Richt running a tighter ship

Reporters caught up with Georgia coach Mark Richt on a conference call Wednesday:

• Asked if he’d agree with recent comments by numerous players that the coaches are running a tighter ship this offseason, Richt said: “I would, yeah.”

He elaborated: “I think every year we try to tighten the ship. … My mentality right now is I’m going to treat this team as if it’s the … first year I’ve been coaching at Georgia. We’re setting the tempo as a coaching staff, setting a bar, and expecting these guys to reach it. And they are fighting like mad to do that.”

• Although 16 Georgia players will miss spring practice while continuing to rehab from surgeries, Richt said only one of them looks questionable for the start of the season. That is offensive lineman Josh Davis, who is scheduled to undergo a second shoulder operation later this month.

• Richt expressed satisfaction that Georgia has kept its coaching staff intact despite attempts by Auburn, Tennessee and South Florida to hire away Stacy Searels, Rodney Garner and John Jancek, respectively. “It means an awful lot to me,” Richt said. “I think we’ve got a tremendous group of assistant coaches that do an outstanding job and have for quite some time know. And to keep the continuity, I think it’s extremely important.”

• Richt reiterated that Jancek’s promotion to co-defensive coordinator will not significantly change Jancek’s role — or Willie Martinez’s. “Just to make it clear, Willie Martinez is our defensive coordinator,” Richt said. “It’s not like two co-coordinators on an equal basis. Willie is the tip of the spear and where the buck stops and the leader of the group.”

• Richt said it is a “big deal, no doubt about it” to have lost NFL-bound Matthew Stafford at quarterback. “But I think there is a peace around our program knowing Joe [Cox] is at the helm right now because of his leadership, knowledge of the system and ability to play the game.”

• As for tailback, where the Bulldogs must replace Knowshon Moreno, Richt said: “I think there is absolutely an answer or answers within the group of young men we have right now and with [Washaun] Ealey coming in. I don’t think there’s any question we’ll have high production from the tailback position. It just depends on who comes to the forefront in that role.”