ATHENS, Ga. --- Willie Martinez, who faced more than his share of criticism after the performance of Georgia's defense last season, remembers how another coach dealt with a humbling season 20 years ago.
Jimmy Johnson had faith in what he was doing after his first season in the NFL. So does Martinez, who is entering his fifth season as the Bulldogs' defensive coordinator.
"It goes back to 'We like what we do. We think it's been successful,' " Martinez said. "We don't go 'Are they catching up?' No, because if you look at it, it's really execution. It's players making plays."
Martinez was a defensive back who played for Johnson at the University of Miami and served on his staff as a graduate assistant. Johnson went 1-15 in his first season with the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 before winning back-to-back Super Bowl titles in 1992-93.
Martinez said Johnson's staff wondered whether his system could work in the NFL after that first season and determined they needed better players.
"That stuck with me and I learned a lot about coaching through him. He's an outstanding coach," Martinez said.
Georgia gave up 38 or more points in five games last season, including 41 to Alabama, 49 to Florida and 45 to Georgia Tech.
The Bulldogs gave up 24.5 points per game -- 59th in the nation last season. It was the first time under coach Mark Richt that Georgia was not ranked in the top 20 in scoring defense.
"Last year was kind of a letdown," said senior linebacker Marcus Washington, who is returning from a shoulder injury. "I didn't play, but I still feel like we still kind of let Georgia down. We did not perform the way the Georgia defense traditionally performs. We gave up way too many yards, way too many big plays and way too many points, ultimately, and when you give up so many points, you're going to lose."
In the aftermath, Martinez said he's examined defenses run by top college teams.
"What did they do? Is it something creative?," he said. "Heck, no, it's just players making plays. ...Yeah, you analyze it. We try to change up things, but you want to stay within your system."
Martinez said outcomes are often determined by five to seven plays and "how we handle those situations. We've addressed those things in the off-season about sudden change and bearing down when things don't go right and pulling it together. Don't separate, pull it together. The tougher the situation becomes, the closer you get as a team. There's got to be leaders that guys can follow."
NCAA SIDELINES GEATHERS
ATHENS, Ga. --- Freshman defensive lineman Kwame Geathers, of Georgetown, S.C., was not among the Georgia players on campus for the Bulldogs' first practice.
Coach Mark Richt said Tuesday the NCAA is reviewing Geathers' academic eligibility, but he said Geathers has "jumped through every hoop that's been in front of him successfully at this point."
Richt said he didn't know how long the review might last for Geathers, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman who is the brother of former Georgia player Robert Geathers and current South Carolina defensive end Clifton Geathers.
"We're very confident everything is going to go through," Richt said.
-- Associated Press
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So its the players' fault?