LSU changed defensive coordinators; UGA still has Martinez
When last they met, Georgia and LSU mustered 90 points and 950 yards between them. When the offseason arrived, LSU coach Les Miles decided his defense was substandard and dumped his co-cordinators for John Chavis, the top free agent on the market. Georgia’s Mark Richt elevated John Jancek to co-coordinator but left Willie Martinez essentially at the tiller.
The teams meet again Saturday in Athens, and neither defense has been great. LSU surrendered 23 points to Washington, which seemed pretty shoddy until the Huskies up and beat Southern Cal, and 26 to Mississippi State and needed a goal-line stand to escape. Georgia did OK against Oklahoma State and Arizona State but yielded 37 points to South Carolina and 41 to Arkansas.
LSU ranks 49th nationally in total defense and 23rd in scoring defense; Georgia ranks 67th and 95th. The key difference: The Tigers are tied for fifth in turnover margin, having intercepted seven passes and recovered three fumbles; Georgia is 115th, having intercepted two passes and recovered one fumble. (Neither team has done much sacking: Each has five in four games.)
Here’s the difference: LSU’s defense stands to improve under Chavis, who was known as the Chief when he worked at Tennessee and whom former Vol coach Johnny Majors famously credited with saving Phillip Fulmer’s “job for the last 10 years.” Chavis has two SEC titles and a national championship on his coordinating resume.
Martinez, by way of contrast, has one SEC title as coordinator, that taken in 2005, the first season after Brian VanGorder left Athens. The years since have seen Georgia become less forceful on defense, which makes no sense when you espy the talent the Bulldogs keep attracting. (The LSU game of 2008, which Georgia won 52-38, was actually as assertive as Martinez’s men have been — linebacker Darryl Gamble returned two interceptions for touchdowns.)
But the belief in this space is that Chavis will instill the ethic of tenacity a big-time program must have. The belief is also that Martinez’s defense is based on the backpedal. Granted, Georgia held Arizona State to 204 yards and one offensive touchdown, but ASU might finish fifth (or worse) in the SEC East. There’s a higher standard in this conference, and Chavis has proved he can meet it.
This doesn’t mean LSU will beat Georgia on Saturday. (I picked LSU to win 24-23 a while back.) The Tigers’ offense is awful statistically (105th nationally) and the game is in Athens. And these Bulldogs are developing a knack for winning close. Over the longer haul, though, the program with the Chief in charge of its defense figures to be in good hands. Can’t say the same about the other team. At least I can’t.
The Georgia defense under Martinez is trending downward. Over the past 10 games, opponents have averaged — averaged — 31.4 points. In 42 games under Brian VanGorder, Martinez’s predecessor, only once did the Bulldogs yield 30 points in a game. (And that was in the 2003 SEC championship game against an LSU team that would win the BCS title.)
It must be said: Steve Spurrier needed seven seasons to win a national championship at Florida, and he did it only after hiring Bob Stoops to run his defense; it took Mack Brown eight seasons to win one at Texas, and he did it only after importing Gene Chizik as coordinator.
Last winter Les Miles, who already has a BCS title in his portfolio, moved to hire Chavis. Mark Richt, who’s in his ninth season and who hasn’t yet played for the national championship, claimed his coaching staff might have done its finest job in 2008 despite losing three games in which the opponent scored 40-plus points each time. And Willie Martinez got a raise.
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241 comments Add your comment
Tom
September 30th, 2009
11:22 am
I anticipate Bud Foster (or possibly Mark London) being the head coach in Charlottesville in 2010.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2009
11:26 am
Al Groh won’t get four more years?
F-105 Thunderchief
September 30th, 2009
11:27 am
You lost me when you wrote you have two – count ‘em – two receivers better than A.J. Green. There may not be two in the country better than Green, there Homer, er, rather Gary.
Old Dawg
September 30th, 2009
11:28 am
I really hate saying this, but I don’t think WM is the man to help UGA over the hurdle to the next level. Sure Georgia continues to win and I’m the last one two demand a national championship every year. That being said, when a defensive unit continues to underperform in big games, when do top tier defensive recruits stop wanting to play for Georgia? If that happens, the winning string is in trouble.
Sure, UGA has numerous defensive players on NFL rosters. I’m just concerned about long term recruiting and performance on the field.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2009
11:29 am
Green is the best receiver in the country. (Amateur status.)
NC Dawg
September 30th, 2009
11:30 am
“…defense based on the backpedal.” Mark, great line!
wspdawg
September 30th, 2009
11:30 am
Saint Simons loves “play” with cupcakes.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2009
11:31 am
Thanks, NC. Much obliged.
ButlerDawg
September 30th, 2009
11:31 am
Actually, I think Chavis in the pic above looks more like that terrorist that we nabbed a few years back. You know that fat, hairy backed dude in the wife-beater who looked like he just had a rude-awakening/arse-pounding.
