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
o-me
December 3rd, 2009
9:07 am
Smart was at practice with his team yesterday. Go back to the swamp bro fox.
Tebo's cousin's (3rd removed) girlfriend's brother
December 3rd, 2009
9:07 am
How about Loisianna Tech’s D- coach….he turned around a rock bottom D at L-Tech and was Paul Johnson’s D-coord at Ga Southern… and he played on UGA 1980 team.. under ERK…
Ellis Johnson? He's worse than Willie!
December 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
Bradley-
Ellis? Are you joking? He’s worse than Willie in some defensive stats and close to Willie in most. That would not be an upgrade. Think a little bigger than that. Broaden your imagination to include the top guns like Texas, Ok, Oh St., Boise St., TCU. Offer these guys more of what they want, less of whatever they don’t want, and at least 1 will come. Richt has 80 wins in 8 years–it’s an elite group of 10 coaches all-time. Richt is such a loyal ethical guy–who wouldn’t want to work with him?
the ceiling
December 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
it’s clear that south carolina will always hit a ceiling in the SEC east? sir, with all due respect, you will be eating those words.
Forrest Swanson
December 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
Dick Bumpas from TCU.
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:09 am
Reggie Herring, guys. I know you probably think I am crazy but he’s going to get an interview.
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
9:09 am
I always enjoy the coaching “wish lists” that circulate whenever a position is open. This being the Christmas season, I liken it to telling Santa what you want and expecting to get it. You know, like my sister asking one year for a horse that flies. My father laughed years down the road telling us that he almost get her a horsefly and put it in a jar. Anyway, I love UGA but I do not believe the next DC, when named, will cause massive celebration throughout the Bulldog Nation. Let’s face it guys, Tuberville, Muschamp, Smart and their ilk will not leave their present coaching positions to come to UGA. History has taught us that, but here’s a quick recap.
Dooley retires after 25 years and the speculation ran rampant. Many thought Dan Reeves would leave the NFL to come be our head coach. Others thought Terry Donahue would leave UCLA to take the job. Many other “giant” names were floated as well. Who did we get? Ray Goff. Ray Goff, for crying out loud!! He had never been an OC or DC anywhere. Ray Goff. And we know what happened there.
So we get rid of Goff and the best Dooley could come up with was Glen Mason. Glen Mason in the SEC? I remember hearing on Christmas Day that Mason changed his mind and decided to take a pass. That was a great Christmas gift, by the way. So we dip into the D2 ranks and get Jim Donnan. He was entertaining, he could talk a good game, and he could recruit, but he just couldn’t seem to get the winning consistency most expected.
So we get rid of Donnan and name Richt as head coach. I remember many in the Bulldog Nation not being happy with his selection, but things, for the most part, turned out fairly well.
So now we think a huge name will accept the DC position? We never get the huge names when the HEAD COACH job comes open, so why do we expect something different when it comes to the DC? I believe it will be someone who most UGA fans will have no immediate knowledge of his body of work.
Here are the two things I’m taking into consideration. (1) I still trust CMR at this point and expect him to attain a very talented individual to become our new DC. (2) Whoever is selected, it HAS to be an improvement over Martinez.
Just my 2 cents worth.
nemov
December 3rd, 2009
9:10 am
“the most prolific and historically dominating football program in collegiate history”
Equal time…. since I’ve been alive (1979) the most prolific football program has one more NC that Georgia. Yawn.
Justafan
December 3rd, 2009
9:10 am
Fire BoBo.
BAMA DOMINATES!!!
December 3rd, 2009
9:11 am
BAMA HAS & ALWAYS WILL DOMINATE THE SEC!!! Face it neutered dogs (dawgs) BAMA DOMINATES!!!BAMA DOMINATES!!! BAMA DOMINATES!!! BAMA DOMINATES!!!BAMA DOMINATES!!!BAMA DOMINATES!!!ROLL TIDE!!!ROLL TIDE!!ROLL TIDE!!!ROLL TIDE!!!ROLL TIDE!!!ROLL TIDE!!!
nemov
December 3rd, 2009
9:11 am
Until USC actually wins anything worth value Gamecock fans shouldn’t be surprised no one believes.
