Quote Originally Posted by fts1409:
Hey Jimmy...what's your take on the situation in Athens ? Terrible performance in bowlgame. OL coach just left for TX which can't be good esp. from a timing point of view. Some say that Richt's heart just isn't into it ; even hear rumbles of him wanting to pursue missionary work ?? Always enjoy your insights. Thx.
I don't like this Georgia team under Richt at all. In fact in the preseason posted a promised to myself that I would not bet on Georgia the entire season. Nevertheless, I broke that promise in week 4 when I sided with them when they play Mississippi State in Starkville and loss.
First let me mention Georgia's recruiting. Richt has really gotten off of his ass this year and done a good job of holding serve in his own state - a state that is always loaded with talent. Their recruiting class is currently ranked 9th in the nation, and they should move up a little by national signing day particularly if 5* RB Isaiah Crowell commits and signs with them as I expect him to.
There is still a chance Auburn may open up their checkbook and buy him at the wire like they've been doing quite frequently the last couple of years, but I still think he'll end up at the home school. The RB position is really a position of need for Georgia so Crowell is really a must get for them.
The real dark horse in the Crowell race is Bama, but I honestly think that would be a bad move for Crowell considering Bama has already pulled even higher rated 5* RB Dee Hart. Furthermore, don't be shocked if Bama pulls Barry Sanders, Jr. in next year's class. I think if Crowell goes to Bama, he'll have a hard time getting on the field, and I think he knows that.
Richt also just pulled the #1 rated CB in the nation Malcolm Mitchell right from under Saban's nose. With Saban's tack record with DBs, and the fact Bama has no CBs in their 2011 class, I really liked Bama chances with him, but it was not to be. Outdueling the master recruiter Saban for a prized CB prospect was very impressive indeed.
But talent has never really been the problem at Georgia. They are consistently one of the most talented teams in the country. Their problem is a lack of discipline which leads to a lack of consistency, which leads to consistently under achieving. The lack of discipline has been evident in their near last rankings in both penalties turnover margin in the '08 & '09 seasons. Not sure where they ended up in 2010, but I believed they did improve significantly in both catagories and that certainly is a positive sign.
But ultimately Georgia reminds me of Alabama in the last couple of seasons under the Shula regime. From discussions I've had with players who were on those Bama teams, the inmates were basically running the asylm. Guys weren't working out, weren't going to class, and were basically more concerned with their social calenders than they were playing football. Those Bama teams were very soft, and absolutely could not win games in the 4th quarter.
Richt reminds me a lot of Shula. Nice young, handsome Christian guy who is very hard to dislike as a person, but has no control of his team. And once you lose control of a team, it's very, very difficult to get it back because it really comes down to a matter of respect. If the players lose respect like the Bama players did for Shula, those players are lost for good. You'll never get them back. You can't go from being soft one year, and re-making yourself into a tough disciplinarian the next. That'll work with the new guys, but it won't play well with the old heads who know better. Like the Shula days at Bama, Richt's Georgia teams have taken on the soft personna of their coach. That was particularly evident in their bowl game against Central Florida.
I've been saying for a couple of years now that I think Georgia needs to send Richt packing and bring in a disciplinarian who can recruit. If Georgia gets that, with the talent they bring into that program, they will be a consistent force in SEC.
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