Georgia’s Mark Richt breaks down his special teams philosophies
ATHENS – Obviously the most critical area for Georgia to shore up for this final stretch of the regular season is its special teams. I outlined the Bulldogs’ poor statistical standing in most facets of special teams earlier in the week.
Yesterday, coach Mark Richt provided some details as far as how much they work on special teams on a daily basis and how the responsibilities are divided among the assistants.
Here’s a quick look at what assistants are handing what units and some tidbits about practice and meeting time spent on it. Then you can hear from Richt as far as his philosophies on special teams.
- PAT/FG — OL coach Will Friend
- PAT/FG Block — DL coach Rodney Garner
- Punt team — TEs coach John Lilly
- Punt return — RB coach Bryan McClendon
- Kickoff team — LBs coach Kirk Olivadotti
- Kickoff return — WRs coach Tony Ball
Only defensive backs coach Scott Lakatos doesn’t have an assignment.
According to Richt, Georgia meets and practices specials team every day. Of course the specialists themselves — punters, kicker, snappers, holders — are practicing all day every day in practice. But as units, this is who much time is devoted to them:
Day——-Meetings———Practice
Mon.—–40 mins———-25 mins
Tues.——- 20————-35
Wed.——–20————-25
Thur.——-15————–30
Fri.———60————-n/a
Richt’s comments:
- On time devoted: “I guess it’s roughly 30 percent of our time, not quite a third of a our time.”
- Has he considered a full-time special teams coach? “I looked at it. But what happens is, if you have a guy that does only special teams, all of the sudden you’re robbing a position from the offense or defense. . . . You’d be shorthanded on one or the other. So I decided to continue on with what we’ve done since I’ve been here, splitting up the roles.”
- Should the NCAA allow staff expansion to allow for a full-time special teams coach: “I’d be all for it, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon.”
- Why he settled on this model: “It’s kind of what I was used to [from Florida State and Bobby Bowden].”
- Is this the preferred method in college football: “I think more people probably do it the way we do, but I’m not sure of that. The NFL doesn’t have a limit so they don’t have to do that.”
Note: According to the 2011 SEC Football media guide, 10 of the 11 league schools have a “special teams coordinator.” Only Mississippi State does not and, i that case, head coach Dan Mullen handles specials team, a la Urban Meyer.
In practice this week, it looks like Georgia has been working in on special teams a lot more of the front-line offensive and defensive. Can’t be sure who will be doing what until Saturday’s game against New Mexico State and maybe not then. Meanwhile, this is what Richt said regarding special teams play at his weekly news conference on Tuesday:
“Early in the year we were doing some things fundamentally extremely well. Then it got especially sloppy in this last ballgame. Guys were just not avoiding blocks in the right direction. If everybody avoids blocks properly, then you’ve got all your gaps taken care of. You have guys just kind of ad-libbing, then you get these creases. So that’s part of it, but also personnel. We are challenging a lot of the guys who play more scrimmage downs to get involved in more than just the opening kickoff. I think everybody can understand how crucial that that play is, so there will be other guys involved personnel-wise. We have to kick the ball in such a way that there is enough hang time to get everybody down there, too.
“We have some true freshmen on there. It’s the same bunch of guys that really did a fantastic job earlier in the year. A lot of it became fundamental. Are you running as hard as you should be? The main thing was are you avoiding blocks properly. The number one fundamental of that team is the number one thing we work on. For whatever reason, a few guys decided they would avoid any way they felt like. We’ll get that straight.”
Thoughts?
– Chip Towers
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307 comments Add your comment
UGA forever
November 3rd, 2011
10:38 pm
Read somewhere on the Interweb recently, maybe on this site, that Crowell will be only the fourth TB in the past 20 years at UGA to gain 1000 yards, If he is able to play and keep pace. Sounded unbelievable to me, considering UGA is Tailback U… Can anyone name the only other three or dispute this claim?
Scott
November 3rd, 2011
10:51 pm
Garrison Hearst, Knowshon Moreno, Musa Smith
Dawg48
November 3rd, 2011
10:55 pm
Does anyone expect to see Nick marshal running the wild cat formation this Saturday?
Josh
November 3rd, 2011
11:09 pm
Fire Lily or Olivadotti, hire Belin as Special Teams coach.
Inquiring Minds Wants to Know
November 3rd, 2011
11:22 pm
Still waiting for Tide Roller to explain why the proud Bama doesn’t suspend players who fail a drug test. Too funny.
