Big win doesn’t negate UGA’s need for change
Win over Tech shouldn't be a factor in the decision on Willie Martinez. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
One game, victory or defeat, shouldn’t determine the fate of any college football coach or assistant.
That’s why Saturday’s big win by the Dogs over Georgia Tech should not be enough to deter Mark Richt and the UGA athletic association from making the changes that are needed in order for the program to once again rank among the SEC’s elite.
We’re talking, of course, about the future of defensive coordinator Willie Martinez, whose job security has been questioned for the past couple of seasons as the Georgia defense generally has underperformed and routinely has allowed more than 30 points a game. From all accounts, Martinez is a good man and beloved by his players. But the results speak for themselves.
Martinez is not without his supporters, and I will concede to them that he is capable of getting his players to rise to the occasion. He did it late in the 2006 season and again at the end of 2007. And he’s done it a couple of times this season, most recently against Tech.
But getting good defense a couple of times a season won’t cut it in the SEC. Georgia needs consistency in order to succeed, and that’s where the defense has fallen short. The true blame may belong with the players, but the ultimate responsibility is Martinez’s. And if change is necessary in order to get the Dogs’ defense up to snuff, that means a new coordinator.
There’ve been plenty of rumors about Martinez’s departure already being a done deal, but most of those reports sound more like speculation than leaks. Richt might not want to get rid of his longtime friend and colleague, but at this point it seems unlikely that Martinez can stay. And you’d wonder why he’d even want to. It can’t be fun to be Willie Martinez in Athens any more; he gets blamed for everything that’s wrong with the program, even when it’s not his fault.
Hopefully, Richt and Damon Evans will bring in someone who can take the obvious talent that Georgia has on defense and make more effective use of it. That might mean cleaning house on the defensive staff, never a pleasant process or anything to celebrate.
But the good feelings generated by a season finale win over the traditional in-state rival shouldn’t overshadow the way Georgia’s defense has been trending ever since Martinez succeeded Brian Van Gorder.
Bulldog fans are delighted the Jackets were defeated and that a winning season was assured. We’re even pleased that the Dogs probably will get a slightly better bowl. But we’re not happy with 7-5 and getting drilled by the likes of Tennessee and Florida. And we haven’t forgotten the second-half collapse against an inferior Kentucky team.
It’s still time for Mark Richt to make a change. Judging by the noncommittal way he talked about his staff after the Tech game, he appears to recognize that fact.
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273 comments Add your comment
Brad
November 30th, 2009
9:44 pm
Martinez is a great coach and deserves to be here. He helped us to the #2 ranking a couple of years ago. How did we do this. It took more than a couple of times showing up on defense for this. We need to support Ritch and keep the staff together.
hop
November 30th, 2009
10:07 pm
willie is not going anywhere period!
PHIL
November 30th, 2009
10:10 pm
Tenutta is better than CWM? Has he had a number 2 ranked defense in his LIFE? Against the SEC? Geez. Somebody please be rational.
Sam
November 30th, 2009
10:11 pm
I cannot see keeping WM in a demoted fashion. A great deal of problems are with the DBs (WM is listed as the DB coach as well as DC). Having him around in a demoted role creates a potential conflict. He needs to go. Make a call to Tuscaloosa or call the TCU DC (I know Patterson is the main guy, but the DC has to be pretty good one. Smart is in the same position as the TCU DC). Might also open up some recruiting options in Texas.
Snoop Dawg
November 30th, 2009
10:14 pm
Yo Dawgs-
Time to sign up for Koolaid Anonymous classes. Don’t let the pissants if print obfuscate the fact that Markt Wreck is responsible for the state of UGA football. Don’t fall for the Willie and Bozo ruses. I’t the Preacha Man, stupid! The Preacha man and his medicine show of Willie and Bozo must go or UGA will continue to float down into a morass. Yes, the Water Girl will have to leave us too, carrying away all that booty that the Preacha Man swindled from the Bulldawg Nation to the tune of about $3M per year. How can a man of the cloth accept such sums for actually negatively impacting the potential of the UGA football team with all the talent of the young men recruited to the Red and Black?
The Bulldog Nation must rise up, swear off the Marked Wreck Koolaid, and demand a clean house. Buy no tickets and send no money until it happens.
