Missouri player: UGA plays ‘old-man football’
Missouri does not enter the SEC shyly. Quite the opposite, based on comments by one player.
According to an article in the Columbia (Mo.) Daily Tribune on Sunday, Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson was asked after the Tigers’ 62-10 victory over Southeastern Lousiana Saturday night if he watched the Georgia-Buffalo game on television earlier in the day.
“I watched the game. I turned it off, too,” Richardson was quoted as saying. “… It’s like watching Big Ten football. It’s old-man football.”
Then this: “If we execute, nobody in this league [the SEC] can touch us. Period.”
Missouri, which officially became an SEC member on July 1, opens play in its new league by hosting Georgia at 7:45 p.m. Saturday in sold-out Memorial Stadium.
Georgia coach Mark Richt laughed when informed, on his weekly teleconference with reporters Sunday evening, of Richardson’s comment.
“’Old-man football?’ Well, I don’t know what he meant by that,” Richt said. “But bottom line is, we got to get after it and do what we do well, and they’ll be trying to stop everything we’re trying to get accomplished.”
The game provides multiple challenges for Georgia, not the least of which will be the emotion associated with Missouri’s much-anticipated SEC debut.
“It’s a huge game for them, no doubt,” Richt said. “It’s a huge game for us, too, though, because we’ve got our goals. And they’ve got their goals. Shoot, to me, it’s the biggest game of the year, no doubt. … It’s a monster game.”
Being the visiting team for Missouri’s SEC opener “is not the best draw,” Richt added. “But it is what it is.”
Aside from the sure-to-be-charged atmosphere, another major issue Georgia will face: Missouri’s spread offense, led by dual-threat quarterback James Franklin, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior who last season passed for 2,865 yards, ran for 981 yards and accounted for 36 touchdowns (21 passing and 15 rushing).
“It’s a problem,” Richt said of defending Franklin. “A quarterback who can run well is a problem. … And they’re going to spread you out. They’re going to get you in a lot of four- and five-wide looks. … It’s a space game, and space is the enemy of the defenses.”
Franklin had surgery on his shoulder in the off-season but reportedly did not have any problems with it in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana, an FCS team. He completed 13 of 21 passes for 131 yards and ran six times for 39 yards.
Comparing Missouri’s opener with Georgia’s performance in its 45-23 victory over Buffalo, “it looked like [on film] Missouri’s boys played harder than our boys played,” Richt said. But he added that the Bulldogs “probably played as hard we could” considering the heat and humidity in Athens.
Etc.
As of Sunday’s teleconference, Richt said he had received no updates on the status of any of his team’s injured players. … Richt on Connor Norman, a former walk-on who started at safety against Buffalo: “Overall, Connor did a good job. I can think of one play where he missed a tackle out there in space, but just about every safety in America is going to miss a tackle here and there when you’ve got too much space with a back.” Richt said Corey Moore “continues to push hard for playing time [at safety], but right now we think Connor is more ready to play.” … As expected, Richt stayed mum on the status for the Missouri game of suspended players Bacarri Rambo and Alec Ogletree. “We’ll know when the time comes,” he said. . . . Despite Ken Malcome’s hand injury and Todd Gurley’s huge opening game, Richt wasn’t ready to publicly commit to the freshman Gurley as Georgia’s primary running back for this week. “Well, he’ll definitely get the ball, that’s for sure,” Richt said.
– Tim Tucker, AJC
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465 comments Add your comment
Go Blue
September 3rd, 2012
4:18 am
I said east……..not west…….there is a BIG difference
who knows?
September 3rd, 2012
4:18 am
In 2002 Pat Dye said the Dawgs weren’t “man enough” to beat Bama.
I dropped my fried twinkie
September 3rd, 2012
4:20 am
You said MID PACK……………..but UGA is #6 out of 123 teams…………….You are a JOKE…………
Go Blue
September 3rd, 2012
4:21 am
I went 10 on mid pack sparty and won easy against sec east last year???
Go Blue
September 3rd, 2012
4:22 am
Whatever the joke is…..I win with my mid pack conference teams againt the east
Go Blue
September 3rd, 2012
4:28 am
Twinkie…..how did the east do on the first day of college football as far as the betting went? UGA-Loss, SC-Loss, FL-Loss…the top 3 did not do so good and that is my point……they hardly EVER COVER……on the other hand, the west almost always covers, so don’t ever bet on the east
7576DAWG
September 3rd, 2012
4:32 am
We win the Missouri game and the next three games are in Athens. I feel an upset is less likely with us playing Tennessee and Vanderbilt in Athens. If we are 5-0 going into the South Carolina game I feel better about playing them up there. Knowing if we beat South Carolina Georgia would all but have the East wrapped up. So the Missouri game is huge.