Dawg48
November 3rd, 2011
11:27 pm
Didn’t bama have a running back fail a drug test a few weeks ago? I thought I saw that was it calloway a think?
Ole Yeller Dawg
November 3rd, 2011
11:31 pm
This is Karma @ it’s best:
Next time Coach Grantham shows the choke sign to a competive FG kicker, would some coach on the sideline be sure our own field goal kicker is not looking!
Geez that choke sign boomerang around Florida’s Chas Henry’s head and hit our own Blair Walsh right in the ole brain!
Now we have to bring in a Voodoo Witch from Haiti to break the spell….anyone have any fresh chicken feet…these will not pass through airport security….who works for Chick-fil-A?
dawgfan
November 3rd, 2011
11:50 pm
No Special Teams Coach? and it shows!!
T-dawg
November 4th, 2011
12:04 am
Bobo…Since Iknow you read this blog can you do me a favor? Can you TRY to not have the most predictable play-calling in the history of the sport? I honestly believe we win our games on sheer determination and talent and not because our our game plan. Here are a few of Bobo’s automatics
1. If the run on 1st down goes for more than 4 yeards there will be the same play on 2nd down.
2. The short side of the field will be selected for every run.
3. Play-action should be called AFTER a successful run but Bobo usually calls this on 1st down fooling NO ONE.
4. There is no such thing as High Percentage plays in Bobo’s offense.
5. Creativity is not allowed.
6. The running back shall NEVER be the target of a pass play. (please see point number 4)
…these are just a few but they are also the most glaring.
My God, a freshman!
November 4th, 2011
12:31 am
response to “this dawg want hunt!!”,
You are a complete idiot. I can’t even read your post due to the fact that your moniker shows your ignorance. I believe you are trying to say, “THIS DAWG WON’T HUNT” You freakin’ MORON! Learn to spell your moniker. Geez!
WtfWruthnkn
November 4th, 2011
1:58 am
We we we we….how many of you losers have ever suited up?
A-Ville Ranger
November 4th, 2011
2:39 am
The idea of hiring a new RB coach with experience as STs coordinator makes sense in many ways. It’s become very obvious McClendon is too much of a pal and too little of a mature coach. The problem is he’s a hell of a recruiter. IC probably wouldn’t be here if not for him.
In the end it’s more important to coach them up than have a bunch of talented guys with bad attitudes though. I say replace Coach Mc with somebody who can recruit, coach position AND coordinate STs.
Captain Allen Waters
November 4th, 2011
2:58 am
DAWG COLONEL Amen! At least let him KO for a while so #57 can concentrate on field goals. UGA Fan in India.
NikkiFree
November 4th, 2011
5:52 am
Too many cooks on special teams. That’s why they look so lost out there.
JB
November 4th, 2011
7:23 am
Here’s what you have to ask yourself. Who on Richt’s staff would get hired by another SEC team to coach the same position they do at UGA……………….Answer. probably none
Hank Jr.
November 4th, 2011
7:38 am
Tech nerds have a lot of nerve trying to pass themselves off as citizens of the free state of Alabama.
I can smell the fish fry on them nerds from a mile away.
Fleming Island Dawg
November 4th, 2011
7:38 am
Other schools don’t even care about drinking and arrests. Someone from FL has the nerve to mention a picture of Murray holding a beer when their own starting corner Roberson was actually arrested for under age drinking but hasn’t missed a down.
JB
November 4th, 2011
7:40 am
Richt will be back, and all his supporters will revel in 8-4 seasons with glee…………….As we are close to 3 years without beating a ranked team.
joe
November 4th, 2011
7:42 am
stick your head in the sand Mark, your special teams are fine. What an idiot….
Hank Jr.
November 4th, 2011
7:42 am
Buncha PC spoutin’ BSers on here tryin’ to deny their family traditions.
Ain’t none of these city slickers ever skint a buck or run a trot line.
Trojan
November 4th, 2011
7:56 am
It ain’t working, try something else.
abe lincoln
November 4th, 2011
8:10 am
Didn’t we run off John Fabris. # 1 Punt return team in the SEC.
Hank Jr.
November 4th, 2011
8:22 am
“Didn’t we run off John Fabris.”?
Yep. Fired the hard worker and kept the no-account Boss. Y’all gonna try that again this year?
