Georgia deals with fallout from loss

By Tim Tucker

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

ATHENS -- Will Georgia make lineup changes in the aftermath of Saturday's massive loss to Tennessee?

Stay tuned, coach Mark Richt basically said Sunday evening.

"We have just literally walked out of the room with the offensive and defensive coaches," he said. "We talked a little bit about it, but there was nothing that got nailed down.

"You can get a knee-jerk reaction and make decisions you really shouldn't make, so we're not going to sit here and make a bunch of wholesale changes this second. But if there are changes, we'll know for sure by Tuesday."

From coaches' meetings to the locker room to the Internet, the fallout from Saturday's loss hung palpably over the 3-3 Bulldogs on Sunday:

• Wide receiver Michael Moore wrote a Twitter post asking fans to stick with the Dogs, tweeting: "All I can say 2 the dawgnation is don't turn your backs on us. That's it. We need u to support us and times like this is when we need u the most."

Moore said in an interview that the responses to his tweet were overwhelmingly and gratifyingly supportive.

"The way I feel is we're playing for the fans right now," he said. "I know they're getting beat up, they're torn up and I just feel like we've got to put on a better performance for them."

• Quarterback Joe Cox said players hear -– and regret –- the external criticism being directed at the coaches. Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez has drawn fire since last season and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo's play-calling against Tennessee drew criticism.

"It's tough hearing about your coaches being on hot seats and all that stuff, because you know they're not playing the game," Cox said. "That's probably one of the worst feelings, just listening to people say how bad the coaches are doing when you know it's on you."

• And Richt summed up the current state of affairs this way: "We've got to get better at defense, got to get better at offense, got to get better at coaching."

When it comes to coaching, Richt said the need for improvement applies to the entire staff.

"I guess what I'm saying is that where we are right now is a culmination of everyone," he said. "I'm not pointing the finger at any one individual. I am saying we all as a whole must improve – period."

Asked about the defense's overall play since last season, Richt said: "It's not what we've been accustomed to at Georgia, that's for sure. So it's definitely something that has got to be corrected."

He pointed out extenuating circumstances, such as turnovers, but added, "Everybody's got issues. Whether it's injuries or youth or whatever, you've got to perform. And we haven't performed as well as I would like our defense to perform."

Georgia's offense, meanwhile, has reached the end zone in only one of its past 11 quarters. Richt did not specifically rule out a change at quarterback, but he said nothing to indicate one is forthcoming.

"If we're going to be successful at quarterback, period, we've got to run the ball better and pass-protect better," he said.

Richt said one criteria will guide changes: "Any personnel decisions that are made will be based on who gives us our very best shot to win against Vanderbilt on Saturday."