Hot Button: Is UGA’s Martinez a good defensive coordinator?
He's no Kevin Ramsey, but really, who is? (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
The answer to the above question depends on definition. If by “good” we mean, “Way better than Kevin Ramsey,” the answer is yes. If by “good” we mean “one of the finest defensive coordinators in the nation,” the answer is no.
Willie Martinez suffers most by immediate comparison to his predecessor. In 52 games under Brian VanGorder, Georgia yielded 30-plus points only in the 2003 SEC championship game against an LSU team that would win the BCS title. In 52 games under Martinez, Georgia has yielded 30-plus points 11 times.
The average score of a Georgia loss in four seasons under VanGorder was 21-12. Not once in any of the 10 losses with BVG as DC did the Bulldogs score 20 points themselves, meaning those defeats were more related to offensive failings. Now look:
The average score of a Georgia loss in four seasons under Martinez has been 32-23. Five times in those 12 losses the Bulldogs have scored 30-plus points, which means the offense has been holding up its end.
The offense has waxed and waned under Mark Richt. (Last season the Bulldogs ranked 22nd nationally in total offense, their best showing since finishing 21st in 2001.) The defense has slipped. In four seasons under VanGorder, Georgia ranked among the nation’s top 10 in total defense twice and scoring defense three times. In four seasons under Martinez, the Bulldogs have ranked among the nation’s top 10 in those categories once apiece.
Over time, the yardage figures are almost congruent. Opponents averaged 305 yards per game against BVG’s D; they’ve averaged 302 against WM’s. What has changed is more problematic:
Georgia now has to score big to win, and that’s a tough way to travel. Forty-two points weren’t enough to beat Georgia Tech last season, and 41 wouldn’t have been enough to beat Alabama or 49 sufficient to unhorse Florida. And before we dismiss 2008 as a function of injuries and penalties and suchlike, let’s note the Bullogs lost 31-30 to Auburn and 38-35 to West Virginia in 2005 and 51-33 to Tennessee in 2006.
In two of the biggest victories of the post-VanGorder era, Georgia beat Florida 42-30 in 2007 and LSU 52-38 last season. The Bulldogs used to win because their defense served as a safety net. They now work without that net.
Loading ...Martinez’s defenders — not to be confused with the men who play his defense — say his units make key stops (against Kentucky and Auburn last season, for example) and that he plays the defense Richt wants played. But it’s tough to imagine any head coach prefers a defense that collapses periodically, and it’s difficult to argue that, given Georgia’s gaudy rankings every single Signing Day, this coordinator is working without talent.
The aforementioned Ramsey lasted one season (1999) as Jim Donnan’s defensive coordinator. His undoing was a 38-21 loss to an Auburn team that entered Sanford Stadium 4-5 but led 31-0 at the half. (Quarterback Ben Leard passed for 416 yards that bizarre night.) Bulldog fans take pride in both their stadium and their history of stalwart defense, and they filed out early on Nov. 13, 1999 believing that hadn’t ever seen and wouldn’t again see such a thing.
On Sept. 27, 2008, Alabama scored on five consecutive possessions against the nation’s No. 3 team. The halftime score in Athens was 31-0.
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353 comments Add your comment
BugKiller
August 27th, 2009
11:59 am
Mark,
THANK YOU!!!
Thank you for giving credence. For too long I have felt like a voice crying in the wilderness when it comes to guys like AltamahaDawg or other blindly-loyal Dawg fans, who refuse to see the great failings of Martinez.
One thing you haven’t talked about is the fact that Martinez and Richt have, to protect Martinez and cover for his inept handling and teaching of the defense, often publicly blame their players for “not executing.”
I cannot believe you or Schultz, or ANYONE hasn’t taken those two down for that. These are college kids. They need to be shaped and molded, taught fundamentals and how to play the game. If there is a problem in execution, it is a COACHING problem.
I am sick and tired of seeing and hearing Richt and Martinez blaming their players for Martinez’s poor performance as a defensive coordinator.
As Richt has said often, the team runs the same defensive scheme they ran under BVG. So I ask you Mark, what changed, hmmm? Couldn’t be the guy who’s now running that scheme, could it?
Richt seems to be so forthright, but he has blind spot for his coaches caused by his emotional attachment to them.
If you remember, his mentor, Bobby Bowden had the same blind spot with his son, the equally-as-Martinez-inept Jeff Bowden.
