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Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Tuesday Tidbits: Wednesday Edition

Instead of Mark Richt's usual Tuesday media session, we're doing it Wednesday. Here are the highlights:

-- Richt obviously wasn't thrilled about discussing the coaching hire at length, but that's the majority of the questions he got. He didn't reveal a ton of new info, but there were some highlights.

-- As for a timetable, he's not making any guarantees, but here's what he said: "I'd hate to think it goes much past the first week in January because you're back on the road recruiting. ... You'd like to hit the ground running at that point with your staff, but even then I'm not going to say 100 percent because we're not sure what will happen. But I wouldn't imagine it will go much past that."

-- On whether a hire could come before the bowl game: "I just don't know. I think I'll know when the time is right, and it's just so hard to predict."

-- Again, Richt was quick to keep from saying Rodney Garner would have too much control of the defense during the bowl. When asked about who would handle the defensive playcalling against A&M, Richt said his blanket statement on the subject would be that it will be a group effort.

-- Barring any setbacks, A.J. Green will definitely play in the bowl game. He practiced last weekend and will be practicing in a green non-contact jersey the rest of the way.

-- Montez Robinson will not make the trip to Shreveport.

-- Richt said he has been more involved in the defense, but it hasn't been much hands-on stuff in terms of playcalling or scheme. Rennie Curran said Richt's main job has been providing oversight and motivation.

-- GAs Todd Hartley and Mitch Doolittle will oversea kickoffs in the bowl game, while John Lilly will take over duties on punt return and block -- jobs that formerly belonged to Jon Fabris.

-- I asked Richt about Logan Gray's potential for a position change, and while he didn't officially commit to it, it sounds like it's definitely happening, and not because the coaches wanted it to: "Have we talked to Logan? Yes. And Logan wants to play. Logan is the one who's going to decide what he wants to do this spring. If he wants to stay strictly at QB and compete in that area, I'm all for it. If he wants to try another position and see if he can get more playing time in that role, I'm fine with that. I know that Logan is not going to forget what to do at quarterback, so even if he does something this spring at another position doesn't mean he won't be back at QB in the fall. We love Logan, we think he's a heck of a player, and we want him to feel like he's getting his best opportunity to make a contribution to his team. At this point, nothing's changing. He's not going to slip out there and play another position during the bowl practice."

-- I followed up by questioning his comfort level about potentially opening the 2010 season without a QB on the roster that has ever run a single play in a game: "I guess the bottom line is, I don't want to get into hypothetical things, but I will say that we think (Murray and Mettenberger) are outstanding quarterbacks."

-- Richt said the coaching staff has not discussed moving Richard Samuel to linebacker at this point.

-- Richt reiterated that he wants to hire the DC first and that person will have a say in who is hired at the other assistant positions, but made clear that the final decision will be Richt's.

-- "I would consider it. It has to start with the D coordinator and just see what that gentleman feels he needs to succeed and then move from there. We'll definitely have our special teams covered but will there be a special teams coordinator? I wouldn't predict that right now. But to say I haven't thought that as a possibility, I've thought about that."

-- As to what type of coordinator he's looking for in terms of scheme, Richt went the cat-skinning route (which has always seemed like a rather traumatic analogy to me): "I guess I'd have to say I'm open to championship-level defense. I'm not going to say I will not consider this scheme or that scheme or I have to have this scheme. I won't do that. There's different ways of skinning it, and if you're really good at skinning it the way you do it, that's OK with me."

14 comments:

the anonymous suckup said...

David:

Here's two things I've notice with my little pea-sized brain:

First, Garner has always gone out of his way to say praise Richt. And the same has been true in the last couple of weeks.

Second, Richt has gone out of his way in the last couple of weeks to minimize Garner's role on the team during bowl practices. Well...to say he's gone out of his way might be stretching it a bit. But I think you get my point.

Can you explain why Richt has been so pointedly reserved when discussing Garner? To be clear, I'm not criticizing Richt or defending Garner. The whole thing is just puzzling to me. Richt could have EASILY been a little more generous with the praise for Garner lately. Why wouldn't he toss out some meaningless coach-speak-style praise in his direction? It makes someone like me (definitely outside the arena) think there's a lot more going on here than what meets the eye.

Carter said...

Dave,

I remember you were anti-Chic-Fil-A, but if you had your druthers now would you choose New Years at the GA Dome or X-Mas in Shreveport? X-Mas in Shreveport sounds like an old-school country song, which is probably not a good thing.

