The doctor is in: What UGA must do to rise from mediocrity
Yes, but being 6-6 shouldn't ever be cause for celebration. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
This is the week, Mark Richt said late Saturday night, to recruit in earnest. And it’s true that one of the teams that played in Sanford Stadium on Saturday needs a talent infusion, but it’s not Richt’s Bulldogs.
Georgia Tech has a clear idea of what it is but insufficient manpower to get it where it wants to go. Georgia has, and has long had, enough players — not that it couldn’t use more — but has come to lack direction. As these middling-by-definition teams head into December and then 2011, we address their respective needs. First, Georgia’s.
Step 1: Get stronger. It has long been suggested that Georgia’s conditioning program has gotten soft, and we saw striking evidence again Saturday night. Tech ruled the line of scrimmage. Dave Van Halanger, Georgia’s strength coach, had a hand in building SEC championship teams here — those were his offseason mat drills, transferred from Florida State, referenced in “Finish The Drill” — but the Bulldogs have come to look comparatively peaked. (And not just against Tech; Auburn scored touchdowns on six of its final seven possessions two weeks earlier.)
The issue: Van Halanger is Richt’s best friend. Willie Martinez might have been Richt’s college buddy, but it’s Van Halanger with whom Richt goes jogging. Richt waited long — too long — to sack Martinez as defensive coordinator, but finally he did it. He needs now to make an even more difficult personal decision and upgrade a position that has become substandard.
Step 2: Get edgier. An acronym born under Erk Russell is still written on the board before every Georgia game — GATA. (Loosely translated, “Get After Them Aggressively.”) The Bulldogs, however, have become slow burners. They didn’t take a lead against an SEC opponent until the season’s fourth conference game. They trailed Florida 21-7 in a game they might have won easily had they built a two-touchdown advantage. When they responded to Auburn’s opening touchdown with three of their own, the question asked itself: Why don’t do they do this more often?
As we say in hockey and figure skating, Georgia football has lost its edge. Some of this has to do with preparation, but not all. Which leads us to …
Step 3: Get an idea. Richt is a finesse coach. Georgia runs the ball as a counterpoint. Its staple running play over these 10 years has been the sprint draw, and a draw is by design a fake pass. There’s no reason for Richt to change what he believes and become Woody Hayes reincarnate, and that’s fine. Where Georgia errs is in seeking to be both finesse offense and power offense. Artificial concerns over “balance” need to be tossed in yonder trashcan.
When Georgia fans rage at Mike Bobo for “going conservative,” they have half a point. Running isn’t a bad conceptual idea, but Bobo/Richt seem to feature the run at moments when all running can do is slow Georgia. The top two teams in the BCS standings have gotten there by playing fast and attacking for four quarters. Time for the Bulldogs to join the fun.
Have a seat in the waiting room. Dr. Bradley’s Rx for Georgia Tech can be found here.
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601 comments Add your comment
Laces Out Finkle
November 29th, 2010
12:54 pm
The quick fix to the program would be to schedule Tech for 12 games per year.
NashDawg
November 29th, 2010
12:54 pm
All the problems mentioned can be fixed. Agreed on all factors including changing the conditioning staff. It is interesting to note that Kevin Butler kept mentioning a change in the conditioning situation. He may know something we do not know. Also Doug Matthews a long time coach and now a sports talk person in the Nashville area said the same thing Mark, that the Dawgs are not physical as they once were.
Chris
November 29th, 2010
12:54 pm
For the life of me, I can’t understand why Richt is getting another chance. Is that what it’s come to at Georgia? Nothing is going to get better next year. We will loose as many or more games because we don’t have a good running back, our o-line sucks and will continue to do so, the defense will be suspect at best, and we will still have Bobo calling plays. Change has got to be made, and it should be done sooner rather than later. The excuses are too many and too old.
Do you think if every Georgia fan gave their Christmas bonus to the University of Miami, then Miami put’s up say another $50 million, maybe we could pay Richt to get the hell out of Athens?
It would sure be the best move for the future of Georgia football.
Charles
November 29th, 2010
12:58 pm
Oh, and UGA’s staple running play is not the sprint draw. In fact, we’ve hardly run it since before Moreno. It used to be a staple. Our staple running play is handing the ball off out of a one back set or even the sweep of late.
