Richt: ‘0-2 for the first time in 10 years, and it’s not a comfortable spot’
Listening in on Mark Richt’s weekly radio call-in show Monday night:
- As you’d expect with Georgia’s 0-2 start in the SEC, there was some discord in Bulldog Nation. The first caller asked Richt for reasons to continue to invest in the program, asked the coach “to sell me” on Georgia football “not just for this year but 2-3 years down the road.”
Richt replied: “The bottom line is if you’re a true fan, in my opinion, you’re going to support your team no matter what. I don’t think you’re going to just love the boys when they win and hate on them when they lose, you know. . . . Our league is one that is a very, very tough league, and we’re not always going to win. We find ourselves 0-2 for the first time in 10 years, and it’s not a comfortable spot. It’s not a spot we want to be in. But it’s not like we got shellacked and run off the field. We actually, I thought, represented very well, even though we lost.
“The bottom line, of course, is the win. But the way the guys fought . . . there was a lot of courage; there was a lot of blood, sweat and tears. . . . If you just watch the spirit of these young men and how they fought and how the coaches fought, I think that is admirable. And I would say you certainly should continue to support for those reasons. . . . ”
- Richt talked quite a bit about Aaron Murray, acknowledging the young quarterback has areas to improve but making it clear he’s a special player.
“We looked at the film and realized every time that kid moved up inside that pocket good things happened and every time he started up and then dropped back again and tried to reload, something bad happened. So he’s just got to learn, and he’s getting there,” Richt said. “But you can’t question his toughness, his ability and just his love for the game and love for Georgia. So we’ve got the right guy right now. We’ve just got to keep going.”
- Richt disputed accounts that said Georgia sent all of its receivers on deep routes on the late-game 3rd-and-4 play that resulted in a Murray sack and forced Georgia to punt to Arkansas, which scored the game-winning TD three plays later.
“I did watch the TV copy myself, and I know the commentators were saying … there was no outlet, there was no short route, that there ought to be,” Richt said. “I don’t know what he saw, but there were actually two routes that were about a five- or six-yard depth and a couple of them that would be deeper routes.”
- Richt didn’t disagree with a caller who expressed disappointment in the play of the veteran offensive line.
“It is a little disappointing,” Richt said. “I think the offensive-line play has been good but not great. Like you say, we got to find ways to sustain drives.
“I’d like to see us continue to run-block better, and I’d like to see us continue to pass-protect well, which I think we are. Some of the pass-protection issues really have nothing to do with the offensive line. It’s more back-related. The running backs have to step up and do their job too, and the receivers got to run the right routes, and the QB has got to put it on them.”
Murray, Richt said, needs to develop “a better feel” for when a receiver is open.
As for run-blocking, “we need to continue to … provide more space for the backs,” Richt said. “And the backs have got to get more than what [the linemen] block, too. If you watch around the country, you see backs breaking tackles, you see backs getting yards after contact and all that. I think we improved in that area last ballgame, but we still got a ways to go.”
- A caller asked why the Dogs aren’t getting the ball to talented tight end Orson Charles.
“There were a lot of calls that were made where Orson was the No. 1 priority or No. 1 read for the quarterback,” Richt said. “Sometimes that No. 1 option is taken away, so you go to No. 2. Sometimes protection breaks down. Sometimes the QB is moving right or left at the moment when he should be cutting the ball loose to his primary receiver. Those were some of the issues.”
- Another caller asked about “the state of the program,” noting that a few years ago Georgia was “considered one of the elite programs” in the nation and is “now 8-8 [actually 9-7] in the last 16 ballgames.”
“You’d be surprised,” Richt said, “but the same things we did when we were finishing in the top 10 and all of that kind of good stuff — we’re doing those very same things. Sometimes you win some close games and sometimes you don’t, but right now I can promise you our coaches, our players are battling as hard as we can to get a victory. That’s going to be the plan for this week against Mississippi State. Hopefully, next time on the show, we’ll be talking about all the good things that happened.”
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391 comments Add your comment
SEC FAN
September 21st, 2010
10:35 am
I would suspect that the real reason Richt is “uncomfortable” is that a lot of the UGA fan base is “uncomfortable”. The best way for Richt to get into a comfort zone is to stop making the same old excuses and start winning like a top flight coach—worthy to be called an equal of Saban and Urban. Personally, if I were a UGA fan, I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Greg
September 21st, 2010
10:35 am
Auburn knows they made a huge mistake in firing Tuberville.”
