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
mcdaviddawg
November 29th, 2010
1:58 pm
Next year will be no better. Richt seems to refuse to ;make any changes in staff, in palys , in ideas. SACK RICHT!
UGA Insider
November 29th, 2010
1:59 pm
All of these comments about what CMR needs to do in the future is non-applicable. By this time next week he will be the new coach of the Miami Hurricanes. I’m not guessing here folks….It’s a guarantee.
Nick
November 29th, 2010
2:00 pm
Mark my words: Coach Van (and others) will be gone at year’s end. I hope Searels is another one. They’re both pathetic.
oakisland
November 29th, 2010
2:01 pm
I for one am sick of the way we play offensive and defense. For all you Richt supporters you cannot tell me when you watch us play that you aren’t cussing most of the time at our coaches and their dumb calls. What has happened the last 2 years is a joke and a total disgrace to a once proud and feared team. A friend of mine told me at the start of the season when my hopes were high that the only way Richt gets UGA back to the SEC championship game in Atlanta is to buy tickets. I’m starting to agree with him. WE NEED A CHANGE IN ATHENS.
Skitty Fritty
November 29th, 2010
2:01 pm
The problem is and has been the defense.
SoCal Dawg
November 29th, 2010
2:01 pm
UGA Insider – Where are getting your info?
Buckeye
November 29th, 2010
2:02 pm
“Lindsey Scott! Lindsey Scott!”
Just play the tapes – all will be well.
Who doesn’t want to live in the past when the present is the B I R M I N G H A M B O W L ??
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
2:02 pm
Really Insider? He’s going to leave $3mm a year for $1.5mm?
Tell me the last time Miami has shown that they pay top dollar for a coach?
Andy in Blairsville
November 29th, 2010
2:03 pm
You would think Richt would be embarrassed of his kids holding a sign claiming to own this state when they are 6-6.
Beachdawg
November 29th, 2010
2:05 pm
Does Tech, as TV guys said, have the top rushing offense in the nation? Defense was on the field with them for 90 something plays??? Hell, I’d be tired too….I know it’s their job to stop’em..but..
I really think it’ll be addressed before next year…
On offense, I thought the mis-direction play with the FB leading was a great call all night long. Games shouldn’t be so close sometimes…but it’s Clean Old Fashioned Hate…and UGA WON!!!
Will
November 29th, 2010
2:05 pm
Mark:
Just got off the phone with someone very close to the Richts. Here is the dilemma facing Mark:
First, the Miami job is a terrible fit as it continues to be perceived as an outlaw program and goes against the grain of Mark’s spiritful grain.
BUT……..Mark is growing less than enchanted with the complaints from the Bulldog Nation and the constant snipping from journalists. He also absolutely wants to avoid the humilation of being forced to resign or be terminated next year if UGA fails to win more than seven games.
SO…….should he jump ship now and avoid the possible humiliation or should he stay put and hope things improve next year?
With the loss of his offensive line, two of his three best receivers and a significant number of key defensive players, the prospects for signifiant improvement (read: nine or ten wins) is unlikely. He MAY survive a five loss season next year but that is a real gamble to take.
I believe you can expect unofficial, untraceable contacts for Mark to test the waters for at least two, yet unannounced needs, at major college programs during the month of December.
I hope this better explains Mark’s less than unqualified rejection of interest elsewhere. Read between the lines:
“I have no intention……”, “No one has contacted me about…..” and “I am happy here and plan to stay here…..” are all statements that leave the door wide open.
monty
November 29th, 2010
2:08 pm
Let me get this straight,if Grantham’s defense can only work well when he recruits players with the size he needs to play the 3-4 then how many years away are we from having a really good defense. And the bigger question is does CMR have that much time available? Seems CMR made a mistake in hiring Grantham if it’s going to be 2-3 years before we recruit and mature “his” type players. Seems CMR would have better served his own interest by hiring a 4-3 guy. Watching Tech’s running backs do their thing and not having a clue how to stop it wasn’t pretty to watch. Glad we had Greene or we lose.
UGA '92
November 29th, 2010
2:09 pm
After reading this article, I am no longer surprised at the pending death of print journalism.
