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
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
3:35 pm
Delbert doesn’t matter who or how they do it…..they are a running team period and this group of Dawgs for all their faults on D are better against the run than previous groups.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
3:38 pm
Delbert – They are just discussing rumors and what if’s.
They also said that Tenuta is not a good recruiter.
And Delbert do you still walk bent over?
Being that tall on a sub must have been awkward at best.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
3:43 pm
gdawginkalamazoo –
“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.”
Yes, and that’s what I thought he’d do this year, but rotate one of the two talents in this year to get the experience. The guy would still be leaving early, but with 2 1/2 years equivalent experience instead of 3. That 1/2 year might have been a negative using it this year, or it could have been a positive, relieving Cox at times. Certainly a positive going into next year.
The only thing that I can see is that CMR must have felt that the guy he wanted to be the lead horse for the next 3-4 years was not ready, or was injured.
Pit Bull
November 25th, 2009
3:50 pm
If Richt doesn’t get rid of Martineze as soon as the bowl game is over Evans needs to call him into the office and lay down the law. ‘You have no excuses next year, you made your bed and you will sleep in it. I guarantee you that.’ But I doubt Evans and Adams has the b*lls!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
3:50 pm
45ACP – On a sub, you learn a move where you walk through the hatch with a duck-your-head and lift your leg move. Problem is, those “dog-ears” right at shoulder height can nail you if you are a little bit out of sync or position. Shoulder pads would have been nice.
South GA Dawg
November 25th, 2009
3:51 pm
CMR must realize that being a nice guy will not insure him a job. His program is below par in every aspect. The only part of the game GA can do is kick. We suck at tackling, we just want to bump them to the ground. When we establish a good smash mouth running game we start throwing the ball or running outside for loss. Discipline is required in other programs, not at UGA. Tennessee had a real nice coach also now he is unemployed and they have a smart ass that is getting the job done. I can not believe that the special teams coach still has a job and if so WHY!!!!!!!!!!! Martinez actually has tightened up his defense but still is playing conservative. BLITZ MORE!!! PRESURE the QB it is not rocket science. We have talent and are scared to use it.Changes have to be made somewhere and fast. CMR dont let your staff get your job wake up and get your head in the game. I would like to see CMR calling the offense plays or be mor involved.
GO Dawgs
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
4:00 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 –
Tech has opened a couple of games this year with 3 straight passes. Nesbitt has a high passer efficiency rating, just above Tebow’s.
Everybody likes to take pokes at Jaybow Shaw, a soph who will still be backing up Nesbitt next year. Shaw had a broken collarbone before the season, and he has played on offense only in the past 2 games. 11 carries, 4.6 yards per, and 1/1 passing. Last year Shaw played in 7 games, 3 while Nesbitt was out, and he rushed for 200 at 3.2 yards per, and was 15/24 passing with 321 yard and 2 TDs. His passer efficiency rating for 2008 was 194.0 (higher than Sam Bradford). He’s not a chump, by any stretch.
The so-called “system” QB is being redshirted this year.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
4:03 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 – I forgot to say:
Nesbitt passed for 808 yards all of last year, with 2 TDs
He has passed for 1418 so far this year with 8 TDs
dogman
November 25th, 2009
4:07 pm
LETS GO DAWGS…………..
Nov 28 2009…….STATE Championship,
http://www.swarmhornetswarm.com
gdawginkalamazoo
November 25th, 2009
4:09 pm
Assignment football. We’ll see how disciplined these dawgs are Saturday. Man up and swat some bees down. Go dawgs! Everybody have a great Thanksgiving and be safe! That goes for our opponents too.
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
4:11 pm
I don’t think the RS are a big deal with the QB’s…you give both kids a year under your system…there will only be two QB’s vying for PT next year(I’m counting Gray out) so both will play and like I said earlier I feel better about a 1st year player with an experienced OL,a rushing attack and proven talent in the receiving corps.Cox was an unknown,WR’s other than AJ unknown,rushing attack unknown too many unknowns to start the season facing a tough schedule.What have we learned so far?Cox is prone to TO’s,Charles,White,King and Wooten have stepped up to help AJ,Ealy and King are an effective duo and when healthy the OL is adequate.That’s a much better foundation going into spring practice than this year.Cox,Moore and Vance are the only kids not coming back on Offense and other than Cox their replacements are already playing ahead of them.The QB’s get two springs and fall camps under their belt and a tune up game out of the gate in 10…we will be fine on Offense.
