Youth movement on defense? And the team as a train?
Hope you saw my stories posted Tuesday on Joe Cox’s crazy month, Richard Samuel’s fumbles putting his starting job in jeopardy and the UGA Athletic Board planning to take up the issue of Georgia-Florida at a meeting on Wednesday.
A few more things at this late hour from a busy day in Athens:
– Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said after practice Tuesday that some of his younger players could get increased playing time in the secondary. “We’re going to get some other guys some more opportunities,” Martinez said. “We’ve got some young players we’re trying to get in there.” He specifically mentioned redshirt freshmen safeties Bacarri Rambo and Sanders Commings. Martinez said some of Commings’ playing time might come at cornerback. Martinez also did not rule out increased time for true freshman cornerback Branden Smith, although he was notably burned on a long touchdown pass by Arkansas last week. “It’s not something you want to see, what happened to him in the game Saturday,” Martinez said. But he added that Smith is working hard, “and he gets better each day, each week. So I’m excited about him.”
– Martinez said linebackers Darius Dewberry and Akeem Dent, both of whom missed the Arkansas game with hamstring injuries, remain questionable for this week’s game. Given those injuries, Marcus Dowtin is listed No. 1 on this week’s depth chart at middle linebacker, with Darryl Gamble No. 1 at strongside linebacker.
– Mark Richt, meanwhile, said it’s “possible” cornerback Vance Cuff will be able to play Saturday after suffering a sprained MCL in his right knee last week. The injury looked worse at the time, but “we’re more hopeful than not” that Cuff could play against Arizona State, Richt said.
– If you missed it, there was some significant injury news on the Arizona State side Tuesday: Thomas Weber, the Sun Devils’ exceptional placekicker, will miss Saturday’s game with a groin injury. He’ll be replaced by either a true freshman or a veteran linebacker.
– While not disagreeing that there’s plenty of room for improvement on defense in both pass rush and pass coverage, Richt continues to cite turnovers and penalties as the Bulldogs’ biggest problems. This is how he put it at Tuesday’s news conference: “I always make the analogy of the team being a train. You want to get that train on the track, and you want to get it rolling down the track and gain energy and momentum as you go. . . . Now we are getting it rolling pretty good [with back-to-back wins], but I think we’ll roll a whole lot faster if we don’t have the two anchors out the back of the caboose that are stuck in the ground dragging behind us. And [those anchors are] our turnover ratio, [which] is very poor, and penalties, [which] have cropped up on us. If we can just cut those anchors loose, I think we will fly even better. And if we just improve in those two areas, I think everything will improve.”
– While Georgia’s interior defensive line has been stout against the run, it has not been effective in putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Richt: ”One area where I thought we might be putting a little more pressure on the quarterback, but really haven’t up to this point on a consistent basis, is right up the middle. We need to get more from the inside push.”
– And finally, here’s Tavarres King, talking Tuesday about A.J. Green: “That’s Superman right there. He really is. Nothing he does surprises me.”
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
79 comments Add your comment
jecorey
September 23rd, 2009
1:12 am
First all the way from Cali.
A true Dawg fans knows that we will be OK. The D will settle down or WM will get fired, as simple as that. The O will continue to score points because BOBO is being looked at by other schools and he needs proof that he can put points on the board. Calm down True Dawg fans.
GODAWGS
September 23rd, 2009
1:30 am
Does any one ever point out the obvious missed assignments to CMR when he blames all the opponents scores on the turnovers?
dekalbdawg
September 23rd, 2009
1:50 am
I like CMR he is a Good coach and A Good Man! He is a Helluva Recruiter and we are Stocked with a lot of talent! But I dont understand why he doesnt see the most obvious problem with the team! We dont have a DC! He is Medicore at best! he doesnt get the Best out of any of our Recruits! Our defense should NEVER be ranked 97th in the Country! Our OC is decent but very inconsistant from game to game! He gives up on the run to easy! Listen CMR if you ever want to be in the National Championship Race you must FIRE CWM and hire Someone who can get the best out of our Nationaly Ranked Recruiting Classes.
BleedRedandBlack
September 23rd, 2009
2:04 am
Got on Mark’s blog too late so will comment here.
Most of you WM defenders just don’t want him fired midseason. Relax, it’s not going to happen! Even some of you realize it should happen after the season. The only way there is a change before the season end is if he did the right thing and stepped down.
I am sure WM is a fine man and has a fine family that CMR feels a certain responsibility towards. There are many other jobs within the athletic department where he could be placed and continue to help us with recruiting. Most of us would welcome it.
Fans on here are extremely frustrated that our voices have not been heard before. Many of you make excuses and refuse to see the light. Last year it was injuries, and this and that…blah, blah, blah. The trend over several years that we have been screaming about and that Mark Bradley points out much more accurately and succinctly cannot be denied. You can try to detract from the way we state our case or the way we type, but the fact remains the trend does not lie.
