Yea or nay on a full-time special teams coach for Dogs?
Blair Walsh was one of the bright spots in special teams play for the Dogs. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
I’m back from the holiday and my regular day off and see that the subject that occupied a group of us Dog fans sitting around talking football on Sunday afternoon is still drawing split opinions in the Bulldog Nation: Should Mark Richt use that last open coaching slot for another defensive coach (outside linebackers?) or to finally give Georgia a full-time special teams coach?
Before the news of Todd Grantham and the switch to a 3-4 defensive alignment, most of the chatter seemed to favor the idea that the Dogs badly need a coach dedicated to special teams. But now some are arguing that Grantham will need all the help he can get in the defensive rebuilding project.
Under the Dogs’ system up to now, various coaches split up special teams responsibility and much-maligned former defensive ends coach Jon Fabris was the overall “coordinator” and handled punt returns and kickoff coverage, the two areas of special teams play in which Georgia seemed most hapless this past season.
Of course, not all of the Dogs’ special teams were in need of fixing. Georgia has two of the nation’s best kickers in Blair Walsh and Drew Butler and a dangerous kickoff return game. And on occasion the Dogs’ special teams have looked great — the Independence Bowl being the most recent example. (Was the fact that Fabris was gone by then mere coincidence?)
The Georgia Sports Blog argues that the solution is to “put better athletes on special teams which UGA started doing mid-2009, and … spend more time on special teams in practice.”
I’m certainly in favor of that, particularly when it comes to covering kickoffs. Whether they were booted toward the end zone or those high, shorter directional kicks that Fabris embraced as a “challenge,” Georgia’s coverage often looked clueless and was hampered by too many walk-ons and not enough speed.
The Dawgs Online blog notes that while there have been some bright spots on special teams play, “there have been enough breakdowns over the past few years to suggest that a more cohesive approach to special teams could help. Fabris caught most of the criticism for special teams breakdowns, but all coaches had some responsibilities for some area of special teams. There is too much advantage in having the kickers and guys like [Brandon] Boykin to see it countered by an ad-hoc approach to kick coverage and returns.”
The argument in favor of hiring another defensive assistant, Dawgs Online says, is that “the Bulldogs will be implementing a new defensive alignment and scheme with new coaches. This transition will be especially challenging for the front seven — it’s not as simple as dropping a rush end into an outside linebacker spot. Richt should maximize the coaching resources available to ease that transition and get this new defense performing in time to show big improvement in 2010.”
Both of those bloggers come down on the side of hiring another defensive coach and continuing to split up the special teams coaching responsibilities. Or having Richt himself oversee the special teams, the way Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer and Florida’s Urban Meyer do. Special teams are, of course, a major element of Beamerball, and Meyer has gone to great lengths to make sure his special teams are truly “special,” making it an honor to be on the teams and giving them certain perks.
Loading ...But while the idea that Richt ought to take ownership of special teams also sounds appealing, I just don’t see it happening. In his time at Georgia, Richt unfortunately has been more like his mentor, Bobby Bowden, than Beamer or Meyer when it comes to special teams. He’s never seemed to appreciate what an important part of the game that is and how many games can be won by dominating special teams play (the Independence Bowl being just one example).
So I come down on the side favoring the hiring of a special teams coach. I think this piecemeal approach plainly hasn’t worked well at Georgia. Remember after A.J. Green blocked a field goal attempt how we heard that there had been opposition from his regular position coach to using him on special teams? Dedicating a full-time coach to that aspect of the game would elevate it in the minds of Georgia’s players and other coaches and be a statement by Richt that the old way of handling special teams wasn’t good enough.
I think that’s needed more than an outside linebackers coach. What do you think? Share your views in the comments, vote in the poll or have it both ways.
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190 comments Add your comment
richtfan
January 20th, 2010
10:08 am
sorry bill. can’t do a special teams only coach. not enough coaching spots for that.
grantham will coach the inside backers. garner will likely coach the entire DL, he needs an outside backer coach. that will exhaust our maximum number of coaches. no team, that i know of, has a coach who just coaches special teams. no college team, at least.
Habersham Dawg
January 20th, 2010
10:10 am
Close games are won and lost during the transition phases of a football game, i.e., special teams play. To challenge for and win the SEC East and SEC Championship, the Dawgs have to be stronger on both defense and special teams play. The defensive shortcomings have been addressed, now the punt teams and kickoff teams have to be shored up, with both a dedicated coach and quality players assigned to them.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
10:11 am
While I would agree that the transition to a 3-4 would be helped along by dedicating four coaches full time to it, I can’t discount the need of more coaching attention to special teams either. If it weren’t for tremendous individual efforts on the part of players like Walsh, Butler, and Boykin, special teams would’ve been a complete and unmitigated disaster last year.
I actually really like the idea of CMR taking some ownership there in the meantime until the new staff and scheme get settled. I’m not somebody who thinks that you have to play starters on the special teams to get results because I think it’s a great way to get the younger guys on the field and get them used to game speed and conditions but having more coaching attention in this phase of the game to keep them focused and enthusiastic about their play would help mask their relative inexperience.
Nerd Central @ North Ave
January 20th, 2010
10:11 am
Tech barely loses to UGA in football last year and is still going to be ranked WELL ahead of UGA to start the season this year. By the way, Tech basketball beat a GOOD Clemson team last night. Its going to be an awesome year for GT athletics! Get ready for a severe beat-down in Athens this year at the hands of the Nerds. Yeah, baby!!!
Wrestler II
January 20th, 2010
10:14 am
To hire a Special Teams Coach would be a waste of money, time and recruiting advantage. Basically only 1 in 7 plays on average is Special Team related. Only 20-30 minutes are devoted to Special Teams practice on a routine basis. Dawgs had a KO return man that took 3 to the house (tied a decades old SEC record) so that is not the problem. They have the best punter in the nation so that is not the problem they have one of the top 5 kickers in the nation so that is not the problem. The problem now resides in Louisville, KY so I say get another D Coach to work with the outside backers and work on the area that was a problem with another coach in charge.
Nerd Central @ North Ave
January 20th, 2010
10:15 am
Your new defensive coordinator is going to be a huge failure. But, he will be better than Martinez. There will be some serious pains in learning a completely new system. My prediction is they will lose to South Cacka-lacka.
Coach Johnsons Paul
January 20th, 2010
10:16 am
Nerd Central!!! I told you to hit these Dawg fans in the face!!! Not chat with them!!!! Now drop and give me 50!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now maggot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
gdawginkalamazoo
January 20th, 2010
10:17 am
Yes use the open space for the special teams coach. Grantham should be able to handle the D-line and LB’s. That way the coaches aren’t stretched out spending time on the special teams. We all know that it is a vital part of the game. No telling how much it would have helped to actually return a punt instead of calling for a fair catch every single time. And getting someone to actually kick the ball into the endzone saves a mile of yardage a year. Chances are the returner takes a knee if you have some fast guys getting down there.
Coach Johnsons Paul
January 20th, 2010
10:18 am
Nerd!!!!!! For one last time!!! Shut your pir hole!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve got enough challenges trying to sell my DC whose team got beat by Bill & Mary last season at home!!!! What in the heck was I thinking???
Nerd Central @ North Ave
January 20th, 2010
10:18 am
Nerd Central @ North Ave = Daily reminder how delusional UGA fans are. You are, at best, a 9-3 program. And definitely well below that of Alabama, LSU, and UF. Accept it. GT gets lesser athletes and can still beat UGA 45-42!!!! You know it still hurts!
lastgrad
January 20th, 2010
10:19 am
I believe it would be a benefit for Georgia to hire a special team coach who could help inspire, guide, teach the skills necessary to play these positions and most importantly create pride in this group of men. Who want deny how good it was to see Coach Bobo coming down from the press box and standing with his team on the field. Now that was inspiration. And the team responded. Georgia needs spirit in a hard way.
