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
dead last
September 27th, 2010
10:37 am
I think play action is the new offense…lets give it a few more years and see what happens…Ever notice how smaller compnaies try and emulate bigger ones…same theory here…How about running some spread or pistol offense like great teams like BAMA AND FLA
Puppies
September 27th, 2010
10:40 am
You dawg are pathetic. You beat fla once every ten years and you guys feel happy to make Outback and Citrus bowls… Your coach will never take you to places like Saban and Meyer and heck even Spurrier. You guys have mediocre talent and snotty attitudes and you guys always lose 2-3 games every year in the sec. Please keep Bobo…Heck Bobo woudlnt even get a job as a grad assistant at a BIG time school like Fla or Bama. 3-9 this year…You guys are a joke.
ivebeenworkingontheRR
September 27th, 2010
10:41 am
1dawg…., Brian Bellick…., great coach. Both, College and NFL experience. Plus his wife’s sister is married to Mike Smith, Falcons H/C…… He certainly would make it interesting….
Please keep Richt
September 27th, 2010
10:42 am
Why are you guys being so hard on our coach.. We are still better than Vandy and UK…He is 2-7 in his last 9 sec games…From my perspective as a vandy fan as well that is pretty darn good.
Ealy for heisman
September 27th, 2010
10:45 am
Hey Richt…Ever heard of a fake field goal or punt??? its what great coaches call in the first half of games inside the oppenents 20 ( see urban meyer tenn game) when you are playing crap teams like MSU and you have superior talent and you need a big monentum lift….runnning on the field is not the lift we need nor is a jersey change. Get lost and leave town…Please! You are pathetic. One more thing get a real punt returner you moron
DIT
September 27th, 2010
10:47 am
Bill, I have been one of the strongest supporters for CMR, but yesterday the support was starting to break down. I was very happy to see him kick that LB off the team. Could be too little too late. He should have done that with his team 9 arrests ago.
I would love to see him turn it around and get it going. It’s just tough to see that happening right now. I hope I’m wrong!
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
10:49 am
I imagine we could emulate Meyer if we stop suspending players and kicking them off the team for stuff he wont.
Mobile Dawg
September 27th, 2010
10:54 am
New coach and staff come to town. First thing he does is have a meeting with the players and sets his expectations. Some buy in, some don’t . First year you weed out the ones that show the defiance and disrespect. You are the boss. They learn this, they learn to believe in you and respect you. They fear you to a point, you are a good father figure. They know when you say something you mean it. Very simple. That’s what Nick Saban did at Bama ! ! !
There’s a guy coaching over here in Mobile, name is Joey Jones, 45 years old, played 3 years for Bear Bryant. He hasn’t been to a major college yet, but he has built two programs from the ground up, highly successful in their current environment. Would someone like him be right for UGA. I said someone like him, not necessarily him. Where did Urban Meyer come from, he was an assistant, given a chance at Bowling Green. Who would want Bowling Greens coach? Maybe Utah? How could Utah ever be good? Now he’s at UF, kicking the dawgs around like we’re his dawg.
Don’t be afraid, be bold Dawgs. If we must change, there are good guys out there to Lead this program out of the dark present and into the bright future. Don’t be afraid of Tennessee’s mistakes, we’re not Tennessee. The hiring of Lane Kiffin will go down in history as one of the dumbest hires ever. Tennessee was desperate, they chose to ignore Kiffin’s past behavior. McGarity will do us better than that.
The Harsh, Ugly Reality that is UGA Football...
September 27th, 2010
11:00 am
The problems with this team are right in front of our faces if we’re just willing to look.
1. Of the 10 arrests this off season 6 have been alcohol related – This is a major red flag that there is a pervasive “party atmosphere” on this team. Demetre Baker obviously was led to believe by what he’s seen that it’s okay to be in downtown Athens drinking until 2-3 in the morning. He’s a freshman who I’m sure has been taken out downtown by some of the older players. Kind of hard to play your best when you’re nursing a hangover.
