Mark Richt’s patience wearing thin on line of questioning, and actual line
ATHENS — Georgia coach Mark Richt, under fire since the Bulldogs’ loss on Saturday, found himself on the defensive again during Wednesday’s SEC coaches’ teleconference. By the time he met with beat reporters at the end of Wednesday’s practice, he had resorted to sarcasm.
“I can only guess what I’ll be asked today,” he said with a smile.
When he got a somewhat loaded question, Richt decided to have some fun with it.
The question: “After the game on Saturday, was your response more encouragement and trying to be positive or have you reached a point where you’ve thrown chairs and really tried to light a fire?”
His answer: “Everybody want me to snap? Is that what they want? You all want to see me snap, is that what it is? Yeah? Well, we don’t discuss what happens in the locker room. But if you guys want me to throw a table or something I’ll do that, maybe smash a camera, if that makes everybody feel better.”
Reporters laughed and Richt did, too. But he has encountered a similar line of questioning for much of the last four days. In fact, six questions during Wednesday’s teleconference had something to do with his coaching status or the mood of his team or the fanbase.
“We’re just coaching ball, OK?,” Richt said. “You guys want to make things bigger than they are. The bottom line is like anything in life, you’ve got to control what you can and that is my attitude and my effort and our team’s attitude and effort. That’s true every season. . . . Everybody’s locked in, everybody’s working hard and everybody’s confident we’re going to have a good ballgame.”
Offensive line issues continue
Richt pointed to third-down pass protection as the Bulldogs’ biggest breakdown after last Saturday’s 35-21 loss to No. 4 Boise State in the Georgia Dome. Four days later, he was seeing the same problems on Woodruff Practice Fields.
“Some things just got in my craw,” Richt said after the Bulldogs practiced in full pads for a rare second day in a row in a game week. “Third-down pass protection was just not very good today. You’ve got to win the possession downs, third-and-short, third-and-medium, third-and-long. You usually pass more than you run and we just didn’t protect very good, not good enough to beat anybody.
“Our boys better get it going or Murray is going to be on his back. That’s what made me the most mad.”
Sophomore quarterback Aaron Murray was sacked six times and pressured another 10 times against the Broncos.
Enter South Carolina, which is believed to have one of the best defensive fronts in the SEC. The Gamecocks are particularly strong at defensive end, where junior Devin Taylor (6-7, 248) is a first-team All-SEC and Jadeveon Clowney (6-6, 250) was the No. 1 freshman signee in America.
The key for Georgia, senior center Ben Jones said, is being better on first and second down.
“That’s what happens when you get in third-and-long,” Jones said. “If we had been in third-and-short they couldn’t have brought those blitzes because they would have known we might run the ball. So that’s what we’re focusing on, getting into third-and-mediums and third-and-short so they have to guess run or pass.”
Kwame Geathers still sidelined
Starting nose guard Kwame Geathers was unable to practice with the No. 1 defense for a third consecutive day. The 6-foot-6, 350-pound sophomore from Georgetown, S.C., suffered a neck sprain (aka, “stinger”) in the opener. Nonetheless, Richt believes Geathers will be ready to play on Saturday.
“Kwame is from South Carolina and he wants to play in this ballgame,” Richt said. “I don’t think you could keep him out of this one. We’re just trying to be wise. We don’t want to light him up again and set him back.”
The good news is junior college transfer John Jenkins has been getting almost all the repetitions in practice with the first team. And he needs them.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said this week he believes that Jenkins and Geathers together can help Georgia defend the zone-read dive play up the middle the Gamecocks ran with such effectiveness last year. Tailback Marcus Lattimore had 182 yards rushing and scored two touchdowns on 37 carries in South Carolina’s 17-6 win in Columbia.
Etc. . . .
Richt said the Bulldogs will make a decision on the starting Mo linebacker on Thursday. “We will after we watch the film and discuss what happened today,” Richt said. Georgia is having to replace starter Alec Ogletree, who suffered a broken foot last week. . . . Wide receiver Marlon Brown practiced but was did not participate in contact. His left ankle was heavily wrapped. . . . Georgia practiced on the artificial turf fields Wednesday afternoon in hopes of it being lightly warmer than on the grass fields.
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465 comments Add your comment
eBuzz
September 8th, 2011
8:02 am
Hey, Stinger 2, mind your own beeswax and stick to our blogs. We damned sure don’t need to be telling UGA what to do, nor do we need to be taunting them as some other morons have done(especially when we can’t even beat them), and your advice is totally hypocritical. Did you conveniently forget about our blogs regarding Hewitt and Gailey? UGA fans are frustrated, and it’s understandable. Frankly, they have a fine football tradition with high expectations, and while I personally relish good ole fashion hatred, I have great respect for my enemy.
