Can’t quite bring myself to bail on Mark Richt … just yet
Mark Richt is at a turning point in his coaching career. (University of Georgia)
Some of you are ready to write off the Mark Richt era in Athens.
I’m hearing this from fans who normally are not quick to call for a coaching change. They look at the downward trend in Georgia’s SEC results since the last conference title and figure the die is cast, even though most concede that Richt’s past record has earned him another season after this one, no matter how badly it ends.
And they’re not looking forward to watching that prolonged scenario play out.
Me, I’m not a big fan of change, as my wife frequently notes. I tend to stick with something way past when others would have bailed, whether we’re talking cars, VCRs, old shirts or football coaches.
I’ll admit, the precipitous decline of Georgia’s football program has me teetering when it comes to the Bulldogs’ prospects under Richt. The recruiting obviously has been subpar for several years, the development of talent has been less than impressive, and the players frequently look undisciplined, on and off the field, raising serious questions about the coaching.
It’s true, a couple of key blue-chip recruits can turn around a program nearly overnight, but as I’ve heard more than one fan say in the past couple of weeks, “Why would a five-star recruit want to come to Georgia right now?”
For me, the most disturbing aspect of it all is the seeming lack of urgency among the players and coaching staff. Facing the prospect of starting out “one and whatever the crap we are,” as Mike Bobo put it Saturday, they still were outhustled in Starkville, for crying out loud!
And yet … if Richt coaches his tail off and somehow turns this season around — which at this point would pretty much require winning out, including beating Florida — it will make for one of those feel-good stories that fans and sports media alike love.
Do I see it happening? Frankly, at this point, no.
Still, I can’t yet bring myself to say the words I heard an ardent and intelligent UGA fan utter Saturday night: “I’m done with Richt.”
A COUPLE MORE THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
I know, I know, it’s like picking at a scab, but I can’t let the Mississippi State game go just yet …
Like, for instance, what was going on with that Georgia drive in the fourth quarter where Bobo not only insisted on continuing to try to run up the middle, but was trying it with little Carlton Thomas, the Dogs’ third-string back. Had even Bobo given up on Washaun Ealey and Caleb King?
It sounds like Richt was wondering a bit, too, as he said after the game, “At times we just called running plays blindly. We were going to run the play no matter what, and there were times where we had success and times where we got hit in the mouth.”
Maybe now Richt will bigfoot Bobo and insist on a change in direction. With the Dogs’ offensive line getting manhandled and the backs not breaking many tackles, it’s obvious that continuing to try running play-action out of the I-formation just isn’t working. Our main running threat is our quarterback!
Perhaps it’s time to go to the spread most of the time with Aaron Murray in the shotgun and let him just make plays, whether it’s slinging the ball around or running the QB draw. Spreading things out might make it a little less easy for opposing defenses to jam the line like they’ve been doing so successfully. And if we make opponents defend the pass first, maybe that increases the odds of occasionally breaking a long one on a misdirection counter play with our backs.
Couldn’t be any less effective than what the Dogs have been doing the past three games. …
As for the defense, I still think the linebackers and secondary will figure out the pass coverage one of these days. But Georgia is as soft up the middle as I’ve ever seen them. With our undersized line, everybody’s going to try to run up the gut against the Dogs. It’s well past time for Todd Grantham to figure out a way to bolster the middle.
The Dogs can’t wait for him to recruit the big bodies he needs up front. By the time that happens, this staff may not be in Athens any more. Time to earn those big bucks now.
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621 comments Add your comment
Randy
September 26th, 2010
7:18 pm
Richt wins almost every game when he wins the first quarter. Proof that plan works.
Figure out some ways to get there:
1- trick plays
2- fake kicks/punts
3- go for it on 4th down
4- get turnovers
5- block punt
6- special teams td
SKB
September 26th, 2010
7:18 pm
Mark Richt is a nice guy, IMO he should stay. Football is not about winning it’s about developing good Christian men, even though they get arrested, they are all really sorry about what they did.
RxDawg
September 26th, 2010
7:19 pm
Well said Bill. I too am not ready to give up on Richt. I’m hoping he can turn this thing around somehow…but it’s hard to see how he can do it. Step 1 would be to man up and relieve Bobo of full OC duties. Put him back on QB coaching and Richt should do what he can while looking for a full time OC for next year.
I’m not surprised he kicked Baker off the team either. In fact, I would of been shocked if he didn’t. Coming back from a loss like Missy St and that’s the news he gets? Oh man, I bet that was a cold meeting in deed. It’s a shame too, because Baker was turning some heads in practice. Hopefully the rest of our misfits will see that no one is above the program.
