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
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:11 am
Mobile Dawg
Yes I agree I called Mr. Tinkle an 8 yr old
But Ive been called many other names by him before I called him an 8 yr old
names such as
Fat head, Troll, Tech fan and Dbag
Mr. Tinkle; Altamaha Dope and Low Country Moron started the name calling earlier this year and
frankly Im not going to take it from 3 Idiots who think legalizing pot will stimulate an economy and
by the way never give any facts about the state of the program other than your a Tech fan, your a troll, your a FL fan, go pull for another team, or you never attended a UGA game
Trojan
November 4th, 2011
10:17 am
Hey Mark, try something different. You are horrible, even with great athletes.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:23 am
Dawgin Lex
The next greatest hotshot?
Well I guess if the following programs had your thinking we wouldnt have seen the results we did
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:24 am
Texas Mack Brown
USC Carrol
Oregon Chip Kelly
Texas Tech Mike Leach
Steve Smith
November 4th, 2011
10:26 am
So,Coach Richt,how is your philosophy working for you now ?
Richt's Tanning Salon
November 4th, 2011
10:26 am
Ahhhh Tommy Brown, not AGAIN!!!
@Trojan, I agree with ya lol.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:26 am
Oklahoma Bob Stoops
WDE
November 4th, 2011
10:26 am
No one will ever coach at UGA that makes everyone happy…never going to happen. We are 6-2 this year and to hear the trolls we should be 0-8 but guess what if we where the spewage level would be the same….darn shame actually.
.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:27 am
Auburn Chizik
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:27 am
Alabama Stallings then Saban
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
10:27 am
FTR I lost all respect for the coaching ability of Mark Richt as I was walking away from the Liberty Bowl in the rain at Memphis last year. All respect and hope. Because I have been around the block and down long dusty roads more than a few times I realize there’s not one demm thing I can do about it. My frustration level has peaked as high as any Dawg fan anywhere. I also realize this is “just football” and even though it is just football it still brings me great joy even when the times are bad.
I am no Richt fan or ardent supporter. He lost that last year. With that said, he is still the coach of the Georgia Bulldogs and being such I will continue to support him as the coach of my team as long as he is the coach of the Georgia Bulldogs.
I believe Richt to be a fine honorable man. I believe that fine and honorable is but a smaller percentage of the job description for coach of UGA. With the larger percentage being winning football games and championships. Sans the last 6 games, Richt hasn’t been meeting his job requirements and it has nothing to do with his character or morality.
I understand the frustration of Flat Tire and Thomas Brown, I don’t agree with it but that’s more a difference of our personalities. I would consider both of these guys as big of a Georgia Bulldog fan as I. Just the fact that they are here b!tching and complaining is evidence of that. These guys are true passionate fans just like the kool-aid drinkers which are true passionate fans and all the fans inbetween.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:27 am
FL Spurier then Meyer
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:28 am
LSU Saban
Booger flicker
November 4th, 2011
10:29 am
Hey, I have an idear, let’s talk bout sumthing different, saaayy the Alabama/LSU game coming up tommorrow night??!!! Much more exciting than babbling on about this coach Rickt guy and his drug using bulldoggies.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:29 am
Ohio St Jim Tressel
Tennessee Phil Fulmer
All those teams had bad years found a coach and success came back to the program
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:29 am
mack brown almost got run out of austin because he couldn’t beat his biggest rival for years
pete carroll cheated to win anything he won
chip kelly has not won a meaningful game outside of his league
mike leach never won the conference and the games he won are now tainted because of how he handle himself
Now, let’s move to my list:
Kiffin/Dooley-Where are the results?
Miami-shannon/Golden-Where are the results? Plus NCAA troubles
Notre Dame-Weis/Kelly-always overrated and always lose big games. No bowl wins other than 1 Hawaii Bowl in 20 years.
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
10:30 am
Flat Tire
Whats the point of naming coaches for a job opening that doesn’t exist?
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:31 am
You are now defending Fulmer?
fulmer gets compared to Richt more than any other single coach in America.
Be careful where you step………..
