What sort of ‘cutting edge’ football are we likely to get from Mark Richt?
Mark Richt doesn't want to "confuse" Aaron Murray with too much change. (Associated Press)
It’s the postseason, so fans and columnists are naturally devoting a lot of energy to parsing Mark Richt’s intriguing but typically vague comments at his season-end press conference.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a whole lot of substance there, and what there was isn’t likely to make folks feel any better about the direction of the Georgia football program.
In other words, a typical Richt press conference.
The most interesting revelation was that UGA athletic director Greg McGarity, who was notable in his presence at the press gathering, has taken some of the administrative duties off Richt’s plate, which the coach says is “going to help free me up to [spend] more time doing the things I love the most, which is study the game of football and be an expert and be on the cutting edge.”
Richt didn’t spell out what that meant, but he indicated he was “not making any plans” to take back the playcalling from offensive coordinator Mike Bobo. He said he would meet with his offensive staff to “just look at what we’re doing and why we’re doing it and making sure we’re on the right path.”
Some wondered if he is contemplating revamping or opening up the offense, perhaps installing more spread option elements to take advantage of quarterback Aaron Murray being a dual threat.
But then Richt noted that when you make a lot of changes, it’s tough on the players. “If you just change for the sake of changing, then all of a sudden you’ve got to relearn something all over again. Do I want to confuse Aaron Murray right now? Heck, no. That guy knows what he’s doing, and he’s going to have a lot more confidence going into next season.”
So it doesn’t seem likely that he’s talking about installing the fun ’n’ gun.
Richt’s comments that Bobo and offensive line coach/running game coordinator Stacy Searels “have done a great job — not a good job but a great job” raised a lot of eyebrows and drew the expected hoots of derision. But, really, what did you expect him to say? It’s too late in the game for Richt to be reshuffling his offensive staff. He has to play the hand he dealt himself.
Perhaps a clue to what Richt will be doing with all this extra football time came when he said, “One of the biggest things I am going to be looking for is effort in the team and everyone around here. We need to do what we do well and do it full-speed. As a head coach, that’s the number one point of emphasis that I am going to watch for.”
Coupled with the installation of “old school” Joe Tereshinski in charge of the strength and conditioning program, you might take that to mean that Richt will be taking names and kicking butts during the offseason to try and light a fire under his team.
But then you remember this is Richt we’re talking about, the man mentor Bobby Bowden once joked was so calm and cool you needed to take his pulse to make sure he was still alive. It’s hard to imagine Richt summoning up any inner Nick Saban.
So the bottom line is that Richt says “we’re not looking to blow anything up.”
No wholesale changes, in other words. Which is not surprising. Sure, the Dogs just concluded a poor season in a lethargic manner that makes a good case for major change being needed, but the fact is that Richt only has the one season to turn things around and, as he noted, change confuses players. So whatever change we see on the field in 2011 is likely to be incremental and more of the attitude adjustment variety.
Richt tried to buck up the Bulldog Nation by declaring, “In my opinion we’re very close.”
He meant that the elements are there in his program for success.
But the reality is that if the head coach doesn’t manage to get more out of those elements in the coming season, we’re likely to be very close to the end of the Mark Richt era at UGA.
Were you disappointed by what Richt had to say or was it pretty much what you expected? And what “cutting edge” changes would you hope his football studies produce for the 2011 season?
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282 comments Add your comment
music city dawg
January 6th, 2011
11:22 am
Nothing Richt said should give anyone any confidence that anything will be better next season. Our program is moving backwards, and our competition is moving forward. I don’t believe we’ll land the dream team of recruits we are seeking with our current corporate mindset. We need to upgrade our coaching staff now, not after next season. And we need to hire someone who not only has a passion for coaching, but can attract top recruits who believe playing football at Georgia will help them reach the next level. Get Gruden now.
ugab
January 6th, 2011
11:22 am
Derick Dooley suks!
Sandman053
January 6th, 2011
11:23 am
@td: I agree, if anyone needs firing it is Adams.
Palmetto State Dawg
January 6th, 2011
11:24 am
Cutting edge probably means more of Carlton Thomas up the middle for no gain. Brilliant!
ugab
January 6th, 2011
11:25 am
Are the players getting paid to go somewhere else? Cam Newton’s daddy exploited the pay the parents for my son to play deal. That is legal! Don’t sell your stanking, sweaty jersey though.
