UPDATED: What happened to change direction of Georgia football?
The most significant change in the last four years has been Mark Richt's decision to relinquish offensive game-planning and play-calling duties. (AP photo)
I’m not sure how many people were watching College GameDay this past Saturday morning and saw the piece they aired on the Georgia football program. It was titled, “Discontent in Georgia” and I was among the individuals interviewed for it. Here’s A LINK to the video clip if you haven’t seen it.
But the real fireworks, I thought, came in the ensuing debate among the College GameDay panel, including regulars Lee Corso, Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit and a new castmember named David Pollack, who some of you may have heard of.
In any case, it didn’t paint a very pretty picture of the direction of the Bulldogs’ football program, and that was before they went out and lost to South Carolina 45-42 on national TV. I thought it could have been a little more balanced — surely they could have found some folks that would have defended head coach Mark Richt — but the general theme was that Georgia fans are unhappy with the way things are going and want a coaching change. That’s what set off the debate among the GameDay guys.
The problem when you do television interviews for something like this is, typically, they ask you questions for 15-20 minutes and they may use 30 seconds of what you say. That was the case here and that’s fine. I knew that going in.
But one of the things they asked me about that didn’t make the airwaves was what I thought had taken place that precipitated Georgia’s downturn. It was a tough question and, honestly, one that I kind of struggled with. But after rattling it around in my brain for awhile, I came up with the best answer I could at the moment.
The only thing I could think of that changed from 2007, when the Bulldogs won 11 games, to 2008-10, when they won 10 then 8 then 6, was Richt relinquishing control of offensive game-planning and play-calling responsibilities.
If you recall, it was after the Georgia Tech game at the end of the 2006 regular season that we found out that Richt discreetly turned over those duties to quarterbacks coach Mike Bobo for that contest. Bobo also handled the responsibility in the bowl game and, after being bestowed the title of offensive coordinator in 2007, has been in charge of the offense ever since.
Now this is not to say I think Bobo’s offensive strategies have been the reason for Georgia’s demise. That was not and is not my point. In fact, Bobo’s offenses on average have actually out-gained (387.21-377.76 ypg) and out-scored (31.28-28.13 ppg) Richt’s. It has more to do with the resulting fundamental change in the way Richt directed the program as head coach.
Think about that for a minute. For 11 years before Richt came to Georgia, he was quarterbacks coach and/or offensive coordinator at Florida State, which happened to finish in the Top 5 nationally every one of those years. For the majority of that time, he was game-planning and play-calling for the Seminoles. Then he comes to Georgia in December of 2000 and, after doing calling the national championship game with FSU, he hits the recruiting trail for the Bulldogs and assumes the same offensive responsibilities at UGA in addition to being head coach.
That goes on through the 2006 season, when he finally entrusts the Xs and Os to somebody else. It was an exhausting run, I’m sure.
But again, more than not calling all the offensive shots, this represented a profound change in how Richt went about his business, both on a weekly and daily basis all the way down to game management. That must have had some sort of effect on the way things have gone.
Anyway, I’m not sharing all this to say I’ve figured anything out. This is much more of an observation than it is a hypothesis. But it’s something I’ll continue to look into going forward. And, of course, there are so many other aspects that go into running a college football program. Evaluation, recruiting, coaching, training, injuries, academics, luck, they all have something to do with it.
But that’s what I’m asking you guys today. Here is the cold reality: Georgia is off to an 0-2 start this season. It is 14-14 overall (12-14 vs. FBS) and 7-10 in the SEC since the 2009. So, what do you think happened?
UPDATE: I asked Coach Richt at his presser Tuesday what he would point to as the main reason for the recent downturn. Here’s what he said:
“Last year we went through all that, and we talked about things that are a year old. Those are old. This season is the only thing I’m really concerned about, and obviously, we turned the ball over. Not only were they turnovers, they were turnovers for points. I guess there was five yards they had to track one time. Our defense basically gave up 17 points to a pretty darn good football team. They had no responsibility for the fake punt, the pick six or the fumble for a touchdown. They could have stopped them on the five yard line going in. Sudden change – that’s their job to turn it into a field goal. We just gave that one away.”
