Richt: ‘We’re not dead yet’
Mark Richt said he'll do "anything and everything" needed to get Georgia back on track. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
You might have expected Mark Richt to be a little tense this week as he tries to get his floundering team to shake off last week’s second-half collapse and prepare for a Georgia Tech offense that gave the Dogs big problems last year.
But the Richt who dropped by the Touchdown Club of Athens meeting Tuesday night at the Athens Country Club appeared relaxed as he teased UGA color analyst Eric Zeier and recounted how his efforts to recruit Zeier to FSU came to naught.
Richt noted that Zeier has done such a good job of analyzing Georgia in the radio booth that Dogs supporters have been urging him to add Zeier to his coaching staff. In reference to widespread criticism of that staff, Richt cracked: “I said that if I hired him, he wouldn’t be so smart any more.”
Talking about Georgia’s past two games, Richt said he thought the Dogs winning the turnover ratio for the only time this season was the key to beating Auburn. As for the Kentucky game, he said, the first thing he told his team “was to protect the ball.” He said he stressed ball security at halftime of the game against the Wildcats, only to see his team turn it over four times.
Perhaps, he said sarcastically, “I should just say fumble and throw picks all you want and maybe they’ll do the opposite of what I say” again.
More seriously, he said part of the problem with Georgia getting more takeaways has just been the way the ball bounces, with the Dogs getting few chances to cover an opponent’s fumble. “It’s just been one of those years.”
But, he said, “I don’t think the team fell apart” in the second half against Kentucky. “We had a couple of freshmen spit it up. It wasn’t a bunch of guys giving up or quitting. We just found ways to hurt ourselves.”
And he promised the crowd of several hundred Bulldogs fans, “We’re not dead yet.”
On the subject of injuries to Bacarri Rambo and A.J. Green, he noted that Rambo was unable to practice Tuesday and would try again Wednesday. “If he can practice [Wednesday], he’ll be OK to play.” Green, he said, hasn’t been able to practice “but has not been counted out. There’s a little bit of hope that he can play” on Saturday.
Richt was asked by someone in the audience how Georgia having an off year is affecting recruiting. “Are [other programs] trying to steal players from us? Yeah. Are they saying Georgia’s having troubles? Yeah, they’re doing that. But so far no one has decommitted.”
And Richt said he didn’t expect to lose many recruits “because we don’t feed them a bunch of crap. We tell them how it’s going to be. I feel like we’re still in very good shape.” He added that at quarterback he’s sticking with Logan Gray, Zach Mettenberger and Aaron Murray for next year. “We’re not bringing in a freshman [quarterback] in this class, as of right now.” He said Georgia is looking at some potential walk-on QBs “for emergency situations,” but said he did not anticipate signing a junior college quarterback.
Asked about the Dogs’ troubles with kickoffs, Richt said that Blair Walsh has been doing a “stellar” job of kicking off, but “we just haven’t been covering good” this year. That was what led him to try a variety of approaches in the Kentucky game, including squib kicks. He just didn’t think his coverage team was capable of stopping the Cats and “the strategy was to try and disrupt what [Kentucky] was trying to do by doing some different things.”
The result, he said, was “two that were embarrassing, two that were not very good and two that were pretty good.” The squib kick returned to Georgia’s 49 popped up higher than Walsh expected, he said. It was supposed to be more of a line drive.
On the subject of penalties, he said that some of the personal fouls called were “not very smart” but others have just been the result of aggressive play that the Georgia staff thought was legal but the official “didn’t see it that way.” The officials, he said, “are human. They’re gonna call what they see.”
Same with holding calls, like those that have been called on center Ben Jones, he said. “We signed that kid because he’s a mean snake. He goes after it. But if he locks onto a guy and buries him, sometimes they think he’s holding him.”
Richt didn’t directly address the likelihood of any staff changes after this season, but he did pledge to the Touchdown Club: “I’m gonna do anything and everything I can do to get us back on track.”