Really? They are 3-0 and playing better than they did in tub’s last years. Idiot
It really does make sense
September 21st, 2010
10:36 am
Jerry Jones hired Jimmy Johnson who was the best college coach at the time.
Jerry Jones hired Barry Switser who was one of the best college coaches at the time.
Jerry Jones fires Bum Phillips junior and doubles the best college coach right now. Every body repeat after me; Nick Saban is leaving Bammer to go to the big D.
heardthisbefore
September 21st, 2010
10:37 am
“WE ARE WORKING HARD TO GET BETTER” Ray Goff
USC GAMEC0CK
September 21st, 2010
10:38 am
Well looks like USC gets their first loss to awbarn this saturday night … yeah, right….you georgia folks just keep on the hope train.
Webster’s Dictionary:
Grantham defense (aka BoZo Defense) = pathetic, lost in the woods, deer in the head lights.
BooBoo offense = predictable, sun glass wearing, hair styling, tippy toe in the tulips.
Head Coach Richt = the right man for the job, will win if left alone.
Russ Temp Mascot = geogia mob stole the dawg and shot him due to losing record.
UGA Wins SEC EAST = pray USC loses to aubarn.
Winning Attitude = not found in athens georgia these days…must look eastward over to Columbia, SC.
SLim
September 21st, 2010
10:38 am
Georgia hasn’t and won’t make it to the NC game with CMR. If you just want to win some games and look good every year….great. But if you want to win them all and the NC….CMR has got to go. He’s lame…..
joe
September 21st, 2010
10:40 am
so what will happen if they lose Sat to go 0-3 in SEC?
Pago Pago Dawg
September 21st, 2010
10:41 am
You just know UF is licking their chops for the JAX game. We’d also say Miss St, UK/UT/Auburn/Col/ etc., licking their chops also. Sad.
Just an SEC observer
September 21st, 2010
10:41 am
I find it humorous during the pregame when they trot out Larry Munsons voice showing a video of past (way) Dawg victories and he says something to the effect “no other team or institution is worthy of such loyalty”. I got to give you credit Coach Richt 10-12 record in his last 22 SEC East games would have gotten coaches at Tenn, UF, Bama, Auburn and probably Les Miles fired. The rest of us hope it doesn’t happen because we kind of like you around.
Reality Check
September 21st, 2010
10:41 am
Coach Richt is right.
Just because we get a top 5 recruiting class EVERY year doesn’t mean we’re going to win a lot of games.
Joemac
September 21st, 2010
10:42 am
Lex, granted the offense sucked, but…. the Arkansas recievers were so wide open that I am sure that you or me could have completed those passes. The defensive game plan was horrible, and executed worse. It may not have been a WM defense, but it looked like a WM defense, and as bad as the offense looks, you cannot afford a WM defense. I am really beginning to think that TG is all talk and no action.
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
10:42 am
Underdogs to MS ST is quite telling Coach Richt. What say you?
Shotgunplanet
September 21st, 2010
10:42 am
Why did we throw away last year on a 5th year QB. I like Joe Cox but it was not wise IMHO to not spend last year breaking in Zack or Aaron. Given the former is now gone… we could have been one year ahead by throwing them into the fray in what was a terrible ‘09. How about it coach? I know the plan was to have Zach throwing 75 yd bombs to AJ… and both games we lost would have looked a whole lot different had the first team been in there…
0-2 in the SEC
September 21st, 2010
10:45 am
`
Bobo needs to Gogo.
gomdawg
September 21st, 2010
10:49 am
I think we should be playing Mason the other QB he could have made a diff. sat. it may have confuse the Ark def.
DawginLex
September 21st, 2010
10:50 am
There were some missed assignments and blown coverages. They were the exception, not the norm like under WM.
The offense didn’t hold up its end of the deal or we would be 3-0 right now.
Time to make a list?
September 21st, 2010
10:50 am
http://thegeorgiasportsreport.blogspot.com/
gomdawg
September 21st, 2010
10:53 am
Play the best player , don’t redshirt player , this is a new year and everybody starts from 0, best players play. Damn reshirts the good one want play but 3 years and gone . Malcome at RB he has got to better than ealey blocking if he’s not we got more problems because Ealey is not our future RB NO HEART
Perspective
September 21st, 2010
10:54 am
nofairweather
September 21st, 2010
10:16 am
Totally agree
Coachdawg 2000 & others like him – why is it you have to be a “fair weather fan” because you are upset or concerned with the state of the program?
No one is disputing that Richt has done a lot for UGA, but where is the consistency?
Who’s fault is it that we are even in the situation of having to start a redshirt freshman at QB in the first place?!
