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
LifelongDawg
September 30th, 2009
9:49 pm
HH, I get it now. All those years UGA has been beating these teams it was bcause they stunk. Now they’re all good (or going to be). You’re hopeless. Auburn went 13-0 one year with their crappy previous coach. LSU, who the Dawgs have beaten like a drum the past few years, have a couple of NC’s. Tech, even though the majority of their bowls were played on a blue field, was nonetheless an over .500 team. UT played for the conference championship the last year that LSU won a NC. Enough of you already.
Pi$$onatichie
September 30th, 2009
10:19 pm
Pi$$onaDawg, you are as stupid as it gets, cant you hear yourself you stupid a$$? Georgia has a weak schedule!! but your stupid bugs has a killer one!! typical a dumpa$$ yellow bug
HH
September 30th, 2009
10:24 pm
I did not say “they” stunk. “They” have been a pretty good team, not a great team. I did not say “they” are all going to be good. You said it. Learn how to read Lifelong Dawg. I am inferring that Richt is not as good as some say, I guess that would be you. Let me try to make it clear without drawing a picture. Richt is an OK coach, but not a great coach. He may be a great coach sooner or later, but he ain’t now. So far as what happens with UT, Aub.and GT, I said one will have to wait and see. With LSU, he got beat by Saban twice and beat Saban once. Like I say learn to read.
Ted Striker
September 30th, 2009
11:14 pm
I’ve seen it all now.
A blogger — who served in Iraq — said that Willie Martinez should be replaced because that’s how things were done with the U.S. military in Iraq.
You guys need to get a grip. I’m done reading the blogs because UGA has given you more than you deserve. See you in 2010.
SGA Dawg
September 30th, 2009
11:20 pm
Ga does have a lot of talent. but it seems wasted. we have played cream puffs so far and are very lucky to be 3-1……it should be 0-4..I dont know who you’ve all been watching this year. we do not have a impressive win this year, and now we get to the meat of our schedule…if we play like we have the first 4 games then this will not work. “yes” we are down and in need of rebuilding. luckly the SEC is too. only FLA. and Bamma seem elite. wake up Dawg Nation we are in trouble. The old grey mare aint what she use to be. am I the only one who realizes that we are picked by three..LSU is undefeated and ranked #4…..and a under dog to GA. #18…. when was the last time you saw that. That means the SEC is a over rated mess. and for Tech……if we both played today and played like both teams played last weekend we would get killed. Thats what I saw ……and for you crazies who think we are all that. Lens Crafters two for one sale is on.
Texas Dawg
September 30th, 2009
11:24 pm
LaFell & Toliver…..give me a break.
Going for four in a row….hanging another 50+.
Final
Dawg '88
September 30th, 2009
11:31 pm
Bradley…would you go and say the ugly things about CWM to his face?
No…you wouldn’t! Cowardly sportswriters hiding behind their keyboards. If you hate Willie so much…don’t watch UGA football anymore. It just brings out the worst, inane comments. If you are too scared to say it to his face…then don’t print this garbage about CWM anymore!
hunkerdown
September 30th, 2009
11:39 pm
Dawgs after 4 games are dead last in points allowed within the SEC. How many times can you say that under Erk or Van Gorder. Enough said.
PHIL
October 1st, 2009
12:46 am
“Here’s the difference: LSU’s defense stands to improve under Chavis…..”
No, the difference is that LSU’s offense hasn’t continually turned the ball over inside their own 30 like we have. Lets all fire Bobo. After all it’s obviously his fault that the players can’t throw or hold on to the ball. And while we’re at it, using the same reasoning, lets fire Van Gorder of the Falcons because Thomas DeCoud dropped two interceptions that could very well have made the difference in the ball game. Surely it wasn’t the players fault.
Bradley where did you get the idea that UGA has all this talent on defense? Recruiting rags? Why don’t you ever say that Martinez had the #2 defense in the whole nation just two years ago when there was some actual talent on the defensive side? Martinez was walking on water then.
If Martinez is the one who is evaluating this talent then he needs to be replaced. One or two good players does not a defense make. Or if it’s Garner he needs to be let go. Whomever is evaluating the talent either can’t recruit the people they really want and have to settle for someone else or has done a poor job of evaluating both physical ability as well as mental and emotional ability.
