Who should be the new DC?

Absent a total collapse as in the 2nd half against Tech last year

and in the 2nd half against Ky last week, EVERYONE is safe! The Auburn victory did that. If the aforementioned collapses of 2008 and 2009 happen this week, NO ONE should be safe. And, I mean, NO ONE. More in response to your question, I think Rodney Garner should be given a chance at DC. Why not?

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 9:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Actually, my first choice is Sylvester Croom, but Garner is my second.

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 9:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Jujdog, what has Rodney Garner ever done to make you believe that he would be a good defensive coordinator? He has coached some fantastic defensive lineman, no doubt. In fact, the linemen he’s coached are better, relatively, than the defensive backs that Willie has coached.

Promoting Garner to DC would be taking a leap of faith, however, and we are in a position now where we need to be bringing in someone who has had success as a defensive coordinator in the past… not someone who we think might or should be able to do the job. That’s why, the more I think about it, the more I like Dick Bumpas over even Sly Croom. I think Croom would be a great DC, but Bumpas has done it before.

Cliches exist for a reason, and I honestly think Willie Martinez has fallen victim to the old cliche that people are always promoted to their level of incompetence. Most people I know who actually know enough about the program to speak intelligently about it really do think that Willie is a good secondary coach. He was promoted, though, from “position coach” level to “coordinator” level, which is a different skillset, and one in which he is not nearly as competent.

Given the state to which we’ve sunk, it is time to bring someone in who has proven in the past that he is competent in the coordinator role… not someone who we think “should be” good.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 23, 2009 11:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What makes you think Garner would NOT be a good DC?

Not being one to be politicaly correct, I would be against hiring a WHITE DC. The coaching staff picture at UGA points out a part of the problem. Take a good look at the placement of the assistant coaches in the pictures.

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 12:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think I’m really following your point here.

I don’t think the motivation issues and incompetence displayed by our defense has anything to do with Martinez being a white guy.

by get swoll yunel on Nov 23, 2009 1:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree swoll....

we need a DC that can coach, adjust during the game (all 4 qtrs), and beat the hell outta the opposing OCs-be he black, white, yellow, green, or blue!
Once we go “outside” to hire we will most definitely lose Garner & Jancek b/c the new DC will bring in his own staff- a sacrifice that should be made.

Besides Croom who were you thinking about?

by Dawgrees on Nov 23, 2009 2:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Check out the lack of expectations of our D-line....

Our D-Line was supposed to be one of our strengths (as was our O-Line) but look at the rush yards given up as well as the lack of “push” we get from the big guys ….The 1st half of the Kentucky game they looked great! But once again the opposing team adjusted and our coaches (all of them) did not! I’m not sure if Kentucky’s O-line adjusted to our schemes or simply wore us out but whatever they did-they were successful & Martinez, Jancek, Fabris, and Garner were completely out-coached!!
I also tend to think that not much would change under Garner as far as an overall scheme-we truly need someone like a Bumpas to come in & take over the Defense with a new attitude and an overall new plan!

by Dawgrees on Nov 23, 2009 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You are correct on two things.

(1) You are not following my point; and, (2) “the motivation issues and incompetence displayed by our defense has [nothing] to do with Martinez being a white guy.” On the other hand, the unwillingness to promote Garner and/or the replacement of Martinez (with a white guy) without promoting Garner and thus losing the latter as a recruiter will have SERIOUS repercussions concerning recruiting. Look at the picture of the staff in the program___the inner circle has the same skin tones as me.

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 2:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Sacrifices must be made.....

Again if we do not have the coaching to back up our talented players we end up where we are now! Yes Garner is a GOOD recruiter, no doubt about it….but if we just demote Willie & promote Garner we end up in this same position next year! Our players will keep us in the games b/c of their raw talent & speed……but our inability to adjust to the opposing offenses will be our doom! If there would be a way to keep Garner & make an “outside” hire-I’m all for it! Maybe “VP of Football Recruiting” or something like that with an increase in his paycheck as well…..

by Dawgrees on Nov 23, 2009 2:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have absolutely no problem losing Garner as a recruiter. None. I’ve been over this before, but we brought in Lilly from FSU (who has served as a recruiting coordinator previously) as a backup plan if Garner were to leave. Our recruiting isn’t going to fall apart if Garner does decide to pack his bags, and frankly, the guy has swung and missed pretty badly in the recruiting area more than a few times in the last several years. As far as I’m concerned, Garner is nearly as implicit in the failures of our defense as Martinez is. He has been the man responsible for recruiting and coaching a lot of these guys (DTs anyway), and he’s been a part of the half-assed, ill-fated gameplans we’ve been trotting out there for years now. Additionally, he has absolutely no experience as a coordinator so I can’t even begin to think how he’s supposed to be qualified for or be an upgrade from what we currently have at DC.