– Chip Towers
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734 comments Add your comment
Ramblor
September 13th, 2011
9:19 am
Chip Dawg, aren’t you so happy you got this new assignment with the AJC where you don’t have to mask your allegiance to UGA any more. (although you did a poor job masking it in your other assigment of covering recruiting) Now you can let the red and black pour out of you as you make excuses for the current state of the program.
WHITE jeezus
September 13th, 2011
9:20 am
All Richt needs to do is go on more mission trips and pray. That would (and ALWAYS does) solve everything.
What really happened
September 13th, 2011
9:20 am
Nick Saban came back into the league. The dawgs demise began not just with the blackout game which seemed to shatter uga football confidence. But it continued now that Bama is back on top. Having Tebow still at Florida in 08 and 09 didn’t help either. Everybody else simply got better. A lot better. LSU stayed good and AU came out of nowhere with Chizik and Malzahn.
But it all began when Saban came back and lets face it. Whether we like it or not Alabama has always loomed large and has historically always cast a shadow over Georgia.
gdawginkalamazoo
September 13th, 2011
9:20 am
@Peace about it, I also think Chip has forgotten about Damon Evans and his slackness (Damon’s not Chip’s). I think Evans was more of a fan of CMR’s than he was a boss who demanded results,hence the big slide, the keeping the best man DC around too long etc. I think McGarity is guiding CMR in the right direction and will make sure things are getting done correctly and in a timely manner, including coaching changes among the assistants who are not producing.
McGarity is a huge factor here people. Just look at the off the field issues that we haven’t had this past off season. Are we a top 10 team? No. Are we a top 20 team, yes we have the talent to be.
Plus Coach Richt hasn’t forgotten how to win, he did it during the 90’s with FSU he did it the better part of this decade. With McGarity’s help and guidance he will lead this team back to where it is supposed to be. Maybe even higher.
Restore UGA
September 13th, 2011
9:21 am
Bobo has run points up on inferior teams, but not against top teams. What are the points numbers vs. top 25 teams when Richt called the plays vs. Bobo?
Mtn. West teams run the scores up against their inferior opponents. It really doesn’t mean much if you can’t beat top 15 teams.
MCDAVIDASTRO
September 13th, 2011
9:22 am
you’ve discovered when Richt quit doing much of anything. The man has no work ethic and must consider himself above coaching. That’s what happens when you start making millions. Fire Richt, save the program.
Restore UGA
September 13th, 2011
9:23 am
Richt chose Van Gorder because he knew how hard it was to play against his Central Florida defense. By that same logic, we should have had Graham choose our offensive line coach and our next OC.
As a defensive guy, who do you hate to coach against?
Finess simply is not the SEC
September 13th, 2011
9:23 am
UGA needs to establish long, clock consuming drives with their powerful backs of Crowell, Figgins and Samuel and Boo Malcom, etc. . They are impatient on offense with their home run balls and then, after a short drive of 7 plays, they punt and the D is worn out.
With UGA’s 2011 line, they have no O line depth and that plan is OUT the window, hence the home run balls. Why they do not run what they did briefly in desperation all game long is beyond me.
Too little too late now, however. The die is cast.
Go Dogs.
james schroeder
September 13th, 2011
9:23 am
When Muschamp took over at florida, did he call Danny Wuerffel up and say “hey man, you used to play here, you know the system, come on be be our offensive coordinator”
No. No they didn’t.
We need a REAL offensive coordinator and not Bobo, not Joe Cox. We need a professional.