Our lone bright spot of the season is Murrary. That kid works hard, plays hard, even when the game is way out of hand. Heck, before the season started we were all grateful that Murrary had a mature offense around him. Now the offense should be grateful that they have Murrary. He’s about the only Bulldog that deserves to wear the G on offense. Durham too. I’ll also give a slight nod to our defense. Yeh, they have given up some plays and that happens. But I sure do feel better about them then our inept offense.
Richt has to step up and do what it takes. I hope he can. Go Dawgs.
George
September 26th, 2010
7:19 pm
Anybody who thinks Muschamp or Smart are anything other than unproven coordinators is stupid. Why do so many people on this blog think that either of those two guys should be the UGA coach rather than Mark Richt?
SAMMY DAVIS, JR
September 26th, 2010
7:19 pm
JB , Magarity has to be carefull because IF he were to make a coaching change he needs to be sure that he makes the ‘right’ hire; if things didn’t improve then the heat would be on him, unless, that is, that Adams is really making the calls. Either way I don’t see anything happening until after the season unless we were to drop the next 5-6 games also. Richt’s got enough tenture to by another season if he gets things going to finish with AT LEAST 7 wins. If he were to finish with 7-8 wins & was fired, it my be hard to get another coach. AU & TENN both had 4-win seasons before their coaches were let go.
SAMMY DAVIS, JR
September 26th, 2010
7:22 pm
George , AMEN. I don’t understand that either. Muschamp is not even a great D-cord. (see: UCLA) and Smart isn’t very –he’s riding Sabans coat-tails.
What??
September 26th, 2010
7:22 pm
I agree with you Bill.
Recruiting has been an issue for more years than most are willing to admit. The key issue is that the personnel being recruited and signed to play do not fit the scheme Richt is running and with the level of physicality the SEC has week in and week out. These small guys playing DB and D line and son on are killing us. We simply can not control the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball.
Richt gave Bobo a shot. I commend him for doing so. But the man has not been successful. Time to replace Bobo. Stacy too!
Joe Dog
September 26th, 2010
7:22 pm
Richt needs to learn LEADERSHIP 101.
Go to team, survey them, to find out who leaders should be. Go with what they say. Because they believe in certain guys, and will play harder for them.
Georgia has NEVER won an SEC Championship without a QB from the state of Georgia.
Ever.
Bobo
September 26th, 2010
7:22 pm
No to Peterson ( he ain’t coming anyway) No to Kirby……( told us NO in a dark hour for us)
Muschamp……I like his fire, but can he run the whole program? We can fill the slot ho hum or pick out a target or two ala Bama and go get our man……..Wonder how much $$$ to get Stoops back in the SEC from Oklahoma… Laugh if you will……the SEC is the Best…..This State is Loadedddddddddddddddd and 5-6 mil would do it………………But, We ain’t got a president, in this economic climate to stomach that……..We will NEVER do what Bama did……..We call that Agency in Atlanta and run the regular names through the mill.
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
7:22 pm
Well, I agree with you Sammy.
We have the Admissions who would not admit Michael Grant who also did not play his senior year either, and it for sex as well, and it in a classroom as well, only in LeMay’s case it was in front of the Principal and she is 14.
George
September 26th, 2010
7:22 pm
Randy, apparently the UGA play book doesn’t have trick plays, fake punts/kicks, etc. There hasn’t been a rushed punt lately either.
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
7:23 pm
Oh, yeah. I just love the LAME way we rush the punter.
Even when the fumble the snap, they have PLENTY of time to run for a 1st down.
Hell, he ran in desperation.
He could have still kicked it.
Go figure.
George
September 26th, 2010
7:26 pm
Joe Dog, UGA hasn’t won a SEC championship with Bobo calling plays either. In fact, they haven’t won much of anything with Bobo calling plays. Why can’t Richt see this problem???
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
7:27 pm
4-win season
We have to wait for a 4-win season ?
God Almighty Damn
Hayseed Dixie
September 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
Richt always starts out slow, just especially slow this year.
Bobo has proven he is his own worst enemy. He calls plays like he has a personality disorder. I remember you guys stuffed it down Oklahoma State’s throat in the opener last year, and then *whoosh*, that gameplan suddenly disappeared. Why?
If Grantham can actually teach the 3-4, if Richt fires Bobo and becomes takes the OC reins (and gets creative) again, he might have a shot.
Richt *wants* to be a CEO type coach. It ain’t working. You gotta get yer hands dirty.
EMBARRENTED DAWG
September 26th, 2010
7:28 pm
georgia’s team sucks! fire mark richt.
