Has Georgia duped us again, or was this just a hiccup?
Mark Richt wasn't pleased with his team's opener, and justifiably so. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – Teams like Georgia don’t put teams like Buffalo on the schedule to build character. Teams like Buffalo are put on the schedule because they’re perceived as safe, possibly even a punchline. Georgia was willing to pay the opponent $975,000 because that’s how much it takes now to find a school willing to suffer public humiliation and say, “Fine, hit me with that two-by-four. Just make sure our hotel has decent pillows.”
Something went wrong Saturday. Georgia paid for the entertainment, maybe a little exercise, but the expected embarrassment was closer to home. That might seem harsh given the Sanford Stadium scoreboard had a distinct tilt at the end: 45-23. But it shouldn’t be considered nearly satisfying, not for a program that went into the day with a preseason No. 6 ranking and aspires to something greater than just outlasting South Carolina in the SEC East Division.
Great teams don’t have first games like this. Great defenses don’t allow touchdown drives of 75, 94 and 75 yards to an opponent that went 5-19 over the past two years and was shut out twice by Temple. Top teams from the SEC shouldn’t allow a projected fifth-place team from the Mid-American Conference East 243 yards in the first half. The Bulldogs, a 37½-point favorite, led only 24-16 after two quarters — that because of a 100-yard kickoff return by freshman Todd Gurley, a gift goal following a blocked punt and a missed Buffalo extra point.
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham said he had some choice "adjectives" for his players at halftime. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
Mark Richt is good in math. “If not for that, we’re losing at halftime.”
The defensive front got pushed around. (Buffalo rushed for 199 yards, including 147 in the first half.) Quarterback Aaron Murray frequently was off target. (Even Richt took a rare public shot at a player, referencing Murray’s overthrow to Tavarres King, saying: “He’s a veteran. You get a guy open like that on a post [pattern], you have to hit it.”)
Only Gurley and Georgia’s wide receivers were above criticism. Gurley was above everybody, actually. He had the kickoff return for the touchdown, two other scores on runs of 10 and 55 yards and he rushed for 100 yards on only eight carries in his debut.
But most Georgia players often looked like their heads were somewhere else, maybe Columbia, Mo., where the Dogs open conference play next week.
“Even the coaches had issues,” Richt said. He referenced plays when Georgia had 10 and 12 players on the field.
Was this an early hiccup? Or have we been duped again?
Nothing that occurred Saturday made you think this team is special. Actually, this was closer to a disturbing reminder of last season’s opener against Boise State in the Georgia Dome. The Dogs looked shockingly unprepared, unfocused and sloppy.
“I felt like garbage at halftime,” nose guard John Jenkins said.
“It wasn’t pretty,” Richt said. “I wasn’t thrilled with the way we played. We missed some early shots, offensively. We gave up some big plays.
“Am I concerned about it? Yeah. If we don’t play better than that next week, we’re going to come home sad.”
Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham was understandably animated on the sideline, and certainly at halftime with his players. His vaunted defense was missing five starters because of suspensions and injuries, but even he acknowledged, “That’s no excuse.” And he was right. Missing key players in the secondary doesn’t excuse the play of the defensive front.
“Play better,” he responded when asked what he told his players at intermission.
When asked if he delivered the message to the players that calmly, he said: “Not really. No. I don’t think you can [write] everything. I had some adjectives in there.”
Georgia carried its highest preseason ranking since 2008, when it was No. 1. The 92,000 fans who showed up expected more. They booed loudly in the first half. Thousands left at halftime. Thousands more left in the third quarter. The weather was humid, and the performance wasn’t worth sticking around for.
“If we wanted this to be a cakewalk, we should’ve came out and done a better job,” defensive end Abry Jones said.
Sometimes you don’t get what you pay for.
By Jeff Schultz
•
– New feature: My three observations on the game
•
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– MLB’s drug policy too soft — teams should be docked wins
– NFL is damaging its own product with replacement officials
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1,006 comments Add your comment
Under The Bleachers
September 2nd, 2012
2:53 am
Florida looked UF 2011 with a little better running game.
Under The Bleachers
September 2nd, 2012
2:54 am
Arkansas has zero defense
Under The Bleachers
September 2nd, 2012
2:55 am
LSU and Alabama are deep and loaded.
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
2:55 am
Thomas,
I thought you fell off the flat end of the earth. Glad you’re alright. Try not to be so uptight or you’re going to be back in the “crazy farm”…
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
2:57 am
Hey dope,
Bobo only scored 45 today, lol. Grow up…
hot diggity dupe
September 2nd, 2012
3:01 am
Against Buffalo. Grow up.
hot diggity dupe
September 2nd, 2012
3:07 am
BTW, kinglady, every time you end a sentence with ‘lol’ not only do the phrase and sentence lose gravitas, but you also sound like a girl.
