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.

241 comments Add your comment

richtfan

September 30th, 2009
10:20 am

who knows. chavis is still running the same UT defense he has always run. they are typically vulnerable to the pass, and he has no player in the defensive backfield anywhere near the caliber of eric berry. i think it might be a shootout, which would favor UGA due to all of its offensive weapons. if it is a low scoring contest, then i’d be inclined to favor lsu. that’s why we play them on saturdays.

ChrisC

September 30th, 2009
10:21 am

FIRST!

First time ever.

Todd

September 30th, 2009
10:22 am

I always say evaluate the guy at the end of the yr.

Look, and Bradley I beg you to look in to this. Last yrs. with the likes of Stafford and Moreno, we put the defense in bad spots time and time.

People forget, going in to the FL game last yr. we had one loss folks, just beat the hell out of LSU in thier house….. then,

how many times can you say it, laid a freaking egg in Jax. How many times (please Bradley look this up) has the offense stunk up the joint in Jax under Mark Richt. Offense was the problem at the critical point in the season last yr.

The other thing GA fans cannot, will not, never, ever realize is that when we loose to FL, who gives a crap what happens after that. GA goes in to the tank always after loosing to FLorida, unless, unless, we still have a chance at the SEC title game.

Ga will win back to back against LSU and the Kitty, if the offense doesn’t stink up the joint. Am I’m just not sure about Coxy, he cannot make the mistakes he’s made so far, along with the good and great at times( majority of that came against Arky) and Ga go 2-0 then next 2 weeks.

wolfdawg

September 30th, 2009
10:22 am

ChrisC

September 30th, 2009
10:23 am

StuDawg

September 30th, 2009
10:23 am

Well said; in a nutshell, FIRE WILLIE!

navydawg

September 30th, 2009
10:23 am

I hope our “D” steps up this game!!!! This will be the game that could decide what the rest of the season will hold for us. GO DAWGS!!!!

Paul H

September 30th, 2009
10:23 am

Will the real UGA defense please stand up? And by “real” I mean the one that played against OSU and ASU.

And I think “m” just picked LSU to beat West Virginia in the SEC Championship this year.

Ken Griffey Jr.

September 30th, 2009
10:24 am

Free Willie!!!

Valdosta Dawg

September 30th, 2009
10:25 am

The bottom line is that no matter how we finish the season Willie has got to go, the defense has gotten worse every year under him. I know the players defend him now, I would bet though if he were gone then some would sing a new tune.
Anyway you cut it they keep winning the close ones and I do not give a hoot about stats when a W is the outcome. That includes stats on turnovers and penalties, however I am aware that eventually they will catch up to the DAWGS.
GO DAWGS, hold that TIGER!
AND to hell with Ga Tech!

Vick=Dog killing thug

September 30th, 2009
10:25 am

The loyalty must be to UGA football, not to a specific individual. If Willie cant cut the mustard then Richt has to man up and make a change. However, when I listen to the Mark Richt report on newstalk 750 WSB, Richt praises the defense so don’t expect a change anytime soon or at all. Willie is here to stay.

Dawgs73

September 30th, 2009
10:25 am

Mark, excellent point. You can say the same for almost every other coaching position/team in the SEC. The evolution or shall I say the improvement at almost every SEC school is a reason for concern. If Richt is not willing to admit weakness and improve, this team will start to regress in the standings. It’s no longer acceptable to “stand pat” and watch while you accumulate top 10 recruiting classes and “hope” for improvement. Change is a must!

murfdawg

September 30th, 2009
10:28 am

Mark,
You should be writing about Miss St defense. LSU had a pick six and a punt return for a td. Chavis did give up 26 and I guess you have to give him credit for the goal line stand. There is a fine line between genius and chump. And that line was drawn at the six inch line in Starkville.

observor

September 30th, 2009
10:28 am

You losers should really stop posting that inane and childish ‘first’ nonsense. You are almost never first, which makes you look like even bigger idiots then you already do for posting ‘first’.

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
10:28 am

I would note the following: Spurrier didn’t win a BCS title until he hired Bob Stoops; Mack Brown didn’t win one until he recruited Gene Chizik.

Denver Dog

September 30th, 2009
10:29 am

So who did Chavis replace? They gave up quite a few to a really weak Miss State offense. I really don’t know what to expect. Washington did fairly well against them. I think that both teams are going to be ready for this one, but I feel one of those Willie M let downs coming. I think the players are at least equal, but I’m not sure about the schemes and the fire in the belly. We will just have to see. I’m not so sure that Chavis has had that great a defense all the time at UT. Peyton Manning makes up for alot of those defenses. UGA played them real tough when Goff coached, Donnan Coached and under Richt. Is UGA tired? Is UGA worn down? If we can’t move the ball on a slow methodical drive, it may not matter what happens on defense. We will see now won’t we?????????

tom-vinings

September 30th, 2009
10:29 am

I feel better that the Dawgs will win since MB has picked LSU… maybe our D will be better than LSU as this article is out there. Can MB predict a full recovery for Tebow???

hatfieldgeoff

September 30th, 2009
10:31 am

Mark, Keep these stories coming. Mark Richt made a mistake promoting from within when Van Gorder left. What is the chance that you had another great defensive coordinator on the staff? An average, or even an above average coordinator, just isn’t good enough in the SEC. You need to have one of the best to compete for championships (SEC and National). UGA could possibly have had Chavis if Richt had done the right thing last year. Mark, how about writing a story naming some of the top young defensive minds in football that might be a good fit for UGA? Hopefully Coach Richt will correct last years mistake at the end of this year.

HH

September 30th, 2009
10:34 am

All UGA fans would rather have Chavis as the defensive coordinator, too. BUT, here are the facts, Chavis ain’t an a$$—e buddy of Coach “Overrated” and Coach “Overrated” be calling the shots. Thanks, anyway, Bradley, for being one of the few to have the guts to tell the truth.

Joey

September 30th, 2009
10:38 am

Alas, Mark, having the game in Athens means next to nothing anymore. Back in the Dooley era and even in the Richt/Van Gorder years, Sanford Stadium was a tough place for an opponent. But not with Willie. If he stays a couple more years, he will probably have his name in the record books for most points allowed in a DC career. God help us….

