Cowboys’ Grantham next target in DC search?
Athens – Hello from Butts-Mehre, where Kirby Smart won’t be coming to work.
All’s quiet here, by the way. No press conference or anything like that is in the works, if you’re wondering.
But on the day after Smart turned down Georgia’s defensive-coordinator job, Mark Richt presumably is about the business of pursuing the next candidate.
And let’s say — in the absence of any new credible rumors at the moment — that’s Todd Grantham, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive-line coach who is known to have been on Richt’s radar for weeks.
In a search that has been full of complications, Grantham presents another. The Cowboys are in the NFL playoffs, preparing for a game Sunday against Minnesota, and will play a couple more games after that if they keep winning. Would the Cowboys let Grantham talk about and even accept (although obviously not begin) another job during the playoffs, risking potential distraction? How would a further delay affect UGA’s recruiting, especially with the final sprint to national signing day about to commence? And would the recent success of the Cowboys’ defense put Grantham in bigger demand among NFL teams?
Questions, questions.
But all indications today are that Grantham is the next target in Georgia’s six-week-old search.
Grantham coached at Virginia Tech (under Frank Beamer and Bud Foster) and Michigan State (under Nick Saban) before a series of four NFL coaching gigs. His only experience as a coordinator was with the Cleveland Browns.
It is a crucial hire for Georgia’s football program, and Richt has reiterated his recognition of that by aiming high in his targets. Foster, John Chavis and certainly Smart were already in good, winning situations at schools that, not surprisingly, proved willing and able to compete aggressively with anything Georgia could offer financially.
Foster had 15 years invested at Virginia Tech, and Chavis, although in only his first year at LSU, does not have a history of job-hopping. And while Smart was tempted by the prospect of returning to his alma mater, the fact is he is on track to be a head coach somewhere in a year or two anyway.
So while we wait for the next chapter — let’s call it Chapter 5 after the Foster, Vic Koenning, Chavis and Smart chapters -=- to unfold in this saga, how do you see the story ending? With Todd Grantham? Or who?
And please follow me on Twitter for the latest UGA news and notes.
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492 comments Add your comment
Dr Griff
January 12th, 2010
2:13 pm
I’m just curious if anyone is approaching CMR on the sly to feel him out. This whole trying to poach from other schools doesn’t seem to be working. It would seem with the dollar figures people have been throwing around and the access to the talent available that the UGA job would be very attractive. Why aren’t people beating down the doors for it?
mudcat
January 12th, 2010
2:14 pm
Is the Green Bay Packer DC available?
dshep
January 12th, 2010
2:14 pm
Smart is a fool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jimmy
January 12th, 2010
2:14 pm
a dc would be nice. gardner deaerves kudo’s for holding our signed players together.there has to be a young talent out there we are missing
Stevo
January 12th, 2010
2:15 pm
A name that surfaced immediately after the Willie firing was Bumpas of TCU. I thought at the time, and still do, that would be a good hire. How come there is no longer any mention of Bumpas?
RedandBlack
January 12th, 2010
2:16 pm
Hello Tim,
Why not trying to do an analysis yourself of the top college team defenses year in and year out to identify the defensive coaches of those top programs as possible candidates? That may actually be news worthy, or at the very least, it would be new.
Stop chasing the rumors and start running down some facts. Remember who, what, when, where, and why? Do some research. Find some real, credible candidates. Go Dogs!!
shannon1776
January 12th, 2010
2:16 pm
ExDawgBaller,,, People who have played for RG have said he is a good position coach but THRY say he isn’t qualified to be a DC.
For those who have said we are going to lose recruits, we have lost ZERO recruits so far.
ExDawgBaller
January 12th, 2010
2:16 pm
I’m just saying… I’ve played under Garner, Martinez, and VanGorder… I’d place RG between VanGorder and Martinez. The DC role is a practice manager and motivator first and foremost. As long as you have competent assistants that have all bought into the your system… you have a winning formula. We had disconnect between Fabris, Jancek, and Martinez…which is why they are all gone.
Pay up for top-notch assistants and give RG a chance to run the show. BTW…those of you who are posting that RG is not qualified, or not the man… obviously have not played a down of college ball and do not understand the role of a DC or OC in the college game.
I’ll give everyone one guess how many play calls Neil Calloway made for the Dawgs when he was OC. It may also surprise you to hear that the defensive calls were coming down from the booth from non-other than Willie Martinez with VanGorder’s final veto, from 2001-2004. Just saying…
Topp Dogg
January 12th, 2010
2:16 pm
Johnson at SC or Withers at NC are both very good and at least deserve a shot or a raise.
Dawg Fud
January 12th, 2010
2:16 pm
Tony Martin – why would we want an offensive minded head coach having a bigger role drawing up the defense? i am not sure i see the benefit.
Garner ain’t the answer guys. if he was, he would be the DC and McClendon would the recruiting coordinator. wake up.
