5 reasons Georgia needs to demote Willie Martinez ASAP
1. Georgia is 97th among 120 Bowl Subdivision teams in total defense, 108th in scoring defense. The Bulldogs rank last among 12 SEC schools in both categories. Simple question: Do you believe Georgia — with Rennie Curran, Geno Atkins, Jeff Owens, Justin Houston, Kade Weston, Demarcus Dobbs, Darryl Gamble, Bryan Evans, Reshad Jones, Brandon Boykin and Branden Smith — has the worst defensive talent in the SEC?
2. Georgia has one interception, one fumble recovery and four sacks in three games. It ranks 76th (tied) in sacks, 116th in turnover margin. Simple question: Does anyone think the Bulldogs’ personnel ranks in the nation’s lower tier in terms of speed, strength and level of aggression?
3. Over the past nine games, Georgia opponents have averaged — averaged — 33 points. In 42 games under Brian VanGorder, whom Martinez succeeded as defensive coordinator, one opponent scored more than 30 points, and that was the 2003 BCS champion.
4. Georgia opponents have scored 102 points in three games this season. In 1980, the national championship team yielded 137 points in 12 games.
5. Georgia football is first-class in every way — the head coach, the personnel, the offense, the recruiting, the facilities, the fan interest — except one. Athletics director Damon Evans says he wants his coaches to win championships. Simple questions: Do you believe Georgia can win another SEC title playing this sort of defense? Is there any reason a program of such pedigree should have the worst defensive coordinator in its division?
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729 comments Add your comment
NWGA Dawg fan
September 22nd, 2009
8:36 pm
How are we still even discussing it? This guy should’ve been gone after the 06 TN game in Athens.
SandfieldDawg
September 22nd, 2009
8:37 pm
Let me say that the “Bend but don’t brake” defense that has worked in
the past has reached its final leg. It is a shame to have that much talent and play that poorly?!!!! Something has to be done, and I mean
in a hurry!
TW
September 22nd, 2009
8:39 pm
tizzle – great that you brought up Amato and Andrews. Because Richt’s head coaching demeanor is, of course, similar to the guy he coached under for so long, it is IMPERATIVE that a guy like Richt have himself a couple of gunslingers like Amato and Andrews on the sideline. Richt had that with Van Gorder. I can remember David Green not wanting to look at Coach Van after he’d gone three and out was coming off the field. A DC with stones, big ones of the HC is mild mannered, is a must.
Today Richt has nothing but girls scouts coaching his defense.
Joe taxpayer
September 22nd, 2009
8:41 pm
I would pee on a spark plug to fix our defense!!!
Don Barcus
September 22nd, 2009
8:48 pm
Every one of Mark Richt’s assistants got a raise last year. Here’s what I would’ve done if I were Mark Richt. I would’ve called Willie in and said this:
“Willie, we go way back and are good friends, but it is abundantly clear that your tenure as defensive coordinator has been a disaster. Matthew Stafford, AJ Green, and Daryl Gamble are all that are standing between us and a 6-6 record, and the O ain’t the problem. I am prepared to publicly announce in a month or so that everyone on the staff- but you- is going to get a raise. This will send a message to our supporters that I am full well aware of your shortcomings. I am asking you to make a choice: stay or go. If you want to find another job, I will give you a good recommendation and try to find you a good job, and publicly say that we wish you well in your decision to go elsewhere to do what is best for you, your family, and your career. If you think you can stay and turn it around, then I will support you in that. However, if your defense performs in the next year as it has in this, I am prepared to quite publicly fire you midseason. I will throw you under the bus and say I had your assurances you could turn it around and that you have failed me and the Dawg Nation. I am willing to give you one more chance, but I am through risking my reputation on you. I have a good job at a school that has a good fan base, a good tradition, practically recruits itself, and pays me mad bucks. You are messing up my chi. Your choice: stay or go.”
It is T-minus 15 months or so until Richt is shown the door with Willie if things continue along the current track and he does not cut him loose. It is indeed possible to be loyal to a fault. $2.5 million would be enough for me to cut an awful lot of ties and not think twice. And I don’t care what Jesus would do, ’cause I already know. Jesus would run more man coverage and blitz more often.
