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
Resident Georgia Fan
September 3rd, 2012
11:50 am
James is more than a fool. Hes a GD ignoramus.
ATLien
September 3rd, 2012
11:52 am
How many elite NFL players have Mizzou and their “young man” football produced lately? The NFL exposes what you really were in college. UGA, along with the rest of the SEC powers, continue to produce elite NFL talent year after year. Best QB to come out of the high powered spread offenses of the Big 12 the last decade? Sam Bradford…scrub. Just like all these hyped USC teams and all their great players. Leinart..scrub…Palmer…scrub…Bush…scrub.
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
11:55 am
This question for you SEC veterans: Do SEC refs get paid to disallow upsets? I ask in light of the incredible no-call when the Vandy receiver got his arm hacked just before the on-target pass arrived — with the zebra staring right at the play. I mean, that was the game! That no-call ruined what was stacking up to be a photo finish at the end of a great game! What a shame!
William Tecumseh Sherman, St. Louisan
September 3rd, 2012
11:57 am
Can’t wait to march through your boys this week
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
11:58 am
ATLien:
Stafford has shown himself to be a very talented NFL QB. He impresses the hell out of me! Congrats to him.
I’m guessing Stafford won’t be a difference-maker this Saturday night, though.
Booche's
September 3rd, 2012
12:04 pm
Nobody in Columbia is happy that Sheldon made that comment. And we are very happy to be in the SEC. We recognize that UGA is royalty in SEC country, and that the SEC is the most powerful kingdom. We are honored to be a part of it. We also know that UGA was ranked in the top 10, and Missouri wasn’t ranked at all, for good reasons. We hope thousands of Dawg fans make it to Columbia for the game. Y’all will be welcome by friendly fans. And while we hope Mizzou wins, we hope y’all enjoy your time here. M-I-Z! S-E-C!!
SayreDawg
September 3rd, 2012
12:05 pm
Georgia beats missouri easily–they aren’t in the same class. Ga 40 Missouri 17—bet the house.
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
12:07 pm
Well said, Booche’s! :>)
WDE
September 3rd, 2012
12:07 pm
@Booche’s that was a gracious comment and while I hope UGA comes away with the win, thank you for the kind words and welcome to the SEC!
Larry
September 3rd, 2012
12:10 pm
SayreDawg: Remember what happened last time you bet the house…. :>(
Woofy One
September 3rd, 2012
12:11 pm
The game will tell the tale. It is never very wise to spout off before a game. I feel a nice win over the zoo.
bitter worried
September 3rd, 2012
12:12 pm
This game will determine this season for the dawgs—-bamma carried the name
of the —SEC—like true champs———now can the DAWGS??????
————-WHAT EVER HAPPENS—-WE GOT THE CREAM OF THE CROP
—————WE GOT TODD GURLY—–#1 2011 RECRUIT—-NEXT HERSHAL
Dumbest post of the day award goes to...
September 3rd, 2012
12:16 pm
ATLien
September 3rd, 2012
11:52 am
Just like all these hyped USC teams and all their great players. Leinart..scrub…Palmer…scrub…Bush…scrub.
—-
Yes – USC puts lots of scrubs in the NFL. Add to those 3 guys (1 of whom has been a starting QB in the NFl for the best part of a decade) – Matt Cassell (starting QB), Mark Sanchez (starting QB), Troy Palomalu (former NFL defensive player of the year), Clay Matthews (former NFL defensive player of the year.
ATLien
September 3rd, 2012
12:18 pm
No idiot, the award goes to yourself…..Mark Sanchez…LMAO…Matt Cassell…LMAO…and wasn’t Clay Matthews suspended once for PED? I’ll give you Palomalu, even a blind squirell finds a nut every now and then.
Big Crimson 75
September 3rd, 2012
12:19 pm
Bitter worried — you don’t have to worry about Bama carrying the flag for the Conference.
The chants were ringing in the 1st qtr — S E C….
Big Crimson 75
September 3rd, 2012
12:22 pm
Me thinks the accomplishments of Carson Palmer are a little better than Matt Cassell.
RGB
September 3rd, 2012
12:25 pm
Richardson said they could’ve played Alabama (I guess they could’ve played the Patriots for that matter) this past Saturday.
Factual Note: “Mizzou” was 8-5 last year overall and 5-4 in their conference. The “student athlete” obviously can’t claim mathematics as part of his curriculum during his junior college stint at College of the Sequoias (huh?) as Alabama’s record was, I believe, somewhat better than 8-5.