Pi$$onaDawg
September 30th, 2009
11:31 am
CUZ i love you bro but you must be STOMED with that score and a predicted UGA win. The Dawgs have been lucky to win against bad teams and LUS ain’t great but they have more than ASU, USC, and AkrieSaw for sure. I wish you the best, but I don’t see Cox winning this game.
UGA Fan
September 30th, 2009
11:34 am
hat about an offense that goes dead for a Qtr at a time? multiple 3 and outs against GT last yr, Turnovers? 2 giving Kentucky possesion inside the red zone last year. How many drives have lasted for more than 3 min? 5 min drives were a trademark when CMR called the plays. CWM is not as good as BVG and Bobo is not as good as CMR.
Tom
September 30th, 2009
11:34 am
Al Groh won’t get four more years?
Of salary, maybe.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 30th, 2009
11:35 am
Maybe GaryNearBR was talking only talking about the time frame from 3:30 to 7:00 PM on Saturday or a portion of that time. Or maybe specific plays during that time. If not I want what his medication must be some good stuff.
UGA Fan
September 30th, 2009
11:38 am
Pi$$onaDawg, I am not convinced LSU is better than those teams. Did you watch LSU play Miss St, LaLa, or Washington? Not saying that UGA has a sure win just that I would not wager either way on this game.
UGA Fan
September 30th, 2009
11:39 am
What is the big deal about Groh? He is doing what every UVa FB coach has done, nothing.
Yellow Fuzz
September 30th, 2009
11:39 am
Give me some more KOOLAID.
Ahhhh thanks.
georgia’s “college offense” will score 50 and their award winning defense will shut out LSU like the good ole days. And the tailgaters will pick up after themselves.
Yellow Fuzz
September 30th, 2009
11:40 am
NOT
Ed-Covington
September 30th, 2009
11:41 am
Wasn’t WM the DC in the Hawaii bowl game that was supposedly the benchmark for future uga defensive dominanace?
ButlerDawg
September 30th, 2009
11:44 am
Simply put, this weekend’s matchup between the Dawgs and Tigers is a game where both teams are playing against their mirror-image (tons of talent on both teams, subpar to downright awful coaching on both teams). This is nothing more than a fight for 2nd or 3rd place in each team’s respective division…if that lucky.
Otto
September 30th, 2009
11:47 am
Ed-Covington, Shutting down a WAC team was never a benchmark
dandydawg
September 30th, 2009
11:49 am
I wish the Falcons would donk it up and maybe BVG would come back.
dandydawg
September 30th, 2009
11:51 am
If we were playing our normal crappy schedule no one would be the wiser.
Ed-Covington
September 30th, 2009
11:52 am
Uh, uga fan:
UVa was a football power in the ’90s; ranked #1 when Tech beat them in ‘90. They had a really strong program and sent many players to the NFL, (which they still seem to do each year).
dandydawg
September 30th, 2009
11:52 am
I swear I saw Kevin Ramsey in the booth last week.
Duane
September 30th, 2009
11:59 am
I will say this and be done. I can recall more than six times this year already where the offense turns the ball over and the defense is only given 35 yards to play with. The offense has got to make the team go the distance of the field and quit turning the ball over. Fumbles, interceptions, offensive penalties, did I mention FUMBLES, all of these things hurt us and then the defense suffers from it. So I will hold judgement on Martinez just a tad bit longer. But I will say that I miss that ol VanGorder something serious!!!!
Ed-Covington
September 30th, 2009
12:01 pm
Otto:
I was just referencing what the dawg nation was claiming at the time.
Pitbull
September 30th, 2009
12:04 pm
I guess when a lazy Atlanta sports writer needs to crank out a piece of crap before heading out to goof off then there is nothing easier than a cheap shot at Willie M. Just beat the drum and then beat it out the door.
I personally like the stop the run first and make the qb beat you with his arm if he can. Coach Dooley and Coach Russell used it and were quite successful. Coach Richt has been even more successful thus far in his 8 and 1/4 seasons.
But I guess a know it all lazy sports writer knows more about running a football team and that is Mark B.
hatfieldgeoff
September 30th, 2009
12:05 pm
I was just on ESPN’s website and their blogger that covers the Pac-10 wrote a story about ASU and how they found their Defense against UGA, but their offense was still lacking, “gaing just 204 yards of total offense against a defense that would be below average in the Pac-10.” My first thought was what slander. But then looking at the stats you can’t refute the claim. Willie Martinez (and coach Richt) have brought us to this. Thanks Willie. Erk Russel, Rest in Peace.
ButlerDawg
September 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
Everything is back full-circle to the end of Donnan’s reign:
1-UF and Bama are the class of the SEC, and feared by everyone!
2-UGA head man and staff have become complacent and look lost on game days…some on the staff don’t belong in D-1 football in the first place.
3-UGA has tons of talent but only a handful step-up on gameday, the rest look unmotivated (see #2 for the reason why).
4-The team is more interested in entertaining the crowd with “hip-hoppin” then wowing us with solid play on the field (see this past Saturday against AZ St, much like Quincy Carter and the huddle hopping up and down to get their “groove on” against freaking Vandy in 2000…embarrasing.
