Richt getting more involved with quarterbacks is a plus

Mark Richt's increased involvement can only help Georgia's quarterbacks. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC}

Mark Richt's increased involvement can only help Georgia's quarterbacks. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC}

Count me among those who think Georgia head coach Mark Richt getting more involved in his team’s offense is a good thing.

That was the big news out of Richt meeting with the UGA beat reporters on Tuesday: After several years of generally maintaining a hands-off stance with the offense while coordinator Mike Bobo grew into the job, Richt has decided he wants and needs to attend all the meetings of the quarterbacks and the offense.

This isn’t a knock on Bobo, he says, but rather a way for him to more fully evaluate the contenders in the QB battle and stay more involved in coaching, rather than dealing with the PR side of his job.

Now, for sure, some will see this as Richt letting Bobo know that while he may have escaped the coaching purge after last season, the boss is looking over his shoulder this year.

But I’ll take the coach’s rationale at face value. Let’s face it, as a former quarterback and longtime offensive coordinator and play-caller, it’s obvious this is the aspect of the game that Richt enjoys the most.

Bobo will still call the plays and should look on the increased participation of Richt as a plus. The guy knows offense.

That doesn’t mean I’d like to see Richt calling the plays again. I’m not a fan of any head coach calling plays, because I think it requires them to stay too wrapped up in just one aspect of their teams’ play during a game, when the head coach should be looking at the big picture. And while I quibble with Bobo’s play-calling from time to time (especially when he goes all conservative in the red zone), I generally like the way he thinks, offensively. He seems a bit more patient with the running game than Richt was as a signal-caller.

But having more daily involvement from Richt should help Bobo, who had his hands full last season with a sputtering running game in the first half of the season and probably didn’t have the time needed to coach Joe Cox through his decision-making problems. Already, we’re hearing that Richt is being more hands-on with the QBs in practice, and perhaps him acting as a de facto quarterbacks coach while Bobo deals with the overall offense will pay dividends down the road.

It’s just one more indication that Richt is operating with a renewed focus this year.

TALKING THE TALK

Fans love to parse the head coach’s comments, so I thought it was instructive that in Tuesday’s media briefing Richt twice invoked the need for his team to play like champions.

Talking about having a so-so practice, he said, “I just didn’t think we practiced like champions today.” And discussing Richard Samuel’s progress at linebacker, Richt said, “He’s new to the position, and we want him to be ready to compete for us — not so much compete for a job but get out there and play championship defense.”

Obviously getting a third SEC championship is very much on Richt’s mind. It sounds like he’s hungry again, which is perhaps something that was missing the past couple of years.

Whatever the reason, it’s good to see him holding his players to that kind of standard.

105 comments Add your comment

UGA ALL THE WAY

March 31st, 2010
11:08 am

Nice bill, glad to see we both feel the same about Richt on offense.

UGA ALL THE WAY

March 31st, 2010
11:09 am

and oh is that a first i just got, look at that, jus like UGA….#1

meh

March 31st, 2010
11:10 am

I’m glad see Coach Richt getting more involved. Maybe it’ll light a fire under the offense’s behinds. First?

Jay

March 31st, 2010
11:13 am

I like the championship talk sounds like he’s real hungry again will be a very fun season can’t wait for it. Goooooooo Dawgs!

SOUTH GA DAWG

March 31st, 2010
11:18 am

Good to hear Richt use the word “Championship” a lil more in the media. Have not heard that much last couple years especially on defense.

Bill King is a ........

March 31st, 2010
11:24 am

Our offense needs to revolve around or RB’s. If we can do that, the new qb shouldnt be a big deal. Look at Alabama last year……new qb, good rb and a good O-line. Why is that so hard for UGA to figure out??? After the Tech game last year……the concept of running the damn ball should be clear to MR and Booboo. Run the ball, keep this new Defense off the field as much as possible. Running the ball will open up the passing game and take some high pressure throws away from our QB. But time after time….we will have success running the ball and all of a sudden…we throw it!!! The other defenses dont stop us….we stop ourselves with the play calling. GRATEFULDAWGHEAD puts it this way…..”It works too good!!”

SickandTired

March 31st, 2010
11:32 am

Amen to the running the ball. Mark Richt is not happy running the ball down peoples throats unless he’s trying to end the game by running out the clock. He loves the pass and so he’s gonna pass it even when the dawgs are running it well. These coaches sometimes think they have to be a genius and outwit the other guy. Plain old hard nosed football is something Georgia doesn’t practice and until Mark Richt is fired it will not change.

Mark Richt

March 31st, 2010
11:36 am

Nice post, Bill.

But you guys have got to stop with the “first” thing. You sound like a bunch of Tech nerds. Champions don’t have to say they’re “first,” they just ARE.

Saint Simons is my Caddy

March 31st, 2010
11:44 am

I’m hearing what I want to hear……..now let’s see it happen on the field this fall.

Mark Richt

March 31st, 2010
11:46 am

SickandTired, I completely disagree with your post.

UGAAlumnus

March 31st, 2010
11:51 am

i still don’t understand this whole “fire Mark Richt” thing. Richt is easily one of the best coaches in college football. UGA had, statistically, one of the toughest schedules in college football last year and he still won 8 games with a mediocre qb and some bad breaks. I’m “sick and tired” of hearing “fire Mark Richt”. It doesn’t matter what kind of man he is, he’s a great football coach.

Erk Russell

March 31st, 2010
11:52 am

Pound the rock.

MoDawg

March 31st, 2010
12:08 pm

I think Richt’s involvement in defensive meetings under Martinez was probably more about trying to help his friends save their jobs. Alas, Richt’s specialty is the offense and I welcome his inclusion in those meetings. Now that he has a more than capable staff on the defensive side of the ball, he can go back and help Bobo. Bobo has shown flashes of brilliance while, at the same time showing too much predictability and head-scratching play calls. I’d like to see Richt get involved in some of that old FSU play-calling that would put 40+ on their opponents on a regular basis.