Dawesome
November 29th, 2010
2:10 pm
Mark, no matter how you slice and dice it, CMR is a nice guy but has not and will not be able to coach UGA above where they are now. There are so, so many examples of his ineptitude in recognizing how to motivate, coach and manage his team that lessor coaches would have been fired for doing. He gave the offense to Bobo so he could manage the games. And yet at a critical time in the Tech game when all we needed was a knee with 1:29 left in the game and Tech with no timeouts, we risk everything by handing off to Ealey. Forget the fact that Tech had pre-arranged to let us score if we were stupid enough, the real issue in my opinion if I were Athletic Director is that rather than take a knee and ensure a bowl birth that means several million dollar to the university, we put all that at risk because CMR does not know how to manage anything, much less the game.
I like CMR but he is not getting it done. I have watched UGA football since I graduated from UGA in 1970, and I cannot remember us ever being this bad, this un motivated and un coached. CMR may be lucky next year because we again don’t play anyone, but with the schedule UGA has if he doesn’t win a substantial number of games – read here 10, he’s gone. Since UGA is his home and he has no plans to leave he can live in Athens and watch somebody else coach.
robodawg
November 29th, 2010
2:11 pm
Stronger, edgier, new offensive ideas … hmmm, maybe the first two. The third one is basically that we play a pro style offense. We could incorporate some more spread ideas, but I don’t see us becoming a spread offense any time soon. (Someone somewhere wrote a good article recently on how every successful offense these days is a hybrid designed for versatility — e.g., Boise State will go to a power running game when it suits the conditions on the field.) The key isn’t balance so much as versatility. To be versatile, you gotta have the power game too.
The glaring issue however is our defense. And on that end, I’m not sure we really do have the manpower. I’m not seeing enough talent or depth on that side of the ball to win championships.
Alphare
November 29th, 2010
2:12 pm
Doesn’t matter what UGA does, you will have a bad year next year. AJGreen will be gone. Once he is gone, who knows how good Murray is.
I predict a 7-5 year. I started this year predicting a 7-5 or 8-4 season. Then I bought in with UGA fans’ hype and changed to 10-2.
Lesson learned, never listen to UGA fans again.
Andy in Blairsville
November 29th, 2010
2:18 pm
Wasn’t it Mark Bradley who said UGA was going to have pansy schedule this season and expect 9 or 10 wins?
BG
November 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
What does Richt need to do to beat Tech more often? HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!
Scooter
November 29th, 2010
2:20 pm
I have no doubt UGA needs to make some changes to see improvement. I just cannot fathom looking to Mark Bradley for the answers.
To pervert a Lewis Grizzard saying, “If knowledge were oil, Mark would be about a quart low”.
MURPHY
November 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
Alphare,
I agree-Heck I wont even listen to myself anymore lol
cantondawg
November 29th, 2010
2:22 pm
Mark,
I agree wholehearted about Bobo and the balance idea. It does seem like he throw in a run just to be balanced and screw up the whole rhythm of the offense. It also seems like he tries to get too cute with his playcalling and outsmart the other team instead of just going after their weakness.
Mark PRicht
November 29th, 2010
2:23 pm
Just a serious question here, if you know a team is not going to throw the ball but 3 or 4 times a game then how can you give up 400plus rushing yards, just makes no sense. Talk about the weak ACC but they all faired better against the option than you did….even Duke
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
2:28 pm
Because we have an undisciplined weak defense.
Dawgs Friend
November 29th, 2010
2:28 pm
The best change that could be made would be for the
unrealistic, impatient and unthankful UGA fans that continually call for CMR to be fired or leave would simply leave him alone. The man has done a great job in his 10 years at UGA and a replacement of his caliber would be hard to come by. The group of fans that are calling for his ouster are the schools worst enemies.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
November 29th, 2010
2:29 pm
Georgia has been in every game this year. Small improvements will make a big diference next year. Keep Richt and Bobo. The d- line and safeties need upgrading to again make UGA a contender. Urban has been talking retirement behind the scene so don’t be surprised if he retires again. FSU really made him look bad. Cam Newton will likely get a pass by the NCAA but may turn pro. Bama will be rebuilding on offense next year. South Carolina has reached their peak and will now fade,. Go Dawgs.
jwilli120
November 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
@brandon 11:40am Please tell me what year CMR took us to the NC
game in his 10yr reign to keep his job? 10yrs ZERO NC games or
wins. Stop this crap, CMR should be back next year, it’s NC game
or FIRE MARK RICHT cut and dry. We are not good and we should
demand more, not more of the same Crap? Anyone notice how UGA
does not get mentioned with the Fla’s, Bama’s, LSU’s and possibly
not with the AUB’s…hell we don’t even get mentioned with the
Miss St and USC, South Carolina won the friggin East, so yeah
Mark Richt is great he let’s them (UGA) eat the chocolate cake
but stop drinking the FOOL AID that this coach and program is
selling. DARE TO BE GREAT slogan for 2011!!! Sure hope all those
recruits stay loyal to UGA………..GO DAWGS!!!!!!