ColDawg
September 13th, 2011
9:23 am
I’m on the side that it’s the defense which has been our undoing over the past few years. Take a look below at the average points scored and allowed for the past three seasons (not counting the two games this year) for Bama, Florida, and Georgia:
Bama Scored 28 Allowed 15 (SEC)
Scored 33 Allowed 13 (Overall)
UF Scored 34 Allowed 16 (SEC)
Scored 37 Allowed 15 (Overall)
UGA Scored 28 Allowed 28 (SEC)
Scored 31 Allowed 24 (Overall)
What jumps out at you here, it’s not necessarily the offensive numbers, we’ve scored about the same amount of points as Bama over the past three years. But look at the points allowed, over 12 more points per game. We’re scoring enough to win a larger majority of our games, but it’s the defense which hasn’t held up its end. Fix the defense and a lot of our problems will go away.
CRO-MAGNON MAN
September 13th, 2011
9:24 am
DaQuan Leroy Smiff :
IT IS ALL ABOUT RECRUITING….COMPARE THE PLAYERS WE HAVE NOW WITH THE PEOPLE WE PLAYED WITH IN THE EARLY 2000′S….NOT EVEN CLOSE….AND TO SAY WE HAVE THE SAME LEVEL OF TALENT AS ALABAMA AND LSU, NO WAY….NOT EVEN CLOSE….VERY DISTINGUISHABLE IN THE OLINE, DLINE, LINEBACKERS, AND SKILL PEOPLE MINUS AJ GREEN….SOMEONE MADE SOME BAD DECISIONS ON RECRUITS, CAUSE SOME WE GOT NOW HAVE NEVER GOTTEN TO THE FIELD AND CAN’T PLAY DEAD IN A WESTERN MOVIE….
Cody
September 13th, 2011
9:24 am
Coach V leaving and the play calling duties going to Bobo have been the down fall of the program.
Whiskey Breath
September 13th, 2011
9:26 am
Brian Van Gorder is not the answer. Have you seen the Falcon’s defense lately? They resemble Geogia’s and Sprayberry High School. They tackle about the same.
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2011
9:26 am
When we do get around to hiring a new staff let’s get some gladiators.
Rest of the SEC
September 13th, 2011
9:28 am
Mark is a good “christian” man. Please, please keep him. Its all Bobo’s fault;-)
MrBitter
September 13th, 2011
9:28 am
1.) UGA players have no heart. Ex: Selling their SEC Championship rings.
2.) UGA players are not very bright. Ex: Justin Houstin smoking pot at the combine.
3.) Coaches don’t teach well. Ex: Boise State’s undersized DL befuddling our enormous OL.
Gay Dawg
September 13th, 2011
9:28 am
We need a coach that will lay the wood to a player that is naughty!
Walmartdawg
September 13th, 2011
9:28 am
Richt’s early success was more a function of the league being down than anything else. LSU wasn’t LSU back then. Alabama had Shula as a coach, Tuberville was just getting started at Auburn, Spurrier wasn’t at S. Carolina yet, Florida had Zook for a coach. The SEC wasn’t the powerhouse conference that it is now.
Bama Fan#2
September 13th, 2011
9:29 am
The blackout in Athens in 08 against Bama started the down turn
and it has gotten worse each year. Mark Richt great man but his
best days are in the real view mirror. RTR
CRO-MAGNON MAN
September 13th, 2011
9:29 am
james schroeder:
COME ON JAMES, THE NUMBERS DON’T LIE….YOU GUYS LOOKING FOR A FALL GUY, BUT IT AIN’T BOBO…WE SIMPLY HAVE MADE SOME BAD MISTAKES IN RECRUITING….LIKE THE CLASS WE JUST SIGNED, BUT SOME OF THE OTHERS OVER THE PAST 4-5 YEARS HAVE BEEN QUESTIONABLE….DON’T DRINK THE KOOLADE THAT THE SCOUTING GURUS THROW OUT IN THAT 4 STAR AND 5 STAR STUFF….GIVE ME A 3 STAR WITH A BIG HEART AND WHO LOVES THE DOGS….THATS WHAT GEORGIA HAS ALWAYS WON WITH, ESPECIALLY IN THE OLINE AND DLINE AND ON DEFENSE….
