Posts tagged Willie Martinez
Dawgs Speak, as does the Boss
Jan 21st
Players were made available to the press yesterday. We have quotes! We even have quotes from Damon Evans.
Do not expect any raises or multi-year contracts being handed out to Georgia’s assistants not named Todd Grantham. Unless the climate changes, and by climate change I mean Mike Bobo gets a multi-year offer from another school, it sounds as though Damon Evans wants to limit Georgia’s exposure to the escalating financial commitments that have taken place on SEC staffs.
Evans not concerned with new coordinator’s salary || OnlineAthens.com
“Everything in and of itself is unique,” Evans said. “Every situation is different. A lot of things have to do with timing, a lot of things have to do with what you can command as an individual, what’s going on with the climate out there.”
The climate for Georgia is that it pursued three other high-profile targets in its defensive coordinator search: Alabama’s Kirby Smart, Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster and LSU’s John Chavis.
Former defensive coordinator Willie Martinez was making $325,815.
“We went after coaches that were making more than what we were paying before,” Evans said. “We knew that in order to get the individual that we wanted that we were going to need to step up and pay more than we’ve done in the past. We’ll continue to evaluate each individual based on performance, based on market and based on what we think is a fair and competitive wage based upon their performance.”
It sounds like we are in danger of having no more than three players miss spring. A huge improvement from last year.
Sanford Knows Best || Injury Updates
According to a Georgia press release today, these players have undergone surgery within the last week. Their exact injury wasn’t released but all are expected to be 100% by fall practice.
Offensive tackle Justin Anderson will be limited in the spring with a shoulder injury but should be fully healthy by fall camp.
Fullback Fred Munzenmaier also has a shoulder injury and will be limited in the spring but is expected to be 100% by August.
Defensive end Jeremy Longo will be out for all of spring practice with a knee injury but is expected to be fine come fall practice.
Demarcus Dobbs does not know much about the 3-4 defense, but he has a plan to change that. It also sounds like the 4-3 was not his first preference.
Players curious about roles on defense || OnlineAthens.com
Dobbs said he didn’t know much about the 3-4 scheme, but might try it now when playing his NCAA football video game.
“I’ve never played with it,” Dobbs said. “I’m pretty much clueless. I choose multiple D because I like to run a 4-6 and stack the box.”
Dobbs can envision another end, 6-4, 248-pound sophomore end Cornelius Washington, as an oustside linebacker.
“It gives us options,” Dobbs said. “It’s all about what the coach wants.”
Hutson Mason is, and has been, saying all the right things. I love his attitude about being a Dawg and competing right away. He is also smart enough to understand the reality of the situation.
Mason excited about UGA prospects – University Of Georgia – Macon.com
“One of the things that most excited me about it was that when I come in, from day one, I’ll have the chance to compete for a job — whether that’s the starting position from Day 1 or to be the backup,” said Hutson Mason, Georgia’s lone quarterback commitment for the 2010 signing class.
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“You go from trying to pick out three coverages to 20 coverages, and you have to know all of that stuff,” Mason said. “(Mettenberger) said that was the most difficult part was reading defenses and being able to determine what kind of defense they’re in, who’s coming and who’s not coming and stuff like that.”
It sounds like Montez Robinson has listened to some Patti LaBelle and now has a new attitude. Sorry, that was just awful. I am really rooting for Montez. I understand the seriousness of the charges that were filed against him. There are those, especially those with daughters on campus, that do not think matters like these deserve second chances. I believe Mark Richt and the structure of the Georgia football program are far more effective than any other rehabilitative program out there. I did not know all the details, but I was disappointed Michael Lemon blew his chance at UGA. Anytime a person has a chance to better themselves and future generations of their family it is a good thing.
Players ready for new coaches – University Of Georgia – Macon.com
“You can just tell the guy has a total change of attitude,” Dobbs said. “I don’t know if it was him going home for the bowl game and talking to his family or whatever it was, he has a great attitude.”
Robinson played sparingly last season but was named to the SEC’s All-Freshman team at year’s end. He was arrested on multiple charges last month, however, and was immediately suspended from the team.
