Bulldogs Need To Take a Page from Obama's Playbook: Time for Change

After losing Matt Stafford and Knowshon Moreno to the NFL, it was speculated that the 2009 season would be a challenge, but it has turned out to be a disaster.

For the first time in his coaching career Mark Richt has started off the season 3-3 after a terrible performance against Tennessee Saturday.

Tennessee quarterback John Crompton passed for a career high 310 passing yards and threw four touchdowns in Tennessee's win over Georgia on Saturday afternoon. This is the second quarterback this year to pass for a career high against Georgia's defense. The first being Ryan Mallet of Arkansas, who carved up the Dawgs Sept. 19 with 408 passing yards and five touchdown passes, both school records.

Georgia has the talent to be a contender in the SEC and fight for a chance at the National Championship every year. However, players are doing as much as they can; they are not the ones calling the plays. Changes need to be made on the coaching staff.

Since Willie Martinez has taken over as defensive coordinator, 2005-present, the Dawgs have given up 30+ points to opposing offenses 15 times. And over the past nine games Georgia's opponents have averaged 33 points. In comparison, while Brian Van Gorder was defensive coordinator for the program, Georiga's defense gave up more than 30 points to an opposing offense once, the 2003 SEC Championship.

Georgia is 97th among 120 bowl subdivision teams in total defense, 76th in sacks, and 116 in turnover margin. Georgia's defense is horrendous and play calling is questionable at best. Dawg fans are calling for an immediate demotion or firing of Willie Martinez, and they have every right.

Georgia plays Vanderbilt next Saturday, a must-win scenario if they want a chance at the SEC Championship. Will the Dawgs fix their defensive issues? Will they make changes to get things going in the right direction? These questions are yet to be answered. But as of now, the common consensus among Georgia fans is that Willie Martinez needs to be relieved of his duties as defensive coordinator.