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:32 am
Tressel?
Cheated to win
Next?
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
10:32 am
DawginLex
Actually, Mike Leach did some tremendous things at TT. To achieve what he did there should put him on anyones short list of coaches. The problem with Leach is the baggage he comes with. Which is smoke and mirrors from ESPN and Craig James
Booger flicker
November 4th, 2011
10:33 am
Fulmer is very similar to Richt. Obviously much heavier!
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:33 am
flat tire’s standard is beating your rivals, winning your conference and being in the national title hunt
Leach failed at that
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:33 am
ARdawg
The day I lost respect for Richt was the Alabama embarrasment and Richt coming to the defense of the greatest D coordinator some of the kool-aid crowd on here believe Willie Martinez
That day I realized Richts friendship was more important than the UGA program and its fanbase
DawginLex
November 4th, 2011
10:35 am
Pretty sure richt fired Martinez
Now that being said, he kept him too long.
Look, if Richt loses another game this year, he potentially is toast.
I’ll support the next guy.
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
10:38 am
Flat Tire
That day was a grave disappointment for me. But, The day I realized we were being under coached exponentially was the 2006 Sugar Bowl. Only confirmed at Knoxville the following year. That was the decline of the program as I saw it
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:40 am
Dawgin Lex
LOL
You want to say Mike Leach hasnt done anything WOW No one knew Texas Tech was a football team until he got their
Mack Brown yes was almost run out of town but unlike Richt; Mack Brown made the necessary changes to start beating his most important rival OK unlike Richt has done with FL plus I think Mack Brown has won a National Championship and more conference championships than Richt
Pete Carol oh wow one ball player caught but Richt leading the nation in player arrests year after year and cant win a title
Fulmer came in and won and won a championship Richt hasnt and Tenn hadnt in many years before Fulmer got their
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
10:40 am
DawginLex
I think Richt has pretty much secured his job this year. And IMHO, rightfully so, beating a bad FL gators should have done that with the 6th win. He’ll win at least 3 of 4 now and who besides Maryland fires a 9-3 coach?
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
10:43 am
9-3 and being in the hunt for the East (as bad as it is) is significant improvement. I just hope they don’t renew his contract for another 4-5 years. Not because I want to see him go, I don’t. Because he hasn’t earned a new contract
WDE
November 4th, 2011
10:51 am
I’m having a hard time understanding how with the top 4 tail backs out for tomorrow’s game we are a 33 point favorite ?? I’m not a gambling man but I’m real tempted to take the points.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
November 4th, 2011
10:51 am
ARdawg
If something is not done about the offensive coordinator I will not support this staff period
Grantham has shown that if you get someone in here that knows what they are doing with the talent UGA has and can get this program will get back on track
But standing by bobo is just another problem like the Willie Martinez debacle
Bobo should go back coaching the QB’s
Republicans for Richt!
November 4th, 2011
10:53 am
Can’t have it both ways. CMR either gets and extension or gets shown the door. You can’t just sit on the pot mulling it over forever. Well… Maybe you can in Athens?
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
11:10 am
Flat Tire
I guess that depends on your definition of support. I agree with you about Bobo but, Richt IMO is responsible for the team, offense and defense. Frankly I don’t care who he has and who he has is a reflection of him no matter who it is. He’s the coach and shoulders all of the credit or blame.
Republicans for
Richt’s current contract goes through the 2012 season.
Smokedawg
November 4th, 2011
11:29 am
These blogs have gotten out of control. Do any of you realize that kids of these schools likely do read these blogs? Potential recruits? These are kids. They make mistakes. The holier-than-thou philosophies put on these comments are flat out embarrasing. Are you peoople actually like this is real life? Would you act the same in person?
I’ve got news for you. Flat tire has some valid political points, but so do the “liberals”. UGA’s program has problems but so do 99% of the other schools. Bama has tree burners. AU has a list of probations and the Cam Newton saga…which they were cleared of so let it go. Tech is on probation for violating an investigation. Tennessee had to deal with Kiffin and using girls for recruting. Florida has to deal with Demps, Rainey, and drug problems. And for most of these schools, the majority of the fan base did not even attend the school…that goes for UGA, AU, Florida, and Bama.