FloridaDawg
September 22nd, 2009
8:57 pm
Both sides have good points but the best point that trumps them all is were our defense is ranked against it peers……we are on the bottom.
BUT>>>BUT we have a string of top 10 recruiting classes???? How can this be???
will
September 22nd, 2009
9:01 pm
Easy solution to this problem…hire top notch coordinators…look at USC, Texas, Oklahoma, LSU, Florida…they all have top notch coordinators and it shows…we on the other have do not and the results should clearly speak for themselves.
meansonny
September 22nd, 2009
9:04 pm
Florida Dawg… how can you be so obtuse?
We’ve had the toughest schedule out of any team in the SEC so far (by far if you want to count the top 3 teams in scoring defense in the SEC)
Florida ranks #1. Faced Charleston Southern, Troy, & UT at home.
Mississippi ranks #2. Faced Memphis and Southern Louisiana and a bye week.
LSU ranks #3. Faced Washington, Vandy at home, & Louisiana Lafayette.
We’ve faced 3 BCS opponents and all of them combined have faced 3 BCS opponents.
And in 2005, 2006, and 2007 we finished in the top 20 for scoring defense (under Willie Martinez).
Give us time to coach our DE’s up. We’re still looking for Marcus Howards replacement. We might have him in Cornelius Washington.
Ben
September 22nd, 2009
9:05 pm
Enter your comments here
No bigger Mark Richt fan on than face of this earth. Just like in the business
world, we either win or lose together as a collective team in sports as we do
in life. However said, these five points speak volumes and are hard to argue.
Coach has a decision and I don’t envy his role. I’m sure Coach Richt will make
the right call at the end of the day after spending time talking with the Lord.
Big Dawg
September 22nd, 2009
9:06 pm
I agree with Mark Bradley….I am a long time season ticket holder and Dawg fan. I went to school at UGA, my son did, and my nephew is going there now…I was disgusted by the defense’s performance last year with all the points they gave up. We had the talent last year on offense and defense to contend and possibly win the national championship. We were ranked pre-season number 1 in most polls and see how we ended the season. Our demise last year was mainly because the defense gave up so many points due to Martinez’ bad defensive coaching which we have seen since he has been the Defensive Coordinator. Even with an offense with Matthew Stafford and Marino we could not win some of the games due to the pitiful defense. Get rid of Martinez now! This year looks just like last year even worse. Quite making excuses for Martinez. He has the talent but can’t lead. You people that are making excuses for him should go take an IQ test. You might be disappointed in the results.
meansonny
September 22nd, 2009
9:14 pm
Will… nobody spends more money on their coordinators than Tennessee (about $5M in coordinators).
They’re 1-2 right now. And unless they can find a QB better than Crompton, that will not improve much as the season rolls along.
We might find a suitable replacement for Willie in the offseason… but it sure as heck won’t be here in week 4 (not to mention the lost recruits and lost season for our team). Willie’s performance in 2007 merits an opportunity to find that DE to right the ship.
Fools Gold
September 22nd, 2009
9:15 pm
Gosh some people are finally seeing the light. Sadly there are still some people who is still sipping on the fruit drinks. Guess what fellow dawg fans, its gonna get worse because of you know who. Right now UGA’s football program is merely FOOLS GOLD!!!!!!
rpdog
September 22nd, 2009
9:17 pm
We have a running back that fumbles twice in a game and he is subject to be demoted. We have a Defensive Coordinator whose defense is like a sive and gives up more points than a bad high school team and we make excuses for him. Are you kidding me? Please Coach R should some guts and get rid of that no talent non – recruiting bum NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!
41 38 49 38 45 24 37 41
September 22nd, 2009
9:17 pm
Its the numbers yo dummies!
will
September 22nd, 2009
9:22 pm
meansonny, yes tennessee is 1-2, but they are also in their first year under completely new coordinators Monte Kiffin and Jim Chaney…change takes time, but I think it is fair enough to say that Willie Martinez is no Monte Kiffin just by looking at his resume
hamburger lips
September 22nd, 2009
9:24 pm
Ha HA HA Ha…… Dawgs don’t want real competition yet because when you get y’all only wont be saying fire Willie but will also be saying fire CMR!!!!!! Houston – Okie State , South Cackalina and Arky, Wow big big powerhouses I must say!