NerdHerder
January 20th, 2010
10:20 am
GT has only barely beaten UGA once in the past 9 tries, and it doesn’t matter where you start but where you finish. With your backfield gone, best wr gone, and best defender gone tech might well be ranked behind UGA in the inital pole. After all we did beat you with our worst team this decade.
Paul H
January 20th, 2010
10:23 am
Nerd@centralave = the new Saint Simons. Congrats.
By the way,
30-24
1-8. Glad THAT still hurts so much.
HunkerDownGeorgia
January 20th, 2010
10:25 am
There is another football program in the state of Georgia? Who knew?
The Other Matty Ice
January 20th, 2010
10:26 am
Is it not possible to find a coach that is capable in both aspects? An OLB coach that knows what to do with special teams? I agree it’s only a piece of special teams, and to be honest, the only real problem is, like you said, not the right athletes on the field to make plays. It goes back to Richt’s loyalty and allowing some people that work hard and don’t get a scholarship a chance to go out and get some real action. The problem is, there’s obviously a fault with that mentality. I think if Grantham’s view on having the best players on the field to be your playmakers, this will fix a lot of the problems on the special teams.
FBR
January 20th, 2010
10:31 am
Often times, the talent level between SEC teams is very close, and guess what wins the games–some facet of the special teams!!!!! That aspect of football is too important to overlook.
shannon1776
January 20th, 2010
10:33 am
No we don’t need a ST coach. 3 out of 4 areas were great last year(kick off, punting, and returns). All we need to do is work on kick off coverage.
Spend that money on a OLB coach since those kids are on the field half the game. Only appx. 14% of playes in a game are special teams anyway.
besides, Lakatos coached ST some. He can help out
HUNKER DOWN
January 20th, 2010
10:34 am
Any team without special teams coach will never win a NC.
shannon1776
January 20th, 2010
10:35 am
HUNKER DOWN, you mean like Florida? UM looks after that-not a coach. Do you want a OLB coach visiting defensive studs getting them to come to UGA? Or do you want a special teams coach doing that?
Not even close
DMR
January 20th, 2010
10:40 am
If Richt will not take sole control of the Special Teams, then absolutely hire a Special Teams coach. Games can be won or lost due to field position, flipping the field, field goal makes, misses, and blocks. This makes or breaks some programs. Florida and VA TECH are good examples of what special attention to these units can do to vault a team to a win against an equal or superior opponent.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
10:42 am
shannon1776 – Urban Meyer isn’t a coach? You think his handling of special teams keeps him away from recruits less than an OLB coach?
DawginLex
January 20th, 2010
10:50 am
RICHT NEEDS TO COACH THE SPECIAL TEAMS HIMSELF!
HE NEEDS TO SHOW ALL OF US THAT THIS IS HIS TEAM!
dap01
January 20th, 2010
10:51 am
UGA needs attention put on special teams. Currently, they look poorly coached and poorly prepared. UGA did not play a more poorly prepared special team this year.
CMR is great but he needs to put down that CFO crap and coach his butt off. Urban Meyer and Saban would not settle for less merely to fit the role of looking like a CFO.
At a major university such as UGA, we the fans who pay major dollars should never have to settle for having a below average product and our special teams philosphy was terrible last year. I will throw up if I see a short directional kickoff again.
robodawg
January 20th, 2010
10:51 am
I’m all for an overhaul of how special teams are coordinated. Not sure if that requires a dedicated special teams coach. Grantham’s input will be invaluable here. With his experience under Beamer, I’m sure he has some ideas. Plus, he’ll know better than anyone if he needs to split inside and outside LBs under different coaches.
MtPleasantDawg
January 20th, 2010
10:53 am
I’d like to let Grantham get whatever coaches he needs, AND see a full time Special Teams coach.
Georgia has plenty of money, go get whatever Coach Richt needs.
Otto
January 20th, 2010
10:54 am
Maybe not a coach but mroe time. We can not give the defense at the 30 or worse more times than not and expect them to hold. Also even if they do hold it gives the UGA offense a bad starting spot. Bobo can only produce long clock killing drives against Vandy and GT.
Otto
January 20th, 2010
10:55 am
The question isn’t money but the number of coaches as limited by the NCAA.
Blindhawg
January 20th, 2010
10:57 am
There are three phases of a football game offense defense and special teams,win 2out of 3 of them and you will win 99%of your games.We need to dominate special teams.
UGA 2010
January 20th, 2010
10:57 am
YOU SUUUUUUUCCCCCKKKKKKKKK BIIIILLLLLL!!!!!!!!! i put ALOT of thought in that one. go find a special teams coach, thats why theres ALOT of other BIGGER fans out there than you! DEFENSE ALL THE WAY!!
SCDAWG
January 20th, 2010
10:58 am
reguardless of what they do with the coaching situation the dawgs need to KICK THE BALL IN THE ENDZONE, especially when you have a kicker that is capable of doing that.
Ken Ray
January 20th, 2010
11:00 am
Kick off coverage definitely needs improvement, but the other segments of special teams were actually a team strength this year-there were some fumbles on kickoff return by freshman, but that can be corrected. I feel that NCAA staff number restrictions won’t allow a full time special teams coach and cover the position needs. Even Alabama’s special teams coach is a position coach.
The Great Malenko
January 20th, 2010
11:08 am
Unless someone on the staff can match up with Urban Meyer, yes a thousand times yes.
gdawginkalamazoo
January 20th, 2010
11:08 am
Special teams can put you in a game or take you out of a game in one play. After the Independence Bowl we should all know that by now.
UGA 2010
January 20th, 2010
11:09 am
Granted that a special teams coach would allow us to utilize Brandon Smith and Boykin but im jus not set on it yet….Richt is a SMART coach but other coaches there can make you look like your losing your touch, i think Richt can handle the s. teams and would be better suited getting the defense the way it use to….DOMINATING
Ginger
January 20th, 2010
11:13 am
CMR….needs to make really good decisions or He could be in for major problems and pressure next yr. Ga needs another good defensive coach and recruiter….If we can get Travis Jones from the Saints to coach outside linebackers—we need to get him period…makes defensive better and gives us another power weapon in recruiting…..then CMR needs to put heavy emphasis on special teams…Now why can’t we hire a special teams coach too ?? also I really like the work that the grad assistants did with the defense at bowl game—what about giving them a shot at special teams…But CMR does need to think of special teams as vitally important and make these truly special
Fry Steve Babik like Bacon
January 20th, 2010
11:14 am
Bottom line- winning special teams and the turnover battle makes the other parts of the game so much easier. Great teams have great special teams.
OlDawg
January 20th, 2010
11:17 am
Emmitt Thomas (formerly with the Falcons) should be considered for a position somewhere on the Dawgs staff. He would be a great mentor and positive influence on these young men and would instill some much needed on and off field discipline.
JB
January 20th, 2010
11:18 am
Big mess in DC this morning……….Obama train left the tracks………Scott Brown seen pulling train out the way with his pick up truck………..heard him telling Obama, ” I’ll be pulling your Ar’se out of the way next.
SOGADOG
January 20th, 2010
11:21 am
Why not do both? Hire a new defensive assistant and hire another person to be in charge of special teams. Keep the grad assistant Doolittle to help the defense and hire a full time special teams coordinator. Kick coverage must be fixed if UGA is going to step back up to the BCS bowl level. I would also like to see UGA have more fake punts and kicks in appropriate circumstances and be more agressive in trying to block punts.
PHIL
January 20th, 2010
11:21 am
I don’t know enough about the defense to know if it requires another coach. I believe the defense we played with CWM did not require another coach. But maybe a multiple defense with a base 3-4 might, especially since it is a new system. BUT with the exception of this directional kicking, which CMR HAD to have signed off on, (and maybe a kicker should be able to do that, maybe we have a guy who can kick field goals but not kick offs) and subsequent kick off coverage the special teams under Fabris were pretty darn good. We always had great punt block schemes, we always had great return teams punt coverage was good because of the punters we’ve had over the last several years. If I were a position coach, I wouldn’t want my best players on a kick off coverage team, either. I don’t care if the special teams coach was Vince Lombardi. So I feel it can certainly be accomplished with a part timer, but I think the decision would be based on does the defense need another coach.