ZEIER: RICHT IS THE MAN TO FIX THINGS
Speaking after Richt, Zeier said he thinks the Georgia program will be better off for having survived the kind of season it’s had this year. Citing his own career in football, which included time in the NFL, he said, “Challenges like this push you out of your comfort zone. … For the past several years, we’ve had a lot of success and were in a comfort zone. But when that happens, people will catch up to you and pass you before you know it. ”
Zeier thinks the abundance of young talent at UGA is the key to a turnaround. “We are on the verge of some really good things.” He said he’s already seeing the changes wrought by adversity. Over the past three weeks, he said, they’ve changed from a “loose, cocky bunch” to a more determined group.
And, he said, he thinks there’s “no better man for the job” of turning things around than Richt, who Zeier said “has earned the right to take this program where he wants it to go.”
Zeier said his “biggest fear” for this team is that it will buy into the excuses that the loss of players like Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno was responsible for the downturn. “When you allow challenges to become excuses, you have every reason not to win.”
Georgia, he said, has the talent to be an elite program again. “We’re a year or two away from being back at that level. “And we’ve got the right group [of coaches] to do it.”
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216 comments Add your comment
HardTruthSoldier...
November 25th, 2009
1:09 pm
Jason your cool, let’s just hope you don’t hang out with WAYNE the WHINER. Clueless to the end!!
td
November 25th, 2009
1:10 pm
The below was just posted by TXdawg3 on another blog and is so true to this blog.
“I was at UGA during the late 70’s and the fall of 1980…do you know what I remember?
Bear Bryant was IT at Alabama; during the 70’s, No one in the entire country could compete with him or AL year in and year out. AL won every SEC championship except 1976 (UGA won 21-0 that day and the SEC that year); there were cries of “Dump Dooley” and many of the same criticisms that are on this blog for the last two days…yet, UGA was a “TEAM” first, “me” second organization and that attitude culminated in a National Championship in 1980.
Herschel made a hugh difference in 1980, but he wasn’t the entire team. I remember Florida stuffing our running game in JAX and winning very late into the game, when Buck (8) threw a short pass to Scott (24) and he outran a UF cornerback that wouldn’t take himself out of a game due to a slight leg cramp because he was a SR; result > Lindsay Scott ran the entire length of the field untouched. Lady Luck smiled on us that day and we won because we were a TEAM. I remember Jimmy Harper and Tim Morrison making blocks to open holes for runs and to protect the passing game. I also remember Scott Warner along with many others playing their hearts out on defense, BUT it took a GREAT COACH that many people wanted to dump, fire, replace and get rid of to LEAD and COACH those players to victory.”
CMR is a GREAT COACH; LEAVE HIM ALONE until you have WALKED in his shoes!
South Georgia SS
November 25th, 2009
1:15 pm
I have gotten to know M.Richt during his visits to our high school. He is a man of character. He treats the young players he recruits with respect and honesty. I have a deep respect for him as a man and as a coach. I am a die hard Georgia fan. It is time we all think more positive and leave him alone to continue his work as our coach.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
1:16 pm
“CMR is a GREAT COACH; LEAVE HIM ALONE until you have WALKED in his shoes!”
Replace “CMR” with “Charlie Weis,” and…he’s being fitted for concrete boots right now. I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.
reebok
November 25th, 2009
1:17 pm
To all the Tech fans who come onto the Georgia blogs to see what the Loyal Opposition is saying, doing and thinking…
When we host UGA and their fans at Bobby Dodd on Saturday evening, let’s be good hosts. Treat the Dog fans with respect. Let’s all enjoy a great football game between 2 great, historic programs.
And that being said, GO JACKETS!
