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
WaynesvilleNCDAWG
October 16th, 2009
12:02 am
I think Coach Richt has delegated to much of his responsibilities for the UGA football program. He needs to remember that in 10 or 20 years no one will remember who the assistants were unless they were really special. The teams will always be associated with his name, win or loose. Maybe he should not be involved in other advertising and devote all his time to Georgia Football.
RED DOG 77
October 16th, 2009
1:10 am
I simly cant believe some of the dopes that post on these blogs! CMR is tough as a pine knot, just look at his record at UGA. Yes, we are having an off year, but, dadgummitt get over yoursef people. I suppose you would rather be a Michigan, Notre Dame, Fla. State, W. Va.,etc fan? I will take UGA over all of those in a heartbeat and then some, wake up people! college football goes in cycles. We will be back and when wedo we are going to BITE THE CRAP out of some people……Trust me ..Im a Dr.
Lowdog
October 16th, 2009
3:24 am
Where is Kalvin Daniels , he showed some spark last year at halfback, is he hurt or is this a numbers game. Promises ..Promises. Play the best players.and not your wanta be.(put King and Samuals on defense for next year and finish the season with Washsum and Daniels and Jackson.
Richt's record
October 16th, 2009
8:23 am
lets see Richt is 7 and 1 against tech………..2 sec championships( a little harder to win than acc championships!!) A thletically.. C hallenged… C onference championships and several top five finishes in the country….we’ll see if Paul Johnson can top that….if Johnson is worth a flip he should win the weak ACC every year yet would never beat the likes of florida, alabama, lsu and rarely GEORGIA………Richt is playing without any bona fide star save all world receiver Mr. Green, give the guy a break, the ship will be turned and oh you bug lovers, we still have a date with you nerds in Atlanta right after Thanksgiving…i’m sure Richt and company will be there and be ready
I MISS THE BOWL BROS
October 16th, 2009
9:36 am
So all of Jim Donnans players are gone! And Ole Hot ROD , not delivering the local talent like he used to…………….Looks like the Golden Boy is is now just an average Coach again, Maybe he should return to FLA State so he can reclaim his GLORY, GLORY! OH no Guys he’s the bomb digity DAWG!! I hope he make’s the right changes so we can get another 9 yrs on you HAIRY DOGS!
Atticus
October 16th, 2009
3:39 pm
Check this out Mark
• From 2001 through 2005, Georgia was 52-14 (.788 winning %).
• From 2006 through 09/12/2009, Georgia is 33-12(.600 winning %)
• Over the past 11 games, the Bulldogs are 6-5.
• Georgia has only scored 1 offensive touchdown in the past 11 quarters.
• Georgia has 20 three-and-outs and 16 turnovers (47% of the Bulldogs’ offensive drives in 2009 have ended with a turnover or a three-and-out).
• 2009 total time of possession – Georgia 166:30,Opponents 193:30
• Georgia has allowed 37 points or more in 7 of the past 12 games.
• From 2007 to present, the Bulldog defense is allowing an average of 24.5 points per game.
• In 2009, the Bulldogs are allowing an average of 30.67 points per game.
• Under defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder (2001-04), the Dawgs surrendered 30+ points 1 time.
• Under defensive coordinator Willie Martinez (2005-P), the Dawgs have surrendered 30+ points 14 times.
• In 2009, Georgia is averaging 97.2 yards rushing per game (opponents averaging 128.2).
• In 2008, Georgia averaged 148.3 yards rushing per game (opponents averaged 122.3).
Atticus
October 16th, 2009
3:45 pm
Mark, check this out
From 2001 through 2005, Georgia was 52-14 (.788 winning %).
From 2006 through 09/12/2009, Georgia is 33-12 (.600 winning %).
Over the past 11 games, the Bulldogs are 6-5.
Georgia has only scored 1 offensive touchdown in the past 11 quarters.
Georgia has 20 three-and-outs and 16 turnovers (47% of the Bulldogs’ offensive drives in 2009 have ended with a turnover or a three-and-out).
2009 total time of possession – Georgia 166:30, Opponents 193:30
Georgia has allowed 37 points or more in 7 of the past 12 games.
From 2007 to present, the Bulldog defense is allowing an average of 24.5 points per game.
In 2009, the Bulldogs are allowing an average of 30.67 points per game.
Under defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder (2001-04), the Dawgs surrendered 30+ points 1 time.