2. UGA named the nation’s top party school – see above comment.
3. Other than the new defensive coaching, the offense is stale and predictable- when the average fan can sit at home and call out the plays and be right on the call most of the time it’s no wonder we get out coached and out schemed. I don’t want to hear any excuses about us having a redshirt freshman QB either, A.Murray is playing at high level it’s the play calling PERIOD. Prime example- Why does Bobo insist upon running little Carlton Thomas straight up the gut and not get him the ball in space? The one time they did the delayed draw and he actually had some space to run he rips off a 15yd run.
4. Whether people want to admit it or not, the fact is PLAYERS TAKE ON THE PERSONA OF THEIR COACH. We have a non-chalant, aw-shucks, “win some lose some” coach and we’re surprised when we see the same demeanor on the field?!
5. There is an obvious problem with morale and even perhaps a divided locker room that the public is unaware of. Did anyone watch as the team came out on the field? About a third were jumping up and down and looked excited to be there and ready to play. The rest of the team just walked out and looked like they had already lost the game or just didn’t care. Body language tells A LOT if you know how or are willing to read it.
I may not be an expert, but who needs to be one to see this team has major problems.
Take a walk back in history, Donnan if you remember was fired not only because of the losses but because his team had become a bunch of party hounds. Goff had lost his team as well at the end and had a similar start to his final year.
Richt has been on cruise control since his last SEC title in 05. He even admitted as much himself when he said we’re doing the same things today that we’ve done the past 10yrs, and again we wonder why Manny Diaz can out scheme Bobo?!
I think part of the problem too is Richt, outside of coaching is an OUTSTANDING human being and all around good guy, and let’s be real we all want to root for a guy like Richt to succeed, but as a football coach I don’t know maybe he’s too nice. (Bobby Bowden even said as much) Maybe some of the talent we’ve had in the past has covered up poor coaching.
What I do know is there are MAJOR problems in Athens regarding this football team and unfortunately I think we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg. I’m confident howver, that McGarity won’t put up with it for long.
buckeyedawg
September 27th, 2010
11:07 am
CMR might be loyal to his coaches sometimes to long. But ibelieve his comments about the offense means that changes are comming He once said he wanted his career to always be with Ga Thats why came here. He is smart enough to know he needs to make changes and i believe he will. Even joe paw has had up and down seasons, but penn st never gave up on him and he has had a successful career
60's Dawg
September 27th, 2010
11:09 am
Having lived through the Johnny Griffith years, I am not yet ready to unload the current coaching staff. Even if Kirby Moore, Will Muschamp, or BOTH of them were willing to come back to Athens, it is unlikely that changing coaches now will alter to outcome of this season in a major way.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
11:13 am
Donnan and Goff got fired for being career 8-4 coaches period.If Mark Richt fails to win 10 games 3 years in a row he will be fired too.I tell you this there was a hell of a lot more partying going on during Dooley’s time.Thing is Dooley MUST have had a better relationship with the Athens PD.
On another note..we can stop with the BAMA comparisons for two reasons.
1.UGA is not going to admit the same kids into school that Saban can take.It is what it is.
2.Richt can’t go out and sign 30kids a year like Saban did either.The school wont allow it.
Mobile Dawg
September 27th, 2010
11:14 am
I wouldn’t be afraid of a change, things really, at this point, couldn’t be worse unless we were 0-4.
MURPHY
September 27th, 2010
11:17 am
Did I miss something on sat? Why wasnt Branden Smith returning punts?
Mobile Dawg
September 27th, 2010
11:17 am
You’re right SouthGA. Let’s start comparing ourselves to the Vandy’s, Miss St’s and KY’s. We’re much closer to them than to the Bama’s and UF’s.
South, my fellow Dawg fan, you are part of the problem ! ! ! Get out of the past and into the present.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
11:20 am
Fact is Mobile Dawg it’s the truth.We operate like we want to emulate Vandy in some aspects but we want to be BAMA and Fla with more restrictions on us than they have.You can’t have it both ways.
Jackson
September 27th, 2010
11:22 am
Ivebeenworkingontherr – My brother and I discussed that possibility in reference to Billick. I think he would be a great fit. Having said that, I don’t know if he would be interested. Might as well put Cowher on the list of wouldn’t it be cool but… I just think when you go through a long list of replacement Coordinators, it makes you wonder what kind of high level coach you can bring in.