CHNSTRP
November 25th, 2009
1:20 pm
YOU HAVE A 5th YEAR SENIOR QUARTERBACK THAT AS GOOD AS HE GOT BEING THERE 5YRS?YOU FOR THE LAST 2-3 YRS HAD THE MOST PENALTY’S AND MOST TURNOVERS IN YOUR CONF.YOU HAVE GOOD TO GREAT RECRUITING GLASSES FOR THE PAST 4-5 YRS.THE ONLY CONSTANT IS THE COACH.NEVER CHANGE BUT EXPECT DIFFERENT OUTCOMES?AND THE WHEELS IN THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND!!!!!!!!
Old School Gator
November 25th, 2009
1:23 pm
“Were not dead yet”. No, but your mascot sure is! Go Gators!
bill
November 25th, 2009
1:26 pm
The comments by Eric Cartman were great. Joe Cox is the demise of the dawgs. He red headed ugly, selfish, no talent and scares the hell out of kids when they see him on TV. he should never have be in this positions.
dawgdays
November 25th, 2009
1:27 pm
I will be in the east stands, upper deck, 50 yard line about 7 rows back gladly cheering on my dawgs this Saturday night.
I have not missed a GA/GT game in over a decade and I can say that the GT fans are some of the most disrespectful I have ever seen!
dean
November 25th, 2009
1:29 pm
EricADawgFan=EricABlowhard.
Steve
November 25th, 2009
1:36 pm
I think Tech will win by 30+. And I hope the report is true about Martinez – keeps Richt out of an awdward situation.
Steve
November 25th, 2009
1:37 pm
Awkward – excuse me
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
1:37 pm
dawgdays -
“GT fans are some of the most disrespectful I have ever seen!”
Can you give us a top 5 disrespectful list?
Buzz Belle
November 25th, 2009
1:46 pm
I found an interesting story a few weeks ago that said when UGA hired Richt, Bobby Bowden said he was a great guy, too nice to be head coach but a really good guy. I think he might be right. Nice guys don’t always finish last but this is college football. You don’t have to scream but you have to realize this is a business even though you are working with students. In any business, to be successful, you must put aside friendships or loyalties and do what will move the business foward. If not, the board or shareholders find a way to can you. I want my Jackets to win and to be honest, I want Ga. to keep Richt. I like moving up while the dogs are having problems because it gives me the opportunity to give back when I have received so much over the 7 years the dogs beat us. To all of you who think Tech has more to lose than Ga. on this game – think again. We still go to our conference championship win or lose. Would it be nice to beat Ga. again – hell yes! But the Ga. game was not the goal we were looking for this year. We already did that last year. It was winning our conference and going to a BCS bowl. We’re close and we can still do it win or lose on Saturday! Go JACKETS & THWG
U-no
November 25th, 2009
1:51 pm
This weekend’s game will be a good one and also very interesting. Interesting only because of wondering how long the UGA faithful will occupy their seats if the game turns against the Pups. Fair weather fans suck, and they communicate all the wrong things to the team. The Pup fans basically hung the middle finger to the entire team last weekend, and before the game was over and still too close to call it a loss. That will affect the players this weekend… you just go hide and watch.
U-no
November 25th, 2009
1:54 pm
Dawgdays, disrespect is more damaging when it is aimed at your own team by your own fans. Go ask your precious Pup players who the most disrespectful fans are after they saw the Dawg Nation walk out on them last weekend.
ajfdog
November 25th, 2009
1:59 pm
My post above was not bashing Richt; I believe he is a good man, just not a great coach. His earlier record was built when he was coaching against either other not so great coaches or coaches at the end of their line (Gailey, Fulmer, Shula, Zook, etc). He/UGA does not have that luxury anymore. We now have to face Meyer, Saban, Johnson, Brooks and others that are just better. I equate CMR to Miles; will always have a lot of talent but will not develop or coach it. He does not have the personality of Miles, but coaching is on par. Unless he hires some really good coordinators, we will always be outcoached.
