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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > December > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLeave Willie Martinez alone
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Leave Willie Martinez alone. The same goes for the rest of those on the Georgia football coaching staff.
That’s exactly what head guy Mark Richt said he will do this offseason, and that’s exactly what he should do.
In other words, it’s not the fault of Richt, Martinez or any other Georgia coach for the Bulldogs’ drop from national championship expectations to a 9-3 record this season. As football sage Bill Parcells likes to say, you often are what your record says you are, and the Bulldogs are 9-3. They always were nothing more than that.
Such was true, even before this season, despite all of Georgia’s No. 1 rankings and talk in the Bulldog Nation of going undefeated — or losing maybe once.
In case you’re wondering, my preseason pick for Georgia was … 9-3. You can look it up. It was based on the Bulldogs’ monstrous schedule that not even superlative coaching and great talent was going to overcome.
Here’s another thing: Richt is one of just seven coaches in college football history to win more than 80 games (81) during his first eight seasons. His Bulldogs are 30-4 in opponent’s stadiums. Not only that, with a win in Georgia’s upcoming bowl game, he will finish with a 10-victory season for the sixth time.
I mention this, because Richt obviously has a formula for success. It begins and ends with stability in his coaching staff. The only major departures during the Richt era at Georgia have been offensive coordinator Neil Callaway and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. They’ve had capable successors in Mike Bobo and Martinez, respectively.
Yes, Martinez.
No question, the Bulldogs have gifted players on defense. So that means Martinez didn’t adjust well enough at times, especially with Georgia relinquishing a slew of points during the second half of this season. There also was that brutal gashing of the Bulldogs on the ground last Saturday by Georgia Tech.
It’s just that Martinez’s track record is solid. His unit led the SEC in overall defense last season and finished eight nationally in sacks and 14th nationally in total defense. The year before that, Martinez’s unit finished eighth nationally in total defense, and the year before that, Martinez’s unit was eighth nationally in scoring defense.
So it’s not the coaching. It’s the team, and it’s only good, not great.
Permalink | Comments (197) | Categories: UGA/SEC
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By What?
December 3, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
UGA gave up 41, 49, 38, 38, and 45 points in games this year, but no coaching changes will be made. Now, we open at OK State next year - we may have to score 100 points if we hope to win ‘cause we know they will score a ton of points!
By Dogbyte
December 3, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
You are trying to talk logic to a bunch of illogical idiots, Terence. Good luck.
By yeah
December 3, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
For once in my life I agree with TM. I had all of the emotions of the game and wanting to fire willie now! Mark Richt has led us from the land of goff and donnan. Back then this would have still been a great year. I stand by my coach. Mad but supportive. go dawgs! Can’t wait til bowl game and next season!
By 78 DAWG
December 3, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
You’re right 9-3 is what they always were, Vegas had the win total at 9 before the season and…………. Schedule, not that monstrous, as a matter of fact, pretty mediocre since AZ ST, LSU, Auburn and Tenn all turned out to be, mediocre. Richt does have a reciepe for success. Recruit top talent, let them act anyway they want in the class room and on and off the field with no accountability, so the next group of high school senior will want to come to UGA. Tanning every Tuesday and hair plugs after 2008 season.
By scoreboard
December 3, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
Well, that seals it. I’ve been having trouble deciding whether I thought Martinez should stay or go. But Ol’ Terrence has helped me make my decision. If Terrence likes him, then he needs to go. Now.
Thanks for the help, Terrence. Your sage writings quite often help me make difficult decisions in this confusing world or ours…
By The Old Man
December 3, 2008 11:27 AM | Link to this
I am reminded of my all time favorite quote by a football coach:
“Collegiate Head Football coaching is a crazy way to make a living - your job security depends upon whether an 18-year old kid. If that kid catches the pass, you are coach of the year. If that kid drops that pass, you are fired.”
By TNJeff
December 3, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this
If I had any doubts about my opinion concerning Willie’s need to be let go, I doubt no more.
If Moore is for keeping him, I know he needs to go. Never has one sportswriter been so consistently wrong about any & everything!
Keep up the fine work Terence!
By TNJeff
December 3, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
Hey Dogbyte - I bet you were a Chan fan too!
Pot to Kettle - connect the dots
By Z. Itchy
December 3, 2008 11:30 AM | Link to this
I just don’t think the Dawgs had the horses this year, especially on the ends. They need to recruit quick ends about 6’5”, 250. A high vertical leap would be nice too.
By Bill
December 3, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Glad you said all that - you’d think from some messages I’ve seen on other blogs that these folks think that Richt would - just because he’s a nice guy - keep coaches who cost him a significant number of victories.
He wouldn’t.
It doesn’t take a heck of a lot of common sense to know that (1) Richt, even if he was slow-witted and he’s not, understands football based on being involved in it professionally for so long (2) He wants to win, not only is it more fun than losing, his own job relies on that (3) If he believed that he could substantially change the win/loss ratio by making changes in the coaching staff he would.
But, from the messages I’ve been reading on various blogs lately, people seem to think that he’s decided … well, they’re my buddies, it’ll screw up my win/loss record to keep them, but what the hell I will anyway.
When you hire a professional - a doctor, a lawyer, a football coach - you have to presume that person - by experience and the apptitude for that line of work that got them there in the first place - knows more than you do. My guess is that most of the people who have called for various changes have zero professional football experience and yet, somehow, think that they’ve channeled Bear Bryant and have obtained - just from watching TV and reading sports stories - expertise that gives them more football wisdom thant the professionals.
All I can hope is that they haven’t been watching aviation movies and now think that they can fly a 777.
By T
December 3, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Great article.. and alot of logic and facts.. I agree with you.. Thanks Terence
By Gators Eat Boogers
December 3, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this
Teams mirror their coaches and this team was the most undisciplined team I have ever seen. We lost to Tech and would have made a game of the Bama and UF games if we weren’t so undisciplined. Knuckle head penalties that go unpunished, that is bad coaching. And don’t get me started on the red zone play calling.
By RxDawg
December 3, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this
Unfortunatley most dawg fans will dismiss your comments due to where they come from and not what they say, but I agree. The coaching staff has stayed the same over the years, it’s the players that have changed. Our defense is riddled with overhyped recruits that just haven’t developed into football players. Now we have a few gems. Asher Allen and Rennie Curran are fantastic players. I may even through out Geno Atkins name too. Unfortunatley they are about it. Dawg fans it happens. We will rebound, we will get some players in there that actualy want to hit somebody. Don’t forget, we were within ear shot of playing in the national championship game and ened up #2 in the nation only just last year. The only changing factor is the players. Big time players make big time plays and we just didn’t have enough of them to accomplish our goals.
By Dan
December 3, 2008 11:33 AM | Link to this
Boy that schedule was monstrous wasn’t it! LSU and South Carolina put up deceiving 7-5 records. Tennessee, Auburn and Arizona State are all looking forward to their bowl games…oh wait. Georgia played two great teams and one good team and gave up over 40 in each game. They were plagued by poor tackling, missed assignments and mental mistakes ALL SEASON LONG and they did nothing to fix it. They were still making the same mistakes in week one that they made in week 13. That’s unacceptable. If Richt wants to keep Martinez, that’s his call, but the defense was a failure this year.
By 59-39-5
December 3, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
Terrance, I often disagree with you, but in this instance, you are right on the money. People have such a short term view of things. I have been saying all year that Martinez is solid, he just had to deal with a ton of injuries and an offense and special teams that put him in bad positions throughout the year.
By JCubby
December 3, 2008 11:35 AM | Link to this
Another nice statistic was relayed during the Tech game on TV. Only two teams have finished the season ranked in the top ten every year for the past six years. The University of Southern California and the University of Georgia. Pretty good company. We may or may not make it this year, but lets not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Let the coach do his job. When he is convinced there is a problem, he will fix it. This year during a four game stretch, Texas gave up 35,31,24,and 39 points, yet everybody wants to hire their DC and Texas gave him a healthy raise to stay. How about a little perspective please. Win Lose or Draw, it’s great to be a Georgia Bulldog!
By Dog-on
December 3, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
I guess we will be better next year? If not someone has to go!! We are known for our “D” being very Aggressive & Good and sound fundametally. We were none of these. I am a big DOG FAN we must get better. lets win our bowl game in front of a national crowd. and get ready for next season. GO Dogs!!!!
By sprtdog
December 3, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this
I think Willie Martinez is a fine football coach. He has produced some outstanding defensive backs at UGA who are now in the NFL including walk-on Tra Battle. However, he has shown in four seasons he does not have the ability to lead UGA to the kind of defense it takes to win SEC and national championships. The difference between UGA and UF this season is defense. On Saturday, UF fumbled inside the Gator 10 and the Gator defense held FSU to a field goal. In Athens, UGA fumbles a kick at their 20-25 yard line and Tech scores on the next play running right up the middle. Sometimes defenses have to step to bail out offensive mistakes just like offense have to step up to help their defense when facing a very productive offense Willie had a good game plan for the first half but once CPJ solved it at halftime UGA defense was easy pickings. In UGA’s three losses this season, Bama UF and GT all scored more than 30 points in one half. Don’t forget the 2006 UT game when the Vols hit UGA for 37 in the second half. When a coordinator has UGA’s number, the Bulldog defense is at his mercy. The big problem at UGA this season is the defensive line that has better talent than what it showed this year. Bulldogs have to get tough up front on defense and next year could be the big year fans hoped in 2009 and 2010. I am not a Willie basher and again I believe he is very good football coach. UGA though has to shore up their defensive problems if they want to sell their program to recruits as an SEC and national championship contender. You should never LOSE a game where your offense scores SIX touchdowns against a top rated defense like Georgia Tech’s that has four future NFL defensive linemen.
By Drew
December 3, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Terence, it’s not just this year. Look at previous years and look at the games where the other team had a huge half against our defense. Tennesse did it two years in a row. They scored 40+ at Sanford in the 2nd half in 06 and then last year they scored 28 in the first half. Oh ya, remember the West Virginia romp in the 1st half? Willie’s defense has had some good games, but if a team has his number, he CANNOT adjust until it is too late. Nobody fears the UGA defense anymore. Allowing 25 points a game in the SEC is not acceptable.
By Bill
December 3, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
Georgia has a coaching problem, but it is not Willie.
By ugarulz44
December 3, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
ummm…Lets see. Talent will only go sooo far right, then that is where coaching comes into play. Well a 9-3 record with the players that we have…means the talent did what they had to do and the coaching stunk it up. Who’s ultimately responsibility is it for a team’s success??? THE COACHING. And the coaching failed this year. Moore you are an idiot and always have been. If you think that Martinez did a good job this year….then how do you explain UGA leading the SEC in total offense and then the defense giving up 20+ points to eight teams this year………UGA defense is 10th in SEC in points allowed(thats out of 12 teams buddy). Sooo should we really leave Willie alone. Willie never made adjust in the Bama or Florida game( we might still lost anyways, but he didn’t even put up a fight) and the TECH…we got drilled by a high school offense. Gave credit to TECH, but its not like that offense is some secret or hard to defend…..unless you are being coached by Willie Martinez. HE should be fired or at the most have one more year to turn it around. But to be honest…..I am really disappointed with the way Richt has coached this year….we haven’t seen that fire in him, and he has lost control of his team. UGA led the nation in penalties and DUI’s…..that falls on lack of control from coaching(players are to blame as well)……BUT like i said ultimately who’s responsible for the success and fall of a team???? The Coach, and he and the rest of the staff have failed.
TECH and UGA have the same record…..one team clearly has more Talent than the other, but one team’s Coach is being touted as having a successful year…….and it should be no surprise who that coach is.
By The Grinch
December 3, 2008 11:43 AM | Link to this
‘sup, Dogbyte?
Terrence, I picked the Dawgs to go 10-2 at the beginning of the season (that should also be on record here somewhere, should anyone care to look it up). The schedule was horrible, the off-season suspensions were disturbing, key injuries, and the curse of SI the worst of all. HOWEVER, I did think we’d at least show up in our two losses, beat tech and go to the Sugar bowl (I figured Florida would probably play in the NC game).
Martinez had an off year, no doubt. But he also only had one solid cornerback and no defensive ends. When Owens got injured, he couldn’t take up the slack on the line, and you can’t blitz if you’ve only got one corner to play man. That doesn’t explain it all, of course; he still could have done a better job. But I’m not sure he should be fired.
What I’d like to know is, with all our five star recruiting classes how we wound up with one cornerback, no defensive ends and an all freshman offensive line. THAT ought to be addressed. And the special teams coach DOES need to be fired.
That all said, let’s go whip Michigan State!
By RedAndBlack
December 3, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
Do you agree that: 1) Even though the offense took more hit to injuries, they’ve stayed consistent throughout the year as far as scoring and making adjustments? 2) The offense has put up enough points in a lot of the games this year to be able to win by a comfortable margin? 3) Mike Bobo, after two years, has improved more as a Coordinator than the said Defensive Coordinator after 6 years? 4) The defense, with all the talent still in tact from last year, has underachieved in 2008…not last year nor the year before? 5) The offensive line, as young as it is, blocked better for Stafford and Moreno than the defense on stopping the run? 6) The defense, even having to defend on a bad field position, allowed way too many touchdowns instead of limiting the opposing team to settle for field goal?
