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
Top Dawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:09 pm
These should certainly be on the short list of replacements: Jon Tenuta, Kirby Smart and John Chavis (well, at least last year we could have gotten John Chavis). I know there are other plenty of qualified candidates too. The question is: WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?
Matthew Anderson
September 22nd, 2009
1:11 pm
Straight up Mark. You nailed it. Fire him and let’s go play ball…..
MyFaultWillie
September 22nd, 2009
1:11 pm
My Gwinnett “youth” football team is 0-3 and I still would not let Martinez be my DC, much more a top-tier program like UGA. Too much talent being wasted with WM at the helm. If this loyalty continues with WM, maybe it’s time CMR step aside as well.
dallas
September 22nd, 2009
1:12 pm
georgia needs to hire away van gorder, uga has got to have as much money as the falcons
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:14 pm
The argument about firing anybody and reminding us of the Goff and Donnan era’s is so old. That is a tired act. Yeah, like if we fire CMR will will do that. Not in favor of it at all, but Florida did not fall off the face of the earth because Spurrier left did they? CMR is a great coach and man, but STOP with the Goff, Donnan crap. That is ridiculous banter.
C from Marietta
September 22nd, 2009
1:15 pm
Talking about beating a dead horse. Yawn another article on how bad UGA’s defense has become. We know it stinks and it is not changing anytime soon. Last time I checked it is just a game anyway. How fun at your whine and cheese party.
Old Man Fan
September 22nd, 2009
1:15 pm
CMR just had a news conference. He is gonna make changes. He’s gonna keep all the coaches and fire all the FANS.
lbs
September 22nd, 2009
1:16 pm
I am sure there are about 245,000 more reasons why Martinez should not be our defensive coordinator. Mark Richt is a great coach, and very supportive of his staff, but he also needs to think about what is best for the overall program. Martinez can’t be the best option as our defensive coordinator. That doesn’t mean that he’s a bad guy or that he shouldn’t be coaching in a different position… it just means he’s not gifted as a defensive coordinator as Mark so clearly proves.
Buzz Capra
September 22nd, 2009
1:18 pm
Regarding #5, note that fan ‘interest’ is considered classy, but Mark said nothing about the fans themselves being classy. One of those things that makes you go, ‘hmmm’.
James
September 22nd, 2009
1:18 pm
U T Knoxville has invested in the best coaches available. A financially successful program can invest in keeping the program great. Richt let go of some of the Offensive decisions so he could focus on the bigger picture. If your coaches are not cutting it what big picture are you looking at. The team off the field can make or break you. Richt, do not be asleep at the switch. There are too many stakeholders to let one coach screw it all up.
dap01
September 22nd, 2009
1:19 pm
The number 6 reason: We will never beat a good team again with Willie as defensive coordinator.
He is not good, he is not average. CMR needs to quit trying to explain to us. The defense is terrible as a whole and but good on paper. That means that the coordination and coaching is NOT good.
takedowndawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:20 pm
Our maligned defense is dere need of a couple of dominators! A couple of players that no offensive player wants to take a hit from. Someone that the offense steers away from at all cost because they know if they catch a ball near the middle of the field or near the line of scrimage these players will make you pay dearly. I thought that Rennie Curran is one of those but this year there doesn’t seem to be any fear of him from our opponents. They have caught passes all over the middle of the field and near the line of scrimage seemingly without regard. Rashad Jones might become one but first I would like to see him stop long balls for a change. The other two linebackers must not know what to do on passes. We have given our linebackers a pass for their lack of pass coverage on TE ’s and backs flairing out of the backfield. Their decision making is in question folks. Let’s look at the pass coverage from all the players on the defense. Go DAWGS while there is “alittle” time to change(one game).
southgadawg88
September 22nd, 2009
1:22 pm
Maybe it’s just me but I would rather win 50-49 than lose 7-6
Howboutem
September 22nd, 2009
1:22 pm
Ive read lots of the posts here. Bugkiller has it completely right. All of you people that are making excuses for CWM obviously know nothing about football. its time to discuss the root of this problem. For Martinez to be shown the door, the head coach must put aside his loyalty and friendship. He has to put the football program first. We all know the type of man CMR is. He will never put the program above his allegiance to willie. Football just isnt as important as keeping his friend in a job. So it will take Mr. Evans putting his foot down to get rid of him. And I dont think CMR could live with that. So the only solution left is to get rid of …CMR??? Thats a tough compromise.
