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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
1,006 comments Add your comment
Left Coast Dawg
September 1st, 2012
9:58 pm
@Hard Truth – I get the feeling that it will start to rub off as the upperclassmen will not want to be outplayed. UGA typically starts off slow, good competition or not. At the end of the day, a W is a W. No season is defined by 1 game, so let’s play them all and talk about it in January.
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
So Far the Auburn v Clem&Son has been the best game to watch this weekend.
A-Ville Ranger
September 1st, 2012
9:59 pm
I’m watching a replay of the game. The offense looked much better coached than the defense today. In the 1st half defensive players looked around at each other MANY times in confusion. The offense genrally played well and would have scored 40 or so in the half if Murray hadn’t been off on the deep throws.
Grantham is more myth than top coach to this point. He has yet to really stop a good team.
ramguy68
September 1st, 2012
10:00 pm
Once again a team will have plenty of time to prepare for Tech’s gimmick offense and as par for the course the will be beaten badly.
Skeezix
September 1st, 2012
10:01 pm
Dogs are overrated. Not buying the hype.
dbc
September 1st, 2012
10:06 pm
Right on A-Ville Ranger. You, at least came, prepared today.
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
10:06 pm
FLAT yes I want to beat the dwags & the ACC CG but if it is an ACC Championship Game bid or beat UGa, I take the Championship Win.
10-2 is a good year! Right?
September 1st, 2012
10:06 pm
Watching Clemson and Auburn and I guarantee Clemson would beat UGA today. Auburn’s QB will get better and they will probably win.
Clemson ran 8 and threw once on that drive. Used their strength and ran it down Auburn throat. UGA coaches will never do that, ever.
Huh?
September 1st, 2012
10:07 pm
No excuses for UGA not to beat the crap out of Buffalo. None at all.
After having watched USC, UGA, Florida and TN this week, I have to say that UT looked the best. No way UGA looked like the #6 team in the country.
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
10:07 pm
Zack Mettenburger is Tearing it up for LSU
1eyedJack
September 1st, 2012
10:11 pm
Less filling.
Mike
September 1st, 2012
10:12 pm
It is a good thing we have this “cupcake schedule”. Alabama is on a whole different plane than this Georgia team. They would score 50 on Granthem’s national ranked defense. Same Georgia, different year
WildViking
September 1st, 2012
10:14 pm
We won the game. Would everyone feel better if we had won 70-0? We had a scrimmage. The season begins next week. Don’t worry, be happy.
Sad Richards
September 1st, 2012
10:15 pm
Looks Like Dabo went out and gotem a defensive coach. they are stuffing awburn.
Dawgboy
September 1st, 2012
10:17 pm
If your goal is to win games, and your #1 running back is having a bad game, you bring in the highly skilled #2 running back. This happens all the time. If your #1 quarterback is having a bad game, you bring in the highly skilled #2 quarterback, unless he is wearing a red shirt.
The Truth
September 1st, 2012
10:17 pm
UGA doesn’t want Bama, Auburn, Vols, Clemson, Ohio, BG.
We doubt if UGA will run a table.
Ran Man
September 1st, 2012
10:17 pm
Sky is falling? Geez…
Two observations about today: Already off to a better record than last year – the year the won the SEC East if I’m not mistaken, AND
They looked just as terrible last year against Boise State, and although to SC the following week, they generally played well and looked like a totally different team by the second game of the season. This year will be no exception. They will come out strong next week and put the nay-sayers to rest (if that were even possible…).
Ringleader
September 1st, 2012
10:18 pm
You can say this, that, and the other, but this is the facts:
Buffalo was in better physical shape to take the heat and the Dogs D line was worn out the first half.
A third grader can put 11 defenders on the field, not 13 or 10 like Grantham did today.
Mike S.
September 1st, 2012
10:19 pm
The only people duped are the ones that want to read too much into a paycheck game. UGA could have won this game 70-10, and I wouldn’t feel any better or worse. It literally means nothing. Look how many teams blow out paycheck games on an annual basis only to get manhandled once they hit conference play. If a game like this is a true measure of a contender, we would have 60 teams looking like national champions after week 1.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 1st, 2012
10:20 pm
Sure we won the game and looked sloppy doing it
You can win games against middle school teams like Buffalo playing sloppy
You wont win games playing sloppy against teams in the SEC
10-2 is a good year! Right?
September 1st, 2012
10:20 pm
McGarity should call Dabo after the Missouri game.
Huh?
September 1st, 2012
10:24 pm
UGA fans…I know you don’t want to puke up all the Kool-Ade you’ve been drining, so it makes sense that you are trying to make up excuses for the egg that your team layed today. However, don’t kid yourselves…UGA was shockingly and horribly average today. Will it get better? eh maybe. But right now, I would put my money on 5-6 other teams in the conference.
