The seventh-ranked Georgia Bulldogs head to Columbia this weekend, but they won’t be taking on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Georgia instead will face off against the Missouri Tigers.
Missouri is a new addition to the SEC and Saturday will mark its first game against a conference rival. The Tigers had previously been a member of the Big XII conference.
What do they think about their opponent and new conference? Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson provided bulletin board material for the Dawgs after Missouri’s first game.
“I watched that game. I turned it off, too,” said Richardson. “It’s like watching Big Ten football. It’s old-man football.”
Richardson was not informed prior to his comments that providing bulletin board material for an SEC team is never a good thing to do.
While his comments were directed towards the Bulldogs’ pro-style offense, the Dawgs head to Columbia with three players limping on bad ankles. Cornerback Malcolm Mitchell missed the season opener against Buffalo due to an ankle sprain and offensive tackles John Theus and Watts Dantzler sustained similar injuries during the game.
Ankle sprains are known to be injuries that linger but the trio has healed well enough to practice.
The three Bulldogs missed practice Monday, but Mitchell made his way to the practice field on Tuesday. Theus and Dantzler returned to the field on Wednesday afternoon but worked in individual drills. Mitchell did not have his ankle wrapped while practicing and seemed to be moving well. Both offensive linemen had their ankles wrapped and were very stiff in their movements. However, Theus looked better than Dantzler in drills.
Mitchell and Theus will both make the trip to Columbia while Dantzler remains in Athens rehabbing his ankle.
Another question for the Bulldogs this weekend is the status of suspended players Alec Ogletree and Bacarri Rambo. The school has been mum about the length of their suspension, leaving it hard to predict each’s playing status. Mark Richt mentioned earlier this week that any player that travels to Columbia will play, meaning if either player is seen in warm-ups, expect him to play.
Regardless of injuries and suspensions, this game is very important to Richt and the Dawgs.
The defense, ranked in the top five nationally last year, turned in a lackluster performance last week but can be expected to tighten up for its first SEC game of the season. The Bulldogs had trouble with Buffalo’s quarterback and his ability to run and now face a much more dynamic talent in Missouri’s James Franklin. The quarterback ran for almost 1000 yards last season and the defense’s ability to contain him will be a key to the game for Georgia. The Bulldogs’ defensive line is bigger than Missouri’s offensive line and will need to win battles at the line of scrimmage to negatively affect Franklin.
On offense, expect Georgia to show Missouri what “old man football” is really about. Todd Gurley should be the leading ball carrier for the Dawgs this week with Ken Malcome and Keith Marshall sprinkled in. Quarterback Aaron Murray excels on play-action passes. How his running backs set up the play action will be key to his success.
Missouri’s stadium will be rocking in the Tigers’ first SEC game, but the Georgia Bulldogs have played in loud environments in the past. The Dawgs’ experience and size should win the game although it will be closer than originally thought.
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