Notebook: Bulldogs decline to enter into war of words with Missouri
By Ryan Black
Special to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ATHENS — If Missouri defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson thought his comments about Georgia or the SEC would bait the Bulldogs into a war of words, he was sadly mistaken.
In fact, Georgia defensive end Abry Jones wasn’t even aware the comments were made by a player until the media informed him Monday evening. Jones initially “thought it was fans posting stuff,” and didn’t have a reaction to Richardson saying he turned off the Buffalo/Georgia game Saturday because “it’s like watching Big Ten football, it’s old man football.”
Jones was more interested in learning what “old man football” entailed.
“We play our football,” he said. “I don’t know what you’d classify as ‘old man football.’ This is college. I don’t know many people over the age of 23 playing football in college, so I don’t know what ‘old man football’ is.”
At Missouri on Monday, Richardson was held out of media day, with team spokesman Chad Moller saying that Richardson “earned himself a vacation.”
Coach Gary Pinkel said “I think he just got carried away a little bit, but I handled that internally.”
Wide receiver Justin Scott-Wesley laughed at the characterization of his team playing a geriatric brand of football. He was more surprised that Richardson took a shot at another conference.
“He said it was like Big Ten football, and I was like, ‘Wow, he took a shot at the Big Ten,’” Scott-Wesley said. “[But] football is football. You can’t get caught up in all the hype. Any team can win any day. We’ve just got to go out and play ball.”
Other players said placing too much emphasis on Richardson’s sound bite takes away from the things the Bulldogs have to accomplish if they want to beat the Tigers on Saturday.
Rush defense, for one. If Georgia is to put a damper on Missouri’s SEC debut, slowing the Tigers’ dual-threat quarterback James Franklin is imperative. After allowing Buffalo signal-caller Alex Zordich to gain 89 yards on 14 carries Saturday, Jones acknowledged the miscues the Bulldogs committed against the Bulls.
“It’s not something we wanted to happen, but seeing the simple mistakes we made, we kind of presented an opportunity for him to do that,” Jones said of Zordich’s rushing success.
When pressed to define what he meant by the “opportunities” the Bulldogs gave Zordich, Jones replied, “Not rushing in the proper rushing lanes, and then he had an opening to step up, and then he had space to run.”
The problems Franklin presents aside, Jones knew his fair share about Missouri, rattling off Tigers of recent vintage — quarterback Chase Daniel, linebacker Sean Weatherspoon and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, among others.
Jones relishes being able to welcome Missouri to the SEC.
“I think us playing Missouri doesn’t really take away any of the excitement,” he said. “I think it adds a little bit more, seeing that it’s their first year in the SEC. … It’s a different team, but I think the same atmosphere, the same excitement is still in it.”
Etc.
Running back Ken Malcome’s left hand was bandaged, but he practiced without limitations Monday. He said he expected to play Saturday. …. Wide receiver Marlon Brown (hamstring), cornerback Malcolm Mitchell (ankle sprain) and running back Richard Samuel (hip contusion) were all limited but practiced. … Those listed as “out” for practice included offensive linemen Watts Dantzler and John Theus with ankle sprains.
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138 comments Add your comment
Chicago Dawg
September 4th, 2012
10:54 am
First again!
Chicago Dawg
September 4th, 2012
10:57 am
Missouri hasn’t done anything yet to warrant a comment on this. Although Spurrier’s comment about playing UGA early was accurate. There usually are some key players suspended early on. This time Missouri gets to take advantage of that.
Dawg Gone It !!!
September 4th, 2012
10:57 am
Just Win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cobb Dawg
September 4th, 2012
11:01 am
How optimistic/pessimistic is the outlook on Theus and Dantzler?
flo-ri-duh
September 4th, 2012
11:06 am
Not good. Theus and Dantzler out for Missouri. I expect Ogletree, Vasser, Cummings to be suspended for Missouri. Rambo has appealed and though a long shot he may play.
WDE
September 4th, 2012
11:07 am
Win on the field….and the talking takes care of itself….well except for the trolls we could beat Mizzou by 40 (not that that is likely) not give up a sack or a first down and they would see a subpar effort,bad play calling and want the staff all fired .
triple floption
September 4th, 2012
11:08 am
If i were Coach Richt,
I would call a team meeting and assign each player a box of tissues and tell them to carry it with them all week and on the plane to Missouri because if we don’t come out a play GA football we will need them on the long flight home. I would then post the Missouri players comment about old man football everywhere. i would talk about it in the meetings, on the practice field, i would text it to the players everyday. i would then get someone to buy a funeral flower arrangement in UGA colors and send it to the Athletic department(and say it’s from a Missouri fan, and place it right in the middle of the room for all to see.
Then when it’s time to play ball i will ask them are they ready to form their own identity yet because it’s us against the world until you do.
Then i will tell them i expect a full game of OLD MAN GEORGIA FOOTBALL and let them loose!