Bob

September 30th, 2009
10:40 am

Not disagreeing on Chavis vs Martinez. But talk to me about a schedule of @ Washington; Vandy; Louisiana Lafayette and Miss State vice @Oklahoma State, South Carolina, @Arkansas and ASU. Then we can compare stats.

DawginLex

September 30th, 2009
10:41 am

Chavis runs the same scheme as WM. Bend but don’t break, don’t give up the big play, make them go the length of the field. Anyone who says any different doesn’t know football.

The points allowed this year by UGA would be substantially less if the turnovers didn’t contribute. When teams have had to drive the longer field, the D has done much better.

I’m not defending WM at all but those are the facts. This week unfortunately we are facing a kid at QB who is getting better each week and can run as well as throw. He would give any defense a problem.

It will be a shootout.

JB

September 30th, 2009
10:42 am

My four cents……….If Dawgs muddle through the year and win 8 games or so, even if they are all ugly, Willie comes back……..with a raise to boot (geez)……………..or………………….We lose to LSU, TENN, Auburn, blown out by Florida and…………gads TECH again, MARK won’t be making the call.
This is just a red meat blog to gets hits, but this situation is REAL in Athens. Why is this program going backwards in year 9 ? That would be a good blog……………………We all know what would be said.

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
10:43 am

LSU’s coordinators last season were Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Pevoto. Neither is still employed by LSU.

Jim

September 30th, 2009
10:44 am

I would like to think the Dawgs would beat LSU this Saturday. The truth is if they continue to play as they have it will be a lost cause. I think they might give Helen Keller school for the blind a good game however.

Joey

September 30th, 2009
10:44 am

Denver Dog, I don’t really think Willie’s defenses have let downs. Frequently (exceptions W VA ‘06, Bama ‘08) they start out fired up and make a couple of stops, but once the real coaching starts, adjustments, schemes, etc, Willie is lost.

norman cowins haircut

September 30th, 2009
10:49 am

I’m not saying that Chavis resembles Saddam Hussein. I’m just saying.

Saint Simons

September 30th, 2009
10:51 am

SEC loves to play cupcake teams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahahahahahahahaha

gdawginkalamazoo

September 30th, 2009
10:51 am

Intercepted SEVEN passes and recovered THREE fumbles? In the immortal words of Carl Lewis “UH-OH”. Guess we better not be turning the ball over this weekend or it will make for a long afternoon.

DirtyDawg

September 30th, 2009
10:52 am

To answer the question of who preceded Chavis…Doug Mallory, who had been a defensive backs coach under Pelini (before Pelini left for Nebraska) and was co-coordinator with a Dave Peveto who is now head-coach at small school in Louisiana – Mallory is now at New Mexico. By the way, they were heading the defense that throttled Ga Tech in the Pe-ach Bowl. Face it, Miles had no loyalty for these guys and as near as I can tell, Chavis hasn’t been much of an improvement.

Regardless, leave it to Bradley to stir the pot – kinda like FauxNews – and get the crazies re-riled up. The one thing that I found interesting is that Johnny Majors is, apparently, out of re-hab and taking these opportunities to get back at Phil Fulmer.

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
10:53 am

Let me ask this: Did you ever see a Chavis defense not play with an edge? OK, maybe in that 63-point game against Florida when Peyton Manning was a junior. But in the years since?

Topp Dogg

September 30th, 2009
10:54 am

UGA NEEDS BUD FOSTER, NUFF SAID !

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
10:55 am

Bud Foster. Good coach.

Joey

September 30th, 2009
10:55 am

We don’t get re-riled up, Dirty, we just like to hear the truth.

norman cowins haircut

September 30th, 2009
10:59 am

Mark, you might want to check UT’s 07 loss against Bama on the road. 41-17. Worse was the way they lost.

UT fans often credit that loss to Chavis and the total lack of effort from the defense.

John Parker Wilson looked like he was, I don’t know, a pro quarterback or something. Bama rolled up over 500 yards. UT corners played 15 yards of DJ Hall (13 catches, 185 yards) and they brought zero pressure all day.

The rumblings in Knoxville, despite what Majors said, really picked up then and didn’t die down all year. Even in the overtime win against Kentucky. Even after playing in the SEC-Championship.

http://www.rolltide.com/fls/8000/files/football/2007/bama08.htm

LizDawg

September 30th, 2009
11:02 am

Dang Mark B., you really are jumpin’ on the Fire CWM bandwagon! This week could be the straw that breaks his back…we shall see.

Herschel Talker

September 30th, 2009
11:03 am

MB – great blog! Awesome work! Much better than blaming Clint Barmes catch. Let’s start putting blame where it should be put – with underacheiving coaches.

Cuz

September 30th, 2009
11:03 am

Chavis looks like he shared one to many doughnuts with Coach Fulmer.

Let the beat down commence. Dawgs 45 Tiggers 24.

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
11:05 am

Herschel, why do I have the feeling that I’m preaching to the choir — meaning you — on the issue of coordinators?

Regarding Bobby Cox, however, I believe we attend separate churches.

Beelzebub's Advocate

September 30th, 2009
11:08 am

Valdosta Dawg wrote: “The bottom line is that no matter how we finish the season Willie has got to go”

What if they play lights out, shut out the Gators and gather up a bunch of turnovers and defensive scores? What say you then?

robodawg

September 30th, 2009
11:09 am

MB, you’ve made some great points on this subject, but you keep avoiding that WM had a tenacious defense in ‘07. Not sure what happened last year, but to be fair, our team lacked tenacity on both sides of the ball then. A couple of poor showings this season, and a couple of good ones … I say evaluate at the end of the season.

If we don’t show the improvement we should expect, any chance of wooing Kirby Smart back home from Bama?

Moonlight Mile

September 30th, 2009
11:10 am

Defensive minds on the top teams in the SEC: Nick Saban, Charile Strong, John Chavis, Monte Kiffin, Ellis Johnson, Ted Roof.

I’m not sure you’d find too many people across the country who’d rank Martinez in the middle of that mix. Throw Rich Brooks in as well.

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
11:10 am

I’d say there’s a chance. Nick Saban is famous for being tough on employees.