UGA has the talent, they just need to coach them up!

Craig

March 31st, 2010
12:14 pm

we should be hungary….he should be hungary…players should be…..my only concern is all that has been going on the last few years as we have gone thru the motions- wonder what in the world happened to all of a sudden have this sense of urgency…….I am happy, but what lightbulb finally went off?????

Jeff

March 31st, 2010
12:16 pm

Does this mean an end to our sweep to the right on 3rd and 24????? What will the rest of the conference think about that????

How2fish

March 31st, 2010
12:22 pm

SickandTired…you of course with your winning record are more than able to always make the right call…there are NO coaches with your wisdom the world is your oyster! God I am soooo Sickand Tired of your B.S… we played pretty good “hard nosed” football when we ran all over the Bugs. God its a new year…get a new rant!

Mark Richt

March 31st, 2010
12:33 pm

UGAAlumnus, you are a brilliant man.

Mark Richt

March 31st, 2010
12:36 pm

Craig, it wasn’t Damon Evans or the “fire Mark Richt” chatter. I can assure you.

Craig

March 31st, 2010
12:50 pm

Hey thanks coach :) I didn’t think it was because of that.

Joe

March 31st, 2010
12:51 pm

Can anyone let me know the top 5 BOBo calls……I wanna know what I should be missing next year……

JMart

March 31st, 2010
1:02 pm

I guessing SickandTired is also old and farty. You have to at least have the threat of a passing game and with guys like AJ Green out there, you can bet your tushy we’re going to pass AND run.

Bobo has had his moments. My problem is that we sometimes don’t seem to be have any foundation. It just seems like we’re pulling plays out of a hat to see if anything works.

“Bobo seems a bit more patient with the running game than Richt was as a signal-caller.” Really!
Late last year, when we had greatly improved in the running game, Bobo would always seem to wait until the second half before he would call back to back running plays. And all the passing on 3′rd and 2 drives me crazy! Bobo would finally call a run oriented game after it became apparent that nothing else was working.

Jeff

March 31st, 2010
1:13 pm

here are the top 5
#1. 3rd and a mile……toss sweep to the left. usually a gain of 2 PUNT
#2. haveing run the ball and driven down the field 75 yards and gaining 5-7 yards a clip on 1st and goal: throw- incomplete…2nd down…throw…incomplete…3rd down…throw either intercepted or dropped…field goal
#3 1st and goal at the 1. toss sweep….fumble. Pass incomplete….pass incomplete….pass incomplete….
#4 3rd and 1. a 55 yard pass attempt down the sideline…PUNT
#5 4 and inches at the opponents 24yard line …FG Attempt

logan gray

March 31st, 2010
1:14 pm

You forgot about my pick 6 to Brandon Spikes.

CEO Mark

March 31st, 2010
1:22 pm

Can’t wait to work hands on with the midget Aaron Murray.

Bremen Dawg

March 31st, 2010
1:27 pm

I like what I am hearing. These QB’s can really learn alot from Mark Richt and I agree I don’t want to see him calling plays anymore but he does need to be involved with the offense. I hope this all pays off.

AceDawg

March 31st, 2010
1:28 pm

Yeah, Richt seemed to have confidence in his team in recent years, but not hunger. Optimism alone won’t beat Saban and Meyer, etc. New coaches on defense probably make the difference as Richt not only wants to show that he is still the head coach, but those guys come in revved up for a new experience. All the more, Grantham comes from a tough NFL mentality and has probably learned a heck of a lot more than Willie Martinez, so the coaches including Richt take note on his professional background.

Bo

March 31st, 2010
1:32 pm

I think Bobo has done a good job with what he had. Our run game came on at the end of the year because we played Vandy and Tech. Our O-line finally was able to dominate those smaller D-linemen. Also, Washaun wasn’t really in the mix early on. Caleb wasn’t finishing runs hard until Washaun got the starting job. Then you saw Caleb start to pop guys at the end al a Washaun and Knowshon.

Also, our offensive was playing from behind most of the year. If you have to score a lot of points and you can’t do what you want because of an inadequate QB and poor line play, you tend to be predictable. Our success will depend upon the offensive line. If Searels can live up to the hype, we have the potential to be above average on that side of the ball.

As for you guys lamenting Richt’s play calling, you must not remember the conservative ’sideways’ offense that he used to favor. Coach Richt used to say that he was content to let the defense win games. We didn’t see consistent downfield passing until Bobo took over the play calling duties.

Having said that, I am happy that he’s taking more of an interest in our quarterback development. He did a great job with Greene & Shockley but Stafford never really panned out. I can’t lay that all on Bobo but Richt certainly has a good track record with QBs.

CEO Mark

March 31st, 2010
1:33 pm

When I hired Grantham, no body told he had been fired by the Browns in his only stint as DC.

Mike Bobo

March 31st, 2010
1:38 pm

Jeff, I know…my bad. I do sometimes like to throw stuff at the wall and hope that it sticks. I forget that I’m not on my Playstation.

Just curious, but has someone been showing you my playbook?

Otto

March 31st, 2010
1:38 pm

For those that say run the ball, I will remind you of UT ‘07 where Bobo stuck with the run far to long.

The key is to vary play calling, developing leaders/allowing QB & RB to get into a groove, and plays that open up running lanes and WRs.

Mike Bobo

March 31st, 2010
1:40 pm

Bo, I like those excuses. Thanks!

Mike Bobo

March 31st, 2010
1:42 pm

Thanks, Otto. I just wrote down your keys on how to vary play calling. That should help a lot.

Anyone else have any suggestions?

CEO Mark

March 31st, 2010
1:43 pm

Yea bobo the clown; concentrate on football instead of having more young-uns.