Amen, brothas…
MauiDAWG
November 30th, 2009
10:16 pm
Phil you forget the fact that the fans and alumi are the ones that support the program and write the checks. Results oriented business. Does not take a genious to figure that out…as well as also see glaring problems for anyone that actually is football savvy. Even not football savvy for that matter. And I do know what I’m talking about.
As far as your lame analogy to a college kid….I’ll hire an intelligent college kid with more potential over some stale-thinking guy doing the same job for 20 years who thinks he cannot learn from anyone.
Sam
November 30th, 2009
10:24 pm
1) Brad, are you related to WM? I seriously doubt anyone considers him a great DC. I will use as a gauge the fact that I have never heard him mentioned for a HC job or being lured to another school. I know there was talk of Miami if Shannon got fired, but I think that mostly came from UGA fans wanting to get rid of him.
2) DawginLex: Since when is Tech a stepping stone job? Curry left for Bama how long ago? O’Leary left for ND. Other than that, what HC has left in recent history for a bigger job. Heck Gailey did not even make it through the pre-season as an NFL OC!
3) Best wishes to Richt on hiring. The DC will be under a lot of scrutiny next year. He should have a leg up in that it will take opponents some time to figure out his tendencies.
Change is Coming...to Florida Gators in 2010
November 30th, 2009
10:37 pm
Lots of changes for Florida in 2010. 9 defensive players? Gone. 23 players? Gone. Tebow? Gone. Spikes? Gone.
Jornalists like USA Today and CBS Sports have Meyer GONE too.. to either Notre Dame, or the NFL.
TigerMike
November 30th, 2009
10:43 pm
Willie aint the Dawgs only problem. Bobo needs to go. Sure Bobo is a nice, family guy, but the SEC aint the place for on the job training as OC at a Division I A School. He needs to go hone his skills at some Division II A School and come back in 10 years. UGA needs an experienced, creative OC NOW if they are ever going to catch UF and ever dominate the SEC East.
AltamahaDawg
November 30th, 2009
10:48 pm
It’s silly to say that no school has ever approached WM. I remember 2 publically in the past few years. Just because nobody calls a press conference doesnt mean nobody has been talking to you. Could it simply be that he didnt return the interest at the time, and therefore they weren’t exactly scurrying to make sure everyone knows it? You only hear about the job offers when the coaches decide you hear about it. By that rationale, plenty of high profile DC must not be too good since I havent heard about anyone luring them away lately either.
WM will be employed somewhere very quickly. Folks in the profession aren’t saddled with the emotions of the fans base. They see how the chips are stacked, and they know the nature of the business.
Nick
November 30th, 2009
10:58 pm
Is it just me or is anyone else made tired by Kelin Johnson on the Dawg Report??
PHIL
November 30th, 2009
11:10 pm
Maui dog, one, you can’t tell me that one of these bozo’s that write on here, including you, give enough money to the athletic association for them to notice they are missing if they get their poor little feelings hurt because someone didn’t run the football program as they saw fit.
And if you’d hire someone who hasn’t actually done a job to take the place of someone who has been successful at it for 20 years then you’re just an idiot. And that’s not a lame analogy, it’s just who you are.
Tom
November 30th, 2009
11:49 pm
It was great to beat Tech, but it doesn’t wipe out all the troubles on defense this year or in 2008. Saturday night’s win shows that Tech isn’t as good as everyone says they are. The only reason Paul Johnson’s offense works is b/c the ACC is a weak conference. The SEC is all about defense and pounding the ball. (I believe Saban has that one figured out pretty good.) Paul Johnson’s offense requires more finesse both to operate and defend. Typically most teams can’t learn in a week to defend it.
However, the Dawgs were hungry. Hungry b/c of the loss to Tech a year ago, hungry b/c of losing to Kentucky, hungry b/c of all the criticism this year, and hungry to go to a good bowl. We won the other night b/c we were hungry.
So either the coaching staff really got them motivated, or the kids motivated themselves. From what I’ve seen the past two years, it doesn’t seem these kids were motivated. That comes from coaching. It ultimately falls on the guys at the top.
