Is a big game for Willie Martinez a net loss for UGA?
The first quarter excepted, Georgia threw some D on Auburn. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Georgia’s defense was terrible in the first quarter against Auburn but terrific thereafter. This came one week after a shutout of Tennessee Tech. And now we must ask:
Is Willie Martinez in the process of saving his job? And if so, would you Bulldog fans rather take another loss (or two) than face another season with this man coordinating an often uncoordinated defense?
Auburn had 145 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter. It had 208 yards and one field goal over the final 45 minutes. (Can’t blame the defense for a 99-yard kickoff return.) Auburn converted its first three third downs but was 2-for-10 the rest of the way. And this, let’s note, was against an offense coached by Gus Malzahn, who’s so famous he helped push Houston Nutt out of Arkansas when Malzahn wasn’t given his way.
So here’s Georgia’s defense to date: Played OK in a loss to Oklahoma State; yielded 427 yards to South Carolina but made a stop at the end; yielded 41 and 485 yards points to Arkansas but tightened up late; held LSU to 20 points but couldn’t tackle Charles Scott with the game on the line; yielded 45 points and 472 yards to Tennessee; yielded 374 yards and 34 offensive points to a Florida team that has managed only 30-plus points against one other SEC opponent; shut down Auburn over the final three quarters.
Georgia has climbed to 33rd nationally in total defense and to 71st in scoring defense. It’s seventh and 11th among SEC teams in those respective categories, and there was a time this season when it ranked at/near the conference bottom. Indeed, the men of Martinez look stout, at least statistically, when viewed alongside Mike Bobo’s offense, which is 80th in the land and 11th in the league in total yards.
On Halloween in Jacksonville I saw no way Martinez would return as coordinator, but now I’m recalling a conversation with Mark Richt before the Georgia Tech game last season. I mentioned that his defense had collapsed against Alabama and Florida. He said, defiantly: “They didn’t collapse against South Carolina or Auburn or Kentucky.”
Loading ...And now I’m wondering if Richt won’t apply the same selective logic to this season, if he won’t say: “Our defense got better as the season progressed. Ergo, Willie stays.”
Indeed, this was Richt late Saturday night: “I am really proud of the players and coaches. We’ve kept working hard,and we haven’t let anything deter us from from what we know is best.”
By anything, I’m thinking Richt meant “criticism.” And there has been a lot, much of it emanating from this precinct. So now I’m asking: If it takes losing to Kentucky and/or Tech to get rid of Willie, would you as Georgia fans make that sacrifice? And with that, the floor is yours.
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1,199 comments Add your comment
yj69
November 15th, 2009
2:12 pm
stir that pot!
corkylikesbeer
November 15th, 2009
2:13 pm
Willie is the man
HairyDawg
November 15th, 2009
2:13 pm
Coaching wasnt problem. We just needing young players to growing up.
HairyDawg
November 15th, 2009
2:17 pm
We had to get youngsters the experences after losing Moreono, Staffords, and Mo-Mass. Now young guns is taking over with there SEC speeds to allow us to table running and sets up for SEC and BCS champs. Coaches is Christians and knew this would happen if we just have the faiths.
DawginLex
November 15th, 2009
2:21 pm
Richt will do things the right way and the haters can’t stand it because they know that is how he conducts his personal life as well as coaching. There are worse things than being known as being honorable, having character and loyal
innocent bystander
November 15th, 2009
2:22 pm
I think Coach Martinez should move on. I think Coach RIcht is much better able to make that determination than myself, you or any fan.CWM’s numbers don’t look good and we seem to regress as a defense every year 2007 excepted maybe.But remember when Coach Goff brought Marion Campbell out of retirement? He was the Monty Kiffin of his era, a reigning defensive guru in the NFL.It was disaster. Ditto Coach Ramsey fresh off an NC as Secondary Coach at UT. Who will we get? Yes I think Coach M should move on. But Mark Richt should not be pressured.People are upset because they are comparing early Richt to recent Richt not Coach Richt to UGA football history. Did Coach Dooley beat Georgia Tech seven times in a row? Never. Did Coach Dooley beat Auburn 4 straight? No and no one did in my lifetime. I’m 59.
blazerdawg
November 15th, 2009
2:23 pm
Sooo many 40+ points against games against UGA, but regardless I trust Richt to do the right thing whatever that is.
