Even as Richt focuses on Tech, there’s a grim big picture
Turnovers are a symptom, but they're not the problem itself. (AP photo by John Amis)
In the grand scheme, the Kentucky loss should be a blessing. It should yield the sort of clarity needed when quality control has slipped. A coach can fool himself for a while, but when he loses at home to Kentucky after leading by 14 points, he has to acknowledge the obvious. Doesn’t he?
Even as he approached a game against the best team in the state his Georgia Bulldogs long ruled, Mark Richt still wouldn’t address the greater issue, at least not on the record. “I’ve never been one to focus on several things at one time,” he said Wednesday. This week he would speak only of Georgia Tech, saying, “My feeling right now is on the next game; it’s such a crucial game for our program.”
But there he’s wrong. Beating Tech might mean the difference between a bowl in Nashville and one in Shreveport, but winning at Bobby Dodd Stadium won’t cure the systemic ill. On the contrary, it might offer Richt another reason not to change, and if that’s the case, this would be the one time when beating an in-state rival proved injurious to a program’s long-term health.
Because Georgia must change to keep pace, not just with Tech but with Tennessee and Kiffin and Auburn and Chizik. (Forget Florida and Alabama and LSU — they’ve already lapped the Bulldogs.) And it isn’t a one-year blip, as apologists insist, but a trend. In the first five seasons under Richt, Georgia played for the SEC title three times, winning twice, and had a record of 52-13. In these past four seasons, Georgia hasn’t reached the conference championship game and is 36-14, having gone 2-2 against Kentucky.
Think hard about that last part. Vince Dooley lost four times to the Wildcats in a quarter-century of coaching. Ray Goff lost once to Kentucky in six tries, Jim Donnan once in five. Richt has now done it twice. It’s one thing to lose to Florida, as Richt has managed seven times in nine tries, something else again to lose to a basketball school.
Asked about the need for change in his program on the SEC teleconference this week, Richt instead dissected the Kentucky loss. “Turnovers were the story of that game,” he said. “If it was zero-zero in turnovers or we’d have won the turnover battle, that’s a different game.” And it’s true that Georgia had four turnovers to Kentucky’s none, but ultimately Richt seemed to concede the futility of his argument: “Of course, you can’t throw out the turnovers.”
And you can’t. There’s no reason Georgia should be giving the ball to a lesser team four times without once being able to snatch it back. There’s no reason Georgia should be next-to-last in the nation in turnover margin, no reason it should rank 116th among 120 teams in penalties. Richt and his staff have stopped coaching effectively and have begun to rely on recruiting to see them through, and when you lose to Kentucky you see why recruiting is never enough. (If it were, Ron Zook would be Urban Meyer.)
No matter what happens against Tech, Richt will have to change his staff and his approach if he hopes again to play in the Georgia Dome for anything more than a Chick-fil-A Bowl trophy. Is there one Bulldog assistant who has gotten the most from his charges? Mike Bobo? Jon Fabris? John Jancek? Stacy Searels? Dave Van Halanger? Willie Martinez?
Forget this staff’s perceived February successes; even Rodney Garner, the chief recruiter, has insisted: “I’m a coach who recruits,” and not the other way around. But even with the gifted freshmen on campus — Branden Smith, Orson Charles, Washaun Ealey, Rantavious Wooten, Aaron Murray, Marlon Brown — is there any assurance they’ll flourish under these coaches?
Mark Richt is a smart man. He has to realize declining results call for an upgrade in standards. He has to know the only way back to the pinnacle of the SEC isn’t to stay the course but to change the navigators. He has to grasp this. Doesn’t he?
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425 comments Add your comment
Joebrave
November 28th, 2009
2:18 pm
Thoughts on Ga, I haven’t missed one single game this season,however last Saturday’s meltdown and public walkaway protest, was reason enough for everyone to realize that change is going to be necessary.
Sick of losing to Fla.sick of silly penalties by poorly coached players, and that STUPID defense!
How old is Joe Cox?45
Wille Martinez must go, Bozo must be demoted,Fabris has got to go.and recruiting has got to pick up.
Paul
November 28th, 2009
2:22 pm
Great points, Mark!
Coaches > Recruiters
GT FAN
November 28th, 2009
2:26 pm
Georgia, good luck. Your going to need it. 56-35 good guys win.
