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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1,006 comments Add your comment
Barnhardy
September 1st, 2012
8:20 pm
Which players will be arrested tonight? That is the real question.
BIGDAWGFAN
September 1st, 2012
8:21 pm
well my last words here to all the haters boo hoo get over it and any team no matter how
good can be beaten at any given time! good night i may be back next week
kingdaddy
September 1st, 2012
8:26 pm
I’ll bet Missouri is licking their chop’s. I hope part of this game was subterfuge. Vanilla D with no icing. A ruse to make Missouri overconfident. If this is so, our coaches and players deserve an oscar, lol. I don’t think anybodys going to the pool this week…
BulldogBen
September 1st, 2012
8:27 pm
Murray still WAY too inconsistent and D looked uninterested.
We may have been duped. Until they prove otherwise, this looks like the same team from last year.
dawftired
September 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
Settle down folks. Our def front was not pushed around. Buff rb had 29 yds on 16 carries until Gilliard took a bad angle and gave up a 32 yd run on third and 6. LB also responsible for his one other long run. Take those away and he averaged around 2 ypc. Got good pressure but qb was able to scramble for significant yardage/first downs. Grantham can correct those assignments/discipline this week. My biggest concern is injury to theus and Murray’s inaccuracy. Can’t remember the brain donor that said theus was not athletic, but kid is an absolute stud (like Gurley).
Cobb Dawg
September 1st, 2012
8:34 pm
CMR and his staff need to instill a sense of urgency……..if they indeed have a sense of urgency.
no more arrests
September 1st, 2012
8:38 pm
georgia will be fine….
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
8:42 pm
Wow after the game Richt now Admit Rambo and Ogeltree were suspended for the game.
What a good Honest Christian man.
he didn’t say IF they will miss the Mizzou game though.
Where is all the Honesty and Integrity when asked a Direct Question?
kingdaddy
September 1st, 2012
8:43 pm
I know this for a fact, sometimes teams play down to their competition. I believe this was one of those times. Haters gonna hate. That’s what they are good at. True fans have patience and will not jump ship easily. Let’s see what Missouri brings before we collaspe as a fanbase. I dont tthink we will show much till S.C. , just to keep lil stevie guessing. We played better in the second half. We will be fine, so everybody needs to be strong for the players and let the coaches GATA this week, lol…
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
8:43 pm
Who will be checking the ACC PD Blotter in the morning?
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
8:44 pm
KingDaddy i though you were headed out to party?
You watching Bama v UM and AU v Clem&son?
Big Crimson 75
September 1st, 2012
8:45 pm
BANG
BulldogBen
September 1st, 2012
8:46 pm
Dawftired, that’s not even remotely true. They had 200 yards rushing. That’s cause for concern for ANY team much less one with 11 games harder than it played today.
It’s an issue. Where have you been for the last 3 years?
Dawggusted
September 1st, 2012
8:50 pm
If the players can just stay out of jail the rest of the year, we may have a chance.
Son of Sammy Davis Jr, Jr
September 1st, 2012
8:50 pm
It’s Georgia not Alabama.
Doggone
September 1st, 2012
8:50 pm
Watching the sexual predator QB’ing for LSU.
kingdaddy
September 1st, 2012
8:51 pm
51
We went to the “Shellhouse” had to bring the girls back to change. Hitting some Jose Gold from the freezer and listening to Brooks & Dunn. Getting “primed”…
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
8:52 pm
Who the HELL was Robinson throwing that to? Looks like it was right to BAMA.
RNB
September 1st, 2012
8:53 pm
Yall keep drinking the kool aid. This will be the same old crap. Our only hope is Dooley does better than Richt so they don’t beat us to Petrino.
RNB
September 1st, 2012
8:53 pm
Yall keep drinking the kool aid. This will be the same old crap. Our only hope is Dooley does better than Richt so they don’t beat us to Petrino.
Doggone
September 1st, 2012
8:53 pm
Kingdaddy. Have seen Georgia play before? They ALWAYS play down the level of the cupcake teams they play – ALWAYS.
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
8:54 pm
King have fun and don’t meet the PoPo
Al
September 1st, 2012
8:55 pm
Bama doesn’t rebuild they reload. Must be nice!!
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
8:55 pm
Bama 20-0 in the first qtr.