UGA Fan

September 30th, 2009
11:13 am

Chavis is vastly overrated. Did Chavis’ team not play with an edge? I point to UCLA last year. Chavis and CWM are about equal. UGA needs to ditch Bobo, CWM, and Fabris.

Mr. Manners

September 30th, 2009
11:13 am

If proper blog etiquette is to put a C for coach before a coach’s initials, is it also proper to refer to other blog posters by their initials, as long as you put a DA at the beginning? Just curious.

Trade School Junkie

September 30th, 2009
11:13 am

Know several Vol fans that were GRATEFUL when Chavis left. Dont understand what Miles saw in Chavis.

LSU-uga game might just look like the USC-uga game.

You know…a battle of “Big 12 defenses.”

UGA Fan

September 30th, 2009
11:15 am

I agree with Mark Saban is hard on employees, they like to learn and then move on. It is possible to get Kirby back in Athens but UGA will have to pony up for it and while we are at it put Pollack at DE’s coach as Fabris is clearly not producing anymore.

Mr. Manners

September 30th, 2009
11:19 am

For example DAMM, just to take that retort off the board.

GaryNearBatonRouge

September 30th, 2009
11:20 am

Actually, you’re right…We play a kid whose DEMONSTRABLY BETTER than Eric Berry…

His name is Patrick Peterson, & he’s a true sophomore. He’s a 6-1, 211 pound lockdown cover corner, & he will lock up on AJ Green this Saturday.

Green was 60+% of your passing offense this past week against a very bad ‘Zona State Sun Devil team. Out of Cox’s 242 yards, 150+ went towards Green.

Arizona State has nowhere near the caliber of athletes as LSU. Couple that with the fact that Cox has shown a penchant for throwing into coverage, & of his 5 picks, two have been for 6 points to the other team. Together, I think those two facts will prove to stymie the Dawg’s offense.

When we have the ball, if we can spread the field, we can attack the edges anytime we want. Hear me now, believe me later, LSU can run the ball everywhere…except between the tackles, LOL!

Through the air, we have two kids who are the equal-if not superior-of AJ Green in JoJo LaFell & Terrance Toliver.

LSU opens it up, puts together a few scoring drives, & Chavis turns the UGA offense into a sputtering mess on Saturday. A loss at home to the Tigers from Baton Rouge, setting up a classic tilt next Saturday in Tiger Stadium between the Gators & LSU.

gdawginkalamazoo

September 30th, 2009
11:20 am

I also find it problematic that we don’t seem to make the proper adjustments during the game either. Both sides of the ball seem to get progressively worse during the course of the game. Letting the other team waltz down the field or going three and out on the O side. That is why we have to wait till the last 5 seconds to win the game. Great to get a win no doubt but nobody needs the excitement.

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

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!

innocent bystander

September 30th, 2009
12:32 pm

I don’t read every comment so maybe this point has been made repeatedly.Our disgruntled fans are disgruntled because they are comparing the curent phase of the Mark Richt era to the earlier phase. They are not familiar with what Georgia football had been since say 1946. Mark R. will have the greatest 10 year run ever.Take a look at how many times a UGA team has beaten Auburn three straight times without a tailback named Herschel. You’ll have to go back to 1953 for that.Les Miles may have a (two loss) BCS championship. And he may beat Mark Richt Saturday. If he does he will be 1-2 against our Coach. As for Chavis it was the UT Offensive Coordinator I feared. I haven’t looked it up but I think David Curcliffe was something like 10-0 against UGA as an Offensive Coordinator. Again I haven’t looked it up and would be happy to be corrected. Eric Ainge owned us.I would like to see some changes on the Defense. But I trust Coach RIcht to make that call over myself. And over anyone who writes in this space.

Otto

September 30th, 2009
12:32 pm

Ed – Benchmark was what the media claimed not many UGA fans were claiming it. It was however beautiful.

Kenny G

September 30th, 2009
12:33 pm

Saint Simons—– How can you say crappy schedule when you post for two years now wins over JACKSONVILLE STATE?? Idiot.

GEORGIA97

September 30th, 2009
12:35 pm

Willie “jumping Mexican bean” Martinez should do the right thing and resign at the end of the season if the D doesn’t improve rather than make CMR hand him a pink slip. I’m hoping that Mike Stoops gets run out of Arizona and can come coach the Georgia D because he’s a better coordinator than a head coach.

Otto

September 30th, 2009
12:36 pm

ButlerDawg, The SEC has come full circle.

UGA the past few year has reminded me of the early Goff years, explosive score or bust offense, penalties, and a mediocre defense. I was at all the home games, Tenn, and the WLOCP to see UGA drop 2 games that year by a total of 5 points.

Otto

September 30th, 2009
12:37 pm

Mike Stoops would be a great hire at DC. I have OU friends that jokingly said they kept the wrong Stoops and would love to have him back.

PaulC

September 30th, 2009
12:41 pm

Georgia fans: Hope and pray that UGA frequently gets into 3rd and long situations on offense. That will be your best chance to blow up Chavis and the LSU defense. If there was one thing UT fans could count on during the Fulmer/Chavis regime is opponents converting 3rd and longs with great regularity. It is freakin HIGH-larious that someone who gets paid to write about sports would tout Chavis as an asset to the LSU defense. But what do you expect?

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
12:42 pm

Smart coached the Dolphins safeties in 2006 under Saban.

we had a great gameplan, but failed to execute.

September 30th, 2009
12:42 pm

it’s simple…..
john chavis does not make the great gameplans that willie does.

Windale

September 30th, 2009
12:47 pm

Smart was the dolphins Safeties coach.

UGA-Faithful

September 30th, 2009
12:51 pm

Mark Bradely,

When are the GA alumni are going to demand a change in the defensive coordinator?

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
12:52 pm

Faithful, have you read these comments?

RonnieGarDner

September 30th, 2009
12:52 pm

Heres a thought for you readers to ponder: In Knoxville the local sports writer/hack constantly wrote negative things about Fulmer and the terrible program at UT.Half the fan base bought into it and ultimately the writer felt vindicated. he got what he wanted (Fulmer fired) and he felt important that he had a hand in it.Now….don’t think for a minute that the local AJC sportswriter/hack isn’t trying to make a name for himself too. These guys (sportswriters) in general think they are higher up on the level of importance than they really are.Sad part is, is that many of you will take their side and divide the base.

