UGA blog finds new home
Morning all. As I’ve said a couple of times this week, we’re converting this blog over to a WordPress platform and it will be a permanent move the first of next week.
Those of you who are regulars probably know that I’m not what you’d call techno-wizard when it comes to these things. But from what I understand the technology offered in this new format should make the blogging and commenting experience better for all. Of course, I’ll be learning as we go along, too. But I’m hoping to provide more pictures and video and things like that which should bring the blog more to life.
Of course, this blog is nothing without all you guys so I want to heartily invite (read: beg) you to come over to the new site by CLICKING HERE ON THE NEW ADDRESS and save it in your browsers. As of Monday, Feb. 23rd, this will be the permanent home of the UGA blog you so love or, in the case of some of you, love to loathe. If you’d prefer to copy and paste or just memorize, the new address is: http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/.
See at the new place!
AJC > Sports > UGA > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 04
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Martinez becomes focus of fans’ ire
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Criticism comes in a lot of forms and, after a loss like Georgia suffered last Saturday in Jacksonville, nobody is safe from receiving it. But from Day One in this forum I’ve been hearing it about defensive coordinator Willie Martinez.
In many ways Martinez has never had a chance. He followed a relative legend in Brian VanGorder and you know what they say about following legends. But it had been a tossup for Richt about whether to name BVG or Martinez defensive coordinator when the two first joined his staff in 2001 and Richt wasted no time in tabbing Martinez the position when VanGorder began his football sojourn after the 2004 season.
I’ve been a pretty staunch defender of Martinez the last couple of seasons. After all, the Bulldogs have averaged 10 wins his three seasons overseeing the defense and never finished worse than 18th nationally in total D. But he has become more difficult to defend this season.
The Bulldogs have famously given up 128 points in games against their three highest ranked opponents this season — Alabama (41), Florida (49) and LSU (38). You can argue the offense didn’t help the cause in the two losses but, still, it’s the defense’s job to keep the other guys out of the end zone. With nine returning starters and a collection of other highly-recruited talent, Georgia is 11th in passing defense (217.6 ypg) and ninth in total defense (306.7). Worse, it is giving up 23.4 points a game. That’s 10th, or third from last, in the SEC this season.
The points allowed continues a disturbing trend under Martinez. The Dogs have actually given up more each year — 16.4 per game in 2005, 17.6 in ‘07, 20.2 in ‘07, now 23.4.
Here’s the bottom line, though. Even if it remained there the rest of the season, which it shouldn’t, it’s highly doubtful coach Mark Richt would make a change. He has repeatedly defended his coordinator and has always been outspoken about staff continuity being important to continued success. Besides, there is still a very good chance Georgia could finish the season 10-2, 11-2 with a bowl win. If so, that’s not exactly a colossal failure of a season.
So I put it to you, the all-knowing blogosphere. Do the Dogs need a change there or just a change of attitude?
Some links:
Here’s the main story of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer’s resignation from the Knoxville News-Sentinel… .
Your probably wondering about replacement candidates. So was the Knox-News’ John Adams… .
In the meantime, Kentucky awaits and the Wildcats are pretty good. They’re eyeing a win over Georgia as a way to improve their bowl opportunities… .
The Athens Banner-Herald got into some detail with place-kicker Blair Walsh about his recent slump… .
This picture would have you think Richt was giving Urban Meyer the finger. Look for yourself and se if you think he was or if he just had an itch.
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