Guest 80
September 22nd, 2009
9:25 pm
Can’t believe we didn’t make a real attempt to get Muschamp
meansonny
September 22nd, 2009
9:28 pm
Big Dawg…
Georgia gave up 49 points to Florida last season.
Not Willie Martinez. Florida started drives on the UGA 1 yard line, 10 yard line, and 25 yard line.
When you complain about all the points we gave up… you should be shouting at Stafford (3 picks and 1 fumble). Or our offensive line being so mismatched against their defense.
Georgia gave up 42 points to Georgia Tech.
Not Willie Martinez.
When you complain about the points we gave up… you should include several others…
Stafford threw a pick 6. And Richard Samuel fumbled a kickoff at the UGA 11.
Georgia gave up 21 points to Alabama in the 3rd quarter alone.
When you complain about the points we gave up… you should include several others…
AJ Green fumbled and Alabama took over at our 33 yard line.
We were overmatched in the trenches a lot last season. But losing Jeff Owens, starting 4 different defensive ends, and several of the other depth issues led to our mismatch against NFL talent at Alabama, LSU, & Florida. It also contributed to our lack of experience and
discipline (when you get beat… you cheat).
Wouldn’t it be nice to only give up 28 points to Florida?
How bout only giving up 29 points to Georgia Tech?
If our offense could hold the ball… we wouldn’t have spotted Alabama, GT, or Florida 21+ points in a quarter.
Courtney
September 22nd, 2009
9:32 pm
Fire Martinez. Tired of being made fun of by other team’s fans b/c they know what a lower we have. I love Richt but Martinez could be HIS down fall.
hamburger lips
September 22nd, 2009
9:33 pm
Demoting would just be a pure waste of time and its time for UGA to sever ties with Willie. CMR has been extremely lucky but its gonna run out and these past winning ways will become big ugly losses. Mark it down wiener people!
45ACP
September 22nd, 2009
9:34 pm
meansonny – right on. Tell it like it is so these “fans” get it.
meansonny
September 22nd, 2009
9:36 pm
Will,
Martinez is nowhere near the talent as Kiffin.
But I’m pretty sure you missed the point. If you want to throw money at the problem, become a Congressman (UT spends maybe 5-8 times more than we do on coordinators… it doesn’t mean that they will be better than us this year or next).
You win with talent. UT doesn’t have the NFL talent on offense. We don’t have it on defense.
OUR MAIN FOCUS… should be eliminating our penalties. should be protecting the football.
Not worrying about Willie Martinez’s replacement for next year (or this year per MB)
You do not beat the national champs by turning the ball over 4 times (matt stafford v. florida)>
You do not beat quality opponents by turning the ball over twice in a quarter (21 point 2nd quarter for Alabama. 21 point 1st quarter for 2005 WVU). That is not what I call a formula for success.
You do not beat Oklahoma State by giving them short field positions on their home field.
If you play tough teams… you have to make them earn everything they get.
Mistakes = losses.
We have made many mistakes on defense. But we need to focus on what we should be able to improve next week against Arizona State… penalties and turnovers.
Those 2 issues alone will improve our defense immensely (ie. lost turnover against Alabama in the first half. 3rd down personal fouls extending opponents drives)
This broken record is gettin' old
September 22nd, 2009
9:37 pm
completely and totally agree
Cautiously Optimistic
September 22nd, 2009
9:38 pm
Great write up Mark. # 1 is the main factor to me. Do we think that 97 other schools have better talent then us………I dont think so. We may not be tops on D talent, but definately should AT THE VERY least fall in the middle of the pack. Allthough our DB’s height factor is bothersome.
joseph
September 22nd, 2009
9:39 pm
anyone who has watched uga’s three games this season, has to know uga has coaching problems, they may have other problems too, but they have coaching problems.
hamburger lips
September 22nd, 2009
9:41 pm
Jeff Owens hasn’t done squat this year except for filming people spitting watermelon seeds and doing a silly blog. He looks like he has been to Mickey D’s one time too many and it shows on the football field. You blind homers must not understand that defense win championships and when the offense commits a TO the defense needs to get a stop and be intimidating. The defense is allowed to stop its opponent homers!
