Richt’s warning to players: ‘It could get worse’
"We are where we are," Mark Richt told the Touchdown Club of Athens. (Associated Press)
Mark Richt didn’t hang around long at Tuesday night’s Touchdown Club of Athens meeting, showing up late and leaving immediately after some brief comments and taking a couple of questions from the floor. But he didn’t skip the fan gathering, as some had speculated he would, and when he took the microphone he didn’t duck the issue of Georgia’s 0-3 conference start, either.
“We are where we are,” the coach said to the full-house crowd assembled to hear his mentor, Bobby Bowden. “We’re going to have to get better or it’s gonna get worse. It’s not going to stay the same. I told the players, you think it’s bad now; it could get worse.”
But no matter what, Richt said, “we’re not gonna lose our poise, we’re not gonna lose our integrity. We don’t want to take our frustrations out on anyone, except maybe Colorado. … We just have to keep working hard and keep together. We must stay together.”
Generally, Richt’s update for the club echoed what he’d said earlier in the day at his weekly news conference: The coaches need to work on helping the players correct their mistakes and teach them how to handle adversity while maintaining a positive outlook.
“That’s all we can do right now is keep grinding and keep it positive,” the coach said.
Richt didn’t get into a lot of specifics about the Dogs’ problems, but he did note that in the Mississippi State game it seemed that every time Georgia made a big, positive play, something happened to negate it, whether a turnover or “the penalties got us again.”
On the bright side, he said that the return of A.J. Green to the lineup is bound to open up the middle some for the Dogs’ tight ends as defenses double-up the celebrated wide receiver. “It’s nice to see No. 8 out at practice again and know that you might actually be able to use him this week.”
The Georgia coaching staff is hoping Kris Durham can play against Colorado. (Associated Press)
Even without Green, Richt said, the Dogs have been close to breaking several long touchdown passes with Kris Durham if only quarterback Aaron Murray had been able to hit Durham in stride. The problem, Richt said, has been Murray overadjusting after tending to overthrow receivers in the spring game. “We told him to keep it in play and give the guy a chance to catch it,” which is better than overthrowing, but “if he had hit Kris on the run I think he would have scored four or five times.” Richt also singled out receiver Tavares King for praise.
Durham, Richt said, was able to practice Tuesday in a noncontact jersey after suffering a stinger to the neck in Starkville, and “We hope he’ll be able to play” against Colorado.
Asked by a fan about dealing with the higher altitude the Dogs will face in Boulder, Richt said, “There’s not much we can do about it.” He said he consulted with UGA director of sports medicine Ron Courson and asked if getting out there 24 hours earlier would make any difference and Courson said no. Richt said Georgia will have oxygen available on the sideline but “we’re not going to make a big deal out of it.”
At that point Bowden interjected that Richt should just ignore the altitude and later during his own comments the former FSU coach said his teams’ experience playing at Colorado was that the only difference the altitude made was “the ball goes further,” which helps kickers. “They want you to think it’s a big problem and they try to psych you out,” Bowden said, but his advice on the subject is: “Don’t pay any attention to it.”
As for Georgia’s undersized defensive line, Richt was asked about additional playing time for redshirt freshman Kwame Geathers, the biggest of the Dogs’ nose tackles. The coach said that part of the problem has been Georgia’s opponents haven’t been playing two-receiver sets, which means the nose guards haven’t played much. Geathers, he said, “is coming,” though he’s still tending to favor the hand on which he had offseason surgery. “He’s not, in Coach [Rodney] Garner’s opinion, as ready to get as many reps as the other guys.”
After Richt left, Bowden, who regaled the crowd with amusing stories from his long career, assured the Touchdown Club, “I feel sure Georgia’s gonna pull this thing out” and said that frequently it just takes one player to make the difference. “It’s not like they need to replace all 30 players.”
HOPEFUL SIGNAL ON OFFENSE?
I thought it was interesting that in his news conference Tuesday, Richt talked about Georgia still wanting to run the ball and keep the play-action passing game that hasn’t had much success so far this season, but he also said, “We do have ways to get the ball to our receivers quickly on quick screens. We have screens to our backs. We have ways of throwing quick game if we feel like they have outnumbered the run and we want to get some one-on-one situations. We are still very multiple in what we do.”
Sounds like the head coach wants offensive coordinator Mike Bobo to mix it up a bit more. At least, I hope that’s what that means.