Mark Bradley
November 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
I’d agree. I think the sheer tonnage of 40-point games is (or should be) the determinant.
LizDawg
November 15th, 2009
2:24 pm
I trust in CMR to do the right thing but if the Dawgs lose to the maggots then CWM will find a PODS trailer on his driveway on Sunday.
perk
November 15th, 2009
2:30 pm
my issue with WM is the scheme…..it seems to be more reactive instead of a proactive attacking defense. there are too many plays where there are wide open receivers with no defenders within 10 yards.
Wow, what an article
November 15th, 2009
2:30 pm
Intriguing question,Mark. Me? I’d rather find out the coaches were right, we are young at a lot of key places, (and a little overrated at others, see R Jones, P Miller…my observation, not theirs) The ‘D’ has gotten better with every snap in which Rambo takes part. The D backs become better when Houston, Washington and friends are able to pressure the quarterback. Savor the victory, look forward to wins over Kaintuck (sorry, Mark) and the downtown Atlanta Welding School and Septic Depository, which will make it 8 of 9, I believe. We;ll sorry about the staff after the season, okay?
HairyDawg
November 15th, 2009
2:31 pm
40 point games aint the big issue. The college game has swung more to offenses now. We need to just let our youngster studs play to get experiences.
ICMIII
November 15th, 2009
2:33 pm
If it would help get rid of Silly Willie, I’d take a big loss to Kentucky and a 222-0 loss to the bugs.
JTH
November 15th, 2009
2:34 pm
If Sick Willie isnt fired there had better be significant improvement next season or CMR’s job could be in question.
Loyalty is one thing, but blind loyalty is another.
KiltedDawg
November 15th, 2009
2:37 pm
I don’t want a defensive coordinator who has to keep saving his job. I want one who proves week after week why he’s there in the first place.
DeepDiver
November 15th, 2009
2:38 pm
10th. Willie needs to go, but I don’t think Richt will do it – this order will have to come from on high. Exhibit A – the loving embrace of Richt and Willie at the end of the Auburn game. Those two are friends, and Richt is too nice a guy to do that to a friend. I dont know if I could ever want a loss from Tech the way some of their fan base has acted after last year’s result – you’d think they had reeled off seven straight as obnoxious as they’ve been…I pull for Tech except when they play UGA, but it has been hard to deal with them this last year or so.
Now if UK came in and hung half a hundred on the Dogs and that was what it took to get Willie out of the door, that would be a different matter…
kevin
November 15th, 2009
2:41 pm
Did anyone see Willie acting like an idiot? Jumping up and down because the defense FINALLY did something postive. Ever see Saban jumping up and down or any good coach worth anything act so stupidly joyful because their defense did what it s’posed to do?
Thats the real thing one must look at: Willie’s D finally did something good and willie acts like its X-mas bc it only happens one time a year…..spare me and the UGA nation….go hard after Kirby Smart!
Mike
November 15th, 2009
2:42 pm
Does anyone know the % time the D is on the field? I have a feeling that Bobo should actually go. We have such weapons yet I never feel we have the opponents D on their heels. Maybe our D would be better if they weren’t so tired from being out there so much. Just a thought…I’d have to get more stats on time of possession…but something to think about.
DawgsWin
November 15th, 2009
2:42 pm
The crazy thing is the 2 hottest DC’s in the country are Georgia guys, Muschamp and Smart. I saw this week in USA Today that Muschamp is making 900 thousand a year and I think he’s one of those head coaches in waiting at Texas….but why can’t we hire Kirby away from Nick Satan ?