1232
September 22nd, 2009
1:22 pm
Not defending Willie, but one thing that must be remembered when looking at current SEC defensive stats is that most SEC teams have started the season playing at least one if not two patsy teams, whereas the dawgs have played 3 BCS teams, which makes our stats look worse than they should at this stage of the season.
BugKiller
September 22nd, 2009
1:22 pm
WHAT THE WILLIE MARTINEZ DEFENDERS DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW!!!
Willie Martinez was the defensive backs coach at Central Michigan when Central Michigan had one of the top defenses in the MAC, as he was here at Georgia when BVG was the DC and we have one of the top defenses in the SEC.
Willie then took over the Central Michigan defense as their DC.
When he left for Georgia two years later in 2001, Central Michigan had one of the WORST defenses in the MAC.
Just like with Georgia today, with Willie as the DC.
THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED BEFORE AND IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN!!!
Why do you insist on ignoring these patterns, these trends, these FACTS when it applies to Willie Martinez, all of you Willie defenders???
Why???
Chef montuer
September 22nd, 2009
1:23 pm
fire the hole staff at the end of the year and bring in a coach that will kick some butt when needed!
JON GRUDEN!!!!
east towne
September 22nd, 2009
1:25 pm
Enter your comments here Steve Patterson is going to be mad.You have stolen his Dawg Vent posters.
Chef montuer
September 22nd, 2009
1:26 pm
Go SAints
Abeed Bawa
September 22nd, 2009
1:29 pm
You are correct! I back you 100% on this one. We are playing horribly like a Pac 10, Big 10 Defense. No room in the SEC for our type of Defense. Hit the Road Willie.
Larry M
September 22nd, 2009
1:30 pm
Folks, there are virtually no more excuses for CWM and his defense. You are right on target, Mark.
Yes, we lack talent at DE the past few years which leads to less pressure on the opposing QB which leads to more time to find an open receiver. But this gets back to recruiting, and that is CWM’s responsibility in part.
Yes, our players have not been executing plays properly, finding themselves out of position. But this gets back to coaching and preparation, and that is CWM’s responsibility.
Yes, our defense has been put in a tough position several times over the past three weeks by having to defend a short field. But it seems like even on a short field, we would stop the opposition at least some of the time or limit them to a field goal. Instead, it seems like they are always scoring TD’s. On top of that, even if you take out the short field scores, we are still giving up nearly 30 points/game. That is CWM’s responsibility.
As far as solutions go, many of you are kidding yourselves. For good or bad, CMR strongly values loyalty to his coaches – no way he fires CWM mid-season, and frankly I think there is a pretty low chance he ever fires CWM. CWM will have to volunteer to leave or be offered a position somewhere else. That is the only way we get rid of CWM while CMR is here, and I don’t want to lose CMR.
But let’s say we do get rid of CWM, the replacements some of you are mentioning – Smart and Muschamp – can you please explain to me why either of those guys would come to UGA to be DC, aside from their UGA connection? Both of them are DC’s for teams that are going to be in the national championship discussion for the foreseeable future. UGA, while potentially in the mix from time to time, is not currently up to the level of Texas or Bama as far as in the BCS title mix year-in and year-out. Sorry, but it is the truth. Muschamp has been given the keys to Texas if/when Mack Brown retires, plus he has a huge contract. What the hell can UGA offer him to get him to leave?
Sure, we could maybe beat Smart’s $350k at Bama, but again – why would he leave there when he has a chance to be in the title game most years? Which is more likely to lead to a head coaching job somewhere – DC with UGA and playing for the SEC title once every 5-7 years, or DC with Bama under Saban and playing for the national title once every 5 years?
You’re going to have to look to a non-SEC school, mid-major, etc., to find UGA’s next DC. Or a guy like Tuberville who still is interested in coaching and wouldn’t mind being able to get back at Auburn every year.
jdawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:31 pm
Relax everyone,
We are 2-0 in the SEC, have a young team that will improve. The fire CWM talk should commence in the offseason.
