Coach Mark Richt
Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, running backs coach Thomas Brown and offensive line coach Rob Sale aren’t the only new staff members making an impact on the Georgia football program.
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During the Christmas break, the athletic program named Mark Hocke as the Director of Strength and Conditioning, succeeding long-time assistant coach Joe Tereshinski, and in Aaron Hill and Carter Blount, have new faces in the team quality control positions.
[su_spacer size=”40″]With these moves, it would appear head coach Mark Richt, with the full support of athletic director Greg McGarity, is leaving no stones unturned in an effort to steer the Bulldogs’ program back into championship status. Addressing the “little things” in every area of the football team − the little things that can spell the difference between victory and defeat in a close game − now seems to be paramount with Richt and his staff as they attempt to capture Georgia’s first SEC Championship since 2005 as well as earn a spot in the college football playoffs.
[su_spacer size=”40″]Doing everything correctly in “The Georgia Way” seems to be permeating the football program more than ever before now and with all the new faces on the staff − remember, defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt and defensive assistants Tracy Rocker, Mike Ekeler and Kevin Sherrer are all just beginning their second season in Athens − it certainly wouldn’t be out of order to tab this thing “The Georgia Way, II.”
[su_spacer size=”40″]There’s no question that Hocke brought new enthusiasm and energy to the strength and conditioning program when he was hired away from the Alabama Crimson Tide during the Christmas break. After quietly observing the Bulldogs’ former way of doing things in the weight room, Hocke discarded the old mat drills as such and replaced them with arguably even more high tempo workouts coupled with what seemed like to the players as running that never stopped.
[su_spacer size=”40″]Several Georgia players in fact said during this year’s spring practice sessions that they had never run as much in their lives, as they did in the winter workouts under Hocke’s guidance. And they attributed their increased stamina during the spring drills to the strenuous off-season early morning sessions in January and February.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“First off I would like to say everybody’s bought into the program so I really think that’s kind of big,” said Bulldogs’ senior cornerback Devin Bowman. “Everybody’s just listening, working their butts off and we’re just doing everything we need to do to be good in this conference.”
[su_spacer size=”40″]Senior inside linebacker Jake Ganus, who transferred to the University of Georgia to play his final season after the elimination of the UAB football program, said he found out in a hurry what “The Georgia Way” is all about.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“Absolutely,” said Ganus, “we focus on that every day in the weight room, training room, meeting room; wherever we are we just focus on the little things because that’s what wins and loses ball games.”
[su_spacer size=”40″]And Ganus said playing with confidence is an attribute that every Bulldog player needs and one he brought with him from Birmingham.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“I’ve never really had any problem with confidence or anything,” said Ganus. “I’ve always been the guy that when I stepped on the field or on the basketball court in high school, I knew that no matter who was lined up against me I was going to come out the winner and that’s just the mindset I think you have to have. Herschel Walker came to talk to us this spring and that’s what he said and I’ve really took that to heart. He said no matter who lined up against him he was going to come out on top. He was going to win that rep or that game or whatever it was so that’s kind of how I look at things. I don’t think about coming from UAB and playing here, I just try to focus on getting better every day and working on what I can do to be a better player. Coach Ekeler has really transformed me in the way I play linebacker. I’m pretty raw with the technique and the way I do things and that’s something I’ve emphasized this spring, and he’s just done a great job working with me and helping me to become the linebacker who can make plays in scrimmages and stuff like that.”
[su_spacer size=”40″]New running backs coach Brown, who has known “The Georgia Way” ever since he enrolled as a freshman tailback in 2004, is impressed with the way Georgia’s players have adapted to all the different terminology and techniques brought in by the new staff members the past two years while, at the same time, retaining all the sound teachings they learned under the existing UGA staff.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“I’ve seen the guys buy into this 100 percent,” said Brown. “I think as we kind of move forward we’ll get some older guys start to hold some guys accountable more if they do mess up, but those guys (young players) have been great so far and done everything we’ve asked them to do. The young guys are learning that (Georgia Way) – they don’t have a choice.”
[su_spacer size=”40″]Back to the Georgia players having to learn to do all the little things right, senior punter Collin Barber reflected on that in an interview with Bulldawg Illustrated’s Greg Poole in the early portion of this year’s spring drills. Reported Poole: “Collin had a rough season in 2014. He told me yesterday that he suffered from a bulging disk that contributed to his demotion to backup punter (although he emphasized that his health was not an excuse).
[su_spacer size=”40″]Additionally, Barber talked at some length about the new strength and conditioning program and its contribution to his physical recovery.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“Then, offhandedly, he referred to the new special teams analyst, Carter Blount, and how he has changed the way kickers go about their business. UGA, like most Power 5 schools, does not have an on-field coach dedicated to special teams. Responsibility for the various special teams functions is divided among the position coaches.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“According to Barber, prior to 2015 kickers had set their own practice agenda and went about their business with little guidance or accountability, at least in terms of a practice routine. Now they are given a detailed daily practice schedule to complete. Although analysts cannot coach on the field, they can review film and practices are videoed just like games. Now there is someone directly supervising the practice habits of kickers and planning their activities as part of an overall special teams scheme.
[su_spacer size=”40″]Attention to detail – that is what the additional quality control and analysts bring to the table. They cover the details and free the coaches to … coach.”
[su_spacer size=”40″]Though Barber didn’t have a showing in the spring game like he, or his coaches, wanted, this increased attention to detail in practice should prove beneficial to him and all the Bulldog kicking corps when the games are played for real beginning in September. Richt says quality control coaches are vital to the overall health of the football program.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“A quality control coach is basically a guy who will do just about everything a coach would do other than that they can’t be on the field coaching,” he said.”There’s only so many coaches who can be field coaches. The nine full-time coaches, myself, and a couple of graduate assistant coaches on each side of the ball. Student assistant coaches can do some of that, but there’s just so much film breakdown that’s gotta be done. A lot of things that have gotta be done. Even in-house recruiting and things of that nature that these guys can get involved with. That’s what those guys do for the most part.”
[su_spacer size=”40″]Richt said The Georgia Way simply involves his players doing things in a first-class manner.
[su_spacer size=”40″]“The bottom line is we want to teach these guys to not only become great football players but great young men as well,” he said. “And I think we’ve got the right guidance with this coaching staff and I think our players are really growing in that way.”