Macclenny_dawg
November 4th, 2011
8:46 am
Chip,
I see no mention of punt block. Guess that explains why we never go after a punt and always set up for return.
Macclenny_dawg
November 4th, 2011
8:46 am
Chip,
I see no mention of punt block. Guess that explains why we never go after a punt and always set up for return.
G-Dawg
November 4th, 2011
8:52 am
Bama fans on a UGA blog…pretty much speaks for itself!! Ya’ll are starting to smell like corndogs too!!
Jimmy Crack
November 4th, 2011
9:04 am
As a fan, I think Richt’s answers are lame and even evasive. Why not hire a ST coach?…Because it would take away from other areas. What, is he mental? Does he think we DON’T know this? I think Richt has been talking to teenagers too long and forgot that fans (some who have been watching football games longer than he has been alive) know just about everthing there is to know about his job.
Sometimes I think that if it wasn’t for David Greene this guy would have been fired years ago.
flo-ri-duh
November 4th, 2011
9:15 am
Richt it is time to change. You got a new man on defense – finally. Now get a special teams coach. Then you MAY consider doing something with the leadership on offense.
Dirk
November 4th, 2011
9:15 am
Richt need to change with da times.
89 out of 120 teams have a Special Teams Coach, 8 out of 12 SEC teams have one.
RedandBlackDawg
November 4th, 2011
9:24 am
Prior to this year, we have had pretty decent special teams, so what ever CMR had in place must have worked. Due to depth, we were forced this year to use a lot of kids, that previously hadn’t been a part of special teams, most likely in high school, and the question becomes two fold. Do you spend a lot more times on special teams in practice and maybe short change your other areas? Remember, this is a young team and still has a rather large learning curve they are going through. Do you put in a lot of your more experienced guys from other positions that you depend on to start and risk injuries to them? If you can’t hire a full time coach due to NCAA restrictions on number of coach, is it possible to hire something like a part time, adviser or consultant? Would that be illegal also? I think Walsh’s problems are mostly mental now as his confidence is down. Any of you overly knowledgeable fans on here that are calling for CMR’s butt, know what mechanically Walsh is doing wrong? How many of you negative people on here have ever played special teams?
People on these blogs are always calling for CMR to be fired, and yet nobody, except maybe 1 or 2 who claim to have actually played college ball, or any ball at all for that matter, never have a solution to anything you complain about. A coach just can’t all of the sudden be hired and another one fired in the middle of the season, and make the problem go away. Any of you rocket scientist who post negative and in some cases insulting comments on these blogs about UGA and CMR, ever coach at a big time school. How many coached a full time program in high school.
UGA has far exceeded most fans expectations this year, and we should be proud of them. Instead, the negative folks take over these blogs each time, spouted the same old crap, day in and day out, creating arguments and insults back at them. It is very hard for me to believe that most of the people on these blogs are mature individuals. As a fan of UGA, I like to read different opinions, by different folks, when they are constructive, original and not childish. You don’t see that much on here.
NOW is the time for true UGA fans to speak up,and support your team. I don’t care whom the opponent is, UGA has a chance to go 10-2 for the season, and has shown improvement through out the year. I realize that we didn’t get to play the strong teams in the west div. this year, but it appears that wouldn’t have served UGA very well, since we had a bunch of young folks, that due to our schedule, have been able to improve their skills every week, and become a team. Yes, we did have a few kids do stupid things, but they are paying the price and should come back from the suspension wiser, from having served them. The team UGA is building now has a opportunity to get a decent bowl game this year, and if all continues to go well, can be a real force next year. If we have a half decent recruiting year, we can fill some holes and shore up others. Visitors to these blogs, must see these comments and wonder, how UGA has any fans at all, and probably wouldn’t blame any recruit for steering away from the school. Now is the time to rally behind this team, coaches and all. When the season is finished, then criticize all you want.
