Rx for Mark Richt: Try Smart first, then Ellis Johnson
Needed: A defensive coordinator who understands how defense must be played in the SEC.
First choice (and a no-brainer): Kirby Smart, the Georgia alum who coaches Alabama’s defense.
Problem: It’s not even a lateral move for Smart, Alabama being a demonstrably better program than Georgia. And Alabama can, as we know, outspend the Yankees to keep the guys it wants.
Possible bit of leverage: Nick Saban is a notoriously tough boss — the anti-Richt — and is still widely seen as the man behind Alabama’s D. Smart might want to strike out on his own.
Plan B: Ellis Johnson of South Carolina.
Loading ...Why him: He has done great work with lesser talent than Georgia’s, and he has coordinated defenses at Alabama and Mississippi State. And he did what a lot of folks can only dream of doing: He bailed out on Bobby Petrino after a month at Arkansas.
Why he might leave: No one knows how much longer Steve Spurrier will coach South Carolina, and even if Spurrier stays another five years it’s clear the Gamecocks will always hit a ceiling in the SEC East.
Possible roadblock: His contract runs through 2011.
Other names: Tommy Tuberville isn’t going to take an assistant’s job. Will Muschamp, another UGA grad, isn’t coming; being coach-in-waiting at Texas trumps being defensive coordinator at Georgia. Brian VanGorder seems happy in Flowery Branch, and it takes a lot to make BVG happy. Charlie Strong, formerly of South Carolina and now of Florida, is apt to become head coach at Louisville. And there seems no cause to promote Rodney Garner: Why bump up the lone holdover from a defensive staff Mark Richt just admitted was substandard?
The best guess: Smart stays in Tuscaloosa and Ellis Johnson moves to Athens.
Would that be an upgrade over Willie Martinez? No more than a suite at the Ritz-Carlton would be an upgrade over a room with two double beds at Motel 6.
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707 comments Add your comment
Mullet13
December 3rd, 2009
6:06 am
While Garner is a great recruiter, I think he would have been promoted to a coordinator position long ago if he was capable. If I’m not mistaken, he was a holdover from Donnan’s staff who was retained for his recruiting ability. With that recruiting prowess, it is certain another school would have gone after him for a DC position IF he could handle it. Apparently, his abilities as a recruiter do not translate to a high performance level as a DC.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
December 3rd, 2009
6:07 am
All kidding aside, the first call has to go to Kirby. He is is coaching under a great defensive head coach and is being groomed to take the next steps up the coaching ladder. Second he is an alum. If he turns this down I do not see Johnson taking it for the exact reasons Tokyo said.
DaWg!
December 3rd, 2009
6:11 am
Based on how he hired BVG and Martinez, it’s gonna be someone Richt has experience with or against.
Whopper Dawg
December 3rd, 2009
6:27 am
Bumpas and only Bumpas. Whatever it takes.
mike on lake hartwell
December 3rd, 2009
6:31 am
dungy
smart
bumpas
in that order
Sloan
December 3rd, 2009
6:33 am
Totally agree with the comments regarding Coach Garner. He has to be expecting the promotion and will certainly leave if he doesn’t get it. That said, if Richt can get a proven DC from outside the program which is more important? The proven recruiter or a proven DC?
gomdawg
December 3rd, 2009
6:34 am
DAVID POLLACK DEFENSE END COACH , KIRBY DC WOULDN’T THAT BE GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alabama Jack
December 3rd, 2009
6:40 am
UGA is so irrelevant.
Quasimodo
December 3rd, 2009
6:46 am
It doesn’t make any difference who CMR chooses. All of you keyboard qb’s will say it’s the wrong choice. Like you really know.
MFM
December 3rd, 2009
6:47 am
Where is the Swamp Fox when you need him?
Marie
December 3rd, 2009
6:48 am
Money would NEVER take precedence, over my school!!!!!!! Come home Kirby!!!!!!!!!!
'Bama 1
December 3rd, 2009
6:49 am
Joe Kines
Douglas
December 3rd, 2009
6:49 am
If I hear one more idiot suggest Jon Tenuta, that person needs to be taken out to the woodshed or needs a brain transplant. All he knows how to do is blitz — we already tried that scheme when Donnan was here and hired the guy from Tenn. — it dd not work then and it will not work now. The idiot must be a Ga. Tech fan.
Are you guys that dumb?