UGA-Faithful

September 30th, 2009
12:54 pm

oop, sorry about mispelling your last name? GA RULES

Cuz

September 30th, 2009
12:55 pm

New from the Two Idiots Marketing Group.

Red and Black T-shirts and bumper stickers with “Time to Tighten Up”.

I already sent one of each to Coach Willie.

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
12:55 pm

“Time to Tighten Up.” With Archie Bell and the Drells providing the music.

southgadawg88

September 30th, 2009
12:58 pm

Chavis wasn’t exactly shutting UGA down when he was at TENN..he lost more than he won against UGA.LSU doesn’t look any better than they did last year going 8-5…the question after this UGA win will be “Is Les Miles the biggest underachiever in college football?”LSU has been in the top 3 in recruiting for 3 years in a row and still went 8-5 last year…Miles had to fire SOMEBODY if he don’t get it done this year he will be gone after 10

PTC DAWG

September 30th, 2009
12:59 pm

I don’t get the “fanbase is content with 8 win years” comment. That’s been a while, are some of you folks comatose?

Jasper Stanks

September 30th, 2009
12:59 pm

We really don’t know how good our D is due to the turnovers on our own side of the field. I’d like to see just one game where we don’t have any turnovers or stupid penalties and see what our D could do making the opposing team drive the length of the field. Willie Burrito is not the answer but we really have no idea what the D is capable of given what we’ve seen so far.

Cuz

September 30th, 2009
1:01 pm

Calling Bradley a hack is an insult to journalists everywhere.

Jo JO Yo

September 30th, 2009
1:02 pm

A.J. Green- “The hit on Tebow was crazy.” You are a great player son but the only thing that is going to be crazy is the way Florida’s defense is going to shut you down. On another note if their were UGA fans that were cheering when they saw Tim Tebow on the ground you should be ashamed of yourself. Football rivalry is one thing but that young man is a better person that he is a football player and you can’t say that about many athletes.

Cuz

September 30th, 2009
1:02 pm

Bradley, I think I will call Coach Richt and have that tune added to the fourth quarter dance party.

dan

September 30th, 2009
1:04 pm

The only thing this UGA team has shown me so far is that they have the ability to finish games if it is close going into the 4th quarter. But if they’re down by 14 with 8 minutes left, put a fork in them they’re done! I’ve been saying this for the last couple of years, but I don’t think UGA has had the talent it’s had in years past. I’m sorry folks, they just don’t!

Except for AJ and a few of the new guys like Smith and Boykin, this is not a very talented team. I know most UGA fans will talk about how great these recruiting classes are, I’m not seeing it on the field. It’’s true that Willie sucks, but I also think that talent wise the defense just isn’t that good. Brian Van Gorder was a good DC but he also had NFL caliber talent to work with in the forms of Thomas Davis, Charles Grant, David Pollack, Odell Thurman, Charles Johnson, Jonathan Sullivan, Tony Taylor, Sean Jones, Boss Bailey, Tony Gilbert. Hell, even the second tier guys like Kedric Golston, Will Thompson, Quentin Moses,and Chris Clemons were better than this current crop. Nobody on our current defense is even close matching the production of these past players. Not even Jeff Owens or Rennie Curran who I think are WAY overrated.

Richt and Co. have proven that they can recruit the Studs at the skill positions, but UGA just doesn’t have the talent in other positions to be much better than 9-3 over the next few years.

dandydawg

September 30th, 2009
1:05 pm

In 2001 he was hired as Defensive Coordinator and linebackers coach for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. During his first year as Defensive Coordinator at Georgia in 2001, the Bulldogs allowed just 18.9 points per game, ended up fifth in rushing defense and ranked 17th in scoring defense. For his coaching efforts, he was named the seventh recipient of the Valvoline Southern Sports Tonight “Assistant Coach of the Year”.

The 2002 season saw VanGorder’s defense not only lead the SEC in scoring defense, but finish fourth nationally. The Bulldogs allowed only 31 points during the final seven games of the season on their way to eventually winning the Sugar Bowl and finishing third in the final national poll.

In 2003, VanGorder’s defense ranked third nationally in scoring defense, fourth in total defense and sixth in passing defense. In turn, VanGorder received the Frank Boyles “Assistant Coach of the Year” award, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.[2]

During his final season at Georgia in 2004, the 10-2 Bulldogs were ranked seventh in the final national poll as VanGorder’s defense finished the season ranked eighth and ninth in scoring defense.

During his Georgia tenure, six of VanGorder’s players were selected in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft, including defensive tackle Jonathan Sullivan, safety Thomas Davis and defensive end David Pollack in the first round, and safety Sean Jones and line-backers Boss Bailey, as well as Odell Thurman in the second round.

Now that about says it all.

UGA-Faithful

September 30th, 2009
1:08 pm

MB, of course i read the outpour of comments, I just don’t understand how the GA faithful can allow mediocracy to exsist. Example: when I was stationed in Iraq, if we didn’t acheive our goals, we would have been replaced by another unit capable of doing the task at hand.

Cuz

September 30th, 2009
1:08 pm

Here is another one for the fans for the Mark Richt Dance Party

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmbEuRzlhIs

Cause little Willie Willie won’t go home.

Bobby Bowden

September 30th, 2009
1:09 pm

Boys, if you want to see where your football Dawgs are headed, just look at my program. In-bred system of coaches, consistent top 5 recruiting classes that don’t pan out, off season problems and suspensions, and an offense that worked back in the day. Shucks, as long as we can win 9 or 10 games every season, beat our in-state rival some of the time, and send a mess of players to the NFL, this job is an dang annuity…and I taught Mark everything he knows.

Jasper Stanks

September 30th, 2009
1:12 pm

“A.J. Green- “The hit on Tebow was crazy.” You are a great player son but the only thing that is going to be crazy is the way Florida’s defense is going to shut you down. On another note if their were UGA fans that were cheering when they saw Tim Tebow on the ground you should be ashamed of yourself. Football rivalry is one thing but that young man is a better person that he is a football player and you can’t say that about many athletes.”