Once a Dawg Always a Dawg
September 26th, 2010
7:30 pm
I agree with “Matt in Athens”. Richt needs to start calling the plays again. He’s a proven winner at both FSU and UGA when calling the plays. Fans need to stick this out with Richt and remember the years before Richt were disasterous. Richt will figure this out. And for all you North Avenue Trade Schoolers that are having fun posting your comments here…….you might want to look at your own problems on North Avenue. Even in our darkest days we always seem to beat your wanna-be football team! GO DAWGS!!!
JB
September 26th, 2010
7:31 pm
I like the idea of Stoops…..He may be ripe to come back to the SEC ( although he may wait for Meyer to leave/implode) But Georgia has All the things to succeed except one….A fire in the Belly top notch coach…..This State is loaded with talent…..His name and contacts out there and here just opened doors never opened for us under Richt. We have the money.
and the trapping to lure a guy like that……………..The SEC has got to be fun for a guy like him……………………….Ok, It’s nice to dream
dawg2
September 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
Which 3 teams are we going to beat to get to 4-8?
GeorgiaBorn
September 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
Everybody keeps saying to let Richt call the plays. I have two comments on this. #1, we tried this once before and we were all screaming for an offensive coordinator. No, Bobo is no offensive coordinator but how soon we forget how bad it was when Richt called the plays. #2, does everyone think that Richt has his own playbook? Hell no. He has the same plays to run as Bobo. We have been running the same boring offense for 10 years, maybe longer. The only thing you could hope for is that Richt will run the same boring plays in a different order than Bobo.
OMG
September 26th, 2010
7:32 pm
HIRE JOHN GRUDEN NOW!!!!!!!!!!
all you have to do is buy out his ESPN Contract…
Make CMR our OC…
FLA DAWG
September 26th, 2010
7:35 pm
Bill,
Listen to your wife.
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
Richt took his old plays he learned at FSU with Charlie Ward and that is what Bobo uses. It is the Same S..t Different School.
bubba
September 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
Hey – maybe we could swap coaching staffs with Tech. I wouldn’t mind watching that offense, and if memory serves the Jackets put a whuppin on Ms State two years in a row.
What??
September 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
Stoops!!??
You are joking right??
That would be a huge mistake. Stoops could not win the SEC!
dawg2
September 26th, 2010
7:36 pm
It’s either the players, the plays, or the play calling. I’m inclined to think it’s the play calling. A well timed and executed draw play can go for big yards. It doesn’t have to be fancy. The right play has to be called at the right time. Obviously, Bobo can’t do it.
JB
September 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
a lot of folks on here think Mark is coming back next year, including me…………….BUT, if we continue to “melt down”. ( lose to Tn, Vandy,KTY,AU,Tech) I think he leaves on his own with a Financial Settlement.
NVdawg
September 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
I get really tired of seeing all these people saying this decline began in 2007, this decline began about 4-5 years ago. Moreno and Stafford were just that good that they masked the problems in their last few years with the team.
I’ve been trying my best to not jump on the “Richt has to go” bandwagon but I don’t think I can hold off any longer. What I wanted to hear from Richt after yesterday’s debacle was what I heard from Mack Brown. Instead all we heard was more excuses and a general lack of passion, fire and concern. I know Richt has always been a pretty even keel and low key type of guy but dang, I expected at least a little bit of anger and fire after that game……but alas, nothing but the same old same old.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. According to the definition, the UGA coaching staff (which starts at the top with CMR) has been insane for about 4-5 years now.
JB
September 26th, 2010
7:37 pm
I forgot to throw the Fla. beat down in there
mark louis
September 26th, 2010
7:38 pm
I was done with Richt last year. At his best, he was John Cooper @ Ohio State. He never beats his biggest rival, but he recruits well & puts guys in the NFL. UGA can do better, and there’s no point in giving Richt another year when we all know what will happen.
TheTaxJacket
September 26th, 2010
7:38 pm
(((( Promote Bobo to Head Coach! ))))
Glory, glory to the Jackets, their truth is marching on!!!
dawg2
September 26th, 2010
7:39 pm
GerogiaBorn, you are dead on the money!! Bobo is a product of his mentor! We can always hope Richt will make better play calls. Afterall, he did win a couple of SEC championships doing it.
What??
September 26th, 2010
7:39 pm
If Richt stays………. and if Richt wants to be CEO……. Then he needs to act like one and surround himself with coaches that have experience, knowledge of developing & implementing a game plan, and most of all, how to WIN!
Richt needs to allow for changes and creativity.
dawg2
September 26th, 2010
7:41 pm
NVdawg, well said.