Richardson: “Show Me” applies to the SEC too, sport.
Dumbest post of the day award goes to...
September 3rd, 2012
12:25 pm
ATLien
Only in an SEC homer’s mind could a starting QB in the NFL from outside the SEC be a “scrub”.
I’ll give you some NFL scrubs – David Greene, DJ Shockley,
kingdaddy
September 3rd, 2012
12:29 pm
BC…
Covers Dixie like the Dew
September 3rd, 2012
12:30 pm
Missouri don’t scare no BullDawg.
WDE
September 3rd, 2012
12:31 pm
@Big Crimson 75 Congrats your bunch looked like defending National Champs most complete game for an opener I can remember.
Phil
September 3rd, 2012
12:41 pm
Mizzou will win 35 to 21
Big Crimson 75
September 3rd, 2012
12:47 pm
Wde — not time to count the chickens yet.
I may start counting em after we blitz Arky!!
Ga 30 Mizzzu 21.
Take it to your banker.
Rodster
September 3rd, 2012
12:48 pm
Unbelievable the Mizzou coach let a D-Lineman t
GTBob
September 3rd, 2012
12:48 pm
Bitter worried — you don’t have to worry about Bama carrying the flag for the Conference.
Big Crimson 75, just a general question. Do you ever get tired of SEC fans taking so much credit for your team’s success? There is probably only one SEC team right now that wouldn’t get blown out by you guys yet the Kentuckys and UGAs of the world always claim they are great because of you. It must get old.
Rodster
September 3rd, 2012
12:51 pm
it’s unbelievable the Mizzou coach let a d-lineman talk to the press, but I bet he’s not in the best graces with his coaches now. Nothing like giving the opponent bulletin board material. I hope UGA b&tch slaps ‘em.
The Bear
September 3rd, 2012
12:58 pm
Mizzou with the home field and crowd go up early on UGA, but UGA imposes its will and takes control of both sides of the ball and wears down Mizzou. Welcome to the SEC Missouri!
UGA 28 Missouri 7
And
Roll Tide
Big Crimson 75
September 3rd, 2012
1:09 pm
Bobby — we’ve been doing the heavy lifting for this crowd for 50+ years.
Why stop now!!
Tide Roll
September 3rd, 2012
1:10 pm
Man, how’d you like to move CHRIS BURNETTE to Center, Have MIKE THORTON at Right guard, XZAVIER WARD at Right Tackle, Move MARK BEARD to Left Guard along side KENARIOUS GATES, and just pound the rock with GURLEY. Just wear Mizzou’s defense out! And for all you haters, you could still keep Merritt Hall at Fullback. FOR ALL YOU HATERS.
Phil
September 3rd, 2012
1:11 pm
I only see Mizzou losing maybe 2 games in the sec, maybe only 1. And that 1 will be to Alabama, not bum a s s Georgia. Mizzou is gonna win this game easily and win the east in it’s first year
dbc
September 3rd, 2012
1:13 pm
I. Crowell rushed for 18 yards on 9 carries yesterday for Alabama State in a loss against Bethune-Cookman. I think we’ll take Gurley over IC any day of the week.
GaDawg'emOut!
September 3rd, 2012
1:13 pm
we didnt see the defense scheme that much, look for grantham to unleash the junkyard dawgs in columbia against these tigers. special teams needs to play well, and the defense. pound the run, control the clock.
Tide Roll
September 3rd, 2012
1:14 pm
What the hell does Richt and especially Booboo know about dual threat QB(s)? They play D.J. Shockley for only one year, evaluate Cam Newton as a tight end, and fail to offer LSU commit ANTHONY JENNINGS. This kid JAMES FRANKLIN is going to eat Conner Norman up, and Richt and Bobo can’t see it. When are y’all going to have enough of those two? They’re stealing money from you.
The Bear
September 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
Mizzou I would not make a habit of popping off like that in the future, you might not like the results!
RTR
CHDawg
September 3rd, 2012
1:28 pm
Franklin is going to be tough to nail down, folks. He is built like a fast SEC outside linebacker, but he throws well, too. When a QB runs for ~1000 and throws for almost 3000, you had best look out. We are going to need a great game to win in Columbia, and to throw one of our favorite trolls a bone (T roll)–our O line is going to have to grow up fast and develop an attitude or we are going to struggle. I saw people getting around almost every one of them on three man pass rushes Saturday! The run blocking looked better to me. They are brand new, but they need to see the field as something they need to take over, not just block on. Go Dawgs.