Sad Richards
September 1st, 2012
10:29 pm
Clemson went out and Got one of the best defensive coaches in America. Richt had to settle on Grantham.. Wake up people wake up. Dabo nabs the #1 Recruit in the nation in our back yard. Wake up PEOPLE!!!!!
chase
September 1st, 2012
10:31 pm
Coming from a former player and high school coach, it is SAD when a 22 point win with 7 starters missing constitutes a “hiccup” or some other “issue”
How is this a negative?
Would everyone have felt better if Buffalo had not gotten that “GARBAGE TD” with less than 3 minutes to go and the game ended 45-16?
Or would you feel better if Richt did his best Nick Saban/ Spurrier and went ahead and scored from inside the 10 yard line in the last 1 minute plus of the game and had it end 52-23?
I mean really people?!?!?!
Actually as a Fan (or coach for that matter) I am glad that going into a “REAL” game with Mizzou that the DAWGS DO NOT have a week of people telling them how great they are…maybe they will use this as a springboard and learn what they need to work on and come in hungry rather than sitting back thinking they are too great for the week
1-0 people…life is good
chase
September 1st, 2012
10:32 pm
Sad Richards
Georgia’s defense was in the TOP 5 in EVERY statistical category last year…your statement makes no sense
monty
September 1st, 2012
10:33 pm
Watching Bama wipe their tales with Michigan, that’s how you coach them up. Today was embarrassing.
5150 UOAD
September 1st, 2012
10:34 pm
Flat….yes you can look flat against a cupcake BUT you don’t do it as #6 team in the country.
You have that FLAT game as a trap game during the season were you are tired and just don’t play your best. Real Top 10 teams don’t do that unless they were Overrated in the first place.
monty
September 1st, 2012
10:37 pm
Their QB got 4-5 yards running whenever he wanted to.
Huh?
September 1st, 2012
10:38 pm
chase…how about it the other way around?
What if Buffalo doesn’t give UGA the 100 touchdown return…and if Buffalo doesn’t miss an extra point? Then the game is tied at the half. Garbage touchdown at the end of the game? Grantham sure didn’t seem to like it.
Make all of the excuses you want (missing starters, etc.)…No way Buffalo should have outgained UGA in yardage in the first half. No way UGA should have done anything else than beaten Buffalo into the dirt. If you really are a coach, then you should know what everybody else seems too…that UGA looks like they’ve got some problems. Can they be fixed? Sure…will they? don’t know. I know this, UT looks better than anybody in the SECe, and NOBODY is on Alabama or LSU’s planet.
Buffalo Biff
September 1st, 2012
10:39 pm
Wonder how hard Steve Spurrier was laughing today?
Bama14
September 1st, 2012
10:39 pm
Here come the refs…
SWGADAWG
September 1st, 2012
10:40 pm
Nope….but Shultz is. What a tool. All you can do is bash UGA or Tech to get a story. Had enough…..AJC gets no more views from me. I’ll just look in the trash can instead.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 1st, 2012
10:40 pm
5150 UOAD
That was my point
Also UGA deserved a top 10 rating with the talent and returning players
Now it can be said that they dont deserve it with the current coaching staff that cant seem to field a team that looks like they can play football week after week
buzz6868
September 1st, 2012
10:41 pm
lets play a TEAM
Hot diggity dupe
September 1st, 2012
10:41 pm
OK, you want to argue that Richt was being nice and didn’t run up the score.
Fine.
But you can’t say they look as good as ALA does tonight. Far from it.
Richt NEVER has his team ready.
Argue this statement, please! I’m ready to hear from lunatics…
10-2 is a good year! Right?
September 1st, 2012
10:46 pm
@chase
First, I doubt you are either if you have to put that in your post. Second, the score is irrelevant. As good as Gurley and Marshall looked, the offense was still predictable and continues to prefer gimmick screens, play action home run passes, and draws to just pounding it down the opponents throat. Second, the defense in the first half looked awful, and yeah some starters were out, but you still had blown assignments and poor execution and tackling, which equals poor coaching and/or poor depth. In the SEC, both will get you beat.
UGA’s may win the SEC East thanks to scheduling, but they are in no way the #6 team in the nation. They did not even look top 20 against a mid-level MAC team with what probably were 2 and 3 star recruits at best.
tony
September 1st, 2012
10:47 pm
I think Mr Richt is more concern about Aaron Murray(Fla Kid) winning the heisman trophy and getting drafted high in the 1st round than winning @uga. Personally, I prefer to recruit my qbs from the state of ga because they care more about winning for uga than trying to impress the nfl scouts.