But whatever happens, Gooooooo Dawgs!
bob
November 30th, 2009
11:53 pm
I thought it was already a done deal that willie was moving back to DBs and bob sanders was coming in to head the defense, makes sense since he was at florida while richt was at fsu
Just please get rid of willie, he is terrible our defense didnt stop GT the run game tore them up and kept their offense off the field the defense was still terrible in the 2nd half.
bob
December 1st, 2009
12:00 am
“Martinez is a great coach and deserves to be here. He helped us to the #2 ranking a couple of years ago. How did we do this. It took more than a couple of times showing up on defense for this. We need to support Ritch and keep the staff together.”
Wow, just wow. You must be a tech fan, nobody wants willie to stay or even remotely thinks hes a good DC if you have watched his defenses then you will know its predictable and easily beaten. Then he never makes adjustments just the same coverages over and over again hoping someone makes a play.
Obama
December 1st, 2009
12:31 am
Change is coming. Yes we can…..get a new d-coordinator!!!
MauiDAWG
December 1st, 2009
12:48 am
Phil, If you are doing the same job after 20 years that should tell you something. Keep your head in the sand buddy…..
Ask Notre Dame who’s picking up the bill for an $18 mil buyout of Charlie Weis. The Boosters of the program. At least be competent enough to validate your opinion.
VegasDawg
December 1st, 2009
12:49 am
Does anyone know when the announcement on Willie will come? Change needs to be made quickly to presevere recruiting.
MauiDAWG
December 1st, 2009
1:04 am
bob, interesting thought…I’m still curious who Richt would be comfortable with coming in as DC. It would have to be either an alumi or someone whom he has previous ties with….
I’d like to see Willie back with as the DB coach, if he’d go back…and he’s got some good players coming in next year recruiting. Bobo I think just needs more grooming from Richt. He’s giving him too much leeway and not ready for it. I still think Garner would be a good choice as a DC replacement. All the players respond very well to him and respect him. Also one heck of a recruiter.
PHIL
December 1st, 2009
1:19 am
Maui first off, and most importantly, I’m not your buddy.
Second, this country was built on the backs of men who worked the same job for 20 years and learned it and did it with skill. Although that is to be found no more. Maybe you are too young to know that. Maybe that’s your excuse for being stupid.For you to insult the work ethic of that generation as some how beneath you speaks volumes to your character or lack there of.
Next as far as ND and it’s supporters go, obviously you can’t read. The “supporters” I mentioned were the ones who actively post their disdain with the university athletic program in some form or fashion on this blog. To believe that the ND boosters involved in contributing to their buyout fund post stupid comments on some newspaper blog is another indication of your doltishness.
Say whatever you like, I’m done. I have no time for fools like you.
PHIL
December 1st, 2009
1:26 am
Ok so I’m not done as I see another brainless idea. How do you reason that Garner is good as the D line coach and the D Line can’t pressure the QB if their life depended on it. The DC may call the plays but the position coaches all formulate a game plan and a scheme together.
Obviously you’re ignorance not only applies to life but to football as well. You think the Garner could call plays better because he’s a good recruiter? If there is an indictment of the defensive scheme or game plan or adjustments made or not made it has to be applied to all the Defensive coaches. They all have a part in designing that. But having never played or coached above Pop Warner, you wouldn’t know that would you?
Dolt.
RED DOG 77
December 1st, 2009
1:43 am
I think it was all just a big mistake! a snaffu, if you will. It was most certainly scattered, smothered, and covered, thats all I smellt, and all for just a little change. Goodnight, Red
MauiDAWG
December 1st, 2009
2:29 am
Phil keep defending yourself….I have forgotten more about football than you can pretend to know. Im retired and living in Maui, how bout you? I’m also a platinum booster…and alumni…what about you? Like hearing rationale from a drunk. Try supporting anything you say with facts…Comforting knowing your opinion means nothing other than being some deluded specator.
Robert Harris
December 1st, 2009
5:15 am
Mark Richt is responsible for the overall performance of the team, so quit blaming Martinez for a bad defense. Martinez should have been gone at the end of last year but it didn’t happen and who is the blame for that?