Last question: Should the big three auto makers be given $35billion from TARP without restructuring? No. My point is, the system is broken somewhere and it’s up to the coaches to deeply assess and find what needs to be fixed or else donations will be less than years past. Even CMR admits they need to improve. Why settle for being a good 10 win team each year when the talent exists to be a great team. You may want to read Jim Collin’s book ‘Good to Great’.
By Plant
December 3, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this
I believe this to be the first column of TM’s that I’ve ever agreed with. I’m tired of the vocal minority spewing nonsense on a daily basis about the staff. It’s rare that TM is the voice of reason in this rag.
Go Dawgs!
By Pietro
December 3, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
TM overlooks these important facts: The supposedly 8th ranked defense from last year returned 9 starters and added several highly ranked freshman. The players on this defense are probably more talented than last year, yet performed pathetically. The only explanation is poor preparation, which in my mind is the coach’s job. The allowing of massive yardage and points was due to two basic things, both related to coaching: (1) poor scheme and inability to adjust to what the offense was doing; (2) poor tackling, which is a basic skill that should be practiced often even at the college level.
By techeatsvomit
December 3, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
T, I never, ever, ever agree with anything you have ever said…..until now. Mark hasn’t forgotten how to coach, nor has Willie. You can’t expect Demarcus Dobbs and Rod Battle to morph into David Pollack, Charles Johnson or Marcus Howard. Those guys don’t grow on trees.
Chill, it’ll be fine.
By roswell dad
December 3, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Terrance: Finally I get to agree with you. Unfortunately, the Bulldog Nation has crybabies who are not happy at 9-3. Lets see how many guys make the All-SEC 1st team other than possibly Marino and Stafford, then we’ll discuss all this talent that we keep hearing about. Talent plays and talent wins, check our defenses in the past . We don’t have guys at present on defense who could carry some of their jocks. Coach Richt is a guy who has a track record as a winner, and you can bet in the off-season he will motivate all the coaches and players to get the best out of them next year. Maybe since Tech has all this young talent, the sportswriters will set them up next year by predicting a National Championship for them. Give them the kiss of death that they gave the Dogs this year. It takes the total of offensive line, defensive line, defensive ends that can rush the passer, and on and on to be considered to be a National Championship hopeful. Dogs had some pieces, but not all the pieces to win a Championship. Quit this “blame game” and show some class…….
By Tech75
December 3, 2008 11:52 AM | Link to this
Keep him! Please?
By Steve Superior
December 3, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this
The puppy dawgs were a lot closer to 6-6, than 12-0. Lucky to hang on against the three juggernauts, Carolina, Kentucy and Auburn. What a schedule!
By AlphaDog
December 3, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Hey people, Saragin(the SOS Standard), still has UGA with the 6th or 7th toughest schedule in the nation this year, we may not be the #1 toughest, but we still didn’t fall that far(even with UA, LSU and TN falling the way they did). Though, its still no excuss for the terrible play the last 6 weeks.
By BIG HARRY....
December 3, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this
Most people would agree that “what” goes wrong is not as important as “how” it gets fixed… in the case of Georgia’s D: Nothing was fixed.
Martinez doesn’t have to be fired, he can go back to coaching the DBs.
Doesn’t really matter - Richt’s not going to make a change in his staff.
Maybe next year will be better….
By RedAndBlack
December 3, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Do you agree that: 1) Even though the offense took more hit to injuries, they’ve stayed consistent throughout the year as far as scoring and making adjustments?
2) The offense has put up enough points in a lot of the games this year to be able to win by a comfortable margin?
3) Mike Bobo, after two years, has improved more as a Coordinator than the said Defensive Coordinator after 6 years?
4) The defense, with all the talent still in tact from last year, has underachieved in 2008…not last year nor the year before?
5) The offensive line, as young as it is, blocked better for Stafford and Moreno than the defense on stopping the run?
6) The defense, even having to defend on a bad field position, allowed way too many touchdowns instead of limiting the opposing team to settle for field goal?
Last question: Should the big three auto makers be given $35billion from TARP without restructuring? No. My point is, the system is broken somewhere and it’s up to the coaches to deeply assess and find what needs to be fixed or else donations will be less than years past. Even CMR admits they need to improve. Why settle for being a good 10 win team each year when the talent exists to be a great team. You may want to read Jim Collin’s book ‘Good to Great’.
By Bruce Mac
December 3, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
You are absolutely correct Terrance. One loss to Tech every 8 years and we want to fire coaches. What did you think, we were going to win every year for the rest of eternity. Oh my gosh, College kids drink, fire the coach he has lost control, give me a break. Morons are a plenty and they mostly wear gold or orange. Go Dawgs, everything is fine. We will be better next year with or without Stafford, because CMR will be back and he is the best coach we have ever had.
By ga_tech_92
December 3, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
All those years of top 5 recruiting isn’t good enough? Imagine if UGA played GT with mid level ACC level recruiting! Yet…mid level ACC recruiting whipped the dogs butts…interesting.
By Scrappy
December 3, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
I remain concerned by three major flaws with Coach Martinez: (1) His players demonstrate poor discipline and poor technique, despite the wealth of talent we have there; (2) he is a very poor game-day coach, as he seems unable or unwilling to make necessary adjustments; and (3) he continually blames his players, saying they just failed to execute his defensive scheme. Bottom line: BE A MAN and accept responsibility for your shortcomings as a coach! If they aren’t executing, it’s YOUR fault. Stop blaming the kids and do your job! Otherwise, please just go away.
By Warren
December 3, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
Blaming players will not work for UGA has great talent and everyone knows it. There is no hope in winning the SEC because of the great coaching quality at AL and Fl. When the head coach will not replace a bad coach because of personal reasons then it’s over. Rick was hired to build a championship program not family relations.
By Desert Dawg
December 3, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
Some people would complain if you were giving away $10 bills but did not provide a bag to put them in!!!
All those who place the blame for this years disappointing season on the Defense have apparently forgotten all the misques by the Offense and Special teams. Take away some of the fumbles and interceptions and GA could be 11-1.
All Dawg fans were disappointed this year…no doubt. But, firing the coach or coaches is not the solution. Simply stated, GA played to the level of a 9 win team (thank you Terence). The exact reason is a complicated combination of many factors, only one of which is coaching. Be happy with the 9 wins, New Years day bowl and optimistic for 2009. We have MUCH to be thankful for. Frankly, we have been spoiled by the success of CMR and his staff over the past 8 years.
The biggest problem with the DAWGS this year was an obvious lack of “on the field leadership”. NO ONE PLAYER declared “This is my team” and took charge. Like him or not, you have to give TEBOW credit for leadership. You don’t think Rutgers misses Ray Rice???
Stafford and Moreno were great athletes but just did not have the leadership skills…very few do! How many post-game interviews did you see with GA Athletes? Not many! I suspect this is the reason.
Leadership is a critical intangible that can’t be coached but is vital for the highest levels of success.
Here’s hoping that in 2009 someone emerges as the “TOP DAWG” and takes a very talented team back into the BCS.
By willie
December 3, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
if the coach calls the right play and guys are in position to make the tackle, what else can he do…the players are the ones responsible for this years problems.
By Terence Moore
December 3, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this
From glancing at the blogs, I’m glad to see there are a lot of sensible-thinking folks out there when it comes to Richt and his staff.
Here’s another thing to remember: Many, if not most, college football teams get rid of an assistant coach or three every season these days. And those teams still remain mediocre or less.
And consider this: The USA Today pointed out the other day that the average life of a head coach in college football has dropped to a little more than five years.
Richt has been at Georgia for eight, which means he sort of knows what he’s doing when it comes to most things, especially with that record.
By Tech75
December 3, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this
RedAndBlack - I think you need to factor in that you had 3 first-round draft choices playing at RB, QB, and WR.
Those 3 would make ANY OC look good.
By Supes
December 3, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this
TM, as usual you are WRONG sir.
UGA defensive players were all 3 star plus recruits out of HS. You know what we saw all year long, that the majority of the players ARE NOT FUNDAMENTALY SOUND.
They were out of position, and couldn’t tackle/wrap up to save their lives with a few exceptions.
Asher Allen, Renne Currain both have had solid years. The Interior DT players have played well most of the year.
That’s where it ENDS.
Secondary got burned many times, took poor angles when going for a tackle therefore taking themselves out of the play, and Rashard Jones was more interested in barking, talking tough and trying to make a “big hit look cool” than actually doing his job.
When you look at the UGA/Tech Game it was reflective on what UGA has been defensively the entire season. They played well for 2 quarters, then came out FLAT, over pursued, had missed tackles and assignments (Jones, Ellerbee and R. Brown) and were NOT physical enough on the perimeter.
Owens was a big loss, but our DT have held up OK.
Our DE play was abismal in 08. I’m shocked that we Don’t have a playmaking DE at UGA with all the “talent” coming in every year recruiting wise.
So stop defending Martinez. Someone has to take responsibility for the way UGA was gashed defensively in 08. Most of it falls on poor coaching. Poor execution/missed assignments/tackles is COACHING related. The coaches are supposed to make sure the players are held accountable and can play fundamental sound football.
When the other team has greater talent and they just OUTplay you, that’s one thing. Tech beats us b/c we were NOT ready and didn’t play well for 4 quarters…It has to fall on the coaching STAFF!
By Travis Hill
December 3, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
2001 19.0 points per game (no 30 point allowed games) 12 games 2002 16.3 points per game (no 30 point games allowed) 14 games 2003 14.5 points per game (34 to LSU) 14 games 2004 16.5 points per game (no 30 point games allowed) 12 games
Defensive Coordinator Brian VanGorder 1 30+ point game allowed in 52 games
2005 16.4 points per game (31 AU, 38 WVU) 13 games 2006 17.6 points per game (51 UT) 13 games 2007 20.2 points per game (35 UT, 30 UF, 34 Troy) 13 games 2008 23.4 points per game (41 Bama, 38 LSU, 49 UF, 38 UK, 45 TECH) 12
Defensive Coordinator Wiliie Martinez 11 - 30+ point games allowed in 51 games
Numbers don’t lie Terence…
Willie’s got to go!
By Dawg Fud
December 3, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
After looking back on the season, our schedule does not seem so monstrous. It was very manageable.
The four game stretch away from Sanford was tough, but we only played well in one of those games, LSU…and we gave up 38 pts.
We had two weeks to prepare for Tech and they ran all over us. Wake up people. It is either a talent issue or a coaching issue on defense, maybe both.
We are going to miss MoMass and his leadership…Damn good Dawg and person.
GO DAWGS!
By Okefenokee Dawgs
December 3, 2008 12:19 PM | Link to this
I would just like for someone on our team- either player or coach - to act like loosing bothered them. Especially when we have our arse handed to us like in the Bama and Florida games. This year it wasn’t the three loses - it was the way we lost. And everyone seems to act like it is no big deal. Now CMR says he will evaluate at the end of the year, but, oh yeah, we do that every year anyway. The Dawgs need a lot more than a little reevaluation at the end of this year. Failure to do so puts way too much emphasis on the 9 wins, and not the 3 horrid loses.
By Doc 54
December 3, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Georgia’s problem centers around the lack of “team” play, especially on defense. Defense has always called for players who will put the team ahead of individual stats. Look at Glenn Dorsey of LSU last season. While he certainly put up good numbers, most of his time was spent dealing with the double teams used against him. Such selfless play did not diminish his NFL value, and Georgia’s players should learn from this example.
In the Tech game, many of the defense players from Georgia seemed to be intent upon trying to force fumbles and make “highlight” plays rather than focusing on basic tackling. While the coach shares some of the blame for this, it is up to players to keep their heads in the game.
By scottinJaXBeach
December 3, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Oh Terence,
I agree with everyone else on here in saying that if you honestly believe CWM is not the problem then BY ALL MEANS HE IS!
Despite your stats, the Defense has gotten progressivley worse since has taken over! Terence, can you explain why this defense has given up as many points as they have? Yes it is the players but it is also comes from schemes and coaching. Something that CWM clearly knows little about! The scuttlebut I am hearing inside the lockeroom is that the Defensive players refer to Rodney Garner as “Coach Garner” and CWM simply as “Willie”.
That says it all right there!
By Dawg Fud
December 3, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
And if you think Joe Cox will start over Logan Gray next year you are crazy.
It would be the Tereshinski ordeal all over again.
By too tough44
December 3, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
Leave CMR alone. He is the best coach since Dooley. I hope he stays for long haul! He will make needed adjustments when necessary. Martinez, I hopefully, believe he will get some insight, advice, or something to improve his defensive schemes, plans etc…………..GO DAWGS!
By Dog in Fla
December 3, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this
The head coach, the defensive and special teams coaching staff needs to take all, not some, of the responsibilty for the waste of the most explosive offensive team UGA has ever had.
Their coaching jobs were saved by Bobo, Searles, Stafford, Moreno, Massaquoi and A.J.