GDawg65
September 13th, 2011
9:30 am
Get a proven, experienced offensive coordinator and FIRE BoBo or get a new head coach and let him do it. But Bobo the DoDo has to GoGo!!!!
greg@capewineventures.com
September 13th, 2011
9:30 am
The answer is real simple….the other teams in the SEC have gotten for the most part much better…teams like South Carolina, Mississippi State, Kentucky and the like used to be automatic wins….not any more….they are much better than they used to be…Alabama was down 6 to 8 years ago….Auburn is better, etc., etc. That’s it…it’s a much, much better and more balanced league top to bottom….it’s noit just about Georgia it’s about the other teams.
Steve O.
September 13th, 2011
9:30 am
You win chamionships with defense…..I think our main problem is that we concentrate too much on recruiting players for the offensive side of the ball and skill players. Games are won up front and we have been out recruited for the “cream of the crop” players on the OL and DL in past years…now it is coming home….also I think we put too much emphasis on recruiting in state players…there are other states that produce great players ….smart players ….I had much rather have a 3 star player with some brains and heart than a 5 star althelete that can’t stay in school…..recruit some “smart” players not these lamebrain guys who can’t stay out of trouble!!! MR needs to find a quality defensive coach (Not Grantham) and return to calling the offense himself……I am a loyal Dawg fan and like MR, but he has the change or move on……get us some hosses up front and play better defense…….GO DAWGS!!!!
Restore UGA
September 13th, 2011
9:30 am
RamblinRed, I think the SEC officials have been on Richts butt ever since that game, too. Fortunately, I think they are starting to either forget or forgive. Maybe our loosing record last year and Richt being on the hot seat is softening them up some.
I agree that McGarity is helping Richt a lot. Hopefully, some changes with the OC and maybe the recruiting coordinator will help UGA back to prominence.
Dr. Phil
September 13th, 2011
9:31 am
It’s all fluff and entitlement: selling championship rings on ebay, end zone dancing, Soulja Boy, player arrests, celebrations, tweeting, pool frolicks, red panties, Thursday bowling, unsportsmanlike conduct, energy vampires, smug press conferences, mediocre coaches, and too much money.
Tard Dawg
September 13th, 2011
9:31 am
Time for a reality check – the whole UGA football program has fallen into obscurity, so stop blaming just the coaches
Damon
September 13th, 2011
9:31 am
The mistakes made on the field directly reflect the quality of the coaching staff. Sure the players are the ones making the mistakes and have to take ownership of those problems, but it is up to the coaching staff to hold them accountable and discipline them accordingly. UGA has pulled in top recruiting classes since Richt has been head coach. So if the quality of players is always high and the coaching staff up until recently was the same, where do you point the finger? That is right directly at Mark Richt. Ultimately the onus falls on him, his shoulders, and under his mantle of responsibility. He has two options as I see it, he can light a fire under the rear ends of his coaching staff and players and start holding them accountable, or the boosters will light a fire under his.
CRO-MAGNON MAN
September 13th, 2011
9:34 am
WHITE jeezus:
YOU WILL CRY OUT TO THE SAVIOUR WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR DEATH BED, EVEN BEING THE NON-BELIEVER YOU APPEAR TO BE….SHOULDN’T BE MOCKING THE LORD, THAT WILL COME BACK AND GET YOU….JUST MY OPINION…..
Restore UGA
September 13th, 2011
9:34 am
Steve O. ,
I think the defense is coming along. I agree that more focus needs to be made on recruiting great linemen and really good defensive players. Get Rev. Ray in on defense (man, I hate that he had the scooter accident), Tree and Christian back, get Chase Vasser in there too. He was all over the place in the spring game.
MrBitter
September 13th, 2011
9:34 am
Dr. Phil, I agree with you 100%. UGA players don’t care about UGA, they just want to look good for their posse and the pro scouts.