Under defensive coordinator Willie Martinez (2005-P), the Dawgs have surrendered 30+ points 14 times.
In 2009, Georgia is averaging 97.2 yards rushing per game (opponents averaging 128.2).
In 2008, Georgia averaged 148.3 yards rushing per game (opponents averaged 122.3)
Come on Coach, step up and quit making excuses! You are getting paid HUGE $$ to recognize what is wrong and correct it, AND (I might add) to face adversity for the first time in your tenure in Athens. Part of that is UNDERSTANDING that people will bitch and complain when you perform the way the team has the past 3 years. It is not unreasonable to expect more even though you have significantly raised the bar on this program and for that we are very grateful. Now let’s step it up.
Pi$$onaDawg
October 16th, 2009
4:24 pm
WOW CMR must the Biggest BULLDAWG with pretty TEETH, but his denture cream is slipping when he quits barking and starts to bite. Water Girl could you put some drugs in Mark’s drinks to get him excited.
Yellow Fuzz
October 16th, 2009
5:15 pm
Hey Irrelevant georgia dog nation,
Good luck in your game at Vanderbilt tomorrow at 12:21pm on Peachtree TV #2. I’m sure that the 2,000 or so non dog fans that watch it will be entertained by you and your appropriately ranked 60th in the nation program when you square off with the Commodore’s powerful 94th ranking.
I don’t even want to do the play-by-play on this blog for you this week for you lol.
Georgia Tech, on the other hand, ranked 19th nationally, will be playing in Prime Time (6:00 PM) in front of 20,000,000 viewers on “National” TV against a Virginia Tech Team that is also ranked nationally at number 5.
Good luck. Do yourself proud!
Johnny Test
October 16th, 2009
5:57 pm
Hey beanch warmer, scout team player Yellow Fuzz… I see you are posting under 45 to 42 now as well. Have your fun you 8 year old prick. Your gonna look more stupid that you already do if Tech fails to win vs UGA. You best focus on VT rather than masterbating over UGAs problems.
Yellow Fuzz
October 16th, 2009
6:20 pm
Jonnytest,
lol. You best stop living in denial dude. YOU are Vandy’s Home Comming game, not us.
Yellow Fuzz
October 16th, 2009
7:59 pm
georgia = Vanderbilt’s irrevelant home coming bitch
Yellow Fuzz
October 16th, 2009
8:01 pm
LOL correct that spelling you uga dumbazz
Yellow Fuzz
October 16th, 2009
8:13 pm
My my how things have changed for the big bad dog nation.
http://www.vanderbilt.edu/alumni/homecoming/
Pit bull
October 16th, 2009
9:52 pm
There is no doubt in my mind that Bobby Bowden has talked with Richt and told him not to fire any coaches. This worked fairly well for Bobby. Heck he had great coaches. It would have worked for Richt but he started promoting inferior coaches and now he is stuck with incompetence around him and refuses to fire them. I wash my hands of the program. Richt is not his own man, an original. He is a Bobby Bowden clone who can’t think for himself. What is he going to do if Bowden ever passes.
Pi$$onaDawg
October 16th, 2009
11:35 pm
Enter your comments here am a rambin wreck from Georgia Tech and a Helluva Engineer. I stay at home and Masterbate until I graduate and become the BOSS a uga grad Fears. The Prom Queen hated me did not date me and is now the unwed mother of a UGA SAE’s child. Yes,Kelley Bundy was my dream but she became Shannon Curry with 3 kids and in a hurry to the Wellfare office. I own make that I OWN MY HOME and now the UGA Tramps hit me up on FACEBOOK. Too Funny that the Honey is now full of Runny Cunny. GO DAWGS GO.
Pi$$onaDawg
October 16th, 2009
11:42 pm
Hickory Dickory Dock
I walk around the Tech Campus with my 9mm Glock
I beg for a Ni**er Thug to ask me to Stop
As I turn to face to the Hip Hop
His face turns white as I make him stop
I show him my Glock
Unzip my pants and tell him to suck my ****.
RED DOG 77
October 17th, 2009
12:23 am
This Pee on aDawg dude Oct 16, 11:42pm is really strange…….Probubly 19to 23 yrs. of age , couldnt get a date even if he had the money to buy one. Spends all his time blogging, looking at porn and wishing he weighed more than 90 lbs.and just waiting for the day someone invents a medicine that really cures zits……….. Im pretty darn close arnt I Mr. Pdawg?