There is no reason in the world why Stafford and Moreno should stay. Coach Richt imagines how they would do so much better under a seasoned offensive line. Were I Stafford or Moreno, my questions would be how do we lose a game we score 42 in and where in the world of Waldo did our special teams disappear.
Let’s face it: we have already had the best season we are going to have and it was the typical magical second season. Donnan was gone not too long after the team he had been waiting for fifty-five years to have. While Mark has done better than Jim and won’t be run off for awhile (See, Fulmer, Phil), complacency is a dangerous thing.
Do hard tail coaches such as Saban, Urban Meyer, Paul Johnson have off seasons? Yes, they do. Do they value coach and player competence and discipline over loyalty? Yes, they do. Do ours? Apparently not. Our coaches need to act more Old School than Sunday School.
By Dan
December 3, 2008 12:26 PM | Link to this
This column overlooks several salient facts. (1) Richt came from a FSU program which had incredible coaching stability, coincidentally, during a wonderful decade+ run in which FSU often simply “out-athleted” almost (though not) all of its competition. (2) UGA has talented athletes, to be sure, but they are not more talented than those playing for Florida and Alabama. (3) Coaching matters. Paul Johnson is innovative and contrarian. So is Urban Meyer. An average or merely good defensive coordinator is not going to outcoach them, particularly when Tech or UF’s players are executing well.
So long as UGA recruits well, the program can look forward to many 8-10 win seasons. Without better defensive coaching in particular (and more attention paid to special teams, too), however, do not expect many more SEC East titles, conference championships, or Top 10 finishes. Or many more wins over Tech so long as Paul Johnson is in Atlanta.
By PMC
December 3, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
while this is all well and Good Mr T.
If not now…. when?
Georgia has not won a national title since 1980. Only now are they coming back into national prominence and they are lucky most years to survive the division.
Georgia Tech has won a national title that is 10 years newer and currently thier program is in an easier position to win titles than is the one in Athens.
If not now… when?
By acworth dawg
December 3, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this
I must have watched a different GT game. I saw two or three players have a shot at making the tackle on all three long runs for touch downs in the second half. Now it seems to me that if the player is in the right place at the right time then they were coached correctly.
In the Florida game 2 scores were made due to blown coverages. Players not doing what they were suppose to be doing.
Our defense has carried us for many years and helped get us to this point. The same coach that everyone wants to fired today had a game plan to stop Hawaii in the sugar bowl, Florida, Auburn just this past year. Do you think he forgot how to coach.
And lastly, I love the Dawgs as much as anyone could be reading the blogs is depressing. Most people just want to Bit**. People talk about the players be thugs but based on the posting on the page and others; it seems to be that the thugs are the fans. Grow up and realize that CMR and CWM are way smarter than any of us and that none of us (or very few of us) could do any better.
By Doug
December 3, 2008 12:36 PM | Link to this
Disagree with you Terence. If you look at the reasons Donnan and Goff got fired, it’s because they had good to great offenses but failed miserably in hiring a great DC. Their teams also failed to improve defensively. When Van Gorder was here, UGA’s defense finally got back to the standards Erk Russell set and even bailed out UGA’s offense when it was inexperienced. Now Martinez is just like the DC’s Goff and Donnan had: average at best. I don’t expect UGA to win every game but I do expect them to improve over the year. The question you really need to ask yourself Terence is this: If you were an elite defensive player, would UGA be your first choice to consider in the SEC with Martinez as DC? Probably not. And if I’m wrong, I will apologize publicly. But now I sense a fan base eventually moving toward apathy if things do not improve. And pardon me with the media writers’ arrogance: you don’t have to be a football coach to tell if a coach is not doing his or her job — the statistics, the play of the team, and the final results tell you enough.
By EricADawgFan
December 3, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this
I don’t care what Terrance Moore has to say. Matinez has to go. I said earlier in the season that the Secondary is Suspect. I also said that the defense create a awful lot of penalties, and unesscessary ones at that. UGA need a tough Defensive Coordinator who can contain discipline on and off the field for the defensive players. In addition, select players with Leadership to assist with leading this team in victories.
By RedAndBlack
December 3, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
Tech75. And you know why those three are so good? Yes, they are talented but they’ll be average if the offensive line couldn’t block and Stacy Searels didn’t do a good job of rotating the linemen. The offensive line gave Stafford enough time to throw the ball to good wide receivers and the offensive line opened up holes enough times for Moreno to break loose. If you don’t have a good offensive line, the offense stalls…plain and simple.
By GTFan
December 3, 2008 12:42 PM | Link to this
So after being on the sideline for last weekends game. I have an opinion or two. I feel that the defense put on the field against Tech was built to beat the triple option with one more addition. Discipline. They had the speed, they had the assignments, they had two weeks to rest and prepare. It showed in the first half.
Another thing that stuck out at me was the show boating. I’m not saying the team as a whole isn’t one of the most talented teams in the country, I’m just saying they looked awfully cocky knowing that they were the most talented team on the field.
I would take a bunch of three star athletes commited to working hard every down any day of the week. With talent comes arrogance.
I don’t think Richt or Martinez can be blamed for any of the mental breakdowns in the second half. They can teach you how to tackle, yell at you to tackle, but the number of missed tackles on Saturday comes down to one thing. Who wants to be standing after the play.
On Saturday, it was Roddy, JD, and the ramblin’ wreck
By Spike
December 3, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this
GAtors Eat Boogers.. Are you who I think you are?
By Still
December 3, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
So… Apparently Georgia’s defensive players are uncoachable? Even Stevie Wonder could see the terrible angles these guys took to the ball carriers and receivers. They didn’t seem to know how to wrap a ball carrier up. They committed really dumb penalties. If it isn’t coaching then it must be players that are not able to learn. I doubt the latter.
By LawDawg23
December 3, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
Past seasons’ performances are always the refuges of the sportswriter apologists. As bad as many people hate it, the reality is that college football coaching and playing is all about what have you done for me lately. Yeah, you may scream that it is not fair, but there are other career choices for those that don’t like it. Teams change, your team and the opponents. What you did last year or even the last decade will not necessarily serve you well this year. Others have done an excellent job of pointing out what Willie Martinez has done lately and quite clearly the Dawgs’ defensive deficiencies reflect poor coaching. Great leaders/coaches are and should be measured by how well they can react to changing conditions. Great coaches win titles regularly; good coaches compete for titles regularly. The Dawg Nation is paying for great; not good coaches. There are several good coaches in the SEC, but they don’t draw the salaries of Richt and company. (Yes, they must have the athletes as well, but I don’t think anyone is going to argue that the Dawgs are low on athletes.)
By GTEngineer90
December 3, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this
hey acworth dawg
CMR and CWM may be smarter than any of you, but that may not be saying much.
and you are correct, sir, few (or none) of you could do better.
wow, that was too easy….
LOL
By doc
December 3, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
in retrospect the schedule looked more ordinary than the dogs did this season. i wonder what their real strength of schedule is now that the seaon is complete and did it matxh up to preseason hype in the same way the dogs did. funny i thought cmr was afraid of the ranking and began to talk everyone out of it before the season started rather than grab it and go. funny take to de-emphasize it. dont like saban but he says they want to win the whole thing, cmr wants to win the sec and go from there. guess which take is going to get the attention of the kids for getting to the highest rung and dont you have to collect the sec championship along the way to do it most times?
By Terence Moore
December 3, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
acworth dawg,
Good points about tackling and blown coverages in the Georgia Tech and Florida games, among others. Willie Martinez wasn’t out there doing (or not doing) those things.
After the players are told what to do those things by coaches, it’s up to the players to do them.
By Hey old man -11:27am blog...
December 3, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
I agree with you 100%, and I am old, too! I didn’t know Pepper said that about the 18 year olds, but 30+ years ago, as a grad assistant for Pat Dye, I made the decision I did NOT want a bunch of 18-20 year olds determining whether I was successful or not (of course, had I known then that college coaches would be making the kind of money they now make I might have stuck with it longer!).
My favorite saying came from Frank Howard, who said, when Clemson wanted to start a crew/rowing team, that as long as he was athletics director, Clemson would have no sport where you won by sitting on your butt going backwards!
By 76 Dawg
December 3, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this
Terrence,
When a defense is not fundamentally sound; who’s fault is it? I don’t believe anyone should be fired, but to me there is a focal point. I still say this team lacks chemistry.
By Gunner
December 3, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
THOSE WHO CHANGE HORSES IN MID-STREAM TEND TO GET WET!
LEAVE THEM ALONE
By MissUnderstood
December 3, 2008 1:11 PM | Link to this
Excuse me for just a moment. A lot of you people continue to state, “Georgia did not have the horses or talent to compete”. How is this possible? Haven’t they been in the Top 5 in recruiting over the last several years. If you are recruiting the top talent with the expectation of a NC then why have you not won the NC? Oh my could it be coaching? Not coordinators but HC. CPJ proved that coaching does make a difference. I will say one thing, UGA should go back to the old way of recruiting…who cares if the guy can read…he can play football. These current recruits can read and all they pay close attention to the media….We are #1. Horse Bleep
By Lilburn Dawg
December 3, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Some folks on here are complaining about being 9-3. Other folks wonder why these folks are complaining about being 9-3. The folks who are wondering why people are complaining don’t understand. The folks who are complaining and who don’t see 9-3 as acceptable is because when Richt was hired we expected that we would have a coach who could field a team that could beat Florida and Alabama every year and anybody else. We don’t have that. If we played 100 teams every year and ended up 98-2 but lost to Florida and any other SEC team, these folks would not feel satisfied. And also if we did lose, we shouldn’t ever get beat in such a humiliating way. Being competive and losing is different from showing up but not look like you know how to play. Whether this is right or wrong…..it’s just the way it is. Richt can win 11-1 every year but if he can’t consistently beat Florida and win the SEC on a regular basis, they’ll be people calling for his head.
What made this season worse was that the schedule was NOT as tough as what everyone thought it would be before it started. We were very lucky that, as it turned out, LSU, Tennessee, and Auburn were having bad years and that Spurrier hasn’t gotten SC to the level he wants them to be. Otherwise, as I’ve said before, we could easily be 6-6 or 5-7 this year. Remember we only beat Kentucky by 3 points! So to me, the schedule was pretty darn light compared to what it should have been. The only bad thing about it was having so many AWAY games in one stretch.
So whatever it’s going to take to get things on the right track to beat Florida and now Alabama (and Auburn, Tennessee and SC in the near future again as well as Ole Miss and Arkansas soon)and be able to win the SEC, somebody needs to get busy working on it whether they make changes or don’t make changes!!
Coaching staff establish the mental mind-set for a team. This year the mental atmosphere didn’t seem to be about winning games at all costs. And I think it’s true that we really didn’t have the skill players that everyone thought we did not matter what their rating out of high school.
So Terrance, maybe it’s unfair of us to critizie CMR and WM. But when I form a mental image of Spurrier, Saban, and/or Myer…..I get a different image compared to the image of our staff.
But…here’s hoping the Big Dawg eats again next year!
By ARdawg
December 3, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Terrence
The game is played for championships not just for showing that a school can field a team. You can cheerlead WM and the defense of years past all you wish. That doesn’t encourage improvement but merely encourages mediocrity. For the past two years we have been mired in mediocrity on the defensive side of the ball. When a team scores 30-40 points, they should expect to win
It doesn’t matter to me if Richt evaluates or fires any coordinator, coach or anybody else. Yes Richt has an impressive win/loss record for his tenure at Georgia. The program has slid sideways for the last 3 years accomplishing nothing more than mediocrity. I don’t point the finger at Martinez, I point it at Richt. If he’s satisfied with mediocrity then we have the wrong coach. Doesn’t matter to me what his record is. If Richt’s evaluation of the entire season doesn’t point to something needing to be done on defense, then he clearly isn’t the coach we thought he was.
Saban and Meyer aren’t going away in the foreseeable future and have raised the bar in the SEC. To date, Richt is not keeping up or raising the bar himself. Do we have the right coach?
By Jake
December 3, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
Saying that we agree with your theory? That means your blaming it on the players. Who recruits these players? The players or the coaches? We gave up 26 pts a game this year! That would be great if we were in the Big 12! In the last 4 seasons we have went from giving up 16 pts all the way up to 26? Every year was an increase. Now if we put that in dollar amounts would this employee still be employed by you? How much did Willie pay you to write this article?
By Tech75
December 3, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this
I think the UGA fans would be wise to treat the Tech game as an abberation…when Tech has executed and been healthy, no one stopped them all year except themselves.
So factor the Tech game out of the equation. Defending that offense is a completely alien experience for defensive coordinators and players; it requires just the opposite of what they’ve successfully deployed in the past.
To successfully defend this particular option, NOT ONLY do players need good-to-excellent athletic ability, each athlete also has to be able to think on his feet, real-time, reading keys, staying disciplined, and trusting your other teammates to do THEIR job properly.
So, IF the players are positioned properly….
and IF they each play their responsibilities properly EVERY TIME….
and IF each of them at the point of attack defeats his blocker EVERY TIME
THEN you may be able to defense this option reliably.
In short, in theory, then, it is possible to defend against this offense.
But what are the chances the above is going to happen consistently?
So, factor the Tech game out, it’s a completely different challenge for a defense, and to judge your DC considering that game, well, it’s just not fair.