GATA
Yo Grantham
September 4th, 2012
11:09 am
Is your group MAN ENOUGH? Little old Buff NY pushed that 3-4 around quite a bit. Where’s that stingy Dawg D? Maybe the pay raise was premature…
flo-ri-duh
September 4th, 2012
11:09 am
DL better be rested up. Expect UGA to go for the deep ball at least 6 times in this game and the OL will be missing two key players Theus and Dantzler.
SSGt Dawg
September 4th, 2012
11:12 am
Theus and Watts will be OK. They are in walking boots but they will shed them Wednesday. I like how much depth we have on the O-line but I don’t think Ward, and A.Long should be starters.
Dawg in Chapel Hill
September 4th, 2012
11:20 am
Chip,
Any chance of finding out if the Dawgs, in fact, are using this literally as bulletin-board material? Seems like a missed opportunity if they don’t.
Dawg in Chapel Hill
September 4th, 2012
11:21 am
Sorry, looks like Ryan Black wrote this. Still, my question stands!
G
September 4th, 2012
11:22 am
Who will play right tackle??
chase
September 4th, 2012
11:24 am
There is actually (at least there was in 2004 and 2005) a bulletin board area that the players walk by through the training room where articles are posted…
Also, on the squat rack floor and above some other pieces of equipment there will be changeable mats with the upcoming opponent’s logo on them for motivation while working out….Trust me, they all see those comments!
Pitbull
September 4th, 2012
11:30 am
Has anyone told Missouri that you dont win in the SEC without running the football.
Nothing New
September 4th, 2012
11:31 am
We wont run the score up
We dont want to hurt anyones self esteem
We will just let them back in the game and hope to hang on for a win
Just the usual around here
Mayo
September 4th, 2012
11:34 am
In “SEC World,” it would seem that all that would need to occur would be for UGA to go up there and INTRODUCE Mizz to BIG BOY football (old man or not). This SHOULD be like one of those bowl games where a traditional power goes up against the Chuck n’Duck or basketball-in-pads–whatever you prefer to call it, and administers a lesson in Southern Smashmouth.
Let’s hope that’s what happens. Injuries, suspensions, whatever; UGA’s squad should be better than MO.
DawginLex
September 4th, 2012
11:36 am
floriduh
Theus and Dantzler out?
Where did you see that because it is not true???
WDE
September 4th, 2012
11:40 am
DLex I think a poster read this from yesterday’s practice report and thought they will be out for the game.
Those listed as “out” included a pair of offensive linemen, Watts Dantzler and John Theus, saddled with ankle sprains.
UGA Insider
September 4th, 2012
11:41 am
I don’t know who is suspended or who is really hurt. However this is going to be a TOUGH game.
UGA Insider
September 4th, 2012
11:45 am
Ankle sprains can go on for weeks or months. Bad injury.
rt
September 4th, 2012
11:47 am
Does “OUT” mean for practice or for the game?
DIT
September 4th, 2012
11:48 am
This game will show us how much character this team has. Mizzou should be ranked in the top 20!
Mark Richt
September 4th, 2012
11:51 am
Remember, I am a Christian. Does anything else matter? I didn’t think so.
John
September 4th, 2012
11:53 am
If you need their comments for bulletin-board material….just stay at home. UGA hasn’t won against a top ten team forever, they couldn’t get up for those games either.
AltamahaDawg
September 4th, 2012
11:56 am
If Missouri keeps talking, Grantham might actually have to reach down and call something other than a 4 man rush this week.
Ga Dawg81
September 4th, 2012
11:57 am
Missing Rambo and Commings really showed this past Saturday. Both replacement players missed assignments and tackles. Defense played lethargic except the the third quarter. One thing we can not do is over pursue or Franklin will burn us. Stay in your rush lanes and man up. I am sure CTG will have them ready for probably the best QB we will see this year.
Go Dawgs
AltamahaDawg
September 4th, 2012
11:59 am
Practice. They would never announce somebody “out” for the game with an ankle sprain, on Monday.
CHDawg
September 4th, 2012
12:01 pm
Remember Boise’s spread? That was early, but it didn’t turn out too well. Moore couldn’t run much better than CMR. Franklin is big, fast, and he likes to run. It is going to take a great performance to beat them, I think. If we play like we did Saturday we could lose by three TDs. D has got to get back to end of year form, and the O has to score a lot of points. We didn’t handle runners well all year and the one dig on CTG’s D was that we were weak against the spread. Whether founded or not, the Tigers are going to check our secondary’s oil all night.
CHDawg
September 4th, 2012
12:02 pm
That is QB runners…we handled TB runners very well.
Prediction
September 4th, 2012
12:04 pm
BSU finishes higher than MSU anyway. MSU will find a way to choke.
Dawgs 32
September 4th, 2012
12:05 pm
Theus will play, richt already said so. Sprained ankles don’t bother ol as much as skilled positions. Tape it up and go…not making excuses for the d , but buffaloes qb gained yards on busted plays….by that I mean they were not designed run plays…..that being said I was still very bummed by the lack of effort the showed sat.. They looked slow and confused.