I now offer you the definitive list of previously unmentioned, unbesmirchable 80s canon.

48 Hours
Beastmaster
Beverly Hills Cop
Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo
Cobra
The Color of Money
Coming to America
Die Hard
Disorderlies
E.T.
Evil Dead 1 & 2
First Blood
Fletch
Full Metal Jacket
Gleaming the Cube
Gremlins
Harry and the Henderson’s
Highlander
Just One of the Guys
The Last Starfighter
Less Than Zero
License to Drive
Midnight Run
National Lampoon's Vacation
The Neverending Story
Over the Top
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
Platoon
Police Academy
Purple Rain
Rain Man
Raw Deal
Revenge of the Nerds
Running Man
The Secret of My Success
The Shining
Soul Man
Spaceballs
Tango & Cash
They Live
This is Spinal Tap
Throw Momma Under the Train
Twins
The Untouchables
Vision Quest
Young Guns

rbubp said...

anon suckup,

I would think CMR does not want to put Garner under a public microscope. Even if the bowl game actually IS a test for Garner, CMR can't say that, because then the decision to hire or not starts to involve public pressure ("Garner sucked! We can't hire him" or the converse).

Plus, it isn't fair to CRG to base a potential hire on one game without a staff, is it? Conversely, nor does Richt want CRG marching into his office after the Indy Bowl demanding to get a job.

rbubp said...

Carter,

That's a highly questionable list, my friend (and it was supposed to only be 10, recall?).
Beastmaster? That doesn't even have ironic value.

the anonymous suckup said...

rbubp:

I'm not saying Richt should have made any comments about the bowl game being a test for Garner. Like you, I hope that isn't the case for various reasons.

What I would've expected Richt to do would've been to be a little more free with his praise for Garner and his importance in the bowl prep. But he has been given that exact opportunity and refused to do so. I wonder why. As I said previously, I'm not criticizing Richt or defending Garner. I'm just puzzled by Richt's angle on this. It seems to be out of character (imo).

I guess I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill.

Carter said...

Dave,

A couple of other thoughts while I'm being unproductive…

I don't really care about the Tiger stuff, either. I just don't get why a guy like him would be married anyway. His blueprint shoulda been Jeter, “the bachelor's bachelor.” Look at the list of actresses, models, pop stars and beauty queens Jeter has racked-up. He's currently with Minka Kelly. I would sell my soul in a heartbeat to trade lives with Derek Jeter.

Also, at some point in time you have to give us your thoughts on Jersey Shore. For my money, no greater vehicle for propagating stereotypes currently exists. As a Delaware/ Philly guy you have to have had some South Jersey experiences.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Suckup,

I've wondered the same thing, and the only thing I've come up with is that while Richt would like to keep Garner on his staff, he's pretty sure that Garner won't be the DC and wants any DC candidates to have no doubts that Garner isn't the one driving the defensive bus in Athens. When you consider that at least one of the candidates is rumored to have a pretty serious personality conflict with Garner, that perception is important.

Carter said...

Whatever, rbubp.

I'll never great you with a manly clasp of the elbow and Beastmaster hug (ht Orson).

Carter said...

*greet

Dawglicious said...

We don't need a cat-skinner...we haven't had much trouble with 'cats, tigers, etc. What we need is a big-game gator-skinner, one that has the D pumped up and prepared for the large animals ('08 Bama) as well as the varmint-huntin'.

David Hale said...

I thought it was odd, too, that some softballs have been lobbed up for Richt re: Garner and he hasn't taken a swing. But as rbubp said, perhaps that's as much to keep the pressure off Garner as it is about not adding additional praise. It's an odd situation all around though.

Carter -- Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo is untouchable for sure.

And you're totally right about Tiger. Clooney is another guy like Jeter who's done it the right way. Who wouldn't want to be Clooney?

I haven't seen Jersey Shore yet, but after spending some of my post-college summers there, I'm sure I'll be able to relate.

Fuelk2 said...

So, can we assume that Logan Gray would compete to be our primary punt returner as well? I guess we know the hands and decision making are there, so that's a good start. It would be funny if after all of our fuss about his returning kicks he ends up excelling at it. And by funny I mean awesome.

NCT said...

It's _Throw Momma from the Train_, not under.

My mind is reeling with omissions. No Heathers? Raising Arizona? (I'd even throw in Blood Simple, but I'm a Coen kinda guy) Breakfast Club? Weird Science? Real Genius? Taps? Raging Bull? I'll stop while I can.

Anonymous said...

special teams is practicing overseas?