Andy
December 1st, 2009
6:37 am
Georgia already discovered the change they needed. They have to continue to injure their opponents’ star players well after the play is over. Had they done that to Tebow, they may well have beaten Florida. That’s change we can believe in!
The Smartest Bullodog
December 1st, 2009
7:56 am
Are you The Smartest Bulldog? http://www.smartestbulldog.com
Carty Seay
December 1st, 2009
9:24 am
As a Gator I take great satisfaction in this quote:
“We are most certainly the best 7 and 5 team in history. I challenge anyone to find a better 7 and 5 team than us.”
Smokewagon
December 1st, 2009
9:26 am
Andy, go watch your team practice chop blocking.
confused
December 1st, 2009
9:56 am
Numbers don’t lie…..this is comparing ppg allowed by ALL the SEC east teams, who pretty much play each other….Does Vandy and USC have better personnel than UGA?? Note where the team that allows the fewest points finish the year each year…..hmmmmmmmmm…….
Vandy USC UT UK UF UGA
2006 23.7 18.7 19.5 28.4 13.5 17.6
2007 22.6 23.5 27.3 29.6 25.5 20.2
2008 19.6 21.1 16.8 21.5 12.9 24.5
2009 20.3 19 17.8 24 11 29.4
robodawg
December 1st, 2009
10:44 am
I agree Martinez is shouldering more of the blame than he deserves. The turnovers have been disastrous, kickoff coverage has not been good, and the offense could not run the ball effectively for half the season. When you fix the running game, you set up the play action and CMR’s offensive philosophy clicks. But that took too long to get on track. And Richt was right — if we had managed to break even on turnover margin, we probably do win two or three more games. Certainly Kentucky. It’s also true we’ve had less than championship caliber personnel at a handful of key positions. And I seriously wonder what the quality of coaching is like at the positional level.
However, it’s not just that we lost 5, it’s the WAY we lost that has been so frustrating this season, the total team breakdowns. IF we had managed a respectable 9-3 with a few lucky breaks, those team breakdowns would still be sitting there needing to be addressed. Sometimes a change is necessary just to push the reset button and rebuild. It’s just harder to break a team’s bad habits without changing some of the personalities that lead them.
The clincher for me was the Tenn. game, watching them pile up the yards and points with such a vanilla offense. Our continual three and outs when we had the ball didn’t help matters, but no way should we have given up that many points to that offense.
Hi Georgia Basher, I see You're Back!
December 1st, 2009
10:57 am
Looks like you’re spending hours a day talking to yourself on a blog in multiple personalities.
Listen, go get a job, do something useful with your life. Just because you feel like a lazy loser now, doesn’t mean you have to stay that way.
Here’s a new dream for you: spend your time productively, get out of unemployment, and get a job.
All of the hundreds of hours you spent here bashing Georgia last week were all wasted–it only served to fire up our boys, and keep you unemployed!
SEC East Headlines – 12/1/09 | MrSEC.com
December 1st, 2009
11:00 am
[...] but he says coaching changes might not be necessary.7. This fan/blogger/writer believes it’s time for defensive coordinator Willie Martinez to go.8. If Richt does make changes on his staff, AD Damon Evans says he’ll be willing to spend [...]
robodawg
December 1st, 2009
11:01 am
What are the chances that an announcement is awaiting finding a replacement? When there’s a change at the coordinator level, does the firing (or resignation or demotion) and the new hire typically happen in two steps, or all at once?
If we do hire a Kirby Smart, for example, we probably won’t know until after Alabama plays their bowl right? Especially if they’re playing for the BCS championship.
Stupid Discussion
December 1st, 2009
11:11 am
We shouldn’t be having this discussion. Martinez should have been fired already.
Mark Richt is the ultimate problem here. He can’t make an important decision. Richt is probably BEGGING Damon Evans to allow Willie one more year. IDIOT.
Is Warren Buffet Poor?
December 1st, 2009
11:13 am
That’s how dumb it is to criticize a coaching staff that finished #2 in 2007.
It’s like criticising Buffet for not out-earning Gates, and only making $50 Billion.
UGAfireDAWG
December 1st, 2009
11:18 am
(((((((((((((((((30-24)))))))))))))))
Smart for DC!!!!!!!
Rival?