Trojan
September 8th, 2011
8:03 am
CMR: That offensive game plan is for flag or arena football. Dump it or you will soon lose your job. Bobo is not an SEC offensive coordinator.
JB
September 8th, 2011
8:04 am
The hiring of Will Friend for our OL tells you all you need yo know. All the money in the world and the lure of the SEC…..and he hires a young recent Grad Assit. from UAB. Tells me that all legit coach’s looked at it as a one year gig. Grantham would only come with a 3 year deal because he knew the place was burning down.
georgiadawgg
September 8th, 2011
8:06 am
DREAM TEAM. DON’T MAKE ME LAUGH. I DREAM OF A NEW COACH AND I DON’T MEAN A PREACHER MAN. MARK RICHT SUCKS. ALONG WITH THE BABY MAKER BONZO BOBO.
kydawg
September 8th, 2011
8:09 am
If CMR quit mid-season…who would coach these guys the rest of the way??? (just askin’)
JB
September 8th, 2011
8:13 am
kydawg………….I would like to see the two grad assit who coached the D in the bowl game in Shreveport year before last.
JB
September 8th, 2011
8:17 am
When ESPN is dogging Bobo as incompetent and hurting the Georgia program, you know it’s bad. The offense really looks bad. The big plays come from us having great athletes, but as a series after series long drive offense, we stink, and it’s killing the D.
AltamahaDawg
September 8th, 2011
8:18 am
Would have to agree with the statement from Ben. The way to minimize your 3rd and long troubles is not to back up on 1st and 2nd down. Let’s work on that.
" HOT " seat
September 8th, 2011
8:19 am
…. patience is wearing THIN ….
kennesaw gator
September 8th, 2011
8:22 am
UGA fans, admit it: you are irrelevant. Look at the message boards of any SEC school, and when they mention other SEC teams, it’s: Alabama- “hate ‘em”, Auburn- “hate ‘em”, LSU- “hate ‘em”, Florida- “hate ‘em”, etc. When/if UGA is brought up- laughter! If anything is said about the Bulldogs at all, it is usually something like: “I just hope Coach doesn’t run up the score too badly on the dawgs this year, so they don’t go and fire Richt.”
You are now at the same level of Vandy and Kentucky. Even Miss State has left you behind.
Fidlin1
September 8th, 2011
8:24 am
Why have we removed the threat of Murray running the ball? That dimension of the Boise State game was wasted.
David
September 8th, 2011
8:24 am
If this O line cant get it done- then just put freshmen in there and take our chances. I an sick and tired of Ben Jones talking about how/what they need to do and go out on Sat and flop…….Ben- guess what…you and the OLINE suck…..plain and simple…you have for the last 3 years…..and our coaches have done nothing to correct it.
Dream Weaver
September 8th, 2011
8:24 am
UGA is still 0-0 in the SEC this year.
South Carolina must go down.
RevThomas
September 8th, 2011
8:26 am
Will be in the stadium Sat. and raring to go! Join me! http://www.wedgeorgia.com
Nothing Could Be Finer
September 8th, 2011
8:28 am
Why have we removed the threat of Murray running the ball? That dimension of the Boise State game was wasted.
——————————————–
All those sacks might have something to do with it.
Dream Weaver
September 8th, 2011
8:29 am
South Carolina started clicking when Spurrier finally put Garcia in.
But they did surrender 37 points.
SUFFOLKDAWG
September 8th, 2011
8:30 am
This is for all you so called fans…..STAY HOME, DON”T TURN ON THE TV, go to the movies do whatever you want, come Sunday you will not have to get on here and say you are sick and tired of the way we are playing. Look I love UGA as much as the next guy, I get sick and tired of all the negativity. Am I frustrated about the way we opened against Boise State ABSOLUTELY. Win or lose I will always support OUR team. Lets be loud on Saturday and leave the BOO birds at home.
Dawg Squeeze
September 8th, 2011
8:31 am
Welcome to reality hush puppies. You learned on Saturday what many have known for a while. You’re program is over hyped, you don’t develop your players, and the loyalty of your fans, while it may be a mile wide, is about 1″ thick.
Dawg Squeeze
September 8th, 2011
8:31 am
Enter your comments hereDon’t get mad, deep down, you know it’s true
HeHeHe
September 8th, 2011
8:32 am
Bye, bye, Markie. Be sure to take your money out of Donnan’s “hedge funds” in order to TIDE you over during period of unemployment.
NextCoachPlease
September 8th, 2011
8:32 am
CMR you are the weakest link….Good Bye!
bitter PROSTATE GLAND
September 8th, 2011
8:32 am
dribble—-dribble———-2 years running—richt has exposed his now famous—lack of passion
——————mitchell is a beast and will continue just like H.W.—will lead by example
————mitchell it turns out was the big catch in the dream team hipe!!!