As for the coaching, I just don’t know what to say. We need to bring in a group of coaches that are on the same page working towards the same goal. I don’t see that right now. Having said that, I am underwhelmed by the D coaching staff. When you talk coaching up, you talk about improving fundamentals and installing unique play design to create advantages for your team. Martinez got the axe due to tooooo many personal foul penalties (which we have drastically improved upon) and lack of fundamentals. Grantham brought in a lot of coaches who on paper showed they were solid position coaches. Having said that, I am disappointed with the D line play, the LB play, and safety play. CB has been pretty solid. Include that with an inability to correct problems at the point of the attack, and we are in trouble. If you can’t stop the run with 7 in the box, you are going to struggle everywhere. Take that in step with the fact our blitzing is picked up because we are not getting penetration, it places an undue burden on the secondary.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
11:24 am
Saban and Meyer would NEVER come to UGA and would probably advise their assistants not to come here either.They know it’s a totally different atmosphere with the school brass than they enjoy now.Hell even when the 2007 team took off folks complained about we weren’t doing things the UGA way.
Mobile Dawg
September 27th, 2010
11:25 am
Fact is we recruit from the base of the #5 state in the nation. There are only so many scholorships available at the top schools so we will get our share of them. Ingrams from Michigan. Kids will come from everywhere to play for a winner. We need strong Leadership, CMR’s simply not that, unfortunately. Two border states, Bama, and Florida, are also fertile recruiting grounds. UGA has a long history of putting kids in the NFL. Build it and they will come….
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
11:36 am
You saw what happened with the DC search?The college coaches know the deal at UGA.Fire Mark Richt this year and the rush to come replace him in Athens is NOT going to be what most of you seem to think.
GaDawg985
September 27th, 2010
11:37 am
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.
CORRECTION!..1966 SEC CHAMPIONS….QB KIRBY MOORE..WAS FROM DOTHAN, ALABAMA.
Barry
September 27th, 2010
11:37 am
It is absolutely amazing how many “experts” there are out here in cyber space. All the Dawgs need to do is hire 8 or 10 bloggers to coach every position & call every play….. and all the Bulldog problems will be solved! Only in America can football teams get so much help so easily as just powering up their computers. We don’t need to recruit, just hire some of these “keyboard Gurus.” Oh would I love to see that result!!
hobnailboot
September 27th, 2010
11:38 am
We have had top ten recruiting classes nearly every year but last when we were 17th. Last year Arkansas was 44th and Miss ST was 38th. I don’t want to here recruiting as the excuse. The problem lies somewhere else.
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
11:38 am
The state of Georgia has a long history of producing NFL talent but the FACT is most never attended UGA.Why is that?
Mobile Dawg
September 27th, 2010
11:40 am
That’s why you have to either live with what we have, or start from the top SOUTH. We have gotten to the point that as far as anyone that’s up and coming, or aspiring for success won’t come to Athens.
Did you read my 10:54 post, there are bright, hungry guys out there looking for opportunity.
Termigator
September 27th, 2010
11:49 am
SOUTHGADAWG88, So where did Meshon and Stafford come from?
Albert Gator
September 27th, 2010
11:50 am
This blog makes me want to dance in the end zone!
SOUTHGADAWG88
September 27th, 2010
11:51 am
The UGA D has been 90 percent 4 stars or better for the last 3 years and with a new set of coaches and a new scheme.They look exactly the same.Poor tackling,LB’s don’t seem to understand pass coverages,the secondary is a sucker for the play action,they wilt down the stretch of games and whenever we need the big stop we only get it 25 percent o the time.
Termigator
September 27th, 2010
11:53 am
SOUTHGADAWG88, just in case you were not aware of the atmosphere in Gainesville, UF is the only Institution other than Vandy that belongs to the prestigious American Association of Universities which Tech was just recently invited to join and which UGA has not. By the way UF has been a member since 1985.