GO DAWGS and GATA
.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
9:33 am
RedandBlackDawg
UGA hasnt exceeded my expectations
I said at the begining of the year we should be 11-1 with the easy schedule that we have. Go back and look it up
And after what I saw in the first 2 games had we prepared better and called a better game especially in the Boise game we would be undefeated right now
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
9:35 am
but that is what you get with Richt and Bobo, your assured 2 games a year where UGA looks like they never played football before and end up losing games they should have won
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
9:35 am
01-TB Isaiah Crowell Freshman could not hide suspension time it tho-WILL RETURN THIS YEAR
02-TB Carlton Thomas – suspension again 2nd this season-WILL RETURN THIS YEAR
03-TB Boo Malcome – recruited here injured, now the real truth out-WILL RETURN THIS YEAR
04-TB Washaun Ealey – Jr. – Transferred to Jacksonville State-CANCEROUS ATTITUDE.TOOK HIMSELF OUT OF GAME VERSUS UK THIS YEAR BECAUSE OF LACK OF TOUCHES
05-TB Dontavius Jackson – would be RJr transferred to UAB-COULD NOT HACK IT ACADEMICALLY
06-TB Caleb King – would have been senior 2011-FLUNKED OUT
07-TB Richard Samuel – ankle surgery Thursday after Florida-INJURED WILL RETURN NEXT YEAR DGD
07-OG Kolton Houston – R Fr NCAA eligibility-WAITING ON STATUS UPDATE
08-OT Jonathan Owens – Redshirt Junior 2011, medical disqualification-MEDICAL DISQUALIFICATION IS ON THIS LIST?????
09-OL Brent Benedict – RFr. — Transferred to Virginia Tech-DECIDED TO LEAVE ON HIS OWN
10-OL Tanner Strickland – Sr. — left program not playing senior year injury-ANOTHER MEDICAL SITUATION??
11-OL Trinton Sturdivant – Sr. — knee injury-ANOTHER MEDICAL SITUATION
12-OL Chris Little – R Jr Transfer NW C College then Southern U ineligible-GRADES
13-OL A.J. Harmon – Jr. — Transferred to Alabama State-GRADES
14-OG Ben Harden – would be Senior 2011-GRADES
15-WR AJ Green – would have been Senior 2011
16-WR Lonnie Outlaw – Sophomore failed Qualify 2010, Ga Military-WILL BE ON THE TEAM NEXT YEAR
17-WR Walter Hill – would be Senior 2011 kicked off team-DID NOT FOLLOW RULES
18-WR Logan Gray- Senior Transfer Colorado-SELFISH, DELUSIONAL THOUGHT HE WAS AN SEC QB
19-WR Malcolm Mitchell hamstring brought back too fast now 2 more games-WHY IS OUR BEST WR ON THIS LIST??
20-QB Zach Mettenberger – would be R Sophomore 2011, kicked off, LSU-GROPED A GIRL REPEATEDLY
21-DE Jeremy Longo – Jr. — Medically disqualified-ANOTHER MEDICAL ISSUE
22-DE Montez Robinson – would be redshirt sophomore 2011, kicked off-DID NOT FOLLOW RULES
23-DE Jalen Fields, – would be Sophomore failed to Qualify 2010-WILL BE ON THE TEAM NEXT YEAR
24-DE Justin Houston – would have been senior 2011-PLAYING IN THE NFL NOW. THIS IS A NEGATIVE ONLY TO AN IDIOT.
25-NT Chris Mayes – Dream Team 2011 failed Qualify, MS Gulf Coast-GRADES
26-LB Kent Turene – Dream Team 2011 failed Qualify, Jireh Prep NC-GRADES
27-LB Demetre Baker – Sophomore – kicked off team-DID NOT FOLLOW RULES
28-LB Marcus Dowtin – Jr. — Transferred to North Alabama-DID NOT FOLLOW RULES
29-ILB Brandon Burrows – RFr wait until Fall for surgery lost for year-INJURED AND WILL RETURN NEXT YEAR
30-CB Derek Owens – Sophomore transfer 9/26/11-COULD NOT DEAL WITH BEING BEAT OUT FOR A SPOT
31-CB Chis Sanders – Tucker RFr shoulder surgery out season 9/28/11-INJURED,BACK NEXT YEAR
32-FS Jakar Hamilton – Senior, transferred out-NO PLAYING TIME, QUIT
33-SS Nick Williams – Senior 2011, transferred North Alabama-NO PLAYING TIME, QUIT
NOW IDIOT, DO YOU WANT TO REVISE YOUR LIST?
Your list is moronic.
Jimmy Crack
November 4th, 2011
9:37 am
Red and Black, I can criticize whenever the heck I want. Don’t you go blowing your Koolaid horn and tell everyone to shut up, THIS IS A COMMENT SECTION.