Mark PRicht
November 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
jarvis, guess you are right, you only had AJ and we didnt stop him
MountainDawg
November 29th, 2010
2:30 pm
Steps 1 & 2 are right on the money. S&C needs much improvement. CVH needs to implement some of the cross-training done by MMA fighters. Build cardio/endurance, explosiveness, etc. Diet (even off season) is key as well.
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
2:33 pm
You didn’t do much of a job of stopping Orson Charles, Chris Durham, or anyone friggin’ Bruce Figgins. Don’t act like you’re world beaters son.
You went 1-4 down the stretch including a ten point victory over Duke. Georiga might stink, but you still find a way year after year to lost to us.
jarvis
November 29th, 2010
2:34 pm
lose not lost. typing a little too fast for my own good.
The doc is back: What Tech must do to rise above mediocrity | Mark Bradley
November 29th, 2010
2:35 pm
[...] To view Dr. B’s Rx for Georgia, take two aspirin and click here. [...]
Mobile Dawg
November 29th, 2010
2:36 pm
UGA Insider and Will are GT Trolls just looking for a bite….CMR loudly and clearly said Athens is his home and he wants to finish his “career” at Georgia. Now he could always change careers at the end of the year.
Lazy Dawg
November 29th, 2010
2:39 pm
We need help!!! Very lucky win. F-Bozo!!
gcs
November 29th, 2010
2:42 pm
This is the difference between UGA and Georgia Tech. Georgia goes 6-6, beats Tech and still are VERY disappointed in the team and coach. GT goes 6-6 and loses to UGA and they are giddy
http://blogs.ajc.com/mark-bradley-blog/2010/11/28/a-canny-loss-to-uga-leaves-tech-fans-giddy-about-their-coach/
.
Bo
November 29th, 2010
2:45 pm
@ monty, it only took Alabama 1 year. They got Mt. Cody from a JC and went from 6-6 to 12-2. Don’t forget that UGA has Richard Samuel and Jarvis Jones redshirting as linebackers and the secondary should be very good next year (Boykin, Smith, Rambo and Ogletree will return). UGA only needs a gap plugger in the middle to be a top 10 defense, next year.
Of course UGA needs to be able to run block but a stout defense will make up for a lot of offensive headaches.
JB
November 29th, 2010
2:47 pm
Too many problems to list. 1. quit hiring friends. 2. Be open to new ideas and plays. 3. Have someone you respect come in the off season and TELL you why the offense goes into a funk for 2 quarters after going up 14 points. 4 Ask yourself this in January. If we can’t blow a poor, lightweight Tech defensive front off the ball on fourth and one, what must the front of LSU, AU,Fla and Bama do to us.5. Figure out a way to keep the other half of the TOP 10 players in Georgia home.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 29th, 2010
2:47 pm
Mike Bobo:
ALL WE DID GUYS IS SET THE GEORGIA RECORD WITH THE LAST 7 GAMES GOING OVER 30 POINTS….THE FIRST 4 WOULD HAVE GONE OVER 30 ALSO HAD WE HAD THE MAN (#8) CATCHING THE BALL….SO I APOLIGIZE FOR ONLY 30 POINTS PER GAME THIS YEAR, BUT NEXT YEAR WITH OUR QB BACK AND FAMILIER WITH THE SYSTEM, THINK WE CAN HANG 50 A WEEK….SOME IDIOT WOULD STILL HAVE A PROBLEM WITH 50…..
My name is Cameron Newton
November 29th, 2010
2:50 pm
No. 1. Pay more for your recruits. UGA had a chance to get me, but wanted me as a TE.
No. 2 Bonus pay for touchdowns, tackles, interceptions
No. 3 Go the JC route and get players who are already strong and they start right away
No. 4 Have other students attend class for your athletes. Have them take good notes for you.
No. 5 Instead of class have football players in weight room working out.