Go Blue
September 3rd, 2012
4:39 am
7576 you do realize that UGA pretty much has the east won by default, right?
Here we go again...
September 3rd, 2012
6:17 am
Frankly, the kid from Missouri is right about UGA. That was completely uninspired play the other day and after hearing all spring and summer about how hard everyone worked and ready to show how good they were, that was one piss-poor way to back it up. However, he is wrong about several teams in the SEC. He’ll find out all about execution when ‘Bama comes to town. Tennessee looks ready to play and South Carolina’s defense is pretty nasty. Maybe UGA will get there, but I doubt they will be ready this weekend. The Dawgs look like what has become a typical Richt team: completely unprepared to play high caliber football until mid-season. But I sincerely hope I’m wrong.
Thomas Way
September 3rd, 2012
6:25 am
Funny how MIzz beat SE Louisana andthey now think they can beat Ga and every other team in the SEC, Hey Mizz when was the last time you won the BIG 12 get over yourself this is real mans football not old mans football just ask MIch
birdo
September 3rd, 2012
6:43 am
I think the kid from Mizz is correct. I don’t believe my Dawgs are not ready for football. With the exception of the running backs, looks like the same old team. And how will the running backs preform against a defense? The offense best score a large number of points, the defense can’t stop anyone.
dan
September 3rd, 2012
6:44 am
Although it was just one game and perhaps nerves played a part but Gurley was vastly superior to Marshall. Marshall looked unbalanced and was running into the ground. He definitely needs to pick his feet up when he hits the hole.
birdo
September 3rd, 2012
6:51 am
Murray just doesn’t impress me with his play. Can he ever play up to a level that is competitive? When the game is on the line , do you think he will come around?
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
6:55 am
I’m an old Missouri alumnus and would like to welcome Georgia fans to Columbia, MO. It will be a nice change to host cultured folks instead of miserable Jayhawkers! It’s great to join the SEC, and I expect a great game next Saturday night. (Note to ESPN: the Mizzou-’Dawgs game will be MUCH more exciting than aTm vs. anybody!) ;>)
AthDog
September 3rd, 2012
7:18 am
We improve, playing and coaching, up to our talent level and we win by 28 or more. We don’t and it could be U G L Y. Every year I wonder what Spurrier could do with our Offensive talent….and why
Bobo can’t.
BigDaayC
September 3rd, 2012
7:23 am
Enter your comments here
BigDaayC
September 3rd, 2012
7:30 am
And Chipper plays Old Man Baseball!….. I remember when I put my first softball team together and we arrived at our first tournament and saw the other teams…. We started laughing… ” These are a bunch of old men” Two games and two loses later we were headed to the house….. Don’t underestimate the Old Man Game!
GO DAWGS!!!
won't be purdy...
September 3rd, 2012
7:33 am
This game woun’t be purdy for the Dogs. Defense will have their collective arses handed to them by a mobile QB, and I think MO has figgered out Bobo’s panic play….the infamous screen passes…look for a pick 6 off of one of Murray’s lazy screens or his all too common overthrows….MO 35- UGA 17….you saw it here first….
Old Man River
September 3rd, 2012
7:34 am
Mizzou, Mizzou, we’re coming for you
Uga Freddie Mercury
September 3rd, 2012
7:36 am
We will, we will, crush you!
JoeyHanie
September 3rd, 2012
7:39 am
Im just gunna say. I f the Dawgs just show up, and dont WANA win, Mizzo is gunna thump’em!
I REALLY hope thats not what happens. You boys better be ready to play. Go Dawgs!! GATA!!
mike
September 3rd, 2012
7:42 am
Missouri??? When have they ever been significant on a college football field?
legionaire
September 3rd, 2012
7:43 am
UGA played vanilla football against Buffalo and if Missouri wants to think that is all there is -good deal. It would be my guess that Bobo will use a pounding running game against Mo’s weak D and eat up the clock. Murray will burn their D backs when he wants to. The D tackle who made the moron statement about “old man” football will soon understand the value of keeping your mouth shut.
dawgfan
September 3rd, 2012
7:46 am
We are obviously overrated but Mr. Richardson’s big mouth is writing checks his team can’t cash. Not only will this be on Georgia’s bulletin board, it will also be on South Carolina’s, Bama’s, Florida’s and Tennessee’s bulletion board. He put all those teams on blast too. The SEC is a cruel, harsh and unforgiving place. He’ll find out soon enough.
