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
Gator Guy
January 23rd, 2011
6:04 pm
Please start Murray, we think he’s a great QB.
Prince of Alabama
January 23rd, 2011
6:04 pm
No Georgia player could make it as a statrer at Alabama!
Bolt
January 23rd, 2011
6:06 pm
0-6 starter Murray won’t work. Yes, the Gator fans here want him again, why not, 4 to’s last year, put the defense in a bind, but it won’t happen. I like Mason, he’s accurate, can throw the deep ball on a dime, and will open up the run game. But Lemay might beat Mason out, it will be a great competition.
1eyedJack
January 23rd, 2011
6:07 pm
Prince of Alabama, everybody is entitled to their own opinion….it’s just that yours is stupid.
Kurt
January 23rd, 2011
6:09 pm
Is Murray really never won a game against a team with a winning record? Not even 1 game? Wow, no wonder the running game struggles, now I get it. With that inept QB play, just key on the run, makes sense.
Ram Tuff
January 23rd, 2011
6:13 pm
I’d rank the Georgia QB’s, by wins against good teams like so:
1- Green
2- Shockley
3- Stafford
4- Cox
5- Terishinki
6- Murray
bilbo
January 23rd, 2011
6:18 pm
BOBO had these things going for him: arguably the best freshman QB in the country. Two RBs who were highly , highly touted coming into UGA. The best TEs in the country. The best WR in the country + Durham, Wooten, Troupe, Brown, T.King. The MOST experienced O-line in the country. Two very, very solid FBs. Plus, Branden Smith to change things up. HAS ANY COACH DONE LESS WITH MORE? Imagine what Malzahn, Meyer, Spurrier, Petrino could have done with these tools!
bilbo
January 23rd, 2011
6:21 pm
We need an offensive coordinator who has accomplished things somewhere other than UGA. BOBO’s biggest job outside of UGA has been QB coach at Jacksonville State. He’s been in the same place, doing the same thing, holding a job that’s too big for him. Can you imagine a big time program hiring someone with BOBO’s resume or lack thereof? Compare what he’s done with what Weiss has done.
bilbo
January 23rd, 2011
6:23 pm
Hey guys its third and long against Arkansas, Auburn, GT, or one of the other terrible pass defenses we played this season. Let’s run a draw up the middle!!! Great OC, UGA.
Gamecoack Earl
January 23rd, 2011
6:26 pm
Murray played great last year, all year, he’s a star. Hope Georgia starts him in 2011.
Jeffrey
January 23rd, 2011
6:34 pm
Easy to blame Bobo, but why? Bobo’s QB’s like Greene, Shockley, Stafford, even Joe Cox, beat teams with a winning record.
Murray’s in a class of his own. the 0-6 class.
But don’t blame Bobo.
Dan
January 23rd, 2011
6:39 pm
Here’s what’s been missing in Dogs.
take the Colorado game.
You got a team that has the #110 worst ranked pass defense in the country, who has only beat teams like Idaho State, and Murray LOSES to Colorado????
Unacceptable.
Dan
January 23rd, 2011
6:44 pm
Or take South Carolina or even Miss State. 2 of the worst pass defenses in the country, almost as bad as Colorado. I’d expect in a game like that for a Georgia QB to have a field day, who can forget Joe Cox’s record setting day against Arkansas?
How does Murray do against 2 of the worst pass defenses in the nation?
1 td, in 2 games.
We have our problem Athens.
7576DAWG
January 23rd, 2011
6:56 pm
bilbo
Your analysis of Bobo is dead on , that’s why some many are criticizing CMR and McGarity when they didn’t at least demote him.
Bobo is all DAWG and was forced into the position by CMR because every successful coach has one or both coordinators with the program for up to 20 years . The defensive and offensive coordinators call all the play’s and will make or break a head coach. So, CMR promoted two very loyal FRIEND’S into the position and neither had the successful background to deserve that kind of blanket confidence that they could do the job. Both were way over their head in ability.
After giving Martinez three years too long he finally was forced to admit Martinez was riding on the VAN GORDER success and did not have what it took to handle a major college’s coordinator job himself.
The problem is CMR doesn’t want to possible lose Bobo. I will be the first one to admit Bobo’s importance when it comes to Quarterback’s and his number one asset , which is RECRUITING. CMR should demote Bobo as offensive coordinator make him Recruiting coordinator and Quarterback coach.
