Should Georgia rest Crowell against Tech for SEC title game?
Isaiah Crowell had only two carries against Kentucky before leaving. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
This is not to short-change the Georgia-Georgia Tech rivalry in any way. Whichever school wins the annual game owns 12 months of bragging rights — or to be more precise, mocking and taunting rights.
But no matter how big the Tech game is to Georgia, the potential LSU game next week is bigger. Ten years from now, whether the Bulldogs won an SEC championship in 2011 will carry far more weight than whether they defeated the Jackets, rivalry banter notwithstanding.
That’s why Georgia coach Mark Richt has to answer a difficult question this week: Should the Dogs rest running back Isaiah Crowell against Tech?
The Bulldogs have to believe they have a chance to win the SEC championship because, even if they’re a heavy underdog to LSU or Alabama, it’s not far-fetched to believe they can win one game in the Georgia Dome. But without a reasonably healthy Crowell — and with Carlton Thomas lost in a blur of suspensions — the running game takes a hit.
Richt says he expects Crowell to play despite ankle issues. Crowell has battled health issues much of the season but a sprained ankle is particularly problematic. Ankles are slow healing, and seeing Crowell pulled after two carries against Kentucky set off alarms.
Sitting Crowell against Tech is a risk. Richt would run the risk of hurting Georgia’s chances to beat Tech, especially if the Jackets can run and control the clock and keep quarterback Aaron Murray and his receivers on the sideline. But if the SEC championship is bigger, shouldn’t the plan this week be made with next week in mind?
What are your thoughts on this subject? Should Crowell be rested this week? Or should the thought process be: Go all out to beat Tech and worry about next week after this game?
By Jeff Schultz
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887 comments Add your comment
monty
November 21st, 2011
11:52 pm
Don’t know what to make of these young men, if he’s the real deal he could be set for life financially if he gets his head screwed on. But I think it’s all about being “cool” for all your homeys. Get rid of the dreds, keep your nose clean and collect millions of dollars or just hang out with your posse whose going nowhere and be cool and dig ditches when you realize you have to actually work for a living.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:52 pm
YES, save him for the ONLY game UGA plays. Crowell will help UGA beat whoever in the SEC CG like he did against USC and BOISE St.
Richt loses to TECH with or without Crowell he is back on the hot seat and would HAVE to BEAT whoever in the DOME to save his and Bobo’s job for sure.
~GT FAN~
November 21st, 2011
11:52 pm
Talks cheap. Go Jackets!
Tdawg
November 21st, 2011
11:52 pm
Oh yea he needs to play. Georgia cannot afford to lose this game either. Losing to Tech would hurt. Losing to both Tech and LSU would be dishearting. We need to beat Tech, so nothing less than a total team effort should be expected. If Crowell can walk a lick, his rear in needs to be on that field.
Jamie
November 21st, 2011
11:52 pm
As a Tech fan, I’m worried about Georgia’s receivers- they are really good. However, I think if we don’t fumble it away like last year, we won’t have to throw it much. We should be able to outscore them since we have the game in Atlanta! Go Jackets!
John
November 21st, 2011
11:52 pm
If the Dawgs are favored to win this game, then the odds makers believe that they are the better team, period. It is up to both teams to either prove them right or wrong. GO DAWGS!!!
llf
November 21st, 2011
11:53 pm
@ I Jones: Well said.
Dawglasville
November 21st, 2011
11:53 pm
Heeeeeeell no. When Tech wins I’m sick for 364 days. It’s just a lot more peaceful when the Dawgs win.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:54 pm
Crowell the Bo Derek of the UGA sideline. He looks so good running on the sidelines with his dreads flowing in the wind. Problem he has to step between the white lines to pay the bills.
kerryb
November 21st, 2011
11:54 pm
Your D-line averages 289 lbs against UGA’s which averages 329 lbs. The largest in football NFL or college. Your D-line is going to get smashed so it won’t matter whose running the ball. Our D-line averages 322 lbs. You will not move them off the line with your small O-line which equals dive play shut down which is your bread and butter play. Your QB is not a good enough thrower to throw against UGA’s experienced secondary. That so called top offense is about to get shut down cold like everyone else.
Shultz
November 21st, 2011
11:54 pm
@Jamie…..hey sport, the nerds havent been able to outscore us in atlanta in quite sometime……lol moron
Jan
November 21st, 2011
11:55 pm
A much-improved defense will be on the field this year for the Dogs and their defense is really bad. Dawgs win by 10. 9 out of 10, 42-34 and soon to be Johnson’s third loss in a row against UGA.
1962 DAWG
November 21st, 2011
11:56 pm
Vegas line came out giving Tech and 5.5 By game time this spread will probably be down to 1 with Tech being at home.