38 Yardline Dawg

March 31st, 2010
1:49 pm

Listen, Bobo has made some calls that didn’t work out. But he’s made plenty of great calls as well…particularly with the running game. Remember the running back we had named Moreno? He racked up 2,734 yards in one season (4th best all time at UGA) in part because Bobo called his number. When it’s 3rd and 24, defenses expect a pass…that’s why sometimes you call a play that’s not a pass.

I’m just saying: No one would have wanted Bobo’s job last year with an under-experienced QB and a lack of any one running back stepping up to the plate. Especially after having the Stafford/Moreno combo in the previous season.

Although just for the record (Bobo, if you’re reading this), screen passes are a beautiful thing when properly executed. Please bring these back to the UGA playbook.

Otto

March 31st, 2010
2:05 pm

Bo, Agreed Caleb was not finishing runs. However, it is the coaches job to make sure he is giving 100% another RB should not be needed.

Line play? UGA was #6 nationally in sacks allowed. Samuel had plenty of holes but did not make the open field moves. Caleb did not finish runs. The blame is not on the OL.

Also playing behind? UGA was #61 in fumbles given up, that helps your way to 118th of 120 teams in turnover margin. I couldn’t find Team INTs given up but Cox was tied for 97th (#1 being fewest all QBs played in atleast 9 games) in INTs thrown. Blaming Cox? Stafford threw 10 a year his last 2 which would have tied for 53rd. Sure the defense needed help but the offense had their hand in it.

One more stat I’d like to see is average length of time per possesion. The # of clock killing drives have been on the decline despite more favorable clock rules. CMR’s offense may not have put as many points up but how many times did we watch Greene or Shock take 5+ min off the clock for a score to win the game. If the other team doesn’t get the ball back they can’t score and CMR did well at turnover margin with exception of Green’s Fr. year which was also CMR’s 1st.

Evansdawg

March 31st, 2010
2:12 pm

I completely agree, Bill. I like hearing him toss around the “champion” word.

Otto

March 31st, 2010
2:15 pm

Anytime Mike, don’t get stuck like you did on the run in ‘07 UT game, or the play action that bombed against S Car ‘07, the overthrown go pattern in ‘08 along with 3rd and long bubble screen.

Dorsey Hill

March 31st, 2010
2:33 pm

For sick and tired and other people that think coaching is so simple:

Essentially what you are saying is that coaches are too stupid to know that running the ball always leads to results and if someone did just that, they’d win every game. Makes you wonder why everyone doesn’t finish 13-0 doesn’t it?

There are three types of teams out there and any team can fall into any category depending on the quality of the given opponent:

1) Those who get dictated to by their opponent and have no ability to counter. These are very bad teams.

2) Those who are not quite good enough to dictate to every opponent but are sufficiently skilled to overcome some limitations in talent as compared to an opponent by countering and being creative. These are your 8-5 to 11-2 types of teams.

3) Those teams that can dictate to the opponent and say this is who we are and you can’t stop us. If you are in this category every week you will be an undefeated championship team.

Good college coaches must try to acheive #3, but are too often, especially in the SEC, in category #2. In the NFL there are no category #3 teams every week…ever.

You simply can not win championships in the SEC on a regular basis believing that you will be able to dominate every opponent. Eventually someone is going to shut your run game down and you’d better have a plan B.

The key is knowing who you are, knowing who you can and who you can’t dominate and being prepared to deal with the almost inevitable adversity. Would I like to run the ball in every 3rd and 4 vs. Arky and Colorado early in the year? Sure, if my entire goal is to win that game. But there will come a time vs, UF or Bama in the SEECG that a qb and a wr are going to have to make a play in that spot and they’d better be prepared for it.

While I’d love some day to have a team like Nebraska’s 1995 team and just physically beat on everyone, those are once in a lifetime types of teams. If you want to be successful over the long haul and win championships on a consistent basis you’d better be diversified.

I guarantee you that CPJ is using the entire spring to overcome the limitations that occurred when we played them last year. Had they been a little bit more proficient in the passing game we likely do not win that game even though Tech’s defense was atrocious. He knows that you can run all over UVA and Duke, but he’d better have an answer if his defense digs him a hole or another team slows the running game down sufficiently.

Our story is that we have not had the tools to be in the #3 category in enough games. We weren’t going to be able to dictate to UF the last two years or UA the year before. In too many other games were relatively evenly matched talent wise. I do think that we’ll be a dominant team in far more games this year than we were last year, especially early last year when we had literally no running game.

That is not to say that I let CMR or Bobo totally off the hook because I don’t. I do think their general philosophy is correct, but the 2007 game vs. USC was a perfect example where we should have run the ball far more because Stafford was struggling and it was a close game throughout. No reason to throw 40+ passes in a game like that. Others may be able to point to other examples, but that one to me is the most glaring.

Jeff

March 31st, 2010
2:38 pm

38 yardline…..”When it’s 3rd and 24, defenses expect a pass…that’s why sometimes you call a play that’s not a pass”
sometimes???????? try everytime……same play…toss sweep….same result…gain of 2 and punt. Sometimes?????? I have heard visiting fans call the play from the stands during games…….SOMETIMES? really? Sometimes??? We could only wish it was sometimes

Frank Lane

March 31st, 2010
2:44 pm

The buck stops here. Sooner or later, the coach has to step up. Not a moment too soon.

I have been CEO of several companies, and you want to support your direct supports and give the freedom to perform, but sometimes your help is needed.

Craig

March 31st, 2010
2:46 pm

38 yardline-I guess then when it is 3rd and 1 and your trying to keep the ball and run the clock out then since most teams (except the ones we happen to play because it rarely works)would think we are going to keep running the ball like we have been doing gaining 4-5 yeards a shot. Silly them- we come out and throw a 60 yard bomb and punt.

