This isn’t how Isaiah Crowell should get the starting tailback spot
It's being reported Washaun Ealey has been suspended indefinitely. (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
Looks like the Washaun Ealey era at UGA, such as it was, may be coming to an end, and not because of the signing of Isaiah Crowell.
Rumors had been swirling the past 24 hours about Ealey’s status, and I’d just gotten off the phone with my son, who had heard third- or fourth-hand that Dogs football players were saying Ealey was going to be suspended, when I saw an online report by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach citing sources saying Ealey has indeed been suspended indefinitely from all team activities.
If that’s true and Ealey doesn’t return, it means UGA is looking awfully thin at tailback this coming season — especially so if Caleb King doesn’t get his academic house in order.
When I read Steve Hummer’s Sunday piece about the recruiting of Crowell, the bit about Mark Richt having the team line up minus a tailback and asking the recruit if he could see himself starting against Boise State in that position made me wonder what that said about Richt’s view of Ealey and King. Practically promising a recruit he can start as a true freshman is not standard operating procedure.
This concerns me because even if Crowell is every bit as good as everyone thinks he is, it just doesn’t seem like a good situation for the team for anyone to get the starting spot handed to you without having to beat out any competition. As Thomas Brown says, competition is key to a player’s development. Plus, tailback is definitely a position where you need some depth.
So much for our visions of an offseason free of turmoil in Athens!
Meanwhile, the hiring of Will Friend from UAB as offensive line coach surprised some fans who wondered why Georgia couldn’t do better than a no-name coach from a Conference USA program.
I think the fact that the best Georgia could offer was a one-year deal at a program that is facing a possibly make-or-break season probably had a lot to do with it.
On paper, Friend looks fine. He played a part in UAB putting up an impressive offensive output last season and his line ranked 15th in the country in fewest sacks allowed. Overall they were 30th in the nation in total offense (423 yards per game), 24th in passing offense (267 yards per game) and 59th in rushing offense (156 yards per game).
The fact that their rushing numbers were less impressive touches on my one feeling of concern about Friend. He’s basically spent most of his coaching career been mentored by former UGA offensive line coach Neil Callaway, who drew knocks in his time at UGA for the inconsistent offensive line play, especially in the running game. At times under Callaway, Georgia’s linemen seemed not to know what run-blocking was all about.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Friend will be a clone of Callaway, and it’s only fair to give him the benefit of the doubt until we see what he can do with Georgia’s underperforming offensive linemen.
I’m hoping he can whip them into shape (with the help of Joe Tereshinski’s new conditioning program). They’re going to be needed even more if Georgia winds up as thin at tailback as it’s looking.
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307 comments Add your comment
@snake doc
February 8th, 2011
5:28 pm
Just how would washauns suspension apply to the Fulmer Cup? You probably fall into the category of those who think Paul Johnson is a great coach.
@T3
February 8th, 2011
5:34 pm
You continue to post the same dribble and make a fool of yourself. By the way lets talk about Tech NCAA probation in 2005 and 2006, or Flunkgate or how tech has managed 15 wins against UGA since 1957.
SKB
February 8th, 2011
5:41 pm
If I were Ealey, I would just finish my education at UGA, and just forget football.
saban
February 8th, 2011
5:43 pm
You ladies ended up with quite the thug. You should check out his facebook account before the Georgia coaches have it removed.
Somehow it is hard to understand how Saint Richt would recruit someone like this.
If this is the kind of person Georgia wants to represent them, well you folks are a cesspool. Auburn never sunk to this level.
UGA FRIEND
February 8th, 2011
5:45 pm
Bill King is right on…why is the Crowell recruit being given a guarantee of starting without earning it by beating out the competition.
Snake Doc
February 8th, 2011
5:49 pm
Lets see, Washout has done something to be suspended from the team, AGAIN! You figure it out and get back to me excuse maker.