Termigator
September 27th, 2010
11:54 am
Maybe the failure this year is because your kandy a$$ed coach chose to keep his choirboys out of the vicious summer heat by eliminating 2 a days.
dawgfacedboy
September 27th, 2010
11:58 am
SouthGaDawg- ‘06 Knowing that Shockley was going to leave and the best we can do is Joe T 3 or a true frosh? Shouldn’t lose to Vandy or Kentucky any year. ‘07 we were plenty good enough to win the SEC. Managed 12 points to S.C. and got blown out by UT. ‘08 we are preseason #1 before getting BLOWN OUT at home by Bama (score does not tell the truth), and Florida (once again). 09- Thats the best we can do with a RS Senior QB??? Most coaches would love to have that kind of experience taking snaps. Problem was he wasn’t experienced because Stafford was trying to put up 40 points a game so we could get a W.
Richt is 10-12 in the East since ‘05 and he’s 8-8 in his last 16 home games. I would hardly call this anything but “underperforming” and “failing to meet expectations”. He was brought here to beat UT, Fla. Auburn, and Tech. The only 1 of those he beats on a regualar basis is Tech, not in our conference.
Stop making excuses.
King Donko of Punchstania
September 27th, 2010
11:59 am
Van Gorder as a head coach? Good one. He effectively ran Georgia Southern into the ground in 1 season. The guy is a DC and nothing more. He doesn’t have the capacity to be a head coach.
Richt doesn’t belong on the sidelines as an SEC coach anymore than Bobo belongs on the sidelines as a single A high school position coach in Wyoming. Jesus may have a place is ya’lls hearts, but he doesn’t have a place on a winning college football team. Football is about being badder, meaner, and tougher than every other &$)#!* that crosses your path. There’s no forgiveness in football, and there’s darn sure not any love for your opponent. You kick their face into the ground over and over again until they stop getting up off the ground, and then you kick them twice more just to make sure. It’s time to trade in Mark Christ for a take-no-prisoners coach with a killer instinct that would make even the meanest of coaches cringe. It’s time to GATA UGA, and bring in a football coach to replace the christian missionary that’s been charading as the Head Dawg for the past 10 years.
THIS IS A.D.MCGARITY & RICHT IM WATCHIN U!
September 27th, 2010
12:00 pm
MARK RICHT DESERVES TO GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP,HE MUST BE FIRED FOR KEEPING MIKE BOBO SO LONG,IM GLAD A.D MCGARITY IS NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS LOSING COMING FROM UGA!
Bigdawg87
September 27th, 2010
12:01 pm
Can someone tell Richt to please stop picking his nose and running his hand through his hair when he is on camera!
dawgfacedboy
September 27th, 2010
12:03 pm
SouthGaDawg- not sure what you expected from the D this year with new coaches and new scheme. I believe the majority of people in here thought the D and the freshan QB were the biggest concerns going into the season.
Murray has looked good, just too much being asked of him and he’s getting absolutely no help. Considering how inept our offense has been I’d say we are lucky we haven’t been blown out 2 of the last 3 weeks, i’d say that is a credit to the D.
Jeff
September 27th, 2010
12:04 pm
Got news for you morons that are calling for Kirby to replace Richt….you think we have problems now?????/ I would no longer support this program with money or anything else if our AD is stupid enough to hire Kirby.
buckeyedawg
September 27th, 2010
12:06 pm
I think we forget how tough the sec really is we have a higher % rate of all confrences and the last few years the most NCs. even what we call our lower or middle tier teams are better than most other confrences. it does not take to many mistakes to loose a game esp playing on someone elses homefield
buckeyedawg
September 27th, 2010
12:08 pm
% rate of winning bowl games
Judd
September 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
Richt’s top 5 in wins, and top 20 since 2005. you guys don’t know what ya got.
ARdawg
September 27th, 2010
12:10 pm
I’m bailing Bill. We couldn’t suck any more if we had bees for mascots. I am supporting my Dawgs win or lose but it truly breaks my heart to know our place among the SEC elite yet have to flounder in the mire and muck that is the bottom. There is no fight in Richt and it shows right down to the players coaches and arrests. It has been beating us about the head and face for the last 4 years, we just choose to ignore it
THIS IS A.D.MCGARITY & RICHT IM WATCHIN U!
September 27th, 2010
12:14 pm
I CANT BELIEVE MARK RICHT IS THIS STUPID FOR KEEPING BOBO ON FOR SO LON?