UGA’s D is pretty good but, this Tech offense will be the best UGA’s faced all season long.
Which ever team does the best job of hanging onto the ball will win.
Tech usually wins the time of posession but, UGA kept the ball 41 to 19 vs Auburn so we’ll see on saturday.
As far as resting Crowell saving him for the SECCG? Hell no. He didn’t come to UGA to sit on the bench, if he’s healthy put him in coach.
kerryb
November 21st, 2011
11:56 pm
Doesn’t matter if the game is in Atlanta, it’s still in G E O R G I A.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:57 pm
kerryb………….so Tech will be like a flea f…king an elephant right? LOL
Jamie
November 21st, 2011
11:57 pm
Shultz, Georgia has a good chance to beat us, because of our stupid defense, but IF we hold on to the ball, we have a good chance to win.
5150 UOAD
November 21st, 2011
11:59 pm
I am frying some twinkies and bringing them to the game. i am going to throw then at Crowell. I know after he gets the smell of just one of them he will be out of the game and headed to the locker room for a TOKE OUT Munchie fest. LOL
dtc
November 21st, 2011
11:59 pm
If, we are going to win only one of the two, play him against Tech. Even if we win the SEC CG, we will not play for NC. So, to shut Tech up, play IC against them, see how he does and sit him down if he is not working out. Otherwise, we will not hear the end of the buzz for another year. With an ankle injury, if he is not ready Saturday, it is not likely he will be ready the next week either. Go Dawgs!
dtc
November 21st, 2011
11:59 pm
If, we are going to win only one of the two, play him against Tech. Even if we win the SEC CG, we will not play for NC. So, to shut Tech up, play IC against them, see how he does and sit him down if he is not working out. Otherwise, we will not hear the end of the buzz for another year. With an ankle injury, if he is not ready Saturday, it is not likely he will be ready the next week either. Go Dawgs!
kerryb
November 21st, 2011
11:59 pm
All of you talking about Tech’s time of possession give it up. You might have some success but UGA’s defense has been getting off the field on 3rd down all year. One of the top teams at that.
Jeff Schultz
November 21st, 2011
11:59 pm
Anybody who makes Larry Munson “joke” will be banned. I can’t make it any more clear than that. A man just died. Have some respect people.
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:00 am
Thanks Jeff.
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:01 am
I guess some Tech fans want to show how classless they are.
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
12:02 am
I got the Message JEFF.
If Crowell does play the Tech Defensive players need to pull a DAWG on him. You know do like UGA did to Nesbitt! When Crowell is in the pile TWIST his leg & ankle as much as you can.
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:03 am
Going to be hard to twist Crowell’s leg when they’re lying on their backs.
Dawglasville
November 22nd, 2011
12:04 am
We play in 5 days. All of that talk about conferences, and strength of schedule, and who beat who by what – means nada. The best team in the state for 2011 will be decided on Grant Field. All of this other stuff in just yah-yah.
Dawglasville
November 22nd, 2011
12:04 am
Thanks Jeff.
Jacketss
November 22nd, 2011
12:05 am
Like I said, I won’t post that stuff anymore, my bad Jeff.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
12:05 am
Your D-line averages 289 lbs against UGA’s which averages 329 lbs. The largest in football NFL or college.
This same exact argument was used before the Boise St game. You saw how that turned out. I’m not convinced that having all enormous guys on the offensive line is necessarily a good thing. If it was then every NFL team would do it.
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:06 am
GTBob, Tech is not Boise State. I believe they have a 10 times better QB than you do.
Tommy
November 22nd, 2011
12:06 am
Nice of you to hide behind your computer screen Jacketss. Typical Tech fan
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:07 am
You also forget that most NFL teams have a lot larger D-line than you do.
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
12:07 am
kerryb……………you know there is no CLASS this week no matter what. UGA and GT fans will show Little class during the season, but NOW you expect either to be CLASSY?
@kerryb………….you know we have had good REAL conversations. it just happens after all the Vitriol from the days games are over and the blogs lose the lunatic fringe.
Bee Good and you know most of this is really just in fun and anger at the ghost of the past games not real people.
baddawg
November 22nd, 2011
12:09 am
Shouldn’t Samuel be back for the SEC title game?
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:11 am
Having no class in football banter is okay sometimes. Having no class making jokes when another human being has just died is completely classless and moronic.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
12:12 am
GTBob, Tech is not Boise State. I believe they have a 10 times better QB than you do.
What does that have to do with Boise St’s defensive line or UGA’s offensive line? UGA is 34th in the country in rushing and 76th in sacks allowed. What is that massive offensive line really doing for you?
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:13 am
You are judging what you are facing on the first 2 games of the year. Unfortunately for Tech this is a completely different team than when the season first started.
