Dogs’ first two games could make or break Mark Richt
Dogs face a big challenge with their opening game.
“None, I don’t feel any pressure. None at all.”
That’s Mark Richt’s not entirely convincing answer to the question of whether he’s feeling pressure coming off a losing season. Richt made the comment when his spring speaking tour stopped at the Savannah Golf Club on Wednesday, as reported by the Savannah Morning News.
I know the guy is supposed to have ice water in his veins, but with most of the football world figuring his job is probably on the line in the coming season, you’d have to figure that maybe, deep down inside, Richt is feeling the pressure. Just a little.
Something Richt also said Wednesday night does a nice job of summing up the enormity of his situation.
“I think the biggest challenge is to be at midseason form for our first two games,” Richt said. “They’re big games for us. [The Boise State game] will help set the tone for our season. The very next week, South Carolina will be big. Since they’re one and two, we have to be ready.”
Beating South Carolina would make Georgia the SEC East favorite.
Rarely has a team coming off a losing season and with a coach considered to be on the hot seat entered a season with two bigger, more important opening games.
One way of looking at it is that Greg McGarity has stacked the deck against Richt by putting Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against a high-powered offensive juggernaut the week before the Dogs open their SEC season against Steve Spurrier’s defending SEC East champion Gamecocks. But conversely, McGarity also has given Richt (who agreed to the scheduling of Boise State) a chance to completely turn things around for his program in just two games.
As Richt said in Savannah, the nationally televised game against the Broncos gives the Dogs a chance “to show the college football world we’re still a pretty good football team.”
Win both of those first two games and the Dogs, whom Chick-fil-A’s Gary Stokan seems sure will be ranked in the pre-season Top 25, likely will vault themselves into the Top 10 and put themselves in the driver’s seat in the SEC East in a rebuilding year for the Florida program.
Lose both of them, and even Richt is going to be sweating bullets.
Split the games and the Dogs will have either a quality nonconference win but start out in a hole in conference play, or have a nonconference loss against a well-regarded team and still be favored to take the SEC East.
No pressure? Yeah, right.
So what are your expectations for Georgia’s first two games? Are you dreading them? Do you expect Georgia to take both? Or, if you’d be satisfied to come out of those games 1-1, which game would you rather have as a win? Does a conference game always trump a nonconference one, or is defending the SEC’s honor against Boise State more important this time?
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317 comments Add your comment
MARK
April 21st, 2011
12:33 pm
THE GREAT COACHES HAVE’M AT MIDSEASON FORM FOR THE FIRST GAME EVERY YEAR,NOT JUST THIS YEAR
jasont13
April 21st, 2011
12:33 pm
Marcus….I mean Dan.. Lattimore didn’t rush for over 200 yards last year against UGA. He rushed for 182 not 200 as you say. Not sure where he got the 18+ yards you speak of. He even did that on almost 40 carries. 4.9 yds a clip is ok but not great. Look, Richt knows what’s going on. He plays to these journalists. He is not going to show you his cards.
JB
April 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
I’ll be in his corner until I see them making the same mistakes expecting different results. Example, running Carlton Thomas off tackle on 3rd and 9 for 3 yards. That just screams we don’t have a clue and we’re giving up. Once, OK, but 2-3 times a game every week?
Gatorhater
April 21st, 2011
12:35 pm
Starts 0-2. Finishes 6-6. Just call him Phil Fulmer and get your check book out. Richt will be gone and Georgia has to pay out and pay big to find someone to take over the program.
Judge Dawg
April 21st, 2011
12:36 pm
I think the first two games are more make or break for CPJ.
JB
April 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
I know Tech folks want him gone. 9-1 is pretty strong and the last two wins were against the greatest football coach in America…….LOL
jasont13
April 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
Before all you South Carolina fans talk about Alshon Jeffery lighting it up last year against UGA, you do know he only had 1 big play and it was a good catch over a defender for 50 yards. Other than that he did nothing.
edumacated
April 21st, 2011
12:39 pm
It’s true that Boise doesn’t play in a tough conference, and we hammered them back in ‘05. They do have a great coach though. No one can argue that. Lately Richt hasn’t done well against good coaches with established programs. That worries me. I would guess a close game only because of blown assignments on Georgia’s part. The talent level is grossly unbalanced.