Joe

March 31st, 2010
2:54 pm

Bobo’s 3rd and 24 Playcall: PTS-BoooBoo (Pray they’re stupid)

Bobo’s 3rd and 1: JOU-65. (jokes on us for 65 yards)

Otto

March 31st, 2010
2:57 pm

Dorsey Hill, I don’t think it is simple but IMO others are running much more complex and effective systems. UGA has also been killing itself in all 3 phases of the game with fundamentals, don’t fumbles, get defensive players in position to make plays, and cover kicks.

If Stafford is one of the most prepared NFL rookies to execute a system at the NFL level, the question has to be asked why did he toss 10 INTs and stall in the red zone at UGA? If he can make the reads/pick the plays within the system it must be the system not giving him the most successful options.

Also IMO and given the high recruiting rankings UGA should be able to beat everyone in East using more 3 than 2 (within reason) other than UF.

Anonymous 'Cos

March 31st, 2010
3:03 pm

Wow—— ‘CEO Mark’ is one angry person. Angry at what? I have no idea, but he is one angry adolescent. Actually, it sounds as if your parents are the ones that should have stopped having children. You are living proof of that. Follow your own advice please.

I like the fact that Richt is back in the QB meetings and has a more hands-on approach to the offense in general.

‘Bo’ —- great point! Richt had a lot to do with the success of Shockley and Greene, it would have been intresting to see what he could have gotten out of Stafford. I had not thought of that before. Richt and Bobo have some good skill to mold at the qb position.

‘BillKingisa’… —- Another good point.I don’t like to ever say “be like…” or “do it like…”, But you bring up a good point about our situation this year as compared to Alabama last year. There, indeed, are a lot of similarities between the status of the programs in recent years. Now WE just need to raise our own crystal trophy and quiet the ‘80 comeback.

Go Dawgs! It’s gonna be a good couple o’ years i believe…regardless of what one CEO Mark thinks.

tdog

March 31st, 2010
3:14 pm

I will up my estimate from five wins to six with Richt becomming more involved. Hopefully he will not try any more gimmicks.

Minnesota Dawg

March 31st, 2010
3:18 pm

It’s not that Richt wasn’t hungry, it’s just that he delegated responsibility because that’s what you do when you see promise of success. When it go awry, you take it back over and regroup. Richt is doing the right thing. He’s humble enough to know when things are not right. Let’s get behind the dawgs and Richt! Trust me, we will win the SEC again. Don’t be suprised if you see that this year!

Dorsey Hill

March 31st, 2010
3:19 pm

Otto,

We may be able to argue about “effectiveness” but no one is running anything more “complex” than UGA is on offense. In fact, its limitation may be its complexity, especially with less experienced qb’s and wr’s. We are running NFL systems on both sides of the ball now with amatuer players. When you have depth and experience it can be really effective, but when your personnel doesn’t measure up to what the system requires it can look ugly.

With respect to the red zone issue, it seems to me that we were having kickers lead the SEC in scoring more before Stafford than after. I think we have improved in the red zone with Bobo calling plays rather than regressed. When we have had difficulties in that area the main culprit has been, and always will be, OL play. We have not been where we need to be on the OL for most of CMR’s tenure. It looks like that has finally come around, but Donnan left that cupboard empty and its taken a very long time, especially with losing OL to various injuries, to get the OL where it needs to be from a depth perspective. We have had a couple of good O-lines in the last ten years, but more often than not its been a real problem area. When that is that case, your red zone offense will almost always struggle because the teams that score in the red zone dictate run to the defense, which as I stated earlier is much easier said than done.

Blackberry Cobbler

March 31st, 2010
3:48 pm

In other words CMR really hasn’t been doing his job and keeping close tabs on the offense the past few years. That’s so encouraging to hear, isn’t it fans? I get the strong impression that someone has lit a fire under CMR’s butt and told him to right the ship or pack up and move on. If this season is a repeat of last season, things are really going to get heated up.

UGAgrad04

March 31st, 2010
3:51 pm

Dorsey Hill,

You some good points about your categories, but I have some questions.

1. If Nick Saban can get to category 3# in 3 years, after taking over a team that was 6-7 the year before he got there, then what does that say about Saban’s approach to a program? What does it say about Richt’s?

2. If most good teams finish 10-2 or 11-1 at best in the SEC, while weaker conferences winners finish with undefeated record, then can’t you argue that 10-2 or 11-1 is still in group 3#?

As for your NFL comparison, I agree to some degree about there not being any group 3# teams, but I do think there are group 3# franchises. I think the Patriots, Steelers, Colts are in Group 3#, because they are Super Bowl contenders year in and year out. Groups 2# franchises would be teams like the Ravens, Cowboys, Eagles or even the Falcons, that are playoff contenders but not quite Super Bowl franchises. Group 1# are like the Detroit Lions! LOL.

CEO Mark

March 31st, 2010
3:57 pm

Good points UGA GRAD04, and you might add it only took Meyer 2 seasons after the mess Zook left him.

dap01

March 31st, 2010
4:46 pm

Since CMR a few years ago spoke of being a CEO, the whole team has appeared less prepared.

I am glad to see that CMR will be more involved with the offense. The defense will be well coached. The coach from Vandy will help the special teams.

UGA is headed in the right direction.

Dawg 39

March 31st, 2010
5:45 pm

Nobody calls the correct play all of the time. It is the Offensive Game Plan that should be scrutinized, not throwing someone under the bus for not calling the play I would have called.
Having CMR more hands on is great. But, I believe CMR & CMB have done a good job with the game plans for each year/team and each game.The D not the O has been the problem. Now I expect both the O & the D to show significant improvement..

what team have you been watching?

March 31st, 2010
5:50 pm

Bobo is more patient with the running game than Richt? What?

The man throws a pass on third and short after amassing over 300 yards running vs Tech. The man whose QB “career” was made by a great running back can’t wait for the next opportunity to throw a bomb…

here is a typical bobo play calling pattern: run, run…first down (repeat until we get to the 50) then… bomb (incomplete), incomplete pass, draw play (stuffed by the blitz), punt.

bobo in the red zone: corner fade right (incomplete), play action pass (incomplete), draw play (stuffed.)