This is slightly off topic but Bama looks pretty much unstoppable to me. We’re all playing for 2nd place, including the media darling USC Trojans. Anyone who thinks USC can hang with them needs to check themselves in to a mental institution. There is a dynasty in the making in Tuscaloosa.
MizzouTiger88
September 3rd, 2012
7:48 am
I am a closet Dawgs fan of any SEC team as Georgia fans talk football year round( guess you gotta when you have no hoops program). That being said, prepare to get taken behind the woodshed at Faurot Sat Nite. Darlings of the Big 12 beating up on SEC patsies. Your QB has no arm and will throw 2-3 picks and your defense will be worn out by the middle of the 3rd quarter by our “gimmick offense.” 42-21 Tigers in romp….M-I-Z
Joe Riddly
September 3rd, 2012
7:50 am
It’s actually DUMB-Old men football, as in Richt & Bobo.
tony
September 3rd, 2012
7:50 am
We have had more talent than any team in the country but for some strange reason Mr Richt has neglect his rbs during his 11 yr tenor . It’s really simple coach – just run those boys the way Vince Dooley ran HW. Heck, HW admitted that he didn’t even no the playbook when he was introduce to the Vols but did that stop Vince Dooley from playing him? At some point Mr Richt has to learn to compromise in order to reach the top.
tell me again
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 am
It’s interesting for a player to say that if they execute their scheme that nobody in the SEC can stop them when they lost 5 games last year – so, are we to assume their conference is tougher than the SEC? Nah…their defense is porus – if we run the ball and control the clock and play fundamental “old man” football this game will be ugly for Mizzou. Still, last weeks underwhelming performance does not ease the apprehension. We can only hope that the defense and offense were being throttled back so as to not reveal anything special. By the way , that little wide receiver pass was interesting…almost worked. Unfortunately, that is probably Bobo’s idea of expanding the offense. Let’s hope for a good showing on the road.
greg
September 3rd, 2012
7:54 am
Gurley looks like the real deal physically but still has a lot to learn. His pass protection is poor and if you look at his last touchdown he got so excited that he dropped the ball as he was crossing the goal line.
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
7:56 am
Mizzou D front 4 avg. 280 lbs.:
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/miss/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2012-13/depth_chart_event/depth_chart.pdf
Our DEs are very talented, and very hard to block.
Sheldon Richardson has talked big. Time will tell how big he plays vs. UGA.
Let’s enjoy a great football game! And may the best team win!
tell me again
September 3rd, 2012
7:57 am
By the way – LeMay can really run – I look for him to get in the game against a weak Mizzou defense and do some serious scorching.
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
7:58 am
wonder who uga will play in the music city bowl this year?
Alphare
September 3rd, 2012
8:00 am
If Buff can hang 23 on you, how much can Mizz hang? 33?
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
8:00 am
All the big bag of wind does is yell and curse
_______________
you are talking about the future head coach in athens…yelling and cursing is held in high regard to the dummydawgs…
EllijayDawg
September 3rd, 2012
8:03 am
With the exception of Florida and Auburn recently, the SEC has won all of their national championships with “old man football.” The Big 12 has two national championships during the BCS era and won all of their others playing “old man football.” Somebody needs to give that kid a pacifier and put him to bed.
a country boy can survive
September 3rd, 2012
8:04 am
take LSu and Bama out of he equation, and the Big12 is better than the sec…remember OKSTATE?
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
8:04 am
“Teams like MIZZOU must play this new spread and “gimmick” type…”
*************************************************
The “Spread Offense” ain’t that new – Spurrier ran his version of it 20+ years ago.
As far as it being a “gimmick,” some mighty big games (and championships) have been won with various versions of it.
The NFL would use it also, if not for the hash marks being so much closer together.
Wrecker
September 3rd, 2012
8:05 am
Seems stupid to give bulletin board material to a team that played somewhat flat in their first game.
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
8:07 am
______________________________________________________
Mike wrote: Missouri??? When have they ever been significant on a college football field?
______________________________________________________
Well, Mike, we have a historical winning record vs. the SEC. Of course, that says nothing about what will happen next Saturday night. But it’s not INsignificant.
The only significant thing come Saturday night will be the scoreboard. I expect a great game, with big plays on both sides. It’s not life and death, so let’s all just enjoy a game of historic significance between two very good teams.