Ginger
November 29th, 2010
12:59 pm
Agree….the RX is in order…..
1. S & C must improve…..DVH is not getting the job done…TV commentator Davie…noted that UGA is not finishing games…noted UGA played lights out in 1st Q of Auburn game–could not be stopped…then by 4th Q was out of gas…..In Fla game…Meyer ran quick huddle and just ran at UGA and kept telling his player per sideline reporter UGA can’t keep up with you…When other coaches recognize deficiency and exploit it—it is time to do something about it…..Now CMR has a choice—-He can take necessary steps to improve S & C and run the very real risk of getting fired next year if UGA does not show great improvement…..If CMR is intent on keeping DVH—then he had better send DVH to some more training and get him updated–because whatever techniques the DVH employed this year did not work….We must be faster, stronger and able to finish games….New training techniques are developed all the time is DVH willing to learn and change with the times…..No one should never say I know it all and don’t need to learn anything….IF DVH cares about his job–he will do that….if he is not willing to….the CMR as head of the program must take the necessary steps to right the ship. If he does not—then he is letting down everyone.
2. Get edgier—–I guess that means we should attack, atttack, attack….We needs to start fast…Mike Smith with the Falcons preaches—starting fast……make the other team play under pressure….We must not be predictable…did we have any onside kicks this year or any fake punts…don’t remember any….We must throw more long balls and attack the endzone and make the other team defend the whole field….Brandon Smith has to play more offense….we must sign some real weapons for Murray…speed kills…speed kills….we need to be able to score fast….pour it on them early and often.
3. Got to sign a big time running back….King and Ealey are not threats to take it to the house from their own 20 yard line…..Predictable draw plays will work better with a big time back….open up the play book……we ran the jail break screen with Durham for a TD Saturday…I have been saying all year the we needed to run the jail break screen….this was the 1st time that I saw it this year…It is a very effective play for Spurrier at SC…..Bobo needs to evaluate other team’s plays that work really well and incorporate these into our offense…or if we have the plays in the book—run them more. attack, attack…..Use running game for staple like the Falcons do and then attack.
Larry
November 29th, 2010
1:00 pm
The negative Georgia comments from the Lamecock fan is too funny, especially considering South Carolina’s rich football tradition. Decades of losing in Columbia and their fans are still arrogant is beyond belief !!!
pjones
November 29th, 2010
1:01 pm
I think Georgia, needs to learn Big Boy Ball. Have you noticed the size difference of the backs and lines of the power teams in the conference
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
1:01 pm
I think Butler was hammered on the post-game radio show. Anyone else agree with me?
db
November 29th, 2010
1:02 pm
I want to go to Memphis, not Shreveport!
Mike
November 29th, 2010
1:02 pm
Good points, Mark. I would add the off-field problems need to be eliminated as well. They need to hit the field with the ENTIRE team next year rather than missing some players because of stupid behavior. You have to be able to hit the field when it counts with the same players you have been practicing with all spring.
UGA had some gaps to fill this year. Aaron Murray was as good as you could ask for. The only game he looked like a freshman was that first half against UF. It was his first Cocktail Party, so that can be excusable.
The Defense was bad up the middle this year for good reason. They lost their top 3 DTs, Curran at ILB, and Safety Rashad Jones to the NFL. Thats the entire middle of the defense that needed rebuilding. Hopefully, the young guys that got PT will show up better next year.
heyberto
November 29th, 2010
1:03 pm
Bradley, how can you say talent isn’t the issue at UGA? We clearly don’t have the players Grantham wants and needs to run his version of the 3-4, which explains so much (clearly not all) of our defensive woes. You’re clearly not qualified to comment on what UGA needs to do if you can’t see that.
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
1:04 pm
I’ll give Tech this, it took one hell of an effort, but they almost always manage to find a way to lose to the Dawgs.
takedowndawg
November 29th, 2010
1:07 pm
Mark, I would agree with you on Van Halanger’s role or lack of it in Georgia’s S &C program. Our line does not dominate anyone on either side of the line anymore. When Colorado’s offensive line pushed us around at the start of the year, I knew that we, Georgia, were in for a long year. Even in HS(4A or 5A) now, most offensive linemen to start must bench in excess of 300 pd. and squat over 500. From the results of the season, we certainly have our share of 300+ pdrs. but mostly on their bodies not on the weight bench! Not physical at all, barring Justin Houston. It was humbling to witness. On offense, having decent(a yard or more wide) holes and held for 2+ secs., were scarcer than hen’s teeth for our backs. Our OL line coach may need to go. Even the “recruiter” Rodney Gardner may have seen better days at Georgia and might need a new home where he can rekindle some new fire. He appears to be settling for sub par performance. I am proud of Aaron Murray.. He exceeded expectations by far.