Keep Garner as recruiting coordinator if you are afraid of the BLACK WHITE thing, we will just have two recruiting coordinators.but Garner isn’t getting the job done. He is getting credit for what his coaches are doing. Garner’s handling of the A.J. Johnson recruiting proves he is not doing a good job.
dawgs01
January 23rd, 2011
7:01 pm
One thing i hate that Bobo and Richt do is rotate the backs every series. When we had TB Ware and Lumpkin they would all get it about 6-10 times a game they never got a feel for the game unless they were part of a long drive but if you were part of a three and out then you would have to wait about a quarter to get to run the ball again. I like the two back system but you wait until one back needs a breather or he makes a mistake before you switch them they just took turns on series so if you were part of the first series you might get to run the ball till middle of the second quarter depending on the game. A lot of times this year Ealey would get winded very quick against UCF he had to come out in the first quarter and he was sucking eggs the whole game. I do not think he is an SEC back right now but he is a true Junior next season so maybe he gains more leg strength to break tackles and improves his aerobic capacity this offseason. He could have a break through season next yr
dawgs01
January 23rd, 2011
7:13 pm
Our RB’s do not see the cutback lanes they will run up the back of our linemen. Neither back can make something out of nothing. Moreno had some of the best 1 – 3 yard gains i have ever seen making two or three players miss our line was bad then Moreno made them look better than they were. Our backs have no vision or balance and do not run with bad intentions. Ealey is horribly conditioned too. We have a wide receiver coaching our RB’s and a running back coaching our wide receivers what kind of crap is that. Makes no sense to me
Ned
January 23rd, 2011
7:44 pm
How bout Ealey? 6.6 a carry in the 4th quarter. Better than Ingram and Richradson and Lattimore, Man, Ealey conditioned. Tied for 3rd in the NCAA with 4 td’s in the 4th quarter.
Murray does need to work on his conditioning. Ranked 59th in pass effic in the 4th qrtr, needs to keep up with Ealey.
Jeffrey
January 23rd, 2011
7:46 pm
Comical the way Georgia fans try to blame Bobo for Aaron Murray’s struggles.
Bobo coached what, Stafford, Cox, Shokley, Greene, they all consistently beat the teams with winning records.
Murray just chokes.
That’s what’s been missing, a cluth QB, not 0-6 Murray.
Ealey and Caleb King are more like fast Freddy
January 23rd, 2011
7:54 pm
Washout Ealey and Cannototeit King are very similar to Freddy Gibson of UGA flanker fame. He was not drafted and neither will either of these two loser UGA backs.
Go Dogs.
Jeffrey
January 23rd, 2011
8:01 pm
Murray’s like a shorter version of Joe Cox, without the ability to beat good teams.
Reggie
January 23rd, 2011
8:02 pm
I’ll tell you what’s been missing for Georgia’s running game?
Auburn–Florida last year–both had QB’s who got 60-120 yards rushing a game.
Murray can run, but Georgia won’t let him, they’re fraid he’ll get hurt.
Reggie
January 23rd, 2011
8:03 pm
Auburn has Newton, Florida has Tebow, a dual threat QB is tough, as Shockley proved.
Junkyard Dawg
January 23rd, 2011
8:08 pm
Murray has showed the ability to make amazing runs, but CMR has one of those leashes you put on 2 year old kids when you’re in Wal Mart.
noseknows
January 23rd, 2011
8:20 pm
Appreciate the comments. My son who is a UGA grad and lives in Nashville, sat next to The K.C. Chiefs scout at the Music City Bowl and the scout stated that if Clint Boling played for Alabama he would have been a top 5 draft pick. Also, the scout stated that current Bulldog linemen take 2 to 3 years to be prepared for the next level. For whatever it’s worth.
Reggie
January 23rd, 2011
8:24 pm
Newton had 260 runs for 5.6 a pop, but 1400 rushing yards, an extra 100 a game.
Murray and Logan Gray were two of the top rated dual threat QB’s, Lemay has some mobility too, as does Nick Marshall.
We all know how much Tebow’s rushing game, especially on 3rd and short, meant to Florida.
Might be what’s missing in the Georgia rushing game.
Dr. Phil
January 23rd, 2011
8:50 pm
Georgia will not win with King or Ealey. They are both headcases.