Nobody really knows where they will be playing along the defensive front except DeAngelo Tyson, and he is just guessing. From a defensive standpoint, this years G-Day game should be the most interesting since Richt’s first year. Ironically, we saw some elements of a 3-4 in last years G-Day game, although that was due more to injuries than coaching philosophy.
UGA players face big changes | ajc.com
In last season’s 4-3 alignment, which has two tackles and two ends on the defensive line, Jones and Tyson were backup tackles. In the 3-4, which has a nose tackle and two ends up front, they don’t know where they will fit.
If given a choice, Jones said he would prefer to play defensive end, which he played in high school.
Tyson, meanwhile, said he sees himself as a 295-pound nose tackle. “I just feel I’d need to get stronger instead of bigger,” he said.
Dobbs, who started all 13 games at defensive end this past season, said he has “no idea” whether he’ll be an end or an outside linebacker in the new configuration.

MLK Day and Some Links
Jan 18th
I hope your weekend has been great and is not over! For those of you that had to go in today, at least you caught a break from the normal traffic. In my 20 years in the software industry, I do not think a single line of code was written or a single sales call was made on days like today. Today is after all a holiday, and justifiably so.
I try to stay away from politics here, however unsuccessfully, in fact this blog serves as my escape from those realities. As a libertarian minded person, Martin Luther King Jr. serves as a triumph of the individual over government in my eyes. He never sought a place at the table of government. He placed his words and ideas in our collective minds.
His goal, peaceful change, rightful equality.
Today’s leaders drape their true motives in his ideals. They seek profit and power. They march “hit and run” style, only staying long enough to collect. Results matter not to them, personal enrichment and political gain are the only true measures of their effectiveness.
Many will come a calling on Auburn Avenue today. They come to have their picture taken, to associate themselves with greatness. They will make contacts. They will return for their next election. This is how they “pay their dues.”
Today there will be many celebrations of Dr. King’s life and his accomplishments. Teleprompters will be read and pundit’s legs will tingle. Please remember who we are celebrating and why.
Back to football….
Johnny majors endorses Derek Dooley. I believe the time of day the quote was given is relevant here, if you know what I mean.
Orlando Sentinel – College Gridiron 365 Blog – New Vols coach Dooley gets backing of Johnny Majors
Majors told Knoxville television station WVLT that Dooley was an “excellent choice” for the job.“They say that anybody that can work for Nick Saban for two or three years, you got to be pretty tough. You can’t be a softie and work for Nick Saban, who I respect very much as a coach. He is an outstanding coach,” Majors told the TV station.
Fair or not, I expect Derek Dooley and Skip Holtz are going to be measured against one another for years to come. Right now you would have to give Holtz the edge. Skip did a wonderful job in the sand hills of Carolina. Derek, on the other hand, landed in the SEC East. The Big East pales in comparison.
Orlando Sentinel – College Gridiron 365 Blog – Skip Holtz already cleaning house at USF
No less than a week into his new job and Skip Holtz is already putting his stamp on the South Florida program.Five USF assistant football coaches, including coordinators Mike Canales and Joe Tresey were let go by Holtz according to a report at the St. Petersburg Times.
Exile takes on Mark Bradley. Good. Now I don’t have to. I think I have figured Bradley’s cadence, it goes some thing like a a a a a b, with every sixth post being positive about Georgia with the previous five being blatant hits. Look, Bradley is a Kentucky man, but he has to be a closet fan of the Dawgs. He enjoys quality collegiate athletics and the Bulldogs afford him the opportunity to witness quality football. I assume the nature of the beast that is professional muckraking requires him to poke the biggest, baddest game in town, or state as the case may be.
A Bulldog in Exile: From the stoopid files
He starts out by saying process didn’t matter, yet for five weeks all he wrote about was process. The he proceeds to say Grantham won’t stir the hearts (and message boards) of Georgia fans, therefore isn’t as good a hire.The he asks “who had heard of Todd Grantham a month ago?” Well, I have prepared a list:
Bernie puts his always tasty meatloaf on the table, then analyzes his own “dream.”