Coachdawg 2000
September 27th, 2010
12:19 pm
I think we will be fine as sooon as we understand that it is better to give punishment than to receive. I don’t know what other coaches in SEC do but this whole “thud” thing perplexes me. I know that in high school ball the only time you “thud” is when you are in shells. Otherwise you tackle to the ground(except the QB) monday-wednesday. An old coaching axiom is “you play how you practice” so maybe we’re poor tacklers because we don’t do it often. I don’t know why our O-line seems to be unable to take it to the defense on running plays. We look like we zone block on both passing and running plays. I think missing Chapas hurts out running game as well. i personally feel like his absense is way worse than AJ Green. If you watched the Chicken game we were running the ball well until he went out. I don’t like calling out kids but why is our current FB trying to juke anybody? He caught that little swing pass in the flat and stopped running and tried to juke instead of lowering his shoulder and punish the tackler.
JTA
September 27th, 2010
12:22 pm
Just SAD!!! Mark, Time to make your U-Haul reservations!
Coachdawg 2000
September 27th, 2010
12:24 pm
King Donko-
I don’t believe Mark Richt’s faith has anything to do with our team’s underperformance. If you’ve read the bible you would know 2 things:1)God calls his followers to be excellent, and 2)warriors are celebrated. But don’t let facts get in the way of your drivel. Maybe we should get a drunk, womanizer like Bear Bryant
The Harsh, Ugly Reality that is UGA Football...
September 27th, 2010
12:29 pm
Barry
September 27th, 2010
11:37 am
It is absolutely amazing how many “experts” there are out here in cyber space.
Barry- you don’t have to be an expert to see UGA has major problems. I’m tired of all the head in the sand fans who refuse to see the problem for what it is. This team is undisciplined, unmotivated, and uninspired. Look at the body language not only of the coaches but the players. Look at the effort or lack thereof.
Look at the idiotic offensive playcalling. You don’t have to be an expert to know it’s probably not a good idea to rush Carlton Thomas up the middle when he is SOOO much better in space. He has neither the size nor strength to break tackles going head on into the d-line.
Being an “expert” has nothing to do with this. You can see it week in and week out. Look at the teams that are winning and/or competitive in their games and then look at the teams that have gotten used to losing over the years and tell me whether UGA looks more like the winning programs or the losing ones.
Since Richt has been hired at UGA:
-Nick Saban won a national championship at LSU, left for the NFL, came back and won one at Bama in 3yrs.
-Les Miles – Saban’s replacement at LSU has won a NC.
-Urban Meyer has won 2 at Florida and coached a heisman trophy QB
- Now it appears Petrino, Mullen, Spurrier, and Chizick are all passing Richt by with lesser overall talent.
Sorry my friend but it doesn’t take an “expert” to see these things only a willingness to wake up and smell the coffee!
Mike
September 27th, 2010
12:29 pm
Finally, it looks like Richt is acknowledging the play calling just stinks. When Richt says something like that against Bobo, then you know it is bad in his mind. The play calling of Bobo is directly responsible for Georgia’s current situation. He played it safe against South Carolina, he botched the last drive against Arkansas costing them the game, and he turtled in again against Miss St.
The defense has made positive strides, but they are not good enough to win the game without any production from the offense. The defense kept UGA in the game as long as they could which is something you havent heard in a couple of years.
Coachdawg 2000
September 27th, 2010
12:30 pm
For all of you wanting to bail and fire MR. Then don’t be suprised if our next coach uses us a stepping stone job. Every coach knows which jobs are characterized by a disloyal fan base and administration.
RED GATOR
September 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Been Telling ya for years, UGA is an overrated program. Richt is a good guy, But FLORIDA REIGNS SUPREME! uga just has to realize and accept their place. HOW BOUT THEM DAWGS!
Dawg84
September 27th, 2010
12:31 pm
Top five recruiting classes year after year and how many top five finishes? One. He needs to go and take BoBo with him. Then we need to find a coach that can teach fundamentals, you know, blocking and tackling, because right now the Dawgs can’t do either and that’s poor coaching, period.
Coachdawg 2000
September 27th, 2010
12:32 pm
RedGator-
Call me when you beat Saban and actually have an undefeated season.