Crowell had issues but replacing him not easy for Georgia
Isaiah Crowell was a headache, but he was an impact player on field. (Brant Sanderlin/AJC)
ATHENS – Notwithstanding all of the words that have been spewed or written about Isaiah Crowell – some factual, some imagined by the ScreaminDawg39s on message boards — since he was summarily dismissed from Georgia, one thing is undeniable:
He was good. Really good.
It’s easy to forget that. Many would rather talk about Crowell’s perceived lack of dedication, or his immaturity, or that he was soft. (It’s rare that even Vince Dooley calls you out.) Let’s assume all that were true. What does it say that Crowell still ran for 850 yards and five touchdowns in little more than 10 full games and was named the SEC’s freshman of the year?
It follows that when Georgia opened practice Thursday, there should’ve been no reason to celebrate Crowell’s absence. He left a void. If the Bulldogs don’t lack talent at running back, they at least lack certainty at the position and they may lack greatness.
Georgia is favored to win the SEC East Division largely because of its defense and quarterback Aaron Murray. But its chances of winning the conference championship and competing for a national title hinge on two things: 1) The offensive line, which was an issue even before Thursday’s news that projected starting right tackle Kolton Houston remains ineligible after testing positive for a banned substance from 2010; 2) A running back finding room to run even when there’s little or no room there.
Great running backs can hide the deficiencies of an offensive line, just as a great line can make a running back look better than he really is.
The Dogs were average up front last year. They have only two starters back. Nobody is getting ready to scream, “Hogs!”
“One of our biggest challenges this camp is to put together our starting five,” coach Mark Richt said Thursday.
Freshman Keith Marshall is probably Georgia's best hope for an impact running back this season. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
Those generally aren’t comforting words four weeks before a season opener.
Nor should anybody feel good about the term “running back by committee.” Yes, as Richt pointed out, it worked for LSU last season. But LSU linemen look like transfers from nearby meat freezers.
Crowell was dismissed after a felony gun arrest and transferred to Alabama State. Last year’s No. 2 tailback Carlton Thomas (suspended three times) left the program with an intent to transfer.
The year before, troubled starting back Washaun Ealey was granted his release (Richt then: “We both have come to the conclusion that a transfer to another institution would be in his best interest.”) and Caleb King (multiple suspensions) was ruled academically ineligible and left.
So this makes two consecutive years that Georgia has lost its two most productive tailbacks from the season before for reasons other than the NFL, or graduating with honors.
Richt hopes freshmen Keith Marshall and Todd Gurley can have an impact early. Maybe senior Richard Samuel and sophomore Ken Malcome also can contribute. But understand: Running back by committee shouldn’t be celebrated, any more than platooning quarterbacks. If one guy was considered exceptional, he would start.
Samuel, who may wind up at fullback, acknowledged: “Isaiah is a real talent. It’s difficult not having somebody of that ability on the field. But Keith and Todd bring something different as far as a running style. … It’s a slight concern. But we have faith in those young guys.”
Richt said he is counting on not only the line coming together but his quarterback checking into and out of the right play and formation. As for Crowell, the coach is doing his best to minimize the perception that the player’s loss will have a significant impact.
“You know what? These guys are pretty talented, too,” he said. “And there’s a lot of talented running backs. Just look across America.”
Georgia just needs one to become a difference maker. But even with Crowell’s baggage, understand that he was better than most.
By Jeff Schultz
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313 comments Add your comment
Wilson Pickett
August 3rd, 2012
10:01 am
No Coach in America could have saved Crowell from what he is. None. Saban would have given him a chance to produce as a player and a person but he would be gone from Bama as well. If your plan to get a player is to kiss his azz then expect to continue that same plan in order to keep him.
Please stop your RB by committee BS using LSU as the example for your 4 backs aren’t near the level of LSU. Perhaps you UGA fans might do something different in 2012 and that is stop running your mouth until your team actually beat someone that has beaten somebody. Just a thought.
This stuff in Miami is going to get gooder as it goes. The recruiting CO Hill resigned today.
DIT
August 3rd, 2012
10:05 am
I guess I’m behind on the latest news. What happened in Miami?
chazzo
August 3rd, 2012
10:08 am
Wilson Picket,
You seem really upset, man. Chill out. No one is doing you any harm. Relax. It’s okay.
We are merely discussing that the impact of losing Crowell is greater than reported.
I agree with Schultz on this one. I also hope Crowell can turn his life around.
I think without Crowell there is still potential for a productive running game.
UGA Insider
August 3rd, 2012
10:16 am
Boo is the best we have and played a damn good game against Michigan State. He should be a 1000 yard runner easily.
