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
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:25 am
Fire Mark un achieving Richt – “Sitting through these Mark Richt years”?? Did you enjoy Donnan and Goff better?
zombiewoof
December 3rd, 2009
10:26 am
“Kirby Smart to Athens is a “step down”? PLEASE!!!
Have you ever been to Tuscaloosa? I rest my case.”
^^Now I ask you cool guy, have you seen Jawja’s defense play lately?
Have fun in Shreveport you bum!
fishtales
December 3rd, 2009
10:26 am
LMAO @ Coach Smith,
You accuse Tom of bending stats and then go on to say “football is more than just this year and last year”. Well then, how does Bama’s 21 SEC titles stack up against what UGA has done? And as to your comment about not winning the SEC in 20 years…maybe you should look up 1999. And Bama did beat Colorado in a bowl two years ago. Let’s see you are 0-2 on your amazing stat work there. Now, who has their stats wrong?
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:27 am
RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
FIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
FIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
FIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
FIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
FIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
FIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHTFIRE MARK RICHT
DEVILDAWG
December 3rd, 2009
10:27 am
To bad UGA didn’t have the foresight to CLONE ERK RUSSELL! That’s who we need! A DC just like ERK. Pollock would make a nice addition to the staff at UGA as well – Hey – Pollock doing something with the defensive scheme and Greene with the offensive side. Now that’s a plan!!! Hummm…… I wonder if Evans and Richt ever read this blog?
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:27 am
sec – I’m not saying Zach or Aaron won’t be great. I just remember Richt’s confidence in Stafford and his freshman year was awful. I realize these two will be redshirt freshman, but they haven’t taken a live snap in a game in a year.
David Stubbs
December 3rd, 2009
10:28 am
Mark,
We agree on two things – that EJ is the among the best coordinators, if not THE best in the SEC, and that Georgia ought to consider him. Heck, maybe they could get him…but only if they were to double his salary. What I can’t let pass w/o comment is the perplexing notion that USC always will have a ceiling in the SEC. True, if that ceiling is #1. You and UGA’s heads-in-the-sand fan base may not have noticed that it’s no longer a few years ago, and USC has now pulled even with Georgia. Count the win IN ATHENS this year as a technical victory, but who really was the best team that day? As for the rest of the year, I’ll objectively admit to a dead heat among the two: one team definitely on the way up and another team treading water. (Some UGA fans are so arrogant, they probally think I’m actually referring to the Dawgs as the former, not the latter.) UGA continues to recruit well, no doubt. But if anyone wants the potential of UGA’s last two classes over the proof that SC’s ‘08 and ‘09 recruits are extraordinarily talented …let’s just say the logical choice is to take take the bird (or gamecock) in the hand over two dawgs in the bush. And this year’s recruiting at SC, already in the Top 15 at SC, should pull even with the dawgs when all is said and done, and will end up being coached up at a program, including EJ, that has now closed the former gap and could easily pull ahead. You must know Spurrier well enough to know he sees what every rational fan and non-fan can forecast, that the Gamecocks will compete with anyone in 2010 and it’s only going to get better. Think anyone with Spurrier’s ego is going to walk away in the middle of that kind of emerging success? C’mon. Finishing first in the SEC is an unlikelihood for 10 of the 12 teams in the SEC for the next year or so, but to say the future has a ceiling for Carolina.? Dude, that’s not crazy…that’s certifiably insane. Among the other ten teams, our “ceiling” is higher than most and lower than no one else’s, especially since Georgia can’t even see such a ceiling as they continue to dig themselves a hole.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:28 am
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:25 am
Fire Mark un achieving Richt – “Sitting through these Mark Richt years”?? Did you enjoy Donnan and Goff better?
I DONT SEE MUCH DIFFERENCE…THATS THE PROBLEM.
sec
December 3rd, 2009
10:29 am
I agree maddog. Lets throw them to the wolves though. And our line and running game proved they can bail a qb out. Look at it this way…..its better than having joe cox back there.
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:29 am
Fire Mark un achieving Richt – you don’t see a difference between Goff and Richt? Geeez.
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:30 am
David Greene as QB coach. That could be a good fit.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:30 am
NO REAL QUARTER BACK IS GOING TO COME HERE NOW! DONT YOU IDIOTS GET IT? GRAB A BUCKET AND START PALING WATER, SAVE THE FCCCKING TITANIC. S.O.B.
catfish31015
December 3rd, 2009
10:30 am
Hire the ‘Soggy Bottom Boys’ —- I am a man in constant sorrow…
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:31 am
NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DONNAN AND RICHT.