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
7:43 pm
RxDawg
Aaron Murray yes is our best player
Played 3 SEC teams and all 3 Opposing Quarterbacks were MUCH BETTER
# 80 Total Offense NCAA
# 73 Scoring Offense NCAA
# 52 Turnover Margin Aaron Murray threw 4 int dropped
# 80 Sacks Allowed all Aaron Murray
In 3 SEC games NEVER have had even a lead for second
Aaron Murray great runner, 27 carries for 24 yards vs SEC
Aaron Murray 0-3 vs SEC as only QB played
Bill Knows Why
September 26th, 2010
7:46 pm
Bill knows why.
There ain’t no competent coach who knows two hoots about football going to Athens, GA (back woods Jawja) to become associated with a group of LOSERS. Including their REDNECK, IGNORANT FANS!!!
Kirby Smart knew enough to stay with a WINNER!!!
ROOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE!!!
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS,,,,,ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE!!!!!
VA DAWG
September 26th, 2010
7:47 pm
I like Mark Richt. I think he is a good man. But his time as a SEC coach is behind him. When the Nick Sabans, Urban Myers and Bobby Petrinos invaded the conference Richt became over matched. He tries to be a CEO coach without a strong supporting cast. If he wants to remain coach he needs to take back control and start getting his hands dirty again. He needs to take over the play calling from Bobo and let it be known that every job on the offensive line is up for grabs in practice this week. If you are a senior and aren’t showing leadership and doing your job then sitting on the bench is where you will be because as of tonight we are building for next year. And if Richt doesn’t take any action this week to show that he still cares about being the head coach at UGA then Greg McGarrity needs to take a page out of Richt’s book and Finish the Drill (and fire Richt) at the end of the season!!!
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
7:49 pm
NVdawg
It’s after 2005 season
# 2 in Fulmer Cup Standings MOST ARRESTED / SUSPENDED after 2005 to-date
# 21 in wins after 2005 to-date
We've Been Down This Road
September 26th, 2010
7:49 pm
PLEASE,,,PLEASE,,,PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS
CMR won early in his career at UGA with Jim Donnan recruits. What is so hard to understand about that? CMR and Bo Who can’t and don’t recruit the size, speed and intelligence to win championships.
CMR too religious?
September 26th, 2010
7:50 pm
I”m not opposed to having a Christian man coaching the Dawgs, but my question is this: Has Coach Richt’s coaching style been influenced by the “taste not, touch not, thou shalt not” preaching he has been under since he moved to Athens? I.e., is he intolerant of a coach who wants to use certain 4-letter words (and NOT the “f” word) to crawl a player’s a**? And is he himself no longer willing to jump their s**t when they don’t follow whatever rules there are?
Gaudy Record
September 26th, 2010
7:51 pm
Enter your comments here
BoWeevil
September 26th, 2010
7:52 pm
VA DAWG
How are we supposed to be building for NEXT YEAR, 2011 ?
When we lose 15 seniors and 4-5 juniors after this season
That is not even counting all the players who have QUIT the team, failed to QUALIFY, or were KICKED OFF the team.
If anyone wants to see what Coach Richt will do NEXT YEAR, 2011, with a TOUGHER SCHEDULE THAN THIS ONE BY A LONG SHOT…
wasting your time and mine
CMR too religious?
September 26th, 2010
7:53 pm
To clarify, I do NOT approve of using the “f” word, but I bet my last dollar that word gets tossed around alot at other schools……… That language is, unfortunately, what many of the players have grown up with and what gets their attention.
Gaudy Record
September 26th, 2010
7:54 pm
10 – 1 – 3
10 – Arrests
1 – Win
3 – Losses
Appears to be the record of a 4 & 5 star recruit championship team.
UGA Mark
September 26th, 2010
7:56 pm
Can’t seem to post any comments. Testing…
JB
September 26th, 2010
7:58 pm
To the down the road blogger……………..2007 was ALL Richt, Not Donnan….. That was pretty good team…………………..But WE ALL agree it’s gone south from there.
saban
September 26th, 2010
7:59 pm
Smart money is betting heavily on Idaho State.
JB
September 26th, 2010
8:01 pm
” bill knows why” lived under a trailer in Bama between Stallings and Saban
5150 P.O.A.D.
September 26th, 2010
8:01 pm
What did Richt teach Charlie Ward or Chris Winke to be Hesiman winning QBs? He he teach Ward how to run around and not get sacked to then heave the ball down field to a WR that got behind the slower D? Did he teach Wienke how to have a 26 yr olds confidance and a Baseball players arm? FSU got Great talent on bothsides of the ball and that made Richt lok great.
bilbo
September 26th, 2010
8:01 pm
I like Richt, but I think he needs to go. If he hasn’t realized all this time that Bobo can’t coach, what does that say about Richt. SINCE 2006: 10-11 in SEC East. PERIOD.