I am not advocating he be fired mid-season, but…I did advocate he be relocated LAST offseason, not the coming one. That is what is so frustrating.
As for you bloggers who continue to point out the turnovers and the field position we put the defense in, well that’s football. IF our defense created some takeovers, then maybe they would be off the field and take a breather. Your excuse doesn’t hold water; other defenses can create takeovers…or is there some other cause.
Another blogger accurately pointed out that many of the defensive players before WM were recruited for offense and converted. Erk made a career of turning the offense’s rejects into defensive stars. You will remember earlier in CMR’s tenure he kept downplaying individual honors by saying that if the team won, individual honors would come. Guess what? He is right! That is why we have no preseason awards.
We deserve an Elite DC, one that has proven himself. All that matters is that he can coach defense out of his mind, within the rules, and represent the University well or be smart enough to keep his mouth shut. The potential of this team is severely limited by its present play on defense. When DBs are not even in the wide angle picture when a QB has completed a pass all the way across the field on 4-6 plays in a single quarter, how can you defend it?
Excellent and courageous article by Mark.
Oh, and BTW, I do bleed red and black and do not want to see us lose so it will make my case correct as some on here suggest.
Joe
September 23rd, 2009
5:55 am
I would submit that Fabris needs to hit the road as well. His DE recruiting has been deficient, and that is a big reason for the defense’s current ineptitude.
His staunch resistance to kicking the ball into the endzone is another huge problem.
Billy Ellison
September 23rd, 2009
6:17 am
“Train Wreck” would be more appropriate!
benadawg
September 23rd, 2009
6:51 am
As CMR has brought up again, he believes that our defense is SEC Championship calibur if not for turnovers, Have you ever tried to convince your boss he is wrong, most of the time its not gonna happen, as in his case, i am of the belief we are misjudging some players, but If Alabama had Mark Ingram leave early they had Richardson, who is very good, we have our hopes pinned on a linebacker turned running back who probably would shore up our defense were he on that side of the ball…..i was excited as you were on that 80 yd run, but wth is caleb king, he was our next great running back, has he no heart? are we babying him too much…..i hope not…..a championship team has depth at every position, do we? i think so…go dogs
Sautee Dawg
September 23rd, 2009
7:01 am
Joe, your assesment of coach Fabris is the same as mine. He’s also responsible for the missed assignments on kickoff coverage. Saw him and Coach Willie Martinez get into a face to face argument last year at the GA/Fla. game, don’t know if CBS showed it or not but they were obviously arguing with each other. Best i remember it was after a punt return by FLA.
These 2 need to get on the same page together and create stronger defense with the talent we have. Not suggesting either should be fired but held accountable instead of blaming it on something that it’s not.
ceph
September 23rd, 2009
7:20 am
why is everyone analyzing the defense to death,no pass rush, no turnovers, yada,yada,yada. There is a different scenario every week. There is only one thing wrong with the defense and that is the defensive coaches, period!!!! UGA has great athletes (i.e. check out how many go to the NFL). Martinez said in the spring that he didn’t check out other teams schemes because there was nothing wrong with his schemes. Sooooo, if there is nothing wrong with his schemes there must be something wrong with the teacher, right? Unfortunately I don’t think anything is going to change because when Martinez leaves Georgia it will only be when he and Richt leave together in the same suitcase unfortunately!
Dawg4Life
September 23rd, 2009
7:31 am
Can we stop beating the WM and Coach Fabris horse? We all know that WM needs to step up or step out, and we need to stop directional kicking. Enough already. Let’s talk about something positive, like AJ Green. I may being a gianormous homer on this one, but when is this guy going to start getting some Heisman talk? 95% of his catches have been circus grab. He is averaging 92 yds per game at 16 yds per reception. I am not saying that he deserves to win, just be in the discussion. Especially this year when the award seems to be up in the air.
hamburger lipps
September 23rd, 2009
8:00 am
CMR its a train wreck until you replace Willie. Its a shame that this will overshadow players like AJ Green because of friendship.
PTC DAWG
September 23rd, 2009
8:07 am
We’re giving up TOO many yards and points…I don’t claim to be a Defensive Coordinator, but we have Coaches who do. FIX IT!!
roylee13
September 23rd, 2009
8:10 am
Enter your comments here
The defense has huge problems, no doubt about it. But does being a GA fan these days mean ONLY pointing out the negatives. There were some very positive things in the ARK game. Joe Cox showed that he IS an SEC QB and C. King ran the ball well for the first time. Some of y’all need to stop blogging so much and just try, FOR ONCE to enjoy being a GA fan. Some of y’all get as much pleasure out of a loss as you do from a win because it allows you to go negative. Hell, you can’t even enjoy a good win like ARK. The D is going to get better but they are probably going to struggle all year. Every game this year is going to be a struggle. So get used to it and try to enjoy football season. We all waited all summer for this. We are NEVER going to dominate the SEC year in and year out like some of you think we should be doing.