HairyDawg
November 15th, 2009
2:44 pm
JTH – “Loyalty is one thing, but blind loyalty is another.”
Some of you folks just dont understanding what fans is supposed to be. They have to be “blindly loyal” to team and coaches or they aint good fans. If there loyalty changes with losses then theys is sorry bandwagoneers.
We got to have the Christian faiths in our coaches because they knows what they doing. They just got caught with early leaving for NFL drafts. Now they gots it corrected back on tracks with team coming together.
Bryan G.
November 15th, 2009
2:46 pm
I think the Auburn game clinched CWM being back unless UK comes in and blows the door off of us. I doubt the Tech game will have any bearing on Willie’s fate either way.
We need to get better on defense, though. I am crossing my fingers that Richt does whatever is necessary to accomplish that.
uga_b
November 15th, 2009
2:46 pm
I hope Evans doesn’t let Richt keep Willie (unless it’s as the secondary coach again). If you look at statistics for games between Division I teams, scoring has not gone up that drastically. The inflated numbers are due to more games and running up the scores on cupcakes like Charleston Southern. UGA’s defense is one of the worst in the country over the last year and a half and over 10pts higher per game than ever in history. Even if UGA’s defense were to cause a turnover on every play and return them all for TDs the rest of the season, he needs to go.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:46 pm
Richt WON’T do the right thing.
Richt has PROVEN he won’t do the right thing.
Mark, this is nothing but the cruelest of karmic paybacks here.
For years and years, Tech fans suffered under Chan Gailey, who Dave Braine flat-out refused to fire, NO MATTER HOW BAD HE WAS.
This is the SAME nightmare we in Bulldog Nation find ourselves in.
You people didn’t believe me when I told you that reports coming our of Butts-Mehre said Richt was “fanatically devoted” to Willie Martinez.
He will now use this win, even if we lose the next three games, as his reason NOT to fire Martinez.
His personal friendship with Martinez is more important to Richt than the health of his program.
He has proven this again and again and again. Why do you people INSIST in believing otherwise?
The ONLY hope we have is that the big money boosters get together and force Evans to step in to fire Martinez.
This nightmare will never end if the boosters don’t do something.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:47 pm
come on!!!!
why is my post not posting!!!!
Todd
November 15th, 2009
2:47 pm
Great point KiltedDawg. Willie needs to go. The defense gave up 3rd and long’s all night. Tackling was better but still to many 3rd down conversions by AU. Chris Todd made some awful throws at crucial times. Who cares is the defense held Tenn. Tech scoreless. Lowndes County wouldn’t give up many points against Tenn. Tech. We need some new blood at DC. Make the change quickly after Tech runs for 300+.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:48 pm
Richt WON’T do the right thing.
Richt has PROVEN he won’t do the right thing.
Mark, this is nothing but the cruelest of karmic paybacks here.
For years and years, Tech fans suffered under Chan Gailey, who Dave Braine flat-out refused to fire, NO MATTER HOW BAD HE WAS.
This is the SAME nightmare we in Bulldog Nation find ourselves in.
You people didn’t believe me when I told you that reports coming our of Butts-Mehre said Richt was “fanatically devoted” to Willie Martinez.
He will now use this win, even if we lose the next three games, as his reason NOT to fire Martinez.
His personal friendship with Martinez is more important to Richt than the health of his program.
He has proven this again and again and again. Why do you people INSIST in believing otherwise?
The ONLY hope we have is that the big money boosters get together and force Evans to step in to fire Martinez.
This nightmare will never end if the boosters don’t do something!
skydawg
November 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
Because Kirby was already here as an assistant. Then when Satan…I mean Saban decided to once again lie and take the Bama job, he bolted UGA to work for Saban again out of loyalty to Saban. It didn’t sit well in Athens. He has burned some other bridges as well but supposedly all has been forgiven. But I don’t see Smart coming back to Athens anytime soon.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
Richt WON’T do the right thing.