Of course, based on GTs success, I think you’ll see a lot more people adopting features of CPJ’s offense very soon.
By Willie M
December 3, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
Thank you Terrance.
I can ALWAYS count on the media types to tell fans that they are crazy for wanting leadership changes.
For instance; when dawg fans wanted Goff fired, they were painted as ungrateful lunatics (though I have to admit that Donnan was an upgrade). Similarly, when dawg fans wanted Donnan gone, they were portrayed as spoiled crybabies (though Richt was a nice upgrade). When UF fans wanted Zook gone, the media was aghast and SHOCKED at fireronzook.com (1 possibly 2 national titles in the 3 years since Zook’s dismissal, you can see just how misguided and cruel the UF fan base is/was). Don’t even get me started on the crazies at Bama. We both know Shula would’ve gone undefeated this year.
Despite the fact that our fans are probably right (I have NO idea what happened this season - though I’ve covered myself by blaming the players), I can ALWAYS count on you guys at the AJC to consistently dismiss the demands of our fan base as sheer lunacy. We both know that surrendering 35+ points no matter who you play is the sign of a well-run defense.
I’ve heard a significant portion of our fan base may no longer empty their wallets like zombies to support us as long as I’m the coach. Well the joke AGAIN is on our so-called fans. With the deals that CBS and ESPN signed with the SEC, we can play before an empty stadium and still make boatloads of money.
Your Pal,
Willie
By Mort Merkel
December 3, 2008 1:27 PM | Link to this
The only problem with Georgia’s season were unrealistic expectations. You, Terence had it right and have it right now. UGA is a good team this year. With another year of seasoning, a strong recruiting class, it will get much better over the next few years.
By Golden Dawg
December 3, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
Can some of you Willie supporters tell me how we will be better next year? It’s a serious question.
I’d love to feel better about this.
Is there any concrete reason for optimism?
It seems that since CWM took over the dam has been leaking (WVA, UT twice, AU) and this year it burst wide open.
Do we have a ton of talent to replace these guys? Is Willie going to coach the current starters up (please!)? Is he going to be a better at future talent evaluation during recuiting?
I’m not looking for “in Richt we trust” type answers. Since those of us advocating a coaching change are so stupid, I’m sure there are a number of good, solid reasons why you loyalists feel that we are so misguided. Please share.
By Tech75
December 3, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this
A couple of other observations and predictions, take them for what they’re worth…
It certainly seems that the offense CPJ employs seems to be able to negate defenses that rely simply on athleticism, speed and aggression.
As such, it would seem that a lot of schools who traditionally are beaten out in the recruiting wars for those athletes and talent by the more high-profile football factories like UGA and FL would move to employ an offense that negates that advantage…
So, maybe it IS valid to consider the Tech game in your deliberations….
heh heh heh …
By GT45
December 3, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
I haven’t watched all the Ugag games, but the ones I have seen looked like players in position to make plays (coaching), but a lot of missed tackles(little league fundamentals).
By CWM apologist
December 3, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Hey look-
Willie told the players to tackle-they just didn’t do it. Hey he did everything he could.
Come to think of it, coaching sounds pretty easy. I could probably be a great coach. All I have to say is, “Don’t Suck!”. If the players then suck, I’m covered. I did everything I could.
Clearly Willie is great. All we have to do is get rid of the 11 college kids that play for him and find some new ones who can comprehend the brillance of CWM and execute his master-plan.
A simple solution from a simple mind!
By Dawgpound
December 3, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Terrence, I have to know if you like UGA or not. I think you like writing playing the devil’s advocate just to get our responses. Why don’t you try to say something good about UGA just once. May I please see you write something positive?
With the talent we have on D, why have their been so many penalties and missed assignments? If all he can do is tell the players what to do and it is up to them to do it, and they don’t do it……why are they still out on the field? Does he have any control over that???????? Mr. Smarty pants? Our record shows an absolute lack of discipline. Obviously the penalties didn’t get any better.
You are so negative.
By 84 Dawg
December 3, 2008 1:41 PM | Link to this
Hey, since we are defending ineptitude today, let’s start a “bring back Ray Goff” movement.
By ARdawg
December 3, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Tech 75
GT didn’t do anything other offenses haven’t done to the Georgia defense all year thus, the GT game is very relevant.
The sad part of that game was CMR and staff knew what and who they’d be up against. They had two weeks to prepare. The 2nd half Tech offense did more than gashed, they steam rolled a mentally unprepared Ga defense. Thats a coaching problem that needs to be corrected. Whether it requires someone being fired is CMR’s call. If Richt doesn’t find that coaching inadequacy in his “evaluations” then we have a head coaching problem.
By Jr
December 3, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
To say we don’t have the talent is not the truth. We have great recruiting classes for many years. Besides, who is responsible for who we recruit.
Saban, starting with very few plays is undefeated. Amazing. Look at the schemes they play.
Another thing, our players are good and want to win. It is not their fault.
By Mike Adams
December 3, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this
Don’t look at records necessarily as your benchmark for success. Sustained excellence should be the goal. Martinez’ will have great game plans every now and then (see Hawaii, Auburn, FL from 07), but too often you will see head-scratching mediocrity out of our 4-star athletes (GT 08, WVU Sugar Bowl). Games, in which we come out unprepared and make no adjustments. My advice to CMR—and I do have coaching experience—is to find a guy like Van Gorder, Bud Foster at Va Tech, Joe Kines; someone who has no desire to be a head coach who has a track record of excellence and who will put players in a position to win. Don’t even bother putting him on the recruiting trail. GA will always have good to great recruits because the great athletes in GA and the south gravitate toward football. Get a great coach who will develop the talent we have. Remember, Martinez had two weeks to prepare for GT and we didn’t do anything different than Miami. Of coarse, you can’t teach tackling the last two weeks of the season, it should be taught the first two weeks in August.
By Fred Jenkins
December 3, 2008 1:50 PM | Link to this
Here is the bottom line: 1 - Tackling was terrible all season 2 - alignment was terrible all season 4 - scheme was terrible
5 - defensive calls were terrible 6 - pursuit was pitiful 7 - pursuit angles to the ball were terrible 8 - they got worse, not better
Let Martinez go back to coaching the db’s and bring in someone who can get the Dawgs back to being feared and respected on both sides of the ball.
By Heyberto
December 3, 2008 1:51 PM | Link to this
I agree with TM on this. Martinez’s schemes weren’t bad, only the execution. Motivating the players falls to the total coaching staff, and primarily the head coach, as opposed to a coordinator. These guys weren’t finishing.. that’s a huge problem, and while Martinez is a part of that problem, he doesn’t deserve to be singled out.
With that, I find TM’s stance full of hipocrisy given how he’s put down Georgia all season, and now he says to ease up on a member of their staff. Man, this guy is all over the charts.
By FL DAWG1
December 3, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
GT, 1 win in 7 years and 3 points at that. Lets quit with all the nonsense on how GT rolled. Over 400 on the ground, very impressive. UGA had over 500 in total offense against your steller D. You guys still gave up 42. Now if we could only tackle? Oh what could have been. Good luck GT…GO DAWGS!!!!
By SoCal Dawg
December 3, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
To anyone who STILL thinks our schedule was tough; GET REAL. There are 3 top 25 teams on the schedule, they all scored 42+ points on us.
To anyone whining about expectations: You had Stafford and Moreno and virtually evey other player back from the #2 team in ‘07. UNREALISTC EXPECTATIONS?? Under what circumstances would you EVER have high expectations?!?!?
I never though I’d see medocrity embraced with such enthusiasm from fellow dawg fans.
By Gdawg
December 3, 2008 1:58 PM | Link to this
wow i can’t believe i actually agree with TM. but the fact is we didn’d have the horses at end or safety. we’ve been a little spoiled with the likes of pollack,charles johnson,quinton moses,thomas davis,blue, and sean jones. we simply don’t have those types of players on this team.
By Knocks Culpepper
December 3, 2008 2:00 PM | Link to this
You (and others) give UGA too much credit. They have now had subpar seasons 2 out of the past 3 years.* One way or another, through coaching changes or attitude changes or other ways, they need to step it up.
*Yes, 9-3 is a subpar year, even if you were an overrated preseason #1.
By dawginthehouse
December 3, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
Whatever - the payers are what matter. And this year (and hopefully next) we have two of the best in the courntry. I’m just p*ed off K. Mo. and Staff aren’t getting the Heisman hype they deserve. They are easily better than any of hte other players.
By Dog in Fla
December 3, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Custer was a good general too but his players just didn’t execute.
By Baton Rouge Dawg
December 3, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
Its the players fault in the outcome against tech. I know these kids were taught fundamental tackling since pee-wee football. CWM and CMR cannot go out there and tackle for the players , the players have to do what they are taught and when one or two doesnt do their job on certain plays then thats the ball game . Tech mad less mistakes in the last game and thats why they won. Tech still sucks.
By 1eyedJack
December 3, 2008 2:07 PM | Link to this
Terrance, now I’m confused. I am not one of those who have been calling for CWM’s head but now that you are endorsing him….
Anyhoo..They say that stats don’t lie and Travis Hill previously posted some telling stats about the avg. ppg over the years under both Van Gorder and Martinez. The D is getting progressively worse.
Although CMR has done a very good job of getting the best players in the state to come to Georgia there are some big ones that have gotten away, especially on defense. How good would we have been this year with these guys on D?
Devonta Bolden LB Ala. Jamoris Slaughter S ND Donsay Hardeman S Ill Through MGC Terrance Parks CB FSU Cameron Heyward DT Ohio St. Ted Laurent DT Ole Miss Allen Bailey DE Miami Brad Jefferson LB GT D.J. Donley S GT Morgan Burnett S GT Eric Berry CB Tenn Jermaine Cunningham DE Fla Tray Blackmon LB Aub
And throw in a Jasper Brinkley here or there…..what I’m saying is our coaches may not be doing the best job of evaluating recruits or for whatever reason..maybe these guys didn’t bond well with our defensive coaches.
I have to think that CMR feels some responsibility for the poor play of the defense this year. He has stated that he held back on live tackling this year for fear of injury. What else did he hold back on?
Whatever the problem..FIX IT I don’t mind winning 10+ games a year, but this year I thought we had the team to go further. If we should be so fortunate to have Stafford, Moreno, and/or Owens come back for another year it better be FIXED.
Go DAWGS!!!
By adawg06
December 3, 2008 2:10 PM | Link to this
Nobody understands. The reason Willie’s scheme’s have always worked is because each year he has major playmakers and NFL talant on the D, specifically the defensive line. He could play soft coverage and not blitz because our players could get to the quaterback without the help of a blitz. This year, we had nobody that provided any pressure, nor did we blitz, so it backfired on him. He had to know to adjust his scheme since we were lacking in playmakers. No excuse for that. We needed to send people every play to help the D line out and we never blitzed at all. Thats coaching, not the players. Our Defense, lets face it, was not very good. Very young, so we needed to do different things this year and we didn’t do anything different. Showed up all year.
By A-ville Ranger
December 3, 2008 2:15 PM | Link to this
Moore’s reasoning seems to be that of a person who can read stats but not understand what he sees on the field.The defense was clueless much of this season.With the exception of the second half of 2007 it has been in regression since 2004.
Most troubling is as more and more players who’d trained under VanGorder exited the team.The worse it played fundamentally.This team can’t tackle,get position or read nearly as well as VanGorder teams did.
By ron
December 3, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this
Terrence, you convinced me and I’m glad ‘cause now I can go on with my life. :)
However, what about special teams? The worst Georgia kicking game I’ve seen and I’ve been watching the Dogs since 1964. I know Richt promised a better kick-off guy but we need a better field goal kicker, people who know when to catch the ball and when not to, how to run, how to tackle, and the list goes on. Atrocious, and I think we need a Speical Teams specialist to help this team before next year. Dooley’s not dead so I guess he’s just rolling over in his bed.
By Jon P
December 3, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
To the blogger who said:
“Another nice statistic was relayed during the Tech game on TV. Only two teams have finished the season ranked in the top ten every year for the past six years. The University of Southern California and the University of Georgia”
When I heard this during the CBS AFLAC trivia question, I knew that it was a false statement. Does anyone remember the 2006 season? We were 9-4, unranked in the Final USA Today/Coaches poll and ranked #23 in the final AP poll.
Here’s where UGA has finished during the Mark Richt era at UGA (AP rank on left / Coaches poll rank on right):
2001: 22/25 2002: 3/3 2003: 7/6 2004: 7/6 2005: 10/10 2006: 23/Not Ranked 2007: 2/3
If the question was “what team has finished the season ranked in the top 10 in 5 out of the past 6 seasons”, then it would have been correct to include UGA.
By the way, I still think that Willie needs to go. Terrance, your logic is, as usual, severely flawed. As pointed out by other bloggers, the number of games where UGA has given up 30+ points during Martinez’ tenure speaks volumes about his coaching ability or lack thereof. Don’t tell me that it “the players” and not the coaches. It’s a poor carpenter that blames his tools.