December 3rd, 2009
6:54 am
I keep reading the same ol names – Tenuta (as Mark says, VASTLY overrated – proved that this year), Joe Lee Dunn (old), Ellis Johnson (old), Kirby Smart (too smart to leave AL, Chuck Amato (old, old, old); Tony Dungy (are you kidding me – he said on TV Sunday night that he is not even coaching pee wee football anymore); and Garner, according to David Pollack yesterday, while a great recruiter does NOT have the ability to juggle the duties of a DC – he did say he would probably make a good head coach though!
The only suggestion that made any sense was to get the guy from TCU – their defense this year is out of sight, but that may be due to who they play. We will know more about Kevin Steele from Clemson after this weekend, but he does not seem like a viable choice, either.
What we need, and what suspect CMR will do, is find an up and coming guy (like Bo Pellini when he was at LSU) and recruit him to be the new DC – and that is how it should be.
Recycling old names never works – ever!
James
December 3rd, 2009
6:54 am
John Gruden is the man.
Are you guys that dumb?
December 3rd, 2009
7:01 am
I am with you Douglas – Tenuta is a joke, as are all the other “names” suggested here – Kines, Ellis Johnson, Amato, Smart, Joe Lee Dunn, Tony Dungy (now that is an all time dumbass suggestion), etc – even David Pollack said that Garner is a great recruiter and position coach but does not have the acumen to be a DC (and Richt knows this).
No, the way to go is to find an up and comer (possibly the guy at TCU – but their success may be due to who they play – but then, again, with the athletes UGA gets if he can coach UP he is a good choice – as would be Stgeele from Clemson, IF they can stop Tech this weekend!) like Bo Pellini was at LSU.
Hopefully, CMR knows who he wants – no all he has to do is “recruit” him.
archangeladidas
December 3rd, 2009
7:01 am
Say Jeff, why did they fire Willie when its all Spikes faught? GO GATORS!!! 41-17! 17 out of 20!!!
There is no way Kirby Smart will come to UGA
December 3rd, 2009
7:09 am
Saban praises Smart
Published: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:47 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at 5:47 p.m.
TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has been named a finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach.
The list of 34 assistants will be cut to five finalists on Monday.
“Kirby is an outstanding coach, he’s done a great job for a long time with us. This is the third different place he’s worked with us. I think he’s done a fantastic job with our defense, with our players, with implementing in the game, teaching it on the field, all those things,” said UA coach Nick Saban.
Smart’s unit ranks No. 1 in the nation in total defense (225.2 yards per game), second in rush defense (70.5), fifth in pass defense (154.6) and second in scoring defense (9.9 points per game).
Smart is one of seven Southeastern Conference assistants to reach the field of 34, including Tyrone Nix of Ole Miss, Arkansas’ Paul Petrino, Mississippi State’s John Hevesy, Florida’s Charlie Strong, Kentucky’s Randy Sanders and South Carolina’s Shane Beamer.
“I couldn’t be happier with with what he’s done,” Saban added. “He’s got a great opportunity to continue to grow and develop and be a head coach some day and I think he’s got all the right stuff for that. I think it’s absolutely fantastic that he’s getting some recognition for his hard work and all the efforts and all the great things that he’s done for our program.”
willie martinez
December 3rd, 2009
7:15 am
Ritz Carlton vs Motel 6. you kill me Mark. your FORMER friend, willie
Sowega Dawg
December 3rd, 2009
7:15 am
Anyone suggesting Chuck Amato should read some recent FSU blogs about the guy. It seems he was brought back specifically to recruit south Florida and he can’t even handle that. He has also alienated quite a few high school coaches with the way he has treated some recruits-way too old for the job anyway-we can do much better.
willie martinez
December 3rd, 2009
7:17 am
i heard that CMR is seriously looking at bobby bowden for coordinator, jeff bowden for linebackers coach, and tommy bowden to replace brook whitmire.
joe taxpayer
December 3rd, 2009
7:18 am
How about Vandy’s DC, he does alot with lesser talant.
willie martinez
December 3rd, 2009
7:19 am
Coach Richt called me into Butts Mehre
said Willie
this you dont want to hear
its not an award
you must fall on your sword
so i can have my job next year
haywood jablomey
December 3rd, 2009
7:19 am
kirby. coach-in-waiting.
willie martinez
December 3rd, 2009
7:22 am
terry bowden is going to replace hairy dog
17 of 20
December 3rd, 2009
7:26 am
I wish Georgia had found a way not to fire any of their coaches, I for one thought they were doing a good job.
haywood jablomey
December 3rd, 2009
7:29 am
k i r b y.
c o a c h – i n – w a i t i n g.
