Georgia Bulldogs Football: 5 Best Moves Mark Richt Has Made This Year

Change is a good thing, right? Well, perhaps most of the time. Otherwise, why make them, right? Regardless, change often comes hard and slow and is occasionally even painful. But, hey, when you are approaching rock bottom, what is else can you do?

When the final seconds ticked off the clock bringing last New Year's Eve Liberty Bowl, to an end, everyone in the Bulldog Nation knew that things were bad. Georgia had just dropped a 10-6 game to the University of Central Florida. For the Knights from the Land of Mickey and Conference USA, it was their first bowl victory in the history of the program.

For the Georgia Bulldogs, it was an embarrassing end to an ignominious season, the program's first losing campaign since 1996. The 'Dawgs play, especially on offense, had been unspectacular, if not downright lifeless and devoid of heart.

It is difficult to believe that Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt, completing a decade as Georgia's "Top Dawg," was not already feeling the heat even before the loss. The Bulldogs had just finished the regular season at 6-6, this coming on the heels of an 8-4 campaign in 2009. After reviewing the film of his team's loss in Memphis, even Richt admitted being disgusted by some of the things that he saw.

While the murmuring had been going on for some time, open talk of Richt being on the "hot seat" and in jeopardy of losing the program and perhaps his job began to intensify.

Being on the proverbial hot seat, as the idiom suggests, has to be a terribly uncomfortable and disconcerting place for any coach to be. It doesn't, however, necessarily have to be a completely negative circumstance. Being in danger of losing one's livelihood, as well as the prestige and other perks that accompany being a big-time, college football coach, can also be motivating and empowering. It can cause one to put aside complacency, over-cautiousness, inertia, inaction and the unwillingness to be reflective, realistic or just roll the dice in favor of doing something to survive.

In sum, the triggering of the fight-or-flight instinct can become a powerful force for change. It can lead to a sense of urgency and to a willingness to make bold moves that one might not otherwise choose to make. Making such changes may ultimately play positive role in bringing about improvement and in affecting an environment more conducive to success than the previous way of doing things.

Since the end of last season, Richt and his staff have made a number of moves geared toward stemming and reversing the tide of Georgia's downhill slide.

What are the top gambits that either have or likely will pay dividends for the 'Dawgs as they endeavor to reverse their recent football fortunes and, in the process, preserve Mark Richt's job for years to come?

Let's take a look.

Losing Weight

Almost immediately after the new year began, perhaps the result of a resolution or perhaps simply by chance, Mark Richt began losing weight. Over the next few months, Richt shed a hundred pounds of weight that was uncommitted, above all else, to being a Bulldog and to doing things, as Richt is fond of saying, "the Georgia way."

It began in early January. Richt announced the departure of Marcus Dowtin. With a dearth of linebackers already, the loss of Dowtin, tied for third among tacklers on last year's defense, seemed costly at first inspection.

Dowtin had somehow managed to neglect telling Richt about a pending legal issue that he was involved in Maryland until well after the incident had occurred. Given the Bulldogs' Fulmer Cup victory their extralegal exploits during the previous off-season, the embarrassed and exasperated Richt had certainly issued ultimatums to his players regarding such matters. It is unlikely that this message was lost on Dowtin. Therefore, his oversight, his failure to disclose in a timely fashion, represented a breech of trust that led to a parting of ways with Richt.  

In May, Washaun Ealey, Georgia's leading rusher in 2010, announced his transfer to Jacksonville State in Alabama. Ealey was suspended at the beginning of the last season and again during winter and spring drills. After sharing the ball with Caleb King for two years and then listening to Richt's gushing about incoming, 5-star freshman tailback, Isaiah Crowell, Ealey had decided that he wanted to be "the man," the feature back—somewhere. He had oft been in Richt's dog house and was fumble prone, so the departure came as no real surprise.

In May and again in June, Georgia announced the departure of offensive linemen for greener pastures. A.J. Harmon left for "personal reasons" at semester's end, and Brent Benedict followed in June. It has been speculated that a rift had developed between Benedict and new strength and conditioning coach, Joe Tereshinskl, Jr., over the coach's training methods as they related to the lineman's rehab from a previous injury.

Then, in July, tailback Caleb King was declared academically ineligible for fall semester, effectively terminating his career. The heralded running back, whose productivity fell far short of high expectations that preceded him, said all of the right things after the fact. However, he may have revealed his true sentiments when he tweeted, regarding the news of his ineligibility, that his friends should "hold UGA down and don't let them brake u." King had previously been suspended for both legal and academic incidents.