No. 6 Promises must be fulfilled to all players and parents..$$$$
No. 7 Provide drivers to all players so Arrest are limited.
No. 8 Open a players only night club.
No. 9 ATM Machines for players only
No. 10 Open a dog track and casino for the players to hide all payoffs.
As the starting Quarterback at the No. 1 team in the nation the Auburn tigers, I can firmly say that the items listed above is how business is done and should be done at UGA in order for THE BULLDOGS to compete against us at Auburn.
Sincerly
Cameron Newton
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 29th, 2010
2:51 pm
JB:
YOU GOT IT ALL FIGURED OUT, JB, ALL WE NEED TO DO IS HIRE YOU….GO SELL YOUR CRAP TO GEORGIA TECH, MAYBE THEY CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO WIN MORE THAN 1 OUT OF 10 IN THE NEXT 10 YEARS….COACH RICHT HAS FORGOTTEN MORE FOOTBALL, JB, THAN YOU COULD EVER KNOW…YOU WAY OVER YOUR HEAD IN TELLING FOOTBALL COACHES WHAT THEY NEED TO DO….PUT ON ANOTHER ORDER OF FRIES, THERE’S SOME MORE PEOPLE COMING THROUGH THE DRIVE-THROUGH…..
DawgByte
November 29th, 2010
2:52 pm
Mark -
Here is another area that needs to be addressed!
Coach Rodney Garner… see Buck’s blog for further detail.
I’ve been saying it all season long… Richt has got to look at our recruiting strategy and the continual lack of progress in our defensive line. Sure we are sending players to the NFL… a lot of them. Hmmmmm, certainly begs the question why they aren’t giving NFL type peformances in a Georgia uniform. Garner can’t be Assistan Head Coach, DL coach and Recruiting Coordinator all at the same time. It makes no sense!
The Stig
November 29th, 2010
2:55 pm
JB -
You’re right on the money with all your points.
I’ll add another one.
No the program won’t implode if we send Rodney Garner packing. I agree with DawgByte… his day has come and gone. Send him to Miami.
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 29th, 2010
2:57 pm
Lazy Dawg:
AS THEY SAY AT FURMAN, FU TOO LAZY DAWG….WE LIKE OUR MAN BOBO….30 POINTS A GAME FOR THE LAST 7 GAMES, HARD FOR EVEN BARK TO CRITICIZE THAT, ALTHOUGH HE WANTS TO….BARK WANTS US TO ESTABLISH AN IDENTITY, SO WE BETTER DO THAT SO HE WILL WRITE GOOD THINGS ABOUT US….HIS FAVORITE TEAM GEORGIA TEACH AND FAVORITE COACH PAUL JOHNSON HAS AN IDENTITY, RUN THE FOOTBALL….THIS IDENTITY WILL KEEP THEM FROM RECRUITING THE OFFENSIVE TALENT TO COMPETE NOT ONLY IN THE ACC, BUT AGAINST SEC TEAMS AS WELL….BUT HE OUTCOACHES EVERYBODY, SO I AM HAPPY FOR PAUL…..
Notso Fast
November 29th, 2010
2:58 pm
The first thing Coach R should do is look like he cares when he is on the sidelines. Nobody really cares about his hair and headphones. At least let the frustration show.
ARdawg
November 29th, 2010
2:59 pm
Bradley
You are trying to complicate a very uncomplicated scenario. The problem is that Corch(int.) Richt has lost the ability to coach at UGA. I don’t know why and apparently you do not either. All we are left with are the results at the end of the week and as now, the end of the year. One could claim all 6 of the games we lost were close games. What about a 6-6 record, where does one record they were close games? An asterisk? They could have been 6 blowouts and they would still be 6 losses and we’d still be headed for some God-forsaken bowl playing a week before Christmas.
The problem here is Mark Richt, he simply cannot coach within the surroundings of UGA. He could and did at one time but, apparently, that time has passed him by. He has everything he needs to be successful but, he fails to “Finish the Drill”.
If he goes now, we have 2 maybe 3 rebuilding years where nothing is guaranteed might turn into 5,6,7. If he stays we one at least one more guaranteed year of failures and mediocrity and then the aforementioned rebuilding process.
