For Richt, change will be tough; for Johnson, it won’t be
PJ isn't a man to disappoint. (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Having witnessed Mark Richt’s media briefing Tuesday in Athens, I was struck — not for the first time, and surely not for the last — at how resolutely positive this man is. No, things aren’t going well, he conceded, but his Georgia Bulldogs “are battling as hard as you can battle.”
And I thought, again not for the first time, that Mark Richt would be a mighty fine boss to have: Loyal, circumspect, unwilling to assess public blame.
Then I read the transcript of Paul Johnson’s concurrent media briefing at Georgia Tech, thoughtfully provided by ace publicist and fellow Vinings dweller Dean Buchan, and this passage fairly leaped off the computer screen:
“There’s no doubt about it. We have to get better [on defense]. In my mind, when you play the way we played on Saturday, everyone is accountable. The coaches, the players and I’m accountable because I’m the ultimate guy. I see guys not playing fast and not flying to the ball.”
And I thought to myself, “Paul Johnson might not be the greatest boss, but he’s exactly the sort of man you’d want running your business.” He didn’t candy-coat the Florida State effort by saying his guys made the stops when stops were needed. He said: “We have to get better.”
Again, I’m not trying to suggest one style is better. Mark Richt has won two SEC titles at Georgia and was part of two national championship teams at FSU. He’s a fine coach and a fine fellow. But this much I do know:
Mark Richt will have a hard time shuffling his staff no matter how this season plays out because that’s the kind of guy he is. Paul Johnson won’t find it so difficult to make changes if he determines change is needed. Because that’s the kind of guy he is.
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376 comments Add your comment
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
October 15th, 2009
10:14 am
I thought I smelled a skunk around somewhere I thought it was the defense but some one mentioned the name Kemp , that has to be where the smell is coming from.
Will Muschamp.com
October 15th, 2009
10:14 am
I recommend that Willie be designated “Head Coach In Waiting”.
Jimbo Fisher.com
October 15th, 2009
10:16 am
I recommend Mike Bobo be designated “Head Coach In Waiting”. – It does wonders for the program.
Alabama Jack
October 15th, 2009
10:16 am
GT trains terrorists
October 15th, 2009
9:42 am
BAWHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Tech fans are the best form of entertainment!! They own the worst cheating scandal in ACC history. Forced to vacate years of wins. Their posterboy Heisman wannabe, turned coach/personnel guru, ended up being a pot smoking, hit-and-run, open container, drunk thug. They’re the only team to gladly play an FBI busted druglord and currently have a rapist returning kicks and playing defense. Yeah, Tech is REALLY the upper echelon of class!! LOL!!!!! Gooooooooo Nats!!!
You, sir, are a blithering idiot for whom medication would appear to be inadequate. We have dispatched the extermination squad to your trailer park. Please put down the beer can, let your sister and the sheep go, and no one will get hurt – otherwise it ain’t gonna be pretty.
RealDawg
October 15th, 2009
10:17 am
Let it be said…nice religious folks have killed lots of people over the years. Mark is firm in his beliefs but don’t think for a second he is ignorant and about to go down with the ship. Don’t confuse demeanor with fortitude. He just isn’t giving the media and fans what they want which is to throw himself and others under the bus to make “us’ feel better. They will make changes. They got too many damn kids not to.
TommyP
October 15th, 2009
10:17 am
Bradley: Pot-stirring at it’s best.
Richt has already said enough to show he’s not happy with the defense (or other things). He said he’ll address it at the end of the year. He has said that the defense is not doing it’s job and it wouldn’t hurt to go “3 and out” once in awhile.
Johnson said nothing more than what Richt has said.
Dr. Phil
October 15th, 2009
10:18 am
Richt’s problem is he let the program get out of control. The nail in Richt’s coffin was the notorious end zone dance against UF. Richt not only condoned this outrage, he engineered it. How can a coach induce discipline when he encourages his team to violate the rules of the game?He will pay for it again this year when Meyer and Tebow run up the score. Penalties and player arrests are all part of this atmosphere.
Tampa Wreck
October 15th, 2009
10:20 am
Tie Rod, We’ll see on Saturday. I think GT has a good chance, but VPI is a very good and well coached team. We are and should be the underdog in this one based on what both teams have done thus far.