Take a look at Texas. They are no great shakes on defense, that’s for sure. Yet their defensive coordinator is going to take over as the head coach when Mac Brown retires. Are Longhorn fans calling for Muschamps head on a platter? Didn’t think so. They are at least smart enough to know that he doesn’t have the players to have a top defense against the big time offenses in that conference. UGA fans, or at least posters aren’t. And Bradley, you spin facts more than a politician. Did the editor instruct you to take the place of the “Terrence Moore, controversial sports writer for the AJC?”
jerry
October 1st, 2009
6:14 am
Richt 2 and 6 with 2 and 7 lurking in Jax.. He would get this program on a par with the elite or I would fire his a$$, good man or no. And that goes for Evans too.
chazzo
October 1st, 2009
7:00 am
Wow, Mark. Can you actually come up with a story, or do you just like to beat a dead horse? All you have to do to get a lot of hits on this thread is just write “Martinez.” It appears that that is all most people read in your article anyway.
AltamahaDawg
October 1st, 2009
9:01 am
The Athletic Department is fairly easy to find. Either in person, by phone, email, or the old standard letter. Mark Richt makes a bunch of personal appearances, during the offseason, and even during the season, and I have never had any problems waiting to get a few words to his face. There are half a dozen ways in which folks could personally address these issue that they profess to be so passionately about. Yamering in a chat room, does not qualify. Nor does it give you any high horse to critisize folks for doing absolutely no less than you have done about the issues. Sitting around Complaining isn’t noble.
Football games require attendance. Official merchandise required purchase. Season tickets require considerable donations. Withholding any one of those things would send a message very effectively. Any volunteers?
“demanding” that the direction of the program change, or some assistant get fired, or even something as easy as the demeaner of the players during a time-out be controlled would be SIMPLE for anyone who wasn’t just hiding behind a keyboard as thier only plan.
Being convinced that something needs to be done and NOT doing a thing about it is far more of a character flaw, than just being too dumb to know how bad things really are.
Bravo
October 1st, 2009
9:10 am
Get Smart… Kirby Smart!
AltamahaDawg
October 1st, 2009
9:58 am
…….missed it by that much.
Derrick
October 1st, 2009
10:07 am
Crazy as i might sound i say get tommy tuberville for defensive coordinator. I think has proven his defensive mind with the auburn defensives he had.
JaxDawg
October 1st, 2009
11:26 am
Mark- UGAs defense gave up 29pts to SC 8pts came from the safety and Cox’s pick 6. Still too many but let’s be fair. Willie’s defense had nothing to do with those 8pts.
JMc12203
October 1st, 2009
11:47 am
I will take a Chavis coached D over a Martinez coached D ANYDAY!! And the reason they looked good against ‘zona State is that their offense is not very good. On an Arizona State site, it was stated that the Dogs defense would be one of the worst in the PAC 10. Ain’t that a slap in the face.
Gen Neyland
October 1st, 2009
12:05 pm
Chavis is in his first year at LSU with mostly a defensive unit he did not recruit nor assist in recruiting. Coach Willie on the other hand, has been plugging away at good ol’ UGA for how many years now..? Thankfully for the UGA’ers, they’ve fielded many offensive weapons to overcome Willie being Willie. Am I right in thinking John Chavis has a record of 2-1 against Bobo..? Nonetheless, we’ll see if Chavis can outwit Bobo once again. That being said, the most interesting stat to this game will be who holds the edge in missed tackles…
jaxdawgfan
October 1st, 2009
12:17 pm
Saint Simons is right. The SEC does like to play cupcakes once in a while. At UGA, we’ve often enjoyed playing the one on North Avenue. We have noticed that, if we let them win once in a while, they’re more likely to come back. We have also learned that they play better if, before the game, we remove from the stadium anything shiny that could distract them. With all the plastic light sabres on their side of the field, this can be difficult but it is only fair.
azdawg
October 1st, 2009
12:26 pm
You can tell this is the hottest topic and biggest button pusher for most dawg fans. Give credit to the Saban’s and Miles for having the guts to make coaching changes w/coaches that know defenses and get the most from their players. Richt is content w/10 win seasons and I suppose that’s not too shabby, however, the same can be said for the AL’s, LSU’s AU’s etc, that decided they wanted better than 10 wins so hired top notch coaches to at least allow their teams to contend for the conference championship and also have a shot at the NC. Thats all Dawg fans want. A chance. They don’t see that w/the performance of the Dawgs defense having to wait until the last play or last qtr to win games. If UGA’s def can stop a team in the 4th qtr why not play that way during the first 3 qtrs? Maybe CWM just isn’t thAT SHARP and it takes 4 qtrs for him to figure things out? He’s had so many games and years to get it right but every week end year after year its the same old thing. The dawgs will lose out on a lot of talented recruits because of WM. Not that he’s not a nice man but because of what they see and hear and how WM stacks up when compared to his counterparts at other SEC schools.
