the other 23 is none of his business. He is not emotionally invested.
ga gator
January 5th, 2011
1:45 pm
http://www.opposingviews.com/i/2010-college-football-team-by-team-rankings-defense
Dr. Adams
January 5th, 2011
1:47 pm
Adams has oddly been vey quiet on ths subject of UGA”s entire 2010 season with the arrests and the gal assaults and the druken driving and driving w.o. a valid license and helmet theft,etc.
Then, the yar opened in a veru guyl fashion and Adams did comment about the AJ investigation but nothing real tangible. He alluded to the South Beach trip as not the real reason for activity swirling around AJ and that turned out to be accurate ………… AJ dumped a jersey.
Beyond Adams on the subject of AJ Green and his clothing sale, he has been mute. Odd.
Maybe is is awaiting the results of the Feb signing day. WHo knows? Does he even care about big time football or sports anymore?? Frankly, on his watch in just about all major sports and INCLUDING girls gymnastics, Adams’ choices for coaches have been just awful.
Go Dogs.
Richard Dawson
January 5th, 2011
1:47 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT.
You are correct that coordinators are not the issue. The problem starts at the top.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
1:47 pm
“Obama/ Biden = Richt/ Bobo.”
Yeah but Richt doesn’t hate America and has had a real job before. Also, he has experience in a leadership role and he isn’t a commie moron. Oh, and he doesn’t wear mom jeans and throw worse than blind Iraqi.
Richard Dawson
January 5th, 2011
1:52 pm
Someone mentioned all the stars on the scouting report going to players’ heads. How about all the dog bones on the helmets? For a 6-7 team? They cluttered up some players’ helmets so much that the back half looked white. It is out of control. You should not have more dog bones than wins, period.
indifferent
January 5th, 2011
1:52 pm
I really don’t know why all the uga people are upset. UCF was a ranked team, conference champion, and was obviously a better team. If uga had won, that would have been an upset.
Virginia DAWG
January 5th, 2011
1:53 pm
Maybe the support from McGarity is something that is needed and that Richt was not getting from Damon. After all, Damon was pretty young and green in many respects. Having learned at the feet of Foley, maybe McGarity knows a little better what an AD should be doing to help his football coach be successful.
Could it be a med issue?
January 5th, 2011
1:54 pm
I watch people’s eyes when they speak to me on important issues. Most guys do that.
Richt lately ( for two or three or four years ) has that sleepy, drowsy, blinking eye flutterings that gone on when he speaks. During a rather peaceful TV show interview say with Chuck Dowdle, Richt always looks drowsy and with a general lack of any emotions …………. sleepy or something else. He rarely smiles on HIS show. Geez.
I am just saying ……………….. Mark Richt lacks fire and the kids feed off of that. Sabin in his interviews and others like him are wound tightly and are all in motion. Richt??? Sleepy, droopy eyed he is. My wife also comments about this. She was a clinical psyhcologist too.
UGA forever. Sic em Dawgs. Woof, woof. We will be back.
Mobile Dawg
January 5th, 2011
1:55 pm
Tell the truth, my panties are in a wad because I have the ability to use logic, facts, insight, and can actually base a fairly accurate forecast of the future on the events of the past. That’s what my college education taught me to do. That and spend my $$$ wisely. I will refrain from insulting you, even though you deserve it.
JB
January 5th, 2011
1:57 pm
Tell the truth @ “say’s hopes Richt wins the SEC and goes to a school with normal fans”
LIKE: Bama and Shula……Zook and Florida…………..like Auburn and Tuberville…………Like Miami and Shannon……. like Clemson and Bowdon……..Like those ‘normal fans”
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
1:58 pm
“like Auburn and Tuberville”
Not sure what you’re talking about. Auburn fans/alumni loved Tubberville.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 5th, 2011
1:59 pm
People UCF didn’t show up in the polls until week 14. That is when they got into the Championship game. UCF had to be in the polls because at the end of the year they were C-USA Champions. They deserved a top 25 rank only because of that fact. Don’t act like UCF was a top 25 team at any point in the year. Anything to make you dawgs feel better about losing to O’Leary again.
wreckmaniac
January 5th, 2011
2:00 pm
Are we going to ask this same question once a week every week until the season begins ? Why should the answers be any different next week than this week or last week ?
Tell the truth
January 5th, 2011
2:00 pm
2010 SEC CHAMPS Wow your political comments added sooooo much to the discussion!!! I am just so impressed.
Tell the truth
January 5th, 2011
2:02 pm
JB I said grown up fans- although normal fans would be a big difference also. In any case he is a better coach than you deserve.
2010 SEC CHAMPS
January 5th, 2011
2:02 pm
“Wow your political comments added sooooo much to the discussion!!! I am just so impressed.”
Not that I care, but I wasn’t the one who compared CMR to an idiot in the White House.