UGA in Shreveport: A low point, but also a needed jolt
Here's proof Willie Martinez realized pass-rushing was allowed. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
Winning doesn’t educate. Winning endorses. Human nature holds that a winner doesn’t ask, “What can I do better?” but says instead, “Why change what works?”
Mark Richt is human. Even in the disappointment of 2008 — Georgia started as preseason No. 1 and landed in the Capital One Bowl — he had his talking points down. And when the Bulldogs beat Michigan State on Jan. 1, 2009, to finish 10-3, he trotted out TP No. 1: Six 10-win seasons out of the past seven was “pretty stinkin’ good.”
In his self-defense, Richt missed the obvious: That something was rotten in the House of Bulldog. All you had to do was screen a video of Richt’s 2002 team followed by one of the 2008 aggregation to see the difference. In 2008 Georgia had more talent but wasn’t as good.
The 2009 season will go down as the worst under Richt, but it many ways it was the best thing that could have happened. As the losses mounted — blown out in Knoxville by a Tennessee team working under a new coach; blown out again in Jacksonville; beaten at home by Kentucky for the first time since Herschel Walker was a sophomore at Johnson County High — it was clear the rot had spread. It took an upset of Georgia Tech for the Bulldogs just to finish above .500, and by then there could be no more pretense.
We’ve known all along Richt is smart. We weren’t sure how demanding he is. Firing three of his four defensive coaches provided the answer. As much as Mark Richt enjoys fellowship among his coaching staff, he enjoys winning more.
We don’t yet know the names of the replacements. We know the Bulldogs head into the Independence Bowl with a defense coordinated by Rodney Garner, the lone holdover, and some grad assistants. (Now watch Georgia shut down Texas A&M. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?) But no matter what happens in the game, there’s cause to believe there’ll be no more Shreveport jaunts in the Bulldogs’ immediate future.
It’s possible Richt could hire someone less adept than Willie Martinez as coordinator. It’s also possible — theoretically, anything’s possible — the sun could rise in the West tomorrow. What’s more apt to happen is an upgrade at the position that can galvanize a program more than the arrival of any five-star recruit.
Steve Spurrier had won four SEC titles and reached a national championship game, but it was only after he hired Bob Stoops to coordinate his defense — a defense that had just yielded 62 points to Nebraska in said championship game — that the Evil Genius took his national title. Mack Brown had posted five consecutive 10-win seasons at Texas, but it was only after he hired Gene Chizik from Auburn (which had just gone 13-0) that the Longhorns were able to win a BCS title. Yes, defensive coordinators matter.
Loading ...Defensive coordinators matter even more than offensive coordinators. A team that scores on every possession but can’t stop anybody feels vulnerable. (Yes, Georgia Tech, I’m thinking of you.) A team that knows it can stop somebody feels invincible. Offensive success is a function of skill and technique. Defensive success involves physical domination. Georgia used to play that brand of ball — ever heard of Erk Russell? — but had come to dominate nothing under Martinez.
That could well have changed by the time Georgia plays its first post-Shreveport game — Sept. 4, 2010, against Louisiana Lafayette. Even though Bud Foster chose to stay at Virginia Tech and Vic Koenning wound up at Illinois, there are good men out there who will see Georgia as the place to make a name by making a difference. There’s no reason to believe Richt won’t find one.
The tough part is behind him. It took some doing for this coach to convince himself that change wasn’t an option but a necessity, but finally he did it. When you’re accustomed to 10 wins and nice big bowls, nothing slaps you harder than a trip to Shreveport. This wasn’t the destination anyone associated with Georgia wanted, but it was, in the grand scheme, the destination Mark Richt’s program needed.
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526 comments Add your comment
John
December 24th, 2009
1:18 pm
CMR has already canned three coaches (including his DC) and taken away play-calling responsibilies from his OC. Heard the Strength and Conditioning Coach is next. Merry Christmas! That sounds like a house-cleaning to me. Who hired all these incompetents, anyway?
Mark, if the importance of a top-notch DC is apparent even to numbnuts like you and me, how come CMR failed so miserably to act decisively after last year’s pitiful display by his? Certainly, Martinez was no worse a DC this year than he was last year. So what precipitates his firing now?
CMR knows his butt is next if he doesn’t regain control of his program, that’s what.
Seems to me, he’s taking the Captain Queeg approach and blaming all his problems on disloyal and incompetent subordinates.