Mikey in the SAV
January 20th, 2010
11:23 am
I am of the opinion that someone on Grantham’s defensive staff, and it doesn’t matter who…..should take on the special teams coaching duties. I believe that ST is an extension of the Defense.
Attack, not react.
Bryan G.
January 20th, 2010
11:23 am
Well, do we really need an O-line coach, WR coach and a TE coach? Maybe someone coaches WRs and TEs and Lilly can coach only STs.
Mike In Jax
January 20th, 2010
11:23 am
If the DC wants another Linebacker coach, hire one. Then hire a special teams coach too. STs are too important not to devote a separate coach. At least a part time ST coach.
clemcudtlhopr
January 20th, 2010
11:23 am
No. Kick the ball run down the field, make the tackle. Catch the ball, run up the field. Don’t need a dedicated coach specific for this. Just someone who knows how to kick, catch, run and tackle.
JB
January 20th, 2010
11:24 am
I hear what you guys are saying about Richt recovering and having a big year or else, but with Damon and Adams on the job, 8+ wins a year is a contract for life. Adams canned Donnan because he didn’t like him and the Quincey cover up and the losses to O’liar at Tech.
Buddy Curry made every tackle
January 20th, 2010
11:28 am
We need a full time special teams coach.
More importantly we need establish our team as a run oriented team. If we can’t run the ball consistantly, we will never win a NC. What is Richt’s record when we run for over 100 yards? Get the fullbacks involved, and make no secret about the fact that we are going to run the ball 40 times a game.
Dawg 3/20
January 20th, 2010
11:37 am
You need a new head coach, the last two years have been embarrassing.
rossdawg
January 20th, 2010
11:47 am
We need defense. Hire Travis Jones. The only special team that is bad is the kickoff coverage team and hopefully these new coaches will be able to correct that. We have a great kicker and punter. Coach Ball did a great job heading up the kickoff return team and that does not need to change. Defense and running the ball wins NC. Travis Jones would be a great hire for the defense.
DawginLex
January 20th, 2010
11:47 am
Dawg 3/20(gaytor boy)
Why don’t you mind your own business and worry about your flip flopping head coach?
no Tebow
no Spikes
No Hernandez
A pro style QB trying to run the spread. When it is 3rd and 3 is Brantley going to lower his head and get the first down?
You boys are in for a return to reality.
dawgfan
January 20th, 2010
11:48 am
Like Meyer, Richt can coach special teams. When the head coach is in charge of something, it tends to get the attention needed.
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
11:50 am
DawginLex, Brantley is just like Chris Leak except bigger with a stronger arm; I think that worked out ok dip.
YoungDawg
January 20th, 2010
11:52 am
We still need to find out if CTG wants to keep CRG as DL coach. If not can CRG be Asst. HC & RC or does the RC have to be a cord or position coach? Another option would be to move CRG to TE\RC (he played TE at Auburn) & the TE coach becomes the STC. If CRG stays at DL then hire an STC unless we can get Travis Jones to coach OLB’s.
DawginLex
January 20th, 2010
11:54 am
Leak won because of the defense. They didn’t even run the spread throughout the SEC season. billy Latsko? Fullback?
Defense is going to drop off tremendously. no Tebow=No special players. Brantley might be good but he is not special.
Tailback U
January 20th, 2010
11:57 am
The need for improved special teams play is too important for next
years team specifically to not hire someone who is a special teams
expert. When you start the season with an unproven QB you need
to be very special in other areas of the team to offset that.
I have a good deal of confidence in the young QBs but being realistic
is to expect some growing pains and mistakes. As we have seen this
past season with Cox, turnovers along with poor special teams play
is a recipe for a lower tier bowl again. I know if would be beneficial
to have an additional defensive coach but CMR had better think this
through very carefully after the unrest of the fan base this past year.
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
12:03 pm
DawginLex, you need to wake up; with our depth (2 deep at every position) and with the med redshirts we had last year, the offense will be better and the defense will be just as good. Brantley is Stafford-like in his skills and with the Dubose kid (redshirted) we will have the all purpose player in the Percy position. Steven Wilks at FB is a better athelete than Lasko. No reason not to at least repeat as SEC East champs; who will challenge UGA or USC? I seriously doubt it.
EmmettDawg
January 20th, 2010
12:06 pm
To everyone saying hire both: the NCAA only allows so many coaches. We simply can’t do both. It’s not a matter of expense.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
12:09 pm
Ga Gator – I’m of the opinion that Brantley will be fine and that like most offenses, it’ll be tweaked some to play to his strengths. The point should be made though that were it not for Tebow gaining those tough yards as a freshman, Chris Leak likely wouldn’t have been nearly as effective as he was.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
Oh come on Ga Gator – your post at 12:03 stating that the offense will be better (without Tebow, Hernandez, Pouncey, etc.) and that the defense will be just as good (without Spikes, Dunlap, Haden, etc. not to mention Charlie Strong) is more than just a tad biased. This doesn’t even get into the fact that the coaching staff will be spread even thinner than normal covering for Urban Meyer’s responsibilities while he’s on leave.
Most top programs including the likes of Georgia, LSU, Alabama, etc are going to be two deep in talent at most if not all positions but until that talent gets the chance to play in game conditions, no one can say with authority that they’re going to be just as good or better than what’s been a very successful and effective offense and defense over the last few years.
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
12:16 pm
GeoffDawg, you are correct on both points, but UF has a much better OL compared to then and this Wilks kid (played with Pouncey’s in high school) is much better and bigger than Lasko and can get the tough yards. I am one of the few Gators who root for UGA every game except one and actually attend the home games with girl friend and family. You have the most beautiful facilities and fans at least as fickle as UF’s.
DawginLex
January 20th, 2010
12:18 pm
Geoffdawg,
the defense won the NT when Leak played QB.
The offense blitzkrieged OSU in the bowl game AFTER the defense completely stuffed Troy Smith.
kauai dawg
January 20th, 2010
12:18 pm
“Nerd Central @ North Ave” a little perspective for Wednesday. Our worst team in years beat your best team in decades.
Nuff said! 30-24! and we are looking forward to your visit between the hedges!
DAWGS win the east this year as well! Sorry gators your Tebow run is over.
DawginLex
January 20th, 2010
12:20 pm
I hope Brantley is Stafford like in his skills as a first year starter with 18 interceptions just like Matthew…………………….
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
12:21 pm
GeoffDawg , the same as Dawg fans who say they will when the SEC east with a completely new defense and staff, not to mention a QB who has never taken a snap. Yep that isnt biased is it?
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
12:23 pm
Not to mention that when we get top recruiting classes, we do something with them instead of wasting them.
DawginLex
January 20th, 2010
12:25 pm
Tebow=Florida’s Herschel
No Tebow=No titles
You don’t win in 2006 without him. You don’t win in 2008 without him.
You won’t win in 2010 without him.
leslie22h
January 20th, 2010
12:25 pm
Perhaps I’m looking at the Bulldog world through rose-colored glasses, but I honestly believe that CTG will turn UGA’s defense around quickly, especially with the addition of an OLB coach. However, an “insider” buddy of mine swears up and down that CMR, not Fabris, was the proponent of those stupid short directional kicks that got our team in trouble so many times over the last two seasons. That said, I’m not sure CMR is the right man to lead UGA’s special teams.
Provided CTG turns the defense around (and barring injuries), I think our biggest concern next season will be fielding an inexperienced QB. Let’s hope both Murray and Mettenberger get their shot and another season isn’t squandered on a less-than impressive QB. Next season will be very interesting.