GT Joe
December 3rd, 2009
7:30 am
PLEASE get Tenuta… PLEASE.
Navy’s triple option tortured Tenuta at ND, lost twice. I’m already getting wood just thinking about next year’s game if you had Tenuta.
RD
December 3rd, 2009
7:32 am
I agree with joe taxpayer. The UGA program has a lot in common with Vandy.
TROTTINGHOME
December 3rd, 2009
7:33 am
Mark..why wait till willie out the door to make a joke about him and his lack of coachoing ability? In Chicago writers tell it like it is all the time. Not just when there is someone going out the door. Unless they are a lawyer wanting their cake and eat it too.
jerry
December 3rd, 2009
7:34 am
Johnson has definitely had Richt’s offense’s number but so have a lot of others. But is a big upgrade over “Motel 6″.
Citizen
December 3rd, 2009
7:34 am
Kirby Smart only has one solid year of experience under his belt. Also, is Nick Saban the wizard behind Alabama’s defensivie success, or Smart? Smart is not even on the list of those being considered. Ellis Johnson is not on the list either.
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
7:35 am
I think the first call must be to Kirby Smart. It can’t hurt to ask, right? I sure would love for him to come home and get out of Saban’s shadow.
I also think there are tons of options out there. Now some of them may not be the right choice for UGA, but whatever they decide, I hope they get a DC with some balls who knows how to run the defense….and do it well. No more crap defense!
Steele from Clemson, Mark Snyder, Ellis Johnson, Dick Bumpas…..pick carefully, Richt!
Glenn
December 3rd, 2009
7:38 am
I heard that they were going after Dick Bumpas of TCU
Resume
Years Title Location
2004-Present Defensive Coordinator & Defensive Line Coach TCU
2003 Defensive Coordinator & Linebacker Coach Western Michigan
1999-2003 Co-Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach & Linebacker Coach Houston
1995-1998 Defensive Coordinator, Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Line Coach Navy
1992-1994 Defensive Coordinator & Assistant Head Coach Utah State
1990-1992 Defensive Line Coach Notre Dame
1989 Defensive Line Coach Arkansas
1985-1989 Linebacker Coach & Special Teams Coach Tennessee
1983-1984 Defensive Coordinator & Assistant Head Coach Tennessee Tech
1981-1982 Defensive Line Coach Kansas State
1979-1980 Defensive Line Coach Air Force
1978 Defensive Line Coach Army
BIO
Dick Bumpas joined TCU in February 2004 as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
Bumpas first worked with Horned Frog coach Gary Patterson at Kansas State in the early 1980s. He was the Wildcats’ defensive line coach in 1981 when Patterson was a senior linebacker. Patterson then became a Kansas State graduate assistant in 1982 and joined Bumpas on staff.
The duo also worked together at Utah State from 1992-94 and at Navy in 1995. At both places, Bumpas was the defensive coordinator while Patterson was the secondary coach.
Bumpas was a 2008 finalist for the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant coach. TCU led the nation in total defense (217.8 yards per game), run defense (47.1 yards per game) and fewest first downs allowed per game (12.1) while placing second in scoring defense (11.3 points per game) and sacks (43) and fourth in pass efficiency defense (97.9).
Bumpas mentored Horned Frog defensive end Jerry Hughes into consensus All-America honors and being a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award. Hughes had never played on defense until arriving at TCU.
All four of TCU’s starting defensive linemen in 2008 were named All-MWC. In addition to Hughes being a first-team selection, seniors Cody Moore and defensive end Matt Panfil enjoyed their best seasons in 2008 and were both second-team picks. Defensive tackle James Vess was an honorable-mention choice.
In 2007, Bumpas was ranked by Rivals.com as the seventh-best defensive coach in the nation.
Bumpas coached defensive ends Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz to first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, Ortiz became TCU’s first three-time first-team all-conference player in 30 years (Mike Renfro, 1975-77). Ortiz signed a free-agent contract with the Cleveland Browns.
The 2006 TCU defense ranked second nationally in run defense (60.8 yards per game) and total defense (234.9 ypg.) while placing third in scoring defense (12.3 points per game).