Bo Diddly Squat
October 17th, 2009
9:03 am
Not so worried about the Vandy game. More worried about us playing Florida the way we played Tennessee. Granted, in any Division I program, there are bumps in the road, but I’m afraid we have a collosal embarassment in store for us in two weeks, unless something dramatic happens. Let’s say, something like, the Gators’ bus breaks down on the way to the game, and they are lost somewhere in the Everglades and can’t make it.
I am truly concerned the beatdown we’re going to get in two weeks will greatly effect the moral of the team AND the fans. So much so, that I’m afraid this will be the last we see of AJ in Red and Black. Who’d want to come back to this? I love CMR, but come on, coach! Loyalty is a great and admirable quality, but loyalty only takes you so far. Changes HAVE to be made at Defensive Coordinator position, and you, CMR, need to go back to the play calling on offense.
Ok…that being said….GO DAWWWWGS!
Carl Spackler
October 17th, 2009
9:25 am
The following article is from another paper, so I don’t know if it’s OK to post this or not, however it speaks about Murray’s “triceps tendinitis”…not a shoulder pblm, so let’s stop this spreading of erroneous injury update that has been going on…I was told last night that he had been throwing for quite a while…started out 10 , then 20, and finally 30 yds within a week of coming back, before they turned him loose to throw longer passes…maybe this is the week…do you think that CMR would pull the redshirt to save Bobo/Willie M…Murray is ready to go and not’s worring about loosing a those 6 games; he wants to play…
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2009/oct/16/georgias-murray-works-watches/?sports
“Murray developed triceps tendinitis last month and could not throw for about three weeks, but he is back at full strength. Bobo said Murray gets a lot of practice reps each Wednesday, when Cox’s arm is given a rest.”
djawjuh
October 17th, 2009
9:52 am
About UGA: Keep stirring it Bradley, Richt’s retinue are frauds just as he is. This guy is a preacher not a head coach. He’s not tough enough as BB said in so many words.
Remember guys, if there’s nothing in the pot, there’s nothing to stir. UGA’s pot runneth over.
djawjuh
October 17th, 2009
9:53 am
Boddidly. AJ won’t be eligible fpr the NFL until after his third year. Them’s the rules friend. Don’t write about something you don’t know about that is oh so critical.
Bo Diddly Squat
October 17th, 2009
11:33 am
djawjuh, since you are so observant, please tell me, WHERE did I mention the NFL? ..and you talk about writing about something you know nothing about…idiot.
Steve
October 22nd, 2009
1:30 am
This is about as dumb an article as I have ever read. All the bugs quoting on it crack me up also.
When a team is winning, even if in dominating fashion, almost every coach in the world, in every sport, talks like Paul Johnson did. In fact, just go back over Mark Richt’s last handful of seasons and you will see his quotes were all the same type as what Johnson stated. Whoa!!
Now, on the flip side, when you have a young team, losing a couple of close games, and in some not playing well at all, you don’t come out to the media and berate them all over the place. It might work for pro sports, but not with younger athletes. They just begin to resent it. It’s one thing to tell it to the team in the film room and on the practice field that they better start playing better, but it’s another thing entirely to do it in front of the media .. especially as full of morons as it is.
This article is just stupid and silly. Mark, you know better. You are trying to make a story out of nothing.
Robert Daniell
October 22nd, 2009
6:39 am
Maaaaaaaaaan….what a bunch of whining cry-babies! Don’t know who’s worse…. the coaches (Saban/Spurrier) or the so-called “needy fans”! Remember this fans….it’s always darkest before the dawn. Coach Richt is like Daniel in the Lion’s Den right now….funny thing….the lions are the fans who should be supporting him. I think all of you whiners and complainers are pathetic. Shut up and let Coach Richt do his job. Let’s go to Jacksonville and have a repeat of 1985!!!!!!!!!!! Go Dawgs!
RADLY DAWG
bill
October 28th, 2009
3:12 pm
richt is in a delimma …..”I’m a nice guy …and dont wanna make the needed changes that may hurt someones feelings …or even have to let a non producer go ….so he makes vague nebulous comments like …”we are battling hard ..we fought to the end …never gave up”…and in the end ..its business as usual ….and we all know what that means ….more servings of MEDIOCRITY …..richt is the commanding officer …step up and have some BACKBONE and strength of character and do what is needed to begin to develope an IMPROVING …football team !!!