Joe
January 20th, 2010
12:30 pm
Richt needs more balance on his staff. 60% of the coaches are offensive coaches (including himself). On top of that, one of the defensive coaches is also the recruiting coordinator. And this is to say nothing of special teams.
I mean, he has himself and Bobo to coach QBs, a line coach, a WR coach, and a RB coach. On top of that, he has a tight ends coach. That’s careless staff design just b/c you want a buddy on staff (Lilly, the TE coach).
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
12:31 pm
DawginLex, the Zooker didn’t have him and he beat you 2 out of 3 and we won’t still be waiting for the next 30 years for another title like UGA is.
DawginLex
January 20th, 2010
12:32 pm
the Zooker also never won a title.
Just like florida won’t next year without Tebow
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
12:34 pm
Didn’t say they will, but they will continue to own UGA until you get rid of the main problem in Athens.
Who cares???
January 20th, 2010
12:37 pm
See above.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
12:38 pm
Ga Gator – I’ve never said that specifically. I have said that we’ll be better next year, especially on defense but given what we’ve been working with the past couple of seasons, that’s not a stretch. What is more of a stretch however, is to say that despite changing so many different factors on a team that just experienced one of its top offensive and defensive runs in program history, that you’re not going to experience any drop off whatsoever and may even get better.
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
12:46 pm
The only side of the ball that will be better is the offense and I do believe that the defense will not be as dominating, but not because of the players because of great recruiting classes, but because of the unknown of replacing Charlie Strong. I actually think UGA’s offense will be better as will the defense (has to with new leadership) but until you fix the strength and conditioning problem, you won’t get to the next level.
Dorsey Hill
January 20th, 2010
12:49 pm
I fail to see why one coach can handle safeties and corners, but you need two coaches for ILB and OLB. I would imagine that the responsibilities and the coaching necessary to succeed are just as disparate. Similarly, our DL coach will have to coach NT’s and DE’s, and if Searles can coach centers, guards and tackles???
It seems to me that with 3 defensive coaches each are going to have to teach two positions, unless we go to 6 defensive coaches, which isn’t going to happen. I say bring on a special teams guy and tell him he can have whoever he wants.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
12:50 pm
The strength and conditioning program issue is odd because I don’t believe they’ve changed the technique or philosophy that made it so successful at Florida State or earlier in CMR’s tenure here. Lately however, I will concede that we don’t seem to be as physically dominant as we were a couple years ago.
Ed
January 20th, 2010
12:56 pm
I’d like to see Richt fall out of love with the redshirt and put talented freshmen and other underclassmen on special teams. Longtime Georgia fans remember how that paid off in the Sugar Bowl following the 1980 season, when Terry Hoage blocked a Notre Dame field goal and turned the momentum of that game around. Dooley’s teams in general seemed to dominate on special teams. A lot of the guys Georgia plays on special teams in recent years have looked overmatched.
Another idea: watch tape of Va. Tech games and do whatever they do on special teams. Or FSU in the early Bowden years.
LCDawg
January 20th, 2010
12:59 pm
No brainer, get another Defensive Coach. We already have a coach who should handle ST–Richt. CMR needs to step up and handle the special teams. This will get everyone’s attention (players and coaches look at FL) and will eliminate the nit picking that went on before i.e. Fabris and position coaches whining. It’s real simple folks put the best players on the field at ALL times and kick the damn ball into the end zone. We WASTED a scholarship on Bogaty because he supposedly could kick the ball out of the end zone???? If Richt, like every other coach, says special teams is 1/3 of the game then we should devote 1/3 of our effort on that part of the game plan and put our best players on the field.
arrh
January 20th, 2010
1:09 pm
Nerd Central @ North Ave. You better hope you’re not right…about it being a major adjustment ot switch to a 3-4…considering that Tech is also doing that…I believe! lol As far as GT beating us w/ lesser athlets…maybe you need a reminder of who won this yrs. game. I believe Gt was the higher ranked team, & supposedly UGA had no chance. I wouldn’t be too excited about GT being ranked higher in the preseason poll, bc the ending poll is more important. Polls also don’t determine who’s going to win the game…just look at last yr. As far as 3 teams in the SEC being ahead of UGA…LSU isn’t too far ahead…if it wasn’t for a bad call by the ref…then UGA probably would have beaten them, & even if that’s not true…it’s not like the game wasn’t close anyway. Meaning that it’s not like they’re light yrs. ahead of UGA.
1eyedJack
January 20th, 2010
1:11 pm
Gotta go with a special teams coach. Why tie Grantham to just coaching ILBs? That’s only two positions. Can’t he coach all four LB spots?
Special teams is one-third of your team. And no walkons or scout teamers unless they are really good ala Renner.
You might split the duties up if necessary giving punt returns/KO returns/extra points to an offensive coach and punt team/KO team to a defensive coach.
If you’ve ever seen a practice you’ll know that at any one time 3/4 of your team is just standing around anyway, so have those guys working with Grad. Assist. when they are not in the scrimmage.
Vick=Dog killing thug
January 20th, 2010
1:12 pm
I have to vote for special teams all the way. Dawgs punt and kickoff coverage is a glaring weakness. You could have a special teams coach who would also be an expert in open field tackling which is another long time weakness. This coaching would benefit us on every defensive play and also every time the dawgs turn the ball over.
Combine ILB and OLB coach’s into one position which would make for better team unity and free up a coach for special teams.
You guys need any other expert football advice? Just ask… it’s ok.. really
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
1:12 pm
LCDawg, Ed, great points both of you. If a players is going to be great he isn’t going to be on a team for 4 years anyway. 95% will turn pro anyway after the 3rd year if they are great players (Stafford, Moreno, Haden, Pouncey, Hernandez). One of your young QB’s should have got playing time this year and then you wouldn’t be facing the unknown at he position. I will be surprised if UF’s special teams are as good next year with Urban giving up the duties.
barneyb
January 20th, 2010
1:14 pm
Nerd- you need to go find your own blog or re-inflate your blow-up doll.
Grandad
January 20th, 2010
1:18 pm
Why does a def. guy have to do spec. teams. Perhaps ‘Lily’.
jdawg
January 20th, 2010
1:24 pm
I will tell you what they are burning up…Jet A Fuel, this plane has not stopped, go to your local airport…it is beautiful to see GGA1…they had burned Fla day before, SC yesterday, and yes back in Fla’s back door again today….
Brutus
January 20th, 2010
1:33 pm
Let those two GA’s run special teams. They seemed to do well in the bowl game along with Garner in coaching the D. Second choice would be Katherine Richt, she’s done the water girl thing long enough. Third choice – Loran.
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
1:34 pm
jdawg, I’m surprised they haven’t been to Haiti.
jimmy
January 20th, 2010
1:39 pm
Enter your comments here
Jimmy Cawter
January 20th, 2010
1:40 pm
Where?
arrh
January 20th, 2010
1:41 pm
Ga Gator- I wouldn’t have minded Logan Gray getting some more snaps. I went to the spring game, & he actually looked better than anybody. Aaron Murray was hurt earlier in the yr. though, & I think once it got so late in the yr…it would have been stupid to play him then. Why burn a whole yr. of eligibilty for a few games…once the season was already shot. It’s not the best situation having a QB next yr. w/ no experience. Some QBs actually are good in their 1st yr. Remember Mat Leinert (USC). I believe Colt MCcoy was pretty good in his first yr..not to mention David Greene, ect. The main thing to remember though is that QB is our only loss. The OL, RB & WR should all be better, which should help out in breaking in a new QB. I’m not makiing any predictions here, but you never know whats going to happen. I just know UGA has talent…of course it depends on who things turn out, but I just think they could turn out to be pretty good. Another advantage is that the schedule has been brutal the last 2 yrs., & this yr. doesn’t appear to be quite as bad. No Ok. St opener on the rd…no Arizona St, or LSU.
gtdad
January 20th, 2010
1:47 pm
I would say that a discipline coach is in order…… I have never seen a more blatant disregard to team discipline. I mean, you have a kid with a felony, assaulting a female, and Coach gives him the first two games off…. LOL, what a JOKE your program has become! Shades of the old FSU teams….. Hmmmmmmm, wonder where that comes from….
freedawg
January 20th, 2010
1:50 pm
This is an easy decision…another defensive coach. Georgia has given up far too many yards, points, and senseless game winning drives during the Martinez era. I would like to see improvement on kick off coverage, but prefer the focus, at least now, be on a significant improvement to the defense.
dawg attitude
January 20th, 2010
1:52 pm
Grantham has the linebackers, he will not split up the squad with two position coaches for the LB’s. They could hire another defensive coach to assist with linebackers and run special teams. i like what Beamer and meyer do with the HC coaching the boys on special teams up and creating a warrior for these guys. Richt could pull this off with his Grad assist. Lots of good choices
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
1:53 pm
gtdad – the only joke is by coke.