Unless you are Alabama or LSU, your school likely has problems on the field. And after Saturday, there will be those lunatics blaming the game on Miles or Saban for some perceived bone-headed move.
I am so disgusted that some people live and die by trying to get a rise out of other schools fans by posting such sleaze and garbage on these sites. These blogs once served as a place to get away for 30 minutes and discuss the joys of football, but now it is a soap box in an attempt for certain individuals feel superior. The AJC should be ashamed that they have allowed this to get so out of control. User names and ISP’s need to be registered and monitored.
I’m sure many of you will be happy to know that I will not only say I will be boycotting these blogs until restrictions are placed, but I will actually do as I say. You should be happy you have football and a team that is 6-2, or coming off a National Championship, or playing for a National Championship, or a team striving hard to be relevant again. While things do get covered up, more often than not there is not a conspiracy. It baffles me that after the past decade someone could even question Richt’s integrity. This has nothing to do with his coaching. He has 85 kids on a roster. They are not all going to be good kids. This is the same for all schools. Try to have some vision on the things you comment on. Just because you had a bad experience with a fanbase, don’t let it cloud your judgment. I had an AU carved into my new car and tires punctured at a game that AU won, but I do not believe every AU fan to be a hillbilly redneck piece of garbage.
So many of you need to grow up and be thankful you have college football and a distraction from the realities of life.
Fat Tire Amber Ale
November 4th, 2011
11:31 am
@ARdawg
Will you send CMR out to recruit with a one year contract?
Whether you like him, or not, there’s two choices:
1. Contract extension.
2. Contract termination.
You can’t help it if the SEC East is down. You can take the quality of opponents into account when reviewing this season. Richt might take away the options and walk. Wouldn’t blame him if he did. He’s independently wealthy now and doesn’t have to deal with any more of this BS if he doesn’t want to.
cr0n
November 4th, 2011
11:33 am
What a joke. Hire a coach to run the special teams, like 99% of all the other teams who are making us look silly week in week out on all facets of special teams. Richt, you take the special teams. Put your studs on the field for special teams and quit trying to baby them.
Fat Tire Amber Ale
November 4th, 2011
11:33 am
@Smokedawg
KTHXBYE
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
11:39 am
Fat Tire Amber
The short answer to your question is yes. Richt has coached himself into that corner, let him coach himself out. without making it another 12 million dollar mistake.
The brass tacks is this: If they terminate his contract, it decimates the program and we start all over. Perhaps the program needs decimation? Richt has been given everything he needs to be successful, every ingredient. Now, either he is a good coach or he isn’t IMO, that is determined on the field
Smokedawg, then why read it?
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
11:44 am
@ARdawg
I agree with what you just said. On the other hand, there’s never been a contract written that can’t be broken. I doubt that money is as big an issue as public perception for the folks making the decision.
If Coach Richt comes back next year, I suspect it will be with a five year contract extension.
Soccerdawg
November 4th, 2011
11:45 am
Why do we need a tight ends coach when we don;t throw to the tightend?
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
11:51 am
You don’t throw to the Center either. Why do you need an O-line coach?
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
11:53 am
SCAR GO
Contracts are suppose to protect both parties. If they do not give Richt an extension or a new contract he will simply work under the present one. I expect you are probably right. However, if it were up to me, I do not reward failure and thus would not offer him one. Thats me personally but, this is a crazy world. Down is up and black is white nowadays.
If he wins the east he deserves one. 9-3 he deserves more time and a 2-3 year extension would be appropriate
SCAR GO!
November 4th, 2011
12:10 pm
Either way you look at it, Richt got lucky this year. Luck ain’t a bad trait in a HC – just ask an LSU fan.
I just don’t see him coming back without an extension. That’s what makes the most sense, but that ain’t how these tea sippin’ University Presidents operate.
