A clue to what’s been missing in Dogs’ running game
Nobody at UGA worked harder than Thomas Brown. (Associated Press)
While a lot of fingers have pointed at departed Georgia assistant coach Stacy Searels’ underperforming offensive line as a big reason for the Dogs’ running game being only the 10th best in the SEC this past season, there obviously was more to it than that.
The fact that thanks to injuries and disciplinary problems Georgia rarely had both its top two running backs, Washaun Ealey and Caleb King, playing in the same game was a factor. As was Mike Bobo’s tendency to abandon the ground attack for long stretches and his insistence on trying to run Carlton Thomas up the middle at inopportune moments in close games.
But at times there also seemed to be something lacking in the effort of the backs themselves. Rarely did you see Ealey or King break tackles.
And I think maybe you can get an inkling into why that was the case from comments made Friday by former Georgia tailback Thomas Brown, who’s joined the new strenth and conditioning staff under Joe Tereshinski.
The diminutive Brown, who battled for playing time with Danny Ware, Kregg Lumpkin and Knowshon Moreno, played like he was much bigger than he was thanks to his phenomenal strength and competitiveness. In talking with the media about the decline in the Bulldogs’ strength and conditioning in the three seasons since he departed, he said: “I think you can solve most problems with more competition. I think that’s one of the biggest things that’s different from when I was here as a player and here now.
“When I came in, I was highly recruited, the No. 1-rated running back in the state of Georgia, No. 3 or 4 in the nation. I came in, I was No. 7 on a depth chart of eight running backs. I had to compete, and I think that kind of makes guys raise their level of expectations. I think it’s harder for guys to be motivated when they know they’re kind of guaranteed to play. So I think … bringing in guys to compete with those guys will make everybody a lot better.”
That fits in with what Blair Walsh said after the Liberty Bowl disaster about some of the players on the team having a sense of entitlement. Ealey runs his mouth a lot and King thinks he’s too cool for school, but rarely has either looked like the hardest-working back in the game.
Whether or not Georgia signs Isaiah Crowell, that’s got to change if the Dogs are going to consistently run the ball in the SEC.
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480 comments Add your comment
Bill Goldberg
January 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm
Enough abotu Ealey. Is anyone concerned about how Murray got progressively worse as the season went on? I am. At the end of the season he looked clueless, held the ball too long, and was very indecisive which caused turnovers or our offense to stall.
You can’t blame Bobo, if you don’t have the players!
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
12:54 pm
Lattimore fumbled in a bowl game and got knocked out of the game with a tackle.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 22nd, 2011
12:55 pm
DUH:
SEEMS AS IF BOBO CALLED SOME PRETTY GOOD RUN PLAYS WITH KNOWSHON MORENO…DUDE, THEY RUNNING THE SAME PLAYS, ITS THE ATHLETES RUNNING THEM AND DOING THE BLOCKING THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE…WHERE DID YOU GET YOUR COACHING DEGREE TO BE ABLE TO MAKE A JUDGMENT ON AN OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR’S PLAY CALLING? YOU SIT IN THE STANDS LIKE A LOT OF OTHER REDNECKS AND IF THE PLAY WORKS, IT WAS A GREAT CALL…IF THE PLAY DON’T WORK, IT’S COACH BOBO’S DAMN FAULT…THAT IS THE SIMPLETON’S ANSWER TO EVERYTHING FOOTBALL, IF IT DON’T WORK, JUST BLAME THE COACHES…EVERY OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR ARE GONNA GO THROUGH GAMES WHERE IT JUST DON’T HAPPEN, ESPECIALLY IN THE SEC…ALABAMA COULD HAVE BEATEN AUBURN IN THE FIRST HALF, BUT THEY GET DOWN INSIDE THE 10 YARD LINE TWICE AND START THROWING THE BALL BOTH TIMES WITH 2 HEISMAN LIKE BACKS IN THE BACKFIELD…NOW IT SEEMS LIKE A BAD DECISION SINCE ONE ENDED IN A FIELD GOAL AND THE OTHER ENDED WITH ALL WORLD FAIRLEY SACKING THE BAMA QB AND RECOVERING THE BALL…BUT IF THEY HAD THROWN A TD PASS, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT CALL….CAN’T WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE PLAY TO DECIDE WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD CALL OR NOT, CAUSE THEN EVERYBODY WITH A BRAIN KNOWS…THOSE THAT WORK ARE GOOD, THOSE THAT DON’T WORK ARE BAD…
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
12:57 pm
Tony,
That is the stupidest thing I have ever seen anyone write on here. I’m not joking.