One of the reasons you can out-coach Richt right now is because of his predictablity. He always defers to receive at the start of the half, he always fair catches punts inside the 10, he never pulls any special team fakes and hardly runs any trick plays. His offense hasn’t changed much at all in 10 years.
How much we paying this guy?
JB
April 21st, 2011
12:41 pm
Florida gonna run a pro set. Who do they have ( proven) at tailback? Notre Dame offense under him never looked special. Florida folks holding their breath. Lost 5 with Meyer and ALL that talent last year, just say’n
JB
April 21st, 2011
12:43 pm
Richt only strays from script when he’s down 2-3 TD’s, which has been a lot the last two years.
Pretty easy to game plan for no doubt.
gotta win the East
April 21st, 2011
12:44 pm
There’s no way we’re going to be ranked preseason. Sorry.
Richt has to win the East this year or he’s done (but if we go 10-2 and somehow don’t win the East, he’s probably back for another year). The schedule is fairly easy this year and Tennessee and Florida are down.
I wonder about him sometimes
April 21st, 2011
12:47 pm
MARK,
Great point. The great coaches don’t dick around in the spring and summer. They get ready the same way for the first game every single year.
Dallas Morgan
April 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
I love my Dawgs! I always read this blog…and when I’ve had my fill of sports I read Twenty-First Tycoon. It’s an awesome site and it’s based out of Georgia…which is better than supporting some stupid New Yorker!
papadawg
April 21st, 2011
12:48 pm
Boise will find out it’s not the champion they think they are when the DAWGS get finished with them and as always S.carolina will be another knock down smash mouth game that I wouldn’t bet on with your money
1eyedJack
April 21st, 2011
12:49 pm
edumacated, don’t tell the snotgobblers at tech that, they think they have a “great” coach.
Go Dawgs!
April 21st, 2011
12:50 pm
PB
April 21st, 2011
10:44 am
DawginLex…………. most of you, I said most of you dawg fans are realistic about the expectation when playing Boise = losing, and at best by not too much. The fact you think you can beat Boise when you can’t even beat a C-USA team is a complete lack of logic and football knowledge.
PB-What is a complete lack of logic and football knowledge is thinking that ONE loss or WIN the PREVIOUS season automatically defines a team for the next season.
First – anyone who knows this team knows last season the Dawgs had some bad eggs on the team, and more than one current player has alluded to that fact.
Second – most of those guys didn’t even want to play in that game and it showed in the effort.
If you think for one moment that it’s not realistic to think a team – especially a college football team can’t completely turn things around, you are sadly mistaken.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. With regards to Boise St, been there done that. Kellen Moore = Jared Zabransky. Zabransky was supposed to be a heisman front runner, and UGA was going to be his statement game. How was UGA going to handle the speed and finesse of the Boise Attack?
LOL!!!
I’m not sure if the Dawgs will start out 2-0, but I AM CERTAIN we will start out 1-0. You can take that to the bank.
Joey
April 21st, 2011
12:51 pm
“Lately Richt hasn’t done well against good coaches with established programs.”
*************************************
True, and he hasn’t done too well lately with good coaches at up-and-coming programs – UCF (O’Leary), MSU (Mullen).
Or for that matter, bad coaches at bad programs – Colorado (Hawkins)
icallbs
April 21st, 2011
12:52 pm
It’s true Boise has all summer to prepare and they basically have a 1-2 game season every year. What is different about this game is that they are not sneaking up on anyone this time and will likely be favored by many (though I’ll be surprised if Vegas favors them), and the fact that Georgia has all summer to prepare for them, too. Georgia has more at stake in this game than Boise, so motivation should not be a problem. I think Georgia crushes them. Then we’ll find out the next week what kind of team Georgia has.
Steve Superior
April 21st, 2011
12:52 pm
You are what your record says you are. UGA will be 6 – 6….. Bank on it!
icedawg
April 21st, 2011
12:55 pm
Lose both and they are in a deep hole. However, win the rest and I guarantee you the atmosphere would be different by the end of the season. Speculation man, mere speculation.
JB
April 21st, 2011
12:57 pm
And you can bank on South Carolina folding like a cheap lawn chair every fall…..And the trophy case in Columbia STILL sits empty. Carolina has never won ANYTHING. Talking smack on here is rich.
DIT
April 21st, 2011
1:00 pm
@DawginLex
Your 10:37am post was the best post I have ever read on one of these blogs.. Well said!