ARdawg
November 4th, 2011
12:57 pm
Sometimes I’d much rather be lucky than good
mikedawg
November 4th, 2011
1:44 pm
Richt, correct me if I am wrong.. Did’nt you say last year to the AD that with the paperwork and admin duties you would be able to get back to the Xs and Os of football? Well special teams must be Ys and Zs cause it ain’t happeing, and you walk around the issues with double talk…
aaron in arizona
November 4th, 2011
3:35 pm
to answer someone’s question, the last blocked kick was this year – the extra point attempt at Tenn, correct???
with that i’m not saying i like the way our special teams are playing overall, and i’m tired of a predictable offensive game plan. once in a while see wrinkle or maybe some sort of reverse or play that is very out of the ordinary. i see lack of imagination on offense. i am, too, tired of hearing all this “coach speak” about getting more time to focus on football, noting there are problems- but they don’t seem to get fixed or change, etc, etc. for the past 3 seasons.
we’ve beaten tenn/fla is same season first time since 88, and why do i not feel excited about that? why do i not feel confident going into games anymore? why do i see no continued improvement? (except for the defense?) however, go dawgs and sic ‘em. will always be a uga dawg.
aaron in arizona
November 4th, 2011
3:37 pm
……(except for the defense) — no “?” should be there.
also, sorry for errors, trying to type quickly. aaron
The Commissioner
November 4th, 2011
4:50 pm
The majority of people on here are correct when they say that it’s time for Richt to go. He is no longer capable of coaching the team to the levels he once used to. It’s apparent when, in his tenure, you’ve seen the following teams pass UGA up with their “newer” head coaches – with newer offensive mindsets – Auburn (Chizik – 2 yrs), Arkansas (Petrino has outcoached Richt now), Alabama (didn’t take long for Saban to turn that program around), LSU (Miles doing just fine with a ring on his finger), Florida (Meyer did it twice, quicker than Richt even got an SEC ring), South Carolina (Spurrier is recruiting better and coaching better than UGA now), and yes – Vanderbilt (Coach Franklin is definitely earning his salary in comparison).
11 years…and we’ve seen digression, not progression. You are pre-ranked #1 with Stafford, Moreno, Green, Massaquoi, Durham…and you sputter? Come on, guys.
Just because Richt is a great guy, and I don’t challenge that, doesn’t mean he’s a great coach. The Bowden disciples have all become obsolete (Brad Scott, Bobby Bowden, Terry Bowden, Tommy Bowden, Chuck Amato) – it’s only time for the last chip to fall. It was find while it lasted, but the time is up. I hate to see him go too, but it’s best for all parties involved. And, lastly, though he may not be better than Richt, the history books will tell you that Jim Donnan even got fired after a winning season…and his attitude reflected his firing more than his coaching did…even though he was running a Ponzi scheme, coaches do get fired for making their team look unorganized and out of control – pretty much what’s happening with Georgia right now.
Dawg17
November 4th, 2011
5:02 pm
Why not hire a Special teams coach instead of having a TE coach. TE’s could work with receivers during passing drills and with the O-Line during blocking drills? Better yet, just move out TE coach to Special Teams since he is obviously not needed to coach the TE position because we don’t use them even though they are the best in the nation! We even had a TE move to FB so he could help the team and thus far he has 0 rushing and 1 passing attempt, apparently we aren’t using FB’s anymore either. Guess you could say I’m sick of Richt and his choir boys!!!
Dawg17
November 4th, 2011
5:11 pm
DawginLex? I may have missed it, but what’s your thoughts on Chris Peterson? I think he would be an awesome fit for UGA. Runs a great program, very athletic, smart, and clean too. At first thought one might think “no” because Dan Hawkins failed, but research it, Chris Peterson was his OC, so maybe Dan never had it to begin with. UGA could easily triple his salary too!
Dawg17
November 4th, 2011
5:17 pm
@ WDE… I’m complaining about Richt because I’ve seen enough to know that his heart isn’t in it. He’s lucky as H3LL he didn’t have to play Bama, LSU, or Ar-Kansas this year. That’s 3 automatic losses. Less Miles would probably fake punt every time! LOL Wait there I go again…. being a troll!! LOL