Where did this come from? This is a UGA’s defense sux blog.

Go back to the land of mullets and jean shorts.

And FYI, the Flori-duh will not shut down AJ.

Florida State Seminole

September 30th, 2009
1:12 pm

Martinez will make a fine HC for UGA after Richt leaves for FSU.

Jumbo Fisher ain’t happenin’.

The Lone Trumpeter

September 30th, 2009
1:20 pm

All comes down to coaching this week. If we cannot correct the penalty problem and avoid self-inflicted turnovers we will have a dogfight. If we play smart and find a way to cover the corner route (try cover three for a change) then we will do ok. Offense needs to put up some points too. I think 28 wins this game. Willie don’t ever feed us the b.s about 1/3 man, 1/3 pressure, 1/3 zone defense. You play a cover two more than anything on passing downs and leave the corner route wide open. I about gagged when i heard that last saturday.

Carl

September 30th, 2009
1:21 pm

and your point is Mark????????????????????????? LSU under Miles has never beaten UGA……and the point is??????? And to think the stupid AJC tried to “charge” us to read this crap

RonnieGarDner

September 30th, 2009
1:21 pm

southgadawg: Chavis actaully was the defensive coach while UT won 10 consecutive years over us. It has only been since CMR got here that the series is pretty much even ( I think UGA hold a 1 or 2 game edge in the last 7 years). So in fact Chavis has produced some good defenses against the dawgs.

Mary Wanna

September 30th, 2009
1:28 pm

Munchkin looks great as a return guy, but have you seen him trying to tackle? Martinez is not getting it done as a DB coach, and our defense should be breaking the FCS top 50 in all categories to have a statistical chance to win games. No harm in making a change after careful consideration, Coach Mark. Count me as another alum in support of finding excellence on the free market and paying heavily for the attitude, schemes and potential assistant coaches that would come with that new DC. When to pull that trigger will define CMR’s dynasty if any.

DP

September 30th, 2009
1:29 pm

While Kirby Smart had the defensive coordinator title in 2008, Kevin Steele (now DC at Clemson) had the title “defensive head coach”. And Saban is also heavily involved in the defense, particularly in coaching the DBs. I doubt Kirby Smart has the kind of autonomy over Alabama’s defense that Jim McElwain does over its offense since defense is Saban’s side of the ball. So with Smart you might not know what you’re getting as much as you would with a Chavis or Bud Foster or Joe Kines or other DC who has clearly run the show.

It’s probably a safe bet that Kirby Smart doesn’t have too much of a problem with Saban since he coached DBs under him with the Dolphins before following him to Alabama.

WildBill

September 30th, 2009
1:32 pm

Cuz, great post!!!!!! Maybe “Free Willie” will be the dance number this weekend.

Danny Ford

September 30th, 2009
1:34 pm

UGA will never be an elite program like Clemson. Clemson has been ruling college football for nearly 30 years. Rub Howard’s rocks, baby!

andrew

September 30th, 2009
1:52 pm

Kirby Smart was on Saban’s fin staff, but nhe was also on CMR,s staff in 2005 as the running back,s coach.

TheItalianDawg

September 30th, 2009
1:57 pm

Chavis is not my type of DC although he is way better than Willie but What I like Georgia to get is TCU defensive coordinator or if Boston college fire their head coach is to get him as DC. or snag away south Carolina’s DC but a better fit will be the linebacker coach of the Steele’s or the Lb coach of the Giants or the DB coach of the ravens

DawginLex

September 30th, 2009
1:58 pm

Mark,

As a consumer of Joe Cox crow, (it is good deep fried), are you willing to cook some up on this blog Monday morning if ol’ Willie’s bunch plays lights out Saturday?

ps

I now really do believe in the MB curse with the Braves. Lose a one run game on the same night that Colorado wins in 11 innings?

Don’t ever use the phrase post season rotation again.

Billy Ray Valentine

September 30th, 2009
1:58 pm

Forget Bud Foster. UGA needs Bud Kilmer!

Cuz

September 30th, 2009
2:08 pm

How about Bud Grant. All these Buds are making me thirsty.

ticklepile

September 30th, 2009
2:10 pm

Hey st. simon (simpleton). ACC loves cupcakes too. They just lose to them. Hi to you Merryland and Vigin(ia).

TW

September 30th, 2009
2:11 pm

The elevation of Jancek after he made it clear he couldn’t teach the LB position was almost as criminal as not dropping Martinez.

Time for the Pres to have a chat with CMR.

Love CMR – but if he is going it INSIST that CWM be part of his genetic make-up as a coach, then CMR ought take him and go elsewhere. While the SEC is a conference for men, of which CMR is most definitely one, it’s also a conference for those who have the wisdom to make changes for the better, as Bradley points out with Miles.

Simply don’t want to do this dance for another five years. And nothing changes…if nothing changes.

Harry Caray here

September 30th, 2009
2:12 pm

Hi Everybody!
Haray Caray here!
Did somebody say something about Buds?
You know I’m a Bud man and a Cubs fan!

Check out the kid in the sombrero!

71 Dawg

September 30th, 2009
2:13 pm

Coach Overrated as someone called him, averages 10+ wins a season, while the guy at Alabama who most people call the best SEC coach has never had back-to-back 10 win seasons. I’d take Mark Richt over anyone else in the business, period! Bradley did a piece way back about how UGA would never need to get rid of CMR and as far as I’m concerned, that still is the way it should be.

ticklepile

September 30th, 2009
2:13 pm

Hey JoJo the dog faced boy. AJ was complimenting Tebow’s resilience. All UGA fans recognize what a talent he is and no one wants him injured.

RO GA Dawg

September 30th, 2009
2:18 pm

Reporting from LA as one of the few UGA grads in the area – you guys and girls should hear the locals ride the Tigas for the poor season they are having this year. Hard to believe that at 4 – 0 and ranked #4 that anyone could be this unhappy with the coaching staff in Batton Rouge and yet most are.

Mark, keep up the great work. It helps to see some reasonable reporting after reading the scribes that follow LSU.

gdawginkalamazoo

September 30th, 2009
2:20 pm

innocent bystander,
Regarding your 12:32 post: well said Mrs. Richt.