Lamar
November 22nd, 2011
12:13 am
I think Richt should pull this kids scholarship! There is no way he can excuse all the problems he has. In the Auburn game he had a contusion, a small cut on his leg and he stayed out of the game for about 1.5 quarters. Then he saw Thomas having a big game and all of a sudden his leg was well enough to come back in! Question?, did his leg heal in about 20 minutes of football? Hell no! Translation, he did not want to play until he wanted to. I see another Ealey or King on the team and as soon as Richt can he better get some Rb’s that want to play. This kid is a HUGE problem that we do not need. He for sure is not a team player. Team players have to be made sit out, not pull yourself because you hurt a little., Hell all the guys get banged up, you just have to grin and bear it! GO DAWGS!
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
12:14 am
There is a LEVEL of Anonymity that helps the VITRIOL grow on the Blogs. We say things we wouldn’t say if we knew our customers, bosses, employees, friends, and family knew it was US. At times Dawgs and Jackets find the common ground and chat with respect. We actually find that we don’t Hate each other. We disagree and don’t like the others team, but on a personal level we are not all that bad. This week is one of those weeks for sure where we will not find much common ground or be respectful of one another. It is what it is. Maybe the Players should watch all the bloggers suit up and play a few games on Friday. We could talk all our crap and take some hits too. Do it like wrestling or boxing and have GT v UGA blogger weight & age class football teams to play games. now we could all have fun with that.
NCDawg
November 22nd, 2011
12:14 am
No way in hell… the Dawgs got here by taking the attitude that EVERY game is important… that the NEXT game is a must win. The negative impetus of losing to Tech far out weighs the possibility of an injury. I think Crowell will be ready to go and the Dawgs will be aiming to CRUSH Tech if for no other reason than to build momentum. Plus there is a remote possibility of playing for the national championship if the stars line up correctly. Lose to Tech and that is toast. 12-2 is much better than 11-3.
kerryb
November 22nd, 2011
12:17 am
Lamar, have you played TB in the SEC? No one gets banged up more than a TB in the SEC. You are judging when you have no idea what you are talking about. I think he has done pretty good for a true freshman. The kid is 18 years old and hasn’t experienced this kind of beating before. Give him a year in the S & C program and you’ll see a different player next year.
GTBob
November 22nd, 2011
12:22 am
The kid is 18 years old and hasn’t experienced this kind of beating before.
Didn’t he sit out a lot of his senior year of HS because of injury issues?
Richt should.....
November 22nd, 2011
12:24 am
just concede the game by playing 2nd and 3rd stringers. That would drive the tech faithful off a cliff.
Dr. Morpheus
November 22nd, 2011
12:28 am
For the record, many GT fans as well as fans of UF, Alabama and others have been very respectful in comments about Larry Munson on UGA blogs. Only a small minority have embarrassed their teams like Jacketss and Vol Fan did above. That said, I recently read a quote by an NFL vet who said that showing up for your rookie camp is the last time you’ll feel completely well during you pro career. IC needs to study Jarvis Jones…
5150 UOAD
November 22nd, 2011
12:30 am
The One play I think can make HUGE gains is the pass to the B-back in the middle of the field. The PROBLEM is Tevin’s tendency to FLOAT that pass. If he puts some ZIp on it just oget the DB or OLB’s head it can be a HUGE gainer or TD. If Tevin Floats it Rambo will Pick 6 it.
James
November 22nd, 2011
12:31 am
@SMITTYSTHEMAN
Spoken like a true Tech fan.
ISaidit
November 22nd, 2011
12:31 am
Malcome said he works with the first team
With Isaiah Crowell nursing an injured ankle and Carlton Thomas’ status in question after last Saturday’s suspension, redshirt freshman Ken Malcome said Monday he received most of the reps with the first team offense.
Malcome said. “My first game actually playing (against Kentucky), I got a good feeling of what to expect against an SEC team. I’m still the same person, I’m not going to let one game change the way I am. I’m just going to keep working harder and do what they tell me to do. To beat Georgia Tech I’ll lay down my life.”
Well let’s hope you dont have to lay down your life but just hold onto the football!
Go dawgs!
reality check
November 22nd, 2011
12:34 am
We HAVE to BEAT tech. That’s a must win and the next game. Play’em one at a time. A 10-2 team going to the SEC is impressive and then let the chips fall where they may.
Go DAWGS! Wreck Tech
Paul in NH
November 22nd, 2011
12:34 am
kerryb
November 21st, 2011
11:07 pm
Reality, not worried in the least little bit. You will not run on this defense. No one else has.
——–
That must certainly be news to Marcus Lattimore and to Vandy.
James
November 22nd, 2011
12:34 am
@GT Fan
Now tell us what you think Georgia will do against Tech..Georgia may very well get boat raced by the team from the west in the championship game but Tech will sitting home that weekend.