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
12:57 pm
You could tell Ealey was more worried in the eraly part of the season about protecting the ball rather than focus on breaking tackles, but you have to learn how to protect the ball AND break tackles. I felt like Ealey figured that out as the season progressed, especially in the Kentucky game.
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
12:58 pm
Stupidest is not a word.
coachgb
January 22nd, 2011
1:02 pm
Tony is just pulling our legs. Nobody that knows anything about football would truly believe any of this Ealey stuff. He is below average in every aspect of the game. Go back and watch tape of the games and slow it down and watch the cuts Ealey and King make. There were alot of times holes were open but both of these guys squat in the hole like a constipated dog and then neither can accelerate enough to get out of there. The offensive line did have its breakdowns but many, many times, holes were there. There’s a bid difference in SEC football speed and class A highschool football and ealey and King are showing it.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 22nd, 2011
1:02 pm
PER DUDE TONY, I AM TODAY STARTING A CAMPAIGN FOR “EALEY FOR HEISMAN”. THINK THAT MIGHT GET ABOUT AS FAR AS GEORGIA TECH’S “NESBITT FOR HEISMAN”. EALEY IS A HARD WORKER, AND PLAYS HARD…BUT THE PLAYERS EVEN KID HIM SAYING “MAKE A MOVE, EXLAX” THEY KNOW HE RUNS HARD, BUT UNLIKE MORENO, CAN’T STICK HIS FOOT IN THE GROUND AND MAKE A MOVE AND MAKE SOMEBODY MISS HIM…NOT BIG ENOUGH TO RUN OVER PEOPLE…KING COULD MAKE SOMEBODY MISS AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, BUT WATCH THAT FUMBLE THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN…GOLDBERG GOT THIS DEAL FIGURED OUT, GIVE HIM A SHOUT…
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:03 pm
I guess that’s why Ealey averaged more yards per carry than Herschel Walker & Lattimore. Good point.
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
1:03 pm
Bobo is not all bad, but you have to admit that Georgia’s offense doesn’t have any wrinkles at all. They run the same 10 plays. Murray seems to lock up under pressure, but let’s give the guy a break, he made some great plays and was only s RS freshman. He will only get better.
monty
January 22nd, 2011
1:04 pm
You can blame Bobo when “every” receiver runs a deep patteren(no short check down route) and you have to wait longer for it to open up and when it doesn’t your sacked. Remember CMR on a call in radio show someone asked him about that(not throwing shorter throws) and his answer was, we were trying to throw deep because that’s what their defense was giving us. LOL!
Top Recruit
January 22nd, 2011
1:05 pm
It is good to see you guys finally talk about the RBs. Where have you been for the past 2 years? I got blasted for saying that the Dawgs ‘never had a full roster’ and that King was a substandard, high-maintenance, never-available to play, unproductive RB. This where CMR has a weakness. He should have run King out of the program. Shortly followed by his position coach, McClendon.
CSS was a good line coach, but not outstanding. If you think was prove it with the numbers, Look at the drive chart, the yield per carry, and the number of rushing TDs. Now some of this can be laid at the feet of CMR, Bobo, Lilly, and Van Halinger. CMR and Lilly are infatuated with WRs. They had Green, a top NFL pick, but where was he the past two years with his numbers and the teams overall 14-12, 6-7, and etc.