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427 comments Add your comment
Abnerish
September 29th, 2010
1:15 pm
and I will say that Richt has my support for this year and next. He has earned that. If it doesn’t get better by the end of next year, though…
Athens T.D. Club (What is there to say?)
September 29th, 2010
1:16 pm
Q. What do you think about playing in a higher altitude?
A. We are where we are.
Q. What your favorite scripture?
A. I am the I am.
Q.What is your favorite Popeye quote?
A. I yam who I yam.
Q. 0-3 Whats up with that?
A. It is what it is.
Thank you for coming Coach and clearing the air.
Dumbo
September 29th, 2010
1:17 pm
Dan Mullen…hey, whatever floats the boat…..been fun, but lunch is done and I gotta go make my better half grin…Say you boys know why it’s a state law in Bama to do it from behind…that way, they can both watch wrestling at the same time
jakesdad
September 29th, 2010
1:17 pm
I’m a GT guy (11+ yr season tix) so I don’t lose too much sleep over the plight of the dawgs but this season could get REAL ugly for both of us… we could be playing each other for the humanitarian bowl or worse (like just the consolation of “well at least we beat THEM!”) – hope I’m wrong but I’m real scared at this point for both teams…
Damon Evans
September 29th, 2010
1:18 pm
I wanted to play real teams so I could wave my red panties but all georgia wants to play is soft teams
JP
September 29th, 2010
1:18 pm
I am a Gator fan, and if Bama hands it to us, it won’t be b/c we didn’t have Demps or Rainey. It will be because they were flat out the better team. As for the Dawgs, I think you still finish 8-4, maybe 9-3. I mean every team on your schedule has it’s flaws (even Florida!) AJ should provide a spark for the entire offense. And the D will get there – they are playing hard – just need to learn the new system. Good luck in Colorado. Win one for the SEC.
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:19 pm
As of 2011, we will be cancelling all SEC schools from our schedule and moving to the Southern Conference…..as long as Appalachian State moves out
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:21 pm
Little Abnerish….what did he earn? He should be giving back part of the 4 million a year
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:21 pm
Greg McGarity…we ain’t gonna do that…I mean you Techsters lost to Furman if I remember
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
Taco time wouldn’t Richt be like the Talia Shire character the Corleone sister?
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:23 pm
What does Furman have to do with UGA scheudle…sounds like a possibilty though
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:25 pm
Greg McGarity…dang boy learn how to type…I mean dang fire, I gotta do it with paws for goodness sake
Pitiful Dogs
September 29th, 2010
1:26 pm
We gonna win it all this yer. Go Dawgs…woof woof sic em..
robodawg
September 29th, 2010
1:27 pm
Gotta take care of business the next four weeks and go into Jacksonville confident and hungry. It’s time to step it up.
During the Goff years, I remember many times it looked like the players had bailed on the coaches, weren’t putting in extra effort, weren’t playing with pride. I haven’t seen that yet out of Richt’s Dawgs. As long as they stick together and keep fighting, we will get better. And if changes still need to be made come the offseason, I trust they will be made. Leave that to the staff and ultimately to McGarity.
Let’s go show the Buffaloes who we really are.
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:27 pm
Another Tech skank just came by…gosh, that women’s breath is stronger than my butt breath, lordy somebody help these UGLY women down here on North Ave
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:28 pm
I cast a vote for CMR on behalf of the other SEC teams, Tech, and the other mid-major schools that will be scheduled in the future…CMR has earned it and keeping him gives everyone a homecoming game.
Pitiful Dogs
September 29th, 2010
1:29 pm
Maybe we can schedule Ga Stae…nevermind we would probably lose that one too.
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:30 pm
Great pre-game robodawg but at 1-3 and 0-3 your words just sound like blah, blah, blah…
Vandy
September 29th, 2010
1:31 pm
Can’t wait to play you for your homecoming….losers…..
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:31 pm
Greg McGarity…reminds me I went to Uf homecoming some years ago…got the best hummer of my life, I shore did>
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:32 pm
Did she have on jean shorts…
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:34 pm
naw…some kinda sky blue top and orange bottoms and no underwear…dang I’m sweatin’ just thinking about her…
Otto
September 29th, 2010
1:35 pm
Fire Bobo can quantify their results too.