Travel'n Dawg
September 22nd, 2009
9:46 pm
The stats speak for themselves…unacceptable. Sorry…no offense (or no defense!), but Willy has to go. Too much talent…too much speed…too much strength…no way this group of guys is as bad as their stats…it has to be coaching.
Cdtdawg
September 22nd, 2009
9:46 pm
One thing I can’t seem to understand are the posters on here claiming BVG inherited all these talented players. Sure, Boss Bailey and company were talented but the players that BVG hand picked were not highly recruited phenoms. David Polloack was recruited as a FB, Odell Thurman was a 3 star recruit at best, Thomas Davis was offered a scholly after BVG watched him play basketball (2-star recruit btw), Bruce Thorton was a TB, and the list goes on and on. The one key difference that these players had was COACHING! It would be amazing to see what BVG could do w/ the kind of speed we have on defense. WM has proven to be a good secondary coach when we had an all-american safety every year and solid corners or was it BVG schemes? Willie can’t handle both jobs…give it to someone who can, or Willie just do us all a favor and take an “administrative” position so your boss can save face. I love CMR but loyalty has tarnished Bobby Bowdens reputation. Throw an offer at Muschamp just for giggles and let’s see what happens. Heck, at least he’s not scared to put more than 3 down lineman on the line and bring the house from time-to-time!
hamburger lips
September 22nd, 2009
9:47 pm
Enter your comments here
45ACP
September 22nd, 2009
9:51 pm
You can not continue to turn the ball over on your side of the field.
The defense must not be put in short yardage situations time and time again.
And yes, the defensive talent is not what it has been in the past.
It will get better. The Dawgs will be better.
41 38 49 38 45 24 37 41
September 22nd, 2009
9:53 pm
You dawg fans sure do spew a lot of garbage but its par for the course since you all like to trash your campus after beating a weakling in South Carolina. I bet you just might not be able to stomp Vandys midfield logo after they whip the dawgies azzes this year.
45ACP
September 22nd, 2009
9:59 pm
Coach Mark Richt addressed all of these things today at the press conference.
georgiadogs.com
Confidently Realistic
September 22nd, 2009
9:59 pm
UGA sux,s period. Willie is inept and is in way over his head. Boo Boo is still a clown because he hasnt faced real competition. CMR is a weenie because he dont know how to grow a pair and make changes. Thats it in a nutshell people!
J Dog
September 22nd, 2009
10:01 pm
Meansonny, forget the score on SC and Ark and look at the yards allowed. 427 to SC and 485 to Ark. Short field or long field, it didn’t matter. We couldn’t stop them.
BadgerDawg
September 22nd, 2009
10:04 pm
Every team has points given up in a year that are more due to the offense or special teams…28 points on our defense against anemic Tech is not acceptable. That’s one of your examples of his solid coaching?
Cautiously Optimistic
September 22nd, 2009
10:08 pm
Good point J Dog
BadgerDawg
September 22nd, 2009
10:14 pm
Also SC’s offense stinks and a very ordinary NS State proved it. That game was painful to watch.
BeachDawg
September 22nd, 2009
10:23 pm
There is only one solution: bring back Van Gorder, no matter what salary he wants. UGA should pay him a mil plus a boatload of benefits / perqs to come back to Athens and take over this pitiful defense.
Water girl wants to know?
September 22nd, 2009
10:24 pm
Coach, why does the other teams offense march up and down the field like a band? Honey, our def. cord. is not really a def. cord. He’s a defensive backs coach. I promoted him because he is my old college roomie. That’s why I won’t fire him. He also recruits the state of Fla for me. Thanks for the question.
meansonny
September 22nd, 2009
10:36 pm
J Dog, you’re right… somewhat.
Oklahoma State only drove the field for 1 touchdown. South Carolina only drove the field for 1 touchdown.
Giving those teams normal field position (between their 20 and 30 yard line) would’ve proven a significant advantage for our team. We care about points. Because points win games (if you are seriously concerned about style points right now… seriously). Our zone was soft against South Carolina… but that’s because their receivers had so much size on us. The way we lose that game was to give up the big play (we didn’t… and we won).
Against Arkansas… our defense caused about 6 drives where we stopped them and they failed to get a 1st down (3 and out if you will). There’s about another 3 drives where they got 1 first down and capped at 4 offensive total plays. We mixed up our coverages. We played tighter zone. We let our corners alone in man.