LJ of UGA
November 28th, 2009
2:35 pm
Mark Richt Era (2001-present)
LSU 90-26, 3 SEC titles (2-3 vs. UGA)
Florida 88-26, 2 SEC titles (7-2 vs. UGA)
Georgia 88-27, 2 SEC titles
Auburn 78-34, 1 SEC title (3-6 vs. UGA)
Tennessee 74-39 (4-5 vs. UGA)
Alabama 73-40 (1-3 vs. UGA)
Arkansas 62-49 (0-5 vs. UGA)
South Carolina 59-49 (2-7 vs. UGA)
Ole Miss 55-52 (0-4 vs. UGA)
Kentucky 48-59 (2-7 vs. UGA)
Mississippi State 33-73 (0-2 vs. UGA)
Vanderbilt 31-75 (1-8 vs. UGA)
…and…
Georgia Tech 70-43 (1-7 vs. UGA)
Chris
November 28th, 2009
2:48 pm
Do I believe UGA needs to make changes. Yes. But do I believe we are jumping the gun on CMR, yes! I believe CMR has earned the right to choose if he wants to keep the cordinators around for another year. I believe he will, because CMR has never fired a coach. But if UGA has another year like this one next year, then it wont be his cordinators that will be looking for a new job, but him himself. By defending Martinez, he has put the program and his job in the air. For all of us, I do hope he is making the right call.
td
November 28th, 2009
2:56 pm
After reading these blogs for several weeks now. I think the most pressing need with this program is a good purging of the idiot fans that think they know more about the game of football than CMR has forgotten.
For all you CWM detractors out there that think that a team should play man to man a blitz every play, I hope you watched game day this morning and listened to Micky Andrews. “I am retiring because the game has passed me bye and my pressure man to man will not work any longer.” I guess you all know more than Micky ha?
From a layman’s eye it appears some changes may be needed but I think CMR is in the best place to determine what if any changes are needed and I will support his decisions.
td
November 28th, 2009
3:01 pm
Mark,
Why can’t you or other reporters take a look at how Adams has hurt the program instead of just doing these easy articles about how bad the coaching staff is?
SatillaDawg
November 28th, 2009
3:16 pm
Nice post LJ of UGA. But you left out National Championships, of which the Dawgs have won NONE during the Richt years. In fact they haven’t won one since 1980! That’s 29 years, folks! I’ve had it. Let’s make some changes. Football has evolved over those 29 years and we’re not playing the kind of football that’s winning national titles. It’s kind of like Kentucky and basketball. They’re used to winning national titles. When it became apparent they weren’t winning them anymore, they went looking for someone who could put them back on top, opened their wallets and hired Calipari. Like him or hate him, the Cats are 6-0 so far this year. I’m tired of the excuses. The Kentucky football game was it for me. That was some of the most pitiful Georgia football I’ve ever witnessed. And I am absolutely sick and tired of losing to Florida. CMR is a nice guy and all that, but UGA’s football program is going down the toilet. It’s time for change. So, GO DAWGS! Beat Tech! And then let’s hire some new blood.
joe cox will be fine
November 28th, 2009
3:21 pm
nuthin to say, just breakin in a screen name
Dawg Fan 74
November 28th, 2009
3:27 pm
The Dawgs will destroy the Jackets 62-7! The triple option will be a BIG ZERO.
Go DAWGS!
zaq001
November 28th, 2009
3:39 pm
Mark, Please do us all a favor, and do your homework before you write another ranting column. While Georgia is having a down year, the rhetoric your spewing doesn’t add up. First, let’s look Georgia’s record for the last 4 years. You correctly wrote it that Georgia is 36-14 over the last 4 years. However, you failed to mention that Georgia has a 30-8 (.789) record prior to this year. To put that in perspective, his 82-22 overall record (2001-2008) is fourth best in the country in winning percentage among active coaches (.788).
Second, let’s take a look at this years team. Yes, the Georgia offense has had a lot of turnovers. And, yes, the defense has given up a lot of points. But, the defense is ranked 31st in total yards allowed per game. This ranking is far better than their rivals over at GT (46th) who have a higher AP ranking. The truth of the matter is that a defense that stays on the field alot or has to defend a short field (due to a offensive turnover on your side of the field), is going to give up more points. Thus, this is where some of the problem lies.
And, let’s take a look at the Georgia turnover problem to see if it warrants a coaching change or is individualized. Fourteen of the 26 turnovers belong to 1 player – Joe Cox. The remainder of the 12 turnovers are spread among freshmen and Richard Samuels, a sophmore. Georgia has since limited Samuels play to special teams. Unfortunately, Joe Cox is our given quarterback this year, and we won’t be able to change that until next year. (Yes, we have quarterbacks waiting in the wings, but I bet the Ga coaching staff is teaching them while saving eligibility).