Appearances suggest that these players simply were not committed to the expectations of a coaching staff clearly determined and dedicated to rejuvenating the program. It is unclear whether the departures were the brainchild of the players or whether, perhaps, they were encouraged by the coaching staff to continue their careers elsewhere.

Regardless, when players are not fully committed to vision and expectations of the program, they become dead weight at best and cancerous as the worst. Getting rid of dead weight lightens the burden of the load moving forward, and the preferred prescription for treatment for cancer, whenever feasible, is surgical removal rather than chemo.

You know, I thought that Coach Richt was looking rather svelte when the season kicked off, even factoring in the 10 extra television pounds.

Getting in Shape

In a move made last December shortly after the end of the regular season, Mark Richt replaced longtime friend and colleague, Dave Van Halanger, with former Bulldog center, Joe Tereshinski, Jr.

Van Halanger, a strength and conditioning coach at West Virginia and Florida State before accompanying Richt from Tallahassee to fill the same job in Athens in 2001, became famous for his "mat drills"—workouts that terrorized Bulldog players during their off-season workouts.

In recent seasons, however, it had become apparent to many that the Bulldogs were being manhandled along both lines of scrimmage and that they seemed to fade down the stretch in games where they seemed in a position to win. During the 2009 and 2010 seasons, the 'Dawgs looked strong going into the second half of a number of games only to wilt in the final, critical minutes, proving unable to muster the strength and stamina to finish off their opponent.

Tereshinski, a two-year starter for the 'Dawgs in the mid-seventies, brings an old school/new school approach to Georgia's strength and conditioning program. While emphasizing lower body strength and running for stamina, Tereshinski is employing state of the art science in monitoring the nutritional needs of Bulldogs players in effort to maximize their physical potential.

While the skills, techniques and Xs and Os taught by position coaches and coordinators are vital to success, in the game of football you ultimately have to possess the "Wheaties" to line up and whip the guy on the other side of the line of scrimmage. And while how you begin certainly does matter, you have to be able to finish strong to win ball games consistently.

At this point, it remains to be seen whether or not the Bulldogs have turned the corner in this regard. They seemed to fade in season's opening tough contests against Boise and Carolina. And in the second half in Oxford, their energy level also seemed to lessen. However, developing a killer instinct is as much a matter of acculturation as it is strength and stamina, so the wisdom and value of this personnel and philosophy change should become more evident as the long season wears on.

Effective Re-Allocation of Too Much of a Good Thing

Georgia had lots of question marks at lots of different positions coming into the 2011 season. One such position was not tight end. The Bulldogs returned all four lettermen at that spot, including favorite Aaron Murray target, Orson Charles, senior Aron White, redshirt sophomore Arthur Lynch and senior Bruce Figgins. All are talented, and it seemed a waste to have so much ability concentrated at a single position.

Enter a pressing need. Tracing back to Verron Haynes, he of "hobnail boot" lore, Georgia, as an I-formation team, has a tradition of talented, bone-crushing blocking fullbacks with sure hands as they slip out of the backfield into the flats or into midfield seams. Brannan Southerland and recent departees, Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmeir, are others of this ilk that come to mind.

Coming into 2011, however, the primary option at that spot appeared to be hard hitting, but inexperienced linebacker convertee, 'Zander Ogletree. After mulling over the glut at tight end, the coaching staff decided to move three-year letterman, Bruce Figgins, to fullback in the spring.

The 6-foot-4, 272-pound Figgins made the transition seamlessly and looks to continue the tradition of hard-hitting, soft-handed tight ends at Georgia. Having him at fullback or utilizing him as an H-back, of sorts has been like adding an additional offensive lineman to the blocking schemes. The move is beginning to open up more running lanes for the relatively inexperienced and small stable of Georgia tailbacks. In addition, Figgins has a career-high five receptions for 63 yards so far and is a nightmare for opposing defensive backs to take on in the open field.

It appears that this move was a wise redistribution of assets that were in oversupply in one location. As economist Peter Morici likes to say, "It's really not that complicated."

Put Your Best Big Hitter in the Clean Up Spot

At 6-foot-3, 236 pounds, Alec Ogletree is a load ready to explode. He can run, has a nose for the football, and is a punishing and sure tackler. He is everything that a defensive coach wants and looks for in a linebacker. The only problem is that last year he wasn't—a linebacker, that is.

