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
•
Some selections from the jukebox
– Gonzalez knows if Braves fizzle, he’ll be one to catch heat
– Georgia State pounded in opener as growing pains continue
– Weekend Predictions: Dogs yes, Jackets no, Hawaii (duh)
– Paul Johnson will defend Tech’s offense, but not defense
– Countdown: Vandy’s she-QB, ESPN’s ‘power,’ creepy bobble
– College football, Week 1: Somehow it keeps getting better
– Isaiah Crowell ‘happy,’ seeking fresh start at Alabama State
– 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
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
12:46 pm
Florida
07 won 59-31 vs. Troy
08 Beat Hawaii 56-10
10 Beat Miami Ohio 34-12
11 Beat Fla Intl 41-3
So Florida apparently is ANOTHER exception to Jeff’s belief that great teams don’t have games like UGA’s 45-23 win over Buffalo.
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
12:49 pm
Jeff,
Great defenses don’t allow a bunch of long drives for td’s.
I guess LSU stunk last year, because Bama just scored td after td on them.
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
12:49 pm
Check out Bethune’s FG kicker!!!!
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
12:50 pm
I’m sure the fans are relieved all those Soldiers are on the Field for protection.
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:50 pm
RICK……………….tell me again about how STANFORD DOES IT?
Stanford also offers JOKE degrees.
STAMFORD
2011———11-2 (8-1) Heisman quality QB new coach
2010———12-1 (8-1) Heisman quality QB and NFL coach
2009———8-5 (6-3)
2008———5-7 (4-5) No Bowl game
2007———4-8 (3-6)
2006———1-11 (1-8)
2005———5-6 (4-4)
2004———4-7 (2-6)
2003———4-7 (2-6)
2002——–2-9 (1-7)
Stanford is a JOKE………..they got 1 coach that BOLTED to the NFL
Try again Bro and go drive to your Chicken joints in you old Rolls
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
12:51 pm
We will know after the Missouri game. Until then, hate-on losers…
DallasDawg
September 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
Wow, the naysayers and pessimists are out in full force again. Why don’t we write off the season NOW? Why don’t we fire Richt and Bobo NOW and get it over with? Take a chill pill, will ya. Let’s just throw in a couple of ‘ifs’, if the Dawgs had scored one more time, and they had enough chances, and if the reserve defense doesn’t allow a late consolation TD, the Dawgs win by 36, very close to the spread, and lots of people say, yeah, that’s about how it should have gone.
Does the defense..btw….the same defense that ended up 5th best last year…..need to tighten things up? Yep. Can they? Hell yep. Does Murray need to be sharper with his throws? Yep. Will he? Yep, the guy only threw 35 TD passes last year.
All you doom and gloom people, relax. I say they will improve some things next week and beat Mizzou, and go from there. The primary goal to focus on is winning the East, cuz you can’t win the SEC without winning the East first. There’s no point in comparing us to Bama and LSU cuz we aren’t going to see one of them until Dec 1st. I’m tellin’ ya, this is going to be a great season, sit back and enjoy the ride.
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
12:53 pm
Oliver averaged 116 yards per game, good for top 10 in the NCAA last season. That’s why he’s a Doak Walker candidate. He’s an excellent running back.
Clarification is needed possibly
September 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Boo Ken Malcom does get supportive shouts of Boooooooooooo, Booooooooo, as that IS his nick name. He did play, so maybe what we heard was this, not booing.
Go Dogs
Clarification is needed possibly
September 2nd, 2012
12:55 pm
Boo Ken Malcom does get supportive shouts of Boooooooooooo, Booooooooo, as that IS his nick name. He did play, so maybe what we heard was this, not booing.
Go Dogs
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
12:56 pm
KingDaddy……..we will….
What up with posting all night? mustang sally was OK with that?
i guess the Kool-aid you are drinking this day is COFFEE.
Be good
Roll Turd Roll
September 2nd, 2012
12:59 pm
Yep…we have been duped…not so much by CMR or the players (after all, we are starting to get use to that)…we have been duped by the media that has (by the pre-season hype and adulation) inflated the empty heads of these (so-called) elite athletes…!!! I believe that I am the last hold-out, but we have before us (as a team) the most under-achieving, un-motivated group of laggards I have witnessed in my 50+ years as a UGA Alum & fan.
After 5 years of giving “benefit of the doubt”, and wanting so badly to believe that we had the best coaching talent available from both technical and moral stand point, I have finally succumbed to the realization that a coaching change must be made.