I am tired of hearing about our short DBs: nearly every DB in the nation is under 6 feet tall. We are out of position and Mallet made some perfect throws / catches.
CWM has every bit as much talent as CBVG….maybe more after years of top 5 recruiting classes.
It takes good coaches to develop even the best raw talent in to great NFL caliber players. And coordinate them into a great team Defense
meansonny, The SEC offenses are better now than in 2001 but not that much better. It is ridiculous to even talk about this years (2009) stats since most teams have been pounding Division II defenses thus far. There are great defenses in the SEC right now (alabama/ florida) and they play the same teams that we do and succeed.
The UGA defense will get better this year. Does this save CWM’s job? Remember that many people wanted to give Donnan “one more year” due to lots of injuries that supposedly caused his team to underperform. Adams fired him anyway (despite Dooley’s protests) and hired Richt. Ya gotta take your hat off to him for that one.
PLEASE do not call to fire anyone during the middle of what can still be a successful season. Lets keep this talk to a minimum until the offseason. Look how that worked out for Auburn last year. Right now we should be rooting for these kids to continue to improve.
Mark, the stats are undeniable. CWM just has not improved during his tenure. He has been given many chances to figure it out. The offense and special teams are not helping him with turnovers deep in our own territory, pick 6’s , and special teams allowing the opposition to start at the 50.
CWM, if your D-line is not getting pressure with a straight rush, mix up the Dfense, confuse these young sophomore QBs we have been playing with different looks, blitz patterns, make them confused! John Tenuta was often undermanned at dline for years but was a master at this. Is it just me or does it look like these QBs are seeing exactly what they were told to expect by their coaches pregame and just picking us apart.
GO DAWGS
FLA DAWG
September 22nd, 2009
1:32 pm
Hey Mark,
Any feedback from Athens yet on your article?
Vick=Dog killing thug
September 22nd, 2009
1:32 pm
I’m unhappy with the D, but we cant let Willie (or bobo) during the year. It’s just not a sound decision to do so. I’m more unhappy with our running backs fumbling the ball. How many times can you fumble a game and still keep your job ??????
RedPantsDawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:32 pm
The only way Willie Martinez won’t be back next year is if Damon Evans steps in and fires him. Richt will do nothing but give him another raise.
Einsteindawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:34 pm
Excellent assessment of our defense and a good article, Mark. While I certainly agree with 97% of you and would like to see CWM go, I would hate to see him fired during the season. CMR will do the right thing after the season and get Willie a head coaching job with a division 2 school just like he did for our previous OL coach. That way, it won’t appear like he had to fire his friend and former room mate. Loyalty is a wonderful thing until it becomes a liability. Is anyone else besides me concerned with our penalties? That is the sign of an undisciplined team, and we make even more on offense. Peace.
Joe
September 22nd, 2009
1:35 pm
Enter your comments here Where are Joe Lee Dunn and Joe Kines when you need them
Truth
September 22nd, 2009
1:36 pm
I agree with Bugkiller…..meansonny what is your point? about Ga Southern? SC ? the Falcons?
Last I checked the Falcons D was 6th in scoring last year …. and we were 11-5….with has beens like Brooking and NO secondary. I am loving BVG as def coordinator for the Falcons….and loved
him as def coordinator for the Dawgs. Earth to meansonny – Reality is on line 1
john
September 22nd, 2009
1:38 pm
Amen Mark! Great job! If the man had any class at all he would step aside. This is not a few game spurt. This is Martinez defence. C’mon Willie………take one for the TEAM!!
Patrick
September 22nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Why so much discussion regarding the obvious? It’s a cut & dried case unless you’re Alfred E. Newman type and lack the cognitive skills to recognize a horrible coach. Martinez should be relieved of his position. Bobo should be canned and Fabris should be tarred & feathered. Period.
Matty Ice
September 22nd, 2009
1:39 pm
Yes, it is time for Willie Martinez to go – not to be demoted – but to go……
If CMR won’t do it, then Martinez needs to fall on his own sword and resign. Hopefully Martinez is classy enough to leave on his own accord and preserve his boss….