C from Marietta
January 6th, 2011
11:25 am
I love reading the UGA fans crying. What a bunch of whining pansies. UGA HAS NEVER BEEN AN NC CONTENDER. They have not and will not EVER win a National Championship. EVER. Tech fans you guys are even more whining and bigger p*ssies.
BirdDog
January 6th, 2011
11:26 am
Typical PC blah! No substance and no specifics about his plans. He actually said that Searels is doing “a great job” with the running game? seriously? Didn’t UGA finish dead last in rushing in the SEC?
DawgBULL
January 6th, 2011
11:26 am
Georgia didnt have success before Richt came to Athens. Then he brought us four straight ten win seasons, an SEC title, and two BCS bowl wins. So now, when the talent obviously just isnt there on offense (young QB, no running back) and defense (no playmakers), and also being hurt by not having a QB step up until Murray, you all want Richt gone?? Firing Richt would be a terrible mistake and all you who think he should be fired are fairweather fans.
Mark Richt
January 6th, 2011
11:26 am
Gentlemen: by cutting edge, I mean that we will be taking the boys to the pool more often during the Summer. When our competitors are out in the hot summer heat, sweating their arses off……my team will be doing laps at the UGA pool in order to be physically fit for the season. That should toughen us up.
ugab
January 6th, 2011
11:27 am
How was the OL so bad this year? That is the question I want know the answer too. Did MR have no contact the whole spring and fall etc. This is the SEC. You got to hit.
Dig Bick
January 6th, 2011
11:29 am
Richt will be cutting egde when his team goes comic bowling.
ugab
January 6th, 2011
11:29 am
High diving helps the players tackle and block. It also helps with discipline too. Something about the water.
DawgBULL
January 6th, 2011
11:29 am
music city dawg- How does Richt not attract top level recruits? Stafford? Moreno? AJ GREEN!! and thats just a few quick to name. IDIOT
C from Marietta
January 6th, 2011
11:31 am
Two givens in the AJC online. CT’s mindless blogs about the evil Republicans. Bill King, Mark Bradley or Jeff Schultz on their desire to fire Coach Richt.
ugab
January 6th, 2011
11:32 am
Read what Dooley told his players in 1974 after a bad season. To sum it up it Dooley said”Get ready to have your asses handed to you in the Spring” MR said he has freed up some duties.
Carlton
January 6th, 2011
11:33 am
I like your plan Mark Richt about more pool time-I think the team needs more cardio and less strenuous activity such as running, hitting, weight lifting, one-on-ones, and team drills. More high dives are just what the doctor ordered
HAHA-Nick Saban actually puts his hand in the dirt and challenges one of his D-linemen to hit him and Richt takes a WHOLE summer practice to send his players to the pool. GIVE ME A BREAK!!
C from Marietta
January 6th, 2011
11:36 am
DawgBULL, you hit the nail on the head. These overreacting fans don’t want to hear though. They want a new coach and they got it in their heads. It is really tiresome. CMR will be in Athens one more year. Real fans would rally behind their coach.
ugab
January 6th, 2011
11:37 am
We are going to take a running back out as soon as he makes a good play. He looks tired after a good run. Let’s go with the little guy. He will punish that SEC defense. We gonna rotate boys. That’ll tire the other team out. Don’t worry about who is running well. We have 3 capable backs. I promised all of you playing time. Leave that big freshmen on the bench so we can redshirt him.
Jim
January 6th, 2011
11:37 am
How do you think Mr. King keeps his job?
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2011
11:37 am
Bill
It amazes me how similar you and I think when it comes to UGA football.
IF McGarity isn’t going to fire CMR this year then why would there be any personal changes. It would make no sense because if CMR doesn’t improve in 2011 than he will be fired and a new head coach will be hired , who will want to bring in his own coaches so why fire some of the CMR coaches this year , that aren’t doing a good job, when anyone you replaced them with may get fired next year.Way to many changes could happen and too disruptive on the players.
Now if CMR wins 9 or 10 games then no changes are needed.
Andy
January 6th, 2011
11:37 am
Sad days in Athens. Richt has lost the team and knows he only has one year to get it right, thus the “no major changes” line. He is essentially going down with the ship.
What the Dawgs need is a drill instructor type to whip them into shape and demand dicipline. We have a good talent level, but no sense of urgency to get it right. Jsut a bunch of chatter, window dressing.