UGA Insider
August 3rd, 2012
10:19 am
By the way, I reported here on Monday that Houston was out and many of you scoffed. I also said CMR would make a statement soon.
Time
August 3rd, 2012
10:39 am
Hey, it’s a slow news day, let’s drag up Crowell and take advantage of that kid and whatever mistakes he’s made so we can have another blog full of Tech and Bama trolls posting 10 pages of anti-UGA drivel. Classic.
UGA will be fine at RB even without IC. It is my opinion it was a rush to judgement to run him out. Cops ALWAYS drag out the “I smelled weed” thing anytime they pull someone over when they know they don’t have a valid reason to have even pulled the guy over in the first place. I’ve seen no evidence presented that it was in fact Crowell’s gun. Watch as this case ends up getting dropped, Crowell ends up at LSU and comes back to haunt us.
Sad Richards
August 3rd, 2012
10:39 am
Well in few more days I suspect we will be hearing about how the ole injury bug will deplete the football team and our hopes again this year. Its the same ole same ole with cmr.
ARdawg
August 3rd, 2012
10:43 am
chazzo
You usually post some good stuff and on the mark. Maybe your latest one here is a bit off though. IMHO, Crowell had the production he had last year Because basically he was the only one there to get it. I disagree with Schultzie, he won’t be missed from the standpoint of there being 4 highly capable guys to perform as IC did.
I wish the kid well at AST. Maybe he’ll fix himself and go on to greater things but UGA won’t miss him
Gamecockrock
August 3rd, 2012
10:59 am
Yep, they don’t make many Lattimores and with USC ’s solid OL and D, it’s why they beat UGA and win the East. UGA loses to USC, MIzzou, UF and Auburn. Going to be a tough year for Richt.
khaki-wearing effiminate UGA fan
August 3rd, 2012
11:24 am
Congrats on arrest # 51! On to 100!
Its Me Again Ethel
August 3rd, 2012
11:35 am
It all started about guns. People in law enforcement and colleges want to do away with the 2nd ammendment. They pass law restricting guns so anyone can be guilty of possessing a firearm. I dont care about Crowell but I do care about laws restricting firearms.
JaxDawg
August 3rd, 2012
11:50 am
When IC came to the sidelines in the sec championship game after missing a block and CMR was giving him a earful, he just turned his back on CMR and walked away. That shows a total lack of respect to the coaches and team at any level.I think we will be better off without him.
Dawg Done Gone
August 3rd, 2012
12:21 pm
It would be nice to have running backs with character and upbringing like Samuel. Dawgs sign too many thugs like Crowell and Ealey. First question to a high school player should be are you a thug?
Dawg Done Gone
August 3rd, 2012
12:25 pm
Guns dont kill people. Idiots that have guns use them yo kill people. Ive got 25 guns and they just sit in a safe.
Buckeye
August 3rd, 2012
12:29 pm
Oh Isaiah, The Annoited One II, we hardly knew thee…………………
Buckeye
August 3rd, 2012
12:30 pm
I hear a number of you dogs are meeting at Chick Fil A’s today.
Sharkman
August 3rd, 2012
12:41 pm
Isaiah who???
AuburnCreed
August 3rd, 2012
12:52 pm
THuga’s not favored to win the east because of Murray or their defense! Get real!!
They’re favored once again because only THuga could draw the easiest SEC schedule in history FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS IN A ROW! They’ll still lose to south carolina, they’ll lose at Mizzou because 80% of the defense is suspended for drug use and other crimial (thug) activity, and they’ll lose at Auburn this year because whether mutt fans want to admit it or not, Gene Chizik and staff have outrecruited THuga for the best talent and will be ready right last year’s wrong in athens.
5150 UOAD
August 3rd, 2012
1:04 pm
I wish we had some players at Tech that reporters could talk about…the fastest boys at Tech are those running from us in Piedmont Park!
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
August 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
Mr. Isaiah Crowell should be the Bulldog’s starting tailback in 2012 and 2013. The fool cop who who stop him, failed to mention that no drugs were even found ion the vehicle. If there was no drugs in the vehicle why did the idiot stop the vehicle anyway? And did anyone run the fingerprints on the “alledged weapon” to see whose fingerprints were on the “alledged weapon” Something is screwed up here. No drugs! No Fingerprints! There was nothing to this case and UGA should apologized to Mr. Crowell and ask him to come and play tailback for them.UGA should let the players play and tell the UGA police to mind their own business!
Mandingo
August 3rd, 2012
1:18 pm
By all accounts , Georgia has a soft SEC schedule to play. If they win their side of the division or put on a good show it should be more than enough for the drunken fan base.
lawzoo
August 3rd, 2012
1:26 pm
Carolina has Marcus Lattimore. He’s a good example of the program Steve Spurrier has at Carolina.
