The All-UGA Heat Check: Hot – Mark Richt’s seat. (Duh)
Isaiah Crowell: It wasn't all (or even mostly) his fault, folks. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)
The Monday Heat Check arrives, due to the holiday, a day later than usual. Georgia fans might wish it didn’t arrive at all. Because it’s all about the Bulldogs.
Mark Richt’s nerve: It was in place. Georgia won the toss and chose to receive. Get After Their Assets, as the famous Bulldog slogan (sort of) goes. Trouble was, the players’ nerves were jumping all over the place. There was a false start before the first snap, another false start on third down and a delay of game before the punt. Heat Index: Richt tried to be cool, but his players were uncool.
Todd Grantham’s pass defense: Kellen Moore threw 34 passes. One was intercepted. (He was pressured and threw poorly.) Five were incompletions. Twenty-eight were completed. Georgia mustered no sacks. Heat Index: If this is aggressive D at its best, Willie Martinez is Buddy Ryan.
Mike Bobo’s offense: It managed 373 yards, which doesn’t sound so bad. But 167 of those yards came on three plays. (All resulting in touchdowns.) Georgia ran 60 plays and netted 13 first downs. It converted two of 13 third downs. Only one possession spanned more than seven plays, and it ended when Richt chose to go for it on fourth-and-one and Richard Samuel was halted in the backfield. Heat Index: A damp squib.
Isaiah Crowell: He rushed for 60 yards, which is only 24 fewer than Herschel Walker managed in his collegiate debut. But Herschel scored two touchdowns and trampled Bill Bates. Not really a fair comparison, I know — but so much hope has been invested in this latest New Herschel. Heat Index: By normal standards, Crowell’s first game was warm enough.
Aaron Murray: If you want to call it the worst game this gifted quarterback has played as a Bulldog, I wouldn’t argue. He wasn’t terrible; he just wasn’t very good. Heat Index: What’s the opposite of balmy? Tepid?
Alec Ogletree: He figured to be Georgia’s best defender this season. He broke his foot in the first half. He’s out at least a month. Heat Index: That cold chill? It’s traversing the spinal column of the aforementioned Mr. Grantham.
Georgia fans: They came to praise their team. Many left early. Some booed as they departed. Heat Index: A few of these folks seemed hot under their dog collars, if you’ll pardon the expression.
Mark Richt’s seat: He’s not going to be fired on Sunday if Georgia loses to South Carolina on Saturday. But losing to South Carolina could well convince Bulldog Nation that there will never again be great days under this coach, and once that happens there’s almost no going back. Heat Index: No warmer than a blast furnace.
By Mark Bradley
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720 comments Add your comment
alpha male
September 6th, 2011
2:03 pm
if your new coach isn’t a run-first, smashmouth coach like Saban or Miles, you might as well keep what you got…and enough about beating up on tech; you are supposed to beat tech…start working on Florida, then you can run your mouths…
Dumbest Dawg Comment Ever?
September 6th, 2011
2:04 pm
All worthy candidates GT, but let’s not start the search just yet. Jed seems to think the possibility exists that CMR may very well be the second coming of Bear Bryant. Get him a houndstooth hat and just wait for the greatness to descend.
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:05 pm
Gamecocks et al: if we run the I then we might give you a run for your money because your secondary is still suspect. But if we run that spread carp then all bets are off and The Evil Genious might hang 75 on us before 4th qtr.
GT
September 6th, 2011
2:05 pm
The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is available.
USC GAMEC0CK
September 6th, 2011
2:05 pm
I for one do not want Uga to change coaches. You should give Richt a change to right the ship. He is 4-2 vs SOS. Well make that 4-3 vs SOS after Saturday so he does deserve a change and it will give SOS a chance to get the record to 4-4 over the last 8 years.
alpha male
September 6th, 2011
2:05 pm
ask Colorado about ex-Boise coaches…oh wait, even he beat CMR!!!!!
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:06 pm
USC depends on the way we play Saturday as to whether or not he gets the additional grace period.
New Coach?
September 6th, 2011
2:06 pm
I mean the old U would hit the gas from start to finish and teams where intimidated by them…or the old Erk Russell UGA days when teams would fear the Junkyard defense…now I feel that teams just think its going to be a “challenging” game
alpha male
September 6th, 2011
2:07 pm
Jed, that was a pretty rediculous post…hope you were kidding!!!
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:07 pm
but if we run the I formation I’ll give us a chance because your secondary is still suspect
Gatormeat
September 6th, 2011
2:07 pm
SEC East standings
1. Florida 1-0
2. Kentucky 1-0
3. S Carolina 1-0
4. Tennessee 1-0
5. Vandy 1-0
6. georgia 0-1
By the end of the season you may jump one place, but that is about it. See you in Jacksonville, what a long, long day that is going to be for the dogs!
USC GAMEC0CK
September 6th, 2011
2:07 pm
Cant wait for Saturday.
