Now that they're gone, I think our team understands the only chance they have is to play together, work together, earn it as a team. I think they've done a great job of buying into that, preparing throughout this off season for that type of season. So I'm excited.
Q. Can you talk about Joe Cox, what you expect to get out of him this year?
Mark Richt: Well, when it comes to quarterback play, in my opinion, you need to have an accurate passer, you need to have a great decision maker, you need to have a young man who can handle the pressure of the job, because there's a lot of pressure that comes with that job, and you need a guy who can lead.
And Joe really personifies all those characteristics. I don't think there's any player on this team that doesn't believe that Joe was ready last season. And the year before, if something were to happen to Matt, they knew Joe was ready to go. They believe in Joe right now, as the staff does, and I do certainly.
Q. The contract on having the Florida/Georgia game in Jacksonville is about to run out. Do you want to see it moved, stay there, and why?
Mark Richt: This is what I want to do. I want to focus on winning that game. That's all I want to focus on when it comes to that game. I really just want to focus on trying to win that game. That's my goal from here on in (smiling). That will be my pat answer from here on in.
Q. Your defense gave up some significant points in big games last year. Could you talk to us about how you and your staff have tried to address those issues heading into 2009?
Mark Richt: Number one, we hope to stay healthy. What we did last year, at my direction and my decision was to we backed off of some of those practice sessions in full pads with the intention of playing full speed as far as tackling to the ground, cutting below the waist, just playing football, because we got to the point where we were so thin at some positions, if we lost one more guy, we were gonna be in trouble with just having a guy that would know what to do.
Q. Could you talk about your non conference schedule. Looks pretty tough. Pretty major increase in assistant's salaries, especially at Tennessee. What do you think about that trend?
Mark Richt: Yeah, non conference, to have three BCS conference opponents out of the four non conference games is pretty heavy duty. Then when you look at who they are, you know, Oklahoma State, probably pre season top 10 by most people, loaded offense coming back. So they're gonna be off the chart when it comes to enthusiasm and excitement and expectations towards their season.
Then you also have Arizona State. Another BCS opponent. Then of course, Georgia Tech, we've all seen what they've been able to do under Paul Johnson's direction. That's pretty tough when you consider who you play in conference.
We might have bit off more than we should have. I think the plan was never to have three BCS opponents. We did say, after the 12th game was added, we would add try to add a BCS opponent outside of the Southeast Region. Just because of the scheduling, it so happened the only way it would work, with some home and aways with Arizona State and Oklahoma State, it had to happen all in this year. But I doubt that happens again anytime soon.
Q. Could you give us some basic things you like about your team overall, a couple areas of concern.
Mark Richt: Overall, I like defensively the fact that we're gonna be hungry, maybe hungrier than we've been in a long time. I like the fact that we have we're pretty stout up the gut. You take Jeffrey Owens and Geno Atkins, Kade Weston, Rennie Curran, Akeem Dent, You talk Reshad Jones, Bryan Evans at safety. That's strong up the middle. Defensive ends, I feel like they're hungry. They feel like they've got something to prove. Last year we fell short of what was normal for us.
I like the fact we're not going to be starting three freshmen linemen like we have the last two seasons on offense.
Q. Running backs?
Mark Richt: Running backs, I was just mentioning earlier, I think we could probably I could probably blindly grab two or three of 'em, just pick 'em up, and I would have confidence whatever three I picked out, we will have success with them. Sometimes when you say no one has separated themselves from the pack, sometimes that's bad if your pack isn't very good. But if you got a pack of good ones, you know, it's hard to separate also because you have some talented guys around you. I think they're all pretty outstanding.
The whole thing is going to be who gets it done when it counts the most. If it's one guy carrying the load, the majority of the load, I'm fine with that. If it's three guys sharing it, I'm okay with that, too.