“What’s up with our play-action? If we’re under center, we’re going to be running play action. Saturday we had 24 pass plays called under center. Of those, 21 were play action and the other three were 3-step drops. In shotgun though, of our 14 attempted passing plays, only 1 used play-action.” Good grief, no wonder Murray was getting smacked around. I’m guessing that Manny Diaz has somebody on staff who can count, too.
http://blutarsky.wordpress.com/2010/09/24/mississippi-state-the-non-preview-preview/
If you want to go back further an over used play action call lost the S. Car game in ‘07 also in ”07 Bobo stuck with an off tackle running game far to long which he issued an apology for. Sounds alot like this year…..
Also on last, year flip thru the box score drive charts and count the drives over 4 min. UGA lead time of position due to consistantly giving the other team a short field due to turnovers (Stafford never tossed less than 10 a year) and bad kick coverage.
No doubt
September 29th, 2010
1:35 pm
No doubt it will get worse. This team has no heart and very little talent. That equals at least 6 losses.
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:35 pm
Calm down Big Dog…
McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:35 pm
Yep, it was bad timing to start as A.D.. There’s no buck passing. It’s my problem now so I’m making changes. I’ve got calls into several schools to make them part of next years schedule. I’m waiting to hear back from Berry and Georgia State.
Dog Fan
September 29th, 2010
1:35 pm
There is no way we lose to Colorado. But I said that about USC. Then I said that about playing at home against Arkansas. We own Mississippi State. Hopefully we can win this weekend.
Greg McGarity
September 29th, 2010
1:36 pm
“Or It will get worse”…told that to my wife once…It got worse!
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:38 pm
To all my hairy breatheren….relax, the sun is gonna rise tomorrow, it ain’t the end of the world…if it was Sarah Palin would be President.
Will
September 29th, 2010
1:41 pm
JB, are you the real John Bell of WSP?? If you are thanks for making me forget about the UGA game Saturday night in Alpharetta. I never went to the tv one time to check on the score because your band was kicking their own form of ass. I’m trading in my UGA tickets to go “on tour” with WSP.
Ed
September 29th, 2010
1:44 pm
“We’re going to have to get better or it’s gonna get worse. It’s not going to stay the same. I told the players, you think it’s bad now; it could get worse.”
Wow, if the football thing continues to slide downhill, Richt might have a career in politics. Three sentences that sound profound, with nothing of substance actually being said. Like the typical guest of Fox News Sunday or Meet the Press.
REALIST
September 29th, 2010
1:46 pm
Speaking of scheduling. Why would UGA want to schedule games with the really good teams such as Oregon?
Know why.
UGA will lose enough games to the other SEC teams. Why would McGarity compound the UGA losses by going outside of the southeast. The WOOF, WOOFers like to talk trash about a national program, but UGA is not about to travel nationally and represent the State.
Besides have you ever thought about how uncomfortable a pickup truck can be on long trips. Especially pulling a trailer with a 4-wheeler with the bed of the truck packed full of months worth of garbage and 9 tree-stands.
Dog Fan
September 29th, 2010
1:48 pm
Maybe we could let Jimmy Carter become president again after he gets out of the hospital in Cleveland. I think he knows more about the economy and the Middle East than who we have in there now.
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:48 pm
What is sad is that Dog spelled backward is God….please don’t tell Richt that!!!!!!!!!
dawghater
September 29th, 2010
1:49 pm
The sky is falling, the sky is falling.
Ed
September 29th, 2010
1:51 pm
“Maybe we could let Jimmy Carter become president again after he gets out of the hospital in Cleveland.”
Dog Fan, I can’t imagine things ever getting bad enough to want that. Obama’s not that bad…yet.
Mark in Woodstock
September 29th, 2010
1:54 pm
The problem is there isn’t one example you can give us of a program that started a downward slide…which this obviously is…and returned to prominence WITHOUT a coaching change. Typically when things head south with a coaching staff they get worse….See Tenn and Auburn as examples within the last few years. When the recruits stop paying attention and start going elsewhere you’re done….Richt is going to lose the top recruits every year to Bama and Fl. What is going to sell them on? …Hey son you can go to Shreveport…
a Big Dog
September 29th, 2010
1:54 pm
REALIST…dang son, for someone that speaks down to us heathens…you sure do know alot about redneck ways……could it be you’re a closet redneck…I bet you are!!!!!!!!!!
don't mess with the missionary man
September 29th, 2010
1:55 pm
mark richt needs to do what he really wants…..become a missionary.