DrDawg
January 6th, 2011
11:39 am
We see Derek Dooley’s name come up, but there will never be any possiblity of another Dooley as long as Adams is the president. Adams has to go first. And that would be the greatest day for UGA and the state of Georgia in history.
ugab
January 6th, 2011
11:39 am
I think the pool time practice showed on the field. Players have a whole season ahead of them. They need to hit, be tired, play injured, and maybe the sec will be nice to them.
Mark Richt
January 6th, 2011
11:40 am
Thank you Carlton, I’m glad that someone out there understands my philosophy. Things like bowling, swimming, horseback riding (if you recall, I took our players to the UGA Equestrian Center about 4 years ago in lieu of a practice)build good team character. Not things like yelling at players, intense weight lifting with an “animal” for a S&C coach or any of that other nonsense. Between all the bowling and swimming we’ll be doing this off season, our boys will be “locked in” mentally for Boise State. See you at the Dome. God Bless.
We are stuck folks
January 6th, 2011
11:41 am
Contractual obligations between Richt, his staff and UGA are too costly to jettison right now. Period.
Being stuck like UGA is, they have to let Richt try one more year. We have no choice. He knows it, the UGA staff know it and the UGA admin folks know it. His speech yesterday was to give some window dressing to the public and the HS kids. Nothing more. Period.
By allowing him to stay …………. the UGA Admin folks think that sends a postive message to HS recruits. That mode is failing, however. We have not had one committment since August. Scary it is. Last night, the all star game in St Pete revealed more players leaving Georgia for AU and Alabama. Not good that is. Not good at all. Instability it is called.
The next ugly shoe to drop will be signing day with 2 or 3 or 4 possible de commitss and then the Boise State game. When UGA loses that game …………… the hooting will be heard to Alaska. Another 1-4 start and he will be fired on the spot. TG will become the temp HC for UGA until next December, because UGA will then not be in any bowl. Period.
Right now ………………UGA cannot do one thing. It would cost them about $12,000,000.00 PLUS, whatever $$$ they would have to dump on an entirely new staff. UGA has to wait and ride out this particualr storm. It is not life and death, I might add here.
UGA class of 71 & 73
Barry
January 6th, 2011
11:42 am
Enter your comments here
Frank Lane
January 6th, 2011
11:42 am
I was really impressed with the design of the Stanford offensive scheme which is run out of the same formation that we use. Hopefully, we will see better designed plays for today’s defenses.
For the last few years at UGA, I don’t remember seeing holes to run through or wide open receivers to throw to. The great teams get that on over 50% of all plays.
boots
January 6th, 2011
11:45 am
Not a good start to the 2011 season in losing on at least one key recruit last night. Grantham has promised we are going to land some very big fish, but it wouls sure make me feel better to see them landing sooner rather than later. This is going to be a tough off-season, but the team, and the fans, have to learn that nothing comes easy. The team who works the hardest and executes the best normally wins. Period. Just ask Colorado, Central Florida, MS State, South Carolina…
Sandman053
January 6th, 2011
11:45 am
Boht us and Stanford run a pro-style offense, but unlike us Stanford has an OC with creativity and an IQ somewhere above room temperature. We have Bobo. i.e. 3rd and 15….Carlton Thomas up the middle.
Barry
January 6th, 2011
11:46 am
College football, and especially SEC football games are so closely competed. Playing with a little attitude adjustment will have really large implications. 10 wins is entirely possible next year, and from there, recruiting will follow
Sandman053
January 6th, 2011
11:47 am
sorry that should be “both”
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2011
11:47 am
The only thing that is upsetting about CMR statement yesterday is it is the exact statement he made last year. What happened to all the changes he was suppose to make last year.
Otto
January 6th, 2011
11:47 am
Real fans fight to better the program not stick their head in the sand
pookie
January 6th, 2011
11:48 am
funny how the opinions of commentators, blog writers, and anonymous trolls that richt has one season to turn things around or he’s done means it is now accepted fact that he has one season to turn things around or he’s done.
music city dawg
January 6th, 2011
11:51 am
@DawgBull: let’s see whom he attracts now
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2011
11:51 am
It make you think that CMR doesn’t have a clue as to what needs to happen. All these supposedly changes need to be announced and specifically stated. I would really like CMR to tell us what he is going to do differently from last year.
mexdawg
January 6th, 2011
11:52 am
I say hire Derek Dooley.He has what it takes to GATA and UGA is probally the only school he would leave TEN for.This guy has the Georgia contacts for recruiting and has the passion to lead us to an SEC title.I like MR but I believe it is time for a change.MR is a lame duck coach at this point.By the way I know this change will never happen as long as Adams is in charge.It’s such a shame Barbara looks so much better in RED than in orange.