——————–he looks better than A.J.———-just get him the ball
———————sorry dawg fans————-rosters will score 41 because no-one tought them to fight
———watched hershall espn show and relized he could outplay anyone taught by coach richt
Nothing Could Be Finer
September 8th, 2011
8:32 am
But they did surrender 37 points.
————————————————–
Yes, it was all due to the passing defense.
SC’s secondary is still pretty weak, although ECU does have a pretty good passing game.
DawginLex
September 8th, 2011
8:33 am
I hope we win Saturday
I hope after we win, richt looks straight in the camera and tells us all to go shove it.
I’m embarrassed to be part of this fanbase.
Bad Dawg
September 8th, 2011
8:33 am
Will the dawgs continue to wear their Nike clown costumes and red panties?
Orwell
September 8th, 2011
8:36 am
“I’m embarrassed to be part of this fanbase.”
Then stop posting.
SUFFOLKDAWG
September 8th, 2011
8:36 am
Will Bad Dawg still be a DOUCHE and live in his moms basement.
First Week Scores
September 8th, 2011
8:38 am
Boise State 35 – Georgia 21
South Carolina 56 – East Carolina 37
Snoop
September 8th, 2011
8:39 am
Richt is slick. “I’m just coaching, OK?” he says… That’s exactly not what he’s doing. He tried to blame Saturday night’s debacle on the offensive line. It isn’t their fault; the stupid game scheme and play calling put the line in an untenable position.
I can’t get over how many players are not playing where their natural abilities would serve the team best. To Richt and Bobo, everyone’s just a peg that has to get jammed into a specific hole to fit their stupid “scheme.” Well, their scheme has NEVER worked. The success of his early years were in spite of him, not because of him.
I heard that he has put his Loganville house on the market earlier this week. I hope that this is true and that this is a sign. Richt just doesn’t have coaching in his blood. He’s been an imposter his whole career and continues, at least through the interview described above.
We have paid this imposter THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS when our nation is bankrupt and our regular students have trouble making tuition. That’s a $100 tax every year on every student at UGA!
Fire him yesterday!
Snoop
September 8th, 2011
8:40 am
DawginLex, I am also embarrassed that you are a part of the fanbase. Why don’t you find a Zombie University team to follow?
Snoop
September 8th, 2011
8:42 am
An interim team of graduate assistants could do a much better job coaching than Richt and Bobo. Remember what a great job they did with the defense when Slick Willie was deported?
DawginLex
September 8th, 2011
8:44 am
Snoop and Orwell
Why don’t you both kiss my white A$$?
duece coupe
September 8th, 2011
8:44 am
The Dawg Nation fan base probably wants improvement, not constant downhill action.
But the late Bear Bryant and the present Joe Paterno had down years
wins-by-a-link
September 8th, 2011
8:46 am
What I would like to know is what happens to these 4 and 5 star recruits from the time they are recruited to the time they play in their first college game, These are the best players in high school but when they get to Georgia they don’t look like they ever played the game, Just an observation, I could be wrong but if I am why aren’t we winning?
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 8th, 2011
8:49 am
JB,
Now blame Friend? Hell they went and spent money on Searles and what did that get them?
Dear Coach
September 8th, 2011
8:49 am
To win in the SEC, you have to run the ball effectively.
The confused offensive line has further confused the backfield.
This is not acceptable.
BEAT UGA SOUTH CAROLINA SO RICHT CAN GO
September 8th, 2011
8:52 am
NOW YOU HICKS ARE FINALLY SEEING THAT A GOOD CHRISTIAN MAN CANT WIN IN THE S.E.C!
AltamahaDawg
September 8th, 2011
8:52 am
BTW, JB, I did catch most of the replay last night, and just as I remembered it live, I think you are wrong that they just flat gave up in the third quarter. I think you know that directors pick and choose what shots to show, and of cource you can see some pretty sad fellows. But I think you are overlooking just as many images of a team that did work hard till the end, despite the game obviously being decided.
But no, to answer your question, there wasn’t anyone over there running around yelling “come on guys we can still beat this Idaho State team that shouldn’t have even been in the game with us”.
I would however bet the farm that if AUburn had been in the dome, they would have been losing by more, and the pictures of thier D-line sitting on the bench would have been just as somber.
PreyDawg
September 8th, 2011
8:52 am
We are all mad and sick of this type of performance. But one thing we better realize. The BEST thing that can happen for us is for Richt to succeed. We should not wish for his being fired. Coaching changes are a minefield. We could end up worse off. We could end up with corruption or probation like so many other schools are having.
Once you make a change, if things don’t improve drastically, then where do you go? How many on here know how good a coach Kirby Smart really is? Not one of us. We think we know. We have never see the man as a head coach.