Richt is famous for going “Dooley” with the lead in hand. Remember the years of Musa Smith….V. Haynes, etc.

i have no idea what team you have been watching for the last few years…..but it aint one that places emphasis on the running game.

Take note when richt started carrying the playsheet vs tech, we came out and ran the ball….

Einsteindawg

March 31st, 2010
6:14 pm

Name me two Bobo calls that worked out great…you can even have the past four years. I still think he’s average at best.

only on paper...

March 31st, 2010
7:41 pm

UGAAlumnus …tough schedule only on paper…take a look at the final rankings of the teams at the end of last season

Real DAwg

March 31st, 2010
7:56 pm

Bobo’s clueless–hopefully, Richt takes over the offense and changes something. Otherwise, it will be more of the same and more mediocrity ahead.

Jimmy

March 31st, 2010
8:06 pm

Seems Richt became HC because of his successful play calling abilities as an O coor at FSU. He does the same for his first few years at UGA and the team is successful, for the most part.

He then goes to Papa Bowden’s CEO role and hands the O Coor. duties to someone else. The only problem w/ this is you better get a good OC, like Bowden did w/ Richt, or the past few years will be the result. IE bad fundamentals on O and just too inconsistent overall.

I think Richt taking a more hands on role w/ the O will be a very good thing. I hope I didn’t read that over the past few years he was doing things like answering fan mail and signing memorablia while staff meetings were going on???? If true, no wonder why the program has fallen, relatively speaking of course. This team has still been successful over the last few years, but we’re far from Alabamer and Florida domination type status.

ONLY Fair

March 31st, 2010
8:33 pm

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZ

FLA DAWG

March 31st, 2010
8:51 pm

For two years we’ve been barking for exactly this kind of involvement by Richt in the O. Richt is bailing out Bobo and himself by doing this. I still think Bobo is a rookie at best in his position and I have seen only moderate improvement in his coaching ability.

Richt is hungry for a Championship alright – if he has another season like the last one his azz is in a sling.

red man dog

March 31st, 2010
9:07 pm

same old anti-richt posts every year.

snore.

and he has the longest tenure in the sec. yeah, he’s such a bad coach.

snore.

recycled old posts about richt’s loser status.

snore.

red man dog

March 31st, 2010
9:10 pm

2001 & 2006, heard it all before. and we cooked the next year.

we’ll see who’s right, and wrong in 2010.

with richt on the qb’s, grantham n the d, and belin and lakatos, it’s over. give him the trophy now.

bobo has potential, needs some more mentoring, missing a few things like ball protection.

just like 2002/2007 both after terrible seasons, uga and richt will crush everyone in their path.

Saint Simons is My Janitor

March 31st, 2010
9:32 pm

Sainty I just took a dump and the toilet is clogged would come clear it. I need to re-watch the UGA Tech game again you know 30-24

CEO Mark

March 31st, 2010
9:36 pm

patrick, is your new name red man dog

Dre Dawg

March 31st, 2010
9:47 pm

With richt getting involved in the offense and Grantham running the 3-4 D, the Dawgs will be the team to beat in the SEC in 2010!!! Florida lost most of their top talent, UT has no talent and the Dawgs should win the SEC east easily—mark it down! This Dawg team is loaded with experienced talent and will have the best running game in the SEC!!! Dawgs are back baby–take it to the bank!!

CEO Mark

March 31st, 2010
9:48 pm

Dre, just like when you played Zook.

The Ol Bawl Coach

March 31st, 2010
9:56 pm

Can’t wait to call ball plays against that idiot who was fired by the Cleveland Browns, you know, fat boy Grantham.

Patrick

March 31st, 2010
9:57 pm

Uncleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

ga gator

March 31st, 2010
10:07 pm

Did someone run my buddy Patrick off?

ga gator

March 31st, 2010
10:11 pm

Oh well, later guys.

RED DOG 77

April 1st, 2010
12:12 am

Dre Dawg 9:47pm 3/31…………….Your post was dead on the money, my friend……………..And Where oh Where is ” Little Miss Debbie Downer “…..aka…..” YeLLow JAckET”….aka…….” Miss BuLLdawg “……………Now you see, my buggar eatin friend, what I’ve been talking about since the 09 season ended. The one thing I could not predict, was the brilliant hire of coach Todd Grantham. CMR knew changes were in order, and made some great ones, so good in fact, that I believe coach Grantham has indeed ignighted a fire under the whole team, coaches included ! I, personally have always been a big Mike Bobo supporter. Dude is bright as a star, and tough as a pine knot……………..Bottom line: CMR, is a football coach, whos strength is offense. He has decided to ask Oline coach Stacy Searles to get more involved with the run game, Hell, he should, dude coaches the hogs that opens the holes for the RBs !…..CMR is probubly the best QB coach in America, and a superior game planner ! That said, coach Mike Bobo is in his own right a brilliant coach who over the past couple years has had to shoulder too much responsibility attending to ALL of of the above !…….I don’t care what anybody says, coach Bobo calls a balanced game, and he loves to RUN the football ! …………..The brilliance that I now see, is the coaching staff is starting to look and act like a team, themselves. We as BULLDOG NATION have everything in the world to be optomistic about……………….The Defense is ready to drill the living hell out of somebody, the offensive unit has all the talent in the world, and is strong……………………And there is a fire burning out of control in Athens Georgia, and that fire is called the GEORGIA BULLDOGS !!!! GO DOGS !!! GATA !! WOOF….WOOF…..WOOF….WOOF

Johnny DangerDawg

April 1st, 2010
12:26 am

Bill,
I totally agree with you on the Richt-Bobo situation. This is the best arrangement for the team. I want Richt to help develop the QBs, but I don’t want him to call plays. I don’t always like every play Bobo has ever called, but I’ve seen other play-callers at other Top 25 programs make the same mistakes.