Richt’s background is offense and offense has never been much of a problem at UGA – its the defense, and if your head coach’s expertise is offense – that head coach needs a strong defensive coordinator – we have not had that since Van Gorder left.
Willie, please do Bulldawg nation a favor and just leave…..
Deon Sanders
September 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
Actually, I think the fix to the problem UGA is having is even simpler than firing the “DC”. Fire Richt. Yeah yeah yeah whatever, but he has become the Bob Stoops of Georgia. UGA fans are happy with winning games, winning the in-state battle, and all of that is fine, I guess? However, UGA gets the snot smacked out of them year in and out by Florida, LSU, once-upon-a-time Auburn, and now Saban’s Tide. This school will forever be the number 2 or 3 school in the “SEC”. Not the country, but the SEC. That’s not saying a whole lot guys and please spare me the SEC is the toughest conference crap. UGA hasn’t done anything in the BCS games they have been in either. Flat out, it’s Richt!
Bernie
September 22nd, 2009
1:40 pm
There’s too much talent on this defense to suck this bad. Aberrations have become the trend It’s officially time to get back to the junkyard mentality. Hunger, tenacity, violence…
I’m more than skeptical that Ol’ Willie can deliver us that mentality.
BerniesDawgBlawg
Truth
September 22nd, 2009
1:41 pm
meansonny….last i checked it’s a free country and BVG can go to whatever job he wants/ will hire him !! Who tf are you to judge his career choices? You are a big dummy and I’m sure you believe
Obama has no birth certificate…and Bush was a good President…. reality on line 1 !!!
winthrop09
September 22nd, 2009
1:42 pm
for whoever said georgia has no NFL talent on defense:
walterfootball.com
pre-season rankings
Geno Adkins(2nd round)
Rennie Curran(2-3)
Reshad Jones (top 20 pick)
nfldraftdog.com
Adkins(8 ranked DT)
Curran (4 OLB)
Jones (6 S)
collegefootballnews.com(scout.com)
Adkins(7 dt, 46 overall)
Curran(3 olb, 35 overall)
Jones(4 S, 39 overall)
nfldraftscout.com(cbs sports)
Jeff Owens(59 overall, 7 dt)
Adkins ( 79, 9)
Curran(2 OLB in 2011)*
Jones(2 S in 2011)*
*does not rank juniors in 2010 yet
im not an insider at espn so i cant get their rankings, but these credible sites all have Georgia defensive players going in the first couple of rounds, so to say that Georgia does not have NFl talent is absurd
Mark Bradley
September 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
Willie Martinez isn’t going to step aside. What, and give up show biz?
Oledawg
September 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
Mark Bradley- Rabblerouser leading a lynch mob. This is low-life journalism. I think some of us should begin publishing articles on the cheap-shot yellow journalism you have reduced your paper and staff to over time and mail them to Furman Bisher. If you have nothing uplifting to say in your field of endeavor, then you should come under scrutiny. Take a look at your own work before you attack a coach using scoring stats. The mob you attract are the same ones around sniffing Schultz’s crap from yesterday. Coach Richt laid things to rest last year and tries to do so each game, but no one has accepted his honest straight-forward assessments. Most of the rabble you attract do not have the good interests of my University at heart. We should ignore you and the ajc as well. Sorry article that tears down our school qualifies you as the Fox News of newspapers. I think the UGA alumni should demand you writers step down and not accept any explanation that you put forth. In fact, I think a note to your publisher and Furman Bisher is a good start to let you know how it feels to have your job threatened in print while you can’t defend yourself from distorted data. In my book about my youth in Sowega, you will find ample references to the AJC leading the desegregation fight in the South with Ralph McGill’s brave and intelligent editorials. Inspiration is at a low in this country due to the lack of civility even in sports.
Tear away, jackals (animals that go underneath in a pack). CMR runs our football program and if you don’t want to listen to him then enjoy your ignorance. Intellectual honesty can no longer be claimed on this blog and I will not blog in the face of such printed scat.