UGASlobberknocker
September 23rd, 2009
8:15 am
Richt is no dummy. He sees the defensive [problems just as much as we do..he just isnt going to publicly throw Willie under the bus. I predict that if things dont improve, a change will be made at the end of the year. Nothing will happen until then, so we may as well quit bitchin.
Topp Dogg
September 23rd, 2009
8:30 am
Alumni freeze all donations and changes will be made you can bet on it.
dap01
September 23rd, 2009
8:36 am
Kick the ball into the endzone. The 25 yard line is better than the 40. CMR, quit trying to explain stuff to us. Make changes and create results!
UGASeven
September 23rd, 2009
8:46 am
If you bunch of Sunday morning coaches, coordinators and quarterbacks know so freaking much, PUT UP OR SHUT UP!
I am a lifelong dawg fan, and fans like you make me sick!
Quit your day job, go become the coach at XXXXXXXXXX and get UGA, Mark Richt and Willie Martinez on the field and prove it, I DARE YOU! You bunch of gutless POS!
I’m sure every single one of you is far more competent at running a Div 1 Football program than Mark Richt, that’s why you’re sitting behind a desk, or a steering wheel, or mop bucket, or phone bank, for a paycheck.
Why don’t you take Belue’s advice and STFU! For any of you retards to suggest that CMR doesn’t know what he doing or that he’s protecting a friend, is just downright stupid.
Duhhhh; let me see, jeopardize my future and my lively hood, and my public image, yea, lets to that! I want to be out of a job and look like an idiot!
Fans like you don’t deserve a championship caliber team! Or Mark Richt. Some day Chan Gaily will be at UGA; It’ll be karma, and you bunch of losers will deserve it!
Do you have any idea what the South Carolina faithful would do to trade for UGA’s success?
Hey here’s a good suggestion, Delta is ready when you are, get the hell outa Georgia!
GO DAWGS!
diesel
September 23rd, 2009
9:09 am
amen uga seven,
couldnt have put it better myself, as a life long dawg fan, i love that cmr wont throw anyone under the bus.. but for all of you who think he doesnt know whats going on your crazy.. Just remember “theres a time and a place for everything” and the middle of the season is not the time to talk about firing a coach…
robodawg
September 23rd, 2009
9:13 am
I don’t think I realized we were thin at linebacker last week, and probably this week as well. What’s happening with Marcus Washington? He was a beast at LB before missing last year. I definitely thought he would be an impact player when he returned. Last I heard he’d moved to DE and back to LB, but I guess he’s not starting. Tim, any updates on him?
Tim Tucker
September 23rd, 2009
9:46 am
robodawg: CMR said last week that Marcus Washington was working at both DE and LB. He’s listed on this week’s depth chart at DE.
Richie
September 23rd, 2009
9:48 am
Hey fellows lightin up.We are winning.Play all the young players.Enter your comments here
Georgia
September 23rd, 2009
9:51 am
everyone should relax and let the season play out. By the end of the year South Carolina and Arkansas might be better than people gave them credit for in the preseason. Georgia has young talent at corner and they have missed some assignments. The offenses we have played have made some great catches also. The turnovers are a huge factor obviously as well as the penalties. Richt is right about that. It changes the game and your defense is back on the field, momentum, everything changes. That being said I think Sanders Commings needs to be on the field at the other safety spot. He is much more athletic and plays the ball better than Bryan Evans who needs to be on the field only in dime coverage situations or nickel. The best athletes are Commings, Jones, boykin, smith, and Rambo. Evans is the weak link just like last year and all the teams know it. The next two games will tell us all a lot more about the season’s real chances.
Jack Bull
September 23rd, 2009
10:01 am
well said uga seven!!!! all these people calling for CWM’s head are doing nothing but hurting the program…do you people not think that potential recruits are reading this stuff?? WE ALL KNOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES…even CMR knows.. but lets just calm down, especially while we’re winning some games, and lets see what happens.. if we were 0-3, THEN and ONLY THEN, should we be making such a huge fuss!!!! when we win the SEC this year, i expect sincere apologies from folks like, mark bradley, PTC Dawg, hamburger lipps, and many many more…i know that the glass must be half empty with most of y’all people, maybe you should go about it being half full sometimes….
GO DAWGS… UGA-41 ASU-17
honest_abe
September 23rd, 2009
10:17 am
stop all the bashing and lets go kick some asu tail!
gt
September 23rd, 2009
10:20 am
WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME OF YOU? AS MANY HAE SAID IN THIS BLOG, WAIT TIL THE END OF THE YEAR. RICHT CANNOT FIRE M NOW, AND HE CANNOT SAY “I GOOFED -M IS BAD.HE REALLY COULD NOT FIRE HIM LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE INJURIES. JECOREY- THE FIRST BLOG- IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.