Old Gold
April 21st, 2011
1:01 pm
Both easy wins!
icallbs
April 21st, 2011
1:03 pm
SS: Georgia’s and everyone else’s record for 2011 is 0-0. Georgia stunk last year. It is important for the Richt era that Georgia have a good 2011. EVERYONE at Georgia or that pulls for Georgia knows that. You can just feel the anxiety of the trolls hoping Georgia won’t have a good year. Georgia will be back, next year or soon after, one way or another. How about your school?
Joey
April 21st, 2011
1:03 pm
That’s great news, Go Dawgs! I’ll call a bookie.
Wait a minute, you didn’t guarantee a bowl win over UCF, did you?
What we did in ‘05 has nothing to do with now. That team had a pedigree – from winning the East in ‘02 and ‘03.
Nobody on this team has won a big game.
Not one.
no matter what happens we'll have a great gameplan
April 21st, 2011
1:09 pm
rest easy dawg fans…..
uga’s coaching braintrust is busy coming up with a GREAT gameplan for both Boise and South Carolina. now, if the players will just execute it, we will be 2-0.
All Mark richt needs to do is to get players who execute his gameplans. He’s been looking for that and an offensive line for 8 years………
rduck
April 21st, 2011
1:11 pm
Funny how DA Double UG is nowhere to be found on a UGA topic but is always one of the first to blog on a Tech article. And he claims that he is not obsessed. Yeah, and I have some swamp property to sell in Nevada. Anyways, UGA faces tough teams in the first two games and if they were to win those, the sky is the limit. Do I think they will, probably not. But that is why they play the games. The talent is there, the facilities and the crowd support. The thing that has evaded the dawgs as of late is the toughness and ability to close strong in tight games. Fix these and the dawgs have a chance every week. If it’s the same ole Richt and Co, then a repeat of ‘09 and ‘10 are very possible…
NWGA Dawg
April 21st, 2011
1:14 pm
Very excited about the opening game at the Dome. Win or lose, it’s a lot better to see my Dawgs against a quality team. Games like this get the fans pumped up, and not to mention the recruiting advantage it gives UGA as seen on a major scene to open the ‘11 season!
DawginLex
April 21st, 2011
1:21 pm
Thanks DIT.
NWGA Dawg-good point. We are already pumped about this game as compared to playing SW New Mexico Nuns and Teachers Preparatory college for girls
oh well
April 21st, 2011
1:33 pm
We typically do well in the first game of the season, and the game against South Carolina last year wasn’t as bad as everybody makes it out to be. We couldn’t score because I think Richt scared him with that don’t scramble crap. Poor kid was probably confused on what to do. They didn’t score the go ahead run until late in the game. I think we will do better this year. All I ask is we look good, even if we lose. Bobo does need to quit being so predictable. Or if your going to be predictable, just throw the slants. The fans need to start cheering more.
Mr. Phelps
April 21st, 2011
1:41 pm
It will be goodbye to CMR and to think his blind loyality to soft Willie Martinez cost him his job.
In the end things really do work out.
Sleepy Dawg
April 21st, 2011
1:44 pm
Until we recruit faster blacks we stand no chance against any of the teams on our schedule in the SEC. They have superior african talent, and we are lacking. We need a win at all cost black for a coach. There, I said it.
Dawghater
April 21st, 2011
1:46 pm
Doesn’t everyone know that UGA is going to win the SEC and a Nat’l championship this time a year. By the time we get a chance to blog after the S. Carolina game the puppy dawg fans will all be calling for Richt’s firing! Another year for UGA. The blogs will get ugly early this year!
Dawghater
April 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
“Sleepy dawg” is an ignorant dawg!
Law Student
April 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
Richt has shown through the spring that he a different mentality then past seasons. This is a man who is making his team go all out in practice each and every day, with the 1’s going up against each other, and making a competition out of everything. Richt knows how important this season is, and for those out there who think otherwise are complete idiots. Boise St. does not worry me as much as South Carolina. Kellen Moore is a good quarterback against average talent. He is another Colt Brennan. Great against average talent in an average conference, but when he faced the speed and toughness of the SEC, he got smacked around. South Carolina will be a tough game like always, but last year if the ball bounced our way its a different game. Georgia’s defense will be much improved especially if Jenkins and Geathers are on the line at the same time.