GT
September 6th, 2011
2:07 pm
He won’t quite make this season…but next season, CMR would have enough time on his hands to replace Randy as a judge on American Idol. Would be for some nail-biting entertainment with the life of the party attitude Richt has.
Bear Bryant
September 6th, 2011
2:08 pm
That Helen Hunt-looking bastid is nothing like me! I ate girlymen like him for breakfast!
New Coach?
September 6th, 2011
2:09 pm
I think we’re still 1 game away from seriously looking at coach resumes…pull off a win over THE VISOR and we’re good, lose and I fear we add another to GAs unemployment rate
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:12 pm
Let’s see: spread offense= didn’t work, zone defense= didn’t work. I-formation worked well and toss sweeps worked pretty well. We know what rational folks would try but let’s see what Bobo calls Saturday about 5PM
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:13 pm
I don’t want this season to turn into the ones back in the 90’s when the mantra was “We might lose the game, but we will damn sure win the party!”
Joey
September 6th, 2011
2:13 pm
The Gators may have a long, long October . . .
The Bear
September 6th, 2011
2:16 pm
damn sure never got a spray tan!
BullDogBull
September 6th, 2011
2:18 pm
Well, let’s not be so harsh on Richt. Sometimes things just happen like getting older and when women go through menopause. Personally, I think something like that has happened to Richt. If he chose those uniforms, UGA should release him so he can go to design school. Losing is one thing, but there is no accounting for bad taste. LOL
Elvis the donut king
September 6th, 2011
2:19 pm
A few names leap to mind when MR gets paid to go. John Gruden, Bill Cowher, even Dan Reeves, Get someone older, wiser, a proven winner who is not afraid to show emotion on the field and off. Someone who can command respect. Sorry folks, Richt is a nice guy but he has lost his team, anyone who thinks otherwise is living in a fantasy world. There is NO excuse for playing as poorly as we did Saturday except for poor coaching and play calling. How long is the Bulldog nation going to continue to make excuses for this guy?
Gatormeat
September 6th, 2011
2:26 pm
We all know our old friend Spurrier is going to bring Carolinas best to athens and pound the dogs, bringing them to 0-2. I also believe this may the year georgia gets swept by the Mississippi schools, combined with losses to Tennessee, Auburn, and an epic blowout at the hands of the Mighty Gators, and it is easy to see the dogs going 4-8. That is only if they can beat Tech, which may not happen either. Man, I hope you dogs keep richt and bobo for at least another decade, we are loving it down here in Florida.
USC GAMEC0CK
September 6th, 2011
2:26 pm
Sandman, I am not going to defend Richt but no matter how things go Saturday, he will be coaching till the end of the season. Unless USC just runs wild and hangs 50 plus on the dogs. All bets are off if that happens.
Funny thing I remember on these blogs last year over 75 percent were defending Richt and even before this season it was about 75 percent defending Richt but after one loss it seems about 5 percent are defending him and everyone else smells blood in the water. I guess a lot of georgia fans are of the fair weather variety.
Lance
September 6th, 2011
2:27 pm
I sat in front of a bigtime BSU booster that flew in on his private plan. At the very beginning of the game he reminded me that none of the BSU starting offensive or defensive players were 3, 4 or 5 star recruits including Moore. what he did say that was totally compelling was that their coach is worth 14 points by himself in every game. They may lose every now and again but he has never been out coached. This guy was 100% correct. We have better players, better facilities, better traditions (far better co-eds – wow did you see the BSU Gals- ugly) but our coaches could not carry thier clip-boards. I just hate it when the opposing team fans are right.
ed
September 6th, 2011
2:28 pm
When Boise players made a good play they jumped up and ran back to the team. When UGA players made a good play they jumped up and down and beat themselves in the chest. We need players with character!
The recruiting situation is just as bad as the coaching.
GT Dude
September 6th, 2011
2:28 pm
I think a lot of USC (east) fans are counting their chicks before they are hatched…
Hope the Cocks prevail, but there is a lot of potification on the death of Richt’s coaching career after only one game,
Give me a break, after Saturday UGA’s schedule is one of the easiest in the SEC
Junior Samples
September 6th, 2011
2:28 pm
the only sure win on the docket is against paul”fish fry” johnson and the urine colored jackets
alpha male
September 6th, 2011
2:33 pm
exactly ed…why is Garner getting a pass; he brings these guys in, recommends them to cmr…5 star talent, no star character…
USC GAMEC0CK
September 6th, 2011
2:34 pm
Oh sure you sat next to a BSU dude who flew in on a private jet. suurrre you did.
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:35 pm
When we hired Garner we knew that ahead of time. But it was supposedly to help keep the talent from going to UT wasn’t it? I am really asking.
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:36 pm
USC I know folks who fly around on their jet. Nicest people you ever want to meet and act like they haven’t got two pennies to rub together. So what is the point?
USC GAMEC0CK
September 6th, 2011
2:38 pm
Georgia dude makes a play or scores, they act like a juvenile clown.
USC football player makes a play they jump up with their team mates or when they score, they toss the football to the referee and head to sideline.