3rd and 8…run it up the middle. YAWN…
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
3:07 am
Thomas Brown comes back to the AJC ON A FULL MOON! Thomas, did you ride Ozzy’s “Crazy Train “? Glad you’re back bro, just wish you’d get on board the Doggie-train and let the trolls be…
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
3:09 am
Lol, that make you happy? What a spast…that better???
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
3:16 am
Dope
Between the two of us, you are the little bioch crying about everything. That would make you the fairer sex, lol. Oops, did it again…
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
3:24 am
Why do trolls think they are so smart? Then, they pick the stupidest names? Hot diggity dupe? You can’t help being a nerd, that’s your nature. You want to be cool, but it will never happen to you. What a morph…
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
3:27 am
Good night losers, nerds and Doggies…
Jim
September 2nd, 2012
4:09 am
Same ole “THUGA.” Overrated and missing players due to “issues.”
7576DAWG
September 2nd, 2012
5:00 am
The defense played much better in the second half after the half time changes . My question is why did it take that long? It was obvious that Buffalo was running through our defense so why wasn’t the changes made in the first quarter.
Also has Murray ever completed a screen pass? Probably so but not many.
gbal
September 2nd, 2012
5:04 am
Said it all summer… we got duped again alright but by the Media with their bold predictions and obvious lack of knowledge of football. #6 ranking that they (media) bestowed upon the dawgs is absolutly rediculous this early in the season with this many holes to fill. An OL with three new starters, the same QB that get deer in the headlights when under pressure…. no proven RB>>> New kickers…. Same play calller…. Yes the uninformed media let us down again…. we bought the koolaid.
This team could be good with a few more games under the belt bbut #6 material we are not.. and the media in this case is all to blame … AGAIN
gbal
September 2nd, 2012
5:06 am
duped
gbal
September 2nd, 2012
5:14 am
The media blew this guys…. No way we deserved a #6 ranking this early in the season with so many holes to filll…. OL…. RB,…. Missinf defenders, new kickers, same QB that can not react under pressure… same play caller…. We got duped alright but guilty of drinking the media koolais.
Could be a good team with time. The D was unexpected, but the only think unexpected in my mind. … But SHULTZ… Give credit where its due ….
HAS THE MEDIA DUPED US AGAIN ; OR JUST AN OFF WEEK?
gbal
September 2nd, 2012
5:41 am
Enter your comments here
hateidiots
September 2nd, 2012
6:07 am
I can’t believe how anyone would even feel any empathy for this article. last year uga lost their first game and according to this guy they where headed for disaster then they lose their second game and richt was gone for sure and we know how rest played out. today uga wins its opener by 20 missing 5 starters on the d and a starting receiver and their duping us. c’mon people what did you expect in that scenerio? did you think they would be flawless that no one would miss gap assignments that team would enter the first game in mid season stride and that was the best they can play? or are you just a bunch haters looking for any opportunity to take a jab at uga and/or richt no matter how invalid or small your point may be?
Spud
September 2nd, 2012
6:13 am
Sad to say, but all of our teams in the SEC L-East are average to bad. Just riding the coat tails of the guys in the West.
Rosezeee
September 2nd, 2012
6:19 am
MARK IT DOWN – This team will be lucky to finish in the top 20. Bama loses I dont know how many to the NFL and dominates an 8th ranked Michigan. You never hear excuses or BS with that program.
Richt will continue to produce a second rate product – always has, always will.
blackandwhitestripes
September 2nd, 2012
6:30 am
Lets see now, the mutts are ranked #6.????? Tatanka LOL
Neutral
September 2nd, 2012
6:44 am
@under the bleachers 2:39
I agree with your analysis, but maybe would give LSU a “B”. I think the easy games are getting harder and harder. Looks like we now have at least 2 tougher games on our “east” schedule than we had anticipated. UT and Vandy will be interesting and we had better be ready.
Neutral
September 2nd, 2012
6:48 am
@black and white stripes,
That is correct…..and Michigan is (was) 8th and SC 10th. At least UGa won by a decisive margin and woke up in the 2nd half. Yes they looked sloppy, but it was the opener and a little hard to be inspired and fired up over Buffalo.
well we have a tie
September 2nd, 2012
6:59 am
we should just kick field goals on third down, i am sick of this coaching
bubba4dawgs
September 2nd, 2012
7:01 am
I say the heat got to our D. I was surprised to see so many hands on hips in the second quarter. They looked exhausted. I was happy to see how the OL played, the backs weren’t making those holes, the OL was. I just hope they can do that against Mizzou. I’m not worried about Mizzou! This eye-opener with Buffalo was good for the team to see that they have to hunker down……and I believe they will! They will get more chewing this week from Grantham and more readiness for the Mizzou game. That is what it takes.