Richt has PROVEN he won’t do the right thing.
Mark, this is nothing but the cruelest of karmic paybacks here.
For years and years, Tech fans suffered under Chan Gailey, who Dave Braine flat-out refused to fire, NO MATTER HOW BAD HE WAS.
This is the SAME nightmare we in Bulldog Nation find ourselves in!
You people didn’t believe me when I told you that reports coming our of Butts-Mehre said Richt was “fanatically devoted” to Willie Martinez.
He will now use this win, even if we lose the next three games, as his reason NOT to fire Martinez.
His personal friendship with Martinez is more important to Richt than the health of his program.
He has proven this again and again and again. Why do you people INSIST in believing otherwise?
The ONLY hope we have is that the big money boosters get together and force Evans to step in to fire Martinez.
This nightmare will never end if the boosters don’t do something!
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:51 pm
Richt WON’T do the right thing!
Richt has PROVEN he won’t do the right thing.
Mark, this is nothing but the cruelest of karmic paybacks here.
For years and years, Tech fans suffered under Chan Gailey, who Dave Braine flat-out refused to fire, NO MATTER HOW BAD HE WAS.
This is the SAME nightmare we in Bulldog Nation find ourselves in.
You people didn’t believe me when I told you that reports coming our of Butts-Mehre said Richt was “fanatically devoted” to Willie Martinez.
He will now use this win, even if we lose the next three games, as his reason NOT to fire Martinez.
His personal friendship with Martinez is more important to Richt than the health of his program.
He has proven this again and again and again. Why do you people INSIST in believing otherwise?
The ONLY hope we have is that the big money boosters get together and force Evans to step in to fire Martinez.
This nightmare will never end if the boosters don’t do something!
JTH
November 15th, 2009
2:52 pm
HairyDawg I understand what your saying, and I’m a
Dawg til the day I die, but that doesnt mean we shouldnt point out what’s wrong. Can’t have faith in something that’s obviously wrong. I really dont think WM knows what he’s doing at this level. He seems in over his head and it’s not just the talent’s, or lack of, fault.
Get well soon Rambo!
GULFWAVES DAWG
November 15th, 2009
2:53 pm
I have been a HUGE Mark Richt fan, but if he thinks the fan base is going to be satisfied with the regression of this program and keep on keepin on, he is so wrong. The OC and DC offer me no hope for the future. Maybe the best thing Ga can do is get rid of Mark Richt and his whole staff and hire the guy from U of Cinn. He took a non existant program and has them undefeated and top 5 ranking in a couple of years. He does not seem to accept anything from his staff or players or himself but 100 percent committment. No excuses, just perform. How many first round NFL franchise players have to be from Ga to say we are not getting it done.
Oh No!!! We Suck Again!!!
November 15th, 2009
2:53 pm
Wow, now we are debating whether Martinez should keep his job, now??? I don’t mean to be funny, but when did this season of pathetic defensive schemes become forgivable just because we stopped Auburn on their final drive? Maybe I am missing something, but ummm, we still suck as far as defense! The sun shines on a dog’s arse every now and then! Get real people! The same people that were calling for CMR to fire Martinez has forgiven him and wants CMR to keep him around because of this one game and then will go screaming again in 2010 that CMR needs to fir Willie! No wonder we suck again, we as fans sure do know how to stay committed to how we feel don’t we??? WOW!
Eddie
November 15th, 2009
2:54 pm
Bradley—It must feel great to get your Georgia hating lemmings to come a runnin’. Coach Richt will make the moves that will be best overall for the program. I can see how you do not understand his operating with class and dignity. The dawgs will be fine and I would never want them to lose to anyone for any reason and no true fan would! GO DAWGS!
David Granger
November 15th, 2009
2:55 pm
I think Willie needs to go. Even in a good game yesterday, we still allowed long kickoff returns (not just the TD), and the Auburn offense was moving the ball…we just finally forced a couple of turnovers.