Bobby Bowden let Jeff Bowden destroy his once-proud program. I can only hope that Damon Evans doesn’t let Richt do the same thing with Martinez.
So, Mark, how do you feel about Richt and Martinez publicly blaming their defensive players for Martinez’s short-comings?
If you were a recruit, and you saw Martinez always blaming the defensive players instead of taking responsibility himself, would you want to play for him?
'Bama 1
August 27th, 2009
12:00 pm
I think they should keep him forever, he’s good for everyone else in the S.E.C.!
TommyP
August 27th, 2009
12:03 pm
Good article, Mark, that opened my eyes to things I guess I had forgotten. I like Willie but the pressure is on at this point. Big time.
Here’s something I’d like answered: BVG’s defenses did incredibly well for years. But there was an “eye in the sky” during that time and that was Willie. Do you think he just can’t make the same adjustments on the field instead of being up in the booth?
I, personally, think he should be upstairs during games.
Thoughts?
Mark Bradley
August 27th, 2009
12:03 pm
Here’s the part that bothers me about Georgia’s defense: When it struggles now, it falls apart. When it struggled under VanGorder, it gave up a couple of field goals.
Jake7
August 27th, 2009
12:04 pm
CWM is an AVERAGE coach.You have got to motivate,focus,teach and be creative to be successful in this game! It’s not a problem with our talent(TOP TEN CLASS IN RECRUITING…year after year).This is his LAST year,if the D doesn’t improve greatly.
TommyP
August 27th, 2009
12:04 pm
takedowndawg: Read your comments after I submitted my comments. I agree with you 100%.
TommyP
August 27th, 2009
12:05 pm
Jake: Maybe he’s an “average” defensive coordinator but he’s always been recognized as a very good DB coach. There’s a difference.
BugKiller
August 27th, 2009
12:06 pm
Also, isn’t it funny that the same people who refuse to blame Bobby Cox for ANY of the Braves October collapses, also refuse to blame Martinez?
Red Dawg
August 27th, 2009
12:07 pm
CWM should have been fired at halftime of last year’s Alabama game. After all, it’s not like we hadn’t seen that crap before. BTW, I do not believe we had sustained 19 (or 20 0r 21-whatever the number of the day is) season-ending injuries by the 4th game of last year. Just ANOTHER CWM disaster.
That was the same week that USC lost to Oregon St. and UF lost to Ole Miss. Suddenly everything tilted in our favor. 30 minutes into our game, we were exposed as the most over-rated team in years. Thanks Wille. Enjoy your raise!
GeoffDawg
August 27th, 2009
12:08 pm
Bugkiller – Martinez may be inept but he ain’t Jeff Bowden inept. He’s the Fredo of that coaching family.
84 Dawg
August 27th, 2009
12:11 pm
The only way CWM would have more job security is if he belonged to the UAW. Pretty similar actually. Run your employer into the ground and get a raise for doing so.
BoiseDawg
August 27th, 2009
12:13 pm
I’ll be the last one to complain about our program under the Richt era and while I wish we still had BVG, I think the fans are being a little too harsh on Martinez. The fact that we had our worst defense in the Richt era, yet that defense still finished in the top 25 in scoring defense says a lot. Especially when the best finish the offense has ever had is 21st and with two first round draft picks in Stafford and Moreno we only finish 22nd! I want our defense to get back to a top 10 defense as badly as anyone, but I also would like to see our offense crack the top 20 for once!
Native Atlantan
August 27th, 2009
12:13 pm
Simple Question: If Martinez was the DC af UF and gave up over 40 at home to Bama and Tech while giving up 38 to both LSU and Kentucky (who basically put a WR at QB) do you think Meyer would’ve kept Willie around?
I think Martinez was ok as the secondary coach, but since he took over the DC position, there have been way too many games where the defense has given up too many points.
Cuz
August 27th, 2009
12:13 pm
We can b#&ch and moan all we want. The reality is he will be the DC this year. What happens on the field will determine if he comes back next year. No one in their right mind would fire a DC less than two weeks before the opening game. Especially no one with a Richt mind.
GeoffDawg
August 27th, 2009
12:16 pm
BoiseDawg – I could be mistaken but I think we finished in the top 25 in yardage allowed, not scoring. Of couse when you’re coughing up the ball in your own backyard, that’s the way the numbers are going to skew.