AND LET US HOPE THE NCAA CHOOSES ADAMS, WHILE WE ARE TAKING ABOUT GETTING RID OF PEOPLE. NOT BECAUSE OF HIS TAILGATE REMARKS- HE IS RIGHT ABOUT THAT- DO NOT TRASH MY UNIVERSITY. BUT BECAUSE OF BASKETBALL, AND THE ACADEMICS AND BECAUSE OF THE OTHER THINGS KING MKIE HAS DONE.
YellowandBlackAttack
September 23rd, 2009
10:32 am
Well, look at the bright side Dawg fans….at least your offense is working. Against Miami we had NOTHING working. Anyway, I think your offense seems to be able to keep you in any game at the moment. A.J. Green is certainly the real deal. However, I’m not sure you can keep up this Texas Tech let’s-just-outscore-everyone thing when you start facing some tougher teams on your schedule….With LSU in a couple weeks and NC and VT looming for us, I think both programs will get a feel for where this season is heading soon. One thing I observed that should make Dawg fans feel a little better….Florida sure didn’t look like the juggernaut they’ve been made out to be this past weekend against UT. (Caution, here comes my love for the ACC) I’d venture to say right now that the best team in the state of Florida is….Miami.
McDonger
September 23rd, 2009
10:35 am
UGASeven is an idiot. An absolute kool-aid drinking WM apologist. Willie Martinez is the worst defensive coordinator I can remember at UGA in the past 30 years. In the last seven games, his defense has given up 41, 38, 49, 38, 45, 24, 37,and 41 points. That’s 37 points or more in six of the last seven games. Van Gorder’s defenses gave up over 30 points JUST ONCE IN 42 GAMES. Is our talent level on defense just that much worse than it was when Van Gorder was here? No, it isn’t. It’s evident to anyone with half a brain that coaching is the issue, and that goes all the way up to the top (WM, and ultimately CMR). I’m not advocating that UGA get rid of Richt. He is obviously one of the best coaches in football, and I wouldn’t trade him for anyone other than Urban Meyer or Nicky Saban (as much as it pains me to say that). It is clear, though, that with Martinez as our DC, we are not going to compete for an SEC championship again.
senoiadawgs
September 23rd, 2009
10:36 am
Georgia Tech coaches can make huge changes on D. UGA coaches blame the offense and special teams. WOW!!!!!
Sideline Observer
September 23rd, 2009
10:39 am
As several have noted above, I think UGA’s biggest problem is in its defensive lineups and schemes (results of poor coaching) AND with our receiver’s coach. Last week the UGA receiver’s finally played a decent game. But year after year we sign top ranked receivers and it seems like they never improve a whole lot. I think these two are the weakest areas on the UGA staff. CMR needs to wake up and realize his best friend (Willie M) may not be the good coach he thinks he is. I mean, my gosh, why can’t we put pressure on passers? Why are our db’s constantly being beat down field? We sign top athletes every year. Come on CMR. Quit blaming the players. I know you (CMR) won’t read this but I sure hope somebody close to you will. If we could only find another IRK!
knoxdawg
September 23rd, 2009
10:42 am
Do you people really think that Martinez coaches the players to play the way they do at times? I doubt it seriously. He knows what he is doing, he knows schemes, he coaches them correctly, the players just make mistakes at times. It has to be very frustrating to him and all the defensive coaches to watch the players make mistakes when they know better. Youth in our secondary coupled w/ NO pash rush is what is the issue. The secondary is getting better everyday/game. We must get a push up the middle along w/ pressure off the end to disrupt the oppositions passing game. It will come. Turnovers and penalties have killed us. We have a team stopped but get a penalty. Gives them new life, saps life out of us. We put the defense in a tough situation w/ a turnover. More momentum for our opponent. Start supporting the DAWGS instead of complaining. Three games thus far, 2-1 is not bad especially when you consider 2 of 3 games on the road. Sick QB for opener and in a hostile environment against a team that had looked forward to the game for all off season. Could we have won, YES. Should we have won, YES. Did we play well, NO. You will not beat a good team making turnovers and commtting penalties. Both are correctable.
There is alot more football to be played and alot of great games coming up starting this Saturday. I don’t get to go to the games as my financial situation won’t allow it. To those of you that do go, give the team the support it needs and make it tough on the visitor to play there. SC game was loud and you could hear it on the TV. I am sure Arizona State will be the same way. Support your DAWGS, stop the whining or go support another team.
PMC
September 23rd, 2009
10:44 am
Richt is right. The most pressing issue is simply playing clean football.
They need to eliminate turnovers and all mental penalties. If they play clean football changes they make to combat the non existant pass rush and the outright terrible safety coverage will be more effective.