Murray will settle down! He had a mediocre day which we’ll call OK for now but won’t get it as the season moves on. I am elated to see how the running backs are doing. Gee, it was only their first game! How exciting it can be after a few games experience!! Who was that guy wearing #1 last year? I don’t remember, someone enlighten me! I don’t think he could run 100 yds. without stopping and taking himself out of the game. Smoking that weed tends to shorten your breath.
Anyway, Doggie fans, lets get behind them! If they go to Mizzou and play flat, then we have some huge concerns, but for now, lets consider this for what it is…….a warmup and review of what needs fine tuning from top to bottom. As Larry the Cable Guy says…..”Git’er Done”!!! GO DAWGS!!!
Bigdawg#77/1989
September 2nd, 2012
7:05 am
Everyone needs to chill I promise it’s ok 1.missing key defensive players2.murray was jacked he will settle down and play great 3. We ran a small limited playbook to not show everything one and also to keep it simple for all the new guys just getting a feel for the game and the cows 4.the last touchdown buffalo scored was against a defensive that not only is missing starters but had a bunch of back ups in at the beginning of the second half the starting defensive never gave up a first down to those guys when they pulled them they scored so really if we wanted to not give up the points are starters only gave up 16 points not to shabby….5.big thankful we have a real running game so when murray settles in we have a run game to compliment his arm…..all in all my biggest concern was he way buffaloes QB was able to run around a decent bit even scoring a rushing td that must be fixed before next week being mizzou has a duel threat qb …..next week will be tough it will be. Hostile crowd ready to cristin there team into the SEC with a win but we will be ready to play and I believe if we don’t win it will be close either way just because we didnt look as flashy as we would like doesn’t mean we are not still the front runner for the east crown ….. Let’s be honest fla looked like crap so did south Carolina and tenn. looked good throwing the ball but lacking a run game and there defensive backs look shaky so all in all we look like the most complete team in the east givin Kentucky hasn’t played and I didn’t see mizzous game or highlights but I ink we all need to chip we are gonna be fine it’s not like CMRhas a killer instinct or is known to run up scores even if given the chance he would rather play every one on the team if possible and is ok to trade scores for experience for younger players as long as we still win and to me as long as we are getting W I also don’t care how they come cause in the end if we win them all we are in…
Another sad world
September 2nd, 2012
7:11 am
Aaron Murray said at end of Bowl we are goin win cause we a better team and what happen he lost it and his lousy QB doin also cost his Heisman now so he out of runnin now…and be better playin vs Mizzu tigers next week are Aaron Murray be watchin the beat down by Missouri so bad he say …There go’s me Heisman trophy now as Mizzu beats Ga 41-10….
ERK
September 2nd, 2012
7:12 am
All I know is 45 is more than 23.
Integrity
September 2nd, 2012
7:16 am
Kudos to our backs in yesterday’s game, especially the two new freshmen. I really feel that we now have running backs who are capable of making a statement at UGA. The rest of the team has much work to accomplish, or this will be a long year. Offensively, I reiterate some earlier comments in that I just don’t understand why we so seldom use a screen or short passing game. I’m afraid that opponents have learned they can ignore this element of the Georgia game plan. With the “track star” speed on this team, all it would take is a little space within which to maneuver; and we have the personnel to “break it” on any given play.
Currently today Lost 9 in a row to teams making any top 25 poll; Currently today Lost 7 in a row to teams who made the Top 10 after # 9 Auburn 2006; and Lost Currently today 9 in a row every SEC team making winning SEC Record starting Ky 2007
September 2nd, 2012
7:23 am
_______________________
“Bobo only scored 45 today”
_______________________
If Mike Bobo scored 45 today vs a 3-9 MAC team, then
Todd Grantham has given up 33 points avg last 3 games after starting out last year giving up 40 points the first 2 games last season.
Mitch (the one in Rome)
September 2nd, 2012
7:27 am
Pretty much shut them down second half and dominated the game. I was not that concerned, to be frank. The good guys whipped some butt and got in a tune up for an SEC game. Lots of factors in play here with this team and I thought they handled the missing personnel well and adjusted well at the half. I liked that, and am more excited for the season. Nothing but good to come. That’s my take.
fred
September 2nd, 2012
7:29 am
Tennessee looks like the best team in the East….
Paddy
September 2nd, 2012
7:31 am
Integrity……..you are correct about the short passing game. If you watched other games yesterday, you saw almost all teams, win or lose, use those plays.