Richt and Dwags see that is how you do it so you can play all your kids in the 2nd half.
NYdude
September 1st, 2012
8:56 pm
Do the Dawgs have room for improvement? Of course.
But since when is a 22-point victory a cause for an uproar? Bear in mind that the objective of any football game is for a team to score more points than its opponent. Georgia accomplished that goal today.
In saying that Georgia could have done better, remember that the same could be said for any team anytime. No matter how talented and skilled a team is, there’s no such thing as perfection. Why? Because a team is composed of imperfect humans. The goal should always be to strive to improve. But the reality is there will never be a flawless performance.
Big Crimson 75
September 1st, 2012
8:56 pm
I didn’t see this coming.
Roll Tide!!!
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
8:58 pm
Bama is #2 and UGa is #6? Hahahah In what freaking universe?
ugavant
September 1st, 2012
8:58 pm
Schultzie, son, why don’t you go climb back in the playpen with your 680 sports-talk show buddies, Schmuck & Turnoff; if ever there was a “UGA, your-cup-is-not-even-half-full” trio, you guys are it.
Laughing out Loud
September 1st, 2012
8:58 pm
Schultz is just full of BS and so many bloggers (haters) on this site eat it up. Teams like Bufflo ought to be respected, but it is no surprise when these “fans” baely respect their own team. Give the opposing team their due. The played a very good game against a very good team. Go DAWGS! You will have a great year despite the “analysis” posting their negative garbage here. Did the Dawgs need to play better? You bet! Do the coaches understand that? You bet. Do the players know that? You bet..Well, look for them to play better! Cheer for them to play better! Let’s not “hope this is Murray’s last year just because MOOMOO thinks he is one of our worse QBs.” Truth of the matter is MOOMOO doesn’t even know what a QB is. Stupid!
kingdaddy
September 1st, 2012
8:58 pm
Doggone
that’s why I said that earlier. SOP for UGA. We’ll be fine. Drive it till the wheels fall off bro…
51,
I’m letting Mustang Sally drive. I’ll sing her a song just for her…
10-2 is a good year! Right?
September 1st, 2012
9:00 pm
Alabama would beat UGA by 40 in the SECCG. Even if UGA somehow runs the table with that weak schedule. That’s how far apart the talent is, and their coaching is miles and miles ahead.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 1st, 2012
9:00 pm
Typical sloppy play from our team
nothing new
could this be because of coaching
Really feel sorry for the kool-aid “we are winning a national title” crowd
Laughing out Loud
September 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
Well stated ugavant. Why not make it a quartet by adding “ole Kincaid?”
graphite
September 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
If you puppy Dawg fans want to see how the game is played,tune in BAMA….you really think you are on that level?……you probably are still the best team in the 2nd. division…RollOn
Bama14
September 1st, 2012
9:01 pm
Well, that was an effective 1st quarter. Surprised Michigan hasn’t tried to be a little more consistent running. Trying to throw too much.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 1st, 2012
9:02 pm
our talent is not far apart from bama
our coaching is way way way far apart
Hard Truth Soldier
September 1st, 2012
9:02 pm
So now we are into justifying this joke of a team effort today? We bring in top ten classes year in and year out, so why aren’t they all prepared to step in and step up? This is simply a team that lacks pride as one. There was individual effort today that was incredible(Gurley, J. Jones) but as a team UGA stunk up Sanford Stadium Buffalo, Yes Buffalo look like they belonged at least behind Ole Miss as a Bottom tier SEC Team. A QB that’s supposed to be Heisman material staring receivers down and missing easy touchdowns, A LB group that many say is the best not just in the SEC, but the country missing tackles, and making a Back from the M.A.C. look supreme today Top twenty in the nation at there positions D Linemen who lacked up field penetration consistently, and left the middle of the field open all day. At some point these coaches can’t be blamed, at some point players need to look within and find there hearts. Find a fire within and decide “I just wanna be better than good, I wanna be great”. Murray, your a QB, BUT HONESTLY YOU LACK A FIRE THAT WINNERS HAVE. Maybe it’s LeMay’s time, maybe your not into it with your friend O. Charles gone, but something’s gotta change. Ogletree, Cummings, Rambo, get your heads outta your behinds. Has not the loss of Mathieu(LSU), Rogers(Tenn) Dye(AU) your teammate Isiah Crowell got your attention that YOUR NOT BIGGER THAN THE PROGRAM.? Wake up you Bulldogs and grow up. Simply put you got out played in heart today, but had more talent. I can promise you Tenn, Vandy, Mizz, Auburn, and U.of SC ain’t gonna come to loose. The question is will you come to play, every game with all your heart. Today you didn’t.