UGA is arguably the one football program in the country where a coaching change at def coord is so needed that sticks out like a sore thumb.
jaxdawgfan
October 1st, 2009
12:28 pm
I always hate if tor the players when coaching becomes a liability instead of an asset. Here’s hoping the players can muster enough discipline and fire to overcome that and play a great game this Saturday. We fans may have issues with the staff but you players have our undying support. SIC ‘EM DAWGS.
gumborue
October 1st, 2009
1:08 pm
chavis Ds have only allowed UGA more than 2TDs once since 2001 (and that once had 4 with 2 coming from shortfield turnovers)
green is better than lafell but LSU has overall better options for the qb
uga doesnt have the hosses it did on D 5 yrs ago, LSU does but it has a new system. LSU should keep improving as the season progresses because of learning the new system and a green QB. UGA im not so sure theyll improve.
UGA fans are remembering last years LSU win as more of a blowout than it was. The game was one 4th qtr pick six (uga’s 2nd) away from being tied.
LSU’s coDCs were let go because the team gave up on them after the Bama game. LSU hung with uga and uf late into games despite the multiple pick sixes, beat auburn despite the pick six and took a very good bama to OT.
but i have no clue which team will win. i’ll guess UGA to win but not cover.
Phil
October 1st, 2009
2:14 pm
Bradley,
Your take on Wille Martinez is dead on. Why can’t you this same logic on another buffoon that needs to go ASAP. Bobby Cox!!
reasonable
October 1st, 2009
2:41 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark, nearly anyone who knows anything about football knows WM is in way over his head and will never be a good DC at any level. The sad fact is that there is no way Richt will ever fire him (especially with his on-going defense of his defense – note if you have to defend your defense its a good indication its not very good).
The bigger problem is my fear that Richt is falling prey to the Bowden disciple syndrome where one of Bowden’s coaches goes somewhere, does really good the first few years, then get smug and the whole program starts to slide and eventually another Blowden disciple gets the ax. I think if you check the record on Bowden’s coaches you will find that is the case. I still have hope that Richt will prove the exception but he does seem to have inhaled the Bowden stability and loyalty to coaching staff smoke. No organization can long succeed when the lack of performance of one key individual is excused or ignored by the boss. Its way past time for Coach Richt to realize that UGA pays his salary and that his loyalty must be to the institution and not to WM or Bowden’s legacy. I fear if he does not that it will not be too many years in the future where yet another Bowden disciple fails..
filtar21
October 1st, 2009
3:13 pm
BUD FOSTER!BUD FOSTER!BUD FOSTER!BUD FOSTER!BUD FOSTER!BUD FOSTER!
shawn
October 1st, 2009
9:51 pm
Don’t forget, even if CMR fires WM (which will never happen), John Jancek is co-defensive coordinator now and knowing Richt, Jancek would become sole DC.
Don’t get your hopes of finding a DC outside the system. Not going to happen. It’s great to think that Bud Foster, BVG, and the likes would come to UGA, but completely unrealistic.
Gee Bee
October 1st, 2009
11:23 pm
I’m a Tigers fan and I’m not so enamored of the job that Chavis has done so far with the Tiger defense. They are slow starters and have not been playing with the aggression we have come to expect from them. We have an immense amount of talent on the defensive side of the ball having recruited well there the last 3 seasons. (although not so well at the LB position) I was excited about the hire initially but after a little look see I noticed that Chavis’ defenses at Tennessee had been on a downturn for a few seasons. Of course I was glad to get rid of the Mallory-Peveto two headed DC experiment but I know we have big shoes to fill since we lost Bo Pelini to Nebraska. I almost wish “The Hat” would have taken the HC job at Michigan now. Cinncinati is going to lose Brian Kelly to a major program soon and I think he would have been a perfect fit at LSU. Too bad Will Muschamp is in line to take over for Mack Brown in Austin. He was one of LSU’s better DCs and I think he will make an excellent HC. Does anyone know what Bill Arnsparger is doing these days?
Al
October 2nd, 2009
12:08 am
Enter your comments here Let’ hope that Willie takes the high road and leaves for another team. I just don’t think CMR will fire him.
Shane
October 2nd, 2009
8:55 am
I did not say “they” stunk. “They” have been a pretty good team, not a great team.
UGA has THE BEST RECORD IN THE SEC SINCE MARK RICHT TOOK OVER. THATS GREAT
Other than the mythical NC which is as much about luck and timing as anything else no one in the SEC has anything on Richt.
D Dawg
October 2nd, 2009
9:01 am
I agree with the BVG assessment. Quit making it out like he’s a saint if he doesn’t even know how to stick to something. With that said he is one of the best in the NFL as a DC and was possibly the best in the SEC when he was here. Best thing to happen for UGA football the past few years was BVG staying with the Birds and not going to Columbia.