The problem seems to be that the defense cannot play a full 4 quarters. We seem to run into a brick wall where no adjustments are made and we give up a lot of points. We also give up big plays on 3rd down, have stupid penalties (especially on 3rd down or when we get a turnover). It’s obvious that Martinez cannot inspire the players. They play with zero inspiration and zero motivation.
It’s been mentioned that coaching stability is important. This is true to a point. Sometimes when things are going in the wrong direction (like our points surrendered per game since Martinez took over), it takes new blood to shake up the status quo. Unless you want this negative trend to continue, new blood needs to be infused into this program to turn it around.
Martinez is in over his head. He may be Richt’s former teammate at Miami and his friend, but business is business. If Richt won’t part with him and Martinez won’t resign, then Damon Evans needs to step in and make the change himself.
By NC dawg
December 3, 2008 2:25 PM | Link to this
While I agree somewhat, our coaching this year was HORRIBLE. Good coaches or not, they got their arse handed to them this year and there was really no reason for it. Schedule ending up being weak, most Defense starters back, no excuse to do what they did. I believe in continiuity too, but we can’t take another year like that. I don’t mind losing, but don’t like they way we lost. Even Richt admits that coaching made mistakes this year.
By Exley DAWG
December 3, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
Good article, I agree. Stop with the stupid talk about firing someone.
I for one look at trends and UGA took a step back this year but there is certainly not a trend downward when you look at the last 5 years. Tennessee has been heading down for years and they made the needed change. UGA doesn’t need it. Im not saying this to be mean but I think the defense this year lacked intelligence. For example, hands to the face, being out of position, not wraping up on tackles, and so on. These are things that not-so-smart football players do. And don’t forget the dicipline issues we had…………..dumbies.
By BAMA STAN
December 3, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
31-0 at the half?!!
I personally want Coach Martinez.
By RedAndBlack
December 3, 2008 2:33 PM | Link to this
Tech75. I have to admit, it’s rare to have a Tech fan at a UGA blog that can actually carry a mature conversation. My take on the match up between UGA and Tech and only those two schools are: 1) We played GA Southern which employ a similar type offense and we let them score 21 points…against a Div II team.
2) UGA has had problems stopping the run all year long and Tech is no special case.
3) Tech’s triple option offense is not alien to Martinez. Addiionally, UGA had two weeks to prepare for it.
4) Look back at the final scores of each Tech game this year and notice that Tech squeezed by each opponent. They did not dominate b/c this offense is not alien to anyone.
Bottom line is that, though Tech is a good team which almost got beat by Gardner Webb, Georgia’s loss came down to poor coaching on defense which has been the case all year long. If the players defend the coach and only blame themselves for not executing the game plan, then it’s an indirect admission to the fact that they lacked focus and a disregard to fundamental football during practice…which points back to poor coaching.
By AltamahaDawg
December 3, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
I think part of the problem in the blogosphere is that when you base your argument on incorrect assumptions, you end up looking silly. The assumption that Mark Richt DOES think that changing DC will improve the program is just false. So what some are saying, demanding, is that he takes an action that he does not percieve as IN the best interest of his program. You are asking the man to betray his own convictions. WHY would we want a guy that would do that? The fact that he does value the family atmosphere and stability of his staff is EXACTLY why he would let even his friend go IF he thought that was in the best interest of the rest of the family. Not to mention, would you really argue that he doesn’t understand the nature his own job? It allows him to do the things that he most values. The man is not stupid.
You can argue all day long with your vast knowledge of defensive football strategy about what he should want, BUT that is an entirely different debate. OBVIOUSLY we have the type of defensive philosophy that Richt is comfortable with and wants. He wanted exactly the same thing from the last guy. Nobody is disagreeing that he needs to figure out how to make it work better. Tools, drills, motivations, body shapes, whatever. I doubt he would argue it worked very well this year, BUT the assumption that he MUST derive the same answer as you about why, is a pretty far reach. Your problem over Xs and Os is with the head Coach, not his staff. That would be a ligitamate debate. But that’s not what is going on in so many post. I suspect that is because deep down, that poster realizes exactly where he would stand in a serious Xs and Os debate. The anger displayed towards Martinez is just childish.
By DawgGirl32
December 3, 2008 2:47 PM | Link to this
Thank you Terrance for being sensible. A lot of people are angry and emotional right now- I mean, we just lost to Tech. Emotion = rash decision making. Thank goodness CMR is smarter than that.
Let’s be real about the whole preseason hype. NOBODY actually believed we were going to that championship game. Why do you think we kept dropping in the polls at the beginning of the season even though we were winning? We weren’t even predicted to win the East.
Everyone keeps talking about how the o-line managed to do their job and allow the offense to score even with all the injuries. Guess what people- we had STARS on offense. We had some of the best offensive playmakers in the country. Stafford, Knowshon, Green? We didn’t have those kind of stars on defense this year and the loss of Jeff Owens only added to that. Yes- we had some great recruits. 5 stars coming out of highschool doesn’t necessarily mean greatness in college. And while Bama does have a very young defense, they had a lot of HUGE guys. We didn’t have the size or the playmakers to compete this year. Rennie’s great, but he’s kinda small. I do feel that Martinez shares part of the blame, but not enough blame to warrant losing his job; not after the record he’s had the past few years. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink. It was obvious at times that sometimes these kids just didn’t do what they were supposed to do.
I think that injuries played a larger role in this than people think. It’s not just that we didn’t have certain guys on the field. We had to change A LOT to make up for injuries this year. We didn’t tackle over the summer because of it. I think injuries is the reason why Asher Allen and Prince Miller weren’t returning on special teams. We couldn’t afford to have them get injured during the return. Overall, I think the team played like they were scared of getting hurt all year, probably because so many guys did get hurt all year.
There is no need to fire WM right now. And for those of you who think next year won’t be brighter, there’s a lot to look forward to. Look at our schdule for starters. No Bama, a bye week before Florida (we had a bye week in 07 before we beat them), and almost all of our major games at home. Besides that, our o-line will be stacked and we have some good-looking recruits coming in.
By GTMacho-Man
December 3, 2008 2:48 PM | Link to this
SoCal Dawg
Mediocrity overwhelmingly accepted by a fan base is a horrendous thing…Believe me, I know, dealt with it for 7 years straight.
By hatfieldgeoff
December 3, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
Yes, Richt has a recipe for success. But what we have to watch out for is Braves Syndrome. The Braves had a recipe for success keep just enough talent to win the division and take your chances in the playoffs. So you win one World Series and 14 division titles. That is underachieving. Mark Richt can win the SEC every few years when Florida and LSU and now Alabama are down a little. But he had never had a team to the level of winning a national title. Even his best teams would not have won the title game if they had been fortunate enough to make it there. That is certainly the case last year. If Mark Richt wants a national title he is going to have to bring in coaches who have talent and want to prove themselves. Mack Brown, Nick Saban and Bob Stoops are changing coordinators every few years. They know the game changes and some coaches may be good but not good enough to win it all. Changes need to be made that is clear from the performance on the field. Now is when we find out the answer to the question Bobby Bowden posed at the time Mark Richt was hired, Is he tough enough to be a head coach? Find one of those young, smart, defensive coaches who longs for the chance to prove himself. Don’t hire a friend if you don’t have the guts to fire them if necessary.
By CW
December 3, 2008 3:00 PM | Link to this
Tech Fan’s Perspective:
Richt can fire Willie Martinez or not and it won’t really matter. The schemes are fine, the players are fast and talented. Richt’s coaching philosophy is the problem.
Georgia lost the Alabama, Florida and Tech games because of their mindset.
Terrance has harped on it for weeks. The endzone dance last year, stupid penalties, the focus on the black jerseys, off-field arrests, academic problems, on and on. Georgia has a top-notch program at recruiting 4 and 5 star athletes but they are SOFT in the head. They don’t like getting hit in the mouth and don’t really know how to respond when it happens.
The head coach is supposed to set the tone for the program and the team, not the DC.
Tech gashed your D with an offensive team of FR and SO at all but 2 or 3 positions. Other than 3 seniors on D line, the rest of that unit is all Fr and So.
The margin may have only been 3 points, but if the mindset in Athens doesn’t get any tougher than what we saw last Saturday, it will be a lot worse next year.
By ga_tech_92
December 3, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
How about them Jackets!?!?!?
By Brad
December 3, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
hey dummy, you proved it yourself with WM defensive stats, they have declined every year. our schedule turned out to be a flop, if some of the teams we played were not having down years we would have a few more L’s. as some other posters have said, look at how many points were scored on us this year. WM failed, and usually does, to make any adjustments during a game.
if you want to see a great coach look at uga’s o-line coach. he lost a number of players (3 left tackles) and he was still able to put together a stand-up unit. If MR is not willing to dismiss WM he should put him back up in the coachs box. WM has done his best coaching from up top while others coached face to face and motivate the players. the amount of talent uga has on defense and lack of on field production go hand in hand with coaching. A blind man can see that our D would rather tackle with their shoulder rather than wrapping up. thats day one stuff.
just to some it up, you have know idea what you are talking about.
By AltamahaDawg
December 3, 2008 3:02 PM | Link to this
SoCal, I have no idea why it has become this argument that if people disagree about causes and fixes, that one side has to have higher standards. I have yet to read anyone in here HOPING we lose 3 games every year. I would put my standards and hope for the UGA football program up side your any day! I just worry more about how they are going to do the hard work of fixing what ACTUALLY happened on the football field, and less about who is going to pay the price for my own personal disapointment.
By deputydawg
December 3, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
Im as big a Georgia fan as there is. The losses this year only disturb me because of the way we lost. Alabama 31 points in one half….2nd half melt down in Jax and a 26-0 3rd quarter against Tech. The mental focus just isnt there. I also dont think we had the talent level this year as opposed to the last few years. It was obvious we didnt have a David Pollock, Quenton Mosses or any of the other great ends this year. But we do have Mark Richt and if he says he will address the issues and do better, I know he will do just that. We are getting somewhat spoiled in the Dawg Nation and many other teams would love to be 9-3….just ask the Vols, Auburn, and South Carolina. Stay the course….keep being supportive and just watch what is going to happen. CMR WILL win a NC at UGA!!! Go Dawgs
By Tee
December 3, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
Once again, reality has truly shown that we are not as great as people say we are. I actually agree with TM. I am as mad and frustrated as everyone else at how the season has transpired. Yes, there needs to be high expectations every year for this program. Mediocrity can set in so easily (look at Auburn and Tennessee). The issue is some of the five-star recruits we have and all of the hyped up recruiting classes we sign every year aren’t all that great. The special teams, especially the kickoff and punt return units,this year were absolutely awful…Florida’s special teams are outstanding and those guys are treated like kings!!! Did you see Saban bash their kicker after the XP was blocked in a 36-0 game!!!! We definitely need a new attitude about special teams and attention to detail, especially from CMR. We should start looking at some of the Class AA and A players here in Georgia and leave the big school players alone. Yes we recruit on a national level, but we seem to ignore players in the lower classes unless they throw out eye-popping stats (i.e. Ealey from ECI). On another note, maybe we should give the staff at Gardner-Webb, a I-AA school mind you, a call on how to play defense against the option…apparently they know what they are doing. Tech only scored 10 points against them and had 79 yards rushing…Dwyer had 27 yards-Jones 15. Against us, Dwyer 144 yards-Jones 214!!! If it can work against GT at Gardner-Webb, surely it can work against GT at UGA!!!!!
By g
December 3, 2008 3:15 PM | Link to this
I dont think he really watches football if he thinks we should keep Wille.
By Raleigh
December 3, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
UNACCEPTABLE?
Exactly what are you morons going to do about the “unacceptable” performance? If you’re issuing an ultimatum then pull the trigger and do the only thing you really can - stop making contributions and buying tickets to the game. The fact that there are thousands of people ready to take your place is testimony to the results that Richt and his staff have created at UGA over the past 8 years and the appreciation that most fans have for that performance.
By PMC
December 3, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
maybe the answer is not firing willie, but adding another assistant. Call them the Defensive Tackling Coordinator or what have you and they can be defensive quality control and work with specific guys that are having issues.
This turned out to be a down year and it’s a disapointment, but it’s not like everything is exactly bleak, especially if Sturdivant and Jeff Owens come back strong. Most of UGA’s issues this year were on the lines
By MacDAWG
December 3, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
Finally, a voice of reason. And from T Moore at the AJC of all people. UGA won 9 games and will possibly have another 10 win season people. Get a friggin grip! So they didn’t win it all, so what. They played hard, had a difficult schedule and a ton of injuries. Sure they’ve got some work to do but be realistic. Doesn’t anyone remember the pre-Richt era? Some of you people need to get a life and be thankful for what you’ve got, an excellent program with great coaching and a bright future. A future that only a fool would jeopardize by demanding the resignation of solid coordinators.
By BirdDawg
December 3, 2008 3:24 PM | Link to this
I agree with Terence for once. I do think that Martinez had a bad year in coaching the defense. But UGA didn’t have a dominate D end or a hard hitting safety and the Jeff Owens injury really hurt. HOWEVER, that was a PATHETIC defensive scheme for the Tech game. But, CMR knows where the problems are and he has earned the right to have another year to fix those problems before he has to fire a coach. I say that the loyal Bulldogs fans should lay off the complaining and let the coaches get on with recruiting and work to straighten things out next year. This has been an excellent coaching staff since CMR got here.