For those who want me to give up my loyalty to the Dogs, aint gonna happen. I am a UGA grad, so I cannot just change teams (fortunately my degree was signed by Dr. Knapp.
Now, if Meyer, Saban and Johnson leave the SEC, I think we would be OK with CMR.
As for everyone blaming Cox. Who do you blame for him being the pest option? Why was LG practicing with special teams last year to fair catch vs. developing to compete with Cox? Why have we not developed enough depth to not have true freshman returning kicks or running with the ball with the game on the line? How many games does it take for you kick off coverage team to no longer be called pups? If you answer these questions honestly, you know it all comes down to coaching.
MPK
November 25th, 2009
2:00 pm
In his 11th and 12th seasons at Alabama, the mighty Bear, was 6-5 and 6-5-1. the next year he was 11-1. I wonder how many people were calling for his scalp before he righted the program?
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
2:01 pm
Musings and predictions…UGA will win sat…so will SC….Willie,Jancek and Garner will leave the staff for different reasons….UGA will hire a ST guru….UGA will have the highest ranked recruiting class ever under CMR come signing day….Bama will beat FLA but lose in the NC game.UGA and TENN will finish ahead of FLA in SEC east in 10.SEC will go 8-2 in bowl games
Robot Uga 2008
November 25th, 2009
2:03 pm
Don’t worry UGA fans I will shoot Nesbitt with one of my missiles, then we’ll actually have a chance to win the game.
Buckhead Bulldog
November 25th, 2009
2:04 pm
Plain and simple: You can’t argue with his past success. I don’t care if they were his players, the old coaches players, this coordinator that coordinator etc. He was/is THE HC. He IS/WAS the HC in good times and now in bad. You have to give him his due credit of past success if you want to put the fault on this down year.
2001 08-4
2002 13-1-0 SEC Champs
2003 11-3-0 SEC East Champs
2004 10-2-0
2005 10-3-0 SEC Champs
2006 09-4-0
2007 11-2-0
2008 10-3-0
Donut
November 25th, 2009
2:11 pm
Hey Jason, if BOOBOO is hand tied b/c of Cox, who do you think recruited him and tried to development him for the 09 season?
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
2:15 pm
“Plain and simple: You can’t argue”….with the past. It can’t be changed,except possibly by large gravity displacements causing a loop in space-time. That is still pretty much advanced hypothesis. The past is pretty much useless, except for atifacts to examine, lessons to be learned and memories to collect. Those artifacts, lessons and memories are unique and interesting to one person.
Sorka
November 25th, 2009
2:19 pm
Thanks for this interesting post. However, the debate is premature. The real discussion can only begin following the game Saturday night. If Tech wins and, especially, if it puts up big numbers, many UGA fans will turn up the volume on their grumbles, even if Richt is a really, really nice guy. It’s very hard to listen to my UGA friends talk about their team this year – as if they have become inured to disappointment. Of course, this blog post seems to show a Richt who is either quite sure of himself and his ability to triumph, or is quite cavalier about losing to Kentucky and to the possibility of losing to Georgia Tech. He may be “laid-back,” but at times, this attitude comes off as a bit too “laissez-faire” for the SEC. I do not think the UGA fans are remiss in expecting more steel and fire from their head coach at this juncture, particularly after they have given him such unconditional love.
olddawg66
November 25th, 2009
2:20 pm
True dawg fans as opposed to fair weather fans will survive this horrible season and continue to support our dawgs. Go dawgs, beat Tech!
Zach Mettenberger
November 25th, 2009
2:23 pm
Fear not dawg fans, I am getting ready to completely destroy the SEC East.
I told coach not to trust that ginger ninja, but he wouldn’t listen.
Hope you people like touchdown passes, becuase I’m going to be tossing them in boat loads and just wait until some opponents D Linemen get a load of me (6′5″ 230).
Tell former coach Willie to start dusting off that throphy case, we are getting reay to fill it up.
I’m going to put Watkinsville on the map.