ExDawgBaller
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
By the way… I only know one player who played with Garner who has said that… and it was Pollack.
David
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
Truth is that no one wants to be an assistant at a 2nd class SEC school. If CMR had of fired Martinez last year there would probably of been more candidates. It is now evident that no one sees UGA as any kind of contender… Maybe they could just dress in all black again and see if that works!
JB
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
We ALL said” anybody but Willie”…….OK, we got our wish…….we are looking for anybody. Richt will do fine with this hire…..Lot’s of uncovered talent out there.
AceDawg
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
I have no guesses, but hearing about Rick Minter to Miss St got me thinking that there are indeed some credible names floating around that I haven’t considered. I hope Richt has. We won’t know if Smart would’ve been the right guy until he leaves Saban anyway, so I’ll stay optimistic, but we sure could use a guy that makes a splash to hold our recruits and build enthusiasm and confidence in the guys already there. Somebody willing to BLITZ… and have opposing receivers covered!!!
Stay Classy UGA
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
Just read this blog– a week ago you guys were singing the praises of Kirby Smart, cherishing the opportunity to have a UGA grad in the DC position. Now half of the posts talk about wanting to kick his as$, not needing him anyway, and saying he can’t really coach it is all Saban. Cmon UGA fans. UGA players are the reason I love the red and black, but our classless fans and how they treat one of our own makes it easy to hate.
Learn some manners.
Raleigh
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
In the long run, this frustrating DC search will prove best for a bunch of UGA fans. Imagine if UGA had hired Koenning a month ago. The malcontents that frequent boards like this one would be railing against Richt for not going after one of the guys who recently turned the Dawgs down.
Reality check – UGA is not the be-all and end-all of football programs. I believe it was worth a try for Richt to go after Foster, Chavis and Smart but I would have been extremely surprised had any of them ACCEPTED. Now Richt can turn his attention to guys who will look at UGA as a solid career move rather than a lateral or downward step.
I’m amazed that some of you folks think Chavis, Foster, Smart didn’t come to UGA because they don’t respect or want to work for Richt. Could it be that they happen to be in a great situation and don’t want to give that up?
Just luv them dawgs
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
I chalk the Smart, Foster and Chavis situation to due dilligence. They are all experienced DC’s with a solid track record, and there was only a remote chance that Georgia could have gotten one of them from their current jobs. But, even if there only slight chance of getting one of those guys. How could CMR not take it? I believe that Georgia will end up with an outstanding DC. But no matter what, I just love them Dawgs.
Scotty "Big Poppa Pump" Steiner
January 12th, 2010
2:17 pm
Why don’t the flea bags hire Jim Mora Jr ?
He would fit right in with their LOSER mentality.
Kirby Smart: “Mama called… and I didn’t answer” RTR
JB
January 12th, 2010
2:18 pm
OK David, expose your team and let us examine your warts.
TW3A
January 12th, 2010
2:19 pm
ExDawgBaller enjoyed your post, this is good information
JB
January 12th, 2010
2:19 pm
Hey Scotty, how many ” we’re Auburns bitch” tee shirts do you have ?
Carlton
January 12th, 2010
2:19 pm
Who’s Gardner?
High school grad
January 12th, 2010
2:20 pm
Hire me I can take them to a 6 & 5 season and with a weak bowl appearance I could possible win one more.
Dawg Fud
January 12th, 2010
2:20 pm
exdawgballer,
agree that we need to step up witht he asst coaches. we have had some solid head coaching….but notice how our assts never get hired away. that’s the tell tale sign of our program.
the on asst who was hired away was Van Gorder and our defense was lights out when he was at UGA.
slobberknocker
January 12th, 2010
2:20 pm
No way Rodney G. He is not the answer. Give Travis Jones a call, he just might want to come back!
Sick and Tired of the insults to SMART
January 12th, 2010
2:21 pm
Stay Classy-
Kudos to your observation. Kirby Smart is a UGA grad we should be proud of… but we have plenty of awful fans that are now saying terrible things about him just because he stayed. Looks like he made the right decision after all. Who would want to come to UGA with fans like this?
Logan
January 12th, 2010
2:21 pm
Just pick somebody off of the top of this list. None of them will turn UGA down. It’s the list of the top rated FCS defenses.
http://statistics.ncaafootball.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=ncaa-football&page=cfoot2/stat/1AA-team-totaldef.htm
High school grad
January 12th, 2010
2:21 pm
Of course I would want one million a year with a four year contract with options.
Jill Arrington
January 12th, 2010
2:21 pm
David Polelock is dummer than I am.
anotherdawg
January 12th, 2010
2:21 pm
This is looking more and more like when we hired Mark Fox. We started after big names, listened to everyone including AJC go crazy with impatience, then came up with, I think, a great hire.
