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
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:56 am
Fire Mark Richt; Hire Charlie Strong? @ DawgRant.com
17 posts – 11 authors – Last post: Oct 12
I’m not going to jump on the Fire Mark Richt bandwagon yet, but I will, if they can’t beat a team that just lost to a service academy. …
http://www.dawgrant.com/rant/messagetopic.asp?p=851805 – Cached
KingUGAXIII
December 3rd, 2009
9:57 am
Tubberville was on campus yesterday. HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:57 am
FIRE Mark Richt . Com…? – CBSSports.com Message Boards
Sports message boards, forums, blogs and groups at CBSSports.com Community. Here’s your opportunity to be heard.
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
9:57 am
Fire Mark un achieving Richt – word is that Charlie Strong may well be Louisville’s next HC.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:58 am
ID TAKE TUBBERVILLE OVER RICHT!
RealDawg
December 3rd, 2009
9:59 am
Just because you know their name, doesn’t mean they need to be our coordinator. Smart, Muschamp, etc were all young up and comers at some point. That is what we need.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
9:59 am
Maddog see if you can arrange a swap.-LOL
coach smith
December 3rd, 2009
10:00 am
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
You are the type of pot bellied beer swilling idiot that knows NOTHING about football besides shouting at the TV over your bowl of nachos
You give fans a bad name…just shut up and take your stupid shouting with…Go sell crazy some place else…we’re all stocked up here!
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:01 am
coach smith, im sorry you feel that way. have a nice day. http://www.firemarkricht.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=32
GT
December 3rd, 2009
10:01 am
What is it with the SEC. Tuberville has had two head coaching jobs, Saban, Spurrier, Miles. I know this is the south but incest is not best. How does a league with all the muscle have so little imagination. When they do develop a great assistant like Muschamp they let Texas kidnap him. Georgia can recruit without any super star recruiter what they need to do is coach up what they recruit. They need a disciplinarian first to set the tone. There is a team theme here of being the most penalized team in the SEC. And the penalties are just the by product of a rogue group of 11 all operating off an individual and selfish agenda. Noticed the improvement in the Tech game, only with a gun at the head of the assistant did disciple finally enter the equation. It is more fun to play loose, talk trash, and make it all about entertaining your teammates instead of winning. Get out of the SEC fraternity, get somebody that thinks he has a future and won’t allow some punked out kid to destroy that future. Get someone with energy but is rational and mature. Look at a Tommy Spangler
at La. Tech an excellent Georgia grad with a resume. You know Dooley knows how to pick an defensive coordinator. Joe Tresey at South Florida is another. Great defensive backfield coach which is Georgia strength.
RxDawg
December 3rd, 2009
10:01 am
I agree with the few fans stating that the real answer is none of the above. Our next D-cordinator is not on this list.
I RUN “,…,” THIS STATE
Cincinnatus
December 3rd, 2009
10:01 am
The wildcard in this issue is Adams. He makes all decisions regarding the University of Georgia down to who works in the mailroom. Recall Adams hiring his pal, Jim Harrick, over Dooley’s recommendation, and see where that got us. Earlier this year, Adams had to dig deep to find a basketball coach who would put up with his micromanagement. How is that one working out? Do not expect to see an established defensive coordinator show up at UGA. Next year, Adams patron and protector, Sonny the Stooge, will be out, and perhaps the legislature can restructure the Board of Regents and send Michael to his villa in Italy.
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:02 am
King – Really?!? I like Tubberville, but I don’t see him committing long term. He got raw deal at Auburn and could be a name tossed around for UVA …
On another note, I imagine FSU will be looking for a DC as well. That could be an attractive job for someone with the right perspective.
Paul ( I can throw on folks at anytime ) Johnson
December 3rd, 2009
10:03 am
I do like Pollack for UGA DE coach and Godfrey for L backers and Bumpus for D Coordinator and Assist. Head Coach. That sounds like very solid program …………so let us get with it now. We can win nicely with this program.
UGA, class of 71 & 73
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:03 am
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Gratefuldawghead
December 3rd, 2009
10:03 am
I have been hearing Dick Bumpus from TCU as well. I wouldn’t mind trying to pull NFL cord!
GO DAWGS!
RealDawg
December 3rd, 2009
10:03 am
FU to all you so called Bulldogs saying fire Richt. Do you not remember Donnan and Goof? Even this year was better than most of their years. We are about to change out half our coaching staff which is huge. There isn’t a coach currently out there we could bring in that would put us in a better position in the next two year recruiting or otherwise.