The future is here!
Mattie Brooks
November 25th, 2009
2:28 pm
Richt is 100% wrong. The Dawgs are indeed dead, and it’s Richt’s fault for recruiting the no-class lowlifes he seems to prefer. Nothing will change for the better at UGA until Richt is run out of Athens.
Lunchtime links: Florida’s Jones is out | Gulf Coast GameDay
November 25th, 2009
2:29 pm
[...] Georgia’s Mark Richt: “We’re not dead yet.” [...]
Zach Mettenberger
November 25th, 2009
2:33 pm
You can see me on the sideline (I wear #5) and I’m like a foot taller than that Murray kid.
Total destrucion coming to a stadium near you FALL 2010!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
2:40 pm
Zach Mettenberger – Nice to hear that, son. When you and Aaron Murray decided which one of you is going to transfer, did you flip a coin, or play rock-paper-scissors?
HH
November 25th, 2009
2:44 pm
I am extremely pleased to hear Richt make the statement that he will do “anything and everything he can” to get’em back on track. I’ll believe it when I see it. Actions speak a hell of a lot louder than words.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
2:47 pm
Got to assume that “anything and everything he can” means things that are legal and morally acceptable.
Buckhead Bulldog
November 25th, 2009
2:48 pm
Delbert D.- I have to disagree. There is only one way to judge a person’s production and that is by what he has accomplished and achieved in the past. The present, depending on what you deem the “present” could mean this year to you OR it could mean this decade to me. I would much rather judge a person’s body of work then just a small snippet. Too many variables would come into play on a short term analysis. In statistical analysis, one would take out 2009 as an anomaly for valuation purposes.
Sorry! There is NO way you can argue with:
2001 08-4
2002 13-1-0 SEC Champs
2003 11-3-0 SEC East Champs
2004 10-2-0
2005 10-3-0 SEC Champs
2006 09-4-0
2007 11-2-0
2008 10-3-0
The odds are in Richt’s favor that he will accomplish more W’s as years go by.
dawgman
November 25th, 2009
2:49 pm
I think the problem with the turnovers is the ole “ask and ye shall receive”
I believe they are so focused on not turning the ball over that in fact it is causing them to turn it over.
I remember a quote about a team loosing a game and the coach that lost said
“we went in there determined not to lose and they went in there determined to win”
so you see what you focus on is what comes to pass
Zach Mettenberger
November 25th, 2009
2:53 pm
Delbert,
Transfer?
I’m from Oconee County and I’m a lifelong Dawg fan. My mom even works at UGA. I’m not going anywhere. If Aaron decides to transfer, that is his decision.
If you want to play paper-rock-scissors, grab your ladder so don’t have to look down at you. I’ll meet you after practice and cruch you!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
2:59 pm
Buckhead Bulldog – There is merit to your argument. For example, US nuclear power plants are allowed to use past experience now, along with probabilities in the required risk assessments. The difficulty lies, though in how many of the components from the experential elements are present in the current situation. Coaches, players, that sort of thing. That kind of analysis could be much better than what the preseason prophets use. They generalize without looking closely. Example: Southern Cal this year.
Dawg-Gone-It
November 25th, 2009
3:01 pm
1 or 2 more games with Cox at QB while next years boy sits cold and restless on the sideline. Two of them by the time next years season starts will have not played in a game in almost two years and the other has been catching punts and throwing passes to Florida Linebackers.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
3:05 pm
As for the game sat…one thing to note…UGA is much better against the run than we have been in a couple of years the weakness we have is in pass defense which is not GT’s forte.I think folks will be surprised at how this game plays out.Actually when you look at last years game Stafford threw a pick 6,Samuel fumbled on the 10 and GT had 3 long runs…it’s not like they were dominate on offense at all.Also GT’s defense is no better than SC,ARK or Kent if they are that good…we will not have a problem scoring as long as Joe don’t suffer another meltdown…it’s the “perceived” advantage GT supposedly has against our D that makes folks think we are outgunned.Telling you now there won’t be another 45-42 game in the series for awhile
Dawgustus
November 25th, 2009
3:06 pm
A year or two away?! And people are OK with that?? Who the devil is responsible for crashing the program to the point that it will take three years to rebuild? That’s the job of the NEW head coach at Georgia.