QB Joe Cox
On becoming a leader:
I have stepped into my role as a leader of this team. I am right where I want to be. I've worked hard and a lot of guys look up to me and are ready and willing to follow me.
On his leadership style vs. Matthew Stafford's style of leadership:
We are different types of leaders. I'm more vocal that Matthew was. That's not a good thing or a bad thing. Matthew was a great leader, but the distinction is the team. I don't think he had enough help. This year a lot more guys have stepped us as leaders as well.
On the pressure as a starting quarterback:
Obviously there is pressure. But it's not something I think about. The success of this team is not all on my shoulders. There are 10 other guys that get the job done as well. I won't carry the team. We'll work together. And that is where our success will come from, the team.
On having taken a snap before:
The only game I ever started was Ole Miss in 2006. It's good to have the experience I have, to have taken snaps before. It gives me confidence.
On the off-season:
It really brought our team together. With people telling you, "You won't be as good" you turn it around and use it on the field and in the locker room. When someone tells you, "You can't do something," it motivates you and you better yourself. We preached about that a lot this off-season.
On the competition with back-up quarterbacks:
I think you always have to look over your shoulder. There's three strong guys behind me, but it only makes me work that much harder to keep my job. Competition can be a good thing.
On Coach Richt:
He's really approachable. You can go to him anytime about anything. I see him as a "father figure." And because of that it makes it easier to follow his lead on the field. He is the easiest coach I ever played for.
On what he thinks of Coach Richt being in the "hot seat" after last year's mediocre season:
I think it's a joke. With his history and a ten-win season, just the talk of it really bothers our team. When you also look at the things he does for the school off the field, there is no way you can let a guy go like that.
On the season opener against Oklahoma State:
They are a team deserving of their top-10 pre-season rank. They will be toughest season-opener Georgia has had in a while. They are good on both sides of the ball. We look forward to the challenge.
On playing in the SEC:
It is an honor to play in this conference. Not only are there so many talented players, there are so many talented teams. With each week, you have no idea what is going to happen.
DT Jeff Owens
On Twitter:
I'm a big tweeter. I've been tweeting about this experience coming to Media Days, my second time here.
On the pre-season hype going compared to the 2009 season:
It's been a big difference this season. Before last season, it was, "Georgia this, Georgia that." Hype can get to you and that was a factor with last season.
On his disappointment with last season:
The past is the past. We went 10-3. That's not a great season, but good enough. Good enough to win and to win 10 in the SEC, that's an accomplishment.
On Georgia defense:
I love our defense. We've got some new things for this season. To win games and be successful you have to play defense and stop the ball, stop the run.
On Florida's pre-season #1 rank:
Florida has a lot of talent returning, as defending national champions. They're pre-season #1. But like we learned last year, hype is hype. It's not about the pre-season.
On spring training:
Spring was exciting. We had a really good spring training. I sat sideline, but got the crowd noise up. You know…motivated and push our guys.
On Tim Tebow:
He's a great football player. I hope to interview him today ((laughs)). Tebow has a lot of tools but we can get to him and rattle him.
On losing star players Knowshon Moreno and Matthew Stafford:
The star of our team this year is our team. AJ Green stands out as a star. But this year its all about the "team." Everyone has to be a star to win and be successful.
On the historic rivalry with Tennessee:
The rush in the Tennessee stadium is intense. No matter what else is on the schedule, it is the game. To win this year, we have to play four quarters of football, be physical. We have to play Georgia football.
On the off-season this year:
It has been a lot different than last year. It's been a low-key offseason. I've stepped into my role of leadership. I challenge my teammates and we combine everything for the Georgia football equation for success.
The toughest stadium to play in the SEC:
I have to say Tennessee's stadium. I've never played at Florida, LSU, or Arkansas.
On playing Florida in Jacksonville:
I would like to change the location. I'd like to play one year at Florida, the next year at Georgia.
You can find the full Georgia Bulldogs press conference transcript by following this link.
SEC Football
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