If he stays and turns the situation around I’ll be behind him 100%. This is the culture of “what have you done for me lately” and Richt has done nothing. He should go to Miami and let them be pleased to pay his 3 Mil a year salary. He might actually be successful there where he can’t at UGA
Dawg Tired
November 29th, 2010
3:01 pm
I’m done>>>see ya in the ACC Mark…Your a nice guy if we need a 4th for Bible Study we’ll give you a call…The GT game was a stereo typical Richt coached game… Ga gets up by 2 touchdowns then gets predictably conservative with its play calling. WHY DON”T WE HAVE A SPECIAL TEAMS EFFORT??? How come we don’t rush punts or extra points. WHY DON’T OUR D- BACKS KNOW HOW TO HIT AND WRAP? Rambo was an embarrassment against Auburn (look at the films) he didn’t want any part of anybody. Get Chris Petersen from Boise State and get him now…
Milledgeville Dawg
November 29th, 2010
3:07 pm
OK now Mark is a D-1 coach. Please go back to Louisville, KY and write again as the Home and Garden idiot. Yea,bet y’all did not know that. You are such a buffune.
75-76-DAWG
November 29th, 2010
3:08 pm
I hope that CMR wasn’t serious about no changes on his staff. We need an offensive coordinator that can stay ahead of the game, not one that regrets they didn’t do this or that during the game. Bobo has a very slow thought process and I hope that McGarity will be a good AD and not let CMR dictate anything like Evans did. When McGarity and CMR sit down and discuss this last season the most glaring thing about the 2010 season was :
1-We lost ” time of possession badly”
2- We were out coached on all of the losses. I think CMR and staff played Tech even in coaching but Johnson’s call to let Ealey score at the end was , genius and didn’t miss working by much. We need to see CMR , Grantham, and especially Bobo come up with idea’s like that when the pressure is on.
3- Adjustments need to be made more on a timely basis not at half time. If something isn’t working ,don’t stick with it and if it is working don’t change anything, the other coach may be as slow as CMR and Grantham and especially Bobo are in making adjustments.
It’s got to sink in that a football game doesn’t last two hours. Use the first hour to see what needs to be adjusted and then actually play the real game the second hour .
PALADIN DEATH DEALER
November 29th, 2010
3:13 pm
oakisland:
TELL US YOUR SCHEME, BIG BOY!!! YOU DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL AND LESS ABOUT SCHEMES….ALL YOU KNOW IS WHAT MOST STUPID GEORGIA FANS KNOW IS WHEN THEY SCORE, THEY MUST HAVE CALLED THE RIGHT PLAY….SOME GEORGIA FANS WHO KNOW A LITTLE FOOTBALL REALIZE THAT UNTIL WE GET ANOTHER BIG TIME RUNNING BACK, THE OFFENSE WILL HAVE A HARD TIME RUNNING THE BALL….YOU ARE SO TYPICAL OF THE GEORGIA FANS WHO HERE SOMETHING, DON’T HAVE THE WISDOM TO DETERMINE IF IT IS TRUE, AND JUST START REPEATING IT…..THEY STARTED TODAY ON THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH…..THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH IS DOING, AND THAT THIS YEAR’S GROUP IS AS STRONG AS ANY WE EVER HAD AT GEORGIA ON BENCH, POWER CLEANS, AND SQUATS….MORE GUYS POWER CLEANING OVER 300 POUNDS THAN EVER BEFORE….BUT BECAUSE SOME IDIOT SAID SOMETHING DEROGATORY ABOUT THE S&C PROGRAM, ANOTHER 20 CHIME IN WHO DON’T KNOW JACKSCHITT ABOUT STENGTH AND CONDITIONING…..SUCH IS THE STUPID FAN BASE THAT A COACH AT UGA HAS TO PUT UP WITH…..
Billyboy
November 29th, 2010
3:14 pm
The game against Tech was a disgrace. The bees beat up on the Dawgs on offense and the Dawgs were lucky to get the turnovers. Tech can barely beat Duke and the Dawgs did no better. The only solution is for UGA to join the ACC and have a chance every now and then to win the ACC Championship.
Rick S
November 29th, 2010
3:15 pm
I have friends who are Tennessee, Florida, & Auburn supporters and everyone of them tell me Georgia needs to keep Mark Richt, not because of his great coaching ability but knowing that a Georgia team with Mark Richt as Head Coach is not a threat to their respective programs. What does this say about what the right thing to do for Georgia is? It’s very obvious! Georgia’s Football program has lost not only national but regional respect- There are times difficult decisions have to be made and now is the time for UGA!