Due to graduation and transfers, the Bulldog defensive staff found its inside linebacker corps seriously depleted headed into spring practice. In almost every defensive scheme, inside linebackers are the heart and soul of the defense. They play a crucial role in managing the defense, stopping the run and assisting in both pressuring the passer and covering potential receivers. In most defenses over the course of most seasons, they make the lion's share of the tackles.

Ogletree was recruited to Georgia out of Newnan High School as a safety, He was highly touted and seemed to possess all of the tools to have a stellar career in Georgia's secondary, But in the face of the paucity of seasoning at interior backer, defensive coordinator Todd Grantham decided to act upon a sense that he had about Ogletree after having coached him for a season.

Grantham's NFL mentality and eye for talent led him to see a natural linebacker in the abilities of the young safety, Ogletree. The move was made during spring drills and was deemed a success after watching him attack the ball from sideline to sideline in the G-Day game. Ogletree opened the season at his new position against Boise State in the Georgia Dome.

Unfortunately, the Bulldogs have yet reap the full benefits of this move due to a foot injury that Ogletree suffered during that opening contest. The injury, which required surgery, has sidelined him for four to six weeks.

With luck, the safety-turned-linebacker will be ready to return for the stretch run, hopefully by the time the 'Dawgs travel to Jacksonville for the annual festivities with the Florida Gators.

When he does return, the natural born defender will surely make this move appear to be a stroke of genius.

Don't Just Stand There Dreaming, Do Something!

Most great accomplishments begin in someone's dreams. While dreaming is clearly important in the creative and innovative process, these mental machinations ultimately have to be translated into action to reach fruition in actual productivity.

Last recruiting season, as he had envisioned and set out as his goal, Mark Richt put together a "Dream Team" recruiting class, a sales pitch that he employed in an effort to keep Georgia prep talent at home in the state. This much heralded group was tabbed to come in and restore Bulldog football to a position of prominence.

On offense, Georgia approached the 2011 campaign in need of answers to two huge questions. Who would fill the void and sizable shoes left by A.J. Green's early departure for the NFL? The über-talented Green was one of the most prodigious receivers in Georgia history. In addition, with the sudden departures of the team's top two rushers in 2010, Ealey and King, just months and even weeks before summer drills were to begin, the Bulldogs faced the question of how they would manage to mount a successful running attack in 2011.

For most coaches, talking about freshmen stepping in immediately to help to save the program and actually putting them into those roles is oft easier said than done. After a disppointing and miserable 2010 season, for example, Mack Brown at Texas is playing all but four of his freshman class.

But no one has ever accused mark Richt of being a daredevil, a living on the edge kind of guy, and it appeared at the beginning of the season that he might be a little overly circumspect about putting too much on the backs of his super frosh from the outset.

Fortunately for the Bulldogs and their fans, however, he appears to be over it. During his freshman campaign in 2008, Green caught 56 passes for a 17.2 yards-per-catch average. Freshman wideout Malcom Mitchell of Valdosta is on track to approach those numbers. Through four games, he has 17 catches for 14.8 yards per reception and two touchdowns. His contributions, along with those of other receivers, seem to have filled the Green Gap.

After tiptoeing around and over-relying upon 5-star recruit Isaiah Crowell early on, opting instead to start Richard Samuel, who was not good enough for the position two springs ago, Richt has finally placed his chips on the Crowell table. Crowell has responded by averaging just under 103 yards per game and just over five yards per carry. Instead of fretting over Crowell's lack of blocking acumen in passing situations, he has used him as a secondary receiver instead. In that role, the rookie tailback has demonstrated nice hands, in addition to his obviously ability to shake and bake in space.

Due to Ogletree's injury, freshman linebacker Amarlo Herrera has been forced into more action. To date, he has helped to fill the void at inside backer well and is gaining invaluable experience. But for a scooter incident that sidelined him early on, another heralded recruit, outside linebacker Ray Drew, may have likely worked himself into the rotation on the edge already.

Despite an 0-2 start, these moves seem to be working towards moving the Bulldogs in the right and winning direction. While the full potential and effect of each of these changes has yet to be realized, Bulldog fans are optimistic that they will go a long way toward making SEC opponents respect and fear the Bulldogs' bite once again.

Besides, when you are on the hot seat, what else do you have to lose, right?