Georgia Bulldogs Football: Mark Richt to Bulldog Nation, "There's No 'I' In Team"

After the disappointment of the A.J. Green suspension set into the minds and hearts of Georgia Bulldog fans, an alarming trend began to take place—suddenly, Georgia became a mediocre team. That's right, all of a sudden, Georgia became incapable of winning the game on Saturday.

Well, hopefully, that's not the message the fans in Bulldog country are trying to send to the rest of the players on the Georgia Bulldog roster who will travel to Columbia—ready to play—on Saturday because if it is, it's an awful one. 

Look, here's the fundamental problem with the "we can't win without A.J." theory, it doesn't take into account that other players on the roster are every bit as skilled in the areas necessary to win the game as Green is—the difference being that Green had it all in one pretty package.

That said, at last check, Georgia has other wide receivers who are capable of running fast (Tavarres King), catching the ball (Kris Durham and Marlon Brown), stretching the field (Rantavious Wooten and Israel Troupe), and getting into the end zone (Aron White, Orson Charles...etc, etc)—that trait is not specific to A.J.

While there is no denying the fact that Green is a dynamic player who brings a lot to the field by simply being there. There is also little doubting this fact: Georgia has won without him...six times. Trust this much, Richt isn't somewhere crying in his lemonade (neither is Todd Grantham) over A.J's loss. Similar to last season, Georgia will look to other players to step-up and fill in the blanks. 

And, another thing, this game won't mirror the 41-37 shoot-out of 2009. The 2010 version will be won in the trenches. Georgia isn't going to try and go tit-for-tat with the Steve Spurrier, they will try and run it down the throat of the questionable South Carolina defensive front.

That said, it would have been a far greater loss to the team if running back, Washaun Ealey, were forced to sit on the sidelines. Ealey will be counted on to use the energy he saved by missing game one to run over and through the Gamecock's defense in game two.

If he can do that, quarterback, Aaron Murray's job will be that much easier in the passing game.
Furthermore, in those critical third down situations that Green is so money in, Murray will likely look to the hands of Kris Durham, Orson Charles, or Aron White (expect to see the tight ends on the field a lot more this week) to fill the void—all of them are capable of making solid plays in that situation.

The point is, Georgia is anything but done for this week so fans should be conceding nothing—unless, of course, you are one of those who already penciled this as a loss (with or without A.J.). If that's the case—carry on.

Green's suspension is a setback, no doubt about that, but to intimate that his absence is going to turn the team into a pushover is not only a slap in the face to the defense, but a mockery to an offense that is going to look a bit different with Murray standing under center.

Hang in there, Bulldog Nation, there is still plenty of fight in these Dawgs!

GATA!