Brett
September 13th, 2011
9:34 am
I’ve been saying something similar. It’s not necessarily that he was better than Mike Bobo, but perhaps that was fundamental to his ability to do the other stuff well and wrap his mind around the whole program in a way that was more productive. It’s like a sales guy who builds a book of business through certain call strategies and then feels like he doesn’t need to keep those disciplines to maintain or incrementally improve. Once the discipline is gone, the whole approach changes and the biz goes backwards.
As good a theory as any. It upsets me, but maybe it’s time for a change. I’m hoping for 10-2. Why not, right?
BG
September 13th, 2011
9:34 am
UGA just wants to beat Tech every year. Richt is 9 out of 10 against Tech.
Gary
September 13th, 2011
9:34 am
We lost two games we were supposed to loose. They were higher ranked teams. I was actually surprised how well we played against USC. I am now starting to think the tide has turned. Considering how young and thin our team is this year that was a damn good effort minus a couple of costly mistakes.
St. Richt
September 13th, 2011
9:34 am
Pray with me my brothers and we will be 1-2 after this weekend! FYI, Bobo will be fired so I can keep my million$.
bitter HERSHALtavius-walkerdontavis
September 13th, 2011
9:35 am
what if scam newton would have QB for 3 straight years????just saying—–no hott seat for richt
AthensDawg
September 13th, 2011
9:35 am
Fire Bobo right now. He is a terrible play caller and nobody likes him. He is very inconsistent and I just like many other people am sick and tired of Bobo calling the plays.
01HAWK
September 13th, 2011
9:36 am
You win with DEFENSE. Unfortunately UGA does not have a very good one.
You run the 3-4 and you are running out of linebackers. You have to have a surplus if you are going to run that defense.
38 Yardline Dawg
September 13th, 2011
9:36 am
Chip, I like where your head’s at with this article. I think most (reasonable) people realize that Richt wants to win, but being more of an emotionally calm, CEO type has not worked out in terms of overall coaching and game-winning results.
Richt’s track record is to stick with players and coaches too long, unlike our more recent opponent’s coach, Darth Visor. Bobo’s offensive plays may not be the single reason for failure either, since every play is designed for success (if executed successfully).
But everyone who is loyal to Richt should watch Wil Muschamp’s and Derek Dooley’s active involvement with players during the TN/FL game on Saturday. Play calling or not, Richt should still be as involved with game management and coaching like our rival coaches are. Otherwise, I’m ready for change that will help my Dawgs keep up with the drive and progress of other leading SEC teams.
Restore UGA
September 13th, 2011
9:37 am
Damon, “the coaching staff to hold them accountable and discipline them accordingly” Sadly, this means that Aaron Murray needs to be sat down a few games. We have a week team next weekend. Play the backups.
Murray’s focus is terrible. When he is focused, he went 11 of 11 or something really good, but when he isn’t – pick 6, fumble six, fumble 60 yards.
JB
September 13th, 2011
9:38 am
I will defend the defense for last week. THEY held Carolina to 17 points. 28 points were gift wrapped by other means. Think about it.
WHITE jeezus
September 13th, 2011
9:38 am
Cro-Mag,
If what you say is true then myself AND 80% of the worlds population will in trouble. I guess the narrow-minded have it all figured out. Well, as long as it helps you feel superior! Pay 10% in the collection plate!