TO mister “Fire Mark un achieving Richt”: You my friend must be a closet jacket fan.
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:05 am
GT – I sure can’t argue with you. Good post.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:05 am
“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.”
Fire Mark un achieving RichtFire Mark un achieving RichtFire Mark un achieving RichtFire Mark un achieving Richt
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:05 am
Cincinnatus – I don’t see the DC having to really deal with Adams. That’s Richt’s job. However, if Adams is that ridiculous, y’all definitely need a new University President.
cantondawg
December 3rd, 2009
10:06 am
Anybody that thinks Tony Dungy will even consider becoming UGA DC after he has turned downed multiple Head coaching jobs should have their head checked for serious brain damage.
Hi Georgia Basher, I see You're Back!
December 3rd, 2009
10:06 am
I like you’re new name, Fire Mark Unachieving Richt, new multiple personality #139. I’m sure no one here can see your anti-Georgia, Pro Florida bias. Speaking of UNDERACHIEVERS, why don’t you go get a job. You’re umemployed FOR A REASON—you can’t achieve jack. That’s why you’ve been posting here for over 4 hours. Coach Richt has 80 wins in 8 years, name all the coaches, all-time who ACHIEVED that loser! Who has coached up 2 Hesiman winners? None of your negative posts worked against Ga Tech. You wasted hundreds of hours. You are wasting your life on a blog–think about that. Your prophecies were ALL WRONG about Ga Tech! Your prohecies about Mark Richt have all been wrong. You make fun of Richt’s religion, curse him, his wife, and accuse him of racism. No wonder you get fired so often! Classy man, nice.
Georgia Headlines – 12/3/09 | MrSEC.com
December 3rd, 2009
10:06 am
[...] three of the dismissed coaches BEFORE it was reported on ESPN.5. This writer says the Dawgs should go after South Carolina’s Ellis Johnson.6. At least the win over Georgia Tech helped take away some of the sting from a disappointing [...]
sec
December 3rd, 2009
10:06 am
YES!! Pollack for DE coach
Dawgs73
December 3rd, 2009
10:06 am
WOW! I am truly amazed that Mark Richt made the right decision to unload substandard coordinators that were holding this program back. I believe UGA should exhaust all options and get the very best DC available. If that means going after Smart, Muschamp, Strong, and giving them whatever they want, do it. It’s time for Richt to put his big boy pants own and take ownership of his program. He has been too lenient/loyal for several years and now it’s time to make it happen.
Kudos Richt, you proved me wrong!
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:07 am
Good link regarding Spangler:
http://www.latechsports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/spangler_tommy00.html
coach smith
December 3rd, 2009
10:08 am
Tom
Try to bend stats however you want
Now you only want to include “regular season wins” and BAMA’s ONE WIN over UGA last year
Football is more than just this year and last year my friend
UGA is 1-1 vs Bama since Saban got there…and Richt is 3-1 vs Bama overall
Do and say what you want but all wins and losses count…I know you don’t want to recall that UTAH whipping BUT the fact is it counts
Now you want to count “division championships” LOL! Win an SEC title
You know the thing UGA has done 2 times and played for 3 times
How was Bama soooooo much better than UGA last year? Bama lost 2 games, UGA lost 3?
The FACT is there is only a 2 game difference in records over the past 3 years and UGA has won a Sugar and Capital one bowl while Bama has won ZERO Bowls
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:09 am
Georgia-Basher … NOOOO! You’ll only encourage him.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:10 am
RealDawg No sir a true dawg fan, but im not stupid, Id rather become a tech fan rather than agonize in stupidity. Mark Richt is the captain and has had more then enough talent and time to get us there. You arent fixing the problem but placing a bandaid over it. At least the jackets program is going forward, while we are making lateral and backward moves. a real GM would fire the coach and “his” staff.-FIRE MARK RICHT.
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:10 am
All Dawg Fans – Here’s a question: Do you think Richt cleaning house on the defensive side is enough? I’ve heard a lot of talk on these boards about the poor quality of play calling from Bobo …
COACH MIKE DITKA
December 3rd, 2009
10:10 am
How bout you’s guys give Coach Ditka a call – I’ll show you how Da Dawgs D can play
7-5 is second-tier and very pedestrian
December 3rd, 2009
10:12 am
A Motel 6 is loacated in Shreveport
There is no Ritz-Carlton in Shereveport,
but four are in the Greater Miami area.