RoswellHOG
December 3rd, 2009
9:12 am
I understand it still feels good to take a jab at the Petrino punching bag, but Johnson “bailed” because he wanted to go home to SC. Bradley, are you related to Early Cuyler?
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
9:12 am
Who is the DC at TCU?
Ryan
December 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
Ellis Johnson would be #1 on my wish list but a couple of lesser known canidates who have had their defenses Top 20 in the nation for the previous three years and are at lesser known schools so would probably jump at the chance to coach at UGA : Greg Hudson D-Coordinator 2004-Present at East Carolina: 42 years old and Defense has been Pirates strong suit for more than three years now…also, Tim DeRuyter D-Coordinator at Air Force Academy which has quietly ranked 17th, 15th and 22nd nationally in Defense the previous three seasons; also Coach DeRuyter is an Academy grad and would bring additional discipline and leadership to the program…any thoughts?
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
JacketFan – i think it’s Dick Bumpas
Matt
December 3rd, 2009
9:14 am
Sylvester Croom
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:14 am
Maddog,
i don’t usually read the long posts such as your’s but i believe you are correct…which is why i am going with Reggie Herring
BIRDDAWGONE
December 3rd, 2009
9:15 am
Mark:
First learn to catch a football, then write about football.
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
9:16 am
Fud, yeah, I know that I was just being rhetorical. I have no idea why Mark Bradley wouldn’t suggest Bumpas. That guy has to be the hottest DC in the country and he’s at a non-AQ. That seems like more of a a “no-brainer” than trying to lure a DC from a NC contender (Bama) or a guy with a questionable record at a rival (Johnson).
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
9:17 am
However, if UGA did hire Bumpas and he was unsuccessful, Dawg fans would have to hear a LOT of “Bumpas” jokes …
Justin
December 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
Ellis isn’t leaving South Carolina. He is a Citadel grad and his wife is from Columbia. The Gamecocks may have to give him a raise, but I don’t see him leaving Columbia for Athens. Spurrier and EJ are finally getting the players in place to make a run at the East.
savannahdawg
December 3rd, 2009
9:20 am
Why do you idiots keep talking up Tenuta? Notre Dame’s defense was worse than Georgia’s! Stop posting comments until you do some research first.
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:20 am
JacketFan – agreed. but would make for great bumper stickers…
you guys need to get Tenuta back from ND
cajdawg
December 3rd, 2009
9:20 am
Bud Foster.
BVG won’t leave the NFL and he is held in high regard in NFL circles for maximizes mediocre talent with the ‘coons.
Muschamp is “coach in waiting” at Texas, it would make zero sense for him to change, it isn’t even a lateral change.
Amato- silly rumor. FSUs D has been terrible the last two years.
Ellis Johnson. Could make sense if Spurrier were leaving or contract was up, but neither is the case.
Dick Bumpas. Scheme sounds a little smoke-and-mirrors to me.
Back up the Brink truck and pay Bud Foster $500+. He has had consistent top 10 defenses for over a decade and give him responsibility for special teams too. The downside is if he does a good job, he will get a head job in two to three years.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:21 am
YOU ARE SPLENDIDLY STUPID IF YOU THINK CHANGING AN ASSISTANT COACH IS GOING TO TURN GEORGIA AROUND. IM LAUGHING AT YOUR STUPIDITY. THIS IS THE MF TITANIC YOU STUPID S.O.B.
YO DUMB AZS IS TRYING TO PUT A BAND AID ON A STAB WOUND. IT WILL TALK 10 YEARS BEFORE THE MUTTS ARE COMPETITIVE AGAIN AND MOST OF THAT TIME IS BEING WASTED TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THE CAPTAIN THAT RAN THIS SHIP A GROUND ANY WAY. BRING DONNAN BACK AND FIRE THIS IDIOT OF A COACH
Tombo
December 3rd, 2009
9:21 am
Don’t even consider Garner as DC. Good coaching can make talent play better than it looks on paper. Poor coaching can make super star talent play average. What we do with the talent when it gets to Athens is the key. Regardless, it needs to be somebody who is capable of adaptation during a game and season. Also needs to focus on fundamentals like tackling and discipline on the field.
Smart would be great, but don’t see it happening. He was at UGA and left already. Tuberville would be a mistake as would Muschamp. Need somebody who is willing to be DC for a long time…not somebody who is looking to climb career ladder. I loved BVG, but can’t trust him to stay.