I’m not sure we have the talent or coaching on the Defensive side to stop anyone, so I’m not going to talk trash to anyone. But I’ll bet that if we get blasted, CPJ won’t be commending his team and coaches for their effort. He’ll call it like it is.. This team needs to get better. I lke that.
birddawg92
October 15th, 2009
10:21 am
People, Smart will not leave Alabama to come to UGA to be DC. What kind of sense would that make for him professionally, not to mention that UA probably has more than enough $$$ to trump UGA if that becomes the final issue.
No, the only way to bring Smart home is to offer him the head job. Which is why it won’t happen, b/c the UGA administration is too weak-kneed to let CMR go after the season.
HIRE KIRBY SMART!!
http://www.saturdayinathens.com
Commodore Vanderbilt
October 15th, 2009
10:25 am
Don’t let VANDY sneak up on them Dawgs and win,…………………………………………………………………………….. or — ” All Hell Will Break Loose ” — in the beautiful Bulldawg Nation !
Tech75
October 15th, 2009
10:27 am
To those who believe CPJ will leave for a better payday:
Tech will pay what it needs to pay to keep CPJ, but only if the following is the case:
1. He represents the Institute in an exemplary manner.
2. He upholds the academic traditions/standards.
3. He stays out of trouble with the NCAA.
4. His players achieve academically at the levels we expect.
5. He gets us to, keeps us at that “next level”.
If he does that, the alumni base will make sure no one can “buy” him from us.
The only wild card I can think of would involve variables out of Tech’s control – how happy his family is in this area, etc.
JMc12203
October 15th, 2009
10:27 am
Hey Jerry G, I do not think that Tech’s QB is the worst in college football. At least not as long as Joe Cox is running your offense.
Tampa Wreck
October 15th, 2009
10:28 am
And by the way, I lke CPJ a lot, but the jury is still out regarding whether he will do what is necessary with his coaching staff.. I’ve seen evidence that he’s willing to do it with players, pulling those who don’t perform, and giving others that work hard in practice a chance. If our Defense doesn’t show some real improvement in last 6 games, I hope CPJ takes action in the off-season also.
Wommack had a petty shaky record coming in to GT, and he hasn’t shown much in 1 1/2 years he has been here. With even a decent defense, this team will win, today and in the future.
JB
October 15th, 2009
10:29 am
Take the money that we would pay Mark if we fired him and keep him and bring in Two new Coordinators , the best $1 mil each would get, and tell Mark to stay in Dalton most of the time doing commericials and let them do their thing.
GaGator
October 15th, 2009
10:31 am
Bobby Bowden said when Richt left FSU for UGA, “I’m not sure if Mark is tough enough to be a head coach”. Remember the Peter Principle?
Grandad
October 15th, 2009
10:31 am
toga: Once again; how many coaches have you fired ____, and how many Nat. Champs. have you won ____ ? Also, didn’t Coach Shula win 10 games 1 yr. pror to his firing? And how many nat. champs. has Saban won @ Bama; so, if he does not win one in _____ yrs…..Yawl gonna show him the door as well? Please fill in the blanks. Thanks.
JB
October 15th, 2009
10:32 am
CPJ wants an ACC title bad. This DC and giving up 40 a game won’t get him there, even in the ACC.
Amsterdam Sam
October 15th, 2009
10:32 am
As a UGA alumni now living in Amsterdam I must often stay up past midnight to listen to or watch via internet this disappointing season unfold. But this much I do know – this season so far isn’t indicative of Coach Richt’s or Geogia’s program as a whole and things will get better. For every one rabid Tech fan there are ten rabid UGA fans. With newspaper subscription in decline I can’t understend the sports columnist’s destain for the flagship football program in the state or a man as fine ande capable as Richt. In the end, if this continues, UGA will fare much better than this paper I used to love so much.
JMc12203
October 15th, 2009
10:33 am
and for those of you that call their offense a “High School Offense”, I say this : The puppies had TWO (2) weeks to prepare for that HS offense last year, and their defense still could not shut it down.
Diajim
October 15th, 2009
10:33 am
Hey, Spurrier if that is really you out there, It was great when you were the Florida coach where you had the huge advantage of recruiting good prospects from the hotbeds of Fl AND Ga. Since coming to S.C., not so hot.. where recruiting to your program is a bit harder. When USC can beat UGA on a consistent basis, not occasionally, then you can brag. Without top recruits any program can achive only moderate success. To verify… how many NFL draftees are from Florida and Ga programs vs USC program? Point made? P.S I live in Aiken, S.C!!!
Dawg Fud
October 15th, 2009
10:34 am
Richt is soft, we get it.