Anybody notice if CMR has been nervously rolling ball bearings around in his right hand lately?
hirsutedawg
December 24th, 2009
1:19 pm
1.4 million, lose to Georgia much? (8 of 9 in case you’ve forgotten). Did you hear the one about the GT student that pulled a 5lb. booger out of his nose? His head caved in before he could eat it.
JACK IT
December 24th, 2009
1:20 pm
30 24
Cuz
December 24th, 2009
1:20 pm
Merry Christmas Mark, to you and your family. Santa arrived at our house this morning driving a Fed Ex truck and delivered my daughter Baylie’s new ukuelele. It is already a Merry Christmas at my house.
Now time to go do battle at the grocery store. Those little old ladies can get mean grabbing up that last can of cranberry sauce. Pray for me as I go into the Kroger of the shadow of death.
And a little something to spread the holiday cheer from our friend Porky Pig.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUELu8o5KJg
Boo Hoo!!!
December 24th, 2009
1:23 pm
Shreveport,
That was pretty funny, I have to admit. Not as funny as, say, Tech’s all-world receiver dropping a fourth-down pass that hit him in both hands. And, maybe, not as funny as Reggie Ball forgetting what down it was. But it was pretty funny. 30-24, baby. Talk all you want. The score isn’t going to change.
Mark,
Very good article. I think you’ve pretty much nailed it. I just wish Georgia fans didn’t have such a sense of entitlement. Winning 10 games a year is not a disappointment. Winning 10 games a year for six out of seven years is amazing. If you don’t believe it, just remember back to Ray Goff or Jim Donnan. How often did they win 10 games? For that matter, How often did Dooley win 10 games? Richt has taken this program and made it matter again. To not give him credit for that is absurd.
Keep up the good work.
Pi$$onaDawg
December 24th, 2009
1:23 pm
Cuz what did you get Baylie? Is she doing well?. Thanks for thew Pics. She is a beautiful young lady. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year to y’all.
Ealey&King.
December 24th, 2009
1:24 pm
Haha, were joking about girls now wow… your way cool.
17 of 20
December 24th, 2009
1:27 pm
Bulldogs, the third or forth best team in the conference the last 10 years. I hope that in the next ten year period you have the same results. Merry Christmas.
guyanadawg
December 24th, 2009
1:27 pm
I’m excited to see who we get. Thanx for the fix Mark.
I’m confident it will b a good hire; and will help the offense and its play calling not having so much pressure to score every drive.
how2fish
December 24th, 2009
1:28 pm
Pi$$onaDawg blah blah blah….we have the best SEC record in the last decade so where oh where do you get the bottom of anything idea…really eat your own bile and die loser..and Merry X-mas
Pi$$onaJacket
December 24th, 2009
1:32 pm
30-24 still makes me smile! Go Iowa!
how2fish
December 24th, 2009
1:32 pm
Oh and Mark have a great Holiday I do enjoy your stuff..even when it hurts..Merry X-mass !
UGA Grad
December 24th, 2009
1:35 pm
41-17………………… now that was a jolt.
Loran, Whatayagot?
December 24th, 2009
1:37 pm
Amen, Amen, Amen, Mark!
YellowandBlackAttack
December 24th, 2009
1:38 pm
Oooooooh…come on guys. Can’t we all just get along, if not any other time of the season…at least on Christmas Eve? It’s been a good year for us both. We are ACC champs! Congrats team! UGA beat us, yeah it hurt, but congrats Dawgs and here’s hoping our rivalry stays one of the best and most competitive for years to come. I’m sure you’ll find a great DC and make the state proud in the SEC. Good luck in the Independance bowl. Hope my Jackets take down a good Hawkeye team in the Orange bowl and give us our first BCS victory! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
DawgGirl32
December 24th, 2009
1:41 pm
Happy Holidays, Cuz. Hope you and the fam have a good one.
Mark, this may be the best piece you’ve written all year.
UGAX
December 24th, 2009
1:41 pm
Great Article MB-
Don’t know who the next DC is (not naive enough to think it will be Smart) but hope whoever we hire can put a defense on the field that can stop Florida; a one or two game winning streak against these guys would be nice. As nice as it is to beat GT every year it is old news, not even a big game anymore. But Fla?, they have our number and have for 17 out of 20 years. Please, please, for the love of Monty Hall and all things sacred, beat Florida at least twice in the next decade. That’s my Christmas wish.
