Georgia Bulldogs Making Wholesale Changes On The Defense

Sports News - December 3rd, 2009 - Written by Bryan

Despite a win against rival Georgia Tech, it was not enough for Defensive Coordinator Willie Martinez and two other defensive coaches to keep their jobs at the University of Georgia.

Martinez took over the defense five years ago. Promoted from secondary coach to Defensive coordinator, his first two seasons in 2006 and 2007 Georgia ranked 7th and 14th in the country as College Football Team Defensive Stat Leaders.

However, that all began to change last year as the Bulldogs entered the 2008 season ranked No.1 in the country. Following embarrassing losses to Alabama, Florida and Georgia Tech, in which his defenses surrendered over 40 points per game, rumors began to circulate that in 2009, Martinez better get the defense straightened out, or he would be relieved of his duties.

The 2009 Bulldogs entered this season ranked 13th in the country. Following an opening weekend loss on the road to Oklahoma State, the defense continued to struggle throughout the course of they year.

"The bottom line is we want to get back to the top of the Eastern Division and the top of the SEC," Head Coach Mark Richt said during a conference. "That's the goal and that's what we're going after.”

Georgia finished 4-4 this season in conference play.

The Bulldogs defense ranked 71st in FBS in scoring allowing over 26 points per game this season, while ranking 90th in pass efficiency defense. They gave up 30 or more points in five games this year.

Georgia finished the 2009 regular season with a 7-5 record and a defense that ranked near that underachieved despite its talent level. Head coach Mark Richt along with Athletic Director Damon Evans decided that the program needed to go in a different direction.

"It was definitely not a one-year, knee-jerk reaction to one season, I can promise you that," Richt revealed in a phone interview. "It was more a decision that was made over the course of time, more time than just one year."

Richt met with the three coaches and gave all of them have the option to coach the bowl game.

Georgia’s defensive line coach Rodney Garner was the only defensive coach to survive the firings.