AVikingFan
September 23rd, 2009
10:49 am
Yeah yeah I know I’m a high school fan, but I follow UGA also and have been a life long UGA fan. I saw where GaTech has changed their defensive alignment. Maybe Willie M. should consider changing UGA’s to a 7-5-8 alignment that hopefully will put enough players in the right places at the right times, something that Willie M. seems incapable of doing otherwise.
sr citizen dawg
September 23rd, 2009
10:49 am
It seems we continue to practice and play defense on a trial and error basis. It stands to reason that all player issues and schemes would be resolved and set in stone prior to the beginning of the season and practices thereafter serve to fine-tune them. Based on media reports we have the personnel to do the job (even with the injuries). Why isn’t it happening? I don’t advocate throwing anybody under the bus but merely think a re-examination of the defensive scheme is in order.
MyView
September 23rd, 2009
10:50 am
Last night I decided that I am going to give WM. a break and let the season play out. I think offensively we will continue to score a lot of points, even when we play the better SEC teams. If we stop turning the ball over, we will win some games 42-21, so I will shut my mouth about the Dawgs D for the rest of this season.
Unless we score 40 in a loss again!!!!
dawgfacedboy
September 23rd, 2009
11:16 am
Defense can’t get any worse. Might as well let some younger players get some valuable experience.
YoungDawg
September 23rd, 2009
11:19 am
AJ is Superman & a freakish athlete…so many other guys have been called “Freak”…so let’s call him…wait for it…Super Freak!
I read SI’s NFL preview on the NFL which had an article on how there’s group of freakish athletic WR’s that are changing the & there’s more in the pipeline. I just smiled because we have one right now in AJ! He made some catches in the SC game that I had to look at the reply just to believe them. On TV there even more impressive!
So what will the Super Freak do this week?!?
mark
September 23rd, 2009
11:23 am
For some of you who don’t get it, let me explain. As a coach, you are hired to produce results on the field. If you are not producing the desired results you lose your job. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have the athletes, they don’t listen, turnovers, blah, blah blah. These excuses only work for a limited time. After a while it doesn’t matter, you aren’t producing for whatever the reason may be, you’re done. How long will they give him???
dawgfacedboy
September 23rd, 2009
11:28 am
PMC- I have to agree. How does playing cleaner football help to develop a pass rush and put our secondary in the right places to make plays??? I usually try and give the coaches the benefit of the doubt but I’m just not seeing any improvement.
dawgfacedboy
September 23rd, 2009
11:31 am
yelloandblackattack- I’m not 100% sold on Miami’s D. They looked good against ya’ll but I would like to see them a little more. They look like they can score on anybody though.
YellowandBlackAttack
September 23rd, 2009
11:41 am
“Dawgfacedboy”…..Yeah, that comment was probably a little premature. It could be that our woeful offensive performance made them look a lot better than they are…unfortunately. Now if they put a beatdown on VT this weekend…maybe there will be some merit to my comment. Their QB sure looks like he’s the real deal. And he, just like A.J. Green, is going to be around for a long time….sigh….
RxDawg
September 23rd, 2009
12:26 pm
A 7-5-8 allignment? Well Viking fan, if the refs will allow us to have 20 players on defense then I’m for it too!
reebok
September 23rd, 2009
12:45 pm
Tech fan here…I noted a comment above about UGA needing an ‘elite defensive co-ordinator…’ I admit, I am not sure what the definition of that is…but I have to say that if your defensive COACHING matched your pure defensive TALENT, I would pick the Dogs to win the SEC. As a Tech fan, Wilie Martinez gives me hope…anyway, good luck against Azzy State, avoid the injuries…I hope we can get our program on track before we see you on the Flats in November!
reebok
September 23rd, 2009
12:46 pm
7-5-8 alignment on defense…my Jackets could use that!
Gratefuldawghead
September 23rd, 2009
12:50 pm
The Train ain’t worth a Damn with Martinez as Conductor!
AltamahaDawg
September 23rd, 2009
12:57 pm
I think the 5-8-7 would have worked better against SC.
Jasperdog
September 23rd, 2009
1:21 pm
Enter your comments here
Well said Knoxdog. Not well said 7dog. The last two weeks I have seen a more junkyard like
attitude on D and our db’s were in position much of the time but being young didn’t really believe the catch was going to be made and so didn’t make the play. Certainly, they blew it completly a few times, but I see that happen in the nfl with well designed plays and good ball handling skills by the qb. I am so encouraged after a lackluster performance at oks. If the final score had been 52 -27 last
week it would look so much better and that is what it was plus the 21 we gave to them. Go Dogs!!
Wonder if...
September 23rd, 2009
2:03 pm
Does Coach Richt realize a train does not have an anchor and does not fly? So, we get specifics of what the offense and special teams need to do to improve. But, with the defense, we get a bad train analogy full of jumbled jargon. Great “team” attitude there Coach.
DamntheButcher
September 23rd, 2009
2:23 pm
It has been said over and over and I am going to say it again. If Willie Martinez was worth a damn as a DC some other school would be trying to hire him away as a coach or as a head coach at a smaller school. It aint gonna happen!!!! Shouldn’t that tell M.R. something. This guy is sorry as he*l. FIRE WILLIE MARINEZ.