Cuz
December 24th, 2009
1:42 pm
Dittos YellowandBlackAttack. The games fade in importance when you see the light in a child’s eyes on Christmas morning. Thanks God for the gift.
Dan
December 24th, 2009
1:43 pm
**TO ALL UGA FANS** just ignore the Tech nerds on here. No matter what they say, they know who the better team is. The records and stats prove it. They can’t deny that. Who cares if UGA is going to a bowl that is not as good as Tech? UGA has gone to a better bowl every year this decade. Just ignore them. They are very jealous over the football team, stadium, campus, women, etc. I would be a angry little nerd too if I went to Tech with their high school stadium, nightly robberies/muggings, and ugly girls.
Bama Bill
December 24th, 2009
1:43 pm
Alabama’s DC, Kirby Smart, will only arrive in Athens with the promise of Richt’s job in the very near future – just like Fisher down at Fla. State and the Muschamp at Texas. Saban will just hire another very talented young coach that will become high-demand just like Fisher, Muschamp, and Smart, and the fella over at Clemson.
brucemac
December 24th, 2009
1:47 pm
Great article and exactly correct. All Tech fans, you duth protest too much as you know it is true. Get ready for a continuous azz whopping for years to come. Let the good times roll and Go Dawgs.
BILLY JACK
December 24th, 2009
1:50 pm
I PROMISE YOU IF PI$$ EVER SAW A GEORGIA MAN IN PERSON, HE WOULD GET IN A FETEL POSITION.ALWAYS REMEMBER-WE BEAT YOU IN 2009 WITH THE WORST TEAM WE HAVE HAD IN 20 YEARS.I ALSO SEE WHERE ST SIMONS-RAMBLE-ON AND ALL THE OTHER TECHIES HAVE RUN FOR THE HILLS.WE WONT HEAR FROM THEM FOR ANOTHER 7 YEARS.30-24 AND IT WASNT THAT CLOSE.
brucemac
December 24th, 2009
1:50 pm
Bama Bill, we don’t need Kirby Smart. He will leave however for somewhere with a better opportunity as the Nicktater cannot and does not keep great coaches. Look at history and you will see the pattern don’t kid yourself.
godawgs
December 24th, 2009
1:51 pm
1) With a little better defense, 2 takeaways per game, Georgia is 9-4 or 10-3 in 2009 (Kent & LSU games are won). If you look at defensive points allowed, and yards allowed, those 2 stats predict wins and losses in the SEC pretty well. So Richt diagnosed the a major cause of the problem as defense, and Richt took action to make sure that problem doesn’t re-occur.
2) When you look at the play-call mix of the SEC leaders (pass-run mix), and the run stats, it’s pretty obvious that lack of a running game, and calling a pass-heavy play mix in the first 7 games got Georgia into a lot of trouble. And the 14 INT’s didn’t help–calling high risk pass plays–throwing the ball in high traffic areas. 4 of 5 of Georgia’s losses had 3-4 TO’s by Bobo’s Offense.
3) Bobo’s triple back rotation system was absurd–he was letting Samuel run the ball on 3rd down, when Samuel averaged 1 ypc on 3rd down, for example. If you don’t play your best back, you don’t deserve to win more than 7 or 8 games a year. John Wooden said he tried to get all his players equal time early on, and after studying the situation, decided the team did NOT play better with rotating players–the level and performance dropped. Once Wooden made that ONE change, Wooden went on to win 7 more championships. Richt is 40 wins and only 3 losses when he gets a 100 yard rusher. This triple rb back rotation system of Bobo’s is a bigger problem than people realize and a major cause of Georgia’s ills in 2009. Georgia’s golden years were when Herschel was running the ball 30-40 times a game and racking up 5.27 ypc, Ealey’s at 5.7 ypc, yet only getting 10-15 touches a game. Knowshon Moreno ran the ball well and didn’t rotate and Georgia had it’s best year—that’s how we beat Florida in 2007.
BCS
December 24th, 2009
1:53 pm
Another year, another half a cupcake team to play in a bowl :
12-28-09 : Texas A&M
1-1-2009 : Michigan State
1-1-2008 : Hawaii
1-1-2005 : Wisconsin
1-1-2004 : Purdue
12-28 -2001 : Boston College
12-24 -2000 : Virginia
Hawaii in 2007? But they were undefeated? They played some real solid teams that year?