My sentiments exactly.

C from Marietta

September 30th, 2009
2:27 pm

Please Mark. Give it a rest with the obsession about Willie M. We get it. He is not a good defensive corrdinator. Do we really have to read about bad he is week in and week out. Please write about something original.

Dawg Fud

September 30th, 2009
2:34 pm

I always liked Chapel Hill’s commitment to staying within the “family” when performing head basketball coach searches.

Not advocating that for Georgia football (football is a different animal), but we sure do allow a lot of home talent to get away from us. Will Muschamp and Kirby Smart come to mind rather quickly.

Martinez is not getting it done. It amazes me how blindly loyal Richt is to him. I want Richt to stay in Athens but I am afraid the coordinators will be his downfall.

JB

September 30th, 2009
2:35 pm

BTW, I heard at last weeks game that Mr. Smart WILL be our DC, next year.

HBTD!!!

Dawg Fud

September 30th, 2009
2:38 pm

JB,

I am going to call B.S. on that but it did make me smile…if only for a second.

Now back to reality. Ain’t going to happen.

JB

September 30th, 2009
2:38 pm

JB, I’m JB…..who did you hear that from……..you damn well Richt is not thinking that far ahead…..

Josh Lopez

September 30th, 2009
2:40 pm

Let’s wait until the year is over and then decide?? It’s not like there are great candidates waiting in the wings

JB

September 30th, 2009
2:42 pm

Richt and Martinez go way back…college roommates, teammates, in each others wedding. Somebody other than Richt will have to fire him. Two names: Prez Adams or AD D. Evans. Bottomline. Richt will talk them out of it if they try. The guy is blood to Richt.

Scooter

September 30th, 2009
2:42 pm

Other papers have changed writers. The AJC still has Bradley. I’m just saying…

innocent bystander

September 30th, 2009
2:45 pm

To Ronnie Gardner UT beat us 9 straight not ten straight.GDawg in Kalamazoo- I have never met Mark Richt. I was following Georgia football before Karthryn Richt was born.We had not won an SEC championship in almost 20 years before Mark Richt arrived. He won one his second year. He has now won two. It’s harder than you think. Ask Steve Spurrier since he moved to Columbia. If I’m not mistaken Coach Saban has only one. He should get his second this year.

JB

September 30th, 2009
2:45 pm

boy, read the Baton Rouge paper, The Advocate……..They ain’t happy over there either………….They’ll be pumped Saturday. I hope we are…………………

69 Dawg

September 30th, 2009
2:47 pm

WILLIE’S GOT TO GO!!!!!!!!!! NOW!!!!!!!! ON THE NEXT BUS!!!!! YES, I’M SCREAMING…. He’s killing us with his backpeddeling, soft, play off the receivers defense. He can’t make adjustments. He’s the worst I’ve ever seen at Georgia in my fifty years. Why, why, why can’t CMR and Damon Evans read the hand writing on the wall. What will be Bulldog Nation have to do to get one change in three years? One man is not worth the entire team. I’m sick and tired of CMR’s excuses and justification of Martinez. Why don’t he ever say, “Willie and the D had a tough game … they’ve got to improve”. How many people could perform like Willie and still keep their jobs”?

Weird Sal

September 30th, 2009
2:49 pm

Fire Willie! Keep him in house… give him a spot in the UGA cafeteria

69 Dawg

September 30th, 2009
2:49 pm

Why wait til the year is over … DO IT NOW! It couldn’t be any worse than it is …. FIRE WILLIE NOW!!!!

69 Dawg

September 30th, 2009
2:51 pm

Willie Martinez couldn’t defend the concession stand cash drawer. We should see 10,000 responses to AD Demon Evans and see what could be done. Friendship/loyalty just ain’t worth it to the Dawg Nation.

Weird Sal

September 30th, 2009
2:53 pm

Anyone who supports Willie has spent to much time in the Church of Mark Richt. Out with the Richt Regime

heeldawg

September 30th, 2009
2:54 pm

Agree with Bradley on this one–Martinez is the anchor dragging Mark Richt’s program into the depths. His defense reminds me most of Kevin Ramsay’s–except we don’t have a Joe Kines in the booth to step in as interim DC.

Special teams are awful, too. Fabris needs to go.

For God’s sake, Mark, get us a real SEC-caliber DC! Kirby Smart, Stoops, Muschamp (if blood and money are thicker than being head-coach-in-waiting), or even Tommy Tuberville, who is a friend of Richt’s and is looking for a job at last report. That’s the difference between the early Richt years and the present day team–which is a mere shell of the dominant Georgia teams of 2002-2005.

Hillbilly Deluxe

September 30th, 2009
2:55 pm

Way to go Mark. Really nice the way you worked in Archie Bell and the Drells, from Houston, Texas. They not only sang…..oh well, you know the rest.

shards1967

September 30th, 2009
3:01 pm

The UGA party for 2009 will soon be over with U of T and LSU back to back. No way we ( UGA ) win two in a row vs top flight SEC programs ………no way. Either we win vs LSU and then head to U of T and get blown out due to player apathy ( see #9 ) or we lose to LSU and then win vs U of T. Either scenario ….we lose at least one and very likely, two in a row.

Lose two in a row and that will seal the fate of at least two head co ordinators at year’s end. The “word” to make these eventual changes will come down from above ………..spelled Dr. Adams. Lose to Tech and Auburn and Florida, then that could seal the entire coaching staff’s fate and it should. Life can be rough sometimes. They know what they need to do. Go out and do it CWM and CMB and CMR. Do it.

They have jobs to do like we all have ……….let’s see what they have the next two weeks.

UGA,class of 73

JB

September 30th, 2009
3:06 pm

Josh, they’re 25 High school coach’s in Georgia that could outperform him. I think the problem is bigger than GAME DAY. It’s his whole approach. We are not prepared on a good Scheme. We are really lacking in Fundamentals, packages prepared to answer a certain thing hurting us. ANYONE remember the Carolina game last year where their TE was just wearing us out catching ball after ball ?
Willie had NO answer. Your gonna have bad games, but geez, it’s every game. It gonna get heated as the next 6-7 weeks unfold. I would love to be wrong.

