Some post-Buffalo, pre-Missouri thoughts from one beat writer:

1. The injury and suspension situation is a pretty serious one for Georgia now. Todd Grantham may not publicly admit it, but the defense was missing something without those five first-teamers. The absences of Bacarri Rambo and Sanders Commings loom the largest in my mind, when you take into account the drop-off at their spots. We know Commings is out for the Missouri game too, and it's likely that Malcolm Mitchell will be too with his ankle injury. That means Damian Swann, Branden Smith and Devin Bowman will have to be pretty good against that spread offense at Missouri. As for the front seven, Alec Ogletree's absence was slightly less notable because Amarlo Herrera and Christian Robinson are solid, experienced replacements - but Ogletree as a run-stopper is a step above them.

2. Aaron Murray and the passing game should be just fine. It was an erratic start, but Murray is a proven commodity, and he and Tavarres King appear set to have a consistent rapport this season. Rantavious Wooten is emerging as a good deep threat too. The underneath passing game was missing against Buffalo - the tight ends didn't even make a catch - but Mike Bobo said that was because Buffalo basically stacked the middle of the field. (Hence the many long pass attempts.) Murray still needs to make sure he avoids mistakes in a big game - which Missouri is - but for what it's worth at least his mistakes against Buffalo were throwing too long. He didn't have any interceptions or fumbles, and still completed 57 percent of his passes.

3. I'm buying into the Todd Gurley hype. I know, it was just one game, and it wasn't a marquee opponent. But when you take into account the scrimmage and the preseason comments from veteran defensive players, the evidence is growing. Gurley is big, which we knew, but he also showed speed and burst, and the ability not to go down easily. This isn't to say we should build a statue to the guy yet, or even assume he'll start at Missouri. But it's not every year a freshman scores three touchdowns in his debut, including one on a 100-yard kickoff return. (Oh, and by the way, Keith Marshall didn't look too shabby either. I don't think the Bulldogs miss Isaiah Crowell right now.)

4. John Theus' injury bears worry. I would argue that between Theus and Mitchell, it's Theus whose absence would be missed most. Especially if Watts Dantzler is hurt too. The good news for Georgia is it's only an ankle sprain, and as Richt said after the game, an offensive lineman can play on that more easily than a skill player. Even if Theus is a bit hobbled at Missouri, I would venture to guess that Theus at 75 percent is better than whoever would replace him in the lineup.

5. Georgia's freshmen kickers can boom it. Now they just need to prove their accuracy. Place-kicker Marshall Morgan missed a 45-yard field goal but made a 35-yarder. But what stood out to me were his kickoffs: With the added benefit of kicking off from the 35, all but two were touchbacks, and the other two weren't returned very far. Freshman punter Colliln Barber averaged 51 yards on his two attempts, including a 57-yarder. But it was interesting that senior walk-on Adam Erickson was given the attempts in or near Buffalo territory, because the coaches feel he can place it a bit better than Barber right now.