By GATORZONE
December 3, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
PLEASE KEEP WILLE AND BOBO!! WE LOVE THEM!
By Dave In Tampa
December 3, 2008 3:33 PM | Link to this
I agree with most of what Terrace wrote. Coaches still need to be held accountable for the poor field, especially on defense, however we did not have the stellar defensive folks that we normally have up front.
We will see how good of a coaching they will do next year to correct: Being Undiscipline, Penalties, stopping the run, tackling to name a few.
This year is what it is. True fans will still back the team. I look forward to being in Orlando to watch the Dawgs beat MSU. We’ll win 10 and work on a great season next year.
Getting rid of CMR would be ludicris. CWM did have a great year last year. Let’s give him a chance to get it headed in the right direction next year. I believe he will. One loss to Tech in 8. Big deal. I’ll take that any time. We’ll be back. Congrats to tech and see you next year.
By Tech75
December 3, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this
RedAndBlack - I just don’t want you to assume that the Tech game you just saw will be representative of future games you’ll play against Tech.
Also keep in mind that (as opposed to those folks on this blog who seem to think the UGA defense didn’t come out of the locker room for the 3rd quarter) that CPJ’s comments to a sideline reporter upon leaving the field at halftime indicated that Tech linemen and backs were making a lot of errors and there were a lot of missed assignments due to the “excitement”.
The success of the Tech offense after halftime was more due to the offense calming down than anything UGA did. In statistical terms, I interpret that as the offense running at 50% efficiency in the first half, 90% in the third quarter.
No team in America has perfect tackling, and UGA is no different.
I’ll agree that coaches are responsible for calling the right defensive formation, etc., but against that offense defenders have to play under control, and at times did not appear to be able to do that. I think that was the real problem.
By bdixon
December 3, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Martinez needs to go and take Terrence Moore with him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By SoCal Dawg
December 3, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this
Altamaha, you are as measured and positive as us dawg fans come - obviously that is a good thing.
The point I was making was that there are years when we should have high expectations and years when they are unrealistic
Expectation levels are relative to the situation.
I contend that if your program aspires to win a MNC let alone another SEC title then expecting the best in a year when you have some great skill players, are adding others (AJ) and losing almost nobody from a young team that finished #2 the prior year; high expectations are NOT unrealistic.
Next year high expectations are unwarranted. You will not find me complaining about 9-3 in 2009. I would however like to see a defense that doesn’t shatter so easily.
By Denver dog
December 3, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this
Quit whining my fellow bulldogs. The hottest defense man in the country, Mr. Muschamp, our former captain, gave up the same type of scores.
By Oscar
December 3, 2008 3:49 PM | Link to this
In all of the articles written about the lackluster effort of UGA this season nobody is putting the blame on the players who deserve it more than anybody else associated with UGA. Georgia’s players have NO FIGHT in them whatsoever. The first sign of adversity they roll over and die. Alabama punches them in the mouth and it takes them 3 quarters to remember how to play. Does anybody remember how in the 3 losses, each game in the first quarter UGA gets the ball on their opponent’s loss of downs only to have it reversed due to a STUPID penalty? Each one of those penalties changed momentum and UGA got behind early and then rolled over and died. Terrence is right on Martinez’s track record. After the Hawaii game this was the toughest defense in the nation. It doesn’t matter how many 5 star recruits you have if they don’t play hard and, in the words of Herm Edwards, “play to win the game.” Also, why isn’t anyone blaming Mike Dodo? With more skilled offensive players than defensive players, what was he thinking during the Bama, Florida and GT games? Seriously, Georgia’s offensive playmakers are just as good as anybody in the Big 12, Pac 10 or whatever high-scoring offensive machine is out there. Mike Dodo should go take a coaching class from Mike Leach or Major Applewhite to learn how to score some points and keep his team in the game when the defense is running into each other and each player is trying to out-penalize each other!
By NYJacket
December 3, 2008 3:52 PM | Link to this
Maybe you guys can get Chan Gailey as your defensive coach?
By Rick
December 3, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this
I must have been watching a different game than Terence and all the people who say the UGA defense had players in the right position to make tackles, but the players just missed the tackle. Sure there were times a tackle was missed - but GOOD GRIEF most of the time the first UGA player the Tech back encountered was 7-8 yards from the line of scrimmage! The long runs were really more merciful for Dawg fans. Otherwise, they would have had to sit and watch Tech chew up the yards and the clock 5-10 yards at a time. Also, the angles the UGA guys took were really bad. That is a sign of being out of position. CWM should have at least seen that and made adjustments. It looks like the coaching staff and players must have bought into Eric Zeier’s ridiculous comment that Tech ran a “high school offense”, because no one for UGA -player or coach - was prepared for what they got hit with.
By spotts
December 3, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
I got excited when I saw the words “Willie Martinez” and “leave” on the front page of AJC.com Sports. Then I was disappointed when I saw it was just another Terence Moore article.
I guess Terence knows what it’s like to have everyone think you’re doing a bad job and wanting you fired.
By Buzz
December 3, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
I love Martinez…. Please keep him!
By Oledawg
December 3, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this
Could it be that the team was depressed by all the horse manure written in this and other blogs? You are either a fan (who doesn’t require logic) or you aren’t. Quit making excuses for being unhappy with the W/L record. We don’t need your friggin’ logic some of you claim. First, it ain’t logic. Second, there is nothing coaches or players or anyone else has to do to make you happy unless you dump a couple million bucks on the program. If all you do is buy a ticket for college football intertainment and think you have a good reason to criticize, then let me suggest where you can stick your ticket stub.
The Dawgs. Love ‘em or leave ‘em. I don’t care, but quit making excuses for trashing the program and learn how you can support your team, in victory or loss.
By jerry
December 3, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this
Knowing that many UGA fans have negative feelings about Willie, it didn’t take a genius to figure out some way to get your column read. But you’re real smart Terence, predicting 9-3 when they were #1. If you hadn’t told us how smart you are, we would have never known it.
By RedAndBlack
December 3, 2008 4:00 PM | Link to this
Tech75 - Agree to most of your points but allowing 26 unanswered points in one quarters is total collapse on the defense in my book. Especially when UGA only held Tech to 12 points during the first half. This happened against Florida and Alabama this year. Plus UGA could not stop Kentucky’s running attack which allowed 38 points…that same team in last place in SEC Eastern Division. It consistently happens every year. As someone pointed out the facts earlier in this blog,
Defensive Coordinator Van Gorder 1 - 30+ point games allowed in 51 games
Defensive Coordinator Wiliie Martinez 11 - 30+ point games allowed in 51 games
…and it’s gotten worse every year. I admit, Tech improved and peaked during the right time as UGA did last year when they won the last four games of the year.
CMR needs to shake up the tree and let the bad apples fall…that includes coaches and players.
By BIGBEE
December 3, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this
Hey Tech People, we don’t have a dog in this fight, stay out of it and let the Mutts fight among themselves. They will be back on our case come next fall, hang loose and let them fight.
By REDHEAD
December 3, 2008 4:02 PM | Link to this
YA’LL ARE SO WORKED UP OVER CMR AND HIS CONFIDENCE IN CWM. I BELIEVE THAT CMR WILL NOT MAKE A CALL ON WM UNTIL AFTER THE BOWL GAME, WHICH SHOULD BE JUDGEMENT DAY…UNTIL THEN-IF THEY CAN’T CORRECT THE PROBLEM—CALL FOR HIS HEAD AND MAYBE CMR OR THE AD OF GA MIGHT LISTEN!!! UNTIL— PLEASE TALK ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE—-UNLESS YOUR SO DUMB THIS IS ALL THE KNOWLEDGE YOU HAVE—SUPPORT THE BULLDOGS THROUGH THE BOWL GAME AT LEAST…
By USMC DAWG
December 3, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
Maybe Willie can be a DC in the Arena Football League. At least there if you give up 40+ points per game, your considered a great DC.
By 5-0
December 3, 2008 4:04 PM | Link to this
CWM is the Zook, Shula, Goff equivalent.
His abilities were exposed badly this year. Make all the excuses you want but one by one you all will invariably come to the same conclusion (it will likely take several sad years for all to agree).
TM cites last year as a great success and for the most part he is right. Any dark lining though was provided by CWM defense;
UT-35 UF-30 Troy-34 USC-Couldn’t get them off the field
As far as 2006 goes, that featured the losses to Vandy, KY, UF and the UT blasting.
Come to think of it 9-3 is about as much as we should ever hope for-especially with CWM coaching the D.
By Tech75
December 3, 2008 4:05 PM | Link to this
Tee - There are only a few flaws in your thinking about how to defend Tech’s option.
Your basic flaw is assuming that GW caused Tech to underperform in that game. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The GW game was what - Tech’s 4th game running a brand-new offense? Execution was horrid…
As well, the first 3 QBs were injured, forcing tech to play their 4th-string QB, who definitely is NOT an option QB. To accomodate this, Tech reduced the playbook to about 5 plays, and ran only those 5 all game.
Yes, you are probably correct if your point is: UGA could have stopped Tech’s running game if Tech played it’s 4th-string QB, executed at 30% efficiency, and only ran 5 plays all game.
Yeah, good points. LOL
Not gonna happen again, so dream on.
By spotts
December 3, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this
Our defense has gotten destroyed the past few games and we’ve only played 2 above average offenses in Florida and Tech. LSU and Kentucky running up the score like that is ridiculous.
We’ve lost Jeff Owens on defense. The rest of the defense is filled with 4 and 5 star talent, and there is NO WAY our defense should be performing this poorly. 409 rushing yards for Tech???? It’s like we’ve never seen an option before.
But Richt is too nice and won’t get rid of his buddy. I’m not sure how you can defend our recent monstrosities on defense, but he’ll probably stay.
I’m not too sure about Richt now either. He’s a great, honorable, and smart man. But he’s too nice, as shown by his lack of willingness to make a coaching change, the constant penalties, and all the off the field problems. It’s embarassing.
By IceDawg
December 3, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
Kudos. Good points. The rhetoric in other AJC blogs especially from some so called UGA “faithful” has been unbelievable. Mindless, especially in considering the overall performance of the UGA staff. This team is 9-3 and that is respectable considering the schedule. It did not have the overall talent as in recent years though it had a couple of “stars.” But as the record shows you need more than a couple of stars to win it all. This year the UGA defense’s overall talent was obviously not what it has been in the past. If the player is slower and weaker than his competition, then you can coach all you want but the result will more than likely be that you will lose. That to me describes the 2008 UGA defense. The defense contributed more in those three losses than the offense.
By godawg
December 3, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Keep Martinez and hire an “Assistant in Overall Charge of the Defense” and that will free him up to help Water Girl…
By BILLY JACK
December 3, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this
TO FUD -JOE COX IS NOT JOE TERRISHINSKI JOE COX COULD HAVE BEEN THE QB OF 6 OR 7 SEC TEAMS THIS YEAR.DONT BELIEVE ME?OK LETS TAKE A LOOK-AUBURNS QB AWFUL-SC ALL 3 SUCK-ARK DREADFUL-KENTUCKY TERRIBLE-LSU PLEASEEEE-MISS ST BEYOND BAD-VANDY AT LEAST WAY BELOW AVERAGE.JOE COX WILL BE FINE NEXT YEAR.WE WILL PROBABLY HAVE A BETTER RECORD TOO.
By Dallas Jim
December 3, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
CWM is about as good as we can hope for.
UGA is a second-rate program. From fan expectaions to coaching to talent it is purely second-rate.
Fan expectations: Go 9-3 while getting destroyed by the only decent teams played-“Ah shucks, everybody wants to be 9-3”
Coaching: Undisciplined play, excessive penalties and self-satisfaction with ugly wins and ugly losses.
Talent: Well, everyone has bought into the CWM defense. Spurrier said it best, “something seems to happen to all those top 5 recruiting classes when they get to UGA.”
You have the program you deserve. If you are satisfied, so is the rest of the college football universe. If you don’t want more, you won’t get more.
Kinda funny that win UT ties for their conference division and doesn’t go to the title game, nobody questions that they don’t deserve to be in the BCS.
1n 2007, when UGA looked like they might be highly enough ranked to reach the title game, the entire college football world banded together to point out that they couldn’t go cause they didn’t win their conference. Let’s call it the UGA rule from now on because it only applies to underachievers.
Good luck against MSU. You will need it. I hear they can run the ball.
By Reginald Duboise Alexander III
December 3, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
I agree with TM, and would add that football fans need to get off Charlie Weis’ back as well. He gives his team a “decided schematic advantage” - it’s not his fault that his 4 star players can’t beat teams like Navy and Syracuse and his offense has looked completely inept for the past two seasons. Same with Martinez - his schemes and coaching are obviously sound if not outright superior to Georgia’s opponents. It’s just that the players are no good. Those good recruiting classes? Obviously an aberration. I don’t think 10% of Georgia’s players could start for Middle Tenn. State. Reshad Jones doesn’t actually look like a 5-star recruit on the field because he’s really a 1 or 2-star, right?