Deon Sanders
September 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
Too bad you don’t know how to spell your own name….agree with firing Richt (he will NEVER win a NC as head coach) but to compare him to Bob Stoops is IGNORANT ! Stoops WON a NC !
You big dummy
@Deon Sanders
September 22nd, 2009
1:44 pm
Enter your comments hereDeon Sanders
September 22nd, 2009
1:43 pm
Too bad you don’t know how to spell your own name….agree with firing Richt (he will NEVER win a NC as head coach) but to compare him to Bob Stoops is IGNORANT ! Stoops WON a NC !
You big dummy
FroDawg77
September 22nd, 2009
1:44 pm
Except Scoring Defense, which includes pick 6s and turnovers in the red zone, both of which the Dawgs seem to be producing with regularity so far, these are all valid points. I think Willie is probably a great guy and outstanding position coach; but seeing VanGorter barking orders at the end of the Falcons game on Sunday made me long for that kind of game planning and intensity.
Reality
September 22nd, 2009
1:45 pm
I agree with you Mark Bradley….Willie Martinez sux
chazzo
September 22nd, 2009
1:45 pm
Dogs finish in the top ten. Richt gets coach of the year. Don’t any of you even smile when it happens.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 22nd, 2009
1:46 pm
Let’s see we have played Ryan Mallett (6′7″ former starter to be at a little known program called Michigan), Zac Robinson (one of the more notable QB’s in a conference not known for QB play), and Stephen Garcia (hand picked and coached by a guy who is not known for his QB expertise). Sure we look so called bad so far but let’s really take a
look at the competition we have faced. These kids just might be pretty damn good at what they do. Damn 6′7″ playing QB? Robinson didn’t do that great against us. Garcia is going to have a great day sooner or later or SOS would have sat him a long time ago. We haven’t exactly been playing directional schools or FCS opponents this season.
Dallis04
September 22nd, 2009
1:47 pm
It’s BAD managing skills by CMR…I love the head honcho but NOT the DC, at all, after last year and this year so far…some changes obviously need to happen.
BugKiller
September 22nd, 2009
1:48 pm
Oledawg…
… you claim to be intellectually honest?
How can you claim this?
You ignore EVERY single fact and trend that follows Willie Martinez like stink on a skunk.
You claim to be intellectually honest for the simple reason that you buy the excuses that Mark Richt makes for his friend???
Shame on you, Oledawg. Shame on you. Shame on your blindness. Shame on your eager acceptance of lies.
Shame on your acceptance of mediocrity.
Have you no decency, Sir? In the end, have you no decency?
southgadawg88
September 22nd, 2009
1:49 pm
Deon you must be a teenager out of school today because LSU,ALA and AUB have not been kicking the snot out of UGA since Richt has been there period.Neither has FLA for that matter.
Patrick
September 22nd, 2009
1:49 pm
Oledawg, please get back on your med schedule. What’s the matter – did your pharmacy get flooded?
JenChicktastic
September 22nd, 2009
1:50 pm
I’m not saying Willie should be dumped mid-season, but I think most reasonable Dawg fans are wondering how many more seasons he’ll be identified as the clear weak link who is allowed to continue to be paid to “coach” the defense.
I know CMR and CWM are friends, however as an alum and long time season ticket holder – I don’t spend my cash to watch our D give away 30+ pts per game. When I can see the game plan isn’t working from my seats in 125, I certainly expect a well-paid, professional, NCAA college football coach at an SEC school, we have a problem. No adjustments between quarters, no major adjustments at half time, instead offenses are throwing on us at will, the deep ball, the shuttle passes and they are breaking our piss poor tackling 70-80% of the time. This doesn’t fly.
I love UGA. I love the DAWGS. I love CMR, but today I love Mark Bradley for putting fact and reason behind what most of us have been feeling about CWM for a long, long time.
GATA Dawgs!
Sam
September 22nd, 2009
1:51 pm
I like Martinez. I have met him and heard him speak. He does not lack in enthusiasm. I do believe you will see improvement. There must be more to the story than the critics know about. Arizona State will be another win. LSU will be the test. I am reserving any criticism until then.
FireRicht.com
September 22nd, 2009
1:52 pm
FireRicht.com