Ten Possible Replacements for Willie Martinez

Published by Wes Holtzclaw | Filed under Georgia

Willie Martinez was named Georgia’s defensive coordinator in 2005 and for three years his defense performed at a high level.

In 2005, Georgia ranked No. 7 against the pass, No. 18 in total defense, No. 8 in scoring defense and No. 15 in interceptions.

In 2006, Georgia ranked No. 5 against the pass, No. 8 in total defense, No. 20 in scoring defense and No. 9 in interceptions.

In 2007, Georgia ranked No. 16 against the run, No. 14 in total defense, No. 18 in scoring defense and No. 8 in sacks.

In 2008, Georgia ranked No. 27 against the run, No. 32 against the pass, No. 22 in total defense, No. 59 in scoring defense, No. 67 in interceptions and No. 72 in sacks.

What happened in 2008? Injuries ravaged the Georgia squad all year long. Everything would go back to normal in 2009 right? Wrong, it has gotten worse.

So far in 2009, Georgia ranks No. 60 against the run, No. 73 against the pass, No. 68 in total defense, No. 89 in scoring defense, No. 55 in sacks and No. 88 in interceptions.

The time has come to start thinking about the future and that is what I have begun to do.

 The following list is the ten men that I believe can straighten out Georgia’s defensive woes. Some are probably untouchable, but we can dream right?

10. Bill Miller – Arizona State

Miller is currently the Defensive Coordinator at Arizona State. His defense is currently ranked No. 4 against the run, No. 18 in total defense and No. 9 in interceptions.

I know he is in the Pac-10 and they don’t play defense in the Pac-10. But Miller has proven that he can scheme against high profile offenses.

Being in the Pac-10 and ranked in the top 20 in total defense is saying something.

9. Justin Wilcox – Boise State

Wilcox has been the defensive coordinator at Boise State since 2005. He is a young coordinator that has proven he know what he is doing as a defensive coordinator.

His 2006 defense ranked No. 8 against the run, No. 20 in scoring defense, No. 14 in total defense and No. 7 in interceptions.

His 2008 defense ranked No. 3 in scoring defense, No. 20 in total defense, No. 18 in sacks and No. 5 in interceptions.

So far in 2009, Wilcox’s defense is ranked No. 11 against the run and in scoring defense, No. 10 in total defense and No. 9 in interceptions.

I know Boise State is a school that threatens to bust the BCS each year, but what could Wilcox do with talent at an SEC school?

8. Everett Withers – North Carolina

Everett Withers has been the defensive coordinator at North Carolina since 2008. In his first season at North Carolina, his defense ranked No. 8 in interceptions.

Before coming to North Carolina he coached in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans as their secondary coach for six seasons.

During his tenure in Tennessee, the Titans ranked at the top of the NFL in interceptions each season.

So far during the 2009 season, Withers’ defense ranks No. 18 against the run, No. 10 against the pass, No. 7 in total defense and No. 15 in scoring defense.

7. Dave Huxtable – Central Florida

Dave Huxtable has been the defensive coordinator at Central Florida since 2007. Since 2007, Central Florida has ranked in the top 20 of the nation in interceptions.

So far in 2009, Huxtable’s defense ranks No. 9 against the run and No. 8 in sacks.

Huxtable is another guy that would excel with the talent at Georgia.

6. Luke Fickell - Ohio State

Luke Fickell has been the defensive coordinator at Ohio State since 2005.

Since 2005, Fickell’s defenses have ranked in the top 20 in most defensive categories.

Some of his best years are 2005, 2007 and this season.

In 2005, Ohio State ranked No. 5 in scoring defense, total defense and sacks. They also ranked No. 1 against the run.

In 2007, Ohio State ranked No. 1 in pass defense, scoring defense and total defense. They also ranked No. 3 against the run and No. 6 in sacks.

So far in 2009, Ohio State is ranked No. 6 against the run, total defense and scoring defense. They are also No. 14 against the pass, No. 20 in sacks and No. 3 in interceptions.