Isaiah Crowell and Michael Dwyer are good examples of Richt and Cheezit’s programs at Ga. and Auburn.
Of course with $cam Newton…Student- Athelete the Opelika crowd is in another underworld by themselves..
Alphare
August 3rd, 2012
1:50 pm
if 3 is a pattern, UGA RB’s have a pattern.
PG
August 3rd, 2012
2:08 pm
The first installment of the continued series ” Excuses, Excuses”
‘
All Bark, No Bite
Boise Dawg
August 3rd, 2012
2:14 pm
The question is… are we better off at running back today than we were a year ago? I think the answer is definitely yes. Obviously we have no idea how the season is going to play out and how our current running backs will perform, but we had that same uncertainty going into last season. And despite Crowell’s production (850 yards), I can’t recall very many big games that he took over. He certaintly wasn’t a difference maker in any of our 4 losses. He was talented no doubt, but despite the good news coming out of the Spring about his attitude improvements, there were no guarantees Crowell would have been a superstar this year, had he not gotten booted off the team.
kingdaddy
August 3rd, 2012
2:41 pm
UGA should have a nice mix of run and pass this year. We will know by the Missouri game. Two weeks into the season, we will know one way or the other. Good or Bad, we’ll know pretty quickly…
They'll do just fine without, never you mind mister
August 3rd, 2012
2:59 pm
I say it was more of a down year for candidates of SEC freshman of the year, last year, than it was a completely deserved honor for Crowell.
Reebok
August 3rd, 2012
2:59 pm
This year is Georgia’s window of opportunity…Tennessee and Florida down, South Carolina pretty good but with a much tougher schedule. Georgia can lose to S Carolina and once more in-conference and still make it to the SEC Championship, because Florida and S Carolina will both have at least 3 losses.
They'll do just fine without, never you mind mister
August 3rd, 2012
3:01 pm
Still bringing up Ealey and King? Jeez
Like a woman that brings up something from years ago in an argument!
CJ
August 3rd, 2012
3:02 pm
Jeff,
I agree. running back by committee has never worked for Mark Richt. We have averaged 7th-10th in the SEC in rushing the last 3 years platooning backs.
Platooning has other big flaws:
1- It limits practice & game reps severely, so backs don’t learn how to passblock or run schemes in practice platooning with 4 others
2- They don’t get in a rhythm out there during a game either.
3- Non merit based Platooning always results in transfers–Ealey & Thomas both asked to be transferred due to not being rewarded for being the #1 producer.
4- It hurts run production, say you have a guy who get 3 yards a carry like Samuel getting 20 carries, and then a guy like Thomas who gets 5 ypc also getting 20 carries, means you left 40 rushing yards PER GAME on the BENCH.
5- Rotating in a guy who Richt perceives to be a slighly better passblocker like Samuel on 3rd down is odd, considering Thomas averaged 8 ypc on 3rd down, compared to 2 ypc for Samuel on 3rd down. so it’s also costing you maybe 4-6 3rd down conversions and 1st downs PER GAME.
2 other flaws in Richt’s current rush game approach:
1- Picking lineman based off of who’s the better PASSBLOCKER, results in guys who don’t RUNBLOCK as well. LSU and Bama do the OPPOSITE.
2- You don’t put a tight end who can catch and is too tall to meet people shoulder pad level in at fullback, that’s just plain dumb. Why Figgins was playing fullback, I’ll never understand unless it was because they liked his passblocking skills. He couldn’t catch, and he couldn’t run block.
Mark Richt just doesn’t understand the rushing part of offense.
They'll do just fine without, never you mind mister
August 3rd, 2012
3:05 pm
Tell us about all the OL that haven’t panned out due to injuries throughout the last few years while your at it Jeff.
Since you’re bringing up other old, meaningless crap, that doesn’t have anything to do with this team going forward.
Or how about……never mind, you should get the point by now.
gt4ever
August 3rd, 2012
3:08 pm
Sorry Kingdaddy, not trolling but the facts are fairly evident. UGA recruits as well as any program in the country. UGA also has a discipline problem… Mr. Richt has NEVER been a big disciplinarian, and of course he has proven that way back at FSU through his UGA tenure. No surprise there… Sorry if the facts bother you, and it’s not meant as an attack… A little jab, but NO attack.
I even conceded that my Jackets are not in the same league, which is plain to see…
let's get a few practices in please
August 3rd, 2012
3:11 pm
Jeff, do you play role reversal and argue with your wife about something she said or did years ago?
kiss my you know what
August 3rd, 2012
3:15 pm
Funny how it was Richt’s team at FSU when talking about negative crap…..not Bobby Bowdens?