Northern Colorado
Louisiana Tech – 45-44 OT
UNLV
Charleston Southern
Idaho
Utah State
San Jose St. – 42-35 OT
New Mexico State
Fresno State
Nevada – 28-26
#17 Boise State
Washington
where r u st. simons
December 24th, 2009
1:55 pm
Barry you are dam right. Pi$$ needs to do it in the wind. And with a little more defense Joe Cox could have been the QB of a 9-4 team.
As always, 30-24 hahahahah
Mark Bradley
December 24th, 2009
1:56 pm
Thanks to one and all for the Christmas wishes. As we Catholics say, “And also with you.”
David
December 24th, 2009
1:59 pm
Wish for Ga guys it was that simple. Ga had breadowns on both sides of the ball including special teams. The penalities are consistent ever year under Mark Richt. The guy couldn’t motivate if his life depended on it. What is with letting your wife be the water boy? That woman loves the spot life. If I see here advertising Carpets of Dalton again, I will scream!
The Lone Trumpeter
December 24th, 2009
1:59 pm
Mark is right. It did take a season like this to change what needed to be changed at UGA. Who knows how long Richt wants to coach at UGA? Maybe that will be part of the deal to try and get smart to UGA. Richt clearly has goals outside of football, but he started my first year at UGA so he will always be my coach. No matter what change is headed to UGA and I can’t wait to see what happens with a new DC. Please dawg fans let’s show other fans how it is done. Be there through thick and thin. Dawgs for life baby.
P.S WE RUN THIS STATE
Green's Get-Together
December 24th, 2009
1:59 pm
A.J. Green is having a Get-Together on New Years Day to watch some football!
January 1, 2010
12:00 P.M.
4117 Gator Lane Athens, Ga 30605
B.Y.O.B.
Monticello Dawg
December 24th, 2009
2:00 pm
A certain poster asked why would a high profile DC go to UGA? The answer is simple- it’s one of the premiere coordinator positions in the USA.
Those who talk about the 2008 season actually verify the Dogs status as one of America’s bigtime programs- 10 wins with 19 season ending injuries and it is not good enough in Athens. In certain precincts, a 9 win 2008 season was cause for rejoicing, as was a 7 win 2009 season in another location.
UGA89
December 24th, 2009
2:03 pm
From 2008 pre-season #1 to 2009 and Shreveport.
Go Dawgs …woof …woof …..woof
dawg37
December 24th, 2009
2:05 pm
Carlos, I understand your concern with the play calling at times, but i have to disagree. I am dumbfounded when Bobo calls a running play on 3rd and 10, abandons the run when it has been effective, or forgets that we have a couple of tightends who can catch and run. However, I was one among many who screamed for Richt to get an OC years back, just like we have screamed for Martinez’s dismissal. I am confident we are right about CWM but not so confident about CMB. At times, he calls some crafty plays and creates points, yards, and excitement. I don’t think he is the problem when it comes to our offensive difficulties.
exNFLplayer
December 24th, 2009
2:06 pm
dawg4life, getting an NFL guy is not a bad idea. Every time a player goes from one level to the next he sees several things immediately. The players are better and the coaches are better. When I went from High School to the SEC the first words out of my mouth at the first practice was DAMN! Not just the players, but the coaching. More intensity, the Xs and Os get a lot more complex, the pace is faster. Go from college to the NFL and the difference is even more pronounced. More complex systems and coaches that really know how to teach. To take what you already know, build on the good and eliminate the flaws is their forte. They know how to teach the game. But the most noticeable trait is their ability to recognize talent. Unless you’re a 1st rounder with a guaranteed contract it doesn’t matter if you’re from Texas or Fort Valley State. You better bring it at practice every single day. If you can play they see it very quickly. This ability to recognize talent would be a huge asset when it comes to recruiting. Another aspect is the fact that with NFL guys on staff, a recruit that is tagged as potential NFL talent can be told that and virtually guaranteed that the former NFL coach knows what it takes to get him to the league and can coach him up in every area he needs to get there as well as critique his progress at different points in his development. Bringing in an NFL guy could be a very shrewd move. It damn sure wouldn’t disappoint me.
godawgs
December 24th, 2009
2:06 pm
By the way, the year was 1962, Wodden had always rotated lots of players up until the 1963 season. Wodden NEVER won a Natl Championship rotating lots of players. In 1963, he STOPPED rotating players, after analyzing the stats, and decided to go with his best player at each position. He won his 1st Natl Champ in 1963 after he STOPPED ROTATING PLAYERS, and went on to win 10 Natl Champ’s. Something for Bobo and Richt to REALLY think about.
how2fish
December 24th, 2009
2:07 pm
Piss didn’t your momma and two girls go to UGA ? Where ever we are in the SEC we still own the Bugs…always have always will. Now do yourself up a rope..