COACH MIKE DITKA
December 3rd, 2009
10:31 am
DITKA!!!! DITKA!!!!
cantondawg
December 3rd, 2009
10:32 am
I’ve always heard the saying “Never work with your friends and family” because they will either screw you over or feelings will be hurt. I think it never rang truer than in this instance.
When you work with friends, your judgement gets clouded and you will tolerate more than you have too. I hope CMR finds someone that he doesn’t know and keep it strictly business. Give him the authority to run the defense and make hiring decisions and basically tell him that if he doesn’t produce results then he’s gone
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:32 am
sec – agreed. Any deficiencies they have could be masked by what I think could be a pretty good offense.
The O-line should be solid.
I really like Ealey as my #1 RB.
Orson Charles has proven he can be a major D1 player.
Green will be back, and I’ve heard the Rogers kid out of Calhoun is a man-child. I know Marlon Brown redshirted, but I haven’t heard anything in the way of his progress and such.
The defense is still a major concern for me.
Otto
December 3rd, 2009
10:33 am
Tubberville to UGA please NO!!!!!! He has not called a defense in a decade and his only success at Auburn was when Lowder hired and paid the best assistant he could buy.
Nick Saban
December 3rd, 2009
10:34 am
You guys should hire Travis Jones. I loved him on my staff and New Orleans D-Line is pretty good. Go get him now.
Nick Saban
December 3rd, 2009
10:34 am
You guys should hire Travis Jones. I loved him on my staff and New Orleans D-Line is pretty good. Go get him now.
Dawg Day Afternoon
December 3rd, 2009
10:34 am
Give me a break Mark! I usually enjoy your stuff but to say that UGA is a move downward from Alabama is a stretch. Granted they are on top of the conference at the moment but from ‘02 to ‘05 we were that team (caviat being Florida was and is still our “daddy”). UGA has the same money base (I would argue best in the SEC), facilities and recruiting base on par with the best in the land. Besides we’ve played once in the past 3 years (current regimes) and are 1 and 1 with the Tide. Smart is a Georgia guy. I don’t buy that he is emotionally tied to Saban. If he has success at UGA the head coaching job offers will come the same as they would at Alabama, and as quickly. UGA can match or beat any money or title Alabama gives him. I do like Ellis Johnson as well so kudos to your two choices.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:34 am
“I hope CMR finds someone that he doesn’t know and keep it strictly business. Give him the authority to run the defense and make hiring decisions and basically tell him that if he doesn’t produce results then he’s gone”
AT LEAST YOU ADMIT THAT ITS RICHT’S SHOW. DONT FIRE THE PAWN FIRE THE CAPTAIN!
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:35 am
Nick Saban – alright, Nick, we got it:)
John
December 3rd, 2009
10:36 am
Kirby may want to get from under Saban’s shadow and establish a name on his own, but Mark Richt laid back attitude will clash with any intensity minded coach (see VanGorder, Will Muschamp) I trully believe that attitude left when VanGorders players exited, and the Mark Richt personality took over the team. Explain why they come out seemly unprepared like deer in headlights and undiscipled. I would love to see if Gardner could step up, but I’m afraid he’s been around Mark Richt too long.
Dawg Day Afternoon
December 3rd, 2009
10:36 am
Sorry, make that Alabama and Georgia have played twice in the past 3 years (current regimes) and are 1-1
coach smith
December 3rd, 2009
10:37 am
Tom
I list and state FACTS!!!! FACTS!!!! and I’m clueless? LOL! what a joke!
I understand you lashing out though…it is hard to argue with cold hard facts when they go against your opinion!
BILLY BOB
December 3rd, 2009
10:37 am
Any of you Dawgs know how much a round trip bus tickets costs to Shreveport? Me and the Mizzus, Mary Lou, and Pulpwood want a go to the GAME. I got us some room reservations at Charlie’s Motorcourt!!!
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:38 am
I think Bama loses on Saturday. If that’s the case, the possibility of Smart shoots way up.
Jody Alberson
December 3rd, 2009
10:38 am
Wow. This is ridiculous. No chance EJ leaves USC, too many good things about to happen there.
sec
December 3rd, 2009
10:39 am
Yeah Ealey should be #1. King improved but ball security is an issue with him. Defense should improve now that prince miller and evans are gone haha. Boykin and smith were both freshman and look promising. Rambo at safety. Lets hope curran stays
Otto
December 3rd, 2009
10:39 am
Maddog,
Marlon was not redshirted
The O line should have been solid this year.
The offense is still a major concern UGA has not managed a game killing drive like Bama ran for 6 minutes against Auburn since CMR was calling the plays.