Here is a bit of free advice. Run the players in addition to S&C, develop sets and schemes that feature the TEs and a power running garme if you want to stay with a pro set, otherwise move to a hybrid spread.
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:05 pm
Moreno averaged 5.4 ypc at Georgia, and a td per 17 touches.
Ealey averages 5.3 ypc at Georgia, and a td per 20 touches.
Yes, Moreno is ever so slightly better than Ealey.
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
1:06 pm
It is a word, it is in the dictionary, and not surprisingly, your picture is next to it.
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:09 pm
Scratch that.
Moreno and Ealey BOTH have averaged 5.5 ypc, but Moreno has a 17 toucher per td ratio, while Ealey’s is 20 touches per td.
Dawg 39
January 22nd, 2011
1:10 pm
Personally I am convinced that with TB , the new S&C program, & more competition at RB that the run game will be much improved in 2011. Hope we get an OL coach that will get after the OL. It appears that it is all coming together for a change. Still not convinced that changing the OC is the way to go. 2011 will tell the tale.GATA.
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:10 pm
Stupidest is not correct. Most stupid is proper grammar.
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm
Thanks to Tony we at least know that they piped the internet to Twin City.
monty
January 22nd, 2011
1:11 pm
We have not had a feature back tht has avg. over 6 yards per carry in the last 7 years,(where espn records stopped). I suspect not in CMR era but I’m not sure. Florida has every year under Meyer. Alabama has, and Auburn has. Huhmmm! Not GA under Richt. Just wish we could get some top recruits.LOL!
Bill Goldberg
January 22nd, 2011
1:12 pm
We certainly do need to change some things up with our offensive scheem and we need new blood in RB. I don’t agree that Bobo does a bad job. I really don’t think we have players with the right talent level or attitude. Now that may be a combination of poor recruiting and coaching.
I think Murray is average but he is no savior. I have talked to players and former players and they all agree we missed the boat with Zack Mettenberger. That was unfortunate because he was actually probably going to be our starter and respected more then Murray in the huddle. Watch out for him on highlight films soon.
Falcon 34
January 22nd, 2011
1:13 pm
Good article Bill. Well said on both running backs. Not only do they have an attitude off the field, but that translates to softness on the field. OL may not have been spectacular, but its an excellent point about lack of work ethic, attitude, focus, and drive represented on the field.
Hate to be critical, but the lack of drive and competition, per Thomas Brown, goes to the head person. In the current state of junior early exits, the most talented guys should never get redshirted.
TROJAN
January 22nd, 2011
1:14 pm
Ealey is not half the back that Knowshawn was at UGA.
monty
January 22nd, 2011
1:15 pm
Watch film of Moreno and you see dive and determination,excitement.Heck I can still see some of his runs in my mind from 3 seasons ago. Watch game film of Ealy and fall asleep.
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
1:15 pm
That’s not what you said dude. You said it wasn’t a word. As far as proper grammer, you are wrong there too, because both stupidest and most stupid are acceptable. It depends on which book you check. You might want to research stuff like this instead of crunching Ealey’s numbers all day.