And I’ve never understood the infatuation with Sly Croom for a number of reasons. The guy wasn’t a good head coach; he wasn’t a good recruiter; he’s never been a defensive coordinator, and he’s spent the majority of his career coaching offense. Color me unimpressed.

This is not a race issue. This is about finding a coach with a proven track record who can come here and restore our defense to what it once was. There are plenty of names out there, and my speculation isn’t going to change what our AD and head coach decide to do (if anything at all), so all I can do is grit it out and hope for the best.

by get swoll yunel on Nov 23, 2009 3:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dawgrees, I have long advocated that the position of

“Recruiting Coordinator” should be on a level with “Defensive Coordinator” and “Offensive Coordinator” since it is certainly no less important, and an argument can be made that it (recruiting coordinator) is the MOST important assistant coach position__no matter what “title” is assigned to anybody other than the top guy. It is ludicrous that today we have so many titles__assistant head coach, assistant head coach offense, head coach offense, etc. B.S. But, individual coaches may be driven to a “hands on” play calling position__whether offense of defense. I don’t know what Coach Garner’s desires are. Weeks ago, I advanced the name of Croom__I think I was first here with that__and I think that would be the smart choice now, for many reasons. I just think all this is purely academic, because I see UGA beating Tech Saturday and the wins against Auburn and Tech will save everybody’s job.

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 2:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Everyone's job??

Even if we do beat Tech do you really believe everyone’s job is secure and no changes need to be made? I truly believe there will be a sacrifice (most likely CWM) to appease the Board, Damon Evans, alumni, & BullDawg nation. Seeing how this will break CMR’s heart to have to let one of his staff go & a close friend, I too believe that Garner may be looked at as a promotion…BUT (as I said earlier) feel the “right” thing to do would be to bring in a new scheme or design for our Defense…CMR also may opt to declare he will take over the play-calling as well but keep Bobo on as QB Coach/Off Coord/Co-Coord, etc.
I’m not sure that will appease everyone but next year our strength of schedule will decrease and the “young pups” excuses will most likely allow no major changes.
Yes you are correct-I believe you did bring Croom’s name up 1st but I’m not sure Croom would be the answer-in that he was more of an offensive mind rather than defensive.

by Dawgrees on Nov 23, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why Croom? You mean Ellis Johnson?

Croom’s “area of expertise” when hired at MS State was offense, not defense. He was supposed to bring in that wild west coast offense, or whatever that means (and how’d that work?). But yeah, his defenses were always strong, and Ellis Johnson was the man behind that.

by eray on Nov 23, 2009 3:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Jujdog... I hoping you're not being serious.

You want to hire a black person to be defensive coordinator primarily because they’re black, and we have too many crackers in CMR’s inner circle? Can we please try to figure out a way to step beyond race and make a hire because a person would be good for the job? It’s incredibly frustrating that people keep laying the race card down on the table as it regards hiring the next defensive coach at Georgia. The shade of the melanin in a person’s body doesn’t mean a damn thing to me. Finding a good coach that can help us win does.

I think Garner would not be the best man for the job at this point because he does not have proven experience as a defensive coordinator. We need a defensive coordinator that has proven he can win as a defensive coordinator, not someone we’re going to be assuming would be a good DC because they were a good position coach.

Bud Foster, Charlie Strong, Will Muschamp, Ellis Johnson, Kirby Smart, Tyrone Nix, Dick Bumpas… all of these men are proven DC’s. Which ones are black and which ones are white? If I hadn’t looked it up before listing them all, I wouldn’t know… and I don’t care.

Hiring people because they are of a certain race, no matter what race that is, is divisive and short-sighted at best, and is blatantly discriminatory and ignorant at worst. Hire a winner to coach your team. Play the kids that give you the best chance to win. Who cares which ones are white, black, brown, red, turquoise, or whatever.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 23, 2009 5:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It is the "perception" that is an issue, vineyard. It makes no

difference to me as to any coach’s race, but it may be to young men playing the game, particularly if they perceive a lack of opportunity for persons similar to themselves. I simply don’t believe you when you say you didn’t know which of the listed proven DC’s are black and which are white. If Garner leaves and a white person is hired, the likelihood of such a perception increases dramatically. The flagship university of a state has to be concerned with perception, as well as simple “wins and losses.” I do not believe in affirmative action, but reality is reality.

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 5:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, after I looked them up, of course I did. But before, I did not know that Bud Foster was white, Charlie Strong was black, or that Dick Bumpas was white.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 24, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don't watch much football on tv, huh, vineyard.

by Jujdog on Nov 25, 2009 9:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As I stated originally… I simply don’t pay attention to what the coaches look like. I’m sure I’ve seen Bud Foster’s mug in the pressbox during one of those Thursday night barn-burners in Lane Stadium, or a fuzzy picture of Charlie Strong sitting beside 4 other assistants in the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium coaches box. I don’t think when I see them, however, “Oh, Bud Foster is white,” or “Oh, Charlie Strong is black.”