The offensive playcalling is stale at best, our players don’t play with intensity or fire…until it’s too late. I would be less concerned if I didn’t see sparks or flashes of what our team could be. At least then you could say he’s doing the best with what he’s got. But can you or any other blind follower HONESTLY say Richt and Co. are getting the most out of our players on a CONSISTENT basis?
If the Dawgs had played against SC and Arkansas the way they played against UF-L AND the last qtr of the Ark game, we could quite well be 3-0 or at least 2-1. When you get to see ON OCCASION what they can do with focus and determination it is disheartening to see that they are not motivated to sustain that level of play through 4 quarters of football.
The talent IS there, what’s missing is the motivation and THAT falls squarely on the shoulders of the coaches. When I see a coach walking the sidelines who APPEARS not to have a care in the world regardless of what’s going on the field and HEAR him make statements that basically say “you win some, you lose some” How can anyone be surprised by the product on the field? Wake up people SOMETHING IS WRONG in Athens. I don’t know if he’s lost his desire to coach or his ability to motivate or some combination, but the Mark Richt I’ve seen over the past 5yrs is NOT the same Mark Richt I saw the first 5 years.
It’s not about being a fair weather fan or jumping off the bandwaggon, it’s about caring about the program and recognizing that something is wrong. If you and the rest of the blind homers want to be lemmings and follow CMR and the program off the cliff that’s your choice, but DO NOT question the loyalty or passion I or anyone else who’s critical of the CURRENT state of the program as disloyal or fair-weathered.
GO DAWGS!!!
CP225
September 21st, 2010
10:54 am
If you are a Dawgs fan you are a Dawgs fan. Stop all the criticizing and just support your team. You all LOVED Mark Richt when we were winning now everyone is all of a sudden a hater. Just give it some time. He’s a great guy and has done a LOT for our program. Just stay positive and be a true fan. GO DAWGS!!!!
RAMBLINWRECK
September 21st, 2010
10:55 am
I think you guys will be fine. There is a huge learning curve that comes with the 3-4 and both GT and UGA are having some tough moments. You just don’t get out there and shut people down because you have a new DC and there is an entire system being replaced and sometimes old habits play a factor as well.
I think by the time we play the rival game, both of these defenses will be playing well. I think both grantham and groh know how to teach and coach very well. As fans we have to be realistic and show patience to be fair. The big difference at UGA to me, is you have a freshman QB and your offensive line was said to be the best in the SEC, but have not lived up to the hype. Murray is going to be a heck of a QB before he leaves, but he will have to take some bruises along the way. I expect him to take some this season. It will only make him better as he moves along. Georgia will rebound and finish strong imo. You guys have too much talent not to turn it around. We have our issues as well, but i think we can still win 8-9 games. I think both teams will win 8-9 games this season. That’s nothing to hang your head about with a freshman QB, and our big 4 we lost in the draft who left early.
Dawgs Tell
September 21st, 2010
10:56 am
After hearing Richt last night and reading the comments above,I must state the famous words of all Georgia alumni and fans,”Wait tell next year”! It’s the same Ole Story,Year after Year.
carl
September 21st, 2010
10:56 am
The problem that Georgia has is that they have a coach who finds glory and satisfaction in
playing a good game and not in winning – do you think Saban or Myer would boast about
how well they played. As long as Richt is Georgia’s coach, Georgia will be exactly what
it is now
DawginLex
September 21st, 2010
10:57 am
Great post ramblingwreck
Hater of the coaches only
September 21st, 2010
10:58 am
The Bulldogs are 2-6 in the past eight SEC games and 1-5 against the SEC East. While some may point to the absence of AJ and Bobo’s poor play calling, Georgia came back at the end of the Arkansas game. It was the defense that folded in the final withering moments under new coordinator Todd Grantham (who is stealing at $750,000 annually). CP225 you talk about supporting your team, then do so by demanding that Richt win or be canned!
Brad
September 21st, 2010
10:59 am
Mark Twain once said, “There are a thousand excuses for failure, but never a good reason.” No more excuses should be acceptable from this coaching staff. In 2008, they had at their disposal two first round and one second round NFL picks on offense by the names of Stafford, Moreno, and Massaquoi. What were the results of this pre-season #1 ranked team? Lost to Florida 10-49, lost to the Tide 30-41, and also lost to Tech 42-45. Obvious conclusion: it doesn’t matter which players you give this staff, NFL prospects or green pea freshmen. The results speak for themselves. Cased closed, Kirby Smart on line 1.
lefty fielder
September 21st, 2010
11:01 am
i can’t believe i’m writing this but well said, tech fan / ramblingwreck
ga gators
September 21st, 2010
11:02 am
I heard a rumor from one of my Bama friends that one of the reasons Kirby turned down UGA was because Richt wouldn’t let Van Halanger go. Anyone else heard that one?
ga gators
September 21st, 2010
11:03 am
Dawg friends dont panic; yet. If you win Sat and run the table until you get to Jax, you will still have a chance to win the East. Lose this weekend, well I would suppose it would be over then.