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
1:16 pm
BWAHAHAHA
asa
January 22nd, 2011
1:16 pm
7576 DAWG YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT GARNER GAINESVILLE GOT 5 BOYS THAT HAVE GONE D1 TO GA TECH,ALABAMA,NOTRE DAME, STANFORD,AND NOW TENNESSEE AND GARNER DIDNT REALLY PURSUE ANY OF THEM REAL HARD ALSO FLOWERY BRANCH HAS HAD SOME GOOD KIDS THE SHAW BOYS , CROSS AND ANOTHER KID AT TECH BUT WE KEEP GOING FOR KIDS LIKE BAILEY AT EAST HALL TEAM GAVE UP OVER 40 POINTS A GAME AND KID FROM NORTH HALL CURRY WIDE RECEIVER CLASS OF 2012 CAUGHT 11 PASSES THIS YEAR ALREADY PULLED THE STRING AND OFFERED HIM A SCHLORSHIP BUT DIDN’T EVEN TALK TO THE KID THAT SET THE STATE RECORD FOR SINGLE SEASON CATCHES AT SANDY CREEK,WHOM COACH WALKER SAID CAN PLAY AND IF COACH W ALKER SAYS HE CAN PLAY HE CAN PLAY
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 22nd, 2011
1:16 pm
EALEY FOR HEISMAN PER DUDE TONY….WHEN WE ROLL OUR STATS OUT IN THE PAPERS BEFORE WE PLAY BOISE STATE NEXT YEAR, AND IF TONY WILL UPDATE THEM ON EALEY’S STATS AND THEY KNOW THAT HE IS BETTER THAN HERSHELL OR KNOWSHON, THEY MAKE GET SO SCARED THEY FORFEIT THE GAME AND DON’T LEAVE IDAHO…REMEMBER ALL THE FAN FARE LAST TIME THEY CAME TO ATHENS ABOUT ALL THE POINTS THEY SCORED, ETC, ETC. , AND WE PUT A SUPER SIZE A$$ KICKING ON THE DUDES FROM IDAHO…JOE T SAYS THE MOTTO FOR THIS YEAR FOR ALL DAWGS IS “TAKE NO PRISONERS”…THE ATTITUDE THAT IS BEING FORGED IN THE WEIGHT ROOM WILL PAY OFF BIG TIME…JOE T NOT LOOKING TO MAKE FRIENDS, HE’S ABOUT MAKING FOOTBALL PLAYERS AND HOLDING THE PLAYERS ACCOUNTABLE….
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:18 pm
Actually, if you compare Ealey’s ypc average, it’s the same as Moreno averaged. Both at 5.5 ypc.
Moreno did score td’s more often, at 1 td per 17 touches, vs. 1 td per 20 touches for Ealey, but that’s only 17% difference, not a 100% difference like was suggested.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 22nd, 2011
1:19 pm
Bill Goldberg
Murray had a few bad games yes but your saying we dont have a player in Murray
He broke the single season passing record for a freshmen
Almost broke Staffords single season TD record
And was close to breaking the passing efficiency record
All while having the sorriest offensive line in the SEC
You are an idiot and most likely a Mark Richt kool-aid “Dream Team” drinker
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 22nd, 2011
1:21 pm
BAD RECRUITING GOT US INTO THIS HOLE, AND ONLY GREAT RECRUITING WILL GET US OUT OF THIS HOLE…AND JOE T’S KICK A$$ ATTITUDE FOR THE STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING PROGRAM…
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:22 pm
Using the word stupidest is the most stupid thing ever written.
Bill Goldberg
January 22nd, 2011
1:22 pm
Flat Tire, Hmm. Throwing Stats out there like Tony? I’m not sure if you actaully watched the games last year and saw our record. He was a freshman and did a good job. Doubtfull he will lead us to the promised land. It was obvious he got worse as he year went on. If anyone is drinking the “kool-aid”, it appears to be you.
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
1:23 pm
No, comparing Ealey to Herschel is. I think most on here would agree.
Bill Goldberg
January 22nd, 2011
1:24 pm
Flat Tire, maybe you should throw Murry into the Hiesman race with Ealey!
monty
January 22nd, 2011
1:26 pm
Until we can approach 3000 yards rushing for a season I don’t see us being tough enough to win anything of any consequence. Until we either get the runners,the coaches, the right O-line or whatever the heck it takes. You get Murray a team that can run for that type yardage and he will pick teams apart with play action.We have to be able to run the ball better.
School is first order of bidness for the 2
January 22nd, 2011
1:27 pm
Ealey and KIng have proved that they cannot be counted on for anything. They likely will both flunk out. When that happens, UGA fans (I am an alum) will be ill. I suspect that they both flunk out over the winter/spring semester.