Realist
August 27th, 2009
12:18 pm
Cuz, we know, we know. You and Alt are the only “true” fans because you think CWM is great. No one is suggesting CWM be fired this week-it’s too late. We are headed to another mediocre season and we all know it.
Mark Bradley
August 27th, 2009
12:18 pm
Georgia was 22nd in total defense last season, GeoffDawg, 59th in scoring defense.
Chris
August 27th, 2009
12:18 pm
I think there has been a slip a bit… mainly in the game-planning areas but it sure did help BVG to have the likes of Pollack and Thomas Davis out there for a few years…
Gman
August 27th, 2009
12:19 pm
If we were 22nd, I’d hate to be 23rd.
Jake7
August 27th, 2009
12:19 pm
TOMMY P,
I don’t remember WHAT kind of DB coach he was……maybe we could give him that job! It’s really funny NOBODY has asked permission to interview him from another school(like GARNER & SEARLES).
Mark Bradley
August 27th, 2009
12:21 pm
Also note that the SEC tends to play the best defense. Georgia was 22nd nationally in total defense last season but sixth in its conference.
Gator CHOMP Champ
August 27th, 2009
12:21 pm
Richt is a very nice guy and Willie Martinez is an outstanding DC. The two biggest words you guys need to know is GO GATORS. It’s fun to win national championships.
BoiseDawg
August 27th, 2009
12:22 pm
I’d also say that overall the SEC has gotten better on offense since Martinez took over, but I think if the defense struggles again this year with penalties and points allowed Richt may be forced to make a change.
BugKiller
August 27th, 2009
12:23 pm
Also, Mark, please answer me this (if you can get to it, also, still would like to hear your take on Richt and Martinez always blaming players instead of Martinez ever accepting ANY blame):
How can Mark Richt defend Willie’s raise. NO ONE WANTS HIM. He is in NO danger of being hired away. And if he were, umm, I think we’d throw a party.
Seriously, Miami, his alma mater, took one look at Martinez, and the head coach decided to add more work to his already busy life and be his own defensive coordinator. THAT should tell you how terrible Martinez is.
So what do you think about Martinez’s indefensible raise, Mark? Is it a product of being the Richt’s former college roommate and his current BFF?
Because it sure as heck has NOTHING to do with Martinez’s horrible performance.
To everyone who thinks AIG is stealing money, they have NOTHING on Martinez.
Restless Native # 6,000,242
August 27th, 2009
12:24 pm
Overhaul the entire coaching staff. Now !!
David Granger
August 27th, 2009
12:24 pm
Two very negartive things I have noticed about UGA’s defense…going back several years, so it’s not just the coordinator…are:
1, Georgia kick coverage has NOT been good. (You could classify this as “special teams” if you like.)
2. We sure do get hurt when we blitz, and we blitz in some very unusual situations. I don’t know if we telegraph it, if opposing QB’s have just been consistently good at picking it up, or if our protective coverage is poor. But several times over the last few years we would blitz on third and long, the QB would hit the “safety valve” receiver over the middle, and he’d get all the way to the deep secondary before we’d stop him…and it’s first and ten against us.
In SEVERAL games in recent years..the UT “hobnail boot” game, the Kentucky and Alabama games last season, the 2007 Auburn game…we let teams just march straight down the field against us…and some of the KEY plays were unsuccessful blitzes on third and long. And it sure seems to me that’s NOT the situation you want to blitz in. It’s like trying to shoot a long three-pointer in basketball when you’ve got a two point lead with ten seconds to go. Sure…looks great and really sets you up when it works…but when it doesn’t, you give the opposing team a chance to win the game that they probably would NOT have had.
red hill
August 27th, 2009
12:25 pm
Nail on the head. Steady decline since Martinez took over. He should have been fired after the ‘06 tUTorsee game.
Restless Native # 6,000,242
August 27th, 2009
12:25 pm
Has anyone actually seen Richt’s birth certificate ?
getthepicturenow
August 27th, 2009
12:26 pm
Nice article Mark, I agree somewhat with my fellow Dawg fans comments. What is frustrating is the games like UT in 2007. Its not like they came out and threw the ball all over us, they just rolled up their sleeve and stuffed us & we looked helpless. I agree also about late game situations when we have the lead and need to make a stop or we trail and need the stop to get the ball back. To me, its like Martinez panics in games. And offensive & deffensive units take on the persona of their coach. I’m pulling for the guy b/c I love UGA, but the blowouts & track meet-shootouts are getting old.