$750K

April 1st, 2010
12:36 am

What’s truly important is that fact that we have $750K to pay a football coach when the education budget is being slashed mercilessly. Good to know that UGA never wants to be known for anything but football.

Woof.

Johnny DangerDawg

April 1st, 2010
12:40 am

Dorsey Hill,
I agree with you.
Those David Greene teams won so many games (and were such a joyous time for Bulldog Nation) that most Georgia fans forget how weak those David Greene offenses were in the red zone. People talk like we need to go back to the great offenses of the past, but the reality is that those teams usually won with defense and field goals.

Underdog

April 1st, 2010
1:16 am

Correct me if I’m wrong, Bill, but weren’t you one of the biggest whiners back in 2006 who said that Richt needed to keep himself more aloof and act like a head coach should act? I believe you wanted the the assistant coaches to do their respective jobs, and let the head coach be the administrator. That was one of the reasons Bobo was promoted, wasn’t it? So CMR could be more of an “administrator”.

BuLLdawg

April 1st, 2010
5:30 am

The reason why Coach Richt was not a successful CEO is that his coaching staff on both sides of the ball and on special teams, especially the offense, were not very good at all.

This too, is the problem that Florida State has had. Bobby Bowden lost his coaches whom he let run his program. For example, if you look at the Florida State Quarterbacks from 20 December 2000 when Coach Richt took this offer from Vince Dooley, they have not had 1. What made them tick, came here.

Now, we have failed to prepare a single quarterback for 2006, 2009 and now 2010. Not only losing 10 of the last 20 within our own division of our conference, the most compelling point about our offense these last 4 years is not only the # 96 average NCAA Rank in Penalties, not only the 21 fumbles per year average the last 4 years, and not only the 14 interceptions thrown per year the last 4 years – the most compelling point about our offense is that in this state with all these All-Star Offensive Players, we signed none of them.

When the kids lose confidence in an offensive coaching staff, the CEO has to fire them.

He made a serious error not doing so last year. Coach Richt, of course, desperately needs to sit in on the defensive coaches’ decision process too with those players whom the offensive coaching staff could not teach enough to make them effective on that side of the ball, so we had to move them to Defense, who obviously can teach them to play this game. The guy who should have been playing Quarterback last year and was redshirted instead added to the list of now 89 arrested / suspended in the 9-Year Coach Richt Era here. We’ve not been very good the last 4 years, not with 1-3 vs the vols and 1-3 vs Florida in our own division of our own conference. We officially are in decline.

When we failed to get the Offensive High School All-Stars in this state and let them to go to all the other teams who have been beating us, Coach Richt’s hand was forced.

Either do what he promised us he would do that following Thursday after taking the job at 2 am back 20 December 2000, or fire them, or both.

What Coach Richt promised when we hired him was that he was going to coach the quarterbacks and call the plays.

BuLLdawg

April 1st, 2010
5:30 am

Of course, the whole entire Offensive Coaching Staff should have been fired too.

Now, we have questions about Coach Richt’s ability to do all his CEO responsibilities along with doing all the responsibilities of an Offensive Coaching Staff, who just doesn’t get it. We will see signing day next year if Coach Richt turns this around and convinces the kids in this state that we do have an Offense, will teach them, and will improve them as players on Offense. And, the decisions of Coach Richt’s former Offensive Coordinator who was arrested for a DUI, Neil Callaway, and now Mike Bobo even on what player is the starter and which is not the starter have left it obvious to the kids who play the game that we don’t know what we are doing on offense. Redshirting Knowshon Moreno so we only got to see him only 2 years, the best running back here in 30 years. Trying to redshirt Washaun Ealey until the 3rd quarter of the 5th game when he was the 11th best running back in the nation and our Leading Rusher, yet only started 2 games last year and not even the last 2. Starting Aron White who had 3 catches his freshman year and then taking until the 12th game of the 13-game season last year to figure it out that Orson Charles is Pro Bowl NFL with 23 catches his freshman year by direct contrast and that Orson Charles should be the starter. Taking credit for teaching AJ Green to play receiver when he too will be Pro Bowl NFL, yet unable to do more than throw just only 2 passes to Marlon Brown. Telling Logan Gray after 4 years now in this program that he should move to wide receiver, only to have him say no thanks and then Logan runs to the press and airs it out in public that Logan criticizes this very offensive coaching staff for not giving him a chance to be the quarterback last year. Picking Joe Tereshinski III over Matthew Stafford as the Starter for 2006, and in fact having Joe Cox ahead of Matthew Stafford too. Making Richard Samuel the starting tailback after he lost us the Georgia tek game with his fumble on our goal line, losing the game for us, and now telling him he is not even good enough to ever play offense again, so that now in his Junior Year, we have to Redshirt Him Too, so that we can teach him to play defense. When we couldn’t get a running game going last year with Richard Samuel and excuses full Caleb King, the kids in this state expected us to run the ball with Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmaier instead Chapas got all of 10 carries on the entire season and Munzenmaier got all of 7 carries the entire season. Brandon Boykin is the hardest to tackle player on the team, did the Offensive Coaching Staff consider giving him the ball some ? They never even thought about it.

BuLLdawg

April 1st, 2010
5:31 am

8th in The SEC in Passing in 2007 with Mike Bobo having Matthew Stafford for God’s Sake. That’s 84th in the nation NCAA Ranking Passing 2007 with Matthew Stafford, the # 1 overall draft pick by the NFL. Maybe you remember this year, we lost to South Carolina who did not even play in a bowl game with 6 losses and to the vols who lost 4 games. We were out of any contention for any type of championship even of our division before the season even really got going. # 74 Total Offense in the NCAA 2007.

56th in the nation Rushing in 2008 with Knowshon Moreno. That is what Mike Bobo did. We were ranked consensus # 1 in the nation and got blown out 31 to nothing by Alabama at half time, 42 consecutive points by Florida and 29 consecutive points by Georgia tek who obviously never is a ranked team 2008 without the loss by us to Georgia tek. This was our worst year ever in football. Knowshon Moreno averaged 14 carries per game in those 3 DEVASTATING LOSSES.

