What Georgia learned about itself, SEC

After routs of Georgia Southern and Central Michigan in Sanford Stadium, Georgia goes on the road — and into the SEC — for the first time this season on Saturday. What will await the Bulldogs at South Carolina, other than a tough Gamecocks defense, is a bit of a mystery.

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier was noncommittal Sunday on whether Chris Smelley or Tommy Beecher will start at quarterback against Georgia. Beecher started the Gamecocks’ first game and Smelley the second.

“We’ve got two quarterbacks who have not really distinguished themselves from each other, in my opinion,” Spurrier said. “So we will go through practice this week and see how each player prepares and … try to make a decision on who gives us the best chance to beat Georgia.”

Georgia coach Mark Richt said the quarterbacks are similar enough in style that not knowing the starter won’t be much of an issue. Richt suggested “a third guy” — Stephen Garcia — also might be in the Gamecocks’ QB mix, although Spurrier said Garcia is not a factor “right now.”

Whoever starts at quarterback might not have all-SEC receiver Kenny McKinley, from Mableton, as a target. Spurrier said “we’re just gonna have to wait and see” whether McKinley can play Saturday after straining his hamstring in last week’s loss at Vanderbilt. “There is a chance he might be back,” Spurrier said, “but hamstring injuries tend to linger two or three weeks.”

Meanwhile, five things we learned in Week 2:

1. KNOWSHON MORENO MERITS A SPOT ON EARLY HEISMAN LISTS

Yes, such lists are silly in their haste. But Moreno is forcing his way onto them.

His 198 yards total offense Saturday and his six touchdowns in the season’s first two games command attention. So do plays such as Saturday’s hurdling of a Central Michigan safety to cap a 29-yard run and stiff-arming of another safety on a 52-yard touchdown run.

Richt noted Florida quarterback Tim Tebow won the Heisman Trophy last year not just because his numbers were “off the chart” but also because of his “unique” style. “I think Knowshon is unique also,” Richt said, “and those kind of characteristics give you a shot.”

Richt was surprised the Moreno hurdle wasn’t featured prominently on ESPN highlights Saturday night.

“I know it’s going to make our highlights for a long time,” he said.

2. SOUTH CAROLINA’S OFFENSE IS NOT SPURRIER-LIKE

The Gamecocks scored just two touchdowns against Vanderbilt — those on drives of only 20 and 55 yards. In two games, a win over N.C. State and the loss at Vandy, the Gamecocks’ quarterbacks have thrown six interceptions and been sacked nine times.

The ol’ ball coach knows he needs to think of something.

“Two years ago, our offense was pretty good, but it ain’t been very good lately, that’s for sure,” Spurrier said Sunday. “When I had a bunch of guys running around scoring a whole bunch of points, I was a good coach. Now I don’t have a bunch of guys running around scoring a whole bunch of points, and I’m not a very good coach. And that’s just the way life is.”

3. THE NATION’S NO. 2 TEAM LOOKED A LOT BETTER THAN THE (THEN) NO. 3 TEAM

Georgia and Ohio State, ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the media and coaches’ polls last week, played Mid-American Conference opponents Saturday. No. 2 Georgia wasn’t challenged in a 56-17 win over Central Michigan, which is favored to win a third straight MAC title. No. 3 Ohio State, with star tailback Chris Wells sidelined by a foot injury, had to rally in the fourth quarter to beat Ohio University, a lesser MAC opponent, 26-14.

Both polls took note Sunday, dropping Ohio State to No. 5 and keeping Georgia No. 2. USC remained No. 1.

Ohio State, which last week got 15 first-place votes in the media poll and 10 in the coaches’ poll, drew only one in each Sunday. Without playing last week, USC gained 12 additional first-place votes from the media and 11 from the coaches. Georgia gained three additional first-place votes from the media but lost two from the coaches.

4. GEORGIA HAS A PROBLEM WITH PENALTIES.

The Bulldogs were penalized nine times for 70 yards Saturday, bringing their two-game total to 20 penalties for 140 yards. “That is the No. 1 issue for me right now,” Richt said.

Saturday, Georgia had two penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct, one for an illegal substitution and the rest for offsides or false starts.

“Those things can get you beat,” Richt said.

5. ENOUGH OF THIS. IT’S DEFINITELY TIME FOR A TEST

OK, Georgia has beaten Georgia Southern and Central Michigan by a combined 101-38. OK, those games provided a few glimpses of the team’s potential — and raised a few concerns as well. But there’s nothing more to be gleaned from games against Division I-AA or MAC opponents.

It’s time to measure Georgia against the SEC.

“We have played [teams] that don’t really have the opportunity to recruit the athletes we see on a weekly basis in our league,” Richt said Sunday. “So the jury is still out on how good we might be.”