Lakedawg
January 23rd, 2011
9:05 pm
If Bobo can beat Kirby Smart on the field in 2 years like he did in Valdosta this week,I will be his biggest booster.
PHIL
January 23rd, 2011
9:36 pm
The thing I can’t understand is why Bill and his brother along with the majority of you guys didn’t apply at Michigan when that job was open. Geez you all know so much.
col fot
January 23rd, 2011
10:07 pm
scam newton and thug fairley are leaving the auburn correctional institute…they got all the money they needed at the dirtiest little village.
Gregory
January 23rd, 2011
10:15 pm
Georgia will never win with Aaron Murray against a winning team, he’s 0-6, even lost to lowly Colorado.
Bring it on Lemay.
Turn a new leaf.
Gregory
January 23rd, 2011
10:16 pm
Murray with his 4 turnovers against Florida, and 2 in the Bowl ga,e you can tell, he cracks under pressure, he doesn’t have the mental game.
NashDawg
January 23rd, 2011
11:01 pm
Virginia Dog look at the numbers. Thomas Brown was a better running back than Danny Ware. Yes Danny is still in the pro’s but rarely plays. The same for Lumpkin. But all three were a very good set of running backs. As for knownshon, Richt did not need him at the time, he had the other guys. Really..Revisionist history is not needed.
NashDawg
January 23rd, 2011
11:02 pm
Prince of Alabama your an idiot.
JE
January 24th, 2011
12:52 am
Why would anyone suggest starting a freshman who did not play HS football this year over a red shirt sophomore who had an excellent year even though the record was 6-7? How can you ever put all the crap that went on this year on the QB. This is the same QB some of you wanted to start over Cox last year and who beat out everyone in the spring for the Starting position. I cannot understand why Richt benches an RB for fumbling and never benches a QB for his mistakes…Different pholosophy for different positions…This creates an entitlement attitude by QB’s and gives no experience for any backup nor gives the starter any competition.
Gregory
January 24th, 2011
1:24 am
If Georgia’s going to the short passing game, like they did this year with Murray, Hutson Mason can run that type of offense better, he completed 78% of his passes one year in high school and set the Georgia record for passing td’s, and he has a year under the system. He’s also taller, and can see over blitzing LB’s and is very tough to sack (Murray was easy to sack, gave up 2x more sacks than Joe Cox).
RMikel58
January 24th, 2011
6:12 am
Georgia coaches are not gonna listen-
Bobo is the sole reason or biggest reason why Georgia ranks low offensively in both SEC and Nationally.
He has a QB’s frame of mind so he likes to pass. The problem is that he lacks “Knowledge” of what to call in certain situations.
CMR you do not EVER promote an inexperienced QB coach to O.C. !!!!!!! EVER. That takes years to climb the ladder. Bobo would start out as QB’s Coach then be promoted to OL Coach or to WR Coach and that would only happen in DIV 2A and several years to accomplish.
You only put a guy like Bobo into the OC position from a team thats been sorry for alot of years and most of the time its temporary until filled or its for a small college.
Bobo has cost us SEC Championships, Rankings, Wins, Early departure Athletes, and Recruiting. Now he will cost you your job after next year.
You have done the same to great recruits with big time potential and played them as small school players on Div 2A schools.
Do anything you want with the program, promise recruits playing time without competition, play more smaller schools so your win/loss record gets better, let players run amock getting drunk and going to jail and be very lax on rules but at the end of the day you will not be winners because Bobo will still be there calling plays that makes no sense at all.
Keep making excuses for keeping him and do this while youre walking out the door telling people bye for the final time.
RMikel58
January 24th, 2011
6:18 am
Washaun may have a better per yards a carry avg then Herschel but Washaun carries the ball 10-15 times a game where Herschel carried 25-30 times a game.
Twice as many carries and only .1 less than Washaun?
Washaun doesnt run like Herschel or Moreno. Cant break tackles, run over people, no cut back or breakaway speed. No heart running the ball at all.
He wont last in the NFL maybe play on a practice squad.
