Caleb King as 2011 Dawgs’ savior?
Can Caleb King really be the lead Dog in 2011? (Brant Sanderlin / AJC)
I’m afraid there’s probably an awful lot of wishful thinking fueling Buck Belue’s take on Caleb King, but I’d like nothing better than for old No. 8 to be right on the mark.
I think Buck’s right that Isaiah Crowell isn’t likely to be ready to be “the lead Dog” early on, especially considering the pass protection duties a Georgia tailback has.
Belue thinks that leaves King as “a young man in a good position. He’s motivated to have a big senior season. It’s his last shot to impress NFL scouts. He’s in the best shape of his life and can play physical at 220-plus. Caleb can hold up between the tackles, burst it outside, catch it and protect. Solid all-around skill set.”
Of course, Belue allows, King has proved disappointing in the past. “There have been injuries and issues.”
“The track record says Caleb King is going to disappoint you,” Buck writes. “Understand that. But I’m not buying it this time. I see a 1,000 yard season. 200 carries and 12 TD runs. A 5-yard per carry average. And as it turns out, a positive influence on Crowell.”
What do you think? A likely scenario or just a summer fan dream?
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319 comments Add your comment
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
11:50 am
Before we go any further, I would like to have every body in the room, Joey you to, to repeat after me:
The OC doesnt “Call” the running game.
The QB is the one with the run/pass option at the line.
But If you still insist on thinking that Coach Bobo tells the runner if he is getting the ball, which way to run, and the line which man to block, then repeat after me:
A more Experienced QB will magically transform the OC into a better run play caller.
NCDawg
June 22nd, 2011
11:50 am
I gotta second Concrete Pete, how the hell is Malcome out of shape. This off season was supposed to be all about S&C and accountability.
##1
June 22nd, 2011
11:52 am
Vote for UGA v. Notre Dame in college tradition poll!
http://sports.espn.go.com/sportsnation/story?page=ncaatraditionsvote
schmeckdawg
June 22nd, 2011
11:53 am
1) Leopards don’t change their spots (Caleb King)!
2) How in the hell can a guy who has been in Athens this whole year be out of shape (Boo Malcome)?
3) How can an incoming Freshman that knows how much the team is counting on him come in out of shape (Isiah Crowell)?
I hope we land the Marshall kid out of Raleigh, NC. And now that it looks like Carolina is going to take a big time NCAA hit, the DAWGS may be his favorite!
Hunker Down!
Joey
June 22nd, 2011
11:55 am
“Typical Belue, he knows more about less than anyone on sports radio!!!!”
**************************************************
Yeah, Buck knows next to nothing about football. All he did was start at QB for Valdosta High for 3 years, then play QB 4 years at UGA, and even a little QB in the USFL.
How could he know anything about football?
bobby
June 22nd, 2011
11:55 am
i’am 99percent sure that caleb king will not be a huge factor this year when i see king running the his main problem is that he hits the hole slow as heck when he get there he does okay but his lack of burst hitting the hole is his main problem.
SCDAWG
June 22nd, 2011
11:57 am
I saw Lattimore in high school at Byrnes and I also saw Crowell on Espn this year. They both run the same,so give himthe rock 15 times a game. Also when I went to the SC game this year we had a chance to win the game but King fumbled the ball near the red zone. Just let him get 10 carriers a game.
schmeckdawg
June 22nd, 2011
11:58 am
Come on man a stupid sign for a team that has SUCKED for the past 10 years or so versus the GREATEST MASCOT in all of college football…gimme a break!!!!!
VOTE FOR UGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGA Insider
June 22nd, 2011
11:58 am
I agree with Buck. I was on the sidelines of the LSU/UGA game a few years ago and King was dominate and played great against a top notch defense. The problem was Bobo never went to him in the second half and UGA got beat. However I blame that loss on the infamous “pooch kick” after AJ’s TD and taunting foul. I hear Jon Fabris is coaching football R at some NAIA school now. Is that true?
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm
I’m not sure the “out of shape” characterization came from anyone in the program. Reports of a true freshman throwing up in his first few workouts in a major conditioning program (and who says some of the vets weren’t doing the same thing back in the winter) doesn’t exactly make me question his heart and motivation just yet.
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
12:03 pm
Herschel Talker is an idiot.
He believes a coaching change will happen and POOF! we become the BCS champion.
A coaching change will do the following:
1.) Every 2012 recruit will re-consider coming to UGA. The new staff will have to win them over.
2.) A coaching change will most likely involve a change in philosophy on offense and defense.
3.) The change in philosophy affects the type of player recruited. Pro style to spread or 3-4 to 4-3 involves different types of players.