Old Flatulent Dawg
January 6th, 2011
11:54 am
BK..after reading your take on the whimsical comments by Richt, I’m afraid he’s clueless!
coachx
January 6th, 2011
11:56 am
UGA just needs to find a way to win those close games like us fans are used to them doing.
Colorodo, Arkansas, South Carolina , Miss State, Florida, & UCF were all winnable games. Marck Richt was right when he said this team is close.
There is not much of difference in being 6-7 and 10-2. Most people know this.
Its time for these Dawgs to go back to work……..not worry about knew tricks to appease fans opinions who don’t know squat.
7576DAWG
January 6th, 2011
11:57 am
I’m sure that it is HELL working for a GOD like Adams . He has alway’s been the real problem not the coaches or the AD.
Red panties, anyone?
January 6th, 2011
12:00 pm
Mark Richt didn’t suddenly forget how to coach.
You’re assuming that Richt ever knew how to coach. You’re wrong.
The biggest change that CMR needs to make is to stop recruiting the low-class illiterates and goons who he seems to think will win for him and keep his oversized paychecks coming in. Jerks like Marcus Dowtin, A.J. Green, Washaun Ealey, Caleb King, and others too numerous to mention are not team players, they’re thug wannabes who are much closer to a gang than a team.
It’s sickening to see morons and punks like these representing the state’s flagship university. And it all comes back to Mark Richt.
JR
January 6th, 2011
12:01 pm
Looking at the body of work, CMR is as good as anyone we’ve had. All good coaches have bad periods. Hopefully CMR has had his wake up call and can turn it around. In our day of instant gratification, the leash isn’t long. Good luck CMR.
Billy
January 6th, 2011
12:01 pm
Coach Richt stepped up to the plate. He was enthusiastic, visionary and confident. CMR has had a tough couple of years. That goes with the territory. After many 10 plus win seasons it is expected that things will go down for two or three years before returning to the top ten status that Richt led us to in the early years so often. AD and Adams know that we have a gem in CMR and they are willing to stick with him for the next three years to turn things around. It will take three years to get defense on track and things turned. Great news from Athens and lots of hope from CMR.
Old Flatulent Dawg
January 6th, 2011
12:02 pm
Red panties, anyone?…………Techie go sit in the corner and play with yourself.
saban
January 6th, 2011
12:02 pm
This is easy.
Everyone wears red panties and carries little choak dawgs.
Keep Richt.
saban
January 6th, 2011
12:03 pm
Recruiting Georgia players is just too easy.
Maybe I should start selling them to Florida.
Geo Dawg
January 6th, 2011
12:03 pm
“I say hire Derek Dooley.”
I agree.
The Ghost of Wally Butts
January 6th, 2011
12:04 pm
The current pic of a recruit we “lost” to Alabama shows excellent THUG potential. If we keep losing recruits like this, we are damaging our ability to defend our FULMER CUP championship this off season.
OLE Dawg
January 6th, 2011
12:05 pm
Oh well……lets keep doing what we do and expecting different results…….not going to happen…Bozo can call plays when he is ahead….on a average D….but with a good D …he can not do it…good kid…not what you need…and the plays…I can call them before they run…don’t Richt know they got his number…and he has no killer instinct…..just do what you can…ALSO WE GOT TO KEEP THE BEST IN STATE…OR GET THE H…. OUT OF STATE…BEFORE A MONTH BEFORE SIGNING….ALA…AUB…AND ALL THE FLA SCHOOLS ARE KILLING US…YOU GET 2 TEIR PLAYERS…YOU GET 2 TIER RESULTS…UNLESS YOU HAVE COACHES THAT CAN GET OVER THE TOP…..GARNER…SEARLS……BOZO…ITS OVER….UNTIL WE GET BETTER COACHES….MAN I LOVE THE BULLDOGS…BUT WE HAVE TO WIN SOME BIG GAMES…WHEN WE ARE NOT SUPPOSE TO….I AM WITH YOU…PROVE ME WRONG…I WOULD LOVE IT….
red hill
January 6th, 2011
12:06 pm
The simplest plan is to tell Mr. Richt to get his @#$% and get out of town. Fact is, that is the only solution.