Bernie’s Dawg Blawg: Monday’s Meatloaf – I Had a Nightmare…of a Dooley in Orange
“No worse fate can befall a man than to be surrounded by traitor souls.” I wasn’t aware Burroughs had ever served any time in the Vol Navy, but I get his drift. Back on point, God bless you Derek Dooley for trying to save a slew of dimwitted mountain folk. You’ve chosen your fate, win or lose. Unfortunately, coaches careers tend not to end well in Knutsville. But surely you knew that going in.
Cousin Walter wants to know if opponent’s QBs will continue to have their career best days against the Dawgs.
What will Grantham’s Pass Coverage be like? « Football on the Brain
What is Georgia’s new coordinator, Todd Grantham, going to do about defending the pass?In 2009, Georgia had much trouble defending the pass. Was it because of Willie Martinez’s supposive soft coverage? Who really knows? In the South Carolina game, Garcia hit them underneath and while at Arkansas, Razorbacks QB Ryan Mallett hit them deep. They are a few more examples of Georgia’s ineffective pass coverage from 2009 but why put ourselves through the memory.
In case you missed it, Georgia fell to Mississippi State over the weekend on the hardwood. If you have seen the movie “Groundhog Day” you know how Coach Mark Fox must be feeling. Here is my wrap up of the game.
Still Improving Dawgs Fall 72-69 | DAWGSbui 2.0 beta
The Georgia Bulldogs went into to Starkville and continued their growth as a basketball team. Ultimately, they could not finish the drill as Mississippi State prevailed 72-69.

Dawg Blogs: Grantham Reaction
Jan 16th
I have yet to find a negative word about the hiring of Todd Grantham as the new Georgia Bulldogs Defensive Coordinator. I have looked high and low. The support from the blogging community has been amazing. Here is but a sample from some of my favorite sites.
The Senator makes some excellent points readers of this space will be familiar with. He just does it in his superb senatorial way.
Get The Picture
Richt had his time frame in mind from the get go (i.e., this weekend) and a process that he wanted to follow. Unless something dropped into his lap unexpectedly, that pace was never likely to be changed.
Bernie is on board.
Bernie’s Dawg Blawg
Foster wasn’t it and neither was Chavis or Koenning. Smart came very,very close…but in the end made the right choice for him. Hear me loud and clear reader, that was also the best case scenario for us. Smart didn’t choose to stay in Tuscaloosa because of some supposed rift between current coaches. He stayed with darling Nicky because that was what made sense to him professionally. Bama, and more importantly UGA, are all the better for that decision.
Randy, who you should be subscribed to, likes the pick and has several reasons why.
A DAMN BEAST!!!: NICE! COACH RICHT GETS HIS MAN AND I GET ONE MORE REASON TO ROOT AGAINST THE COWBOYS
I am not an insider that stalks the halls of the football offices regularly and I do not know Todd Grantham personally. I do not need to. Statements like this one from Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer made during a telephone interview with Ugasports.com recently tell me all I really need to know at this point…
Cousin Walter breaks down some differences between the old and the new.
Football on the Brain
From the beginning it was my belief that it was not about whether or not they hired a big name, it was about filling the position with a coach that would be considered an improvement from Willie Martinez otherwise—Why fire him and go through this crap? I believe that is what they have done today by hiring Todd Grantham.
Hamp has his reasons for liking the hire.
Hunker Down Dawg
He has played and coached under Frank Beamer and Bud Foster and also coached under Nick Saban. In my view, Beamer and Saban are the two coaches in the college game with the most impressive defensive philosophies and results.
Kimberly has a great post looking ahead at the questions we face moving forward. She, too, thinks it is a great hire.
The Lady Sportswriter
For what it’s worth, I think Coach Richt did a phenomenal job in staying classy and poised during this search. He should be credited for never wavering or giving into the rumor mill machine at every turn.It’s yet another reason that Richt is so well-respected as a football coach in Division-I football.
2010 is bringing a new dawn in Georgia football and I am really excited to see how the new defensive regime will make the team better overall.