Buckhead Bulldog
November 25th, 2009
4:12 pm
Pit Bull: Adams OWNS Evans and Richt. Not if whether Richt has the balls or not to do the deed, but more so IF ADAMS makes the decision for Evans and Richt. Adams is THE puppeteer in all of this. Richt and Evans are on Adams short leash! Too bad!
Get rid of Adams, and I bet, I bet you would see some high powered coordinators flowing into A-town. Richt is handicapped, sorry to say.
ATL Ga Fan
November 25th, 2009
4:21 pm
I love Mark Richt. He is a “class act” and leads by example. But, with that being said I also love Paul Johnson. I attendend Georgia Sothern for more years than I would like to discuss and saw PJ in action. He lights a fire under the players @ss and doesn’t take failure lightly. Richt is a great coach, but hes excuses for his staff and players are pissing me off. I would like to hear a little more anger out of Richt. We have one of the best programs in the nation, yet after this season we are walking around like we are some no name D-II school.
“We’re no dead yet, but some changes needs to be made soon.”
Go Dawgs!
dawg fan 4 life
November 25th, 2009
4:24 pm
So what will be the excuse next year? QB, I bet a hundred bulks and CMR will get a past to return for 2011 because of that. These guys know excatly how to keep their jobs, because if I was the coach I will be playing the QB for next year and not that buster Cox.
Paul from RDU
November 25th, 2009
4:24 pm
45ACP
I agree with you that GT may be throwing it more – especially in the 1st half.
CWM needs to look at the tapes of the GT-MSU and GT-UNC games. UNC has an excellent D, especially against the run, and Tech threw against them to open it up. UNC has much better DBs than UGA though.
dawg07
November 25th, 2009
4:26 pm
add conditioning coach .and offensive coordinator to the list
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
4:29 pm
As for Nesbitt he is capable of winging it a time or two but stopping Nesbitt on the run is way more important than his passing.When you look at this game specifically GT has a little success with deep balls but Nesbitt is not very accurate underneath.Boykin and Smith have grown in coverage…I don’t see us getting beat deep alot..the area we suck in ..underneath LB’s pass coverage is not an area Nesbitt is good at exploiting.One thing I am certain of is that the screen plays are expected and will be well defended.
Chan Gailey
November 25th, 2009
4:30 pm
Hire Me Georgia, I’m the only guy with a perfect record for UGA. (6-0)
I need a job !!!!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
4:36 pm
SOUTHGADAWG88 – Tech’s run the quick hitch pass to Thomas some this year and he’s had some success running over the CB. Not so much stuff over the middle.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
4:38 pm
Paul from RDU – You and SOUTHGADAWG88 make some very good points.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
4:41 pm
Johnson is unpredictable, to say the least. A couple of games ago, he grabbed Embry Peeples coming off the field after a running play and told him, “Next time I call that play, take off down the field and look for a pass.” A few plays later Nesbitt hit him in stride for a 74 yard TD.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
4:46 pm
Most of the Tech screens aren’t your typical screen. They’ll run the “toss” A back out behind the WR, and it’s up to the the defensive guy who is tracking him to make the tackle behind the line over at the sideline before Thomas takes out the CB.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
4:50 pm
Tech’s problem is Cox’s accuracy in getting the deep passes to the WRs. When they go to 5 or 6 DBs, it sets up the run for the offense. Tech *has* to get to the QB quickly.
Beaverchaser
November 25th, 2009
5:00 pm
Coach…nice job blaming the “freshmen” for the turnovers in the KY game..what about all the picks your SENIOR QB threw????
SOUTHGADAWG88
November 25th, 2009
5:20 pm
As long as Cox is not turning it over we are going to fine ..the Dline should have one their best games sat.I’m looking forward to this one Delbert.I see two things happening 1.Ealy and King having big games2.The UGA D-line controlling the line of scrimmage.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
5:33 pm
The defense must be disciplined also. Stay at home, no missed assignments, don’t go for the miss direction, fakes and please wrap up on tackling.
td
November 25th, 2009
5:39 pm
Really enjoy a sane conversation about the game. Good job 45ACP, Southgeorgiadawg88, delbert d and others.
