Orange-Crushed: Georgia Bulldog's Offense Sputters in Season Debut

It was the first season opening loss for Georgia under head coach Mark Richt, and it was not pretty.

The Georgia Bulldog's misled everyone on Saturday by taking the opening drive methodically down the field for a score, only to completely fall apart the rest of the way. The Oklahoma State Cowboys ran away with a 24-10 win over Georgia in their first game in newly renovated Boone-Pickens Stadium

We knew the matchup between the #13 and #9 teams in the country would be nail biter, but no one expected the game to unfold the way it did.

Georgia's defense played an impressive game, holding an offense that scored at will last season to just 307 yards and 24 points.

And, that came with some questionable events that were not associated with the defense at all. Redshirt frosh Carlton Thomas fumbled a handoff deep in Georgia territory late in the half, and the special teams made the mistake of kicking to the electric Parrish Cox on the second half opening kickoff.

Cox made the Dawgs pay by running it back into the Georgia redzone. Those two plays translated into 10 points- a majority of the game's final spread.

The Dawg's run defense was outstanding. Jeff Owens and Geno Atkins backed up the talk of "Georgia having one of the best interiors in all of football."

The Cowboys did eventually work up 172 rushing yards, but the fact that Georgia's defense was on the field for so long took a toll.

Overall, Georgia's defensive performance was pleasing, however the offense's was unsettling.

Joe Cox looked decent at best, throwing for just 162 yards. The Dawg's running game was actually pretty consistent, but not explosive. Georgia was getting yards in increments of 3 to 5 yards all game.

That type of offense only works with a threat of firepower. Georgia seemed to have proven to the Cowboy's defense early that they had none.

Joe Cox's less than impressive arm strength stuck out like a sore thumb, but it was the decision making and sloppiness of his performance that will worry Georgia fans all week.

Cox made a hand ful of questionable throws into traffic during the game, and also missed a few open balls late. Ask AJ Green, and he might tell you Cox completely missed even throwing the ball on a few plays as well.

Matt Millen, broadcaster for ABC Sports, made a comment at least three times about Cox missing open plays.

Sure Joe does not have that great arm, and players rave about his leadership, but Georgia fans better hope that the rocky performance was a combination of first game jitters and the ruckus environment.

Oklahoma State's defense, which allowed over 400 yards a game last year, yielded just 257 yards to the red and black today.

Considering Georgia's offense was as good as ever last year, some could definitely argue the losses at quarterback could be to blame. The offensive line is better and healthier than last years, and yet the production rocketed downward.

The Dawg's do not need to panic however, and neither do the faithful followers. This was a road game against a top ten team, and it will not dictate conference standing later in the year.

Nevertheless, Georgia quarterback Joe Cox is now 31-1 as as starter since high school. Still a force right?

The sure hungry Dawgs will have a chance for redemption next Saturday when they host the rival South Carolina Gamecocks and Steve Spurrier.

Here are 5 notes to take from the game

Joe Cool? As in Cold? - Everyone must still have faith in Joe Cox. The players love him, the coaches love him, but the fans may not this week. Joe was sporadic and accounted for two turnovers (one was actually pretty meaningless). Fear will exist though; quarterback controversy is a main ingredient for mediocre seasons.

Def-Endless - The only noticeable flaw in Georgia's stout defensive play was from the edges. Their all- America front may be somewhat negated by non existent edge rushers. A Georgia defensive end did not touch the quarterback all game. Justin Houston, who stood out as a pass rusher in the spring, is currently serving a three game suspension.

Samuel is a Stud - Richard Samuel, who "won" the starting tailback job over Caleb King (who is battling injury) was a bright spot in the game. His stats were not eye popping, but an opened up offense could mean a breakout year for the sophomore.

Poles have shifted: Defense way more impressive than Offense - The Georgia defense, who was criticized all of last year for playing poorly, held one of the hottest offense in the country to just 307 yards. That number is arguably skewed considering how much they had to be on the field.

Georgia's offense, who was going up against one of the worst defenses in the country last year, looked like the Missississippi State Bulldogs. Hiccup? Or potentially ongoing problem? SEC defenses could hold this team to 80 yards a game if they don't execute 10x better than they did today.

Game Decided on a Call? - Aside from the poor execution on Georgia's part, the most upsetting part of the game was the second down unnecessary roughness call on Reshad Jones during a crucial drive late in the contest. On second and long, Zac Robinson slung a ball down the middle, only to have it dropped thanks to a jarring hit from safety Reshad Jones.

Jones would tell you he was doing his job. He was innoncently trying to make a play, and his helmet touched nothing but air.

I'm sorry that he hits so hard, but if players cannot use their abilities like that, then why are teams bothering to spend money on helmets and pads?

Calls like this happen all of the time. Remember Jake Locker's celebration? Remember when Georgia's recovered fumble in last year's Alabama game was called back because a defenders finger when into John Parker Wilson's facemask.

Look, nobody is perfect, but calls like that should never ever have that much influence on the outcome of a game. They exist for player safety, but 90 percent of the time, the guy is fine.

Maybe don't get rid of the rule, but could there not be a push to make these things reviewable? There is a booth right? Do not make the call on the field, and if the booth sees the play and decides the hit was unnecessary,  then throw the flag.

But, it is unfair for such a stand out player to make such a great play that would have greatly influenced the game, only to see the outcome completely reversed in the opposing favor.

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Georgia will be back in business next Saturday vs. the South Carolina Gamecocks. Kickoff is slated for 7:45.