Bumpas was nominated for the 2005 Frank Broyles National Assistant Coach of the Year award. He was named the Rivals.com National Defensive Coordinator of the Week following the Horned Frogs’ season-opening 17-10 win at Oklahoma. TCU held the Sooners to 225 yards of total offense and the second-lowest point total in coach Bob Stoops’ tenure in Norman.
TCU led the nation in 2005 in turnover margin (+21), interceptions (26) and takeaways (40). The Frogs topped the Mountain West Conference with 41 sacks and allowed just three touchdowns in their final three games, keeping their opponent out of the end zone for 10 quarters from Oct. 29 at San Diego State to the Dec. 31 EV1.net Houston Bowl.
In a coaching career that has spanned 30 years, Bumpas has won championships in four different conferences and coached at all three service academies. He has also coached in 15 bowl games.
Bumpas came to TCU after serving as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator for one season.
Bumpas worked at the University of Houston from 1999-02, serving as assistant head coach and linebackers coach and later as co-defensive coordinator, installing the 4-2-5 defense in his initial season. Houston finished 25th in the nation in total defense that first year while ranking 20th against the run and 22nd in scoring defense. In 2001, Bumpas coached Wayne Rogers, the Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
Prior to his stint at Houston, Bumpas worked four seasons at the U.S. Naval Academy as assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. His 1997 Navy unit ranked sixth in total defense and turnover margin. At season’s end, he was invited to coach in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game. In 1996, Bumpas’ defense held California to just three second-half points in an Aloha Bowl victory.
Bumpas spent three seasons (1992-94) as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Utah State, helping the Aggies to a 1993 Big West Championship and a Las Vegas Bowl victory over Ball State. Other coaching stops include two seasons as defensive line coach at Notre Dame (1990-92), during which time he mentored 1990 Lombardi Award winner Chris Zorich. In 1989, Bumpas coached the defensive line at his alma mater, Arkansas, a team that went on to win a Southwest Conference title and advanced to the 1990 Cotton Bowl.
Bumpas coached seven years in the Volunteer state, splitting time between the University of Tennessee (1985-89) as linebackers coach/special teams coordinator and Tennessee Tech (1983-84) as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. While with the Vols, Bumpas coached three bowl championship teams (1986 Sugar, 1986 Liberty, 1988 Peach) and was part of the Southeastern Conference championship in 1985.
Bumpas began his collegiate coaching career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas in 1977. From there, he went to the U.S. Military Academy and implemented a new defense under Homer Smith in 1978. Installing new defenses would become a trend for Bumpas, who did the same thing as defensive line coach at the Air Force Academy during a two-year tenure (1979-80) with the Falcons.
A native of Fort Smith, Ark., Bumpas received three varsity letters and was a captain for the Razorbacks. He was named SWC Defensive Player of the Year in 1970, earning consensus All-America honors at defensive tackle. He received a Bachelor’s degree in education from Arkansas in 1973. He went on to play tight end and linebacker professionally for the Memphis Southmen in the World Football League and the British Columbia Lions of the Canadian Football League.
Bumpas was a 2006 inductee into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor.
GT IS A 4TH RATE HIGH SCHOOL TEAM
December 3rd, 2009
7:40 am
HE TECHIES DO NOT FORGET GA DAWGS FANS GOT THEIR CHRISTMAS GIFT EARLY.
SO LINE UP AND ASK SANTA FOR YOURS IN THOSE SHOPPING MALLS.
DO NOT PUNCH SANTA THOUGH IF YOU DISCOVER UNDERNEATH HIS RED SUIT WITH BLACK BELT AND BOOTS IS A SHIRT WITH A BIG GGGGGGGGGG.
DO NOT PUNCH SANTA IF HE CLANG, CLANG HIS BELL FOR UGA DAWGS WIN.
DO NOT PUNCH SANTA IF YOU HEAR HOHOHOHOHOHOOHHOHOOHOH FOR TECHIE LOSSSSSSSSSSS.
I SAY TO THAT HAHAHAHAHHHAHA AND MORE HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA FOREVER AND EVER,
jerry
December 3rd, 2009
7:40 am
Johnson has held UGA to 20 or less 7 of 9 times. If Richt is a great offensive coach, Johnson must be a greater defensive coach. But I’m thinking maybe Richt is not so great and neither is Johnson.