(convenient to the Orange Bowl)
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:13 am
Do you think Richt cleaning house on the defensive side is enough? HELL NO! HE WAS THE ONE TO HIRE THEM ANY WAY AND THEY RAN HIS PROGRAMS. THE RESULTS ARE HIS. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH DEEPER THAN ONE COACH, WHO WAS ONLY DOING WHAT RICHT TOLD HIM TO DO ANYWAY. WHY DONT HE THROW HIS MOTHER UNDER THE BUS?
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:13 am
JacketFan – I was kind of curious about that as well.
Aside from the firings, I’ve heard that Texas is looking to get Searels on their staff, and that Garner may be getting a HC gig at a smaller college. May be hot air, but it comes from people who have access to certain areas of Butts-Mehre that the average fan doesn’t.
Also, look for Logan Gray to switch to WR.
The Grinch
December 3rd, 2009
10:14 am
7-5 is second-tier and very pedestrian
December 3rd, 2009
10:12 am
So how many Motel 6’s are near the blue field in Idaho you guys regularly visit? BWAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:15 am
Hi Georgia Basher, I see You’re Back! YOUVE GOT ME MIXED UP WITH SOMEONE ELSE BUT ITS NICE TO KNOW IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS THIS WAY.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
sec
December 3rd, 2009
10:15 am
Maddog that has already happened. The are making room for Murray and Metz. Thats also the reason they sent that kid from Lassiter an offer. They had to make room
coach-in-waiting way too long
December 3rd, 2009
10:16 am
It seems the general impression is that Muschamp is off the radar because he is a coach-in-waiting. Does Will Muschamp really desire to wait until Mack Brown retires to become a head coach? I have read that there are 7 years left on the contract making him 65 years old at that time. I doubt he retires then. Given our desire to have someone who will bring fire to the defensive side of the ball, we should consider Muschamp a serious target. He may not want the job, but we need to be aggressive in pursuing former players to coach at UGA.
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:17 am
sec – so as of right now we start next spring with just 2 QBs, both redshirt freshman. Shaky.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:17 am
Bulldogs saying fire RichtBulldogs saying fire RichtBulldogs saying fire RichtBulldogs saying fire Richt
BulldogssayingfireRicht@RIGHTNOW.COM
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:19 am
BulldogssayingfireRicht@RIGHTNOW.COM
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:20 am
You arent fixing the problem but placing a bandaid over it. At least the jackets program is going forward, while we are making lateral and backward moves. a real GM would fire the coach and “his” staff.-FIRE MARK RICHT.
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:20 am
Maddog – Does that mean Aaron Murray at QB?
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:21 am
unachieving – GT is moving forward, but the Wreck is going to stall unless we fix our problems on defense as well …
Table for Dungy
December 3rd, 2009
10:21 am
The reason Dungy is a possibility is he doesn’t want the stresses that come with being a head coach (media, public appearances, coordinating staff schedules, etc.) but he LOVES teaching and molding young men. The atmosphere that Richt has set up at UGA falls right in line with Dungy’s values. Dungy wants to be able to “retire” but loves coaching. Being a DC at a solid program where he would be loved by the masses without as many demands as a head coach (College or NFL) and get a pretty good salary to pay the bills isn’t an unattractive deal.
Tom
December 3rd, 2009
10:22 am
coach smith,
You’re a clueless homer.
sec
December 3rd, 2009
10:22 am
Maddog,
Yes. I attended some meeting Richt had and the confidence he has in these guys is incredible. We originally were not goin to offer a QB this year but now we are looking
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:23 am
JacketFan – him or Mettenberger. We’re kind of thin at QB.
Interesting rumor – the Gainesville QB, Blake Sims, committed to play for Bama, but will probably play WR or DB rather than QB. Some speculation said he would reconsider UGA because he really wants to play QB and we lack of depth at QB, but his grades appeared shaky. I don’t know this to be a fact, but I heard it from more than one source.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:24 am
Georgia-Basher … NOOOO! You’ll only encourage him- SITTING THROUGH THESE MARK RICHT YEARS IS ALL THE ENCOURAGEMENT I NEED.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:25 am
Dungy IS A HEAD COACH TYPE AND WOULD BE A STEP UP OVER RICHT.