Emmett W. Bowers, Jr
February 8th, 2011
5:49 pm
EW…I really don’t think you know Coach Calloway Mr. King. It seems when I can stomach reading your comments…they are always ’stirring the pot’. Coach Calloway I would venture to say has more championship ‘rings’ than any coach in the SEC..from Alabama, Auburn not to mention while his linemen were so damn confused at Georgia we won the conference. Will Friend is a ‘working Jesse’ unlike you has made a living eating hotdogs and drinking cold beer and telling everybody who you think can coach and who think can’t coach. Your the same pontificating son of gun who has fired withering criticism at Richt and he quietly without excuses signed a top five recruiting class. I am positive if this ‘one and done’ staff answers the bell and wins next year your fat ass will jump whole-heartedly dead on the bandwagon. I doubt you can even make a lay-up.
Snake Doc
February 8th, 2011
5:51 pm
And is Paul Johnson a better coach then the CEO? I don’t think I’ve ever heard Paul Johnson tell me how he needs to focus more on football.
Does that mean I’m a CPJ fan? NO! He runs a high school offense that will never win another thing at the major college level. Still having said that, he is a coach, whereas the CEO is, well, just a CEO, of nothing!
saban
February 8th, 2011
5:51 pm
That is Crowell`s Facebook account. Quite the steller man you ladies have.
A lot to be proud of.
Snake Doc
February 8th, 2011
5:53 pm
@saban – Of course the CEO recruits thugs, he comes from a background of thug recruiting, i.e. FSU! Only thing is Bowden could get his thugs to play as a team, all the CEO is concerned with is saving souls, not winning Championships!
SickandTired
February 8th, 2011
5:54 pm
As stated by an earlier pundit, the DREAM is a nightmare and it’s all Mark Richt’s making.
Tess
February 8th, 2011
5:55 pm
Why does anything that Ealey and King do surprise anybody? These two thugs are just morons and gangbangers who should never have been recruited by Richt.
And they’re not the only ones.
Snake Doc
February 8th, 2011
5:56 pm
On a serious note: UGA VIII will be missed! Go sign his guest book page and pay your respects to the true heart and soul of UGA football!
ugab
February 8th, 2011
5:58 pm
Ealey is a good kid. He is ruining his future. He is the starter on this team. I hope this new system of MR get these players head in school and the game.
Paul
February 8th, 2011
6:02 pm
I could care less if Ealey or King go. They have had more chances then Carter has pills. There comes a time when you have to cut your loses. Both need an attitude adjustment. if they don’t get it together, I hope they know how to bag groceries. I have a niece at UGA and she says Ealey acts like he is a God.
War Eagle
February 8th, 2011
6:04 pm
I bet hs slugged Coach Richt for signung Crowell, and had to move to the dawgs second home CLARK COUNTY JAIl,” As the Dawgs Turns”
Everyone knows it!
February 8th, 2011
6:04 pm
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
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UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
UGA, THE CESSPOOL OF THE SOUTH.
kerryb
February 8th, 2011
6:20 pm
I got your cesspool, moron!
War Eagle
February 8th, 2011
6:23 pm
You dawgs who thinks Auburn fell over dead when Crowell sign with UGA, it was all over with him when he said” I will not play in a spread offense”, Auburn reply. ” don`t waste your time and ours by taking a official visit” ALL OVER , Hope he p;ays well
Aubrn finished #1 or #2 in final recruiting prep outlets
There ARE many, many good HS pl;ayers who wants to play the spread, 21-7 and WHAT, SPREAD TOOK OVER
kerryb
February 8th, 2011
6:24 pm
The cesspool of the south is obviously Auburn. Why else would they toilet paper their own trees?
kerryb
February 8th, 2011
6:24 pm
Rivals you finished 7th.
kerryb
February 8th, 2011
6:27 pm
Probably dropped after you got dissed by that offensive tackle that decided he’d rather be at Alabama.
cpinthedawghouse
February 8th, 2011
6:31 pm
Anybody ever tell you that you are a bigger whinney butt than Munson? Just a thought. I’ve been there too. Tired of it. Time for our coaching staff to MAX I MUS PERFORM EYE.
War Eagle
February 8th, 2011
6:38 pm
Hope this never happens, but if King and Easley are out, Murray gets injured, dawgs would be in a SEC world of trouble, if Crowell fails his first year expectations.