And was it his team when they were winning championships? Probably not to all the haters.
hypocrites
5150 UOAD
August 3rd, 2012
3:19 pm
Dawgs should like this.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=431374960238090&set=o.403704969677563&type=1&theater
5150 UOAD
August 3rd, 2012
3:22 pm
FSU was NEVER Richt’s team, but there were plenty of Rccht recruited players at FSU that got in trouble.
gt4ever
August 3rd, 2012
3:24 pm
Some of these dawgs are like flowers…. Very fragile, and very sensitive…
Clayday
August 3rd, 2012
3:27 pm
I can remember very clearly in the past we had an nfl RB, QB, WR’s and touted OL but still underacheived. Maybe these guys will step up and play like champions.
?
August 3rd, 2012
3:56 pm
Exactly when was the last time UGA lost any starting tailback to “graduated with honors”? Just as likely they lose one to alien abduction. Do UGA tailbacks even know that there is a university in Athens?
DawgNole
August 3rd, 2012
4:08 pm
gt4ever
August 3rd, 2012
3:08 pm
Mr. Richt has NEVER been a big disciplinarian, and of course he has proven that way back at FSU through his UGA tenure.
____________________
Ignorant statement. As OC at FSU, he was NOT in charge of discipline, so his FSU years have nothing to do with the discipline issues at UGA. Wise up.
5150 UOAD
August 3rd, 2012
4:12 pm
dWagHole……plenty of the Players RICHT recruited to FSU were trouble makers on those teams over the years.
DawgNole
August 3rd, 2012
4:22 pm
5150 UOAD
August 3rd, 2012
4:12 pm
dWagHole……plenty of the Players RICHT recruited to FSU were trouble makers on those teams over the years.
___________________
The players Richt recruited at FSU more than a decade ago have nothing to do with the discipline problems UGA is encountering today. You’re reaching, and you’re failing–again.
5150 UOAD
August 3rd, 2012
4:29 pm
dWagHole….not reaching explaining what the guy the guys post about Richt and his lack of discipline around his entire coaching career. From Playing in MIAMI all the way to UGa Richt has NEVER seem a Clean & Disciplined program.
Richt is only doing what he learned.
Ryan Bailey Howard
August 3rd, 2012
4:37 pm
Isaiah will be missed. Not by me, but others will.
Dewnsav
August 3rd, 2012
4:40 pm
Crowell was very good…O line killed UGA last year…that being said, Crowell had to go…and all those spouting off about the “players” Richt recruits, they are the same “players” everone else recruits…and if you think there isn’t more of this behavior going on at other schools, you have your head in the sand…and no, I don’t have proof…cannot have proof if it is not reported…just my opinion
BILLY JACK
August 3rd, 2012
5:00 pm
Nobody could of saved this kid-time to move on.
DawgNole
August 3rd, 2012
5:28 pm
5150 UOAD
August 3rd, 2012
4:29 pm
dWagHole….not reaching explaining what the guy the guys post about Richt and his lack of discipline around his entire coaching career. From Playing in MIAMI all the way to UGa Richt has NEVER seem a Clean & Disciplined program.
Richt is only doing what he learned.
____________________
He recruits from the same talent pool that his coaching counterparts recruit from–mostly in the South, with occasional ventures outside the region. He generally recruits well, based on recruiting class rankings, but the team simply hasn’t been able to ride the talent he’s brought in to a national championship.
As a college football fan, I loathe the seemingly never-ending off-field issues–especially those encountered by FSU and UGA. I expect they’ll continue, unfortunately, until teams are willing to trade speed for character–and I certainly don’t see that happening in my lifetime.
Brian
August 3rd, 2012
5:45 pm
UGAs schedule is soft. #6 in the country? What a joke. To be able to sniff the arses of the likes of LSU and Alabama is a joke. UGA isnt in the same class as those 2 programs. With a normal schedule, UGA wouldnt be Top 25.
GT
August 3rd, 2012
5:57 pm
Marshal is good, just the press working with the athletic department again to take pressure off this kid. The offense doesn’t like to run it isn’t flashy enough, but when they do this team is a different kind of cat. If Georgia ran more they would be a better football team. That is how the play against Tech, but not the SEC teams. Spurrier and LSU plays with their minds they come out firing when grinding would do the job.
Marvin Mangrum
August 3rd, 2012
6:00 pm
Gods honest truth, Crowell is nothing but a boy, he was a boy in High School, he was a boy in college, he was a boy playing football. Get over it, if he were a man he would have rushed for many, many more yards but he barely got 900. Girly boy, would be gangster boy. What a loser! In case you are hard of hearing WHAT A LOSER! Been watching em over 50 years, only one great runner! Thats the shame!