2006 we went 9-4.

2009 we go 8-5.

We have lost 14 games the last 4 years, 10 within our own division.

Obviously, according to the recruits we are not making good decisions on Offense.

Duh.

2 passes.

We threw 2 passes all season long last year to Branden Smith ?

Hell, he is being listed on national sites as one of 10 Player of The Year Players in The SEC this coming season.

2 passes ?

I am fed up with this offense, and Coach Richt is too, along with every offensive all-star in this state of Georgia, none of whom did we sign this year because of all this B.S. Oh, are we talking about it ? Excuse me. Why don’t we stick our heads in the sand, and act like Bluto says, and ignore it ? It will go away, right ? Not important.

There is no question we are doing that on Defense. But, Coach Richt did not want to replace them, either.

Guess what? You are not worth it!

April 1st, 2010
7:21 am

$750K

April 1st, 2010
12:36 am

That’s right! So get the heck off of these blogs and go whine to your Mom as to why you are not paid enough instead of hiding in academia….wimp!

Rumbo

April 1st, 2010
7:52 am

The way it looks to me is that Georgia will lose early to S.C. and Arkansas. After that they will start to click, and if they manage to beat Florida, (a big if), they could make the SEC championship game. They will definetly be an improved team in 2010.

GaDawg

April 1st, 2010
7:54 am

Bill King is a ……..

March 31st, 2010
11:24 am

RIGHT ON MAN!!!!!!!
LIKE I SAID BEFORE; PLEASE ALLOW ME TO
REPEAT:RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUN THE DAMN’ BALL!!!!
Make them come to you! Dictate to them what they must do to stop you! CONTROL THEM, AND THE GAME!! Make them LOAD THE BOX; Then KICK THEIR A$$E$ with the PASSING GAME!!!!!!!! (ie) 1980 – Texas A&M -0- UGA 42. They loaded the box to stop Herschel; Then, Buck and Amp Arnold teamed up THROUGH THE AIR!!! A&M was on their HEELS all day long! They thought run; Dawgs passed; They thought pass; Dawgs ran – all day long! I’m tellin’ ya people!!! IT WORKS!!!!!!!! RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRUN THE DAMN’ BALL!!!!!!!!! (FIRST)….AT LEAST – (ONE) 100 YARD RUSHER PER GAME!!!!!

What??

April 1st, 2010
8:05 am

Enter your comments here

What??

April 1st, 2010
8:10 am

OOOOPS!

It is a fine day for UGA with Richt getting involved with the offense!

As much as I am pleased by this news, I have to wonder WHY he would have EVER stopped???

Bobo was not a prooven schemer against the best (Bama’s Saban, Ten’s, Kiffin) and fell flat on his face when presented the challange.

I cna’t imagine why Richt did not want to take the challenge against said DC’s by calling the offense knowing Bobo was out classed.

Whatever the thought process was, I hope that it stays in the past AND that Richt calls the offense when it is critical.

HD

April 1st, 2010
8:16 am

I’ve never understood why Bobo doesn’t get more criticism. He had highly touted WRs, RBs, OL, TEs, and a fifth year QB. Did anyone see the OK State game? the first half of LSU? Tennessee? These weren’t all dominating defenses (Ok, LSU was good), and you have AJ Green. OUR PLAYCALLING WAS AWFUL. To those of you thinking it’s getting better, HOW ABOUT BOBO’S PERFORMANCE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE BOWL GAME AGAINST A TERRIBLE DEFENSE?!?! Worst playcalling I’ve seen at a major football school.

Ecentric Dawg

April 1st, 2010
8:46 am

Georgia should be the class of the SEC East this year. The only team in the SEC with the talent to beat GA this year is Alabama. GA’s loaded on O and D—look for a good beatdown of florida and tennessee to win the East, easily!!! The Dawg D may be the best in the nation from what I’ve heard. GA’s taking control this year–book it!

David

April 1st, 2010
9:02 am

I wish success on the dogs. However, Richt’s time has passed him by. He has gotten lazy over the years and the Meyers and Sabans are just too good. Richt’s best bet is for those two guys to leave.
Sorry guys, I am sick of Florida beating you.

Dawgingatorville

April 1st, 2010
9:10 am

Too bad he did not get more involved with Stafford. He had the number one draftee and they just never really developed the kid to really be great. Even in his season he over threw or threw too hard or made bad decisions.

Nick

April 1st, 2010
9:26 am

Good read, Bill. I agree he needs to be more involved on an individual basis. I like what I’m hearing out of Athens so far this spring. I think it indicates a desire to make changes for the good. It’s encouraging. If all this doesn’t work after a couple of years, then we know what the problem truly is. But I’m confident this will all be a good thing in the long run. I’m excited about the fall. As always, but this has a fresh new feel to it.
Go Dawgs!

Bulldog59

April 1st, 2010
9:35 am

CMR’s best years at UGA were when the D was sound under BVG, and Richt was calling the plays. After 2005, things began to change….. Now he’s going back to what works, mirroring winning D (aka Alabama) and having an active role in running the O (aka Meyer.) You come close to your goal, immulating Alabama’s D and UF’s O, that will be a successful team!

Hawaii 5-O

April 1st, 2010
9:37 am

Ecentric Dawg, according to dog fans you should be the class of the SEC every year. No beat downs for you this year or any other year until your preacher is fired. He’s been beaten by some of the best: Vandy, Kentucky, Georgia Tech, Ron Zook……..Who did you hear from that it was going to be among the best in the Nation? Willie Martinez?

Hawaii 5-O

April 1st, 2010
9:38 am

Oh I forgot, Book it eccentric dog!!