Mike
November 29th, 2010
1:07 pm
I cant stress this enough, the DEFENSE is the key. UGA defensively has not been the same for 3 years now. Give Grantham a pass for his first year teaching these guys the 3-4 and retraining Martinez’s crew. Even Saban needed a year to get Alabama’s D in shape.
In the SEC, it is not enough to show up with an offense. Newton and Auburn have been the exception to the rule. For those teams that dont have the best player in CFB, you have to play defense in this league. If Auburn beats South Carolina Sat., they will be the first SEC champion I can remember that had to outscore teams to win. 99% of the time, the SEC champion must have a top notch defense.
GloryGlorytoGA
November 29th, 2010
1:08 pm
UGA definitely needs to define the role of the running game more…is it power or finesse? It seems to me that we have finesse backs attempting to run a power attack?
I’ve looked at the team’s number through the regular season and there are some bright spots, and some somber ones.
1) UGA is ranked 71st in rushing offense nationally, 10th in the conference. To be competitive, we need to be in the top 30 in rushing / 3-4 in the SEC. The teams that are leading in rushing are those that are competitive and highly ranked. Replace Bryan McClendon with a new running back coach with experience running our type of game (whatever that is).
2) Replace our offensive line coach. The underwhelming performance this year necessitate a change at that position. Part of the rushing #s are attributed to the OL; add that UGA is 54th in sacks allowed. Whatever Searls is doing isn’t good enough. Replace him.
3) Special teams was MUCH improved this year. I don’t recall one illegal procedure penalty for kickin the ball out of bounds due to those silly directional kickoffs. We have a stud punter and kicker, but our KO returns are rated 76th nationally. We need to dedicate someone to focus on special teams…especially the returns and coverages.
4) While the #s aren’t atrocious for the defense, they are not representative of how poorly we’ve played at times. We’re ranked #19 in pass defense, but that needs an asterisk because GT doesn’t pass the ball (in effect, we only faced 11 passing teams) and the yards per completion are really high compared to the other teams in the top 40 in pass defense. To put it in context, we’re 63rd in pass efficiency defense. The rushing offense wasn’t that good (59th) but the same applies, i.e GT is the #1 rushing team in FBS…so it is a little skewed. A mild to moderate improvement over last year…time will tell if the new scheme will work.
#5) Turnover margin. #18 nationally. HUGE improvement. I’d attribute some of this to the aggressive style of our defense. I still think we can get better and be a terror on the gridiron. We need to keep track of another metric…dropped interceptions and bobbled fumbles. We had a few of those this year that killed us. Square away our ability to seal the turnover and we pick up 2-3 wons off turnovers alone.
#6: Time of possession and 3rd down defense. We really need to get better in this area. The defense’s inability to get off the field on 3rd down (ranked 87th) exposes them and keeps them on the field longer. As a result, they get exhausted…a self-fulfilling prophecy for Mr. Van Halanger. Some of the conditioning issues are related to 3rd down conversion defense. The other issue is the lack of long, sustained drives that affect time of possession. The GT game was a perfect example of that….32 first downs? Really?? The lack of a running game affects time of possession as well.
In a nutshell, we’ve got some work to do, but the future is bright.
1eyedJack
November 29th, 2010
1:09 pm
OkefenokeeDawg, every team loses their star players at some point. Next year somebody will have to step up. It happens all the time. I’ll grant you that AJ was a “star” the first day on campus, but Houston wasn’t a “star” until this year and Durham has been injured and floundered early in his time (I remember fans saying ‘what in the h@ll is Durham doing out there, he couldn’t catch a cold’ two and three years ago).
New guys will have to get better and step up. (Marlon Brown, Rantavious Wooten, Kwame Geathers, Jarvis Jones, Richard Samuel, Alec Ogletree, Branden Smith etc.)
5150 P.O.A.D.
November 29th, 2010
1:10 pm
DUMBO
What are you 12 years old?