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
9:25 am
Fud – I don’t know. His success at Tech was welcome during some abysmal years at Tech. It was like a really good cheese on a turd sandwich. Personally, I would like to see someone young, full of piss and vinegar from a D-II or non-AQ who has something to prove. I mean, imagine a DC equivalent of Urban Myer when he came to UF from Utah. New blood. I like CPJ, but it would be good to have someone a bit younger with high energy on the sideline to balance the old man’s old-school offense.
2N4YEARS
December 3rd, 2009
9:25 am
I agree w/ UGA75 hold-heartedly. Richt will search for an up & coming D-cord., probably somewhere at a smaller school where UGA would be a huge step-up, just like he did w/ Vangorder. Richt probably already has someone in mind.
Dean
December 3rd, 2009
9:26 am
Chavis could be interesting and he’s get a chance to go up against his old school every year. But, you have to know that Richt will try very hard to get someone who matches his principles and philosophies. Evne the best DC may not fit in with our personnel style. Tony Dungy is not coming to Athens so go ahead and get over that pipe dream. I do respect Bama for all they have done in the past and for what they did to get a great coach. However, this insistence that they are leaps a bounds ahead of UGA is laughable. They are not even leaps and bounds ahead of half the SEC. This conference could change gaurds in a moment. Look at how Florida finally changed it in the 90’s when people said they would never win. I think USC gets it done someday, it’s just going to be a long, arduous task.
j
December 3rd, 2009
9:26 am
JB,
Wouldn’t speak too loudly with that 1 National Championship! Stick to gymnastics
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:26 am
Bud Foster ain’t leaving VA Tech. I grew up in VA. He is very comfortable there an dloyal to Beamer. Why would he want to “compete” in the SEC when he can dominate the ACC.
Plus, Beamer & Bud Foster own the coveted VA Beach recruiting area. There is no need to change. Thinsg are good for them Blacksburg.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:26 am
GEORGIA IS NEVER GOING TO BE A TOP NOTCH ORGANIZATION AS LONG AS RICHT IS HERE WE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ” ALSO RAN” ,AND OUT OF A NATIONAL TITLE HUNT IN GAME FOUR OR FIVE. IVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS AND YOU STILL DONT GET IT. EVEN AS I WRITE THE TOP RECRUITS ARE STEERING AWAY FROM GEORGIA. WHAT WINNER WANTS TO PLAY FOR A TEAM THAT IS A LOSER FROM THE START?
FIRE MARK SORRY ASZ RICHT.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
STUPIDITY REINS AT THE MUTT NATION – FIRE SORRY AZZ RICHT@F.U. DOT COME
NEVER MISSED
December 3rd, 2009
9:29 am
Willie Martinez never missed a tackle,,,our players never made the plays. All of you know that. Why are we having this discussion? Why blame the coach for our defensive players shortcomings? What happens over the next 2 or 3 years when the players we recruit still are not making tackles & missing assignments? We all toot our horns about these 4, 5, 6 star recruits and they ain’t done squat. Let’s get for real and stop blaming the coaches. We should be holding these “star recruits” accountable!!!
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:29 am
JacketFan – that is hilarious. “really good cheese on turd sandwich.”
i just spit my coffee on my CPU screen. that’s damn funny. kudos to you.
CPJ is a helluva coach. i like his style. i tip my cap to him and what he has done for Tech. he is well deserving of his second coach of te year honor…and he ain’t leaving Tech anytime soon…IMHO.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:29 am
TOP FIVE DRAFT EIGHT YEARS RUNNING AND ITS THE ASSISTANT’S FAULT. F.U.!!
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:31 am
THAT WHAT CHANGING THE DC IS TO GEORGIA, REALLY GOOD CHEESE ON A TURD SANDWICH,
FIRE MARK “TURD SANDWICH” RICHT!
2N4YEARS
December 3rd, 2009
9:32 am
Wow. Tech fans on our blog trying to get Richt fired. Wonder why. Perhaps 1-8 has something to do w/ it??