QBs have toss atleast 10 INTs a year for the past 4 years.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:40 am
Dawg Day Afternoon NOT REALLY ALABAMA HAS A TOP NOTCH PROGRAM…GEORGIA HAS EXCUSES AND BLAME ASSISTANT COACHES.
ok lets look at the millennium florida, multiple national champs, Lsu, alabama either champs or make it to the title game….Georgia made it to the title game 0 times and won 0 national title with a top five national recruiting class 7 years running. Ok, lets blame the coach’s assistants. F.U.!
Delusional Mutts
December 3rd, 2009
10:41 am
You guys have to be the most delusional fans around. Tubberville take DC position when he is a better coach than Richt? Smart leave Bama for the same job at uga? Another year under Saban and he will be a head coach somewhere. Possible candidates will realize that Richt may be fired after next season and will not leave secure positions to go to cow town!
Another Dawg
December 3rd, 2009
10:41 am
I’d be surprised if Smart left… He’s been at LSU, Miami, and now Bama with Saban. I understand the call of an alma mater, but he’s been more than happy to stick with Saban as he’s moved.
Hmmmmm
December 3rd, 2009
10:41 am
Ya know I never thought Monte Kiffin would actually work at TN maybe Dungy isn’t that far fetched of an idea.
Maddog
December 3rd, 2009
10:41 am
Otto – did Marlon play? He came with such fanfare but I’ve heard little since he set foot on campus.
coach smith
December 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
fishtales
Wasn’t that 1999 SEC title taken off the books for CHEATING! It doesn’t actually count
And as far as 21 sec titles blah blah blah….I was referring to at least when the current coaches were BORN and at the schools! good grief! If you want a history lesson UGA can count up its SEC titles and NC from decades gone by
Oh excuse me for forgetting your epic win over Colorado in your 6-6 season
what a joke
MS. Bulldog
December 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
Ellis Johnson would be a great hire for UGA. He did great things at Miss. State with far less talent. We would be more than happy to take him back.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
GEORGIA HAS EXCUSES AND BLAME ASSISTANT COACHES.
BILLY BOB
December 3rd, 2009
10:42 am
I LOVE Mark RICH, and his Mizzus shore is a honey. I went and bought me some new carpit for my trailer home because of her.
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:43 am
Hmmmm – yeah, but Kiffin is also coaching for his son. That’s not nearly the same scenario Dungy would have a UGA.
sec
December 3rd, 2009
10:43 am
He did play a bit..they said he had to work on his blocking which i personally thinkn is stupid
JacketFan
December 3rd, 2009
10:43 am
Hmmmm – yeah, but Kiffin is also coaching for his son. That’s not nearly the same scenario Dungy would have at UGA.
Delusional Mutts
December 3rd, 2009
10:43 am
Actually, now that I think about it, Smart may go to UGA after the 2010 season to take Richt’s place.
Fire Mark un achieving Richt
December 3rd, 2009
10:44 am
“You guys have to be the most delusional fans around. Tubberville take DC position when he is a better coach than Richt? Smart leave Bama for the same job at uga? Another year under Saban and he will be a head coach somewhere. Possible candidates will realize that Richt may be fired after next season and will not leave secure positions to go to cow town!”
BULLS FCCKING EYE!!
The Grinch
December 3rd, 2009
10:44 am
Delusional Mutts
December 3rd, 2009
10:41 am
We’re not talking about A She She football, tech fan. We’re talking about the big boys – the SEC. Sit back and listen, young man, you might learn something. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
o-me
December 3rd, 2009
10:44 am
Richt going to ND?
Otto
December 3rd, 2009
10:45 am
Mark, Usually I would agree DC at Bama is a better job than DC at UGA. Defense is a top concern at Bama and Bama had a 10 win season with scholarship limits.
However, Smart moving to UGA would be a promotion. Why? He gets to take credit for the defense and gets to speak to the press (which he can not now). Smart has stated he wants to be a HC, at some point you have to move out on your and make a name. UGA can be that place.
For those that say Smart is a glorified Grad Assist. every interview you hear Saban speak of Smart, he is a hard worker who understands Saban’s complex scheme. If he understands Saban’s scheme he has a head start on majority of the other coaches his age. Saban has also gone out of his way to keep Smart with him which says alot.
Billy Ray Valentine
December 3rd, 2009
10:45 am
I just got off the phone with Kirby Smart. He said “if mama calls, tell her I’m busy”
You really think Kirby Smart would leave Alabama to come rebuild a defense thats struggled like the dawgs have?
sec
December 3rd, 2009
10:45 am
No but they are looking at ND DC