5-UGA fanbase that is content with 8 wins and crappy bowls, with the occassinal semi-respectable trip to the Outback/Cap One Bowl. A fanbase that also lashes out at other fans distaste/dislike of mediocrity and wanting changes made.
Back full-circle, and we’re all nine years older! But hey, a “win’s a win” right?
hatfieldgeoff
September 30th, 2009
12:08 pm
Enter your comments here
LSU Guy
September 30th, 2009
12:09 pm
Saturday’s game will be a nail-bitter, as it promises to be a well-balanced game between two proven mediocrities. I can’t wait.
Hopkins
September 30th, 2009
12:11 pm
Two words, Kirby Smart.
Ed-Covington
September 30th, 2009
12:14 pm
Who was the Tide DC last year? Isn’t this Smart’s first year? I’m sure that Kirby sent his resume’ to uga. What did Satan, the defensive genius, see in him that MR missed?
LSU Guy
September 30th, 2009
12:14 pm
@PittBull: Isn’t “lazy sportswriter” a redundant term?
Dawg75
September 30th, 2009
12:17 pm
It will be a tough game this weekend. With the issues UGA still has I suspect we will lose this weekend. I hope we win, but if we play like that this weekened we will lose. We have done better then I thought we were going to do this year. Defense and Offense both have the same issues, but MArtinez has a history of poor performance. Time for him to go!!!
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2009
12:17 pm
K. Smart became the Alabama defensive coordinator in February 2008.
Sautee Dawg
September 30th, 2009
12:17 pm
Mark,
One thing worries me about the LSU game is, if we couldn’t contain Stephen Garcia of South Carolina, How are we going to contain the Jefferson kid from LSU? He’s got a pretty decent arm, especially on the long pass not to mention he’s alot faster than Garcia.
Mark Bradley
September 30th, 2009
12:19 pm
Garcia hurt Georgia much more than I thought he would, but it’s looking as if he has become a pretty fair quarterback. He did beat Houston Nutt’s guys.
Native Atlantan
September 30th, 2009
12:20 pm
This is basically the difference between Richt and Meyer. Richt will remain loyal to his assistants pretty much regareless of performance. If Meyer knows he can get better assistants on his staff, Urban will take the ones he’s replacing and cut their throats, stab them in the back and have them out the door by lunch. Not being critical of the UF coach….just pointing out he will make the tough decisions to give himself the best chance to win.
Windale
September 30th, 2009
12:21 pm
Go Get Kirby Smart!
The Ghost of Johnny Rauch
September 30th, 2009
12:23 pm
There once was a coach named Martinez
Whose teams looked real weak in arenas
They danced really well
Grew long hair to their tail
But opponents blew threw them like Katrina
Ed-Covington
September 30th, 2009
12:23 pm
dandydawg:
“normal crappy schedule”?
Okie St, SoCar, Ark & ASU?
Not exactly what anyone would call a tough row to hoe!
Windale
September 30th, 2009
12:24 pm
Smart has been with Saban since his LSU days.
Waycross Dawg
September 30th, 2009
12:24 pm
Don’t bring VanGorder into the mix. He may have had success at UGA, but he’s never demonstrated a willingness to commit to a program. Kind of difficult to ask youngsters to commit when the coach won’t. He’s always looking for something else. Ask Georgia Southern, Jacksonville Jaguars, South Carolina.
timthebrave
September 30th, 2009
12:24 pm
ButlerDawg, “-UGA fanbase that is content with 8 wins and crappy bowls” We are averaging 10 wins a year and usually finish in the top 10. Are you talking about the 90’s? I’m not happy with the way we played but I don’t think the sky is falling and I don’t make up “facts/stats” to prove my bogus points
Waycross Dawg
September 30th, 2009
12:25 pm
Don’t bring VanGorder into the mix. He may have had success at UGA, but he’s never demonstrated a willingness to commit to a program. Kind of difficult to ask youngsters to commit when the coach won’t. He’s always looking for something else. Ask Georgia Southern, Jacksonville Jaguars, South Carolina. BVG = Be Veryquickly Gone
WildBill
September 30th, 2009
12:27 pm
This Saturday, I’d like to see CMR get riled up, slam his headphone to the ground(like Spurrier), rotate Logan Gray, promote tackling, promote sound defense, promote sound special teams, ban dancing, and jack up his coaches beyond anyone’s belief (with a handfull of pink slips).
Otto
September 30th, 2009
12:29 pm
Ed I am aware they were over ranked I was also in Bobby Dodd in ‘98 GT “upset” UVA.
Ed-Covington
September 30th, 2009
12:31 pm
But Smart wasn’t on Satan’s ‘Fins staff, was he? What was he doing then?
timthebrave
September 30th, 2009
12:32 pm
Why do all these GA fans complain after victories? If we lose go ahead and complain, but it gets old hearing the fire martinez blogs after the defense looked great against ASU. They let up 10 points and 7 was off a turnover with a 30 yard field. I don’t care how we win…Just win…Go Dawgs!