Murray is tough, it would take a bone broken for him to not play.
Dawg Tired
February 8th, 2011
6:54 pm
Being “thin” at TB is not as bad as having players with lousy attitudes and work ethics. I don’t know all the facts here, but if Ealey is demonstrating either of these negative qualities, he should get out of Dodge. I put “thin” in quote marks because being three deep at TB does not seem all that “thin.” Of course, being 4 or 5 deep is better. With King, we would be 4 deep.
Delbert D.
February 8th, 2011
6:59 pm
The front page of the AJC web site says that the high school graduation rate for Georgia high schools may fall to 64% this year. State high schools are not meeting federally-mandated curricula results.
south
February 8th, 2011
7:01 pm
Bill – read the article again you dimwit- Richt did not promise Crowell he would START against Boise.
Knoxguy
February 8th, 2011
7:07 pm
Ealey has missed a golden opportunity…when King had his issues Ealey had the chance to be the man. I was present in Columbia when he fumbled inside the five and changed the game in one play. As for King…made the trip to Boulder to witness that fumble after the defense had held and gave us a chance to win. Every game I saw in person all you saw in pregame and ingame was the endless jump chest bump with him and King. How about doing something to deserve a damn chest bump…I’m ready for the new kids…bring em on.
Delbert D.
February 8th, 2011
7:13 pm
south – Read Tucker’s article. Here’s a quote:
“Even before this issue, Richt had raised the possibility of Isaiah Crowell –- the prized tailback signed last week — starting the 2011 opener.”
Beast from the East
February 8th, 2011
7:23 pm
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make ‘em drink.
That about sums up the careers of Ealey and King so far. For their sakes and UGA’s, I hope they can get their heads on straight and quickly!
War Eagle
February 8th, 2011
7:34 pm
Rivals.com is run and operatrd by TWO bama graduates, we were lucky to be 7, while REC(bama`s checkbook) was #1
This Is Good News Folks
February 8th, 2011
7:41 pm
It is time to hold these kids to account, no matter what. The team will be better for it, before the 2011 season is complete.
I appreciate CMR for getting the team under control, NOW……..
Fear not DawgNation, this is really good new!
Delbert D.
February 8th, 2011
7:52 pm
The question of Ealey and/or King transferring was mentioned earlier. As a sophomore, Ealey could transfer to an FCS school and play in 2011. King is a junior, and under the NCAA transfer rule, he could transfer only to a Division II school.
PowerDawg
February 8th, 2011
8:02 pm
Ealey needed a kick in the pants. If he wants to play TB at Georgia then he needs to grow up some more and get his head on straight. If he isn’t willing to fight tooth and nail for playing time, he doesn’t have the heart it takes to be a champion and we don’t need him anyway. If he wants to go down to Statesboro and play in the pee-wee league…with their watered-down version of CPJ’s triple option crap…so be it.
Running away will only make him better at running…not a better running back.
1eyedJack
February 8th, 2011
8:06 pm
Delbert you should try teaching those other 36% and you’ll quickly learn why 50% of the country is on the dole. Attitudes toward education in some communities are totally ambivalent if not derisional (I think that’s a word). Most of that 36% will go on to get a GED and attend a year or so of Junior college or Technical college until their Pell money runs out. As a previous poster stated, “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.”
Water…that is.
Josh
February 8th, 2011
8:14 pm
Bill, why can’t you say something positive rather than a bunch of negative or neutral statements? I sure hope the team and coaches read your articles…you are depressing!
Randall
February 8th, 2011
8:23 pm
Bill-
Did you see the exchange AJ Green had last night with a couple of UGA guys?
It looks like AJ Green heard about the Ealey thing and responded by saying UGA was trippin-crazy.
UGA has got reel strct with manadatoried breakfasts, lunches, dinners, workouts, tuoring, everything.
iT’S LIKE THE ARMY NOW.