DamntheButcher
September 23rd, 2009
2:27 pm
And if all you people think it is not coaching then why did Alabama’s program do a 180 when Nick Saben became coach? Did the players that M. Shula had on his team suddenly become football geniuses? IT IS COACHING. FIRE WILLIE MARTINEZ.
Whatever
September 23rd, 2009
2:46 pm
Enter your comments here
One of the anchor’s name is Martinez and the other anchor’s name is Fabris! I saw we cut the chains and let the train roll!
gt
September 23rd, 2009
2:58 pm
HOTHEADS! READ UGA SEVEN- POSTED AT 8:46 AM. HE IS RIGHT. EVEN IF MARTINEZ NEEDS TO GO, THIS IS NOT THE TIME. BEING A TRUCKER OR CLERK OR LAWYER OR ACCOUNTANT OR LITTLE LEAGUE COACH DOES NOT QUALIFY YOU TO JUDGE THE SITUATION, ESPECIALLY IN MID SEASON.
George
September 23rd, 2009
3:20 pm
UGASeven why all the anger towards your fellow Dawgs?
Nobody wants to hear your BS. WE are NOT South Carolina and shouldn’t even be mentioned in the same breath as them. Georgia fans expect SEC and National Championships and shouldnt settle for anything less. There are a lot of programs that would thank their lucky stars for our record over the last few years, but that doesnt mean we should settle for just being above average.
We are close but still not there. A new DC who knows whats hes doing, and we’ll be there.
big dawg 89
September 23rd, 2009
3:22 pm
all this talk about the last 8-9 games,whatever, look at the turnovers in those games as well,people, and you’ll see why we’ve given up so many points.. how soon we forget…and again, this kind of talk right here at the BEGINNING of the season doesn’t do any good for UGA…it only hurts the program with this kind of talk.. i’m telling ya, i’m taking names of everyone on here who are the naysayers and i plan on reminding y’all of the things you’ve said after we win the SEC this year..and no i’m not a Martinez apologist, i’m just saying this is the time to support our team more than ever..we’ll have plenty of time over the winter to make any necessary changes.. and if we don’t win the SEC, which i still think we will,i promise to come back on here and eat plenty of crow… why don’t y’all try being supportive once in your life and see what happens…our record is 2-1, not 0-3…
UGA-41 ASU-17.. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!
Danny Ford
September 23rd, 2009
3:46 pm
Georgia is the new Clemson! The team that won it all thirty years ago, but thinks they should win it all every year. Delusions of grandeur. College football has changed. You people are an embarrassment to the sport. UGA has played 25% or less of it’s games this season. Part of coaching is development throughout the season. You are judging way too soon. CWM may surprise a lot of you; if he doesn’t then he’ll probably be let go. In the meantime, you are 2-0 in the SEC. Enjoy it.
Thomas Bowden
September 23rd, 2009
3:53 pm
I agree with Danny Ford. UGA fans are starting to talk and act like they should be the best team in the country year in and year out. Give me a break. You are 2-0 in the SEC and you’d think you lost to South Carolina and Arkansas. By the way, it’s possible that those teams have players and coaches, too. Maybe even NFL-caliber coaches. And, get off your SEC high horse. You can’t say one hand that the SEC is the greatest conference blah blah blah. Then, on the other hand be surprised that you don’t dominate said conference. Get real.
AltamahaDawg
September 23rd, 2009
3:54 pm
Nobody at a small school was trying to hire the Alabama DC last year, the Bum.
Burdell
September 23rd, 2009
4:08 pm
big dawg 89 –
Well said. I like your way of thinking. The season is too short to bitch and moan about coaching, refs, play calling, etc….save that for the off-season. Well, you can bitch and moan just don’t get hung up on it, I guess.
UGA (2-1). GT (2-1). You guys are in better shape to win your division than my Jackets. And at least you weren’t embarrassed in the loss to OKST (well, maybe a bit the next week when they lost to Houston) like we were against Miami but you get my point.
Let’s enjoy the season while it’s here and support our respective teams because we all know how darn long the off-season is and it seems even longer.
Go Jackets!
WildBill
September 23rd, 2009
4:36 pm
I quote CMR, “penalties have just cropped up on us”. Wow, it sounds like things were going hunky dory and all of a sudden, WHAM, those penalties just came out of nowhere and “cropped up on us”. I guess he has temporary amnesia and forgot about the penalty record set last year by his dawgs. Might as well give him a pass since I don’t want to hold him to THAT record. Shoot, next game, fumbles might just “crop up” too. Golly Gee, I wonder what will “crop up” when the dawgs play Florida!?!
ratdawg
September 23rd, 2009
4:39 pm
Martinez would still call for zone coverage with the 5-7-8. He has our D playing the prevent which in the NFL prevents you from winning. We always have 3 defenders in the vicinity of the wide-open receiver…drives me NUTZ!