Head coaches are a different story, but assistant coaches… I probably couldn’t pick half of Georgia’s assistants out of a lineup (aside from Willie & Bobo).

by vineyarddawg on Nov 25, 2009 10:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like I said, don't watch much football on tv, huh?

Charlie doesn’t coach from the “coaches box”. He’s a sideline guy.

by Jujdog on Nov 25, 2009 6:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't like this condescending tone you frequently use when communicating with other commenters, Jujdog...

… and were you not a close personal friend of the proprietor, I imagine you might have been called out on it already.

For the record, I probably watch more football than you do. The fact that I don’t make a mental note about every assistant coach I see every time one is shown on TV doesn’t mean that I either don’t pay attention or am a simpleton, as you seem to be implying.

In fact, I find it kind of creepy when people do commit every assistant coach’s name and face to memory… it’s almost as creepy as the recruiting guys over and Rivals and Scout.com who obsess over whether or not a 16-year-old boy in Moultrie has been lifting weights 3 days a week or not.

Too often on the internet, the discourse between commenters descends to a level of civility most frequently seen in medieval times… especially on newspaper websites and the like.

I like to think that on dawgsports.com, we try to be far more civilised than most of the internet. In general, most of the regular posters here converse with each other as though they were speaking to them in person, and not lobbing mass snark from the comfortable anonymity provided by the internet. I can’t make statements of authority, since I’m just a regular commenter like most everyone else here, but I certainly would appreciate it if you tried to be as civil as most regular commenters here try to be.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 25, 2009 7:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ok, this comment might have been out of line.

I got caught at bad time on a bad day. I certainly didn’t mean to be disparaging to Kyle in my comment, though I think it came off that way, and I was far more aggressive towards Jujdog than I should have been.

I apologize for any offense taken.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 25, 2009 9:54 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I thought Jujdog was making it somewhat personal and I dont blame you

Although maybe your response was a little too strong. You are a dedicated and longtem poster/writer here and to say you dont watch much football was out of line, and ridiculous.

Of course, I got into it about the train tracks with him once too. I dont understand why Jujdog is a Georgia fan and then rips at Georgia fans (he is even correcting their grammar, the hallmark of blog trolling), when we are all family and friends here. But I mostly just try to ignore it now.

The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. ~ Albert Einstein

by tankertoad on Nov 25, 2009 10:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

"We are all family and friends here"

That’s the best part. Especially in a less than pleasant season. To start cocktail Thursday early – I’m going old fashioned, which I’m not sure I’ve done all season (that could explain things) and I’m drinking bourbon. Maker’s Mark to be precise. I like to mix mine with a little Sierra Mist (which i find to be smoother than sprite or 7up.) It’s a traditional drink in my opinion and there is nothing more appropriate for Clean Old Fashioned Hate.

Now who wants Thanksgiving goodies? I’ve been busy baking tonight. There’s dinner rolls & lemon meringue pie, both homemade from scratch. Although the pie is off limits until my beloved grandfather has had his fill. (It’s his favorite and we almost lost him in September, so I made him one.) I’ll be happy to make more for anyone who wants some. If you have a favorite request and want to drive to Tulsa – I’ll fix it for you.

by podunkdawg on Nov 26, 2009 12:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Podunkdawg, I wish I'd known you lived in Tulsa before the Oklahoma State game...

… my wife and I might just have stopped by for some brownies. :-)

by vineyarddawg on Nov 26, 2009 4:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Would not have helped you,

I was at the game…..

by podunkdawg on Nov 27, 2009 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Even better...

… so were we. Brownies are better at a tailgate. :-)

by vineyarddawg on Nov 27, 2009 7:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good point.....

by podunkdawg on Nov 27, 2009 7:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No offense taken, vineyard, and no apology necessary.

Have a great holiday season.

by Jujdog on Nov 26, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am way late

incase anyone didnt already know this, Charlie Strong isnt going to another school to keep the same position, he has more then enough earned the chance to be a HC. He would be a great HC, I hope like hell it isnt at a SEC school.

Also hiring a coach simply because his race, is stupid. If the race of the coaching staff is the determining factor for a recruit I wouldnt want that player on my team anyways. It sure wouldnt fly if it was the other way around.

I am suprised the whole Race comments didnt get deleted. Such a touchy subject.

"Why does bottled water have an expiration date?"

by Hook85 on Nov 26, 2009 6:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Charlie Strong was just being used as an example

We’re all well aware that his next move will be upward, not lateral, and that he deserves to be a head coach (and has deserved it for some time).