TW3A
January 12th, 2010
2:21 pm
why is Richt not leaning toward RG? is he trying to satisfy fans and the big brass or does he really like someone else at this time. I think Richt needs to just stop listening to everyone that is not of any importance, make his own choice and go with it. I believe he has a gut feeling who he needs to hire, but is trying to please too many of the media
Reptillicide
January 12th, 2010
2:22 pm
LOL, always love it when some tool starts posting online that he’s an “ex-player” of whatever team is in question.
Really sad and pathetic. Get a life.
NCDAWG
January 12th, 2010
2:22 pm
Boise State’s DC: http://www.broncosports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=54307&SPID=4061&DB_LANG=C&DB_OEM_ID=9900&ATCLID=578852&Q_SEASON=2009
DBCOOPER
January 12th, 2010
2:22 pm
Coach Richt is personaly responsible for Chavis, Foster, and Smart getting huge pay increases. I hope he is now on their Christmas Card list.
Larry
January 12th, 2010
2:22 pm
i dont want a defensive line coach. our line isnt the biggest issue. our secondary is. they are about as intimidating as a basket of kittens. and the fattest, most rambunctious 2 kittens just went to the NFL.
Daniel Carver
January 12th, 2010
2:22 pm
WAKE UP WHITE PEOPLE!
No wants to hire that shvarzer Rodney Garner as DC, he ain’t too bright.
Dawg Fud
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
Stay Classy UGA,
perhaps you should love UGA because it is also your alma mater, not simply for its football.
Reptillicide
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
By the way, you people believing that ExDawgBaller is REALLY and ex-player are even more retarded than he is.
John
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
Memo to Mark Richt: Ellis Johnson, Ellis Johnson, Ellis Johnson!!! I’ve been saying it from day 1!! ELLIS FREAKING JOHNSON!!!!!!!
Dr. Cialis
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
Polelock? Isn’t that the same thing as priapism?
DAWGS4LIFE
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
Just hire someone already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NCDAWG
January 12th, 2010
2:23 pm
Garner is not the Answer the for DC and I am not sure he wants it. If he wanted it, I believe he would have left already.
NCDAWG
January 12th, 2010
2:24 pm
Ellis Johnson is staying @ South Carolina
dx107
January 12th, 2010
2:24 pm
USC’s DC is now looking for a job.
Mark Richt
January 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
Yeah, I also went after Koenning who ended up at Illinois. Ellis who stayed at South Carolina. Muschamp remained at Texas and of the course some UGA alumnist decided to remain a Falcon coach rather than come back to Athens. So what! I over reached to get a great candidate and failed 6 times (7 if you count Smart rejecting me twice). I will find a quality DC eventually!!!
The only downside to all this has been that it reveals to the UGA masses that our beloved school is not quite as nationally reknown as we make it out to be. It is a top 25 program but certainly not top 5. What can the masses expect from a program with only 1 real National title? The other was not by one of the three sanctioned polls of the era we won it and the one that was legit was back in 1980 with arguably the best collegiate player to ever play the game (No Buck…that is not you!). Our fan base needs to come to the reality that we can compete in the SEC East occasionally and maybe on a National level once a decade or so and be happy with that. We still rule this state.
HungryDawg
January 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
I don’t care if Richt gets a high school coach. If he can get the most of the talent that’s at UGA that’s all we need!!! I don’t blame him for going after the big names, he had to try, but the odds of them moving laterally were slim to none. Just get a guy who you don’t have to bribe or twist their arm, who truly wants to be at UGA and in Athens, with a proven track record, regardless of the level or program he’s coming from, and let’s rock n’ roll!!!
JB
January 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
We have the money……I would have done something to make ole Saban’s pucker puck up. If we really wanted Kirby, I would have offered him 1.3 ( highest paid assit then in the Country) and watched just how bad ole Nick wanted him…….and we would of had a up and coming coach………but, things work out for the better. I think we get a good hire. I wish ole Kirby the best. Just don’t speak at Bama and he’ll be fine. Wonder how Mrs. Smart really feels about it.
TW3A
January 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
anotherdawg
I totally agree, eveyone put down the hire, now those kids leave everything on the floor for him weneed the same in football someone the kids will leave evrything on the field for
BIGPIG30
January 12th, 2010
2:25 pm
Why not David Pollack? He might do as well as anybody else. Could not do any worse-than what Ga had. I think at this point, Coach Richt, looks
like he don’t have many choices. Could it be that defensive coaches are a little weary about coming to Ga., particulary the way the team was handled last year by Coach Richt and on down. I hope I am wrong.
UGA FAN IN ALANAMA
January 12th, 2010
2:26 pm
NO KIRBY???? That might not be abad idea!!! RABALAMA is now stuck with him!!! Its still Nicks D….. He to me tels Kirby what to do… This seaso was a Hairy one asa DAWG fan, but CMR is a great guy and will get whats best for DAWG NATION!!! Just SOON plz is all i ask!! I love the Falcons, but do BVG have a beef with UGA? I like a staff with BVG, CWM(insert jokes here) and ole Rodney G!! Plus you got those two grad assistans!!! To m that would work!! Any one agree???