Fickell played at Ohio State in the 90’s and will probablly never leave the Buckeyes. But if you look at what Nick Saban’s (left Michigan State for LSU) defenses have done in the SEC maybe he might reconsider.

5. Rob Vanderlinden – Penn State

Rob Vanderlinden has been Penn State’s linebackers coach since 2000.

He has truly brought back the meaning of “Linebacker U” to the University. He has coached linebackers like Dan Conner, Paul Posluszny and most recently Sean Lee.

Vanderlinden has been apart of a defense that has ranked inside the top seven year after year against the run and sacks.

It is time to promote this coach to a defensive coordinator position and as long as Joe Pa is still the coach, he will not be promoted at Penn State.

The Dawg faithful would welcome this coach with open arms.

4. Dick Bumpas – Texas Christian

Dick Bumpas has been the defensive coordinator at Texas Christian since 2004.

Everyone in the country know that when you talk defense, TCU is always in the conversation. Since Bumpas has been at TCU his defenses have ranked inside the top 10 against the run, scoring and total defense.

Last season, TCU ranked No. 1 against the run and total defense, No. 2 in scoring defense and sacks.

So far this season, TCU ranks No. 1 in total defense, No. 3 in scoring defense, No. 6 against the pass, No. 8 against the run and No. 9 in sacks.

Any school that is looking for a defensive coordinator in 2010 and does not go after Bumpas is crazy.

3. Ellis Johnson – South Carolina

Ellis Johnson has been the defensive coordinator at South Carolina since 2008.

Johnson has been defensive coordinator at schools such as Southern Miss, Clemson, Alabama and Miss. State. Everywhere he has been, his defenses have been know for getting after the football.

In his first season at South Carolina his defense ranked No. 2 against the pass and No. 13 in total defense.

So far this season, his defense ranks No. 3 against the pass and No. 16 in total defense.

Johnson would bring a hard-nosed attitude to Georgia football team that it has been missing since Van Gorder left after the 2004 season.

2. Will Muschamp – Texas

Will Muschamp has been the defensive coordinator at Texas since 2008.

Prior to coming to Texas he was the defensive coordinator at Auburn from 2006 to 2007.

In 2006, Auburn’s defense ranked No. 7 in scoring defense. In 2007, Auburn ranked No. 6 against the pass, scoring defense and total defense.

Before Auburn, Muschamp was the defensive coordinator at LSU from 2002 to 2004.

In 2003, Muschamp’s defense led the country in scoring and total defense, No. 3 against the run and No. 2 in pass efficiency defense.

During that season the Tigers won the BCS National Championship and led the SEC in every defensive statistical category.

Muschamp is a Georgia boy who played safety for the Dawgs in the early 90’s.

I know he is the head coach in waiting at Texas, but how long will he wait for Mack Brown to retire?

1. Kirby Smart – Alabama

Kirby Smart has been the defensive coordinator at Alabama since 2007.

He has brought back the dominating style of defense that was missing at Alabama.

Last season his hard work started to pay off as Alabama’s defense ranked No. 2 against the run, No. 3 in total defense and No. 7 in scoring defense.

So far this season his defense is ranked No. 2 against the run, No. 4 in total defense, No. 5 in scoring defense, No. 14 in sacks, No. 17 in interceptions and No. 20 against the pass.

This is the guy coach Richt needs to plead with to return to his staff. He needs to apologize for making him the running backs coach while he was on his staff in 2005.

Smart is also a Georgia boy who played for the Dawgs in the 90’s.

If there is one mistake Richt has made it is not making Smart his defensive coordinator while he had the chance in 2005. That is the same year Martinez was named defensive coordinator.

Who has the better track record as a defensive coordinator since 2005?

In closing, I would like to say that any one of these guys would be a major improvement over Martinez and bring back the swagger Georgia’s defense has been missing since 2004.

 If you can think of anyone else who should have made this list please feel free to comment.