NCDAWG
January 20th, 2010
1:57 pm
Hire Travis Jones………he can coach OLBS…..
DUH?!!
January 20th, 2010
1:57 pm
CHANGING THE SHOE STRINGS WONT ADD TREAD TO THE SHOE.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
1:58 pm
By the way – people that use LOL to laugh at their own posts are fairly obviously screaming for attention and validation. People respect you more when you don’t try so hard.
DUH?!!
January 20th, 2010
1:58 pm
FIRE MARK RICHT AND GET A REAL COACH WHO CAN GET TOP FIVE RESULTS WITH TOP FIVE TALENT. DUH?
dostadawg
January 20th, 2010
1:59 pm
Richt should coach the special teams. This way everyone will understand how important it is to the teams success from the coaches to the players.
DUH?!!
January 20th, 2010
2:00 pm
YEAH, LET RICHT COACH SPECIAL TEAMS AND LETS GET STRONG OR ANOTHER SERIOUS HEAD COACH.
MARK RICHT
January 20th, 2010
2:04 pm
IF IT WILL KEEP MY JOB ILL TAKE THE SPECIAL TEAM ASSIGNMENT AND LET MICHAEL VICK COACH.
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
2:06 pm
You have the right head coach, he just got complacent as the other teams were on an up swing. I think you have his full attention now since he was forced to fire his best friend.
XXXVII
January 20th, 2010
2:07 pm
hire a special teams coach that also knows a little about outside linbackers.
Cameron
January 20th, 2010
2:11 pm
gtdad:
The only reason why Montez Robinson “only” got two games was because he grew up in-and-out of foster care, in boys and girls clubs, etc. To give up on the kid would have been essentially the kid giving up on life. Keeping him on the team keeps him involved in something. It gives him a shot to make something of himself.
I in no way condone striking a female, but the kid deserves another shot. As long as he shows remorse and makes an effort to reofrm, then I have no problem with it.
jimmy
January 20th, 2010
2:14 pm
go hire the best d coach you can find let the tight end coach run special teams
House Divided
January 20th, 2010
2:18 pm
Special teams coach all the way. Arkansas hired John Smith who was a former head coach at Louisville just to coach the special temas and they improved a great deal this year.
haha
January 20th, 2010
2:26 pm
all the dawgs can do to boost there self confindence is make fun of ga tech…. hahahahaa
De' truth
January 20th, 2010
2:28 pm
According to a story elsewhere in the AJC Atlanta has been named the “Gayest” city in the United States. ‘Course the number of students at Tech(Nerdcentral@North Avenue)who don’t live in Atlanta full time, significantly add to the cities’ total number of wrist flappers since full or part-time was not considered in the study.
dx107
January 20th, 2010
2:28 pm
Why is Georgia Tech fans still talking here — As bad as we were this year we still beat you so SHUT UP!
Now hire a Special Teams Coach we need it badly. Linebackers Coach coaches Linebackers not just 2 of the 4 come on – there is a secondary coach not a corners coach and safeties coach – get a special teams guy to run the show look how many games VT has won with special teams.
FLDawg
January 20th, 2010
2:30 pm
why not both? ST coach and OLB coach
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
2:31 pm
dx107, many teams that run the 3-4 have a inside and outside (or DE) coach and most have corners and safety coaches and almost all (except UF last year) have dedicated Special Teams coaches.
arrh
January 20th, 2010
2:38 pm
GEOFFDAWG- Sorry for the lol reference. Won’t happen again. I really don’t care about getting attention from people that I don’t know. Way to attack a fellow dawg. No offense meant on my end, but I’m just saying.
Case Quarter
January 20th, 2010
2:42 pm
Nerd Central @ North Ave said “There will be some serious pains in learning a completely new system.”
Isn’t Tech converting to the same system that will be completely different?
ActuaryDawg
January 20th, 2010
2:43 pm
For the apparently semi literate. As it has been asked and answered at least a half dozen times in the posts above.
WE CAN NOT HIRE BOTH BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ALLOWED TO. WE ONLY CAN HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF COACHES AND WE ONLY HAVE ONE EMPTY SLOT LEFT.
Bangkapi Ajarn
January 20th, 2010
2:48 pm
Special teams coach is the biggest need, let Grantham handle linebackers to teach them the new system. Beamer and Meyers are proof that emphasizing special teams = an extra w or two each season, in my opinion. If one hire can put an extra w or two up each season, go for it (of course, having the athletes to dominate, and the coaching that helps avoid injury are obviously also needed).
If it placates whoever, let the special teams specialist help Grantham with linebackers or whatever when he isn’t working with the special teams units.
collegeballfan
January 20th, 2010
2:52 pm
You guys hurry up and make your decision so Richt will know what to do.
Until he hears from you he is totally lost. He doesn’t know who to hire.
Ga Gator
January 20th, 2010
2:55 pm
The official answer is, including the HC there can be max of 10.
exNFLplayer
January 20th, 2010
2:59 pm
The best remedy for what ails the UGA kickoff team is kicking it as far the ball can be kicked and right down the middle. Never have been a fan of this new wave directional kicking. Covering punts is all about hang time.
GeoffDawg
January 20th, 2010
3:15 pm
arrh – that wasn’t directed at you but at gtdad. I don’t usually read every single post so I didn’t realize you had done that as well.
haha – if people lacking in self confidence can still laugh at tech, what does that say about tech?
VinceVanGo
January 20th, 2010
3:37 pm
How about let the two Graduate Assistants who worked with Garner & Coach Richt for the bowl game work on special teams under the supervision of one of the defensive coaches. Sort of a ” coach training in waiting.” It would keep the payroll down and give them valuable training experience. It would look great on their resume and be great motivation to do a good job.
VicDawg
January 20th, 2010
3:48 pm
Special teams are 1/3 of the overall aspect of any football game. K.O., K.O. return, Punt, Punt block/return, field goal, field goal defense. These areas all have potential point totals to the game (both positive and negative). WE MUST HAVE A FULL TIME SPECIAL TEAMS COORDINATOR. It is just as important as the offensive and defensive coordinator.
Big Albany Dawg
January 20th, 2010
3:59 pm
Does Florida have a dedicated special teams coach?
Otto
January 20th, 2010
4:02 pm
Hire another LBs coach
Fire Bobo to open up a Special Teams Coach
CMR takes QBs and play calling
CraZyTRaDeMaN
January 20th, 2010
4:07 pm
Damn!!!!! Chan Gailey would have made a great Special Teams Coach.
Big John
January 20th, 2010
4:08 pm
Gators- Meyer runs the special teams. He makes the Special teams the 1st hurdle an offensive or defensive starter must jump before they get a starting offensive or defensive position.
It’s usually freshman, 3 or 4 starters stay once they move to the starting line up (Haden for example).
Meyer says there’s no stronger link between winning than special teams.
