Having thought about the following for a long time, thought now would be a good time to see if others have any opinions on this particular view.
Believe strongly that we (UGA) are in a RISK – REWARD situation concerning football operations.
Many members here and elsewhere have been involved with conversations, observations of our coaching staff, both before 2015, which I refer to as the RISK, and soon the REWARD (?) after 2014.
When Mark Richt signed on to be the head coach at Georgia, he had some reservations, took some recruiting work by others to convince Richt that leaving FSU and taking the job at UGA was the right thing to do.
Fast forward a bit. Did not take long for our new head coach run into some things that he and others wanted to change in the coaching department. BVG gone, Willie Martinez inserted. Seemed ok at the beginning, but did not take too long for the shine to wear off.
Next move on the defensive side of the ball was to replace Martinez. That happened, but there was not an immediate hiring for the defensive coordinator position. Ends up that Grantham was hired, all seemed to be under control and the beginning of the end. End of what Grantham found once he arrived in Athens.
Grantham did make changes, and the changes were immediate. He has a large ego and let's face it, understands defensive play. Appeared after a couple of years that we would return to the GATA type of football. That did happen, however there was one drawback. The drawback appears to have been “knowing defense” as opposed to “teaching defense”. Not going into great detail, anyone that follows this board and others knows that it was not a personnel problem (players) it was “teaching the players” in some cases teaching them in a short period of time. Those that are truly NFL prospects tend to leave early. Explanation enough I think, not enough time under Grantham to absorb what he wanted. X's and o's were too complicated not only for some players, some of the other coaches as well. Coaching problems under Grantham were never discussed publicly.
What happened next in my opinion was what is hoped to be the REWARD phase.
Pruitt/Rocker and Company were hired. Basically moving away from the NFL explosion that was and is taking place in college football. Coaches that have a different philosophy on how defense is “taught”. Pruitt said from the get go that the players would be taught, taught with this in mind . . . . not every player is going to catch on in the same length of time. Pruitt is a disciplinarian, he however is a “football coach”. A solid coach that understands these young men coming out of high school and playing on another level cannot be expected to become All Pro overnight. Tracy Rocker is someone that Pruitt wanted. Rocker with both playing and coaching experience at the next level, but . . . . Rocker is in tune with what Pruitt wants, that is why Pruitt hired him. Yes Tracy Rocker coaches in Athens because Jeremy Pruitt “hired” him.
REWARD. There were noticeable changes in 2014, first year under new defensive coaching staff. 2015, will start to see a better defensive group because many have been on campus and are light years ahead of 2014. Believe, no, expect a better defense in 2015, however 2016 is going to be loaded with players that understand, allowing them to not only “play fast”, the will “play faster”.
What will face the Georgia faithful after 2016 . . . . coaching contracts. There will be new offers and counter offers. I see it like this . . . . college football as we once knew it, will never be the same, just check out the changes in 2014/15. Much has changed and much more will.
What was said above, will probably discussed about the new and old hirings on the offensive side of the ball.
Feel that Mark Richt has rolled the dice. Snake eyes will not work again.