DawginLex

April 1st, 2010
9:55 am

Nobody except the extremely delusional believe that UGA will cakewalk through the SEC this year or any other year. Florida went undefeated last year until the Dome but had to get a gift from the officials against Arkansas just to accomplish that.

UGA has a chance to be competitive at a high level in 2010 because of the following:

1.) Offensive line
2.) We know who the running backs are and they are proven
3.) WR corp is very talented, although not deep
4.) TE’s create huge matchup problems
5.) New DC with NFL experience bringing new enthusiasm
6.) Arguably the best PK and P in the country

The talent is there. The difference in games vs SC, UT, Ark, Fla, Aub and Tech will be:

1.) No more stupid penalties. We must rise from the bottom to near the top in fewest penalties.
2.) turnovers, turnovers, turnovers-THEY MUST STOP. Grantham needs to re-enforce to Bobo a rule from the NFL-Punting is not a bad thing compared to a turnover.

Blue Max

April 1st, 2010
9:59 am

Can’t argue a thing with what you said DawginLex. We were lucky against Ark last year and UGA wasn’t as bad as your record. John Wooden once said, “I’d rather be lucky than good”. To win a championship you gotta be both.

D Evons

April 1st, 2010
10:15 am

SickandTired, I just want to say that your comment about Mark Richt should be fired, is the same sort of talk that Rivals was talking about on 960 the ref’s Scrimmage Addition. They were talking about ‘fanatic fans’ and how their keyboards should be yanked away from them. They were implying that those type of fans are the bottom of the barrel when it comes to intelligent comments on the message boards, and that they shouldn’t be permitted to post. Anyway, I just want you to know that, when you listed to the replay on rivals.com, that you think to yourself, “Wow, it is me they are talking about. I am one of those crazy fans posting messages that Mark Richt should be fired. Maybe I should disconnect my keyboard and never post again”. Then do us all a favor, and disconnect your keyboard and never post again. And the same thing goes for anyone else even thinking about posting or thinking the CMR should be fired, go listed to the recording of the broadcast, and take their advise, don’t ever post on a message board again. Thanks, I appreciate it.

Dawg in Tampa

April 1st, 2010
10:36 am

This dawg team is ready to take over—Richt hired Grantham to shut down the spread with the 3-4. With GA’s talen on the D-line and LB, the Dawgs should hold florida to 17 or less. With the Dawg Oline experienced and talented, UGA should control the florida game with their 2 RBs and wear out the florida D. Ga beats fla finally: GA 33 FL 16. Dawgs win the SEC east.

38 Yardline Dawg

April 1st, 2010
10:54 am

Okay, I’m not disagreeing that Bobo makes some boo boos, and that he has plenty of room for improvement in some situations. But I’ll take the challenge of finding a few great calls in the last 4 years. In fact, I’ll mention a game from each of the past 4 years where there were plenty of good offensive calls against tough teams and tough situations:

2009 – Arkansas on the road. Running game wasn’t there, so Bobo dials up the pass game. http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=40678&SPID=3571&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=204798002

2008 – LSU on the road. Read the highlights and note the combo of passes and running. http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=40678&SPID=3571&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=1611458

2007 – Alabama on the road. Don’t even think you guys would have called the OT pass to the endzone on the first play…brilliant. http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=40678&SPID=3571&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=1243297

2006 – Auburn, again on the road. After loosing 4 of 5 previous games, Bobo helped us manage a balanced offensive attack to beat the #5 Tigers. http://www.georgiadogs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=40678&SPID=3571&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=8800&ATCLID=683730

Thoughts?

Bulldog59

April 1st, 2010
11:11 am

DawginLex,all good points. I would add a #3 to your differences. Consistent play at QB. You mentioned turnovers, but we need even more, step into throwing lanes to avoid each game having 2-4 blocked passes at the LOS, work thru your progressions to find the checkdown WR, keeping the play alive and moving the chains. And finally, show some mobility BEFORE the pocket has collapsed and you get blindsided. Improved D and moderate QB performance will be the keys to our winning. We have everything else in place.

Bulldog59

April 1st, 2010
11:17 am

Finally, in the NCAA and the NFL, you mirror programs that work. How many teams adopted the West Coast offense after the 49ers reign? How many teams redesigned their front office after the Patriots became perrenial contenders? Richt is going back to pre-2006 when he was most successful. Solid D, he’s mirroring Alabama, and inserting himself back into the O, somewhat mirroring Meyer’s role at UF. All good moves by CMR.

17 of 20

April 1st, 2010
11:20 am

Dawg in Tampa

The Gators have a habit of scoring 45 on the dogs and it will happen again this year.

DawgNation

April 1st, 2010
11:23 am

17 of 20 that is fine with me as long as we put up 46. I don’t care how pretty or ugly the win over FL is as long as it is a win. See ya in Oct.

#2 BAMA FAN

April 1st, 2010
11:26 am

Sounds like Richt is starting to get the message FEAR OF BEING FIRED!! RTR

How2fish

April 1st, 2010
11:44 am

DawginLex well said well said indeed!

How2fish

April 1st, 2010
12:21 pm

#2 BAMA FAN..make a deal with you I won’t ask how many wins you guys had in 05 or 06 and you lets US worry about OUR coach….I would keep a close eye on yours he’s the first one you’ve had since the BEAR who could win without cheating…enjoy the crystal ball you deserved it last year..but this is a new year….17 out of 20 I would take that bet…but like Dawgnation said as long as we score 1 more point that you…I’m fine with it!

splain it to me pleaze

April 1st, 2010
12:34 pm

No doubt Richt saw the hand writing on the wall. It forced him to fire one of his closest friends and probably why he is paying bobo a little more attention.

Dawg Station

April 1st, 2010
3:04 pm

Saban and bama are still cheating—book it. They can’t sign all that talent without breaking rules. Living in tuscaloosa is the pits and they have to pay something to get the players to come live in trailerparkville!

Bill King

April 2nd, 2010
7:47 pm

Underdog:
No, I wasn’t.