Agree 100% with buckhead that Adams is the one that has to go but I am afraid no one is listening or will do anything about him.
To all of the fire CMR crowd: Please do us a favor and go find another team to root against, I mean for. We need a purge of these type fans more than we need anything else with the program.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
5:47 pm
Tech’s opponents are averaging 94 yards/game passing more than Tech
Tech is averaging 197 yards/game rushing more than their opponents
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
5:49 pm
td – thanks. I try to keep it that way.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
5:53 pm
td – you are a good Dawg!
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
5:59 pm
Enter your comments here
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
6:00 pm
Dang! Why do I keep hitting the “comment” thingie? Creeping old age…
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
6:08 pm
#1 Fact of life.
No one gets out of the world alive.
Delbert where were you raised?
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
6:10 pm
45ACP – I was born at St. Mary’s hospital in Athens, because our town didn’t have one back in that century.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
6:18 pm
I was raised in a vacant lot across the street from a car dealership.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
6:20 pm
That didn’t come out right. *Now* it’s vacant. That first attempt reads like it was a Romulus and Remus thing, the vacant lot.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
6:25 pm
Better than being raised by a wolf in a cave I reckon.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
6:30 pm
Delbert – Have you read Bill’s latest blog about Thanksgiving Memories?
The Bullpups vs The Baby Jackets.
Lots of memories.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
6:37 pm
45ACP – I’ll go check that out. I loved those Thanksgiving Day games. They gave both sets of fans something to look forward to for the future.
Technophobia
November 25th, 2009
6:40 pm
UGA fans are always quick to point out that how good their conference is but that seems irrelevent this year. All 4 of UGA’s conference victory’s came against teams that had losing conference records and, collectively they were 9 – 21.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
6:43 pm
45ACP – The photo looks like Georgia-Auburn. Back in ‘57, the Jackets wore plain gold helmets, I think. The wider strip on the sleeves looks correct, but Auburn wore the same type of stripes. I’m confused, because it looks like the large crowds that attended the Thanksgiving Day games. I guess I must be wrong.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
6:52 pm
I was correct. Some folks on Bill’s “Memories” blog caught it, too.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
6:53 pm
Here is the link that Bill King got his information from.
http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=525977
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
6:55 pm
I was 2 years old in 1957. I have no clue.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
7:09 pm
The georgiadogs.com link has the wrong photo. That was from the UGA upset of Auburn for the SEC title.
LADY DAWG
November 25th, 2009
7:19 pm
dawgdays You’re a brave man. I haven’t been to the Tech game in atl in 16 yrs. Why? I was taught some new words by a Tech fan [I thought I knew them all]…directed at Garrison Hearst when he was injured. My husband was attacked, totally unsolicited, by a Tech student as we were leaving. As we walked up N. Ave., Tech’s campus cops told us to get off the campus. True southern hospitality!! Be careful Sat. night.
Delbert D.
November 25th, 2009
7:25 pm
Looks like the other blogs have been swamped with garbage posts by some kook. I’m gone.
45ACP
November 25th, 2009
7:31 pm
What a surprise. They had Georgia vs Georgia Tech 42-42 in 2008.
It really doesn’t matter though.
The story about the J/V games brings back a lot of memories.
We would go and watch the game and then go downtown to Rich’s I believe and ride the Pink Pig.
I hear they have restored the Pink Pig ride and now it is at Macey’s at Lenox Square.
Joe Cox vs. Tom Brady
November 25th, 2009
8:23 pm
Tom Brady 1998 Michigan
131 Effic., 15 td’s, 12 int’s, 2636 yards
Joe Cox 2009 Georgia
139 Effic, 21 td’s, 14 int’s, 2350 yards (2 games to go)
Joe Cox vs. Dan Marino
November 25th, 2009
8:42 pm
Dan Marino, Pittsburg, 1982
58% completion, 2432 yards, 17 td’s, 23 int’s, 67 pass rating
Joe Cox, Georgia, 2009
56% Completion, 2350 yards, 21 td’s, 14 int’s, 138 pass rating (2 more games to go)