To say that a new coach will magically improve things is idiotic. Just because it worked at Florida and Auburn does not mean it will work at UGA.
It could backfire and set us back 2 or 3 years and we may never recover.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:08 pm
68 yard “pooch kick”?
Spanky
June 22nd, 2011
12:09 pm
All this depends on the O-Line
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:10 pm
He would only need to look to his OC for a story in redemption. In 1996 Mike Bobo was terrible at QB, but with hard work he had a great senior season IN 1997 and closed it out with a record setting performance in the bowl game against Purdue. King has the ability and the physical tools to get it done. Lets hope he can put it together this year.
Joey
June 22nd, 2011
12:11 pm
That would be, “Joey, you too, …”
Thanks for the lesson though. I would think if a “runner” knows the playbook, he knows when he will get the ball and which way to run. I also would think you would know Mike Bobo calls the plays. I actually heard on a post-game show Richt say, “I like the way Bobo calls plays.” This after about seven 3 & outs vs MSU last season, bu the way.
Obviously, Murray will be better at changing the play when he walks up to the line for a run up the gut, and the defense has 8 in the box. I hope so.
I love Murray. I hope the Dawgs win 14 games. I would love for Mark Richt to win again and stay for years.
But we’ll never agree on Bobo. You think he’s terrific.
Repeat after me: I don’t.
Big Albany Dawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:13 pm
I love Benjamin Franklin Belue, but what is he smoking and can I get some of it?
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
12:13 pm
Lowcountry
Bobo and Co. beat Wisconsin and Ron Dayne in the Outback Bowl. Beat Florida that year too.
Lost to Peyton Manning at UT and got a standing ovation from the UT fans at the end of the game for how they competed.
Ended 10-2.
Jonkdawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:14 pm
At this point i would just give the kid a ball, have faith in him he is senior now so let him loose and i am pretty sure he will work his butt off in order to go to next level who wouldn’t wanna go to NFL anyway?
Bulldog born, Bulldog bred ....
June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm
After reading some of CK’s comments this year, I’m convinced that he has matured greatly and I believe that is all he was lacking. He has ALL the tools to be a premier running back. I think he finally has the desire and commitment. If he can stay healthy, I think Buck’s predictions will come true.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm
Purdue was 200, my error, but again you verified my point in how Bobo came back and competed after having a terrible Junior campaign.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:16 pm
2000
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 22nd, 2011
12:17 pm
I don’t know how Caleb’s senior year will turn out but I do know he gained a lot of respect from me for continuing to play against LSU with a broken jaw in 09.Whatever he is “soft” is not a part of his description.Why do we have to have a savior on Offense anyway?IMO the 2 biggest additions to the team are John Jenkins and Jarvis Jones.Tighten up that Defense and watch how that record improves.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:21 pm
What sideline were you standing on? Had a great first half BUT Bobo just wouldn’t use him in the second? WHAT? He had a horrible firt half (in fact most of his yard and half his carried WERE in the second half, little as they were). King had 9 carries for 8 yard in the whole game. He never had a carry in the first half over 2 yrd and several for no gain. Richard Samuel had a better game than King.
In the real version of the actual game, Ealey had a decent 2nd half and was the only reason UGA was able to tie it up. (as far as rushers).
Joey
June 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm
“If he can stay healthy, I think Buck’s predictions will come true.”
***********************************
I agree, Bulldog born…
And again, if Caleb has a big year, UGA has a big year.
solja
June 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm
Once again the Thuga’s are discussing the possibilities of an underachiever actually doing something at THUG U.
SSIgator
June 22nd, 2011
12:22 pm
“I see a 1,000 yard season”
For King? He has never even come close to that in three years. Stop drinking the KoolAid Buck.
Bulldog born, Bulldog bred ....
June 22nd, 2011
12:23 pm
Be patient, my friends. The Dawgs are on the way back up. BTW, it was good to learn that Tony Gilbert has been hired as an asst coach under Coach T. Good to have you back, Tony.
how2fish
June 22nd, 2011
12:23 pm
Well I hope he has a great senior year, but if he can’t stay healthy the entire year I hope he can for the first 2 games that would give IC and Boo some breathing room to learn the offensive playbook. I don’t much worry about the reports that IC and Boo are struggling in the first work out sessions…if fact I would worry if they weren’t they are trying to do workouts that are light years tougher than anything they have been thru yet and they are what 18-19 ? At that age they can quickly get a lot stronger and bigger , Jenkins is a older man to them and has been exposed to college level training for a couple of years..still glad he showed up ready to go…Go Dogs first and foremost thing we have to do….Beat Boise!