We looked weak and ill-prepared in all phases of the game…the offensive line play was inconsistent…running backs have no idea how to pass-block…and I our defense gives up 3 or 4 long scoring drives to Buffalo, then what is SC, TN or FL going to do to us?
I will always bleed red & black, the fact that I felt compelled to write this has me very sad.
Roll Turd Roll
September 2nd, 2012
12:59 pm
Yep…we have been duped…not so much by CMR or the players (after all, we are starting to get use to that)…we have been duped by the media that has (by the pre-season hype and adulation) inflated the empty heads of these (so-called) elite athletes…!!! I believe that I am the last hold-out, but we have before us (as a team) the most under-achieving, un-motivated group of laggards I have witnessed in my 50+ years as a UGA Alum & fan.
After 5 years of giving “benefit of the doubt”, and wanting so badly to believe that we had the best coaching talent available from both technical and moral stand point, I have finally succumbed to the realization that a coaching change must be made.
We looked weak and ill-prepared in all phases of the game…the offensive line play was inconsistent…running backs have no idea how to pass-block…and I our defense gives up 3 or 4 long scoring drives to Buffalo, then what is SC, TN or FL going to do to us?
I will always bleed red & black, the fact that I felt compelled to write this has me very sad.
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
1:02 pm
Is Jeff right, do top 10 ranked teams, allow a lot of total yards against medicoore teams?
Oregon 2011:
Unranked Nevada, allowed 500 yards
SW Mizz St, allowed 289 yards
Arizona, allowed 480 yards
California, allowed 465 yards
Perhaps Jeff was just exaggerating again to make a point.
But yes, Jeff, top 10 team allow MUC MORE yards than UGA’s defense did in game 1.
Glad you asked.
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
1:04 pm
ARE ALL YOU PEOPLE STILL DRUNK?
Double posting?
Is you AJC.com screwing up or you just making a mistake?
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
1:04 pm
51 pennies & 0 sense
at least I have a girl that will do A N Ything for me! I’ll leave it at that before I say something I don’t want to. Got to go…
kingdaddy
September 2nd, 2012
1:07 pm
Smart
My pad won’t let me double post. Must be the AJC…
Ekim
September 2nd, 2012
1:08 pm
Paul Johnson would have said “45 is more than 23.” And he would have had a point.
5150 UOAD
September 2nd, 2012
1:09 pm
HAHAHAH………cool be safe and enjoy your day. Hit you back later. i think i am going to Bush Hog a pasture for awhile. louisville v kentucy at 3:30 isn’t a draw.
7576DAWG
September 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm
At times Murray looked good but at times he looked like he was scared or just impatient. This is the 3rd year he has run the team and he should be a lot smoother than what he showed yesterday. On the other hand LeMay looked good and his running ability really give us another weapon. Georgia could have easily scored one more time but showed Buffalo mercy and backed off. Gurley looked great . Marshall looked good. The defensive line is no where near where they should be.
Georgia better figure out how they let a 5″7″ running back make them look bad at times. All we had to do is stop that little running back and a very slow Quarterback. I hope the reason we were not blitzing on every play is because we didn’t want to show Missouri what plans we have for them.
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
1:13 pm
USC better do it this year :
http://www.freep.com/usatoday/article/837088&usatref=sportsmod?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Sports|p
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
1:17 pm
Do top 10 teams allow a lot of total yards against some teams?
Ok St:
300+ La fa, 482 Tulsa, 568 Iowa St
Clemson
423 Troy, 389 Wofford, 309 NC sT
Baylor
Rice 416, Iowa St 425, Wash 625
Stanford
Duke 325, calif 365, San Jose St 237, Wash 430 yards allowed
Josh Smith for 3
September 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
2nd quarter was mistake-laden and embarassing. 3rd quarter was more like UGA football, much better D and better offensive play. Keep in mind that NFL scouts have their eye on Brandon Oliver, the kid can ball. I think Grantham will have them amped for next weekend, should get a much better performance.
Ray Tardinski
September 2nd, 2012
1:19 pm
Ugay hype is what it is, hype. Overrated and just as mediocre as ever. Stay time next week for all the ugay bubbas to be calling for Bobo’s and Rich’s job when the lose to Mizzu. Book it.
Glory between the Hedges
September 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
The good news is that we didn’t turn the football over the entire game.
Buffalo was able to stay in the game because they didn’t turn the football over.