Just watch how these players handle themselves and you will get a good indication of how they are coached.
USC GAMEC0CK
September 6th, 2011
2:40 pm
Me thinks you got my point, sandman.
bamaguy
September 6th, 2011
2:42 pm
Coach Bryant would not let his players do “end zone celebrations” long before the NCAA outlawed it. His quote was “Don’t act like it is going to be your only time, act like you expect to be back soon.”
ed
September 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
I agree USC GAMECOCK. You know, how a player “acts” on the field is a very telling sign of how they are coached. UGA has some big, big issues with player attitude and character. Never thought it would happen with MR–But it has!
coach13
September 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
smokedawg- Peterson is already the HC of a top 5 team. They play/and win their 1 big game a year and roll through their schedule. Now, the catch is that given that schedule they have to finish undefeated to play for the MNC whereas they can at least lose 1 at a BCS school and still get in (or 2 if you are super lucky like Miles).
It’s not an easy decision for him. It’s a senior laden team and he has to go undefeated every year to have a shot.
Are their any other major programs possibly looking to hire a coach? I can’t think of any. There shouldn’t be a lot of competition this off-season if McGarity were to decide to make a change.
Heff
September 6th, 2011
2:44 pm
Great statistical, objective, and factual article on CMR’s numbers:
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/should-richts-backside-really-be-on-fire/
Hot Dawg
September 6th, 2011
2:46 pm
USC GAMEC0CK, so you’re saying that UGA players celebrate after a score differently than SC players? Whatever dude…..they all celebrate the same way. They’re kids for god’s sake. What’s the point of even bringing that up? Maybe all that Hootie & the Blowfish is frying your brain.
The Bear
September 6th, 2011
2:46 pm
I never let no sorry excuse of a kickoff returner taunt the opposing coach on the old twitter either, whatever that is.
sandman053
September 6th, 2011
2:49 pm
Yeah I read that article by coaching by the numbers or whatever, but one thing is they stated Bobo wasn’t that bad….hello? They intimated that the PPG was up. Yeah it was up. We hung 50-something on Idaho State. Over 31 on a weak Florida team and blew out UT. Our offense looked real good last year except Col., MSU, SC, and the rest of the schedule worked out well scoring wise. So that is an artificially inflated stat.
Sasquatch
September 6th, 2011
2:51 pm
After I beat some white boys playing tricks with my Jacks Jerky, I’m going to hibernate until next fall. Maybe UGA will have a new coach and new won/loss results ?
What would Bobby Dodd do?
September 6th, 2011
2:52 pm
I can think of 3.5 million reason why Coach Richt should be fired.
JB
September 6th, 2011
2:52 pm
I read the USC fans on here busting our chops. rightly so. BUT, something they don’t have, and won’t this year….A SEC Championship trophy. LSU or Bama will see to that.
Boca Raton Bulldog
September 6th, 2011
2:52 pm
Mark Richt is a very nice guy. Very nice. But, I think that Mr. McGarity himself knows that it is time for a change. We had some good times under Mark. But, the time has probably come. Mark is certainly young enough to start on another career…perhaps in broadcasting like other coaches have done…or working for some company like Nike…calling on his old contacts. Let’s not let is get nasty, OK? Mark Richt has served the University of Georgia (my alma mater twice) well. It is simply a time for a change. Heck, the longest that a President of the USA can serve is eight years (unless he or she takes over for an unexpired term). I like Mark Richt, but I love the University too. It is time for a change.
smokedawg2011
September 6th, 2011
2:52 pm
coach13, I am speculating here, but if Boise goes undefeated and gets looked over, Petersen has to consider moving on with pending conference re-alignment and Moore leaving. His stock will never be higher.
It is possible that some coaches out there are not ambitious for big-time recognition and $2.5 million a year. Petersen could be one of those guys and is happy in Idaho. I dunno. I’m just saying that if UGA came after him and he said no, he isn’t going anywhere. If they get overlooked this year for the MNC and we have the birth of the super-conferences, Boise will never make the big game until the playoffs are introduced. Even then, he may never have another run with a team as good as the one he has is now.
Alphare
September 6th, 2011
2:54 pm
anybody selling his UGA-SC tickets?
Delbert D.
September 6th, 2011
2:56 pm
Those who are posting that Georgia is still ranked are incorrect. The AP and the coaches dropped Georgia from the Top 25 this week.
Cool Whipper
September 6th, 2011
2:56 pm
I bet Jay Rome,Isiah Crowell,and Malcolm Mitchell don’t know how to handle this losing. They were winners in high school. Now Richt makes them losers…
Hot Dawg
September 6th, 2011
2:57 pm
USC Gamec*ck, would it be safe to say that your QB coach handles himself well my urinating on main street in Greenville? That’s my definition of a “juvenile clown”. My other definition of a “juvenile clown” is a QB that has been suspended 5 times. Just sayin…
Cool Whipper
September 6th, 2011
2:59 pm
Why does SC qb get to stay on team but UGA cut Mettenberger ? Just spouting….