Gman 84
September 23rd, 2009
4:40 pm
Of all the CWM apologies, my favorite is, “he didn’t coach the team to play poorly.” Neither did Ray Goff, Gerry Faust, Ty Willingham, Marion Campbell (I and II), Mike Shula, Tommy West, Ron Zook, Tommy Bowden, etc……….
Gdawg
September 23rd, 2009
4:42 pm
We get it Alt, you love CWM because CMR does. We do not feel the same way.
Ralph
September 23rd, 2009
4:49 pm
UGA Seven…you are a prime example of a gutless wonder. You are the reason that the internet consists mostly of anonymous postings. Keep cleaning those garbage trucks Seven, that is what you are qualified to do. I don’t need to be a chef in order to know a good meal from a bad one.
Beano Cook
September 23rd, 2009
5:14 pm
Ralph, you are an idiot. Do you not realize that you, too, are an anonymous internet poster? At least I put my full name out there. Why the hate for UGA Seven, who is obiously a true Dawgs fan? In the immortal words of Thomas Callahan: “You can get a good look at a butcher’s *ss by sticking your head up there. But, wouldn’t you rather to take his word for it? “
AltamahaDawg
September 23rd, 2009
5:37 pm
We get it Gdawg, It’s easier to pretend you know what people think, when you put words in thier mouth.
pollywannacracka
September 23rd, 2009
5:43 pm
It’s too funny how many of you nim-com-poops always have the answer to what’s ailing a team. Hey numbnuts, if you knew better than the coaches, you’d be coaches. All this, “I don’t know why CMR can’t see the obvious” crap you guys are spewing is ignorant chatter. Firs, the coaches & players know what’s wrong & know it can be fixed w/ experience & time not by fast food workers, school teachers, cubicle sitters blogging about “their” opinions. Give your opinion, cool no problem, move on but to state the obvious & give some obvious fixes to your perceived problem, just get out of your cubicle, head to Athens & apply for a coaching assistant position. Work your way through the ranks b/c most of you are all world knowing, just a step below Allah himself (forgive me HIMSELF) & get a head coaching position in the near future & run your own team. I swear never cease to amaze me how many losers frequent these blogs. Just get back to you Maury Show & blog about whose the baby daddy.
Burdell
September 23rd, 2009
6:13 pm
Polly must be auditioning for Head Coach of the UGA Blog.
AltamahaDawg
September 23rd, 2009
6:14 pm
WildBill, I believe the majority of those penalties cropping up have been on our “best O-line in the SEC”, so maybe he was just trying not to throw the only coach he has right now that everybody doesn’t hate under the bus so the blogasphere could get thier fix today.
Once again, WHY does the man ever say anything but “got a game coming up, trying to get ready for it, thanks for your time”?
trackerdawg
September 23rd, 2009
7:30 pm
Bleedredandblack
Your post is dead on. But I dont think anything we say on here or any of our boards will help. As a matter of fact I think we have found CMR’s weakness. Trying to prove everyone is wrong about the decisions he makes about people.(wm).
Dam it up boys we're leaking
September 23rd, 2009
8:40 pm
UGASeven what is making you turn a blind eye to our defensive sitiuation. As a former player I can assure you that college coaches live and die by trends on stat sheets. I will not relieve those defensive stats here (too dadgum painful) but let it suffice to say that we have been on a downward spiral defensively since Van Gorder left. I like you wish it wasn’t true, but satistics don’t lie. Do yourself a favor and quit drinking the kool-aid. CMR needs to act now or suffer the wrath that is building. I sir am a realist and belive me at our current pace of defensive play this will be the worst defensive team as a whole for the entire history of UGA football. All I have said is public knowledge so read up and don’t ever cuss me again or I’ll give you a whopping boy.
WildBill
September 23rd, 2009
9:01 pm
I would really like to be the proverbial “fly on the wall” and hear the conversation within the confines of CMR’s office, AND his buddies offices, and to the players this week. I would like to hear how much emphasis is placed on what issues, and also see the expressions on the coaches’ faces, as well as the players’ faces.
mike on lake hartwell
September 23rd, 2009
9:10 pm
DANNY FORD YOU ARE AN IDIOT.
PLEASE DONT COMPARE UGA TO CLEMZUN.
we fire coaches for 8 – 4.
they give them raises and extensions. FACT.
we have won 2 conference championships in 7 yrs.
they have won 0 in 19 yrs. FACT.
we have beaten them the past 6 meetings. FACT.
we have finished in the top 10 of at least one poll for
7 yrs straight.
they havent achieved that once. FACT.
clemzun sucks.
we don’t. FACT.
SO PLEASE, STFU.
UGASeven
September 23rd, 2009
9:26 pm
Dam it up boys we’re leaking:
“As a former player”
You played for UGA? When? If not, for whom? Pop Warner? High school?
“I’ll give you a whopping boy.”
A whopping? that has some serious transgendered overtones.