Jake7
August 27th, 2009
12:27 pm
BOISE DAWG,
The problem with our D just didn’t happen last year with CWM.This has been a “sinking boat” since he took over.
Gen Neyland
August 27th, 2009
12:27 pm
MB : Now you’ve done gone and stirred the pot..!
southgadawg88
August 27th, 2009
12:29 pm
The comparison between BVG and WM are off base…there is a sizable gap in talent between the two.People can talk all day about top rated recruiting classes but if you go back and look at the rosters during BVG time at UGA THE BEST PLAYERS ON THE TEAM WERE ON DEFENSE!!Check it out for yourself…under WM the best players on our team have been on Offense.Just because your class is highly ranked does not mean all the players are elite.We have pulled some of the highest ranked overall Offensive lately which pushes the ranking up but don’t be fooled into thinking that just because we have a top 5 QB WR and RB that the 3 star LB or DE is really better than he is ranked.Show me where the talent is equal..I challenge anybody to show me I’m wrong.BVG himself said he had better players to work with than WM.It’s not the damn jersey it’s the player wearing it.Talent wise this is the best bunch WM has ever had and I expect the D to be much improved…most of you are gonna say it’s because WM job was in jeopardy blah blah blah…yeah to a small degree that’s a factor,a larger factor is the return of injured players but the biggest factor is the talent period.
Mark Bradley
August 27th, 2009
12:30 pm
BugKiller, I specifically recall Willie Martinez declining to identify the DB who was out of sorts on the Aromashodu catch-and-run against Auburn in 2005. Are you referring to the “we-were-in-position” line after the GT game?
TybeeDawg
August 27th, 2009
12:33 pm
A good coach needs to be able to adapt and change. Offenses are changing year in and year out to combat defenses. It would make sense that defenses should then change to combat those new offenses. So is running the same defense for 8 years the right plan?? I dont know.
Gman
August 27th, 2009
12:37 pm
Mark, CWM never accepts any blame. CMR also defends CWM with the “schemes are the same, the players suck” excuses. Pretty miserable stuff. CMR shows loyalty to buddy CWM at the expense of the players and university.
BTW, BugKiller, CWM’s raise came from our donations. Makes it hard to write that check, doesn’t it.
Gen Neyland
August 27th, 2009
12:39 pm
It all comes back to who does the hiring and the firing. If that area is CMR’s responsibility then doesn’t it fall back on him and shouldn’t your beef be with CMR..?
Cuz
August 27th, 2009
12:42 pm
Realist that it is funny. Me and Alt the only true fans. It sure would be an empty stadium if that were true. All I am saying is we have empirical evidence that Mark Richt did not fire CWM last season. He is still there drawing a check and coaching the defense. I will take the bet that CMR will not fire CWM before the season starts. I furthermore am 99% positive that he will not fire CWM before the end of the 2009 season. Look, if the defense tanks this year with healthy top notch players I will crank up and drive the Fire Willie bandwagon. I for one, okay Altamaha is two, will give CWM the first few games to prove himself before I throw him under said bandwagon. Last years defensive play was just as painful for me to watch as it was other fans. CMR took the blame on his own shoulders and that was that. I am not for firing Coach Richt for his taking the blame. The season is almost upon us and we will see if there is an improvement. I am looking for major improvement as are most “true” fans.
Gman
August 27th, 2009
12:42 pm
Gen Neyland- What is your take on Chavis at LSU? In your opinion, did the dawgs miss big by not grabbing him? I figure you’d have better perspective on that than anyone else on here.
59bulldawg
August 27th, 2009
12:44 pm
Well, all I’ll say is that if the “falling apart” happens again this year I don’t see how Richt can keep him on the staff without severely weakening his own stability.
athensdawg
August 27th, 2009
12:47 pm
aah…Kevin Ramsey…..one of coach Donnan’s more brilliant moves….lets take 4-3 contain and cover personell, a great D-Coordinator (Joe Kines,) throw them out, and start playing a press coverage. i think that season is what started my acid reflux problems.
We have never really shut anyone down with CWM as defensive coordinator. Smothering defense and an unstoppable power running game are the two most demoralizing things you can throw at an opponent. I don’t care what era you are playing in. If you stop your opponent and keep punching him in the face, he is going to give up and go home. We don’t have that any more at UGA, and we used to be known for that.