SouthernFriedFan
January 20th, 2010
4:09 pm
I’ve always liked what Coach Smith of the Falcons states. There are 3 basic phases of a football game: offense, defense, and special teams. You win 2 out of those 3 and you usually win the game. If special teams are treated as an afterthought, you d@mn well better win on offense and defense. I think a special team coordinator makes us more versatile in ways we can approach getting an advantage over our opponents. For example, if our offense is stifled by a great SEC defense, then we can still try to win with our defense and our special teams.
Big John
January 20th, 2010
4:10 pm
Here’s a good article somebody should forward ot Mark Richt about how Urban Meyer does special teams:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/gators/for-young-florida-gators-special-teams-are-a-52330.html
Dawg Colonel
January 20th, 2010
4:12 pm
Special Teams definitely needs some attention but I’m not sure it is worthy of a full-time position. CMR isn’t going to be the man…but someone needs the title and responsibity. My vote is for Lakatos…lots of similarities in DBs and special teams…IE..Speed.
The easiest fix for kickoffs is to KICK THE D### BALL OUT OF THE ENDZONE! We signed Bogatay for that purpose but I guess the air is thicker in GA than California! Really, this one isn’t that hard to figure out! Kick it out of the stadium and let them start on the 20!
Big John
January 20th, 2010
4:15 pm
Frank Beamer’s a special teams guru. Here’s a good aerticle about his special teams approach:
http://www.ajc.com/sports/virginia-tech-puts-special-260003.html
Kenny Powers
January 20th, 2010
4:23 pm
No need for Richt to coach special teams if he doesn’t think they are special; i agree hire a special teams guy. If Gardner doesn’t like the 3-4 alignment dump him and get another defensive guy.
johnson's army brigade
January 20th, 2010
4:44 pm
73-66…let that guy who ran back three kickoffs coach the special teams , moron
Lost dog
January 20th, 2010
4:56 pm
Attitude wins game with teams having equal talent. UGA will be a tougher, more agressive team and will play much better on defense in 2010. Probably 8 and 4 or maybe 9 and 3. UGA will be much, much better in 2011. Hire an OLB coach.
GDAWG65
January 20th, 2010
5:04 pm
The next UGA coach hiring should be a qualified Offensive Coordinator.
Bobo is in way over his head and is hurting the team.
shane#1
January 20th, 2010
5:13 pm
I am in favor of a special teams coach with enough power to keep the players he wants. I don’t really care if he coaches another posistion or not. When UGA kicked off against LSU from their own 15 yd line the kick coverage team included five walk ons, a back up fullback, the back up QB, and a 165lb kicker. Does anyone know if Walsh or Gray have ever made a tackle in their lives? To make matters even worse, they were kicking off to a world class sprinter. Is it any wonder that LSU had a short field on offense and won the game? Whoever takes over, I hope we see no more squib kicks or directional kicks!
gtdad
January 20th, 2010
5:43 pm
GeoffDawg, LOL, Hit a nerve did I….. Yeah, I need some attention. Right! UGA football is a JOKE, and everybody but you, knows it…. How PATHETIC!
T'ville Dawg
January 20th, 2010
5:45 pm
While not being overly brilliant the one thing that sticks out in my eyes is to use one or both of those graduate assistants to fill these tasks, after all didn’t they prove themselves in the bowl game. I mean they need to be paid more than they are but they could be molded into whatever your team needs this early in their careers.
gtdad
January 20th, 2010
5:48 pm
Cameron, As long as it’s not YOUR daughter??!!!! That is COMPLETE BS!
NCDAWG
January 20th, 2010
5:54 pm
I would take Travis Jones, if he is willing to go….I think Fabris was in charge of the Kick-Off team and Punt-Return teams….so maybe that debacle left with him….It would be nice if Richt took more control of the special teams…That way they can hire an OLB coach; maybe Travis Jones?!
Bremen Dawg
January 20th, 2010
6:10 pm
Yes, Yes, Yes we need a full time special teams coach. Games are won with special teams and defense. You only need the offensive to move the ball and make some first downs and put a few points on the board. Special teams and defense will take over the rest.
Rocket Rod
January 20th, 2010
6:12 pm
Confucious say: Two men feed horse, horse die! Don’t think its a good ides to break it into different parts. The Spec Team needs to learn work together as one unit. No matter, it needs to be done
Bremen Dawg
January 20th, 2010
6:17 pm
I keep seeing all of this bashing Bobo on the blogs. Remember, we are running a pro style offense that gives the QB’s some options on play calling at the line. The QB can change the play at the line if he sees something at the line. Bobo is not a bad coordinator. If the O line is not blocking and the QB is not changing the plays according to D reads then your not going to move the ball much. So much depends on the QB and we just haven’t had a great one since David Greene. Stafford was good but Greene could make reads and burn a defense.
meansonny
January 20th, 2010
6:43 pm
Why can’t we have a special teams coach that also helps with an aspect of the defense (OLB or CB’s)?
I think we should have a dedicated ST coach (this means that the hire is based on those credentials). That coach can assist in other aspects of the defense. But the reason why they got the job was because they brought something to the Dawgs that we don’t currently have.
ST is that important. And it should be deemed important to the players as well because that’s how most of them will make NFL squads (by contributing on ST during their player development).
JC in Powder Springs
January 20th, 2010
7:13 pm
Two of the 3 ‘D’ coaches are already pulling double duty – Grantham (lb’s & DC), Garner (DL and recruiting coordinator). Now you want yet another D coach to pull double duty by forcing special teams on the new guy?
What about Lilly, McClendon and Ball? When you add Richt, Bobo and Searels, that’s 6 coaches on offense! Dawgs need to get more production out of the offensive coaches if you ask me. Ball or Lilly can handle TE’s and WR’s – why 2 coaches? Give one of them the special teams OR dump the worse of the two and hire a special teams ace! The D coaches have enough responsibilities as it is!
jesse james
January 20th, 2010
8:02 pm
Yes let’s get a special teams coach, a pregame coach, a hafltime coach, a timeout coach, a wind coach. Darn, football is not that complicated. Just let whoever coached them in the Bowl game coach special teams. I thought our kickoff coverage team did a great job of getting down field. That has been our biggest weakness. We had the slowest coverage team I have ever seen during the year. There is no reason for not having a kicker that can kick the ball inside the 10 yard line or better with each kick and get 11 guys that can get down field.
Nerd Central @ North Ave
January 20th, 2010
8:08 pm
You all wish you were as smart as me. I’m getting an engineering degree and will soon be making 6 figures. You have some lame UGA degree and probably manage a PetsMart. I’m sure your family is so proud!!!!
Gooddawg
January 20th, 2010
8:11 pm
HIRE DAVID POLLACK NOW AS DEFENSIVE ENDS COACH. HELLO, HE’S A THREE TIME ALL AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SC_DAWG
January 20th, 2010
8:15 pm
Who is Georgia Tech?
Old Coach
January 20th, 2010
8:38 pm
Special teams are of the greatest importance to a football team. A football game is divided in 3 phases, Offense, Defense, and Special teams. In 95% of games you MUST win 2 of the 3 areas to win the game. With that being said IMHO the DAWGS have been near outstanding in all areas of the kicking game EXCEPT kick-offs. Do away with the pitiful directional kick-offs and concentrate on staying in lanes and tackle. This will solve this problem. Hire another defensive assistant and the staff can coach the various areas of the kicking game. After all these assistant coaches are more than capable of adding 1 phase of the kicking game to their responsibilities. DO NOT SHORT CHANGE THE DEFENSIVE STAFF.
jesse james
January 20th, 2010
8:50 pm
Nerd Central @ North Ave. – No we own the Petsmart and we hire you to design our stores. And I am probably not as smart as you, but you know what, I’m smart enough. Hurry up and finish I need to build more stores.
Russ' Hairy Sack
January 20th, 2010
9:08 pm
Love all the Techies gloating about their degrees and how much more money they make. The truth is…
What does a Tech grad call someone with a business degree from UGA?