A whopping? That seriously reeks of
Dawg Days
September 23rd, 2009
10:48 pm
Regarding CMR and the way he is responding to his teams defensive performances of late… Dont get me wrong, I love the man for all that he stands for. Christian values, integrity, honesty, and genuine care, respect and regard for all people around him. However, it is these very traits that prevent him from addressing the obvious prolems with the “D”. He isn’t critical of his players when they do not execute fuandamentals (DB’s getting burned in man or soft zone coverage)or (our stout DL’s that aren’t getting and push up from to pressure the QB, until just recently).
Instead he is ratioanlizing with the turnovers and penalities, but the problem with that is I can remember many games back in the late 70’s through the early 80’s where the Junkyard Dawgs would face the same situation and either force a fumble with a viscous hit, get a pick, or force a punt. Someone should show the current staff some old chips of what can be…
But what I find puzzling is CMR’s seemingly inconsistent stance on Samuels fumbles. He is taking a zero tolerance postion here, and threatening his starting role because of the fumbles.
The only conclusion I can make is that he is rationalizing the “D”’s poor performance to deflect the heat from his best friend “Willie”, and his DC’s lack of effective scheming.
Nick
September 23rd, 2009
11:17 pm
Did ya’ll see video of the Down’s symdrome kid in Kansas City? Good story and a class act on the part of everyone involved, but I couldn’t help wondering if Coach Willie was on the sideline that day!
And thus ends my dark, dry, sick sense of humor for today.
hotdog lipps
September 24th, 2009
12:24 am
Enter your comments here
GooseDawg
September 24th, 2009
1:32 am
You know what’s worse than the UGA D right now, Dawg fans fighting w/one another. Now that’s just SAD
Looky here yall, we are all entitled to our own opinions and that’s what you’re gonna find on blogs such as these, a whole bunch of varied opinions. If you expect to find nothing but comments that 100% align w/your own then you need not look here. No need in bashing on one another about being our own person.
I think the best viewpoints shared by the rabid Dawg fans on here are, in no particular order:
1) Our defense has been in steady decline under the watch of our current DC and OF COURSE it makes you wonder if he’s the most suited man for the job
2) Though none of us are qualified to be coaches, many of us know enough about football to see and agree about the same flaws in the current regime’s gameplanning, strategy, adjustments, playcalling, etc., etc.
3) A coaching change in early or even mid or even late season is probably NOT in the program’s best interest; the LONG offseason is a much more appropriate time
4) Bulldog Nation shouldn’t expect a SEC Title let alone a MNC every year but we dang sure expect to field a defense that ranks better than 100 other programs across the nation
5) Ain’t no TRUE Dawg Fan on here stupid enough to believe that coaches are teaching the young pups to screw up; players and coaches are humans like the rest of us and they all make mistakes, perfection will NEVER happen at UGA or any other football program
6) Speaking of LONG offseason, we’re three games into a 12, hopefully 13 game season prior to the Bowls so we all should get behind the Red & Black and support them w/all of our hearts WIN or LOSE
7) Our Dawgs are 2-1, 2-0 in the SEC, our offense looks to have the makings of a real juggernaut w/Joe Cox showing tremendous desire and leadership, a two headed monster at RB, a young stud in the making at TE, and a freak of nature at WR so there’s plenty to be fired up (IN A GOOD WAY) about
Time to Hunker Down Dawg Fans!
We’ve got a whole bunch of Sun Devils to send back to the desert w/a broken pitchfork come Sat. night!
DawgRot
September 25th, 2009
1:09 am
Get off of Coach Willie’s back (unless you’re one of those that likes that sort of thing). I say give him a raise and an extension – he makes the games exciting with his “play action defense”. Say there “GoofDawg”, you might want to be careful about suggestions as to whats going to happen with their “tridents” (not pitchforks) because it could just cause you and some others real hemmorrhoidal pain if they wind up unbroken in a dark place with no sunshine, sunshine…..LOL
Justin Bruce
September 27th, 2009
10:16 pm
I was at the sun devil’s game Saturday, and I can tell you that all the dawg fans are thinking the same thing…. How long will we let this slide. How many games are we going to give 2-4 turnovers per game.. How many games are we going to give up 30 + points..
Frustration is indeed building between the hedges. My prediction:
This will be one of the worst season’s in Dawg history… Already the media has written off our season. I try and stay positive but I just can’t, game after game we seem to just get by with a 1-3 point lead.
So many changes in the SEC in the past 2 years..
Tennessee coach fired
Auburn Coach Fired
Alabama Coaching success story..
There is light at the end of this tunnel. If we do indeed produce one of the worst seasons. The off season will be very interesting to say the least. I just hope MR is left after the dust settles.
One of the problem’s is the intensity, players are moaping around, walking away after the huddle, walking to the side lines after 3rd down turn over. Football will always be 90% mental. When we show up the movement of the players have defeat written all over them.
Shaneneeee Faneneeeeeee
September 29th, 2009
4:15 pm
UGA young defense- take notes on October 31st in Jacksonville because there you will see a great defense.