Dawgs 32
September 4th, 2012
12:08 pm
Was does everyone think the shotgun formation is the spread!? Boise runs a pro style set up.
Frank Lane
September 4th, 2012
12:15 pm
Just played like we did not care.
yarddawg
September 4th, 2012
12:17 pm
Polls just came out, and Georgia dropped one spot in both and Florida St. moved up one spot in one poll and two in the other. No brainer that Bama is #1
AltamahaDawg
September 4th, 2012
12:18 pm
I didn’t think Boise was a good comparison, either.
McDawg
September 4th, 2012
12:19 pm
going to have to gut this one out
Phil
September 4th, 2012
12:21 pm
Mizzou by 14
Missouri Boat Ride
September 4th, 2012
12:35 pm
The only old man showing up on Saturday will be Clint Eastwood … and he’ll be just a little pissed off.
AltamahaDawg
September 4th, 2012
12:40 pm
Buffalo did Grantham a favor by putting up a fight. He had to walk into to the locker room and remind his starters they actually still have to show up.
Second half possessions by Buffalo:
3 plays, 0 yds
6 plays, 19 yds
3 plays, 5 yrds
3 plays, 7 yrds
3 plays, 2 yrds
(till the bench emptied and Buffalo drove thier last series)
Kosmo Kramer
September 4th, 2012
12:47 pm
Its up to the Dawgs to shut’em up. I wonder if they’ll talk before Bama comes to town?
GO DAWGS!
September 4th, 2012
12:47 pm
Kid needs to check his facts. For example, before bashing the Big-10, you might want to be able to beat them…
Mizzery vs the big-10= 46-55-4
Sounds to me like thats the way you beat mizzery…by pounding down their weak teams throats. GO DAWGS!
McDawg
September 4th, 2012
12:52 pm
High of 74 in Columbia on Saturday
BKing
September 4th, 2012
12:53 pm
Suprised Oklahoma is still in the top 5….oh, wait…no I’m not…Hell, FSU beat poor Murray state by 60 and moved up….OkSt hung 84 on this weeks opponent…FSU may be in the top 2 after this week….OMG…give it a rest…FSU and Choklahoma are overrated….suprised ND didn’t make it in the top 5….jeez
bucket
September 4th, 2012
12:54 pm
This is the year for no more excuses. UGA shouldn’t need the comments from the Missouri DT to get ready for this game. The Georgia coaches and players have said they want to win the SEC. If that’s true then that should be the only motivation they need to come out and win this Saturday.
TheBabe
September 4th, 2012
12:56 pm
If the Dawgs need bulletin board material to get it up for Mizzou, they’re in trouble.
J-Dub
September 4th, 2012
12:56 pm
I am truly concerned about this Saturday’s game based on what I saw from the defense against Buffalo. I am not here to bash the coaches or players and won’t. What concerns me is the Mitchell could very well be limited, who knows what is happening with Rambo and Ogletree, and Commings is already out. We allowed 90+ yards to a quarterback at Buffalo and the one we are about to face looks at that type of yardage on a consistent basis. Our D-Line got pushed around for a solid half against Buffalo. Our offense looked VERY inconsistent. Our O-Line is already banged up. Murray looked VERY inconsisent on his throws. There is no room for error in the SEC and I saw a lot of them on Saturday. Heck,the GT defense held VPI to 20 points last night IN BLACKSBURG and we gave up 23 to Buffalo in Athens???
There are several things I would like some of you die-hards to comment on. I know who you are and I know who the trolls are….
1) Did we even gameplan much for Buffalo?
2) How vanilla was our offensive gameplan?
3) Will Rambo and Mitchell both be back in the secondary this week?
4) Is Murray going to be “over-hyped” at the start of this game?
5) Will the offensive line be more cohesive in the second game? If so, will the tight ends show up?
6) In my opinion, we did not “Fly to the ball” against Buffalo like we did last year. We look somewhat tentative. Is this because of the relative “newness” of Connor Norman and Corey Moore? Shawn Williams was almost a no-show!
7) Is all of this mute because we played Buffalo and no real takeaways can be made from playing an opponent like this?
I look forward to your insights….
GO DAWGS!
September 4th, 2012
12:58 pm
BKing, that is a really good point that I noticed this morning too. Why did UGA move down in the poles but OK stayed right where they were. Why is OK in the top 10? We didn’t have a great game, but we put up 45, and on top of that, in the third quarter, I don’t think we even allowed a 1st down! So, I really think if anyone should have moved, it should have been OK with what should have been a LOSS against utep, who is probably not even as good as buff. Can anyone explain that to me? Is there so much bias out there for OK that they blow and they still get top 5 votes? Is Chokelahomo the next NOT-er-Dame?
AltamahaDawg
September 4th, 2012
12:59 pm
FSU plays a team this weekend that will barely have matching uniforms.
AltamahaDawg
September 4th, 2012
1:02 pm
#7, yes.