AdMan
October 15th, 2009
10:35 am
Hey toga …if you guys expect to win the NC every year I guess you were a pretty unhappy guy over the last 10-12 years…your program sucked….so now your back on track and you’re sitting there trying to tell everyone else how good you are and what thier problems are and how they suck? Again I ask…if you know so much where were you the past 10-12 years when Georgia was kicking your a$$ when they played your team and was winning SEC championships and going to BCS bowls and your team went to minor bowl games or no bowl game at all because you sucked so bad.Just remember…what goes up always comes down. Sabans a good coach…not great….his NC was shared with another team that many thought was better than the team he coached. You’d be best served talking about your team than running down the short comings of others.
JB
October 15th, 2009
10:35 am
I’ll answer that for Bama fans…………………Let Saban have 2, say 3 years of of 10-11 win years and No SEC titles and no NC, they will be just like Dawg fans. Only difference, I don’t see Saban allowing Bama to get blown out on National TV 2 -3 times year and go 6-6 or 7-5.
Used F150
October 15th, 2009
10:38 am
Quality is Job One. Maybe Mark Richt needs to become “Ford Tough” and shake things up.
Barry
October 15th, 2009
10:40 am
Good grief! Everybody take a step back. I’ll be the first to agree that I am extremely disappointed about the last 2 seasons. I think Georgia has played like a team that has been under-coached. I think changes need to be made. But this is the first really trying time UGA has had under Richt. My hope and belief are that he didn’t get to the position as head coach at Georgia by being incompetent. He’ll make the adjustments. And why is it a negative that he is loyal? All programs have dips and go through cycles. I think the thing I appreciate about Mark Richt the most is that he is able to keep things in perspective. He is resolute about the path he is on and isn ‘t so short-sighted as to be blown about by the variances that may happen in a given week, both good and bad. I think he absolutely has the stuff it takes to win a national championship and will continue to keep UGA at the forefront of major college football for years to come. AND I completely agree with Nativebird about Paul Johnson. He is ego in shorts. I think he’s a good coach, but let’s let him face the test of time. All programs have ups and downs, and if this is an up time for Tech, give me Mark Richt any day. Georgia will be back.
AdMan
October 15th, 2009
10:41 am
Hey trade school Junkie…please tell me you are not bashing Georgias defense…please! Techs defense is just as bad and has given up just as many points to far inferior opponents than Georgias has over the past few years….I thought you Tech fans always liked to brag how smart you are….your statment towards Georgia are as dumb as I’ve ever heard….damn you make Reggie Ball look smart.
Otto
October 15th, 2009
10:42 am
First off CMR is a great honest man maybe that is his fault at this level of football in a SEC that has the cash on hand to hire the coaches that will win at all costs. CMR is faced with a program that seems to be out coached in all 3 phases of the game. Changes of some sort need to be made. CMR is ultimately responsible for the actions of all in the program. IMO give him one more year to show improvement and ability to adapt.
Fire CMR? Is that really more of a risk than replacing coaches. I am not in favor of it just yet but I do not see it as that much riskier. Geogia has the in state talent, facilities, and fan base to win SEC championship and by default play for national titles. UGA was loyal to CMR for nearly a decade and any new coach can clearly see the results have not been living up to expectations for 2006 forward.
CPJ is every bit the ego maniac of Les, Urban, and Saban. CPJ has not reached the level of salary or success that those 3 have. Yes the offensive is explosive. But he has not been to a ACC championship game and beat a down UGA team. The GT fans love to point out how bad UGA is and then in their next post how great CPJ is. If UGA is so bad what makes CPJ so great? Chan atleast went to the ACC CG and lost many close games to Top 10 UGA teams. CPJ maybe the second coming of Bobby Dodd but only time will tell. If he is does GT have the cash to keep him in Atlanta?
How many fans of GT or UGA would like to have Tenuta in place of their current DCs?
DawginLex
October 15th, 2009
10:42 am
Bugkiller and trade school flunkie,
Both of you are still lying idiot. Try getting some facts before you type morons.
Neither one of you know anything about Richt and about any situation that went on with Richt. To say that you do is a lie.
Neither one of you know whether or not Richt will do whatever it takes to make the program better. My bet is he will but the reality is, I don’t know either.
Both of you need to STFU, especially you trade school because none of us give a flying rats arse what you think.
Bugkiller, you just simply need to grow up.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
October 15th, 2009
10:44 am
Bottom line is PJ has the drive and discipline to make the Jackets the best they can be. He will hire and fire at the drop of a hat, and his coaches know it.
