Changes brewing at Georgia?

Pressure may be mounting on Georgia coach Mark Richt to make some staff changes as the Bulldogs’ season continues to spiral downward. Defensive coordinator Willie Martinez is under the most pressure. His defense was shredded in a 45-19 loss at Tennessee. Georgia ranks 11th in the SEC, yielding 377.2 yards per game. The Bulldogs are No. 4 against the run (128.2 ypg) but 11th against the pass (249.0 ypg). Georgia also is last in turnover margin, gaining just five turnovers and committing 16. – Yahoo!

Bad Loss for Mark Richt, Georgia Turns Up Heat

As big as Saturday’s 45-19 win over Georgia was for Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, it was just as damaging for Georgia coach Mark Richt. The grumbling among the Georgia fans had already been simmering. It will be an all-out growl now. Not only did the Bulldogs lose to a Tennessee team that had yet to win in the SEC this season, but they were embarrassed. Watching those two teams play Saturday, it was obvious Tennesse wanted the win more… You wonder if the season is over for the Bulldogs, and if so, what that means for Richt and his staff. The Georgia defense deserves a lot of the blame. Tennessee’s 45 points marked the third time this season that a team had scored at least 37 points against the Bulldogs, who had a similar stretch of poor defensive performances a year ago. But offensively, the Bulldogs were just as bad, maybe even worse. They managed just three offensive points against the Vols. Everything else came courtesy of the defense and special teams. This one won’t play well in Athens. – ESPN.com

Georgia’s Mark Richt has good reason for concern

When you’re a head football coach, you never want to be asked the following question: “Are you concerned about the state of the program?” Because even if you aren’t concerned, somebody must be or they wouldn’t ask the question. It’s safe to say there are a lot of those somebodies around Athens today. For the record, here was Georgia coach Mark Richt’s response when a reporter asked that question after Saturday’s humiliating 45-19 loss at Tennessee: “We didn’t play very good today. We haven’t had a game this season where we played a really solid football game, so I’m concerned about that.” That’s a good reason for concern. And many of you undoubtedly are displeased with what you’ve seen in the last season’s worth of football from Richt’s ballclub… What’s amazing is that this very same Georgia bunch who stood toe-to-toe with LSU a week ago is only a handful of plays away from being 0-6. Such is the nature of this completely unpredictable Bulldogs squad. They can still win eight or nine games and end the season on a positive note, although that won’t live up to the lofty standards Richt established in his first eight years in Athens. That’s difficult to accept when this coaching staff has established such a run of consistency, but this isn’t 2002 or 2005 anymore. Richt’s teams seem to fall into unexplainable lulls with more frequency than at any point in his tenure at Georgia. What needs to change to remedy Georgia’s many problems depends on who you ask. But it’s clear the Bulldogs are trending downwards and there is no sign things will improve in the near future. – Athens Banner-Herald

Georgia Coach Mark Richt on Hot Seat

Georgia coach Mark Richt may need to start looking for life after football. The Georgia Bulldogs were slaughtered by the Volunteers. The offense looked anemic, the defense was atrocious and all of that could spell the end for Richt. The only question is, “Who do get to replace him?” – Tide Sports

Georgia DC Willie Martinez Catching Heat

Despite the fact the Georgia defense has allowed seven touchdowns and seven field goals in the last two games, coach Mark Richt continues to cover up for Willie Martinez. He initially said Sunday night of the defense, “I’m not real excited about it, but I do know we have an opportunity to continue to improve.” But he seemed to put more blame on the Dogs’ turnover ratio, adding, “We have put our defense in some very short field situations — eight times in three ballgames.” – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Mark Richt will have to take furlough

That means Georgia football coach Mark Richt and his assistants will have to take one furlough day in October and one in November, but can choose the most convenient days. Their October furlough could be taken in the week preceding an Oct. 24 open date and their November furlough perhaps on Monday, Nov. 30 — unless, of course, they are preparing for the SEC Championship Game then. – Atlanta Journal-Constitution