You make the best comments. You may not have the wings of an Eagle, but you do have the ears of a McGarity. You don’t need a buffalo’s butt because DUMBO is an elephant and you are the Whole Azz. Great comments about sports. Why don’t you do more than call people names?
yo mama
November 29th, 2010
1:10 pm
MB, not point to the fact that the 3-4 defense needs specific players playing the front 3. Georgia had gaps a mile wide to run through. I was puzzled. if the falcons had problems running against the 3-4, then what was the reason? the reason is that each 3-4 unit had massive nose guards clogging up the middle requiring more than one blocker to maintain the NG. now, i watched georgia, and i bet the nose guard is like 265-275. which is not big enough for the line to maintain the front. no mention of that, why?
Les W. Moore
November 29th, 2010
1:11 pm
Underachievers, for sure.
5150 P.O.A.D
November 29th, 2010
1:11 pm
My Tech boys cried Saturday night and I ripped my Paul Johnson poster!
banditdawg
November 29th, 2010
1:13 pm
Coach Van has got to go.No need for any other changes at UGA.
For once
November 29th, 2010
1:14 pm
For once, Mark Bradley, you’re right!!!
Yuck
November 29th, 2010
1:16 pm
Not sure how we can have more talent yet get dominated on the line of scrimmage. Clearly, if we are being dominated on the line, we have less talent. Claiming athletic dominance based on a recruiting ranking is foolish, and blaming it on strength and conditioning is a cop out. While coaching is an issue, UGA does not have talent we had duiring 2002-2005…not even close. Blame Richt all you want for not getting the talent, but we are far from some dominant team that lost 6 games because of coaching.
Dawg H8R
November 29th, 2010
1:17 pm
With AJ Green, jawja is average. The prospect of running the table after his return was bogus. The prospect of a dirty dawg cleaning up its
act is laughable. As long as the good ole boys on the Board of Trustees
and in the alumni base are enamored with Da Mayor, Mark Richt.
Politics has kept the Gamecocks,as well as the State of SC, on a short leash for generations. Don’t let OLD CONSERVATIVE INDIVIDUALS CHOOSE YOUR COACHES! Take a look at the Clemson Tigers.
Go Gamecocks.
TC
November 29th, 2010
1:17 pm
YOU SCORE 30+ POINTS A GAME.. BOBO ISN’T THE PROBLEM. GET A FREAKING DEFENSE
banditdawg
November 29th, 2010
1:18 pm
Enter your comments here
Yuck
November 29th, 2010
1:21 pm
Problem with photo caption that picture UGA celebrating win with sign saying “We run this state.” Caption states, “Yes, but being 6-6 shouldn’t ever be cause for celebration.”
I thought UGA was celebrating a win over archrival GT, not a 6-6 season. Not sure why the AJC would take a meaningless and deceptive shot at a bunch of college athletes.
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
1:21 pm
@TC, the run offense compounds the defensive problems. Our inability to run helps produce the time of possession and number of opponent snaps we saw on Saturday.
You can’t expect much out of an already weak defense if they are playing 3/4’s of the game. The running game has got to improve in order to give our D the opportunity to improve.
Baddog
November 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
Good point 1eye. Coaches usually like for some kids to leave early for the NFL because it is a great recruiting tool for some 5 star kid that could have a chance to compete for that spot and hope that he could one day leave for the pros.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
November 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
Anybody see the shot of the Asian Tech fan with his bookbag on near the end of the game?
Pope UGA XXIII
November 29th, 2010
1:24 pm
If “get edgier” means dancing around on the sidelines and
waving towels, which thankfully, had all of the words spelled
correctly, count me out.
One thing that impressed me about all of Boise State’s 2
and 3 star recruits that clearly are coached up, is that they
ran plays, did their jobs, got back to the huddle and prepared
for another play. Maybe we could try that and focus just a
little bit better.
Whatever is done, it better get done right the first time as
Boise State will be our guests at the Dome. Won’t that give
Mr Bradley & his twin journalistic criticizer, Mr Schulz lots
of opportunities to complain in print.