He expects the best, and nothing less. PJ could have drilled FSU into the ground 53-0 and still would have come away with some areas of improvement.
CMR comes away with a squeaker over USC or ASU, has no clue what happened and thinks it is business as usual. Bottom line is the rest of the league has caught up with him, and have passed him including GT.
The problem with UGAY is they gave CMR too fat and too long of contract, and now they are stuck financially. Also, UGAY’s reputation for quality coaches is in the ditch, because there are no quality coaches who want to touch this program.
? _Vanderbilt Athletic Director_ ?
October 15th, 2009
10:45 am
Vandy is not a Gimmie ! ….There is another Coach Johnson.
MrSEC.com » Blog Archive » Georgia Headlines – 10/15/09
October 15th, 2009
10:51 am
[...] It’s interesting that a lot of Georgia writers seem to be giving Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson an edge over Mark Richt. Of course, we can all check back in once Johnson has been at Tech for nine years to see if folks [...]
Otto
October 15th, 2009
10:51 am
Trade School Junkie, It would also be nice to post the number of turnovers given up, and average field position.
CWM is no Saban but the defense has played on average better this year than last.
The same coach that is reponsible for UGA’s kick coverage is also the DEs coach.
bb
October 15th, 2009
10:52 am
carney and other spread option doubters,
I believe that the option works fine in the SEC, see Fla at LSU this past weekend and Fla vs SEC last 3-4 years. The main difference in what Fla runs and what GT runs is that Florida runs it out of the shotgun and GT runs it from under center. It is well documented that Meyer has consulted with and drawn from what Johnson is doing while at Utah and Florida.
Halberstram
October 15th, 2009
10:53 am
Interesting article Mark. I don’t think it’s hard to see how difficult it will be for Richt to determine if any changes are necessary. I think he realizes that if he makes no changes and there’s another difficult year, people won’t just be calling for staff changes but maybe a head coaching change. I realize there are some people already calling for Richt, but they must be written off as just the fringe.
The real question is whether Johnson can back up his comments about making changes if necessary. It’s easy to talk the talk but could he walk the walk? I haven’t followed his career to know if he has changed coordinators or coaches often. I believe it’s got to be a hard thing to do for a head couch, outside of Tuberville who seemed to change OC’s and DC’s every year.
Tampa Wreck
October 15th, 2009
10:57 am
Enter your comments here
Slide Rule
October 15th, 2009
11:00 am
Cut the trashing and BACK TO THE SUBJECT – Here is a quote (from the Associated Press) by Kevin Steele, DC at Clemson, and former DC for Nick Saban on the subject of Saban’s leadership:
“I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know where people get the idea that you have to apologize for being committed to excellence and you demand it and you expect it of other people and you demand them to strive for it and if they let up, you call them out for it.”
Now, who more closely fits that paradigm, Mark Richt, or Paul Johnson?
jason
October 15th, 2009
11:00 am
PM, 3/4 of their defensive line. What I think is so stupid is that people come on here saying that it was thought that we would be even better this year after losing Staff, MoMass, and Moreno. That is an absurb statement. Noone belived that. At least I didn’t. I just did not think we would lose games the way we have lost them after it was promised that things would be corrected. Things such as PENALTIES, DISCPLINE, CWM’s DEFENS. None of theses things have been corrected. UGA should never let USCe score 30 something points. UGA should never allow for an ARK QB to throw for over 400 yrds. UGA should never allow anyteam to run 40+ on them, Yes even the Gators. I am not saying we should win eveygame, but we sure as hell don’t need to lose the way we are losing. The showing up unprepared and looking lost in theses games should not be happening. This is at least been going on for 3 years.
Big Earl
October 15th, 2009
11:00 am
Hey Coach … Put in Aaron with AJ & M.Moore and put your headset back on. Get back into your FSU mode.
Charlotte Dawg
October 15th, 2009
11:02 am
Bradley, all you are trying to do is stir the pot!! I’ll take CMR any day over PJ. PJ is a good coach and will win games. CMR is winning games year in and year out. Tech doesn’t have a better or worse chance in winning a NC than UGA does. CMR will do what he has to do to make the team better. I’ll take CMR all day long!! Go Dawgs
tjg
October 15th, 2009
11:03 am
CMR is as competitive as anyone – do not confuse form/style and substance. His OC and DC are average at best, and this needs serious scrutiny after the season…average will not get the job done in the SEC. The key thing is not the losses, but the lack of competitiveness the last two years (masked last year by the offensive studs now in the NFL). Make it close, coach!
