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CMR came within 1:30 of getting fired

14 years 3 months ago #33297 by Buc
Not often that I agree with Mark Bradley, almost never. The following article that he wrote, I agree with for the most part. Too damn many friends have been around Athens for far too long.

OSD, think that you have probably read this, if not, it makes me think of some of your posts about running the football.

This is the week, Mark Richt said late Saturday night, to recruit in earnest. And it’s true that one of the teams that played in Sanford Stadium on Saturday needs a talent infusion, but it’s not Richt’s Bulldogs.

Georgia Tech has a clear idea of what it is but insufficient manpower to get it where it wants to go. Georgia has, and has long had, enough players — not that it couldn’t use more — but has come to lack direction. As these middling-by-definition teams head into December and then 2011, we address their respective needs. First, Georgia’s.

Step 1: Get stronger. It has long been suggested that Georgia’s conditioning program has gotten soft, and we saw striking evidence again Saturday night. Tech ruled the line of scrimmage. Dave Van Halanger, Georgia’s strength coach, had a hand in building SEC championship teams here — those were his offseason mat drills, transferred from Florida State, referenced in “Finish The Drill” — but the Bulldogs have come to look comparatively peaked. (And not just against Tech; Auburn scored touchdowns on six of its final seven possessions two weeks earlier.)

The issue: Van Halanger is Richt’s best friend. Willie Martinez might have been Richt’s college buddy, but it’s Van Halanger with whom Richt goes jogging. Richt waited long — too long — to sack Martinez as defensive coordinator, but finally he did it. He needs now to make an even more difficult personal decision and upgrade a position that has become substandard.

Step 2: Get edgier. An acronym born under Erk Russell is still written on the board before every Georgia game — GATA. (Loosely translated, “Get After Them Aggressively.”) The Bulldogs, however, have become slow burners. They didn’t take a lead against an SEC opponent until the season’s fourth conference game. They trailed Florida 21-7 in a game they might have won easily had they built a two-touchdown advantage. When they responded to Auburn’s opening touchdown with three of their own, the question asked itself: Why don’t do they do this more often?

As we say in hockey and figure skating, Georgia football has lost its edge. Some of this has to do with preparation, but not all. Which leads us to …

Step 3: Get an idea. Richt is a finesse coach. Georgia runs the ball as a counterpoint. Its staple running play over these 10 years has been the sprint draw, and a draw is by design a fake pass. There’s no reason for Richt to change what he believes and become Woody Hayes reincarnate, and that’s fine. Where Georgia errs is in seeking to be both finesse offense and power offense. Artificial concerns over “balance” need to be tossed in yonder trashcan.

When Georgia fans rage at Mike Bobo for “going conservative,” they have half a point. Running isn’t a bad conceptual idea, but Bobo/Richt seem to feature the run at moments when all running can do is slow Georgia. The top two teams in the BCS standings have gotten there by playing fast and attacking for four quarters. Time for the Bulldogs to join the fun.

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14 years 3 months ago #33298 by wlayton
Replied by wlayton on topic Re:CMR came within 1:30 of getting fired
Btw Buc, a FYI from my guy:

"IC supposedly had a great time in Athens. Looking better with him, but it’s far, far from a done deal. It helps a little that Alabama has come back to reality this year."

PVBDAWG

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14 years 3 months ago #33299 by Buc
IC could be the man that we need right now . . . probably is. There is definitely enough surrounding parts offensively that could really make IC shine, and vice-versa. Had high hopes at the running back position when 2009 ended, needless to say, as you have said wlayton, they are just above average. Wondering a lot these days about our RB coach. Still feel that we have some house cleaning to do, think maybe our AD feels the same way.

wlayton, the recruiting wars are going to be like none other in recent years. A lot of talent out there and many teams are after the same young men. South Carolina has stepped up, Auburn is on a high, Saban will not allow what happened this year to happen again next year. UM, who the hell knows, not sure he does. Lost DM to Miss State and to me that shows just how important a coach can be to a school.

This is a perfect time for Richt to hire a offensive coordinator, or take over the reigns himself. The U just lost one of the top offensive coordinators in the country, he however is not Richt's jogging buddy or college teammate.

Myself, need to hear something with some bite coming out of Richt's mouth. Richt . . . Mark Whipple is dynamic, would love to have him calling plays for AM. That alone is worth at least two more victories. If not MW, bring your brother-in-law "Bull" Johnson in. Equally talented, in my opinion.

This off season will light this board and others up, no doubt. Will say again, hope that CTG gets the player or players he wants to make this 3/4 kick butt. I want to see CTG's finished product, whether next year or the year after. He will bring honor back to UGA's defense. Can't have these 10th Street girls getting their hopes up too high. Fix the damn leak . . . . now.

Go Dawgs, get ready in the off-season, no arrests, education and football.

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14 years 3 months ago #33300 by wlayton
Replied by wlayton on topic Re:CMR came within 1:30 of getting fired
Buc, CMR was asked if there were going to be any changes to his coaching staff and he said there would be NO changes for 2011.

PVBDAWG

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14 years 3 months ago #33302 by wlayton
Replied by wlayton on topic Re:CMR came within 1:30 of getting fired
Buc, interesting stats (hope my math was right, long day)


All game averages........offense--34.25/ppg....defense--23/ppg

All SEC games ave........offense--29/ppg.......defense--25/ppg

Last 7 games ave.........offense--41/ppg.......defense--24/ppg (shows AM progression)


Obviously shows a consistently bad defense.....imo you shouldn't give up more than 16-17/ppg.

Also shows me that once AM was "turned loose" the offense scored plenty to win ballgames. Maybe CMR got involved with the play calling. Only glaring bad point totals is on defense.....oh.....imo. :woohoo:

PVBDAWG

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14 years 3 months ago #33304 by Buc
Saw that wlayton, trying real hard not to open up that lengthy back and forth on Richt and his choices. A lot of his close "folks" are in the Athens area now, know he wants it to work. However, the UGA Family is a lot larger than Richt and his close friends and family.

Have heard a few comments about staying with the present group. It will be interesting to see what UM does with Florida in the next couple of years. Same can be said about Saban. Will Alabama bounce back . . . DM at Miss State, was this year a fluke? Did SS get more than his foot in the door? Heaven forbid that Tennessee moves past us. In a nut shell, call it on the hot seat or whatever, coaching continues like it did in the Tech game, we are cellar dwellers.

Sorry, just not happy with what I see. Not going to put the "blinders" on to cross a bridge. You know what I am talking about with that statement.

Don't want Richt to lose his job, just want him to be able to keep up with the other coaches in the SEC. That is not totally up to him now that AD Mc is on board.

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