I didn’t delete the comments about race because I don’t believe anyone said anything inappropriate. While other factors (particularly economic ones) also are very important, race is a reality and I do not intend to squelch discussion when, as here, no one crosses any lines.

Go 'Dawgs!

by T Kyle King on Nov 26, 2009 8:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its nice to see someone do it that way

Most blogs delete anything that may escalade into a headache, even if its harmless at the time being.

I guess I cant say most blogs, but I have seen it a lot.

"Why does bottled water have an expiration date?"

by Hook85 on Nov 26, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

DICK BUMPAS

I said this at the beginning of the season. This is not the time for on the job training. Hire someone who has been a succesful DC and pay the man what he is worth.
FREE WILLIE!

by Lakepoets on Nov 23, 2009 5:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Bumpas

is my choice too.

by fotodog on Nov 26, 2009 5:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I say

Dick Bumpas at first, but my gut tells me that he wont go to Georgia unless
a)He’s coming as a head coach
b)we put a lot of money on the table

Since neither of these are likely, what about Dave Huxtable from UCF? It’d be an upgrade of schools for him, plus think about what he could do with georgia’s talent. I mean, if he was totally unmanned and held texas to their 3rd fewest points all season, imagine when he has four and five star recruits working for him.

by Dawg013 on Nov 23, 2009 8:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Not so sure

that Dick would not leave TCU. UGA could certainly afford to hike his pay a bit. He has moved around quite a bit in his career, and UGA would put him back in the south. I would certainly NOT encourage a promotion from the current UGA staff. New blood is needed and it needs to come from a proven winner.

by Lakepoets on Nov 23, 2009 8:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Im sure that Dick would be willing to leave

but when you’re doing so well with defense, there’s bound to be head coaching offers elsewhere. So why would he come to Georgia, if he could be a well paid head coach at another program

by Dawg013 on Nov 23, 2009 9:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Croom was linebackers coach at Bama for 11 years and

tutored Cornelius Bennett among others. I meant Croom, not Ellis Johnson. But, to answer Dawgrees: yes, I think a win over Tech saves even the much maligned Willie M. unless he decides himself to step down.

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 9:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You're absolutely right...

he was a graduate assistant and linebackers coach for 11 years from 1976 to 1997. He’s a good man and was a good assistant, but color me unimpressed by hiring someone who has never run an entire defense, much less a portion of a defense in 13 years. Again, it was Ellis Johnson running those MS State defenses, not Croom.

by eray on Nov 24, 2009 10:22 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand that Johnson was the DC but Croom was his boss.

I doubt seriously that any DC or OC doesn’t have a lot of supervision from his boss. E.g., doesn’t Richt have a headset on which he listens to every call from the DC and the OC AND as boss, doesn’t he have the power to intervene and change EVERY call. Methinks he does. Hence, every “bad call” that Bobo makes, the Boss tacitly approves by his silence.

by Jujdog on Nov 25, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I can make those play calls from home...

but someone still has to actually coach them. Either way, I don’t understand the fascination with Croom as a DC. But hey, I’ll be more than happy to pick up my hotlilne to Richt and let him know who to hire.

by eray on Nov 25, 2009 10:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus, based on your logic, if Richt has that much authority and veto authority during a game, shouldn’t we be screaming for a new HC rather than a DC

by eray on Nov 25, 2009 11:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You ain't heard me defending him.

It’d suit me to clean house.

by Jujdog on Nov 25, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I still think CWM will do the honorable thing...

… by taking the hara-kiri route. (That is, resigning.) Not to mention the fact that nobody wants to work in an environment where everybody thinks you’re doing a terrible job and wants you to leave.

I guess we’ll see in about 6 days, though.

by vineyarddawg on Nov 23, 2009 9:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Vineyard, I can agree with you that "nobody wants to work in an environment

where everybody thinks you’re doing a terrible job". Problem is that not “everybody” thinks he is doing a terrible job. A cursory reading of the posts on this site alonedemonstrates that the Auburn victory was credited to the defense and the offense, not the defense, was the problem vs. Ky. , at least in the minds of many fans.Now, granted the vast majority, if not all, of those who are voicing opinions about the issue think Willie is not doing the job. I also agree that the “honorable thing” would be to step down___but we must remember that the motto “finish the drill” has been “drilled” into the heads of the players and fans by the head coach and presumably the DC and other coaches. Is stepping down “finishing the drill?” Or does it appear to be quitting when the going gets tough__something all coaches preach against. We may see in a week or so__but, if the D shuts down Tech to 24 points or less and the Dawgs win. It’ll be status quo come springtime.

by Jujdog on Nov 23, 2009 9:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs