tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668303417231062245.post8347528080811089163..comments2023-09-22T10:29:26.208-07:00Comments on This Dawg's View: The Thing...Ben Dukeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461781656555739470noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668303417231062245.post-14349070359745882812010-05-13T23:47:18.724-07:002010-05-13T23:47:18.724-07:00One thing I'd like to add is that had we fired...One thing I'd like to add is that had we fired Martinez we may not have ended up with Grantham. I am not sure if he was our 4th 5th or 8th choice for the position but I really like him as well as the other guys we brought in to coach defense. Maybe in a few years I will differ on that but for right now I think that Grantham is the perfect fit for what we need and am very excited about the next few years under him.Dawgfan17https://www.blogger.com/profile/08616753796154813540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668303417231062245.post-21013633082087807732010-05-09T22:50:15.781-07:002010-05-09T22:50:15.781-07:00Hey Bry;
I actually had that conversation with a ...Hey Bry;<br /><br />I actually had that conversation with a friend the other day. No, I don't feel he waited a year too long. In all actuality, I said in 2008 that Martinez and company should have been gone...but coming from Richt's point of view, that's not necessarily the case.<br /><br />In 2007, the defense was pretty good down the stretch, and the main reason why UGA vaulted up the polls. So, there would be no reason to fire Martinez BEFORE 2008.<br /><br />Then, in the 2008 season, our defense fell backwards. However, there were a rash of injuries to the defensive ends, Jeff Owens was gone in the middle, and Ellerbee was injured as well. We had awful luck. We improved against the pass, and in total yardage...but we gave up nearly 4.5 points per game MORE than the year before. Still, as the coach, do you immediately do the firings, or do you give the coaches a chance to bounce back with healthier, more experienced players the next season? Don't forget, from 2006-2008, UGA was BETTER against the run than during the 2005 championship year. <br /><br />But, in 2009, the team wasn't plagued by injury. The defense wasn't particularly young. There were NO excuses. So, it was time to show the defensive crew the door. But, don't forget...defensive tackle production actually INCREASED over the past four years, as has our run stoppage. The two aren't unrelated. That, and his ability to recruit are what enabled Rodney Garner to keep his job.<br /><br />Firing a coach isn't as cut-and-dry as many fans like to believe it is. You don't just cut a guy loose when he has a down season, but when you notice that a trend has developed, you have to re-assess. Richt did, and made the correct decision.Ben Dukeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08461781656555739470noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668303417231062245.post-48854956306574000322010-05-03T06:09:20.567-07:002010-05-03T06:09:20.567-07:00Ben, do you have an opinion on whether or not Rich...Ben, do you have an opinion on whether or not Richt waited one year too late to make the necessary changes? I'd be curious to hear from someone who played.BulldogBryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08278897630475820366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6668303417231062245.post-60742813987056851732010-05-01T14:15:07.455-07:002010-05-01T14:15:07.455-07:00Very nicely concluded. Thanks for taking the time...Very nicely concluded. Thanks for taking the time to write up this series of articles.Big Muddy Dawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09635892872627104381noreply@blogger.com