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
9:32 am
I’m a HUGE Tech fan (you may have notice I’m a bit of a pot stirrer), but I really love college football overall and I like to see how changes such as those happening at UGA make an impact. Ever since I was kid, I always associated UGA with defense. I also remember the days of the Swilling bros at Tech(I played against Pat in high school). Both of these schools, Tech and UGA, need a defensive makeover to compete. I love our offense, but we aren’t going to make the jump to contender until we have a defense that can keep the other team’s offense off the field. The same goes for UGA. I have fond memories of watching David Pollack and the UGA defenses of a few years ago and being completely jealous of that kind of dominance (I think David Pollack is a real class act). Good luck to y’all in your search. I’m hoping we get some of the same at Tech following the ACCCG (which we may lose because of defense) and our bowl game.
redandblackblood
December 3rd, 2009
9:32 am
UGA football program is rated by forbes as the 3rd most valuable program only behind Notre Dame and Texas when given a dollar value. They have also been the most profitable athletic program over the past few years.. Don’t you think UGA could shell out the money to pay any coach we wanted?
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:33 am
it was funny when JacketFan wrote it…not so much from you Fire Mark.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:34 am
NEVER MISSED next time they will fire the water boy. Thats the ticket HIRE A NEW FCCKING WATER BOY!
JB
December 3rd, 2009
9:34 am
Bama is like Florida…….They hate history………From the mid 90’s to 2 years ago, there were more stories written about the down fall of Bama football than I care to remember. We all have them…..Yes, Bama has a great history with the Bear, but damn, they had 10-12 years when nothing was a given. Stalling was great coach….I got to meet him last year. But we all go through cycles. Georgia is in one now. I’m ready to see what Florida does next year. They looked beatable( not to us) a lot this year, a they lose their heart(Tebow) and a lot of D. But you guys at Bama are on top now, but except for last year, hell we beat you 3 of 4 lately.
Punch'em in the face
December 3rd, 2009
9:35 am
Mark Bradley is vastly overrated, vastly!
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:35 am
YO DUMB AZS IS TRYING TO PUT A BAND AID ON A STAB WOUND. IT WILL TALK 10 YEARS BEFORE THE MUTTS ARE COMPETITIVE AGAIN AND MOST OF THAT TIME IS BEING WASTED TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THE CAPTAIN THAT RAN THIS SHIP A GROUND ANY WAY. BRING DONNAN BACK AND FIRE THIS IDIOT OF A COACH
Dawg Fud
December 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
agreed JacketFan. i have always associated Georgia with defense as well. i feel like we are lost in the wilderness without that swagger. people don’t realize how damn good our defenses were in the late 90’s when we not that good as a whole.
2002-2004 D’s were just plain sick, too.
Matt
December 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
Sylvester Croom would make a great D coordinator and it would give Rodney Garner a mentor. The majority of the people being mentioned wont come here because current job is better or if they do come it will be only a stepping stone to the next job in three or four years. With Croom you get someone who is great at his job and will be here for seven plus years
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
AS LONG AS RICHT IS HERE WE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ” ALSO RAN” ,AND OUT OF A NATIONAL TITLE HUNT IN GAME FOUR OR FIVE. IVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR YEARS AND YOU STILL DONT GET IT. EVEN AS I WRITE THE TOP RECRUITS ARE STEERING AWAY FROM GEORGIA. WHAT WINNER WANTS TO PLAY FOR A TEAM THAT IS A LOSER FROM THE START?
FIRE MARK SORRY ASZ RICHT.
BAMA DOMINATES
December 3rd, 2009
9:37 am
redandblackblood,BAMA DOMINATES!!! Neutered dogs, chase the cars!!! Take time and count the number of NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS BAMA HAS WON!!!! BAMA DOMINATES!!!BAMA DOMINATES!!!BAMA DOMINATES!!!
robodawg
December 3rd, 2009
9:37 am
I like Bradley’s thinking. I’d be happy with Smart or Ellis Johnson, who’s defense is the only reason S. Carolina stays on the winning side of .500. And please, don’t even mention Tenuta.
But I think our chances at Smart are better than you think. The chance to work for Richt, for your alma mater, for a program you probably believe should be able to compete with Alabama, and getting solo credit for the D — those are mighty good incentives. If it just depends on how much more dough Bama will put up to keep him, then our chances are probably a good 50-50.
If Bama wins Saturday, we’d probably need to give him till after the BCS championship game to decide.