Otto
October 15th, 2009
11:09 am
bb, LSU also runs the spread option at times and it did not work that great against UGA or UF.
Urban runs elements from many coaches. He is a true student of the game trying to stay on the cutting edge. Malzahn at Auburn is the same way. It was well documented Urban also talked regularly with Monte Kiffen before he went to UT.
Keeping play calling varied and well executed are very important as well as overall talent level. I am not saying CPJ can’t win the SEC but GT even with a Tenuta defense would be upper mid pack in the SEC. If he had UF talent level who knows.
Reality Check
October 15th, 2009
11:11 am
If we lose to Vandy this weekend, will you a-holes who still support CMR finally shut up? You have to be some of the most blindly loyal people on the face of the planet (second to Jihadists – maybe)
I can answer that…NO. Because you would support him if we finished 3-9.
You would support Richt if he hired Nelson Mandella to coach defense.
You would support Richt he hired Maya Angelou to Coach offense.
You would support Richt he he wore a Florida Gators visor to a Georgia game.
You would even support Richt he he banged your wife, girlfriend, or mom.
Grant & Rodgers
October 15th, 2009
11:15 am
Hey Spurrier, if that is really you out there!
We’re still waiting in the locker room at the VCC,
for you to get back from you car in the parking lot
to get cash to pay off your golf bet losses.
Island Dawg
October 15th, 2009
11:19 am
Richt has to go if he thinks this crap is fine. Evans needs to mandate change. Remember he is technically Richt’s boss, and if Richt doesn’t like it he can be fired and forfeit his contract for insubordination.
Ted Striker
October 15th, 2009
11:19 am
Johnson seems “exactly the sort of man you’d want [Tech] running your [Tech's] business.” (My take: With one caveat. “Yes, right now.”)
Johnson’s indeed a fine tactician. However there are numerous reasons coaches might grow long in the tooth sooner rather than later. What happens when the honeymoon is over and the tides shift, as tides are occasionally want to do? Could Johnson’s NFL-caliber temperament — widely by many as a “breath of fresh air” — begin to be viewed as simply more hot air from a hothead?
gdawginkalamazoo
October 15th, 2009
11:20 am
One thing for sure, if Willie is back next year at DC I probably won’t have to deal with my seasonal anxiety disorder at all. Glad they cut my s.a.d. short this year but it something that I do like dealing with.
Damn people, like a few have said above, Richt has never had to deal with this as a head coach. Some last year but he has given his assistants enough rope to hang themselves this year. He can’t afford another season like this one, hell he won’t be able to afford another game like this. You can’t lay down on any aspect of the game for a second much less a half or a quarter or entire game.
Delbert D.
October 15th, 2009
11:20 am
Charlotte Dawg – Well, this is “year out” I guess, and he is 3-3. That’s not winning, that’s mediocre.
AZ Jacket
October 15th, 2009
11:21 am
TO: The Dawg
I am not sure CMR’s time with FSU is a good barometer of his head coaching ability. Even CBB did not think that CMR had the toughness to be a head coach. Now is when you will find out if that is true. His DC and OC are like family to him…can he fire family. CBB did, fired his son. I think CMR is a good man but not sure firing the assistants will be the only answer..usually a program takes on the personality of the head man. I don’t see him changing that.
Scrap
October 15th, 2009
11:21 am
Careful guys, the rabid fan mentality is beginning to show……Yes, Mark Bradley sure knows how to stir the pot…….Personally I think it’ good for football in the Great State of Georgia…….Keep up the good work Mark……I like the way Mark thinks.
Otto
October 15th, 2009
11:23 am
Jason, Cox had better stats than Staff’s first 2 years going into UT. Monte out coached Bobo and turned the team one dimensional not even Staff could win that game without Moreno. AJ is better than MoMass.
The OL and DL were the big selling points on ‘09 as both looked to have far more depth than ‘08. Bama won the SECW with great line play and a couple of good but not Moreno levle RBs. Cox IMO is better than JP. The running game is what has fallen. Moreno is the one missed most of all. UGA had Caleb, Jackson, and Ealy who were all highly recuited RBs. Cox by all accounts took a more active leadership roll along with Owens. Arrests and off field problems have been much less of concern this year. So it was not a stretch for UGA to be as good this year or maybe better.