ATHENS, Ga. - Following Saturday's win over Louisiana-Monroe that looked pretty only on the scoreboard, Georgia coach Mark Richt said, "I'm trying to decide whether to be happy or sad."
One day later, Richt had cast aside his sad face. Richt said a review of the game film from the 44-7 win showed the Bulldogs played much better than he first thought.
"When I look back at my attitude after the game, it was a little bit warped," Richt said Sunday. "It was not that bad of a day. It was actually a pretty good day."
The negatives - including 11 penalties for 99 yards, a few missed opportunities on offense and giving up an onside kick that set up Louisiana-Monroe's only touchdown - showed there is more room for improvement if Georgia (3-0) is to keep winning.
"We want to become champions, and in order to do that we've got to become sharper yet and that was what had me bent out of shape more than anything else," Richt said.
Though the final score was about as lopsided as expected, Georgia led only 17-7 midway through the third period. That gave Georgia players a brief scare and gave Richt an ugly preview of what could follow this season if his team doesn't cut down on mistakes.
"We've just got to get better in all phases of the game or we will struggle," Richt said after the game.
Georgia now begins a stretch of three straight Southeastern Conference road contests with Saturday night's game at Mississippi State. Following an off week, Georgia plays at Tennessee on Oct. 8, followed by a visit to Vanderbilt on Oct. 15.
Georgia remained at No. 7 in Sunday's Associated Press Top 25 and also didn't move from No. 6 in the USA Today coaches poll.
In fact, the Bulldogs' only move Sunday came in Richt's personal rating.
"I realized we only punted one time and I was like 'Only one punt?' " Richt said. "We had two turnovers, but one was at the end of the game and one was right before the half. I was like 'Gosh, we might have done a few things good.' "
Added Richt: "It really wasn't all that bad. We averaged over 10 yards a play offensively."
Georgia won easily despite playing without several starters, including tailback Thomas Brown, receiver Sean Bailey, tight end Leonard Pope and linebacker Jarvis Jackson. All are expected back this week.
Though he had only 13 carries, Danny Ware rushed for 109 yards. Despite sitting out the fourth quarter, D.J. Shockley completed 13 of 20 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Shockley and backup Joe Tereshinski completed passes to eight receivers.
Meanwhile, Georgia's defense guarded against the big play, allowing no run longer than 13 yards and no pass longer than 17 yards.
Richt said the penalties were errors of overaggressive play.
With 28 penalties in three games, Georgia is averaging almost 10 penalties per game.
Richt said he has officials at every practice, and players are pulled out of scrimmage situations following each penalty for "up and downs" exercises.
"After scrimmages we discipline the entire group for any penalties that go on, and it's the same thing after these ballgames," Richt said.
"We may have to double it up or start taking playing time away if these guys aren't going to do a good job of using their heads.... They've got to come to that moment of truth where they know they can't get in position... and just let it go."
Note: Richt said backup safety Drew Williams suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Saturday and will have season-ending surgery. Williams, a sophomore from Blairsville, suffered the injury in the first quarter on Georgia's kickoff team.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