In case you havent noticed, this is a tough a$$ conference. You hire the wrong guy and he will come in here and not be able to recruit and actually make things worse.
I know you all think it cannot get worse. You are dead wrong. We took Fla to overtime. WE went toe to toe with the National Champs last year for 3.5 quarters. We were leading SC. It could get a heck of a lot worse.
Even if we hired a great young fiery coach, some kids will transfer. There will be a drop off. There will be 3 years before we know anything about what we have. I for one do not want to go through that.
I would rather win now with this staff. Granted, the O-line is a COMPLETE liability. They were awful Saturday night and it sounds like they are no better in practice.
O-line is the entire key. The D will play better if we can get some Time of Possesion.
BEAT UGA SOUTH CAROLINA SO RICHT CAN GO
September 8th, 2011
8:53 am
MARK RICHT = BOBBY CRIMMINS BOTH ARE GREAT RECRUITERS,BUT CANT COACH A LICK!
AltamahaDawg
September 8th, 2011
8:54 am
Why not Lowcountry, Fans blame thier freinds when their team loses all the time.
Snoop
September 8th, 2011
8:54 am
I don’t get these people who are constantly recommending that Richt get rid of one of his assistants or “hire some better coordinators”. What a joke. He’s been here eleven years now. All the excuses are lame today–we’ve heard every one of them in the book multiple times. The sorry state of Georgia football is on his shoulders and his shoulders alone. It’s not Bobo’s fault. He’s doing his best. Problem is, it’s not good enough and never was. Richt likes him though and as CEO he has decided to give him big raises instead of a pink slip. So whose fault is that?
Have we gotten even one million dollars of value from the Tan Man over the past eleven years? No. The Bulldog nation has been snookered and ripped off by Marjoe Mark Richt and his Medicine Show.
Every day he continues is another week it will take the next coach to right the ship.
People ask, “who could replace him?” Answer: ANYONE! Best, however is a proven SEC head coach who is a real sweat shirt with a whistle around his neck head coach, not a media logo or a CEO posing as a coach. Mullen from MSU comes to mind. The Board of Regents needs to get out the checkbook and write the biggest check that any coach in the NCAA receives, because we want the BEST. If you want championships, you will not do it on the cheap. UGA is the second most profitable colelgiate athletic program in the SEC and the second most profitable in the NCAA. How bout a little ROA for the fan base and loyal alumni?
JB
September 8th, 2011
8:56 am
I will say this. Come Saturday night, win or lose, I would rather be a Dawg than a Bee, Gator,elephant,Rooster etc. We will get it together. It’ll take change….and it;s gonna be fun to watch.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 8th, 2011
8:57 am
It’s Thursday and I think everybody has gotten their frustrations out of their systems. Time to get behind the team and support them and Coach Richt. Enough spewing “fire the coach”. Truth is that is a very good, experienced Boise State team. They have beaten Oregon, Oklahoma, VT when they all those teams were ranked in the top 10. We are heading into SEC play and anything can happen there on any given Saturday. Grantham better be ready for what Spurrier is going to throw at him. The D wasn’t all that bad against that top notch Boise O. Having a productive offense that can run time off the clock and put points on the board is what we need. I didn’t understand the constant runs up the middle when what yardage we did earn came on the sweep and runs to the outside. Our backs, IC, Thomas, and Boykin when in on the offense are FAST and they should be able to exploit that.
Go Coach Ritch and GO DAWGS!
Snoop
September 8th, 2011
8:58 am
I see that Altamaha has come out of his hole today. Hey, I understand that DawginFex has decided to become a fan of Zombie University football. They welcome UGA blind homers who are happy with mediocrity and laissez faire dreadlock football.
hunker time
September 8th, 2011
8:59 am
The evil genius is coming to Athens with one of the best rushing attacks in the nation.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
September 8th, 2011
9:00 am
Altamaha,
I didnt watch the replay I sat back and got a kick outta watching Storage Wars. Found it much more relaxing. At some point we may blame the guy who lines the field for Saturdays game if we dont like how it goes. Or the guy who watered the field, perhaps the ushers who work the stadium. Salem Witch Trials right here in Clarke County courtesy of the AJC.
JB
September 8th, 2011
9:01 am
AltamahaDawg…………..I think at the end of the day, you and I desire the same thing. A competitive team that has a chance to win every time they take the field. That WAS Richt in the early years. Not lately though. It appears the wheels have come off. We could go back and forth till Saturday as to why.
Snoop
September 8th, 2011
9:01 am
Wonder what new excuses we’ll hear from Tan Man on Sunday after Spurrior slaps him around and schools him like a kindergartner on Saturday. The victims will be our players on Saturday… Richt is the ultimate Energy Vampire. He’s not driving the bus.
Snoop
September 8th, 2011
9:02 am
Looks like Zombie Univerisity will have a big fan base…