This is a new season, with a new revamped Richt!! GO DAWGS!!!
Sleepy Dawg
April 21st, 2011
1:51 pm
Trooper Taylor could win big here. He is not afraid to do a pay for play. This will be the only way we get the best african talent over the likes of UF, UT, and USCe. USCe is quitely recruiting the best blacks money can buy. If we do not move now and hire a colored fellow, we are all screwed.
Dawghater
April 21st, 2011
1:51 pm
“Law Student” – Kellen Moore did just fine against the Va Tech defense! And that’s not a WAC defense. I wouldn’t discount Kellen’s talent. The NFL’s hasn’t. Va Tech didn’t “smack him around”. And when did UGA’s defense become feared??????????????
Whopper Dawg
April 21st, 2011
1:52 pm
Hmmm, let’s see. Essentially the same players and coaches that Central Florida beat 10 – 6 less their best offensive player and only game changer and less their best defensive player and only pass rusher.
I see absolutely no reason to think they could win two, and 0 – 2 is the more likely scenario.
Dawghater
April 21st, 2011
1:52 pm
One more time “Sleepy Dawg” is IGNORANT! And for when he reads this blog it means your “Stupid”!
DawginLex
April 21st, 2011
1:56 pm
Kellen Moore-returns
huge losses-Austin Pettis
Titus young
2 go to receivers who basically won the VT game along with the DL Winterzwyk who also graduated.
Dawgs win
DawginLex
April 21st, 2011
1:57 pm
Whopper, can i have your tickets?
JB
April 21st, 2011
1:58 pm
Law Student. I to agree that the defense will be MUCH better. Jarvis Jones was on the field at Southern Cal as a freshman, now redshirted a year in the weight room, he looks awesome. We had not Jenkins or Geathers last year. Olgtree at LB and Arby Jones at end where he belongs. Dawgs defense will be the surprise of the SEC this year.
Joey
April 21st, 2011
1:59 pm
Sleepy Dawg = Nerd
JB
April 21st, 2011
2:01 pm
Joey, your are correct. Our SEC foes usually criticize in general football terms. Tech nerds just use hate and personal attacks. Easy to spot
Sleepy Dawg
April 21st, 2011
2:01 pm
Hate me all you want, but I speak the truth. I don’t care if we have 30 arrests per season as long as we win. We need a coach who is tapped into the “thug life” mentality. Someone who understands that these boys do not care about christianity and religious nonsense. These new breed of colored athletes only care about women bling rap and money. The sooner we get a coach who understands this the sooner we win. Think about it
UGADawg83
April 21st, 2011
2:02 pm
The issue has never been talent….and the coaching stafff has not forgotten how to coach. Perhaps it has been lack of leadership or focus but their seems to be an intangible problem that has to be fixed. I’m thinking it is fixed and this could be a special year. Let me say it another way…a recruiting class like we signed this year doesn’t swim to a sinking ship.
JB
April 21st, 2011
2:04 pm
Yep, sleepy is a Nerd. Using race to talk about anything on this blog is not welcome or Accepted.
AJC, please ban him now from his Email ID, not his moniker name
NWGA Dawg
April 21st, 2011
2:06 pm
Sleepy Dawg –
Seriously, tone that down a bit. If that is a point you are trying to make, then please show some class.
Sleepy Dawg
April 21st, 2011
2:09 pm
You are all fools. I happened to be very knowledgeable of the black youth culture as I work very close with them. They tell me these things everyday. Sorry if offends the PC sector, but it doesn’t make it any less true
Jason
April 21st, 2011
2:11 pm
UGA will play Bosie close, but if Bosie is going to lose this game it will be because UGA is running the ball. I don’t know if that will happen and I don’t have any faith that UGA can start the year with 35 plus points, so if UGA is running the ball and they are successful, I think UGA wins 31-24.
The SC game will be different. Up front UGA feels they have gotten better and they will need to against this team. The way SC controled the game last year gives me no reason to think they won’t do the same this year. I know the dogs feel good about their front four, but depth is going to be an issue for them early in the year. I don’t like UGA’s chances against a very talented SC team. Coach Johnson (SC defensive cordinator) made mention that Lattimore had 41 broken tackles in the game last year. From what I’ve hear Lattimore put on more weight while also improving his speed. That combo along with UGA breaking in some newer players early on will spell doom. SC 38 – 20