The positives were all the drives we stopped. The negatives were all the big plays they got when we failed to reach the QB. Too much time with a good QB and good receivers leads to big plays.
The defense had a lot of positives that game. But the negatives were glaring (the exact opposite of the South Carolina game… but then again, that’s what the bloggers were begging for. they wanted tighter zone coverage. more blitzing schemes with man coverage).
We will get better. Cornelius Washington was just named a starter at DE. Houston has gotten his gameday legs back and should hopefully contribute a lot more this week. Hopefully, Reshad Jones will lead like a Senior Safety is supposed to. Especially if we improve on the pass rush.
Awesome
September 22nd, 2009
10:37 pm
Somewhere we lost effective and succinct communication. Please, spell check is not that difficult.
meansonny
September 22nd, 2009
10:45 pm
BadgerDawg… we had a bad game against GT. They did that to a lot of teams last season (Miami). We still should have won despite our defensive breakdowns.
Our Safeties and Wolf LB’s played horribly. We have film. We understand what Tech wants to accomplish. But we have to execute.
Our DT’s are healthier this season. We should be good on the dive play (we weren’t that bad last season).
If we take the defense into the backfield and disrupt the offensive rhythm. We make them look silly.
When they make their adjustments… we will be better prepared in our option assignments (they change their blocking schemes… our LB/S failed to change the option assignments last season. that shouldn’t happen again).
That’s on our coaches. Missed tackles are on our players.
Both failed. We lost.
There’s no harm in holding Martinez partially responsible for that loss. Our upperclassmen didn’t play like upperclassmen. Our defensive coach got outcoached.
Denver Dog
September 22nd, 2009
10:50 pm
Bear Bryant “the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win”! That says it all
BadgerDawg
September 22nd, 2009
10:52 pm
Agree to disagree on verdict but you definitely come prepared meansonny.
Shawn
September 22nd, 2009
10:53 pm
Willie Martinez has got to go bottom line. UGA has great talent on defense but don’t have a DC to utilize the talent. CMR is too nice to fire anyone. Damon Evans needs to step in and put pressure on CMR to let Martinez go. Martinez is a hinderance to the program. Playing the soft zone reminds me of the Joe Kines defense “bend but don’t break” BVG took players who noone else wanted that were average and made studs out of them. If Martinez coached for Meyer or Saban he would’nt be allowed back in the locker room after the game. Call out for Will Muschamp please come home!!
meansonny
September 22nd, 2009
10:57 pm
Willie might need to go. I might be saying that you were right and I was wrong.
I’m just a little more patient (or naive). We’re close to being solid on defense.
We just need that pressure from the outside (better safety play might help, too; but pressure should improve the secondary).
My biggest point is that in our losses last season… the entire team stunk at some point during the game (not just the defense). We have a solid team (this is the best run UGA has had in it’s history). But we need to avoid that mob “fire him” mentality and support the team. Auburn will tell ya, firing mid-season hurts more than it helps.
Epiminondas
September 22nd, 2009
11:11 pm
Don’t even THINK about coaching changes in mid-season. Disastrous!!!! Wait till after the bowl games and then make the changes that are due. Whatever they are.
Paul's Johnson
September 22nd, 2009
11:12 pm
You are right on Mark bradley.
My concern is that if this defensive play continues throughout the season and we lose 4 or 5 games, possible future recruits will definately reconsider coming to UGA. Do you not think that the nation’s top defensive recruits who are considering UGA are not aware of the stats? Do you not think that they are aware of the rumblings surrounding this program?
I don’t think that this program can afford to take a “wait and see” stance at this point and some will say it is early in the season but this season is just a continuance of last year when the D gave up 41 to Bama, 38 to LSU, 49 to UF,38 to Kentucky and 45 to GT.
Enough is enough.
Tradition
September 22nd, 2009
11:12 pm
CMR needs to take heed to the quote “nice guys finish last” he needs to develop a killer instinct. If CMR turns into a mean SOB and make the changes to better the program I would be all for it. Meyer and Saban are SOBs but they take care of business and knows what needs to be done to win.
Hack
September 22nd, 2009
11:13 pm
He should have been fired in the third quarter of the USC game.