Boss.
Russ' Hairy Sack
January 20th, 2010
9:14 pm
BTW Nerd Central, if you were really that smart you would realize that Tech’s football program sucks and your athletes (in all sports) are unable to win when they see a UGA uniform.
MontyP
January 20th, 2010
10:55 pm
Let Grantham coach special teams. He already said that part of his philosophy is to find his best players and get them on the field. Our kickoff coverage has been awful because it has been used as an opportunity to get all of the bench players some playing time. This might be a nice gesture but is not a recipe for success. The best players need to be on the field for kickoff coverage. Tired of seeing kicks returned to the 40 yard line and beyond.
redandblack80
January 20th, 2010
11:48 pm
LAKATOS-Coached special teams for 2 or 3 years,so were good there.Ga should be in the top 10 this year and top 5 next year,unless we end up higher this year and next.
Jim
January 21st, 2010
12:07 am
I say you need someone in charge of special teams rather than a special teams coach by committe. Put someone in charge even if it’s a graduate assistant. That someone would then be responsible to the head coach just as the OC and DC are. I would even go so far as say if Joe Cox becomes a GA put him in charge of the special teams. He knows first hand what it’s like for the bonehead play of special teams to put the QB in a bad position, like fielding a kick inside the five rather than taking the TB and getting the ball on the 20. If Tennessee has better special teams play Alabama would not be NC. If East Carolina has better special teams play they would not have lost their Bowl game.
arrh
January 21st, 2010
2:34 am
GeoffDawg- Oh ok, thanks for clearing that up. Go Dawgs!
Sam
January 21st, 2010
5:22 am
So Nerd Central @ North Ave is just some loud mouthed snot nosed punk that has really done nothing but take up space. Come back talking smack AFTER you get that degree little girl. Until then you’re just another wannabe.
MachineCoOwner
January 21st, 2010
5:26 am
I have a Business degree from little Rider College. I also own a machinery manufacturing company that employs a couple of recent GT grads. They are doing CADS drawings for 12.50 an hour. Nerd Central @ North Ave you gotta huge shock coming to you kid. If you even get your degree. You don’t seem all that bright to me.
GaTruth
January 21st, 2010
6:44 am
YES YES YES YES YES…
We were 118 in kick-off coverage and about the same in opponent’s avg starting field position. There is nothing that rips momentum out of your hands as fast as a huge kick return. Football is won by winning the field position battle. When you let your opposition start on the 40, you make your defense kill itself just to keep three off the board.
AltamahaDawg
January 21st, 2010
7:21 am
For ALL the talk of Meyers taking the ST on himself, his squads on average were never any better than what UGA has done. Some of his squads have been near the top of the league, but just as many times they were middle or lower tier. Same here.
On the KO return, he has had some units next to last in the SEC at times as well. They have been pretty good lately , but only lately, which could have a lot more to do with depth of athletes. This year, the gators kicked it high and to the 10 on almost every single KO, while UGA lead the SEC by far in touchbacks. So its obviously not ball placement that matter so much. And UGA had a better KO coverage team than ALA, fwiw.
Don’t waste a coach position to fix an overblown issue. We are about to be recruiting a lot more back-up LB’s and thats your KO fix right there.
those games meant nothing to tech
January 21st, 2010
8:16 am
736624143024….to the georgia fan who responded to the tech fan about al groh getting beat by bill and mary last year…get your facts straight…that was william and mary…lmfao
mcdaviddawg
January 21st, 2010
8:26 am
Richt doesn’t take special teams seriously? What does the man take seriously? He’s a loser, there’s no interest in football, but now boy we can preach. Georgia needs new coaching at the top.
Bdawg
January 21st, 2010
8:45 am
mcdaviddawg
I can’t believe you can call yourself a Dawg fan with ignorant posts like that. Mark Richt has brought this program back from the ashes. Yes we had a tough year last year, but the man made the changes needed to correct them. His only fault throughout his whole time here is holding on to a Defensive Coordinator one year too long. How you sit back and say a man that is avg. 10 wins a season with a 7-2 Bowl record has no interest in football is absurd. I don’t consider you a Dawg fan. In fact it’s idiots like you that give us TRUE DAWG FANS a bad name!
Minnesota Dawg
January 21st, 2010
8:49 am
Since special teams looses so many games, yes! Whatever Georgia needs to do to be successful, go for it!
Is that a Question?
January 21st, 2010
9:22 am
YES! Besides just some bright spots from Boykin, and some Branden, special teams were awful. We need a coach.
GeoffDawg
January 21st, 2010
9:34 am
gtdad – I could also add at this point that posters who routinely use words typed in all caps for emphasis are demonstrating a lack of vocabulary…..LOL.
Otto
January 21st, 2010
9:54 am
Bremen, If the Defense knows what is coming there is little the OL can do about it. Searls has been great everywhere he has been. UGA had a veteran OL to work with. Bobo has struggled since his first year. I would not be passing this off on the OL. Bobo is a mediocre OC at best. Yes the QB has options but the base formation and call is signaled in. I see few crossing patterns and 3 and medium is one of 3 plays, a draw, go pattern, or screen. As a result the offense is very boom or bust, the drive charts are available on plenty of sites take a look at how many drives UGA has that last over 3:30 min and who they were against over the past 3 years.
WonderDawg
January 21st, 2010
9:58 am
Sorry, but I for one would rather Richt hire a ST coach in addition to whatever D asistants Grantham needs. Hasn’t Saban proved that a large staff works?
WonderDawg
January 21st, 2010
10:03 am
Bdawg, you’re right but I think he’s holding on to Bobo at OC too long also. His offenses looked mostly great with Stafford and Knowshon (who’s wouldn’t), but looked pitiful at times last year. The OS, LSU, UT and UF games made him look like he’s over his head. He seldom comes out of half-time with new looks and has way too many 3-and-outs against everyone.
WonderDawg
January 21st, 2010
10:19 am
Oh, and good column, Bill.
EnjoyFootball
January 21st, 2010
10:58 am
We make it a important part of the game planning. There should be more time spent on it and our better athletics be placed on it. I think we can get it handled with a coordinator from the existing staff as long as each staff member knows the coordinator can use any player he sees fit on the special teams.
Goodbye "Sovereign Immunity"
January 21st, 2010
11:00 am
Well, looks like the Decory Bryant case just got a lot more interesting.
Seems a Texas State District Judge just ruled that Texas Tech University…DOES NOT…have the “Sovereign Immunity” protection of the State of Texas which would have protected Texas Tech against a lawsuit in the case of Mike Leach vs. Texas Tech. That means Leach can now LEGALLY & DIRECTLY sue Texas Tech University and the Texas Teach Athletic Association.
So, why does that matter ??
A Clarke County Judge recently dismissed the Bryant vs UGA-AA case on the same dubious (and fraudulent) basis of claiming the UGA-AA has “Sovereign Immunity” protection against the Bryant lawsuit.
As a legally distinct, revenue-generating, non-profit corporation, the UGA-AA is not “an arm of the State” and is not protected by “Sovereign Immunity” as the Clarke County Judge described. The State of Texas just completely trashed any argument or legal basis of “Sovereign Immunity.”
The Bryant case will now have LEGAL PRECEDENT to move the case forward to where an Appeals court will strip the UGA-AA of any legal protection under the bogus “Sovereign Immunity” defense.
Texas just GUARANTEED that the UGA-AA will lose the Bryant case.
The UGA-AA is going to lose: HUGE !!!!
Two questions now come to mind:
1. How much of a multi-million settlement will UGA Tix holders be asked or “required” to pay with thru tix prices and “required” donations ??
2. How badly will recruiting permanently suffer, since every current & future recruit will be able to see how crudely the UGA-AA treated Decory Bryant ??