JB
September 29th, 2010
1:56 pm
I read this headline again………Richt says’ ” it could get worse”……………….
Tells me he knows what he’s got………The ole saying comes up ” doing the same thing over and over expecting different results” comes to mind…………..I hope he is shaking up things….Game planning, personnel etc.
David Granger
September 29th, 2010
1:58 pm
“…not gonna lose our integrity”
Coach, in recent years we have seen our Bulldogs:
1. Commit penalty after penalty, oftentimes very stupid ones at critical moments.
2. Have all kinds of trouble off the field, both legal and with the NCAA.
3. Dance around on the sidelines in the late minutes of a game in which we were getting beaten.
4. Go running off the field at halftime with time still left on the clock.
5. Dance around at midfield after needing a last-second field goal to beat VANDERBILT (of all people).
6. Be chased off the Vandy logo (in that game mentioned above) by their coach, who then turned right around and told them to deliberately commit a penalty against Florida.
Exactly how much damn “integrity” do you think we have left?
Randy B
September 29th, 2010
1:59 pm
I think it’s time to make some “Bobo” cahnges…..
Taco Time in N. Ga
September 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Will,
I already asked, but no, apparently it ain’t him. Shoot, I was all excited for a sec. That Chilly > Pigeons > Chilly on Sat nite was cool. Made me forget about the MSU game for a few minutes.
Evansdawg
September 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
I would love to see us take out our frustrations on Colorado, and the balance of the schedule. But, I see no reason to believe we will.
VegasDAWG
September 29th, 2010
2:01 pm
ONE player does not make (or turn around) a team. Football is a “team sport”, correct? With the consecutive Top 10 and Top 15 recruiting classes Coach Richt has had, we should have talent replacing talent like shark teeth when they fall out. WE NEED TO INSTILL A SENSE OF HISTORY AND PRIDE in the players for the program that they are playing for instead of looking at it as a stepping stone to the NFL.
JB
September 29th, 2010
2:03 pm
Will, the only WIDE SPREAD PANIC i have in my life was when I got back from lunch at taco bell today……..LOL
Ed
September 29th, 2010
2:04 pm
“The problem is there isn’t one example you can give us of a program that started a downward slide…which this obviously is…and returned to prominence WITHOUT a coaching change.”
Ferentz at Iowa. But it’s rare.
edumacated
September 29th, 2010
2:05 pm
How can anybody talk about running the table? If you called Vegas and had them put odds on Georgia winning out, I would bet that your chances would be better with the Georgia lottery Fantasy 5. I’m not joking.
Get this in your heads folks. Richt will be lucky to win 3 or 4 more games this year. His players have already given up, and his coaches are probably already looking for somewhere soft to land when they all get canned at the end of the year. Richt does not know what to do. For years the program has always been plagued by little problems like “receivers can’t catch”, or “offensive line has injuries.” Those smaller problems are what shows up first, kinda like your engine burning oil or knocking before it throws a rod. Well, now there are so many problems, it can’t be fixed and will have to be replaced. Everyone is blaming this guy or that guy. There will be no further success until there is a new program in place. At least that’s how I see it.
Down with Dawgs
September 29th, 2010
2:06 pm
Can it get worse? You bet. Who said 9-3 is possible? What are you smoking? Dogs lose minimum of three, likely more. This season is a disaster. That’s the SEC folks. Not everybody can will all their games, all of the time. It may be a 1-2 year rebuilding – or – 10 year down cycle…
Richt ties Goff with 0-3 SEC start
September 29th, 2010
2:07 pm
But no matter what, Richt said, “we’re not gonna lose our poise, we’re not gonna lose our integrity. We don’t want to take our frustrations out on anyone, except maybe Colorado. … We just have to keep working hard and keep together. We must stay together.”
That sounds just great until you remember the cheap shot that Ben Jones took on a State player who’s back was to him. And just what has Richt done to Ben Jones? Nothing I bet.
Is Richt so stupid that he doesn’t realize that Ben Jone was “TAKING OUT HIS FRUSTRATION” on that defenseless player and now he tells his team,” We don’t want to take our frustrations out on anyone, except maybe Colorado.”
Richt better clarify that statement, because the last time he total the team to “dance” after a TD and the whole damn team ran onto the field. If he is not careful Georgia will set a NCAA record for personal fouls in the Colorado game——-his boys just are too smart.
Maybe that’s why they can’t block and learn the 3-4 defense.