Dog1V
September 2nd, 2012
7:32 am
No big deal—the Dogs were just flat and overconfident, expecting an easy win. They’ll pick it up big in the real games. Fla sucks again, so GA will beat them easy. SC didn’t look that good. The dogs can win the east again.
fred
September 2nd, 2012
7:36 am
UT will upset UGA.
gt4ever
September 2nd, 2012
7:37 am
Ask Grantham for some money back… What a JOKE your defense has become…
gt4ever
September 2nd, 2012
7:38 am
Well it was always a JOKE, sorry. My bad.
slydog
September 2nd, 2012
7:41 am
let’s keep this simple: It’s the head coach and his demeanor. He does not coach with any sense of urgency or toughness. It is season 12 and this football program and team is carrying the labels “undisciplined”, and “unprepared.” I am proud of the fact that CMR IS NOT Saban, Meyer, or Kiffin, three men who lack integrity. But those men know how to coach superior athletes and talent and turn them into championship quality teams. Has Georgia become the place where one stumbles upon success when other great programs struggle? During the CMR era, this has become so. Yeah, it’s just game one of 2012, but has anyone seen anything different ever since this guy took this job? Nope, and you would be a liar if you said so. CMR is a good coach, but the fans are demanding greatness on the football filed. He has none of that in him. Look no further than the absolute crushing of Michigan by Alabama in game one. It was no fluke.
love them dogs
September 2nd, 2012
7:41 am
only thing i have to say is we should have let gurley and marshall get 50 touches between the two i couldnt understand why we wouldnt run the ball but murray was gun slinging
love them dogs
September 2nd, 2012
7:41 am
only thing i have to say is we should have let gurley and marshall get 50 touches between the two i couldnt understand why we wouldnt run the ball but murray was gun slinging
Pete Van Weird
September 2nd, 2012
7:44 am
Okay, here’s what ESPN had to say about the Arkansas winning against the mighty Jacksonville State: Wilson starts season strong as Arkansas rolls. Score? 45 Ark 25 Jack–Why do you and Barks Madly pile on Georgia? I think you’re the dupe.
Gordon
September 2nd, 2012
7:44 am
I watched Georgia. I watched Alabama.
I wouldn’t be thinking about national championships if I were Georgia.
mailout
September 2nd, 2012
7:44 am
Could be worse right? We could be unethical and losers like Auburn.
Mark Richt is not Vince Lombardi
September 2nd, 2012
7:47 am
We played flat and sloppy so it is hardly invalid or a small point. Not satisfying to us, as we booed our own team the whole entire game, loudly. Again. Nothing yesterday made you or anyone else think we’re special, or # 6. Our coaches had our team unprepared and unfocused.
The rev al
September 2nd, 2012
7:48 am
Contrast Alabama in their first game against a too ten opponent to Georgia’s opening game against a weak team. Alabama was poised and made few mistakes. Georgia played sloppy and uninspired. Both ala and ga had a lot of new players but Alabama was better prepared. I admire mark Richt as a person but his teams have showed a lack of poise and discipline. Richt wastes great talent while Saban gets the most out of his. Richt is NOT an Elite coach. Saban is.
loyal dawg
September 2nd, 2012
7:50 am
I was at the game and enjoyed the game. Students left at half because they knew the game was over and in favor of the dawgs. Here are some other scores for a perspective.
#1 USC 49 Hawaii 10
#2 Alabama 41 Michigam 14 WOW
#3 LSU 41 North Texas 14
#4 Oklahoma 24 UTEP 7 What
#5 Oregon 57 Arkansas State 34 34?
#6 UGA 45 Buffalo 23 Only a TD in 2nd half after adjustments OK
#7 Fla State 69 Murray State 3 College vs High School
#9 SC 17 Vandy 13 vandy outplayed and outcoached SC
#11 West Va 69 Marshall 34
#12 Wisconsin 26 Norhern Iowa 21 what
#13 Mich State 17 Boise St 13 good game
UGA will be just fine for all of you pessimists.
Kool-Aid
September 2nd, 2012
7:55 am
Here let me list the excuses why our own fans did nothing but boo.
Aaron Murray is not ever getting 1 snap in the NFL; never.
Honey boy
September 2nd, 2012
7:57 am
Stop all the mouth breathing! Old saying, ” It’s not how, it’s how many” Who cares? It’s a win! Score matters, not style points…first game of the year! Enough already! Lets see where we are in another ten games…this means nothing……
savannadawg
September 2nd, 2012
8:04 am
Does anyone realize how stupid and indecisive that looks when the whole offense stops and looks to the sideline for the play. For God’s sake Mark Richt stop that S**T!