The only positive I saw was that we only blitzed ONCE on third and long…Auburn completed the quick toss to the safety valve receiver, who ran for a first down (this has been a recorded announcement)…so maybe he’s gotten that silly crap out of his head.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:56 pm
post my damn post, AJC!!!
La Jolla Dawg
November 15th, 2009
2:56 pm
Mike brings up a very interesting point, how long on average is the defense on the field? On the other hand, how often is the offense playing from behind? The defense gave up a very quick 7 points (and then another) last night which put the offense in an early hole. I don’t remember (but I am sure some of you do) how often the other team came out on offense first this season and the “D” which would have presumably been fresh gave up points.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:57 pm
Richt WON’T do the right thing!
Richt has PROVEN he won’t do the right thing!
Mark, this is nothing but the cruelest of karmic paybacks here.
For years and years, Tech fans suffered under Chan Gailey, who Dave Braine flat-out refused to fire, NO MATTER HOW BAD HE WAS.
This is the SAME nightmare we in Bulldog Nation find ourselves in.
You people didn’t believe me when I told you that reports coming our of Butts-Mehre said Richt was “fanatically devoted” to Willie Martinez.
He will now use this win, even if we lose the next three games, as his reason NOT to fire Martinez.
His personal friendship with Martinez is more important to Richt than the health of his program.
He has proven this again and again and again. Why do you people INSIST in believing otherwise?
The ONLY hope we have is that the big money boosters get together and force Evans to step in to fire Martinez.
This nightmare will never end if the boosters don’t do something.
SC Dawg
November 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
Buy Willie a Van, filll it with gas and tell him and his family to get the hell out of Athens!!!
KIRBY SMART!!!
IndyGT
November 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
Winning is a very good cure for all the firing non-sense. I’d like to throw Wommack over a cliff sometimes, but can’t really complain when we’re winning. I really don’t see what most people are barking about w.r.t. CMR or Willie. One bad year in how many years? And who do you think you’re going to get to replace them? I still think they’re fine coaches.. and have had a very good run at UGA. I’m not just saying that being a Tech fan.. Grew up a UGA fan, until I went to school at GT.
Realist
November 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
Georgia’s defense started out the year not even knowing how to maintain outside containment. That’s Pop Warner stuff. Willie Martinez isn’t worth two shakes as a coach if he lets players get to their first game without knowing their basic assignments or basic techniques. It wasn’t a problem with youth or player quality: we couldn’t even find out how good our players were half the time because they were rarely in the proper positions to make plays.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
2:58 pm
amazing how the AJC lets that racist Vick Supporter 2 / Bad News / bigeasy831 / “Choke” post all the inflammatory crap he wants, but I can’t one post posted on here.
Herschel Talker
November 15th, 2009
3:00 pm
MB:
If Mark Richt thinks that putting together a decent half against a mediocre Auburn team outweighs all of the 40+ point games and the drubbings at the hand of other teams, some of them mediocre, then Richt is even more disgraceful than I thought. There is no doubt he will put his personal relationship with Willie above the team, and for that he too should lose his job. What a disgrace.
HT
Eric
November 15th, 2009
3:04 pm
Martinez should go, too many 40 point games, & I’m not so sure Bobo shouldn’t be gone as well. Our O is very lack luster for the talent that is on that side of the ball. Very simplistic & unimaginative.
Scott B in DC
November 15th, 2009
3:04 pm
I’ve been calling for WillMart to go since 2007. There were indication that the defense was winning on talent and not coaching. Over the last two years, you can see that the coaching is lacking. This year, there is no discipline in areas like tackling (what ever happened to wrapping your arms around the ball carrier and not just throwing your body against them), defensive backs being out of place, not using blitzing schemes properly to even stop the run, and a number of other issues. WillMart needs to go and get someone else who can scheme and coach better.
While we are at it, can we also fire Mike Bobo for a better offensive play caller? This is the second full year of Bobo’s OJT and he does not seem to improving. He starts strong and gets conservative. He’s not using the tools properly and not mixing up the play calling–he’s predictable. Richt needs to take the play calling duties over again!