In closing, do your homework and give us good information to use. Presenting your personal feelings without any sense of the facts doesn’t do ANY of us a favor. I’m betting Georgia will rebound next year and will be a strong contender.
Shane
November 28th, 2009
3:48 pm
Hey yellow fuz,
2,555 days from 2001 – 2008
Kerry
November 28th, 2009
4:02 pm
Richt needs to go. A tougher, smarter coach is needed. No a Mr. Wimp. UGA alumnus
Terd Furgeson
November 28th, 2009
4:17 pm
Looks like the Fuzz Fairy is back. Fuzz is a pole smoker.
LJ of UGA
November 28th, 2009
4:33 pm
Satilla, “National Championships” are mythical. They are usually won or lost because of the outcome of some game 1,000 miles away over which you have no control, or how someone votes. I stick to the results that actually took place on the field.
TNJeff
November 28th, 2009
4:43 pm
Nope, don’t think he does
Cobb Dawg
November 28th, 2009
4:47 pm
This may sound odd to some, but I’m not that upset about the win/loss thing this season. I’m more upset about HOW we lost. Even the best of programs stumble from time to time due to graduation, injuries, players leaving early, etc. But the turnovers, penalties, and general lack of poise and dicipline point straight to the coaching staff and their lack of leadership and direction. I don’t believe a HC can turn that around without some major changes.
Bill C
November 28th, 2009
4:53 pm
Being a Bama fan< I have no stick in this fight-just an outside observation of a program (Bama) that has gone through it's share of bad coaches until we found the right one.
March Richt is not a bad coach! His problem is that he is too loyal to his staff. When you recruit as well as UGA as done over the past few years and find your program in decline, the ONLY direction for your finger to point is the coaching staff.
UGA's offense will be much better once Cox is gone..The main problem lies on the defensive side of the ball..I don't know of one defensive coach I would retain…
Mark, seems you have a bug up your bum about UK…get over it..the problems are much deeper than one team…
WildBill
November 28th, 2009
5:14 pm
Cobb Dawg is right on target. I would amplify the discipline problem with the dawgs. Just watch tonite and see it for yourself. The high school playoffs look like pros compared to the dawgs in many ways, especially discipline.
winterdawg
November 28th, 2009
5:20 pm
I bit dramatic here. Just two years ago we finish number 2 and were probably the best team at the end of the season. We beat LSU last year so to say they lapped us is a bit misleading. While, change is needed in some aspects to say the team is so far down is a stretch. Don’t push the panic button becuase the journalist thinks so.
Forget these guys
November 28th, 2009
5:30 pm
Tuberville is a head coach,he wouldn’t take a DC job. West is probably not going to, either. Kirby is at Alabama, coaching under Saban, the man who gave him his first shot, took him to the NFL, and made him a DC. Kirby’s not coming, either. Maybe Mickey Andrews at FSU will come out of retirement. Joe Kines? Buehler?
Winter...dead on.
November 28th, 2009
5:33 pm
We lost four big time players to the NFL, there is no way to do that and not have a dropoff. The huge question next year will be qb, where we will have to suffer through a totally inexperienced redshirt frosh, or an almost totally inexperienced redshirt junior. Poorly handled this year in terms of getting ready for next. We used to plan for those things by getting the next guy significant snaps while playing in a backup role. Next big question next year will be D line, followed by safeties. Change is coming, first off, we have to go get the jackets. HBTD
Oprah's Vajayjay
November 28th, 2009
5:37 pm
Excuses, excuses. Take the list and apply it to almost any team in the conference. The Dawgs has been on a path of decline and are now irrelevant in the SEC and next year holds less hope.
Brasidas
November 28th, 2009
6:41 pm
Mark,
I don’t normally respond to online articles…but after reading yours I felt a need to do so. You’ve raised some valid points…however, there is one glaring point that UGA has to address and it’s been present for the last couple of years.
The UGA football team is one of the most undisciplined teams in the SEC. Need proof? Look at the penalties. Key penalties that kill drives. “Emotional” penalties at the wrong times that let an opponent off the mat. Need further proof? Look at the off the field “incidents” with law enforcement.
It all starts with the head coach and a climate of accountability–to him, the team and each other. Until Mark Richt instills some standards and discipline into his program–this slide into mediocrity will continue.
Bryce
November 28th, 2009
11:32 pm
St Simons, 30-24 (hahahahahahahahahahahah)