MATT31

September 30th, 2009
3:08 pm

weak defenses under willie martinez are nothing new. also, i don’t think they looked that great at asu. follow asu for the rest of the season and see how they score.
it’s time for a change and if richt won’t do it, then let’s get someone who will.

VolsNow

September 30th, 2009
3:11 pm

Chavis? What a joke! I’m glad he’s at lsu and not UT—he plays a soft, bend but don’t break D, and goes to a prevent early, usually with total failure. He will be run out of town down at lsu after a year or two.

Mark Bradley

September 30th, 2009
3:19 pm

Remember the late Ricky Bell, tailback at Southern Cal and for the Buccaneers? He was Archie Bell’s brother, Hillbilly.

JB

September 30th, 2009
3:21 pm

A guy, who is pretty well informed, at my tailgate says so. Obviously a rumor at this point but he’s been right about this kind of stuff before.

HBTD!!!

jack bull

September 30th, 2009
3:28 pm

what happens if, uh when, the UGA defense holds LSU to 220 total yds and under 20 pts?? will willie get some love then? or will folks just say that LSU was over-rated? again, i’m not a willie martinez apologist, but the facts are this, our turnovers have been the direct cause of all the points given up, and you simply can’t argue that.. the defense has played pretty well this year, minus a couple of blown coverages that has given up big plays… you may have an argument for the Arkansas game, but that’s about it…..

GO DAWGS… UGA-27 LSU-20….

LifelongDawg

September 30th, 2009
3:33 pm

Whoever wins, it’ll be a blowout. With one exception, the last few have been that way. UGA has been fortunate enough to do the blowing out lately.

southgadawg88

September 30th, 2009
3:37 pm

Tenn is getting a lot of love for not getting blown out by Fla…they did LOSE to UCLA and had problems with OHIO…maybe it’s more likely that the Gator Offense is weaker this year than anything else.I for one think we have better players than LSU coupled with the fact that Richt has a winning record over both Miles and Chavis…I just don’t see what is going to change much in the matchups…we have beaten them 3 straight and their strength is running the ball with that big back they have but stopping the run is our one strength on D so far.We either have more TO’s and win a close game or have no TO’s and win comfortably.Richt is the superior coach in this matchup and you will see it Sat.

JB

September 30th, 2009
3:47 pm

TO’s can lead to points but leading to FG’s, some of the time, as opposed to generally being TD’s would be nice.

It also looked real bad when the AR recievers were running around with no one within 15 yards of them.

Just sayin’.

HBTD!!!

jack bull

September 30th, 2009
3:50 pm

FIRE 69 DAWG,,,,,AND WEIRD SAL!!!!!!!! i’m sure they deserve it……. i’ll bet they’ve never done anything wrong,,especially at work………

Dawgs will be fine,, we will be playing for the SEC Championship this year, i’m tellin ya, there’s just something about this team i like….

HH

September 30th, 2009
3:55 pm

71 Dawg: Sure, Richt has won 10 games per season. That has been said enough to kill a horse. A lot of those wins were against nobodies of lesser conferences and cellar dwellers of the SEC—i.e. Vandy, KY and “big boys” from nobody conferences… i.e.Boise State & Hawaii. He has won a few “big ones”…i.e. LSU and Auburn & UT. However, he has lost as many “big ones”, if not more, then he has won…some embarassingly so…how about FL and ALA last year and West Va in the Sugar Bowl a few years back. If I am not mistaken, he has won 2, maybe 3, against FL in going on 9 years. Florida is the benchmark of SEC football since Spurrier was there. Not counting Zook. That is the reason he is “overrated” so far as I am concerned. Sometimes 10 wins ain’t what they seem. I think Richt’s lucky he doesn’t go up against Saban and Meyer(?) every year.

Dawg 70.

Pi$$onaDawg

September 30th, 2009
4:03 pm

UGA should be 11-1 at the end of the year with this schedual. UGA has cupcakes like every team. Throw in So. Carolina, Kentucky, and Vandy every year, then the Dawgs should have 6 easy wins every year. Okie State & Arizona State were not crap when they were put on the schedual. Add Tenn Tech and it is almost a real bad joke that UGA should be ranked at all. UGA lost to an average COWBOYS after having the whole summer to prepare. UGA’s next 3 games came down to the last play to win or lose against crap teams. UGA never loses to So. Carolina, Kentucky, Vandy, and G Tech. You Dawgs talk your overall record against these teams and how you dominate them. While on the other hand you try to tell us how tough these teams are. Which is it? I really want to know. Will a DAWG admit that they have the easiest shot of making it to the 7 wins to go to a bowl over any other SEC team?

Richard Dawson

September 30th, 2009
4:16 pm

“Nick Saban is famous for being tough on employees.” I wish the same could be said about CMR. Heck, I wish the same could be said about UGAA. We like to fire our coaches when they have 7 years left on their contract because we give them annual extensions. Country dumb, and one reason I will never contribute one dime to UGA.

CMR always sounds like the biggest fanboy talking about his coaches and team. Does he ever get upset at any of them? Does he have any fire in his belly? Does he even care?

southgadawg88

September 30th, 2009
4:22 pm

hh 10 wins is no big deal huh?Go back 5 years and we are 4-0 over LSU,3-2 over AUB,1-1 with ALA,4-1 over GT,3-2 with TENN,4-1 over SC and 2-3 against FLA.So that stuff you are saying sounds good in THEORY but when you actually look at the records head to head it tells a different story..Richt has not been losing a lot of these ‘big’ games and a win in JAX puts UGA 2-2 against Tebow and 3-3 over the last 6 games against the Gators

LifelongDawg

September 30th, 2009
4:26 pm

HH, do some research. UGA does play UF EVERY year. And 10 wins a year is exactly that- 10 wins a year. Unless you want to downgrade the conference, the Dawgs have finished first or second in the SEC East every year since Richt’s first. That means beating a lot of teams regularly, not just patsies.

Cuz

September 30th, 2009
4:32 pm

A win in JAX are you kidding me.
A win in Jax?

Doing my Jim Mora imitation.

Let’s just concentrate on LSU first.

Now where is my Coors Light?

AltamahaDawg

September 30th, 2009
4:38 pm

Mark, I think when faithful was asking about “demanding”, he was talking about a little more than cartoons in a chat room.