So let’s put the blame for Georgia’s poor tackling, being out-of-position, getting torched for 38 plus points, and undisciplined, heavily-penalized play where it belongs: on the 18-21 year old players.
And just because guys like Mike Leach can go 11-1 and beat Texas with a roster full of 2 and 3 star players doesn’t mean that he’s a better coach than our guys - it just means that he lucked into players who do their job and understand their assignments while avoiding embarrassing arrests and graduating at an 80% rate.
If it wasn’t obvious enough, the above was said with a heavy layer of sarcasm. And to respond to an earlier post from someone named “Bill” - how much football expertise do you need to know that giving up 41, 38, 49 and 45 points (and making Auburn’s offense look better than they have for most of the season) from a defense that returned most of its starters and is loaded with top talent is a bad thing? If you think it takes a genius to figure these things out, then you haven’t met many football coaches.
By J
December 3, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this
78 Dawg, was that English?
“Recruit top talent, let them act anyway they want in the class room and on and off the field with no accountability, so the next group of high school senior will want to come to UGA. Tanning every Tuesday and hair plugs after 2008 season.”
I have no clue what you are talking about.
By shane#1
December 3, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
Penalties did not cost UGA the Tech game, though the kickoffs out of bounds certainly hurt. I don’t remember if UGA had seven or eight penalties, but I know that two were on the kickoffs OOB and two were holding on freshman O linemen. Remember that Tech is a strong pass rushing team, so two holding calls is not that bad. It is better to hold when You are beat on a play than to give a hard charging DL or LB a free shot at Your QB. Stafford took enough hard hits in the Tech game as it was. Oh, and one penalty was an iffy intentional grounding call with a WR in the area of the pass. That is not usually called. So there are five penalties that had nothing to do with disciplin. I did not like the four man lines that Willie kept using in the second half. I thought one or two more guys in the box would have slowed Tech’s option down, but I have never pretended to be a college coach, just stating My opinion. I would not keep CWM if I were Richt, but He is CEO, so that’s his choice to make. Talk about CWM all You want, what is starting to tick Me off is the Stafford bashing on this blog. CWM is a grown man doing a job, Stafford is a twenty year old playing for a scholly. The guy had a 61.1 completion percentage, passed for over 3200 yds and 22 TDs. He had 9 ints. The coaching staff set goals of 62% and single digit ints for the season, looks like he came damn close to meeting those goals. His play calling at the line also improved a great deal. In the Tech game Stafford took advantage of what Tech gave him, the middle of the field, and threw for 400 yds and 5 TDs. The pick six Staff threw was under heavy pressure and deep on the UGA side of the field. Thar’s not a good place to take a sack either. He should have just thrown the ball into the ground since he was outside of the tackle, but again, he was under heavy pressure and trying to make a play. With better blocking he doesn’t make that mistake, but with better blocking maybe Moreno runs the ball out of that hole. Then the QB doesn’t have to try to force a play. If Staff and Moreno come back, and Sturdivant, Vance and Owens are back, UGA will be good again next year.
By jerry
December 3, 2008 4:27 PM | Link to this
Those of you who say UGA didn’t have the horses? And whose fault was that? And Terence, why all the focus on 2008? Richt has lost 6 of 8 vs the UGA’s #1 competitor. Do you honestly beleive that he can turn that around when he has had 8 years and has not done it. Hell, UGA doesn’t need a coach to beat the nobodys.
By AltamahaDawg
December 3, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
Tee, our punt return team lead the SEC and something like 5th in the nation. I think if you look at UF special teams they were not head over heels better in actual number and productions. The problem this year was that youth and inexperience caused by injuries (and the fear of risking more) settled smack down on top of the special teams. Fabris has had some of the nations best units his entire career, at several different schools. I am confident that will improve. Other areas I dont know, but that was a fluke this year to have a few terrible games.
Raleigh Amen. I would feel like the biggest chicken turd in the world to be so convinved and so demanding as some of these folks and then admit my entire plan was to yammer about it in a free blog. Last time I checked the doors to the Athletic Department are not locked during the day, and they do have telephones, and receive various forms of correspondance. “he must do this” he better do that”……or what?
By Heavy Dawg
December 3, 2008 4:31 PM | Link to this
I think this is right on. Mr. Martinez is a good coach. I thought we were the best team in the country. We’re still one of the top 10 for sure.
If we didn’t have injuries, and bad offciating, we’d have probably beat the Gators & Tide. Hey, we can’t score when their DBs hold our receiver.
THe tide can score when they don’t call holding on the line. Tech can score but they should’ve called five horsecaller penaoltiess
By AltamahaDawg
December 3, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this
75, the problem was your damn players kept knocking our guys down that were in the right place.
By Don
December 3, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
Georgia was very thin on defense in ‘08. It takes 15-18 solid defensive performers to compete in the SEC. Georgia played with few quality substitutes.
By JDAY
December 3, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
I’M SURE TM WILL AGREE THAT THERE WILL BE NO DECISION FROM CMR OR THE AD OF GA ON CWM UNTIL AFTER THE BOWL GAME—I BELIEVE THAT DAY WILL BE JUDGMENT DAY —IF WM HAS A GOOD DAY-WHO KNOWS-AND IF HE HAS A BAD DAY LIKE AT TECH—THEN CRY FOR HIS DEPARTURE…
By cdawg
December 3, 2008 4:39 PM | Link to this
You mentioned that UGA has had two coaching changes during Richt’s tenure. Actually there are three including the running back coach.
By George P
December 3, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this
The problem is that too many Georgia fans think Herschel is still there.
Georgia has never had a better coach, and the team has never done as well as they have these past eight years.
Imagine how all these people who have screamed about Dooley in the ’70s.
By Chris Crocker
December 3, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
LEAVE WILLIE MARTINEZ ALOOOONE!
LEAVE HIM ALOOONE! I’M SERIOUS!
By redandblackattack
December 3, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
You’re wrong, consistancy is our enemy here. Being content with almost being great will not drive our team to a nation championship. We need defensive change, special teams change, and recruiting change to become great. You prefer to settle, is this why you write bad sports articles? All of this aside, we had 3 quarters this year in 3 separate games where we gave up 20+ points, That’s a cry for help, that’s a coaching failure.
By Big MIKE
December 3, 2008 4:54 PM | Link to this
Terrnce I totally disagree with you, Martinez may have the fire in his belly,but he does’nt have that next tier to be a great defensive coordinator.Georgia’s defense looked pathetic this year,and has’nt played with discipline all year.When you give up that many points with consistant top rated players coming out of high school,something is wrong! TELL MARTINEZ TO GET IT RIGHT OR GET GONE. This is the S.E.C.,where we play for championships and not 2nd or 3rd place. They get it in FLA,LSU,and now ALABAMA, we should get that attitude in GA and U.G.A. football.
By monty
December 3, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Seriously guys, who did we beat that was any good? I don’t care if they are going to a bowl game or not. In the games that mattered we got lit up like a CHristmas tree. The only thing that saved us from losing 2-3 more games was having a 1st round QB, 1st or 2nd round running back and a solid 4th-6th round wide receiver, and none of them will be playing for us next year.
This team will average 10 points less per game next year on offense and even if we can somehow turn the defence around and give up 10 points less per game(don’t think we can with CWM) we are still in deep do-do. We will have a much much less gifted and experienced QB who will make some mistakes in tough games when being attacked.
Sportscasters are saying that Texas could play for the NC if Mizzou beats oklahoma, I thought if you didn’t win your conference you shouldn’t be allowed to play for the NC, at least thats what we were told last year.
By Dunwoody Dawg
December 3, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
AHH Terrance,
Nothing like throwing a little red meat to a pack of angry dogs! You must have had a good inter-office laugh about this before you posted it.
Anyway, I’ll bite; CWM IS accountable for failures that occur on defense.
A serious question though, if our talent level has dropped off so much in the past few years, do you guys think it has anything to do with signing so many juniors?
It’s the only reason that I can think of that would lead to so much misinterpretation of talent.
By Wayne
December 3, 2008 4:59 PM | Link to this
Why is it that all of the top programs have sought after Coordinators? Name a school that would want or has pursued, Martinez or Bobo???? Well, GA State kickoffs in 2010!
By Rod
December 3, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Thank you for some good perspective on the Willie thing. I agree 100% with you in this issue. I find it hard to believe all the ignorant blogs to fire Willie are coming from just the ignorant UGA fans, I think alot of ignorant Tech fans are on here fanning the flames. When you listen to the Richt call in show you don’t hear all these ignorant comments from the real fans. I want a UGA Tech rematch in the chick fil a bowl, I just cant take 365 days of this from all the obnoctious Tech fans I know. I didn’t realize how dad they were until we lost to them.
By anotherdawg
December 3, 2008 5:02 PM | Link to this
I don’t want to see any of Ga’s coaches fired, but I sure would like to see more aggressive corner play. Whether it’s teams like Alabama throwing the short passes and gaining 8+ yards or so, or Tech’s pitch man getting big chunks, you have to face the facts. Our corners play too far off. And, can’t we find someone who can kick the ball deep, high, and at least inbounds.
By RosanneRosannadana
December 3, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this
Why all the fuss about Willie Montanez??
He hasn’t played fro the Braves since ‘77. He was a bit of a hot dog but always played good D.
Why should he be fired now and why do dog fans hate him?
Nevermind
By golfdawg
December 3, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this
I personally believe that Coach Richt is one of the best coaches in college football, his record speaks for itself. But, with some of the happenings of this season and him not willing to make a change with Martinez, he has put a huge bullseye on his chest for next year. The defenses inablity to stop anyone coupled with the embarassing losses to Fla and Tech (no disrespect intended for Fla or Tech)have left Coach Richt in a position where something big will have to happen next year.
Also, after going into the Florida game last year and basically punching them in the mouth, with the celebration, you cannot go into this years game any different. Our coaches acted almost apologetically in that game. It is ok if we hurt their feelings, we can’t always be the nice guy.
By michaelgee
December 3, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this
Wait until CPJ get’s the kids he hand picks into this “high school” scheme, I still marvel at how an upstart country boy Coach with only Chan’s players made UGA look so weak.
Glory Glory baby!
By Big MIKE
December 3, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this
just totally unacceptable, ALA,FLA,LSU,play for championships ,why do we have a defensive coordinator putting a 2nd tier defense on the field?
By SD
December 3, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
EVERYONE NEEDS TO LISTEN TO TRAVIS….THOSE ARE THE FACTS. 11 GAMES OF 30+ POINTS. WE ARE GIVING UP MORE EVERY YEAR. I SAID TO FIRE WILLIE LAST YEAR!!!!!!
By MWC
December 3, 2008 5:15 PM | Link to this
Don’t have to read it,,, IT’s TM
By greg
December 3, 2008 5:16 PM | Link to this
Here is a crazy thought for you to chew on. As bad as UGA’s defense was on saturday, Techs was worse… UGA gave up less total yards, less points and less first downs than the GT defense.
Tech had 4 big offensive plays and really nothing else (200 yards and 24 points off 4 plays) . Three of those 4 plays the running back was greeted by a georgia defender that refused to execute the fundamentals of tackling (wrap up, bring your feet and drive through the ball carrier). If one of the 3 had been executed UGA wins. Martinez can’t tackel the ball carrier (if you don’t believe me ask Woody Hayes).
I believe this team will right itself on the defensive side next year but not sure where the offense is headed with Stafford and Moreno departing. Could be a long couple of years folks. But tech doesn’t win 2 in a row.
By Paul Johnson
December 3, 2008 5:17 PM | Link to this
Terence……..I couldn’t agree more. Willie Martinez deserves a contract extension!
By BULLDAWGBILL
December 3, 2008 5:18 PM | Link to this
Does UGA have a special teams coach? I don’t think we have a coach with this title and responsibility. Special team mistakes hurt us more than the defense this year and for the past several years. Our kick off coverage and ability to kick the ball to the end zone is very poor.
By Hairy Dawg
December 3, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
It’s up to Willie Martinez to find a scheme that works to get the most out of his players. He never found anything that worked this season. Richt has the right to bring him back next season. If the defense isn’t any good in 2009, I have a feeling that Richt won’t allow his friendship with Willie Martinez to endanger his own job.
By G Roberts
December 3, 2008 5:22 PM | Link to this
After watching the replay of the Tech/Uga game, I’m more upset about missed tackles than coaching. On several of Tech’s long runs, the ballcarrier was surrounded by Dawgs at the sideline, and we missed tackles. Many dawgs appear to think that it is not necessary to put your arms around (wrap up)the opponent to tackle them. They try to block the runner to the ground. That said, maybe there is an opportunity for better coaching, but I believe WM can get the job done. Specifically we need better tackling from the middle linebacker position and the safety.