CHDawg
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
BTW, congrats to the Tide fans. What a great game. I think we should force Saban out of the SEC and make Bama play in the NFL this year!
Jay
September 3rd, 2012
1:30 pm
Heat and humidity? LMFAO!! What an excuse making pansy. It’s basically the same all around the south and midwest.
59bulldawg
September 3rd, 2012
1:32 pm
Great bulletin board stuff! Hope Bobo and Grantham post it in prominent places this week!
tenn.DAWG
September 3rd, 2012
1:33 pm
If the O-line plays downhill to the whistle, the O will be OK.They have to stay on their blocks or hit somebody else.Now,with the smack talk they should all want to punish them,the O and the D.
John
September 3rd, 2012
1:43 pm
UGA would need bulletin board material to motivate themselves…..otherwise they would come out flat as they always do.
Patrick Sperry
September 3rd, 2012
1:47 pm
I understood the thoughts behind Richardson comments, but felt it was a little out of line. Although SEla and Buffalo were potentially strong competitors, these games like this of Tier two and three teams against Tier one conference teams are normally blowout walk overs. Georgia didn’t salt their game away until the third quarter wereas Mizzou had the game from Quarter 1. But, if I was pinckel, I would have players concentrate on Game ahead, plenty of time to gloat after bowl games are all completed.
bsg3003
September 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
UGA needs to step up. They are the number 6 team in the nation and they are being picked to lose next week to an unranked team! They need to man up and get their act together, or their BCS hopes will gone in week two.
tony
September 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
Hey Tide Roll, I was very disappointed that they didn’t recruit Anthony Jennings. Mr Richt needed a dual threat qb not a pro style qb because our OL doesn’t pass protect very well in his system.
When you see Todd Gurley rush for 7 yards on 1st down, Aaron Murray will sling it down field on 2nd down. That’s one indication that they will lose to Mizzou on Saturday night. I seen it happen many times before. Just giving ya’ll a heads up.
Patrick Sperry
September 3rd, 2012
1:54 pm
I watched both games, and I will say I expect Mizzou to win. But Georgia came out, did execute, showed some defensive issues, but unveiled a passing game to complement their running game. Gurley offers speed that Georgia often lacked in past. I have always said and will say so again, the outcome comes down to Georgia power game against Mizzou’s speed. As of todays posting, I give mizzous speed the advantage. More importantly, Mizzou exited game with no major injuries.
Patrick Sperry
September 3rd, 2012
2:00 pm
As for the man comment about who Mizzou’s has had drafted by NFL team, Just the last five years: QB’s Smith, Gabbert, and Daniels with Giants, Jaguars, and Saints. TE, Coffman and Rucker, DE/T Smith Brothers; WR Macklin in Philadelphia and Alexander with St. Louis. Also three linemen are playing in league for offences.
Skippy from the Lou
September 3rd, 2012
2:00 pm
Hahahaha. Looks like the lil puppy dogs are upset. Time for the tigers to neuter some poodles err Georga Bulldogs. Go Mizzou!!!!
John
September 3rd, 2012
2:00 pm
#6 UGA vs. Unranked Mizzou…..UGA favored by only 3
7576DAWG
September 3rd, 2012
2:03 pm
If we beat Missouri it will be a great hard fought game. Georgia does not take Missouri for granted. They have enough speed to play in the SEC. Richardson makes a point to say that they have played as good of team in the Big 12 and he is right. BUT
Missouri plays 2 sometime 3 really hard teams in a year. What Missouri will find is that out of 13 games in a year being in the SEC they will have to play 5 or 6 really hard teams. It is much harder to get up for and win a game when you have to play 6 really hard games . Depth is everything in the SEC. Right now there is only 2 teams that you don’t have to worry about playing in the SEC. Mississippi and Kentucky. Tennessee, Auburn and Vanderbilt can beat anybody if they are at full speed but they only need 1 or 2 of their play makers out and they become a lot easier.
Missouri will understand why it is so hard in the SEC at the end of the Season.
WDE
September 3rd, 2012
2:04 pm
@Patrick Sperry just when did Mizzou get faster than UGA?
DiehardMUFan
September 3rd, 2012
2:05 pm
don’t judge a program or a fanbase on what one kid says. Every team has that one player who is lippy – Sheldon Richardson is ours (he can back it up though in terms of talent if not brains). I personally will welcome every Georgia fan to Columbia as will virtually all the Mizzou fans. Mizzou is thrilled to be in the SEC and out of the big 12/big Texas conference.