Summit Dawg
September 21st, 2010
11:04 am
I’m not getting any younger, and don’t have many more “Wait ’til Next year’s left!!!”…..We have the players, but not the coaches!! 3rd and 4…….pass, pass…….I’m old fashioned, but do believe
you have to establish the running game…..then pass!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
17 of 20
September 21st, 2010
11:05 am
If Mr. Bobo has to go at the end of the year, then I would like to see Mark hire Bobby Bowden as the assistant head coach in charge of the offence. He can get a lounge chair put on the sidelines to sit in during the games.
cantondawg
September 21st, 2010
11:09 am
Lowcountry,
Excellent post. i agree with you.
Not so fast Vol fans
September 21st, 2010
11:10 am
Phil Fulmer made headlines over the weekend by blasting Lane Kiffin during his stint on CBS’ coverage of the Florida-Tennessee game. Most of what he said was pretty much the way everyone outside of the Trojan Nation feels about Lanie but one thing he said was wrong. Fulmer said Kiffin’s “arrogant attitude turned people off.” Not so fast, my bloated friend. His arrogant attitude turned people off around the SEC. But Tennessee fans loved it until the day he left them in a haze of mattress smoke. They thought they had their version of Steve Spurrier. You know, without the winning and stuff.
gadawgs
September 21st, 2010
11:10 am
You never, never, never hear Saban or Meyer make the comment of well we didn’t get shellacked out there and the boys fought hard, blah, blah, blah…Their comments are more in line with our play was unacceptable, no excuses whatsover and we will play better and our only goal is winning. If the guys playing can’t make it happen they will find ones that will. If the coaches are the problem they will find ones that are not. I like CMR alot and respect him and his principles but there is a pattern here and it has been going on for awhile. Bottom line if you lose you fail, period. There are no points for second place. We should NEVER be happy with well we didn’t get shallacked out there we competed, etc…. EVER!
ugakev- have some good news dawg nation
September 21st, 2010
11:10 am
Bulldawg nation I understand the anxiety I have it too but we lost to two good football teams this year I believe that were both more mature than we were in key areas..Dont let the early losses fool you because it does look uglier when you lose early in the season especially two conference games but with that being said I believe we are going to finish 10-2 and win the SEC east…South carolina with their conference schedule is going to finish 5-3 in the conference. Florida will lose to alabama and us and we will get the tie breaker at 6-2 in the conference. Our team has been battle tested against two strong teams early in the season and this only will make things alot easier on us as the season goes by..Arkansas is going to scare Alabama next week folks mark that down. Their offense is going to make fans of many teams question their defensive coordinators..lol. I cant wait for Todd grantham to get his players into the system we will have faster linebackers with closing speed that will stop the little underneath routes to running backs like you saw arkansas do to us. And we will have a taller and more physical secondary, not willie martinez’s secondary. Just give it a year or two on defense. Offensively I have been wanting bobo to go for a long time but if our offensive line would man up it would help things out tremendously and our running backs have NO VISION that worries me so we must get isiah crowell at Georgia next year that can make plays even when the offensive line is not at their best. If you thought murray looked good so far wait until kris durham and aj green are on the field at the same time. I will close by saying firing coach richt this season would be a disaster unless he only won like 4 or 5 games because we need this deep recruiting class bad in Georgia this year! Also for those that say we need to hire kirby smart I am sorry but would be a terrible hire he has proven absolutly nothing to me that would make me believe he is a good head coach. At alabama nick saban is the defensive coordinator not kirby smart I can assure you that. That would be another ray goff in the making! Lets rally Dawg nation behind this team there is a lot of football to be played ….GO DAWGS!!!
REALIST
September 21st, 2010
11:11 am
Realist Isn’t Real…3 words for you…Wal-Mart Vision Center
browndog
September 21st, 2010
11:12 am
I think the team is playing better, not good, but is improving each week. The O line and the running backs just have to do a better job. Bobo calls the plays but the team has to execute them. The plays are not the problem, the execution is. The D is improving and will get better. The punting game has to get better. Still think a shot at 8 and 4, but probably 7 and 5.