Mark Bradley,
If you think Chavis is a good DC your fooled just like everyone else. CWM is as bad as we have had since the Swamp Fox, but Chavis just has people fooled. I have coached defense on the high school level for 13 years, I know defense. I can tell you that the guy has been getting by on other things the past few seasons. Truth will now rear it’s ugly head.
kcob95
October 2nd, 2009
10:05 am
What’s funny here is that everyone talks about the Mississippi State mistakes, but fail to mention the missed extra point and botched punt that set up MSU at the LSU 1 yard line. Take those plays away and the game isn’t even close and the goal line stand isn’t necessary. I think LSU will play to its potential this weekend and when a tough game.
DEVILDAWG
October 2nd, 2009
1:18 pm
UGA needs ERK reincarnated! Best ****ed Defensive Coordinator they ever had. They need him and some JUNKYARD dawgs! Ones with some bite and that WILL BITE! Not these who don’t know how to wrap ‘em up, take ‘em down and just plain SIC ‘EM!!
Weekly Matchups: Business Time - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.com
October 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
[...] season against a good South Carolina defense, but it will be interesting to see how the Dawgs do against an L.S.U. defense that has yet to be tested against a big time offense like [...]
Weekly Matchups: Business Time - The Quad Blog - NYTimes.com
October 2nd, 2009
2:16 pm
[...] season against a good South Carolina defense, but it will be interesting to see how the Dawgs do against an L.S.U. defense that has yet to be tested against a big time offense like [...]
Tom
October 2nd, 2009
2:26 pm
“he has no player in the defensive backfield anywhere near the caliber of eric berry.”
Wow, you don’t keep up with LSU football at all do you? How about Patrick Peterson who was the BEST player at the famed USC camp in the 7 years of the camp to that time and has proven to be a gamebreaker this year at LSU. Or how about Chad Jones who just got voted the National Defensive Player of the Week. I believe 2 players is more than “no player”.
Tom
October 2nd, 2009
2:33 pm
The LSU “fans” who like to criticize LSU’s defense under Chavis apparently don’t know that LSU has 10 takeaways in 4 games….18 in 13 games last season. Wonder how a team averages 2.5 takeaways a game when they supposedly aren’t aggressive enough? LOL!! And one reason LSU’s defense gives up some yards is they are playing about 60% of the game. Some of LSU’s supposed defensive shortcomings are because the offense is not pulling their share of the game’s load. LSU’s defense is light years ahead of last year and since halftime of the Washington game has given up the following number of TDs.
2nd half of Washington — 1 TD until a meaningless one on the last play of the game
Vanderbilt — 1 TD
ULL – 0 TDs
Miss State — 2 TDs (oh, and I don’t count a 1/2 yard drive where the punter didn’t have football sense enough to take a safety instead of being tackled inside the 1)
Looks like a pretty darn good defense to me. Getting some sacks…knocking down about 3 or 4 passes at the LOS every game…10 turnovers including 2 INTs returned for TDs.
GameDay Links « The Blog Hawgs
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[...] 2:30 CBS game features LSU at Georgia, two teams that need their defenses to step things up [...]
Georgia Headlines – 10/1/09 | MrSEC.com
October 3rd, 2009
9:35 am
[...] the #18 Bulldogs?4. The AJC’s Mark Bradley wants to remind everyone that LSU went out and hired defensive coordinator John Chavis while UGA decided to stay with Willie Martinez. (Did Martinez run over the writer’s dog or [...]
beanuga
October 3rd, 2009
10:16 am
The bottom line is Uga will not ever get anywhere with WM. The fans are sick and tired of WM. Alabama and Florida are dominating the SEC. Willie is not a SEC coach. Please blitz more and Jam a reciever every now and then. I just do not understand why MR let him have another year.
Troof
October 5th, 2009
4:19 pm
Get over it Dawg lovers. Smart’s not coming back to Jawjaville. Neither is Muschamp. You want Willie gone? There’s only one way that’s happening:
FIRE MARK RICHT!
Or get used to being in the second tier of SEC football. Bama used to have a “nice guy” like Richt. Shula was and is a great guy but he wasn’t the SOB who can coach his butt off like Saban.
Did you know Nick Saban never sleeps……he waits.
Troof
October 5th, 2009
4:22 pm
@11:20 “only FLA. and Bama seem elite. Wwake up Dawg Nation we are in trouble. ”
Truer words have never been spoken. The sleeping giant in the West has reawakened and its name is the Crimson Tide. You’ll be seeing a lot of them in Atlanta in the years to come.