Old Tiger
September 3rd, 2012
8:07 am
Just can’t keep the younguns’ from opening their mouths sometimes. It’s today’s word I guess. That said…if you need bulletin board material to get fired up that doesn’t say a lot about the team. I suspect it is not necessary and that it is just a bunch of folks who haven’t put on the pads in years, if ever, who are getting their panties in a wad.
Paddy
September 3rd, 2012
8:08 am
Old man football …………….have not seen the ’single wing’ run in the SEC in my life time. Now that is old man football.
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
8:11 am
Conner Shaw can’t lift his right arm. Won’t practice for for a couple of days, may miss next game. Wow, Vandy’s not looking like such a cupcake now, are they???
preferredduck
September 3rd, 2012
8:17 am
The offense and defense looked vanilla, for a reason. We don’t want mizzou to see what’s coming. If they want to laugh, laugh at the gators who squeaked by bowling green. It’s been said the offense finally knows the whole play book, but the frosh backs don’t know all. The defense is probably the same way. As long as out DB’s do good, and our front 7 I am sure will look more hungry than buffalo, then we should be ok. They were using a lot of toss’s straight back at the TB Saturday and I haven’t seen thay done in a while, but that’s all mizzou will have film for with the new guys back there.
zbulldawg
September 3rd, 2012
8:19 am
Old Men huh !! Okay then, very interesting !! Hopefuly Rambo & Tree can pass their drug test this week & have finished their extra work so they can play. We need the depth. We got some freshman alot of snaps last game, which will help. The OL will be better this week. The heat won’t be as bad. Our passing game should be more polished. This will be one hell of a game This is a GREAT test for our DAWGS. LET THE BIG DAWG EAT
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
8:23 am
I see some of the same fans who predicted for months that our bigger, faster players would crush Boise last season are still at it. What did that size and speed get us in the Dome last season?
We found out that a smart coach with a gameplan can equalize those deficits. I hope Richt has a plan for Mizzou, because our D, without all those starters just ain’t that great – and those of you who held your breath last Saturday when Bull’s QB tucked the ball and took off, James Franklin is a damn good QB – bigger and faster, and a MUCH better passer and runner than who was on our field.
Mizzou will score a lot more on our D than if we had all those starters, probably 30+ points. It may be a version of our SC game last season.
dawgfan
September 3rd, 2012
8:27 am
“Just can’t keep the younguns’ from opening their mouths sometimes. It’s today’s word I guess. That said…if you need bulletin board material to get fired up that doesn’t say a lot about the team. I suspect it is not necessary and that it is just a bunch of folks who haven’t put on the pads in years, if ever, who are getting their panties in a wad.”
Nobody has their panties in a wad. We just think your team, who seem pretty high on themselves coming off a big victory over juggernaut Southeastern Louisiana, doesn’t really know what its in for. That’s all. I think my Dawgs are overrated and we’re in for 2 or 3 losses this year, but Mizzou will not be one of them. I’m more worried about Vandy.
Thanks.
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
8:28 am
Since baseball has found its way into this forum, I’ll just mention that the NL Wild Card race is shaping up as another cliff-hanger! Beware the Dark Horse! Don’t you just LOVE Sept. and Oct., when baseball and football are both going on? (And, yes, I’m a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals fan.) :>)
dawgfan
September 3rd, 2012
8:32 am
Joey, that’s a ridiculous analogy because Mizzou is not Boise, will never be Boise and cannot hold Boise’s jock strap. Boise was loaded last year and had a very good team. And I don’t know where you get this idea that all us Georgia fans were predicting some big blowout victory in that game. I was gravely concerned about it as were many of our fans after our 6-7 season the year before. I’m sure there were a few morons here and there talking like that, but they were in the minority. I’m tired of all you haters putting words in our mouths.
Thanks.
Joey
September 3rd, 2012
8:33 am
prefferredduck, I’ll admit that you’re probably right about our offense last Saturday being “vanilla.” But I think Todd Grantham would want a shutout every week if he could get it.
I think he is so shorthanded, especially now with M Mitchell out, that what we saw last week is what we’re gonna get for a few weeks. Mitchell is our best cover CB, and Mizzou throws it all over the field.
It’s terrible timing – having to face Mizzou’s offense so shorthanded – especially w/o Ogletree and Rambo – two future NFL playmakers.
Paddy
September 3rd, 2012
8:33 am
7475DAWG……don’t believe we will have AO back for the next 3 games. With he and Rambo out, the D will be very short handed on top flight talent.