Olson
February 8th, 2011
8:26 pm
Any of you really think Crowell will do better than Ealey has done? Average almost 6 yards a carry his freshman season like Ealey? No. Average a touchdown every 13 carries as a soph like Ealey? Impossible. Ealey ran for 8000 yards and 145 touchdowns in high school, Crowell didn’t do half that.
ca dawg
February 8th, 2011
8:27 pm
sad stuff. hope he gets it in the road and gets his head right, because he needs UGA more than UGA needs him. too many people here are kicking dirt on his grave already, but he’s got one more chance. hope he takes advantage. best luck to him.
as for will friend… bill, they were ranked 59th in rushing last year, but ran the ball considerably better in 2009 (nearly 2800 yards). UAB runs a spread, and the drop in rushing production is due to their having lost joe webb (who accounted for over half of their rushing yards in 2009) and not having a mobile QB in 2010. i didn’t check to see how many OL’s they lost after the 2009 season, but it seems like you might want to check that out before you start wringing your hands about the hire. i’m hoping (as i know you are) that a change in perspective will help more than anything–it seems clear that the guys had stopped responding to searles.
Over Salted Dog
February 8th, 2011
8:33 pm
Guess he saw the spectacular coaching move with the absent tailback and said SEE YA. Don’t blame him, time to go. All exits, everybody out.
ca dawg
February 8th, 2011
8:33 pm
fwiw: UAB returned 4 starters from the 2009 group that finished 11th in the country in rushing yards. hope mr. friend hasn’t forgotten how to coach drive blocking!
Minnesota Dawg
February 8th, 2011
8:36 pm
All I can say is “It’s Great to Be a Bulldog!” We will be just fine, mark my words.
Delbert D.
February 8th, 2011
8:47 pm
Jack – It doesn’t bode well for high school athletes. I wonder what percentage of those folks will graduate with a diploma.
TallyDawg
February 8th, 2011
8:50 pm
Screencapped Crowell’s facebook before it gets taken down… Can’t say I like it..
http://i.imgur.com/0lJ2d.png
RabidDawgFan
February 8th, 2011
9:04 pm
I don’t think Crowell is going to be as good as we think he is guys. Something just tells me. Your RB is only as good as his O-line. I hope coach Friend can get these boys motivated to hit and teach them the proper technique, hands in between the pads technique. Crowell needs to be able to burst through holes. It would be cool to finally have a RB with dreads though lol. I don’t think we’ve ever had that at Georgia.
RabidDawgFan
February 8th, 2011
9:07 pm
I think Crowell will be our starter though. Richt has learned his lesson about redshirting backs. I truly believe that Crowell will be the one toting the rock against Boise on national tv. There’s a lot of pressure on that kid but there’s also a lot of pressure on Boise because not only will they have to try and tackle the elusive guy but they have to deal with Murray’s almost flawless play-action fakes and his ability to hide the ball and take off. Murray is fast as hell and he can burn a defense himself. Look for Murray to turn into an All-SEC QB this season.
WOW!!
February 8th, 2011
9:11 pm
anybody else see Crowells FB page…outstanding citizen you guys got there!
wilson87
February 8th, 2011
9:17 pm
So Jerry, It looks more like Zach was the one who thought he was entitled. Wasn’t it Zach who thought it was okay to stick his hand up a bartender’s skirt. Spoiled kid got what he deserved by being thrown off the team. He is lucky. Most people would have gotten in a lot more trouble than what he got. Fake ID’S, underage drinking, sexual assault. Good riddance This is one incident where everyone should agree. No one wants someone like him to represent the flagship university of this state.
Sven Ottke
February 8th, 2011
9:27 pm
Check out your future star running back on Facebook. He’ll fit right in!
http://www.facebook.com/search.php?q=isaiah%20crowell&init=spell&tas=0.21127452297124194#!/profile.php?id=100001749184644&sk=wall
Loyal Dawg
February 8th, 2011
9:48 pm
I know most of the comments here have been about CMR and his record handling discipline; but, I was trying to figure out what other UGA RB’s running style he reminds me of. He reminds me quite a bit of Garrison Hearst. Don’t know if he will pan out that way, but the kid has great speed and can break tackles much better than Ealey or King. Ealey never had that kind of speed. Ken Malcome looks like he has good running instincts, average speed and good power. I believe Ealey is done. Wouldn’t surprise me if he never sees the field again.