GEORGIA97
December 3rd, 2009
7:40 am
Pollak for DE coach, Randall Godfrey for LB coach, and Dick Bumpas from TCU as the D coordinator. He played ball at Arkansas and coached at Tennessee so he knows all about the SEC. Let’s face it, TCU is having a dream season that is more likely a fluke than a sign of things to come in Ft. Worth so he should get while the getting is good.
GEORGIA97
December 3rd, 2009
7:43 am
Glenn: WTF, dude? This is a blog, not your chance to win a Pulitzer for writing a novel. Yeesh.
Nick Satan
December 3rd, 2009
7:44 am
Hey, Alabama has two good years after being in NCAA prison for 20 and everybody thinks it is the 1960s are back. Sorry with the limitations on players and practice no one stays on top very long–[Pete Carrol] My twin at Alabanana has been there long enough that his ego needs strokin somewhere else. Saban to Notre Dame yes,yes, yes
HungryDawg
December 3rd, 2009
7:45 am
I nearly made a Nerd fan cry last night talking about the game!!! LOL!!! He tried to say we barely won and I said we did it without our best player. He said, “who’s your best player?” I said “A.J. Green you douche!!!” He said, “ahhhh, he’s not that good!!!” BAHAWHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!!
German Shepherd Dawg
December 3rd, 2009
7:45 am
In today’s era of instant gratification, I understand the calls for the moves that Richt made. While reticent to throw Willie under the bus (I remember winning an SEC championship against LSU with him) I joined those disgruntled fans tired of 40+ point showings by the defense. Turnovers put us in bad spots at times, but the defense has to hold to 3 and we gave up 6 too often.
But these comments from the same people about UGA being a middle of the pack program and how great Alabama is are funny considering two years ago UGA was a potential NC and Alabama was being referred to as a second tier program that could never again achieve the heights reached under Bear Bryant’s leadership.
Kirby Smart to Athens is a “step down”? PLEASE!!!
Have you ever been to Tuscaloosa? I rest my case.
Heckler
December 3rd, 2009
7:45 am
As a rabid Gamecock fan I hope you are wrong.
Heckler
December 3rd, 2009
7:46 am
Enter your comments here
17 of 20
December 3rd, 2009
7:47 am
Georgia is not a big time program, it has only won 62% of the conference games it has played in since 1992. They have only won 2 conference championships since 1992. You people have to understand that you are a third place team.
JB
December 3rd, 2009
7:47 am
It will NOT be anyone mentioned in this blog…….there are only a handful of DC’c in the country who are household names, and i don’t think Mark will go for glamor. it will be a no name “Lunch pail” type that none of you have heard of ( like Van Gorder was, whom everyone said who the heck when hired).
His body of work will be that at his his current job and his previous, he made big strides in improving the defense at that school. Just Watch.
GEORGIA97
December 3rd, 2009
7:47 am
Putting out an APB for Saint Simons. Last seen on North Avenue walking around with his boo-boo lip stuck out and putting his “45-42″ T-shirt in the garbage.
jim
December 3rd, 2009
7:51 am
Being an alum will not get Kirby Smart here. Remember when Pat Dye was coaching at Auburn? He was a UGA grad. Remember Vince Dooley? He was an Auburn grad. The point is – money and timing will determine who c omes here, not some imagined loyalty to a school a coach went to for four years.
GT Joe
December 3rd, 2009
7:52 am
TCU DC? Get a grip guys, why would he come to UGA? TCU is in WAY better shape, gets TEXAS talent, and is in a BCS bowl THIS year.
UGA would be a major step down. That guy’s next job is a head coach, not DC for 5th in the SEC East.
MamaDawg
December 3rd, 2009
7:53 am
Just curious how soon a new DC may be named? I know when the ‘trio’ was fired, they were given the option to stay through the bowl game. So I just wondered if Richt/Evans were already searching for the replacements or will they wait until after the bowl game/season is over to make a decision?
Any thoughts?
JB
December 3rd, 2009
7:54 am
17 of 20 is obviously a Gator……Yes, they have owned us, but he must be young because before 1990, that swamp infested redneck hell hole of a University hadn’t won a county fair title or sniffed a SEC trophy. They All think Florida was founded in 1990. Let’s see them next year with a QB who doesn’t cry. Yes, Tebow was great. He’s gone, along with a lot of that D.