kingdaddy
September 1st, 2012
9:04 pm
Whats up graphite…I’m out of here guys. Go Bama and the rest of the SEC…
graphite
September 1st, 2012
9:07 pm
You puppy Dawg fans want to see how the game is played? Tune in the BAMA game…..Do you really think that you are on that level?…. You are probably still the best team in the 2nd. division though..
Wang Dawg Doodle
September 1st, 2012
9:08 pm
Congratulations, POAD. The poll results are in, and you are the landslide winner as “The Poster Most Readers Would Like to Slap the Snot Out Of.”
Interestingly, your margin of victory was equally impressive among non-UGA fans as Dawg-backers.
Hard Truth Soldier
September 1st, 2012
9:09 pm
Dawg Fans after one Quarter of Play, Let’s just say Bama is clearly on anther level.
Herschel Talker
September 1st, 2012
9:09 pm
Schultzie:
Seriously, man, how many times do we have to beat this dead horse??? Richt is a joke and a clown, and we will win nothing with him. How many more games of unmotivated players and lackadaisical play we have to see???
Nick Saban is up 21-0 on Michigan after one quarter
Mark Richt is up barely over Buffalo at the half.
Which one would you rather have???
FIRE MARK RICHT IMMEDIATELY!!! HE SUX, AND WE ARE TOAST WITH THIS LOSER!!!
FIRE MARK RICHT IMMEDIATELY!!! HE SUX, AND WE ARE TOAST WITH THIS LOSER!!!
FIRE MARK RICHT IMMEDIATELY!!! HE SUX, AND WE ARE TOAST WITH THIS LOSER!!!
FIRE MARK RICHT IMMEDIATELY!!! HE SUX, AND WE ARE TOAST WITH THIS LOSER!!!
FIRE MARK RICHT IMMEDIATELY!!! HE SUX, AND WE ARE TOAST WITH THIS LOSER!!!
FIRE MARK RICHT IMMEDIATELY!!! HE SUX, AND WE ARE TOAST WITH THIS LOSER!!!
FIRE MARK RICHT IMMEDIATELY!!! HE SUX, AND WE ARE TOAST WITH THIS LOSER!!!
HT
Big Crimson 75
September 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 1st, 2012
9:02 pm
our talent is not far apart from bama
our coaching is way way way far apart
———-
Flat — Hard to argue that my friend.
Hard Truth Soldier
September 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
T.J. Yeldon a freshmen, yes freshmen is balling for Bama. They get it over there.
Bama14
September 1st, 2012
9:12 pm
Are the refs gonna start helping the Wolverines now? That was a clean, hard hit.
Bobo is Not the Problem
September 1st, 2012
9:14 pm
“If you take away all the good plays Buffalo had, and all the bad plays we had, we win big. So I don’t see what the problem is.” — Mark Richt
FIRE MARK RICHT
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
9:14 pm
Wow forced Bama to kick a field goal…….that is a HUGE victory.
A-Ville Ranger
September 1st, 2012
9:15 pm
I can’t watch any more of the Bama, Michigan game. I now see without doubt Richt can’t match up with the best coaches. Bama lost much of their defense while we returned just about everybody. The result is a Bama defense that looks superb against the #8 team on the road while we looked god awful against a 3rd rate team at home.
While I’m being cheerful, go check out Richt’s post game remarks. He seems like he doesn’t have a clue right now.
We’ll never win a title with Richt as our HC.
billly
September 1st, 2012
9:15 pm
UGA beats USC for the National Championship. UGA is deep, fast, and strong. Will roll over Missouri and have an undefated season. Good to see Florida falling apart as welll. Fla is the worst team in the SEC by far.
Douglas
September 1st, 2012
9:16 pm
No…we have not been duped. The damn AD just will no do anything. We have been criticizing Richt for years. You could hit him in the head with a 2 by 4 and he will still say: “There is not a problem’ or do anything about it. Georgia fans are not duped idiot: why do you think so many left the freaking game.