UGA needs to sign not one but TWO solid, durable, SEC caliber backs to go along with Boo Malcomb. Otherwise, we are far worse off than I even imagined.
Go Dogs.
UGA class of 71 & 73
Yo
January 22nd, 2011
1:28 pm
Tony, are you listening or reading what you post before you submit? Look back at your posts, every time you absurdly compare Ealey to Walker and Lattimore you bring up per carry averages! Walker and Lattimore both typically carried it 30+ a game and their avg.’s were only slightly under (according to you) Ealey. Demonstrating just how much better they were! If you only run it 10-20 a game you will obviously have a better avg. takes a TRUE back to run it 30+ a game and still have a solid avg. Look back too, anytime (including Knowshon in his hayday) a back get’s a good run, he’s always waving to the sideline looking to get taken out a play, speaks to the old s&c! Welcome Thomas I hope you can turn the ship around and get these boys to play SEC football again!
AltamahaDawg
January 22nd, 2011
1:29 pm
That abandoning of the running game seemed to be most prevalent when it wasn’t working.
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:31 pm
Ok, you guys keep thinking Ealey stinks, although he averages more ypc than Herscal Walker did (5.4 vs. 5.3), and has the same td to carry ratio as Herschel Walker (20 to 1).
Dixie Redcoat Band
January 22nd, 2011
1:33 pm
You mean to tell us that king is Still on the team!? Amazing..
Tony
January 22nd, 2011
1:34 pm
Lattimore only had 14 carries against S Miss for 3.9 ypc, only had 14 against Auburn for 2.4 ypc, only had 11 carries against Ark for 2.7 ypc.
The S&C hires
January 22nd, 2011
1:36 pm
Thomas Brown and John Casey senior ( I knew him at UGA in the 60s) and Joe T will be huge. Most of the alums my age recall Coach Sam Mrvos. He was the scout team coach and did things all around the football program and ran the S&C program for the jocks.
He was demanding and he got results. I had him as a coach for a PE class and at 160 lbs of bucked teeth and skin and bone, he had me maxing out with 245. He taught the sport ………….weight training. Joe T and Thomas Brown and John Casey are of the same cloth and in fact, all but Brown trained under him.
Old School always works. Always. New titles, new names and new facilities and equipment are wonderful but it still comes down to reps and conditioning and diet. Mental toughness will follow and that is where UGA is lost in the SEC’s dust. They are candies on the D and O line. Candymen like GT is the UGA rep now when they face the Floridas or the KYs or the UTs or the AUs or the Bamas of the conference. Candies we have become. This is at the feet of Coach Mark Richt too.
This will change immediately with the kids and come next year our new regime will install a similar tough regime in S& C to validate my point.
GO Dogs.
LAKE OCONEE DAWG
January 22nd, 2011
1:36 pm
monty:
COULDN’T AGREE WITH YOU MORE…GOT TO RUN THE FOOTBALL IN THE SEC TO WIN, AND BE ABLE TO RUN IT WELL….THE OFF SEASON PROGRAM AND BEING MADE TO WORK YOUR A$$ OFF WHEN YOU ARE A PRIMA DONNA AND HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO IT IN HIGH SCHOOL AND REALLY DON’T NECESSARILY WANT TO IS WHAT WILL MAKE US HARDER ROCKS THIS YEAR…CAN’T SAY EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WILL HELP RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE WITH A TEAM THAT WILL FIGHT LIKE HELL…I’M BULLISH ON THE DAWGS IN 2011, BUT WE GOTTA GO SOME RUNNING BACKS…ONE GOOD ONE IS NOT ENOUGH ANYMORE…LATTIMORE IS PROBABLY THE BEST FRESHMAN RUNNINGBACK IN THE COUNTRY, BUT ABOUT 2 PLAYS IN THE BOWL GAME AND HE GOT BLOWN UP AND WAS OUT…NOT MUCH AFTER LATTIMORE FOR OLE STEVE SPURRIER, THAT IS ALOT OF THE REASON THEY GOT THRASHED BY AUBURN…GOT TO HAVE A BEVY OF CAPABLE RUNNINGBACKS, CAUSE IF YOU RUN THEM A BUNCH, THEY GONNA GET BUMMED UP…IF THAT HAPPENS TO LATTIMORE AS BIG AND PUMPED UP AS HE IS, IT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY RUNNING BACK…WHEN UGA HAS BEEN GOOD, THEY HAVE ALWAYS HAD A GREAT RUNNINGBACK, EVEN BACK TO THE DAYS OF GLYNN HARRISON…COULD OLE GLYNN MAKE SOMEBODY MISS, OR WHAT???