Jim Tavegia
September 21st, 2010
11:12 am
I was a Cub fan for 58 years until this year. I am done. I have put in my time with little to show for it. I watched a high paid manager sleepwalk through a season and the players show little life.
I really like Mark Richt as a person, but he and his staff are poor judeges of character and seemingly not that great at choosing football talent as GA is an average football team. This could easily be a .500 team. Behavior of athletes is subpar. I worry about a D-Coach who is only places for 2-3 years at a time. Probably happen here as well.
With a new AD it may be time for a change in staff.
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
11:12 am
*turd sandwich to CP225*
DawgFaceBlues
September 21st, 2010
11:14 am
ga gators,
well said. It can be that simple to turn it around. But it is sad to have a favorable schedule and ruin it! If dawgs can make it to Jax and somehow win, who’s to say that we couldnt beat Bamie in the SECChamp. Then on to the NC. The talent is there!
Not so fast Kevin
September 21st, 2010
11:15 am
No wonder Richt survives with optimistic humpers like you supporting him. He is 1-5 in his last 6 games against the SEC East. Where do you think this improvement is coming from. He will lose this week and again up in Kentucky and Jax.
ga gator
September 21st, 2010
11:17 am
Dawgface, I go to all of the games with my girlfriend and wish them well except for the Jax game. We both should be better by then and it should be a tight game. We have played 17 true freshmen already with one of the linebackers getting SEC Freshman of the week against Tn.
uga_fan39
September 21st, 2010
11:24 am
What saddens me the most is Richt’s comments on the call in show about not changing anything in the ten years he’s been there.. That comment alone shows the state of this program and the unwillingness of this coaching staff to make the necessary changes to keep up.. Will he wait another 5 years while he watches Bobo coach this offense into the ground as he did with Martinez and the defense. Also the offensive line coach must go. There is no excuse other than coaching for them to be playing at such a mediorce level..
Stick With Richt, Bobo Has Gotta Go!!!
September 21st, 2010
11:26 am
Stick With Richt, Bobo Has Gotta Go!!! Repost this phrase for the rest of the season if you believe it.
Richt needs to go back to calling the plays.
VoyeurDawg
September 21st, 2010
11:28 am
I have defended Mark Richt for so long, but it is painfully obvious that he is the problem. He has apparently fired Katherine Richt as the Water Girl. That’s gotta be the problem…no more wins until she returns. Never underestimate the power of administering water properly and professionally…
ATLBUZZ
September 21st, 2010
11:29 am
KEEP DREAMING OF 1980. SEASONS OVER. PACK IT UP AND GO HOME.
ARdawg
September 21st, 2010
11:30 am
Richt wasn’t anymore of an offensive genius than is Bobo. Talent overcame the play calling in Richt’s days but Bobo is too much a buffoon to overcome
gt
September 21st, 2010
11:32 am
“the state of the program” is the meat of the problem. The conversation now is totally in frame with what reality has been the whole time. Georgia was the number one preseason team in the country just two years ago. They got that because of the hype from papers like the AJC, Tony B. moonlighting the network jobs with his propaganda machine. Many of us were looking at them as escape artist even then, given a physiological edge by the hype and a recruiting edge being promoted over other schools in the area. Now South Carolina, Arkansas and I believe Auburn and Georgia Tech have, program wise, past them. This is not a one year’s temporary condition, last year they had the number one quarterback in the country, the number one receiver and still had their lunch handed to them. Where do you see it getting any better than that? Over in Columbia ,where Spurrier has been given every disadvantage the local press can hand out, his best teams are ahead of him not behind him. UGA can’t beat him now, they never will beat him. He is getting old and he will go out with the last laugh. Now the other teams in the conference are leaving Ga. in the dust too.
wsewell525
September 21st, 2010
11:33 am
ya’ll need to calm down, it is not that serious. We play entertaining games, and the two losses were winnable a play here or a play there. Those are things you can iron out in practice. There is not a better coach then Mark, he has had seasons start off slow before and ended up on a hot streak. I’m sure we will get there again.
Has it occured to Richt?
September 21st, 2010
11:34 am
Ok, I am ok with him becoming the CEO and turning it over to the assistants. But he forgot one important issue, now his only job is to coach up the assistants. If they are uncoachable then he needs to fire them. He is too close to Bobo and will NEVER fire him. The only option for him would be to demote Bobo because Richt cares too much for Bobo’s wife and kids. Honorable but not his job.