I believe some of our defense will be back next game. Maybe atleast Ogletree, with the way Richt is talking. We really need Malcolm Mitchell to heal up fast because he will be key. I will not doom this team until I see them play crappy in a meaningful game. Next week will tell alot.
“In Todd We Trust” Go Dawgs!!!
Glory between the Hedges
September 2nd, 2012
1:22 pm
The good news is that we didn’t turn the football over the entire game.
Buffalo was able to stay in the game because they didn’t turn the football over.
I believe some of our defense will be back next game. Maybe atleast Ogletree, with the way Richt is talking. We really need Malcolm Mitchell to heal up fast because he will be key. I will not doom this team until I see them play crappy in a meaningful game. Next week will tell alot.
“In Todd We Trust” Go Dawgs!!!
The Bear
September 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
@Big Crimson 75 Bama was able to substitute a lot of players last night. I thought the kid from Georgia Hubbard played a solid game at DE/Tackle. People that don’t follow Bama don’t realize Bama preps younger players all year long. Sunseri was hitting everything that moved last night. Saban put the brakes on in the middle of the 3rd qtr. Classy move. Michigan just did not have the team speed.
7576DAWG
September 2nd, 2012
1:23 pm
The only way yesterdays play will turn out to be acceptable is if Buffalo ends up winning 10 or more games. also , I hope that McGarity keeps the pressure on Richt to expect more from his coaches because from what I saw yesterday , if things look that bad at the end of the year the only safe coaches will Richt and Grantham.
Glory between the Hedges
September 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
Florida 27-14 over Bowling Green
South Carolina 17-13 over Vandy
Oklahoma struggled bad
LSU was flat against North Texas
It wasn’t just Georgia so hold your comments until after next week.
dawg4life
September 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
Schultz, the boos in the first half were for the officials dude…. I could see the blatant holding on our right end on the first td pass from section 202. Also, Branden Smith was tackled on a 3rd down play that resulted in about a 30yd gain, and on their big punt return an obvious block in the back. Thats what the boos were about. Don’t over-sensationalize that… UGA’s problem in this game was they were just out there throwing 50 yd bombs all of the first half. Half of our starting def was either hurt or suspended.Only a tune up game… TG3 Runs This State!!!!
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
1:26 pm
I wouldn’t say Gurley and the receivers were the only ones above criticism.
Jarvis Jones 2 sacks puts him on a 24 sack pace.
Conley blocked a punt.
The running backs were ALL very productive, over 5 yards a carry.
The 1st team defense made excellent adjustments, holding Buff to 0 firstdowns in the 2nd half and 0 points. The last score was against the 2nd string D, at 5 positions, the 3rd stringers.
Murray threw for 250+ yards, 3 td’s, no intercpetions.
Special teams allowed no points against them and looked very much improved.
Not much to not like, unless you’re just nit picking.
Glory between the Hedges
September 2nd, 2012
1:28 pm
By the way, someone please tell me what the final score of the 2002 game UAB and Georgia game was and then tell me our final record that year.
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
1:32 pm
Is Jeff Schultz trying to dupe us into thinking a 45-23 win was bad?
Don’t fall for it folks.
Atlas
September 2nd, 2012
1:36 pm
I was expecting about a 40-14 score.
I didn’t anticipate the 100 yard KO return, or a latre score on the reserves.
Another GREAT win.
1 down, 11 to go.
the regular game winning streak is now 11 games in a row.
The Bear
September 2nd, 2012
1:38 pm
This new helmet rule is a bit much! Really going to suck if your QB or RB has to sit out a play and it works out that he would miss the final play of the game.
7576DAWG
September 2nd, 2012
1:39 pm
I think things will be better on defense next week. A team can’t have 4 first team players miss a game and and it not have an impact. Especially when all four could be drafted in the first thre rounds next year.
First these are all real experienced and will not make many mistakes. They also go after the ball and don’t wait for the ball to get to them. Meaning the running back and Quarterback gets tackled a lot more behind the line.
Also, I hope Grantham watched the Alabama game last night so he could see what he should be expecting from his defense. One of our biggest problems is our coaches don’t expect more from everybody. They are letting the team motivate each other and even though that is important the coaches need to stop patronizing and rewarding players for mediocre or inconsistent play. Expect excellence on every play. The Pro’s will demand that or the player won’t last very long.