JR
November 29th, 2010
1:24 pm
Mark……………..Has money changed you? Wow, I’d like to know what Richt calls you behing your back. Probably doesn’t use the same type of language Glavine did but the meaning is the same. Thanks AJC for the funny papers on a Monday.
blue
November 29th, 2010
1:25 pm
CMR will not let a DC coach coach a GATA style he had BVG and would not pay him. So he could hire his girlfriend Willie, When forced to hire Gramthom the first time he got on a players A$$ CMR told him that was not the way it was done at UGA
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
1:26 pm
@Yuck…the caption is a cheap shot, but I’ve come to expect Bradley to take those.
If he doesn’t cheaply anger people, he knows the readers will actually reflect on his garbage and form an opinion on the merit of his writing, and that’s the last thing he wants.
Mark Bradley is an idiot
November 29th, 2010
1:26 pm
Nobody cares what you think Bradley—especially after that assinine column yesterday praising coaching genius Paul Johnson….you can have the genius who was able to score 34 points…I’ll take the dumbass that scored 42. And get a new picture…you are an old man now.
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
November 29th, 2010
1:26 pm
Its also very clear that Boise State doesn’t play anybody!!!!!!!!!!
Big Brain
November 29th, 2010
1:28 pm
Lower expectations. Mediocrity is relative.
Billy Jack DAWG
November 29th, 2010
1:31 pm
you can get all the 4 & 5 in the state you still have to have some one to coach them
Jake
November 29th, 2010
1:31 pm
In other words, Mark, Richt/Bobo need to get smarter. And another thing: it was a big deal when they recruited Caleb King and Washaun Ealey. But after watching them all year, it is clear they are slow even when they have an opening. Every other SEC team they played, as well as Tech, had backs who were faster and often bigger, too. “They’re small, but they’re slow” is not the hallmark of a program going anywhere but bad.
hmm?
November 29th, 2010
1:32 pm
I have a feeling if the season goes bad next year and Richt is forced out you might see him replace Fulmer as a sports analyst? Then wait for the Miami job to open again after Shalala is gone. Or he might just get out completely and become a full time missionary?
Mark PRicht
November 29th, 2010
1:36 pm
How can you fix UGA ?
Dentures?
Fire Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2010
1:36 pm
Please stop. Do you even read your own articles before you place them on the website? You are like a 5 yer old repeating himself over and over. Also, your grammar sucks.
Mark PRicht
November 29th, 2010
1:37 pm
More trailor parks?
Mark PRicht
November 29th, 2010
1:38 pm
Hire more trash collectors?
Steve
November 29th, 2010
1:44 pm
It’s bizarre.
Georgia’s Offense is mediocre in passing offense, and rushing offense, and total offensive yards, but #23 in scoring offense. How do they score when they’re so mediocre in passing and rushing?
Answer:
Score a lot on bad defenses to run up the score. All wins were against #60 ranked team or lower. Against good defenses like SC & MSU, Georgia doesn’t score much at all.
Georgia’s defense is mediocre in scoring defense and rush defense, but solid in pass defense and total defense. What’s up with that? Why are teams scoring when Georgia’s defense is so good in total yards?
Answer:
Georgia’s defense skews stats against bad offenses, and got gauged against the 4 top 30 offenses. Against good offenses like Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia Tech and Kentucky, Georgia couldn’t stop them.
Solution:
Richt should measure Bobo & Grantham by how well they perform against the BEST COMEPTITION, not the WEAKEST.
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
1:50 pm
How did the “Genius” do in his last 5 games of the season. Oh…they went 1-4 with a victory over Duke.
That’s solid. Tech fans should definitely take solace in the future of their Program.
Anthony
November 29th, 2010
1:54 pm
Get out the tar and feathers and run Mark Richt out of town on a rail. We’ve had enough of his phony religion, the two-bit punks he recruits, and his cluelessness about coaching.
SoCal Dawg
November 29th, 2010
1:54 pm
“The issue: Van Halanger is Richt’s best friend.”
McGarity fires Van Halanger. CMR keeps his friendship and UGA gets strong!
Your Breath Smells like Fish Fry Tacos
November 29th, 2010
1:55 pm
FISH FRY is not that good. He can’t get out of the way of his FAT HEAD arrogant arse.
stupidredneck
November 29th, 2010
1:57 pm
Nerds! Nerds! Nerds!
November 29th, 2010
1:22 pm
Anybody see the shot of the Asian Tech fan with his bookbag on near the end of the game?
so what is wrong with that? rather seeing fat and ugly looking redneck uga fan?