IrvinMaya
January 21st, 2010
11:07 am
I think the ideal solution would be for Richt to coach the special teams and hire an OLB coach. The problem, however, is like Bill said: Richt does not have a healthy respect for the importance of special teams. I grew up in TAL and this is not a surprise based on his time at FSU. Even if he were to recognize their importance, I am not sure if he would have the chops to adequately coach and scheme special teams (he was a proponent of the directional kicking BS, after all).
Jaydawg
January 21st, 2010
11:10 am
This lack of vision and attention to detail with the special teams is the same thing that kept Martinez here way too long. Richt is a good coach,but if he were an elite coach he would realize how truly important this phase of the game is and would be observing and applying Beamers coaching principles to his special teams.Bowden will be the first to say his lack of emphasis to this phase of the game cost him at least 2 national championships.
IrvinMaya
January 21st, 2010
11:11 am
the Leach case was decided under TX law, not GA law. GA law provides one of the broadest sovereign immunity blankets of any state in the country. Also, a TX state decision has no precedential effect for GA courts.
bamadawg
January 21st, 2010
11:37 am
Hell yes! We need a Special Teams Coach NOW! Field position is everything in the tough SEC and having other teams start on the 40yd line many times puts the Def. on its heels too often…Football is a game of inches and Special Teams Coach is needed NOW! Field Position, Field Position, Field Position!!!! Having several coaches handle the Special Teams means no one owns it!!! We need an owner of the Special Teams so they can be held accountable!!! Make Sp. Teams an honor and make them captains….Field Position, Field Position, Field Position!!! dangit…
JED
January 21st, 2010
11:38 am
Irv: not so.
the issue is simple: can a college and-or its athletic association be sued, yes or no.
the state of texas just said yes to that question.
legal precedent set in another state frequently becomes an established and accepted
legal basis for similar cases tried in other states.
it is a significant legal ruling that a public college and-or its athletic association
are not protected by a state’s legal immunity.
that blanket of protection just got eliminated.
it will almost certainly be removed in the athens case as well.
not good for uga.
Bdawg
January 21st, 2010
2:10 pm
WonderDawg
You might be right, but last year was only his second ‘real’ year as the offensive coordinator. In ‘07 I felt like it was a little more of an experiment with Richt stepping in more often on some calls. ‘08 was his real first year with it all to himself and like you said he had Stafford and Moreno, so talent could’ve out weighed playcalling that year. Last year at times they did look aweful, but I think most of that was having too much confidence in Joe Cox early. It wasn’t really until they started treating Cox more like a redshirt freshman (which is what he played like) instead of a redshirt senior that they started getting consistant play on offense.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, let’s see how this year plays out before we cut the chord on Bobo. If he calls the plays like he did during the second half of the season we should be fine. A defense that can actually get a three and out and give us good field position isn’t gonna hurt either.
AltamahaDawg
January 21st, 2010
5:15 pm
The question wasn’t about trying to improve as a team. Obviously they can. The question wasn’t about a HC of a major college football team understanding he importance of special teams, or having heard of the concept of momentum and field position. Frankly that’s a stupid question.
The question was: do you commit an entire coach to special teams in light of most units already being quite sound, some being in the tops of the conference. The question is do you hire a special teams coach for no other reason than to improve UGA’s kickoff coverage team in light of having some issues (with a new kicker and down to walk-ons at time) haven already shown improvement this past year, and historically not being an issue. Do you commit a coach to special teams when for the past 9 years, doing it with split duties, UGA has on average been as good as anyone else in the conference.
shane#1
January 21st, 2010
5:46 pm
I thought about this last night. Jones was red shirted, Thomas Davis was red shirted, they both turned pro in their junior year. Guys with their abilities would have been a boost to the kick coverage team as freshmen. Ditto for Rambo. How many boys have been marking time as a red shirt that could have contributed on special teams? There are a pile of defensive players commited for the summer, and unklike backup QBs, most players on the D side of the ball know how to tackle. Instead of red shirting a fast aggressive player, put him on special teams. Save the red shirt for linemen that need to be bigger and stronger.
AltamahaDawg
January 21st, 2010
9:28 pm
In all fairness, when we redshirted Jones and Davis, we were not having any difficulties fielded a good KO coverage team. So its difficult to say a lack of freshman talent was an issue back then. A lack of bodies has been in the past 2 and as we see , no good set of legs were RS this year.
AltamahaDawg
January 21st, 2010
9:36 pm
And those guys left after thier third year. RS Juniors. Playing somebody as a freshman does not get an extra year out them.
North Georgia Dawg
January 21st, 2010
10:19 pm
There will be one more hire after the Saints lose…… Travis Jones! Wait and see!
RED DOG 77
January 22nd, 2010
1:26 am
I personally dont see anything wrong with coaching special teams by committee…..The question is : Are you going to spend enough quality practice time and personel on getting the job done? I am one who considers CMR one of the top 5 best and brightest coaches in the country.I would imagine every year brings a new set of issues for the head coach to deal with, that said, with the D coaching shakeup….and being willing to go cutting edge with a 3-4 D coach, I sincerily believe CMR is ready to roll the dice ,so to speak, and pretty much go agressive in every phase of the game. He has won 90 games in 9 years , but for him , thats not enough……..I believe CMR is about to unleash the hounds !!! I look for him to bring a MNC to the BULLDOG NATION within 3 years, 2010 we build the foundation……2011 and 2012 LOOK OUT !!!! GO DOGS…GATA
AltamahaDawg
January 22nd, 2010
7:22 am
I’ve never really understood this idea that seems to be floating around that we didn’t put good players out there like others do. The of cource just as many folks point to how Meyers played his freshmen out there. First of all, I don’t know if they really know exactly who was on the KO team roster at FL, or just repeating something they heard. Secondly, which is it? We don’t play our starters enough on that unit or we dont play our inexperienced FRosh enough on that unit?
Curran, Boykin, Munzi, Cuff, Dewberry, all played on the KO units. Quite a few starter and second team regular that I don’t care to look up, although its pretty easy to do so, were on it. Off the top of my head I remember Bailey, Witherspoon, Davis always were.
Can anyone name some able bodied freshman that coulda/shoulda been on the KO unit that wasnt?
I have absolutely no idea why we had such poor coverage on that team. We didn’t use to and the same coach , doing the same thing was running it. More likely its a combination of things. But whatever it was, it seem pretty unlikely that it’s a sudden misunderstanding by the coaching staff about putting less capable players on the field , while holding out better players, if given the real choice.
AceDawg
January 22nd, 2010
10:00 am
If Grantham says he’ll take linebackers, let him do it on his own, and get a position coach for special teams or somewhere else that UGA wants to focus on. Special teams does seem to make sense.
Travis
January 22nd, 2010
12:09 pm
They’re waiting for the Saints to lose this weekend so they can go get Travis Jones.
oledawg
January 22nd, 2010
3:54 pm
Postings not going through.
oledawg
January 22nd, 2010
4:04 pm
Like the “Chinese Bandits” of LSU lore, we could dub our Special Teams as the “Psychotic State Dingo Dawgs” or just use the acronym “PsStD Dawgs”
RED DOG 77
January 22nd, 2010
10:10 pm
oledawg…….I like it !! ‘Psychotic State Dingo Dawgs’, But what about an acronym like mabe”PysseD” ….Mabe we would sound a little angryer……..Whatyathink ?
Dawgie style
January 23rd, 2010
11:08 am
The numbers do not lie. Teams that start drives at or beyond the 35 yard line are 3 times more likely to score. Whether kicking or receiving special teams influence a teams success as much as the offensive or defensive units. Not having a full time ST coach is giving points away. CRM makes the most sense to be ST coach. It would give that position some real clout.
I most definitely will not miss kicking the ball short and out of bounds as favored by CWM.
Those poor North Av nerds. Winning 1 out of nine, losing to the round ball dogs (men and women) and the Diamond Dogs. It tough being you.
Typical UGA Fan
January 30th, 2010
4:11 pm
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