C

September 30th, 2009
4:38 pm

Martinez = No national championship EVER again for UGA.

southgadawg88

September 30th, 2009
4:40 pm

CUZ I have been out front since june saying FLA will lose at least 2 games this year and haven’t seen anything to change my mind thus far.Beating LSU is not an upset even less so than SC over Ole Miss.

Billdawg

September 30th, 2009
4:52 pm

Would have been nice to grab Will Muschamp befoer he went to TX. If, I know it’s a big if, who do you see out there to take CWM place?

J Dog

September 30th, 2009
5:17 pm

Southgadog88, I agree that Richt has won a lot of big games through the years and has a good record to prove it. But if you want to win or at least play for championships on a regular basis, you have to have defense. Check the average pionts allowed or average total yards allowed for past SEC Champions. The winners are almost always at or near the top in those defensive catagories. When we had VanGorder at Georgia, we too had a defense at that level of play, and every few years we played for an SEC championship. The first year VanGorder was not at Ga, the year we won out last SEC Champonship, our defense still was dominated by players he had coached. Every year since, our defense has played progressively worse. We now have a defense that will prohibit any chance of championships in the forseeable future. We should be playing Alabama and Florida in close games, instead they now blow us out, and on average will continue to do so until you know who is gone, and a deserving replacement is found.

Tom, Resident Georgia Fan

September 30th, 2009
5:29 pm

Todd: It’s “lose” not “loose.” You will “lose” your car tag if it is too “loose.” Get it now??????

Pi$$onaDawg

September 30th, 2009
5:46 pm

Tom shouldn’t be: Todd Lost his Loose VeJayJ Wife and then was at a Loss to know why the Trailer Park Pimp always seems to Lose his keys under Todds bed.

Gator Hater

September 30th, 2009
5:48 pm

Hey St Simons have Beat a dead horse over the Tech Terds 8th victory over the Dawgs since 1979. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. To all of the arm chair football coaches in the bulldog nation,please get off of Cmr and Cwm back. The team is finding a way to win, if they ever put all three phases of the game together and clean up all of the mistakes we can beat anyone in the country.No matter what this team does someone has to find something to complain about. Coach Richt has done a wonderful job leading this program with double digit wins 6 out of the eight years he has been here. So please get off of our coaches back and let the season play out. The dawgs will beat LSU,Tenn,Fla,and the tech terds. Go Dawgs

Joe

September 30th, 2009
6:24 pm

Todd, you are blind my friend. You keep falling for the turnover excuse and our defense will keep getting worse.

Ted Striker

September 30th, 2009
6:46 pm

I’m going to leave all the debating about UGA’s defensive coordinator to you “experts.”

Who am I to offer a point of view that might contradict a group of bloggers who’ve never lost an SEC game as defensive coordinator or head coach.

thinker

September 30th, 2009
7:03 pm

Overall records always play out big (win/loss numbers ie)

One of the things that’s kept both Richt and his buddy off the hotseat however has been the healthy win record against Auburn and GT. It’s sort of like the powers to be accept UGA’s football team as: always getting beaten by FL + 1 or 2 other slip-ups, as long as those slip-ups are NOT consistently AU and GT.

So while a 3 loss record has been, and will likely continue to be “great”, you let those 3 losses begin to include AU and GT and FL together, and you WILL THEN see some serious coach changes.

Until then, everybody may as well pee up a rope as waste time and energy dreaming about who you want CWM replaced with.

But for God Sakes don’t run Richt out of town. If that happens, you can bet your first born son that the dumb arses in charge will promote BOBO to HC.

scramdawg

September 30th, 2009
8:08 pm

Richt and Willie were room-mates and Richt was Willie’s best man in his wedding, I tell ya boyz mediocrity and cronyism is here to stay in DAWGNATION. Gawd Help us!

HH

September 30th, 2009
8:31 pm

Saban AND Meyer. I know they play FL every year. Richt is lucky he does not play Saban AND Meyer every year. So far as it goes, you can prove anything with statistics. The reason they finished in the east so many times is because UT has been on a slide for the past few years. What UT may turn into with Jr. remains to be seen. In addition, the same can be said for GT now that “fat boy” has taken over. The same for Auburn. I still maintain CMR is “overrated” and, if that offends one’s delicate sesibilities, how about I substitute “overhyped”. That better? So far as it goes, we’ll see what the results of this season are and what transpires thereafter.

meansonny

September 30th, 2009
8:39 pm

Didn’t Willie Martinez have a better defense than John Chavis at Tennessee during the 2005, 2006, & 2007 season? What is the point of this blog again?

meansonny

September 30th, 2009
8:42 pm

Joe,

What’s wrong with the turnover excuse?
If you notice… the turnovers are getting worse… and the defensive points allowed goes up, too.

It used to be that we give up 3 turnovers in our losses. Now it’s 3 turnovers every game.

Macho Man

September 30th, 2009
8:48 pm

Scramdawg

I here what your saying brother but what Cool Willie and the Gang are going to find out soon is that UGA Ranks #2 among all the 120 1A schools in the amount of money that goes into the Athletic Department.

Money Talks and you know what walks and if the coordinators do not straighten up, the high dollar boosters of UGA Im afraid to say are going to be in Damon Evans face.

And a change will be made. I hope Willie can get it together.

meansonny

September 30th, 2009
9:01 pm

Didn’t LSU have a better defense than that Chavis one at TN all of those years?

Mark… I’m still reaching for the point of the blog. They hire a guy who was not producing at a level suitable for their expectations.

This would be like firing Willie Martinez and hiring Arkansas defensive coordinator Willy Robinson.
They didn’t hire a coordinator better than the expectations that the program sets for itself.
What’s so special to setup a blog about that?

Dawgystyle

September 30th, 2009
9:17 pm

Richt will never fire his old buddy, willie martinez. More mediocrity to come from the two average coordinators: bobo and willie. Maybe UGA can make a bowl in tampa or atlanta this year.

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!!

[...] 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 [...]

[...] 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

October 3rd, 2009
9:04 am

[...] 2:30 CBS game features LSU at Georgia, two teams that need their defenses to step things up [...]

[...] 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.