As far as your “only he who has played ST can throw the first stone” crap, I heard TWO former head coaches (Holtz and one of the Bowdens) say after watching that highlight that if you are kicking off to a speedster who has a history of returning kicks to the house, AND you are having problems in general on special teams, that you have to put AT LEAST another safety on the back end of the kick team. We had THE KICKER playing deep, Dawg. Nuff said.
Dr. Phil
November 4th, 2011
9:38 am
If Crowell should somehow play in the SEC Championship, he will be on the bench whimpering by the second quarter.
Mtn Dawg
November 4th, 2011
9:39 am
I guess I’d like to know when our special teams were ‘fantastic’. Never saw that one. Richt needs to focus more on special teams. It’s gonna kill us.
Restore UGA
November 4th, 2011
9:42 am
@sogadog
Letting the players choose to be on the special teams has bothered me too. It sounds hap hazard. It is almost like throwing some guys in and telling them to run to the ball. very strange.
Also, why not at least have the same coach to handle covering kickoff and punt returns. Shouldn’t it be a similar philosophy and one that won’t confuse your cover guys? Shouldn’t the role be handled by a defensive coach?
Restore UGA
November 4th, 2011
9:47 am
@Macclenny_dawg,
“I see no mention of punt block. Guess that explains why we never go after a punt and always set up for return.”
Maybe, that is why teams decided to do that rugby punt crap against us. They know we are not coming after it and want to always try a return. Our predictability has also set us up for the fake punts.
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
9:48 am
I guess the new “cutting edge” of college football doesn’t utilize a ST coach?
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
9:48 am
Jimmy Crack
Beware my friend;
speaking the truth to these bong smokers on here will get you a large glass of kool-aid thrown in your face
Restore UGA
November 4th, 2011
9:53 am
@T-dawg,
No, T-dawg, the most glaring predicable call of Bobo is the long 3rd down drawl play using Carlton Thomas up the middle.
Not having CT this week is going to force a brain aneurism for Bobo. The two running backs that will play are smallish, so maybe, he will just pretend they are CT and run them up the middle.
Mobile Dawg
November 4th, 2011
9:58 am
Flat Tire @9:35, you’re right on with that statement. During the kool aid krowd’s so called good years every year you could count laying two big eggs.
Other than that, try being a little more civil in your debates with fellow bloggers, with a little less “name calling”. You called someone out as an “8 year old”, do you really want to come across as the playground bully? I agree with a lot of what you say, just not how you say it, JMO.
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
9:59 am
Anyone realize that Harton is Ealey’s cousin?
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:01 am
Mobile
I get sick and tired of the kool aid crowd label. I have been as hard on Richt and the staff as anyone. I just refuse to not support the players and coaches until a change is made in the staff, the coaches are our coaches.
I predicted us to lose to Florida.
If that is kool aid drinking then pass the pitcher!
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
10:01 am
DawginLex
I think I do remember something about that now that you mention it
Richt's Tanning Salon
November 4th, 2011
10:02 am
@Thomas Brown
Do you ever NOT copy and paste anything? How about something original for once.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:02 am
Restore UGA
Come on now; whats wrong with running a 153lb RB up the middle in the SEC for no gain 90% of the time
Dont you realize that when we do that this allows us to put our defense back on the field for conditioning work.
I mean I know when we run the I-formation with Figgens as the lead blocker we almost always get a good gain
But thats no fun and we are not here to run up the score and hurt the other teams feelings
We want to make it as close as possible thats why we make sure our defense is tired and worn out by the end of the game
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:02 am
Let’s do a big list of all the players unavailable for Saturday’s game because they graduated.
That would make about as much sense as TB’s list………..
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:05 am
Let’s p!ss and moan and gripe about games in the past and games that haven’t happened yet and about how the teams on our schedule did against other teams because that makes them cupcakes and let’s complain that we should have changed the schedule because they were cupcakes and play better teams even though we are required to play them because a contract was signed and because some of them are in our division in the SEC east and let’s complain about our drug policy that is mandated university policy to follow protocol because of legal ramifications but let’s gripe because our AD and coaches avoid possible legal issues by following the policy.
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:08 am
Let’s gripe about our coaching staff and let’s make a list of better coaches like other schools have and let’s hire one of them and sit back and gripe some more the 1st time they lose a game and let’s then go talk to Tennessee,Miami and Notre Dame about hiring the next greatest hotshot worked out for them but let’s ignore what they tell us about getting caught up in the grass being greener on the other side, especially around the septic tank.