The Lone Trumpeter
December 24th, 2009
2:09 pm
Everybody has to rotate running back nowadays. Look how well it worked towards the end of the season. Tech?
mason
December 24th, 2009
2:12 pm
(( 1.4Million is Yellow Fuzz ))
ahahahahahaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
(( 30-24 ))
Glad it STILL hurts Yellow Fuzz sooo bad
(( No major bowl since 1966 ))
hahahahaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
GO HAWKEYES!!!
EDWARD WINTERS AS COLONEL FLAGG
December 24th, 2009
2:16 pm
Dan, you are an inbred, trailor park trash, walmart buying redneck. I am a proud graduate of GT and will be in the Orange Bowl. I bet the closest you have ever been to UGA is when they are on TV at Sanford Stadium. Are you related to Bill King?
Dan
December 24th, 2009
2:17 pm
I wonder if these nerds will still be on GEORGIA blogs after they lose to Iowa?
UGA 2010
December 24th, 2009
2:17 pm
thanks Mark, thanks for givin us somethin to read while some of us have to work
GT93
December 24th, 2009
2:20 pm
Nice article Mark … right on the money. Battling the odds and alot of noise from the fans this year (who rightfully expect better), UGA finally found their defensive stamina when it mattered … against a GT team who still needs to find theirs.
Merry Christmas to all GT and UGA faithful. All bowl matchup comparisons aside, here’s hoping both teams return home with great bowl victories for an early 2010 kick-off on the right foot!
UGA2012
December 24th, 2009
2:23 pm
Great article, Mr. Bradley. Keep up the good work.
jeffrey d
December 24th, 2009
2:25 pm
Dang, Mark…working on Christmas Eve? Great article…I greatly appreciate and enjoy your work. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.
BDS at HGF
December 24th, 2009
2:25 pm
To Dan: High School Stadium
You refer to GT’s stadium as a high school stadium, however, you must not have visited Bobby Dodd stadium in a while. I have not seen too many high school stadiums that seat 55K people and have state-of-the-art training facilities located in the locker room areas. Also, I have never seen a high school stadium that has a jumbotron like Tech’s and skyboxes like we have. Granted, BDS is not a cookie cutter stadium like Sanford, but it is quite a football stadium for playing, watching, and enjoying the college atmosphere.
how2fish
December 24th, 2009
2:27 pm
GT93 good post and good luck in ya’lls bowl as well..Merry X-mas.
Charles
December 24th, 2009
2:28 pm
Nice article, Mark…
Just an FYI and you may already know this – Koenning was never offered the job. Had he been, he would’ve jumped on it. I mean the guy’s making less at Illinois than Martinez made. He was a plan B guy and his agent spread that rumor to get him a little more money from the Illini, and it worked.
Lot of names being thrown around right now. Anxious to see who it is.
godawgs
December 24th, 2009
2:30 pm
Georgia committed 2 fumbles against Ga Tech when they rotated Ealey out–Ealey was averaging 15 ypc and broke 120 yards early in the 2nd qrtrt when he was rotated out and benched in the Ga Tech game when King fumbled and made the TO deep in Georgia territory. That could have cost us the game. Ealey for the season is the best at not giving up fumbles–sure the 1 on the goal-line pitch toss in the Kent game–might have been Cox’s fault–we’ll never know—but regardless, that’s it for Ealey. In the Kent game ALONE, King had 2 fumbles and was picked with 2 INT’s when thrown to.
how2fish
December 24th, 2009
2:32 pm
Can you dig it?
Great way to handle the ol’PISS……roughly ! Well done!
Fleischman in Chi Towns Bed
December 24th, 2009
2:33 pm
Are their any tattoo parlors in Shreveport? The fleabags want to get a new tattoo to celebrate their Independence Bowl game.
“Mediocre and irrelevant” – UGA Football