Although Mr Richt refuses to wear down his opponent with his rbs in order to control the time of possession, I’m very disappointed with Todd Grantham’s defense. Four star athletes should never allow 2 star athletes to handle them the way Buffalo handle our defense. UNACCEPTABLE!
Rantastic
September 1st, 2012
10:48 pm
Huh
Your name should be duh! UGA WNS AGAIN. You are an idiot troll who is afraid if your own schools worthlessness, LMAO. Anything negative huh. Your mom wants you n bed by 11:00 loser.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
September 1st, 2012
10:49 pm
Hot diggity dupe
Dont worry, the lunatics will be on here arguing with you shortley
They will explain to you how we are going 12-0 and playing USC for the national title
Maxx4955
September 1st, 2012
10:50 pm
I don’t get it. Georgia has 4 star and 5 star players sitting on the bench and/or playing special teams. Only at UGA…I guess could this be possible There is no way that I would send my son to play under this current coaching regime. You can’t and will not produce a championship team with UGA’s current strategy. Conner Norman, an average ability walk-on starts and plays the entire game, while young stud players like Jay Rome and SSCorey Moore gets scrub time when the game has been pretty much decided. How is this even possible? SSaftey Shawn Williams never came off the field, even though the Dawgs were up by 23 points with over 9 mins. left in the game despite the scorching heat today in Athens. Damian Swann played a hellava game today but probably won’t touch the field again once Malcolm Mitchell is back healthy.. .On top of that..Swann would run circles around B. Smith at the corner position. Parents…think twice before you allow your boys to sign on the dotted lines, remember SEC football is all about $$$$$$, don’t be fooled by the glamour of the Red and Black. Another thing that blew my mind today is the fact that Hudson Mason is 2nd on the depth chart but choose not to play because he wants to redshirt. It’s obvious this guy knows something Chirs LeMay doesn’t. Welcome to UGA football.
Huh?
September 1st, 2012
10:50 pm
Rantastic…spoken like a true UGA fan. I know you are stinging from the egg that your team layed today, so the only think you know to do is to call somebody and idiot and speak trash.
Way to keep it classy UGA fan.
Hard Truth Soldier
September 1st, 2012
10:51 pm
Alabama, not USC is truly the # 1 team. The O line is amazing.
Big Crimson 75
September 1st, 2012
10:54 pm
Bama14 — we’re not home yet.
Rantastic
September 1st, 2012
10:56 pm
Biff
Lil Stevie had a nervous breakdown after the Vandy game. UGA won by 22, you should have lost. UGA can’t wait to play the hens .
Huh?
September 1st, 2012
10:57 pm
Rantastic…after today, I don’t think anybody is scared to play UGA.
Rantastic
September 1st, 2012
11:01 pm
Duh
We have all the class we need to have to kick your puny schools butt back to another conference.
Chris
September 1st, 2012
11:02 pm
It’s the same crap every year year. Great talent bad coaching. I was surprised to see the defense play bad because I do think that Grantham is a good coach but no one on the offensive side of the ball knows what the hell they are doing and we have Richt and Bobo to thank for that.
We have two true freshman at running back that could make Georgia a force to reckoned with for several years to come. Of course, that will no happen because we have an idiot O.C. and head coach that thinks you have to have balance. It doesn’t matter if your backs are averaging 10 yards a carry, we’ve got to throw those low percentage 40 yards passes on 1st down to keep the offense balanced. It is an asinine way of thinking, and an asinine was of calling plays. Any good O.C. is going to go with his strengths and what gives his team the best chance of controlling the clock and winning. Bobo does not understand this and he never will. He was having Murray throw the ball around way too much today. We showed early on that we could run the ball down this teams throat but Mr. Brilliant Bobo continued to go away with from the run. Had we stuck with the run like most sane coaches would do, our obviously gassed defense would have got more rest, we would have had longer, time consuming drives, and the game would have been over at half time. But no, we have Bobo calling plays, and he and Richt are two of the worst coaches in the country at realizing where the strength of their offense is and actually utilizing it.
This is embarrassing, it’s the same tune every year, and it will not end until Richt is fired. If you want to see how a great team is supposed to be coached, tune in to ABC and watch Alabama.
Hard Truth Soldier
September 1st, 2012
11:02 pm
UGA, Looking back, and the players you had missing last year(Ogletree again) I’ll give you a break, but next week get your head outta your a$$. And play like a champion.
Huh?
September 1st, 2012
11:03 pm
Rantastic…really? didn’t see it today. I know you are probably punch drunk on Kool-Ade, so you might want to sleep it off a bit.
The Truth
September 1st, 2012
11:03 pm
Looks like Michigan coach is the only big time coach who doesn’t wear a head-set?