AtlJim
September 13th, 2011
9:39 am
This is one of the best articles I have read on the issue so far:
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/should-richts-backside-really-be-on-fire/
CRO-MAGNON MAN
September 13th, 2011
9:41 am
ALL THE 4 GUYS ABOVE ON TV DON’T KNOW THEIR REAR END FROM SECOND BASE…THEY LOVE CONTROVERSY, THAT SELLS TO THE AUDIENCE AND THE RATINGS….NO HEAD COACH, INCLUDING THE BEST THAT HAS EVER BEEN, BEAR BRYANT, IS IMMUNE TO WHAT COACH RICHT IS GOING THROUGH NOW….REMEMBER BEING IN THE STANDS WHEN COACH BRYANT ENDED HIS SECOND CONSECUTIVE 6-5 SEASON AND THE BLUE BLOODS MUMBLING, “BEAR’S TOO OLD, HE HAS LOST HIS TOUCH”….HE CAME BACK WITH 2 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AFTER THAT….THIS IS A “WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY BUSINESS”, AND NOBODY UNDERSTANDS THAT BETTER THAN THE COACHING STAFF, AND ESPECIALLY COACH RICHT….LEE CORSO GIVING HIS OPINION ON A POSSIBLE COACHING CHANGE IS HILARIOUS…ALTHOUGH HE IS ENTERTAINING AS AN ANALYST, HE NEVER PUT UP ANY NUMBERS AS A HEAD COACH, SO WHY WOULD WE BELIEVE HIM????
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2011
9:41 am
Nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
TampaDawg
September 13th, 2011
9:41 am
@Hoage-wild , I agree with your assessment of Murray. The guy has incredible talent and it’s tough to see people on here who have no idea how to play the toughest position in the game next to CB criticize the kid for trying to make a play. In a place like UGA, it’s almost a no-win situation. Ask Matt Stafford. All he did was win 30 games in his career and up until the current heat on Richt, all you would hear was how he didn’t win the SEC or how 2008 was such a failure.
And the Hutson Mason talk is fair although for those who say he has no experience because he never gets to play missed the snaps he got in a few games last year. Not to mention, he is listed at 6-3, Murray is listed at 6-1. Again, play the position for a while and you realize that with the speed everything is moving at, that two inches isn’t enough of a difference to help Mason “see over the line” .. in fact, with our pass protection lately (which did get a little better this past Saturday), the pocket shifts too much for the “see over the line” debate to even matter.
Murray has to mature into the spot. It takes some QBs longer than others to mature, the unfortunate thing is CMR is running out of time for that maturity process to happen.
But the height thing .. so overblown, especially in college. Ain’t that right Drew Brees?
38 Yardline Dawg
September 13th, 2011
9:42 am
Brett, unfortunately I’ll give you three reasons why 10-2 is unrealistic: Tennessee, Florida and Auburn. Anyone remember the last time we beat all three in the same year? Hint: no Dawg running back was being compared to Herschel, because HE was still running the ball for us!
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2011
9:43 am
WHITE jeezus, if you don’t beleive in God that’s OK. I, however, prefer to err on the side of caution.
CRO-MAGNON MAN
September 13th, 2011
9:45 am
WHITE jeezus:
SURELY NOT 80%….I WASN’T INCLUDING 3RD WORLD COUNTRIES, WHO SORT OF DO THEIR OWN THING….I WAS TALKING ABOUT THE GOOD OLD USA…..ONLY A 20% CHRISTIAN NATION HERE IN AMERICA????
PMC
September 13th, 2011
9:45 am
I don’t think it’s how they are being coached as much as that they just recruit the wrong players. Everyone in the media keeps talking about the “talent” they have. Oh really? They are talented, ok. Do they fit what the coordinators want to do? They can run fast, they can jump high but can they play football? What are the line players doing?
I think the demise started prior to 2007. They had good players, but the team attitude was not football focused. They couldn’t win big games when they had talent. That Hawaii team couldn’t compete, what happened in the Tennessee game that year???
Ultimately since 2007 they have missed massively safeties; linebackers and linemen on both sides of the ball.
Go look at Alabama; LSU; Auburn last year and South Carolina for one. Compare them to Georgia’s players. Georgia doesn’t match up. Georgia is not getting enough out of the players they have and they aren’t getting players that fit. Before 2008 they covered it up with elite skill position talent. They should have good skill position talent, they were poised to have a good linebacker year this year, then they lost both Robinson and Ogletree and they also took away from the depth by moving Samuel to RB again. This is becuase they have been flat out AWFUL in recruting RB’s since what 2007 or earlier.
James
September 13th, 2011
9:46 am
Darn you CMR for changing Salons!!