Apostle
September 2nd, 2012
1:39 pm
I was dumbfounded how poorly the D played.There is plenty of blame to go around.This type of play next week will mean a loss.
Rick James
September 2nd, 2012
1:44 pm
@5150 UOAD
RICK……………….tell me again about how STANFORD DOES IT?
Stanford also offers JOKE degrees.
STAMFORD
2011———11-2 (8-1) Heisman quality QB new coach
2010———12-1 (8-1) Heisman quality QB and NFL coach
2009———8-5 (6-3)
2008———5-7 (4-5) No Bowl game
2007———4-8 (3-6)
2006———1-11 (1-8)
2005———5-6 (4-4)
2004———4-7 (2-6)
2003———4-7 (2-6)
2002——–2-9 (1-7)
Stanford is a JOKE………..they got 1 coach that BOLTED to the NFL
Try again Bro and go drive to your Chicken joints in you old Rolls
——————————————————————————————————————-
Cry me another river..Everybody has an advantage over Tech.Or is it that Tech has an excuse for everybody who’s better? If your academics prevent you from playing big boy football join Georgia St. in the Sun Belt confererence and call it a day.They’re burger joints not chicken and its a Bentley not a Rolls none of which has anything to do with UGA football..I’ll say it again.envy is the ulcer of soul.Go online and find some Vandy stats too so you can justify why they’re out recruiting Tech in Georgia.Best of luck tomorrow night in Virginia.
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
1:44 pm
Bear — We made Michigan look bad. Are they the 8th best Team in the Country — probably not.
Michigan St is the best team in the B1G.
We drilled Shoe-lace last night.
Good to see our upper-classmen on Defense step up. Nico, CJ, Square, Williams, Lester & Milliner gotta lead this Team on Defense. They all played well last night.
Only sore spot looks like LCB. Geno Smith might be the answer!!
Good to see Landon Collins making some plays — his “Mommy” is officially on-board, finally!
Really?
September 2nd, 2012
1:45 pm
Im sure all the suspended players will be back for the important games- they always are w marky mark at the helm. I’m anxious to see gurley run against a real team. I would hold your horses until then..
sapelodawg
September 2nd, 2012
1:46 pm
Georgia named a new UGA … now if they would just name a new coach. Saint Mark & BoZo have to go.
The Bear
September 2nd, 2012
1:47 pm
Crowell has done nothing! Best thing that could have happened to UGA. Imagine him pulling up with heat cramps yesterday! Instead of 16 pages on here more like 25.
Really?
September 2nd, 2012
1:47 pm
But that buffalo team was good! LOL.
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
1:48 pm
The new helmet rule sucks.
It’s awful & it’s only gonna get worse.
7576DAWG
September 2nd, 2012
1:50 pm
Did you see how Saban acted last night? He is blowing out a very good Michigan team and he is raising he@@ at his players for making too many mistakes. Saban expects excellence on every play from everybody. You might not like him but you sure have to give him high marks as a great coach.
Big Crimson 75
September 2nd, 2012
1:58 pm
7576 — We certainly don’t miss Mike Shula.
Harriett Rohrbaugh
September 2nd, 2012
2:07 pm
Jeff was right on the money!! We have been duped -Again!! I am over Mark Richt- WE can never win the BIG games with him! Always the “bridesmaid, Never the Bride.” I graduated in 1971, so I have watched many, many years of UGA football! We lost our bowl game last year to a “Small 10 team.
And then we are ranked 6th. After watching ALA destroy Mich, GA should not even be in the top 10!!!
Just Win Baby!
September 2nd, 2012
2:17 pm
Hey Jeff,
How come Alabama didn’t have a single player suspended for the opener against Michigan?
The Bear
September 2nd, 2012
2:18 pm
GT going to trip up VT?
GFJacket
September 2nd, 2012
2:24 pm
Rick, Stanford and Vanderbilt also offers liberal arts programs for bright athletes that may not do well in math and science. Tech does not. That is the difference. Tech is also a public university and has to answer to the Board of Regents. Since UGA now has an engineering school, perhaps Tech needs some liberal arts programs. Do you think Richt could recruit better than Johnson, if he were at Tech, given Tech’s requirements and academic limitations?
Tech is not “crying a river” about its situation. Tech will always be Tech. The question remains, given UGA’s situation, why are all the schools surrounding UGA winning NCs since 1980 (Clemson, Florida, Tech, Alabama, Tennessee, Auburn, LSU – - some multiple times). UGA should have a fistful by now.