90-27, Gators. 08+09
November 25th, 2009
3:08 pm
The Dawgs looked dead in Knoxville and Jacksonville, maybe Atlanta is next. Georgia sucks.
Franklin Co.
November 25th, 2009
3:08 pm
A few thoughts on the status quo.
1. I don’t listen to the dawgs on radio, Eric Z. is brainwashed and full of crap.
2. If CMR is going to talk the talk, and walk the walk, he has got to GET THE JOB DONE.
3. I’m sure UGA was a fine pet. BUT, I never saw or heard him bark even once. We need an UGA like the one that went after the Auburn player, one with SPUNK.
4. Getting this team turned around is gonna take a Kenworth wrecker and somebody with the balls to drive it.
5. As for the game with the Techmites, they have played the season like they care, we haven’t.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
3:08 pm
Zach – you’ve got 2 inches on me, and I’ll pass on the cruch (or crunch or crush).
That’s the dilemma CMR was facing this year. The 6′5 strong-armed guy who had a great junior season, or the 6′0 big-star guy who won the state championship as a senior. I though that surely CMR would redshirt only one of the highly-ranked QBs. I guess he couldn’t decide which one. Why carry both through the next 4 years in lock-step, like he now has to do? Now, neither one has any game experience going into 2010.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
3:13 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 – I like the way you think.
I have a gut feeling that CPJ is going to throw it more than usual.
We will have to play single coverage on their receivers to stop the run.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
3:22 pm
Buck and Kincade are discussing rumors that Coach Willie Martinez has resigned and the Dawgs are talking to Jon Tenuta at Notre Dame.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
3:25 pm
Delbert I think the game experience is as big a deal when you have an established rushing attack and talent at WR
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
3:26 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 – Yes, but Tech’s offense is significantly different this year, in personnel and playbook. Tech had really 2 A backs last year that they could depend on to run the toss option; this year they rotate 6 guys interchangeably; they bring in the plays.
Roddy Jones had the most yards at A back last year; this year Anthony Allen (transfer) has 550 yards, more than double Jones’ 241 yards. Allen’s yards per carry is 10.6, and Jones’ is 5.5. Lucas Cox was the #2 A Back last year; this year he’s #5.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
3:29 pm
45ACP – That is a bad idea. Tenuta’s a mad blitz-type coach. Look how well he did against Georgia.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
3:32 pm
Don’t thick that is
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
3:34 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 – For the current year, certainly. The same guys factor in the probabilities, Green, Ealey, etc. It’s difficult to factor in past experience such as Moreno and Stafford for next year’s probability, though. The coaching staff’s production, given no or minor changes is easier to predict.
gdawginkalamazoo
November 25th, 2009
3:35 pm
Delbert, correct on the QB’s but what Richt is hoping is that one of them will be good, very good, matter of fact good enough to leave early then have the other one for an extra year. Or it could be a Matt Cassel type of deal.
Southgadawg, I like the positinve too. PJ has been working on the passing game this past two weeks. I am sure he had a copy of the UT game, Arkansas, and USC games as well. Watch us get burned on a number of pass plays where NOBODY is near the WR’s or RB’s. Dang it and I hate that too.
Buckhead, what sane person could argue with that record. Not a team in the country that wouldn’t want a record like that because not too many teams have won that much that past 8 years. Richt is the man, he knows how to win and he will be back up there shortly. Tough decisions to make but the defensive side of the ball has been bad lately. Get that fixed, call a few plays here and there and learn to kick the ball into the endzone. Double digit wins again.