December 1st, 2009
12:13 pm
OMG MR’s teleconference took be back to last year. “Everybody thinks we need a coaching change because of the mistakes.” It sounds like MR is going to keep Willie for another horrible horrible horrible year. Any other coach and Willie would be gone. WM does not have a clue. Willie’s soft D will NEVER WORK IN THE SEC OR ANYWHERE ELSE. FIRE WILLIE.
O' CANON
December 1st, 2009
12:30 pm
WILLIE MARTINEZ SHOULD BE FIRED NO MATTER WHAT……..
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH !!!!
NOTHING PESONAL…….JUST FOR THE FUTURE OF UGA FOOTBALL.
Comin' Down The Track
December 1st, 2009
12:30 pm
Hubris vs. Schadenfreude
This is priceless. Enjoy:
http://heyjennyslater.blogspot.com/2009/11/poetry-of-premature-trash-talk.html
Urban Meyer to NFL?
December 1st, 2009
12:50 pm
Are the Cowboys Meyer’s next home. CBS Sports thinks so. They’re probably correct. Although he could go to Notre Dame.
Urban Meyer to Dallas Cowboys?
December 1st, 2009
12:52 pm
I forgot, here’s the link to read about Meyer to the NFL:
http://www.cbssports.com/columns/story/12585042/meyer-going-to-nfl-believe-it-numbskulls
If ain't broke, don't fix it!
December 1st, 2009
12:54 pm
This Georgia coaching staff finished #2 in NCAA in 2007.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Trainwreck Headed to Gators!
December 1st, 2009
12:57 pm
There’s a trainwreck headed to Florida Gators. Tebow and Spikes and 9 defensive players, and 23 players, gone in 2010. Most think Meyer is headed to either NFL or Notre Dame.
Get out of da’ way—the train’s a comin’ down da’ track.
Choooo choooo!!!
BurningRedBleedingBlack
December 1st, 2009
1:15 pm
30-24 I LOVE IT NEVER GETS OLD,
tcloud45
December 1st, 2009
1:21 pm
Ok cool we beat Tech, back to the old routine, so what? I would, for ONCE, like to beat Florida and it actually matter. I’m sick of all of us Dawg fans having to settle for 9-3 with 7-5 as an “off year” while Florida wins 2 out of 3 national titles. I understand Florida being the better program, just not THAT MUCH better. Good God
Tommy West
December 1st, 2009
1:24 pm
What about Tommy West for DC?
Urban Meyer to NFL?
December 1st, 2009
1:39 pm
What about Spurrier to replace him? The ole’ ball coach can really throw it around.
takedowndawg
December 1st, 2009
1:42 pm
altamahadawg, concerning Fabris. Other than Boykin’s (2) KORs notice the lack of blocking by our kick return teams. Even Tenesee streamed all over our return backs on kick offs. You mentioned the 3 blk punts by Ga . this year. How many times did Fabris let the DAWGS loose on the opponent’s punter. Not more than 10 I’ll bet for the entire year. If you block 331/3 % of them maybe it might be a GOOD idea to go after their punter! Look at FL kick return coverage and their returning of kickoffs. No comparison. Fabris is not the right man for an elete SEC team.
Florida is Overrated
December 1st, 2009
1:43 pm
Florida, in the Georgia Flordia match-ups hasn’t beaten Georgia since Willie and Bobo have been here, the last 4 years.
Florida never has had a better team, better coach, or better talent (look at Tebow–he can’t out-throw Cox as a Senior?)
Florida has been better in the Georgia/Florida game at FORCING TURNOVERS and PROTECTING THE BALL.
That’s it. Take that away, and Georgia wins every year, just like 2007 when we had 0 turnovers.
Florida isn’t good enough to beat Georgia without turnovers. Neither is anyone else in the country.
Richt has NEVER lost a SINGLE GAME when Georgia had 0 turnovers.
Amazing stat.
Nobody beats Georgia except Georgia.
ProjectDawg
December 1st, 2009
1:47 pm
The afterglow of the Ga. Tech win is fading and as I look at the 7-5 season for Georgia, one thing is clear to me, http://www.williesgottago.com. 7 and 5 doesn’t cut it and our D has progressively gotten worse under Willie. Time to say bye-bye to Willie.