Georgia is now a long shot to win college football’s national championship. Knowshon Moreno’s run at the Heisman Trophy has been halted. And who knows when those black jerseys will return?

It’s a different perspective this week for Mark Richt’s Bulldogs, as they try to recover from Saturday night’s 41-30 loss to Alabama. Georgia is off before hosting Tennessee on Oct. 11, a game that will be televised by CBS at 3:30 p.m.

The good news for the Bulldogs is that their difficult schedule now can pay off. If Georgia could win out, which would include defeating potentially undefeated LSU in Baton Rouge and potentially undefeated Alabama in the SEC title game, how could the Bulldogs not be ranked in the top two?

Of course, the Crimson Tide proved that the Bulldogs have tons of work to do before even thinking about the BCS picture. Here are four quick places to start:

1. ELIMINATE PENALTIES

In the 1991 Cotton Bowl, Miami mutilated Texas 46-3 despite committing 202 yards in penalties. LSU led the SEC last year in flags and won the national title.

Good teams often rack up penalties because of their aggressive play, but timing does have its role. Penalties had been a nagging issue at Georgia through four games but became a full-blown migraine after the Bulldogs were penalized for 51 yards on Alabama’s first two offensive possessions.

A roughing-the-passer flag on linebacker Akeem Dent on the Tide’s first drive negated a Glen Coffee fumble that was recovered by safety CJ Byrd.

“We’ve got to play smarter,” Byrd said. “We’ve said all along that was going to come back and bite us in the butt, and it did. We’ve got to learn how to fix that.”

The Bulldogs have committed 53 penalties, which is tops nationally, and are flagged for 87.4 yards a game. Apply that average against Moreno’s rushing average, and Moreno would have 10.4 yards a game.

“I’ve got to send a stronger message than we’ve sent to this point,” Richt said. “That’s probably my No. 1 priority right now.”

2. DEVELOP A RUSH

John Parker Wilson became Alabama’s all-time passing leader (6,398 yards) Saturday when he completed a 29-yard throw to Roy Upchurch with just over four minutes remaining. He was rewarded Monday as the SEC offensive player of the week.

Was Wilson that good? Certainly. Was he pressed? Certainly not.

“He had a lot of time,” Richt said, “and we never got him in many third-and-long situations.”

The Bulldogs have 11 sacks through five games, with 3.5 of those coming from the end position. Defensive ends coach Jon Fabris recently said stats aren’t awarded for “almost getting there,” and he assuredly will use this off week to enhance that area.

Defensive ends were plagued by injuries in August but not so much now, so there is time for the Bulldogs to develop somebody at that spot.

3. IMPROVE THE LINE

Georgia’s offensive line came together during the open date last year and was fantastic in the 42-30 win over Florida. A repeat isn’t out of the question, considering line coach Stacy Searels is among the best in the country.

There definitely has been more shuffling this season among the starting five.

“We’re not as far off as some people might think,” Richt said. “We are young, and you get inconsistent performances when you have young players.”

4. STAY HEALTHY

The Bulldogs, who lost top offensive tackle Trinton Sturdivant before the season and top defensive tackle Jeff Owens early in the opener, can’t afford many more setbacks. Starting tight end Tripp Chandler may be out for three weeks, which could lead to five freshmen starting against Tennessee.

Moreno (elbow) and quarterback Matthew Stafford (head) weren’t feeling too good Saturday, so who knows how they will respond?

“We’ve got to find a way and try to beat Tennessee,” Richt said. “That’s really all that we can concern ourselves with right now. We’re just battling like mad now just to try and win the Eastern Division.”

Photo by Mark E. Johnson

Georgia football coach Mark Richt is hoping to have fewer conversations with officials during the second half of the season.