RedPantsDawg
August 27th, 2009
12:47 pm
All questions in my mind were answered about Martinez in the game against Georgia Tech. Not only did Willie have 2 weeks to get ready but several injured players returned for that game. For whatever reason Willie had a corner guarding an ineligible receiver most of the game instead of playing the ball. I could see it in the stands (and I’m an idiot) but for some reason Willie couldn’t and never adjusted.
Every year Willie has at least one game that his defense falls apart or just doesn’t show up. West Virginia in the Sugar Bowl in 2005 started it. Tennessee in 2006, Tennessee again in 2007, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia Tech last year. Heck LSU and Kentucky ran up the points in wins.
The more I hear Willie talk the more I’m convinced he’s in over his head. He always talks about how players have to make plays. Yes, but they have to be put in the best position to make plays by the coaching staff. Apparently Willie doesn’t realize that’s his job too.
There is too much talent and too many financial resources at the UGA Athletic Association for not hiring a top notch coordinator.
Aj
August 27th, 2009
12:48 pm
This first game will tell us alot about how the rest of the season will go. If the D gives up a bunch of yards and points it is going to be a long season. If they can make some key stops and get some turn overs, then i will feel alot better about the D. I think we win the Game at OK state because i think that they are a little over hyped and we heard this all before in 05 and 07 and both time we won easily.
Ebenezer Snerdberg
August 27th, 2009
12:52 pm
I’ve always wondered. Any resemblance between Bradley and a sportswriter?
NC Dawg
August 27th, 2009
12:54 pm
We didn’t give Donnan that extra year to turn things around after 2000. The best move was moving him out and hiring Richt. Unfortunately, we didn’t make a change this year by firing Martinez. The result – another year of defensive lapses and losses that should be victories. There is a weak link in the chain…guess who?
BoiseDawg
August 27th, 2009
12:57 pm
Jake7, I am not lost on the decline of our defense under Martinez…. but I assume last season was the first season under Richt where total defense finished worse than total offense. The trend is not good and 59th in scoring defense (thanks for the correction) is unacceptable. I am willing to have patience for one more season…but I also expect the offense to improve. Regardless of how much the defense improves we probably aren’t winning any national championships until we can consistenly field a top 20 offense and according to this article that hasn’t happened under Richt.
Gen Neyland
August 27th, 2009
12:57 pm
Gman : CMR is in charge at Georgia. I don’t think Chavis would have signed on with a SEC East program. He’s the kind of DC that first, could write his own ticket and second, he probably wouldn’t want to play against UT yearly. Chavis had LSU in his sights for years as a program he’d like to undertake if Tennessee let him go. I’m glad Miles picked him up and truthfully, I wish him well until we play them.
Rufus1
August 27th, 2009
12:58 pm
Terrible DC
He isn’t even a solid DC. He has top ten defensive talent every year and this what you get. When was the last time he a top ten defensive draft pick or top 15. HE SUCKS and Georgia will never win an sec championship with Martinez as DC.
Georgia will learn what the Jacksonville Jaguars learned last year…the best DC coach on the team is now coaching the Falcons(Van Gorder).
GO Tech
PS..What will you say when Georgia loses 4 in a row to Tech.
SavannahDawg
August 27th, 2009
1:00 pm
What a bunch of whiners!! For all the complaining ya’ll do about CWM, wasn’t he the coach when we beat Florida a few years ago, and stomped Auburn, and dismantled Hawaii? Last year, our interior defensive line was gutted putting more pressure on the defensive ends and linebackers; the man did not forget how to coach! I’d also point out that when BVG was here, David Greene did not turn the ball over near as much as Stafford did; quit your bitching and support the head coach (Richt) who is a damn good coach and who would, I believe, fire CWM if he though he was doing a subpar job.
Jake7
August 27th, 2009
1:01 pm
MARK,
The auburn game your refer to,was my 1st notice of CWM ineptness.On 4th down and 20 something,he goes soft rushing 3..with 8 back.We had been blitzing all game not giving their QB time to set.Their QB had ALL nite to find the receiver.We gave the game away….like the Falcons in 1980 against Dallas.Who defends this guy is not watching or understanding the game of football!
Rashad Jones
August 27th, 2009
1:03 pm
bump