BoWeevil
January 24th, 2011
6:31 am
DISNEYdawgs.com sitting there squirming in their seats to come up with yet another set of EXCUSES and SPINS, are the major reason why the team feels entitled. Instead, you must demand more than this of them, or you are a Richt Apologist drinking Kool-Aid dragging this # 11 All-Time Football Program into the Ground :
It’s not a talent issue, but coaching and discipline, which has brought us this these last three years :
Lost – to # 21 Central Florida 6-10
Lost – to # 01 Auburn 31-49
Lost – to # 15 Missy State 12-24
Lost – to # 12 Arkansas 24-31
Lost – to # 22 South Carolina 6-17
Won vs. # 13 Georgia tek 30-24
Lost – to # 03 Florida 17-41
Lost – to # 17 LSU 13-20
Won vs. # 24 Michigan State 24-12
Lost – to # 22 Georgia tek 42-45
Lost – to # 01 Florida 10-49
Lost – to # 06 Alabama 30-41
2-10 last 3 years vs teams who finished in AP Poll Top 25
Cease telling the majority of us that we are bringing the program down to not accept this the last 3 years, and you say we have to accept it more than 1 more year.
BoWeevil
January 24th, 2011
6:34 am
The recruits do not accept it either. The vast majority of the fans and all the recruits do not accept this which has been going on. Blair Walsh doesn’t accept it. Thomas Brown does not accept it. Stacy Searels did not accept it. And, then there is you – bringing this # 11 football program all-time in 1-A wins, down.
Bobo's Lil Boy Richt
January 24th, 2011
8:08 am
Yeah, do you remember Ealey’s two fubles that cost da Dawgs wins this year against SC & Colorado ? He might have been great in high school but he sucks in college. He’s got a bad case of Fumblitis…
Bobo's Lil Boy Richt
January 24th, 2011
8:11 am
What kind of OC (Bobo) makes A.J. Green disappear in a bowl game ? You are supposed to get your best players the ball a lot. A.J. had maybe 7 balls thrown his way against UCF ?
Bobo's Lil Boy Richt
January 24th, 2011
8:14 am
Throwing the ball 7 times to A.J. in a game is like giving Lattimore 10 carries for SC. Or letting Jake Locker throw 10 passes in a game. Just simply retarded.
Bobo's Lil Boy Richt
January 24th, 2011
8:16 am
Richt’s prolly worried Murray would transfer if he benched him.
Bobo's Lil Boy Richt
January 24th, 2011
8:17 am
I dunno. Maybe its just me but I’d rather have a top high school qb from Georgia instead of Tampa Fl. ? Stafford was from Texas but let’s get a home grown qb that has Georgia running through his veins.
Bobo The Gorilla
January 24th, 2011
8:20 am
We need a new head coach,OC,and OL coach. Maybe in 2012 ???
JE
January 24th, 2011
9:02 am
Hutson Mason is too slow to make it in college. They will not give him reps and therefore he will not develop either. Anyone thinks the NC supposedly phenom will be up to where he should be after not playing his senior year has their head in the sand.
LSU game in Richt's early years in BR
January 24th, 2011
9:16 am
UGA had a small but fast running back that Green used out on the flats to dump the ball off to. One game with LSU we sprinted about 94 yds after the catch for a TD !!! Boom !!
Unfortunately on the very next series with clock moving on us, LSU scored on a TD pass and won it. That play might have been in Donnan’s era. Anyway, it worked and Carlton Thomas is that kind of back ………………so why do we not deploy him that way??
If we use Wiggons as FB next year, he could be devastatingly good on a play like this, like we used Charles Grant as a running back.
Go Dogs.
dawgfacedboy
January 24th, 2011
9:20 am
If not for sharing carries Ealey would’ve posted back to back 1,000 yd. seasons. He’s a good back but Thomas Brown is correct; competition breeds excellence. He needs a little kick in the pants though. It would help if there was conistent run blocking though.
Gregory
January 24th, 2011
9:22 am
If Richt just gives the QB job to someone, who hasn’t earned it, the way he did in the Sapring after Gray and Mettenberger both beat him, then other QB’s will likely transfer. It’s an odd way of picking a QB, where you base it on his: religion, work ethic, and positive talk. And you ignore what he does on the field, as far as execution goes.
Aaron Murray is the worst QB, record wise, and by wins against good teams, that Richt has ever coached. You could see it on G-Day, but Richt had his blinders on. Hope he learned form that mistake. If nt, Lemay and Mason won’t be on the team for long.
Gregory
January 24th, 2011
9:26 am
I guarantee you someone will beat Murray AGAIN over the public Spring games. If I’m wrong, and Murray blows them all away, great, but if I’m right, and Richt ENTITLES Murray again at QB, look for transfers, and another 6-7 season or worse.