edumacated
January 22nd, 2011
1:38 pm
Tony,
You are a trip. I guess some people just see what they want to see. Maybe Ealey saved your kitten from a tree, or he is your cousin, or maybe YOU are Ealey himself on here spouting his numbers. Just remember, you are trying to compare a current player, who has been regarded by most as a disappointment, to arguably, the greatest college running-back of ALL TIME. You get that? Watch ESPN the next time they do a piece on the greatest players ever. Hershel usually ends up #1 or #2.
Jeez. I’m out.
Hershel Walker and Ealey
January 22nd, 2011
1:41 pm
These two are alike in that they are both from state of Georgia and both played high school ball in Georgia and went to UGA. Both were running backs. Were? I say Ealey will never carry the ball again for UGA. He will end up like Pulpwood Smith and not finish at UGA. By July he will be done, I suspect.
To compare the yds per carry reveals empty stats. HW led UGA to one NC and to three SEC titles and to three huge MAJOR bowls. Ealey? Please. He is a loser.
Go Dogs.
Nate Dawg
January 22nd, 2011
1:45 pm
Yeah, Bobo is SUCH a great coach. That’s why ZERO other schools have even inquired about talking to him for any of their openings. Even Willie had a school or two at least talk to him while he was here! You score 30+ points a game for a stretch bc you have a ton of talent, play terrible defenses, and have no running game so you are forced to pass which will lead to more scoring. Tons of SEC teams could average more points per game, but they’d rather run the ball and salt away a WIN instead of scoring 30 in a LOSS. How could a good play caller score 6 against UCF, that’s the question!
Dawg1
January 22nd, 2011
1:45 pm
Tony, you are correct. Both Ealey and King are very good backs and could be great backs for UGA. These are some Tech fans on here messing with you. Thomas Brown! You the Man! Glad you are back. One of my all time favorites. Hard nose work ethic and built like a Greek God! Whip these Dawgs into SEC shape and we win the BCS title!
Rooster
January 22nd, 2011
1:47 pm
That is what is wrong with edumacated and lake oconee’s analysis of Ealey. They both say he is a disappointment and they are just morons hiding behind a computer screen.
Rooster
January 22nd, 2011
1:49 pm
Ealey is not a loser. He has led the team in rushing for the past two years. You are the loser.
Go dogs.
Flat Tire on I-95 in Jacksonville
January 22nd, 2011
1:51 pm
Bill Goldberg
Mark Richt
13-12 in SEC East since 2005
2-8 vs FL
7-10 against Top 10 teams
1-4 against Top 5 teams
71% of his victories are from unranked teams
Never appeared in an SEC championship game without the help of FL losing out (Not beating them on the field)
All while having Top 10 recruiting classes except once this past 10 years
and UGA ranks 4th since 1999 in putting players in the NFL
Do you really think Murray is the problem after one yr where he was good enough to break records
When you cannot even win a SEC east title with Stafford Moreno Green and Maseqoui on the same team do you think things are going to get better
If you do Im selling my ocean front beach house on Peach Tree St in downtown Atlanta
Keep drinking the Kool-Aid the problem was here long before Murray put a uniform on