By Jeff
December 3, 2008 5:28 PM | Link to this
I agree that Richt should be allowed to call his own shots. He has certainly earned that. However, I think Dawg fans are scared because it seems that he is oblivious to what is occurring. 9-3 is not bad for this year considering the schedule and injuries. Its the manner in which we lost the 3 that hurts. Its not ever being able to bow up and get a field goal after a turnover. Its letting 3 halves define your season. Its watching a supposed leader in our secondary have a man pinned on the sideline on a deciding play in our own stadium and not even being able to push him out of bounds. This team quit over and over again this year. The offense is the best and most balanced in the SEC. The defense and special teams cost us in some way in EVERY game this year. CMR always says that stats lie. Well, maybe Martinez’s defenses stats are lying in this case. Its not about talent or ability. Its about attitude and mentality. The major problem is that attitude and mentality is much harder to find than talent or ability. WM couldn’t find a way to give his D that killer instinct. Usually once you lose it your players will begin to quit, which ours did in 3 halves this year.
By ramblin gamblin
December 3, 2008 5:44 PM | Link to this
It seems like over the past 10 years or so, all colleges want to recruit are 4-5 star players with some just being deemed “athletes”. You see more arm tackling and attempted “knock down” tackling than ever. Schools used to recruit FOOTBALL PLAYERS. Too much emphasis is put on speed. Give me a bunch of 3 stars that know HOW TO PLAY FOOTBALL, are not prima donnas and are not wanting to be the team superstar. It’s still a TEAM SPORT. Individuals don’t win, TEAMS DO!
By doug
December 3, 2008 5:54 PM | Link to this
The very fact that you oppose the firing of Willie makes me more inclined to believe he should go. Thanks for the conformation Terence .
By White Pwr
December 3, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
What a pathetic attempt by Terrance to keep his job by trying to stir the pot even more, keep trying Terrance, maybe one day you will be as valuable as pathetic Willie Martinez. You two losers deserve each other, FIRE TERRANCE MOORE & WILLIE MARTINEZ!!!!!!!!
By COACH whO?
December 3, 2008 6:09 PM | Link to this
Ok, So you say it is the players fault for a screwed up season, Just one question… Who is responsable for teaching the defensive players what plays to run and what to do? I think if you figure out that million dollar question, You will find the problem to UGA this year. It is honestly that simple.
By Cooter Burger
December 3, 2008 6:17 PM | Link to this
1) Losing to Florida and GT is the reason Donnan was fired.
2) Georgia did not win easily against ONE team that mattered this entire year.
3) Georgia scored 42 points at home after having two weeks off, and still LOST to the instate rival.
4) Georgia got much worse on defense over last year; even after returning 9 starters.
5) Mark Richt is a wimp if he can’t make a coaching change.
By far away
December 3, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this
You gotta love DOG fans. The offense’s star QB throws an interception deep in TECH territory for 6 and the special teams return man coughs up the ball in TECH territory for another 6. So what do you do? You blame the hispanic defensive coordinator!!! You have to love southern football.
By ncdawg
December 3, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
I thought some of you might find these stats interesting I compared the points each Team scored against UGA and compared it to their Average Points:
Georgia Southern-21, Averaged 31 Central Michigan-17, Averaged 30 South Carolina-7, Averaged 21 Arizona State-10, Averaged 24 Alabama-41, Averaged 32 Tennessee-14, Averaged 17 Vanderbilt-14, Averaged 19 LSU-38, Averaged 30 Florida-49, Averaged 46 Kentucky-38, Averaged 22 Auburn-13, Averaged 17 Georgia Tech-45, Averaged 26
By Ed
December 3, 2008 6:38 PM | Link to this
People who suggest that the fault belongs to the players who miss tackles and not the d-coordinator don’t understand that the coach is responsible for getting the players to play disciplined, sound football.
We like to make fun of him for his babbling commentary on ESPN, but do any of you remember Lou Holtz’s coaching style? If a player missed a tackle or a block because of bad fundamentals or got a stupid penalty, Holtz had him by the facemask 5 yards before he reached the sideline. The guy usually got yanked from the game for awhile after receiving a serious a* chewing. Holtz won 77% of his games and a national title at Notre Dame back when they played a brutal schedule every year, and took South Carolina to heights that Spurrier has yet to achieve, so the man knows a little something about coaching. At Arkansas he once beat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl after suspending 7 players for violating team rules. The man did not suffer fools on his teams.
What would Holtz have done to Reshad Jones after his love tap of the GT ball carrier who was racing down the sideline? He’d probably be third on the depth chart right now if he still had a head. Or the d-linemen who got the devastating personal foul penalties that negated turnovers early in the Bama and UF games? Those guys would have been better off heading to the other sideline. I don’t see that from Martinez, or from the UGA coaching staff in general. There seems to be a lack of fire and discipline that a team needs to reach its full potential. Funny, but I don’t recall those problems when Van Gorter was around.
By GaCracker
December 3, 2008 6:42 PM | Link to this
Martinez should walk. Turbeville went 5-7 which is intolerable at Auburn, despite his past success (undefeating just 4 years ago)! We don’t get the sacks or turnovers which we used to get. Instead we get missed tackles, busted assignments, and penalties. That is BAD COACHING. Erk Russell would be amazed at how such talent could be so misused!
By Obeone
December 3, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
Paul Johnson says (thanks Terence, I hope your article changes the fans mind about getting rid of that idiot, I noticed some of the dim whits fell for it hook line and sinker.") I mean com'on people, Willie can't make adjustments, that will cost you 2 or 3 games a year easy. That means no Nat. Champs. ever, never! It's simple as that!!!! Terence you're the only sports writer that takes up for Willie, think about that!By BrotherJohn
December 3, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
Details, details, details. They don’t matter, the coaches don’t matter. The players did not play. There was no team. The most disappointing season in over 38 years of being a Dawg fan. IT JUST DOEN’T MATTER WHAT HAPPENED, THERE WAS NO TEAM!!!!
By asswipe
December 3, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this
Don’t forget, Boycot the bowl to show Richt fans have a say as well in how the program should be run. I mean, it’s our money and time, isn’t it. We are “not pointing fingers”, as Richt says, just expressing our opinions on our direction for the program. You crybabies that don’t like it ought to go root for Duke.
By Wayne
December 3, 2008 7:07 PM | Link to this
This year in the SEC we have seen coaches that have won several SEC Titles and a National Championship. I hope this is a BIG wake up call to ALL of the UGA coaches that you are never safe!
By Jackit
December 3, 2008 7:50 PM | Link to this
Holy Crap Terrance. You finally posted a non-racial column. Don’t worry, Braves baseball is right around the corner.
By Lowcountry Dawg
December 3, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
By RED DawG
December 3, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
Keep Willie CMR. I give discounts for 2 or more moveing out of town together.Sincerly.your local u-haul man
By Loran
December 3, 2008 8:03 PM | Link to this
TM I GUARANTEE YOU NICK SABAN, BOB STOOPS OR URBAN CRIER COULD GO 12-0 WITH GEORGIA’S TALENT.WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO GET MORE PHYSICAL ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL.
By jwatl
December 3, 2008 8:31 PM | Link to this
WHO IS GOING TO INVITE THAT “GOOD TEAM” TO A BOWL????
By Top Dawg
December 3, 2008 8:42 PM | Link to this
The only thing solid about Martinez’s defenses is that they solidly (is that a word?) get worse every year. The points allowed per game gets more each year. For some, I suppose, mediocrity is sufficient.
By More of the Same
December 3, 2008 8:45 PM | Link to this
Richt has made his decision then so be it. The fact remains that Willie Martinez is not a great Defensive guru. The defensive stats that seemed to favor Willies Defensive schemes can be deceiving too. Some argue that his defense has been ranked very well in years past. But if you break down the competition through the years based on strength of schedule you will find different results in rankings. Case in point … The South Carolina Gamecocks defense this past year. Their defense was ranked very high nationally and also in the SEC. Funny how the gators just ripped them 56 - 6 and Clemson 31 - 14. So was their defense really that good? ONLY ON PAPER! The fact about Tech was that it fielded the youngest team in the ACC this year and they ran through UGA putting up over 400 yards on the ground and completed only one pass. The other disturbing thing about Tech is, Coach Paul Johnson says he has only implemented 50 % of his offensive package this season. Willie cannot adjust or strategize against opponents well and this is his biggest knock against him. Yes some could blame the players are not tackling well or that UGA is youthful in which was the same excuse before. This is why teams have coaches. I will make a wager with anyone that UGAs defense will continue to allow this pattern of scoring for the next two years while Willie M. is the defensive coordinator. ANY TAKERS???? Sorry Dawg FANS I’m afraid it will be MORE OF THE SAME! Care to WAGER ALTAMAHA DAWG or is that CHILDISH?
By Top Dawg
December 3, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
The following facts all are facts: · In the first century of Georgia football (1892-1991), the Red and Black lost two games in which they scored at least 28 points. During that same period, the Classic City Canines never lost a game in which they scored at least 29 points. · During the Ray Goff and Jim Donnan eras (1989-2000), the Bulldogs lost seven games in which they scored at least 28 point s, falling 34-31 to Tennessee in 1992, 42-28 to Auburn in 1993, 29-28 to Alabama in 1994, 43-30 to Vanderbilt in 1994, 37-31 to Auburn in 1995, 45-34 to Auburn in 1997, and 51-48 to Georgia Tech in 1999. · During the aforementioned Ray Goff and Jim Donnan eras, Georgia had five defensive coordinators: Richard Bell (1989-1993), Marion Campbell (1994), Joe Kines (1995-1998), Kevin Ramsey (1999), and Gary Gibbs (2000). · During the four years in which Brian Van Gorder served as Georgia’s defensive coordinator (2001-2004), the Bulldogs lost ten games. In those ten games, the ‘Dawgs scored nine, ten, 17, 16, 13, ten, 13, 13, 14, and six points, respectively. · During the four years in which Willie Martinez has served as Georgia’s defensive coordinator (2005-2008), the Bulldogs have lost twelve games. In those twelve games, the ‘Dawgs scored ten, 30, 35, 33, 22, 14, 20, twelve, 14, 30, ten, and 42 points, respectively.
To reiterate: Georgia scored 28 points in defeat just twice in the first 100 years of Red and Black football; Georgia never scored more than 28 points in defeat in the first 100 years of Red and Black football; Georgia scored 28 or more points in defeat seven times in the twelve years of the Ray Goff and Jim Donnan eras, during which the Bulldogs had five different defensive coordinators; Georgia never scored more than 17 points in defeat during the four years that Brian VanGorder served as Georgia’s defensive coordinator; Georgia has scored more than 28 points in defeat five times during the four years that Willie Martinez has served as Georgia’s defensive coordinator; and Georgia has not scored 28 or more points in defeat more than twice during the tenure of any previous defensive coordinator in Bulldog history.
SO FIRE WILLIE MARTINEZ FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!!!
By chazz
December 3, 2008 9:26 PM | Link to this
Stats mean nothing. Hold Eastern Michigan to twenty yards and you have the best stats around until you play Alabama. I have been a very positive fan, but now I think that when a team is putting up 400-500 yards of offense and losing, the problem is the defense. And, when the team returns a host of players (although some injuries) and can’t get it done, it must be the coach. I have just seen too many games where the dogs just don’t seem to be ready on “D.” They don’t hustle. And, their fundamentals are shoddy. Sorry, Terrence, I get where you are coming from about the team and expectations, but Willie just lacks something.
By SSI dawg
December 4, 2008 2:53 PM | Link to this
More of the Same:
Careful, you don’t want to upset the know-it-alls like Altamaha Dawg, Ole Dawg and the like on this blog. They are always right (or at least THEY think so).
When we wake up and realize that to be a NC quality team means constantly striving to be the best in all aspects; coaching, players, etc. then we will see the expectations met. Until then it will be just that - more of the same.
Friends before responsibility is a dangerous position. Ask Fulmer. Florida put up with Zook for three years. Sometimes you need change just for the sake of change. If everyone is satisfied with 9-3 & 10-2 seasons, so be it. Just don’t expect anything more under the current situation.
By Jan
December 4, 2008 4:13 PM | Link to this
Mark Richt has had numerous top ten recruiting classes in the past few years and Georgia still fails to put up a great season. Why is that people?All you Dawg fans think he is so great…….Not!
By ala dawg
December 4, 2008 4:47 PM | Link to this
monstrous scheduel* you have got to be kidding we played 3 good teams and lost to all three 2 by blowouts and were 3 plays away from 3 more losses.What good team did we beat?? tn-au-lsu-vu-ky-ast-sc ?????
By Pumpdawg
December 4, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
I was at the UGA game Saturday and I didn’t see Willie Martinez miss any tackles.It’s the lack of discipline and basic fundamentals.And that’s not all Willie’s fault.
By USA-UGA
December 4, 2008 7:06 PM | Link to this
In 1975, when I was a student, I watched Richmond hang 24 points on UGA under Erk, and UGA barely escaped with a 4 point victory. In 1977, UGA under Erk and Dooley was 5-6, in 1979 6-5. Had the coaches been fired then, we almost certainly wouldn’t have been the national champions the next year. I’ve been impressed with CMR, and if he supports WM, let’s remember history a bit - not all teams play superbly even with the same great coaches. I could easily envision a much better D performance next year.
By Silver Dawg
December 4, 2008 8:10 PM | Link to this
I have been a Georgia supporter for 50 plus years. I have always been happy to be headed to a bowl game at 9-3. We are what we are, live with it.