Finally, find a real special teams coordinator. It’s not enough to leave it to our marvelous kickers. Once the ball is kicked, the returner has to be stopped. The 99 yard runback by Auburn should not happen. I place the blame on the shaky coverage on Jon Fabris. Since Fabris has been special teams coach, coverages has been horrible. It’s time for Fabris to go and to bring in a real special teams coach!
To close, I hope that AJ Green and Baccari Rambo get well soon!
UGA4in a row over AU
November 15th, 2009
3:07 pm
The defense definitely did clean it up later on in the game, by to say Willie Martinez has saved his job is asinine. In my opinion it doesn’t matter is Georgia posts shut-outs in their last three games, Willie should be let go. This is the second year in a row that Georgia’s defense has been substandard. Something has got to change. Georgia as had three notable late defensive stands this year (South Carolina, Arkansas, and Auburn), but they should have never been put in those situations because Georgia was the better team in all three situations. If we change defensive coordinators, I think Georgia can click both on offense and defense for the first time in a couple years.
pmmwh
November 15th, 2009
3:08 pm
Depends on whether UGA wants to be adequate or be an elite team. I do not believe we will ever have a consistent elite defense with Martinez at the helm. I’ve seen too many times when it is clear our defense does not have a clue to what is going on scheme wise as there are far too many people running absolutely free against us. I think with Martinez and our players developing we can be a nine or ten win team during the good years, but we will not play for championships.
BugKiller
November 15th, 2009
3:11 pm
Richt WON’T do the right thing. Richt has PROVEN he won’t do the right thing. Mark, this is nothing but the cruelest of karmic paybacks here.
For years and years, Tech fans suffered under Chan Gailey, who Dave Braine flat-out refused to fire, NO MATTER HOW BAD HE WAS. This is the SAME nightmare we in Bulldog Nation find ourselves in.
You people didn’t believe me when I told you that reports coming our of Butts-Mehre said Richt was “fanatically devoted” to Willie Martinez. He will now use this win, even if we lose the next three games, as his reason NOT to fire Martinez.
His personal friendship with Martinez is more important to Richt than the health of his program. He has proven this again and again and again. Why do you people INSIST in believing otherwise?
The ONLY hope we have is that the big money boosters get together and force Evans to step in to fire Martinez. This nightmare will never end if the boosters don’t do something!
maddawg
November 15th, 2009
3:12 pm
How ridiculous of a question you’re posing, Mark (at least to one of any semblance of common sense and love for the UGA program). Of course, we’d rather have the WINS. If Martinez can improve his work of the defense whereby we can regain our stature as a defense, WONDERFUL! I hope we win our remaining two games despite all the controversy surrounding Martinez. I’d rather win and have Martinez improve and keep his job than have to sacrifice a couple of wins in order to get rid of him or anybody else.
tizzle
November 15th, 2009
3:15 pm
I will say this…I do not care about what happens these last couple of games(Tenn. Tech, AU, UK and GT) Willie Martinez has to go. All the “Bend but dont Break” and my favorite “Wait to the other team make a mistake” stuff has proving to be old and non-effected. WANTED: A Defensive Coordinator with a resume of attacking defense. A couple of guys come to mind, Kirby Smart(3-4 mini guru), Mark Carrier, Secondary Coach with Baltimore Ravens(3-4 zone blitz) and Ken Norton Jr., LB Coach with USC(Hybrid Defense 4-3/3-4) so Mark Bradley which one of these guys would be the perfect fit for UGA?
Dawg since 1965
November 15th, 2009
3:16 pm
it’s been two maybe three sorry years on defense. Don’t give me this crap about the game has changed and become more offensive minded. Defense wins championships and UGA hasn’t had a good or great defense in years. Look at the top ten rushing and passing and total defenses, then tell me if you want to keep Martinez.