Bulldog born, Bulldog bred ....
June 22nd, 2011
12:24 pm
@ solja, You’re welcome to leave anytime.
Jonkdawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:24 pm
About Isiah Crowell they think he is not ready i wouldn’t bet on that either, just wait and see,
i am sure they whoever the sport experts will change their mind after couple games.
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
12:25 pm
Lowcountry
I always thought what happened in 1995 with Bobo and Edwards getting injured against Tennessee was ultimately Goff’s downfall. That team was pretty good. Not SEC champion good but good enough to win more than 6 games.
Hines Ward ended up playing QB and we had no running backs at all by the end of the year. Bobo then suffered through 1996 with Donnan and came back strong in 1997.
Caleb King is certainly capable of doing good things like these.
JB
June 22nd, 2011
12:25 pm
If…and I mean if these RB’s are out of shape, it’s not a player problem, it’s management problem.
Bitter big #34
June 22nd, 2011
12:25 pm
my man buck is right —king has been waiting and working for this moment——-he
————carries the name of the most famous black man that ever lived
—————–he at times has show he can run just like #34
—————————-he at times has show he is a steraight up morron!!!
————————————–its the age—–butt its time for put up or shut up!!!!!
—————–i love the kid —–he has grown up and its time for center stage king!!!!
———–run hard and love your senior year king——–best of luck my friend—-big dawg
SSIgator
June 22nd, 2011
12:26 pm
“200 carries”
He barely has 200 in three years. Put that glass down Buck.
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm
SSI
Are you obsessed with Kool aid?
That is your only line?
Get some new material son. The other TROLLS are writing me e-mails wanting you banned.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:28 pm
Please quote me saying Bobo is terrific. I was on his case back when you all were saying all of our troubles were all Willie’s fault. Do we really need every conversation defined in terms of somebody having to be either terrific or horrible?
I think the difference might be what we define “calling plays” as. I define it as a group of options, and the personelgrouping, on a particular situation. It IS the QB that determines what is ultimetely going to happen at the line. Just like we had a flat predictable running game when Stafford was a freshman, but somehow Bobo figured out how to be more creative in his “calls” the next year, that will happen again.
HBTD
June 22nd, 2011
12:30 pm
Hope Buck is right on this one.
SSIgator
June 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm
“12 TD runs”
He has only had 10 in his three years at UGA. This is what happens when Richt started exporting his KoolAid to other places. I wonder if he took any to Honduras with him.
Joey
June 22nd, 2011
12:31 pm
“he at times has show he can run just like #34″
*******************************
Bitter big #34, as you see from my posts, I wish Caleb the best, but he has yet to show any simblance of #34.
#34 was a once-in-a-lifetime talent.
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:33 pm
And yes the playbook would tell the RB which hole to hit. That’s what the QB is yelling. After he decides it. If the direction and exact option on every play was being called from the sideline, it would be just said in the huddle, and all we need to hear is “hike”.
SSIgator
June 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm
“The track record says Caleb King is going to disappoint you”
This is the only part of the story that you got correct Buck.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:35 pm
Agreed, what we ran out 6-7 tailbacks in ‘95?
Keep it Simple
June 22nd, 2011
12:36 pm
The entire offense is “mis-matched and a wanna-be” … the “Inbreds” don’t know what they want to be … can’t really pass because the tailback can’t pass block … can’t run beacuse the O=line is inferior … excuses, excuses … pick an priority … run the ball and be “tail-back-U” … spread it out pass the ball … UGA can’t do both or either … 6 & 6 at best … be real and quit thinking the Inbreds are real … they are not !!!!
ugaclassof2004
June 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
I’m of the opinion that if a player is inconsistent in their first and second year, then they’ll probably be inconsistent their third year. Look at Stephen Garcia at South Carolina. The guy has been in Spurrier’s system for how long?? He should know that system like the back of his hand but instead he’s making the same bonehead mistakes he made as a rookie.
Guys like Caleb King, Tavarres King are like Stephen Garcia: they’ll have games were they play like world beaters, and then others where they’ll absolutely stink up the field. They can help give the team some juice, but you don’t want to have to build your offense around them like you would an AJ Green or a Knowshon Moreno.
Bitter big #34
June 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
go back and watch some old footage————–king has spirt———-yaaaw
goe ja born—georgia breed—————–to run!!!!———-just saying—–trolls
AltamahaDawg
June 22nd, 2011
12:38 pm
We never tire of that Glynn Middle School humor.
SOUTHGADAWG88
June 22nd, 2011
12:39 pm
I doubt anybody on the team is in game condition right now…even the workout warriors like Orson Charles.
DawginLex
June 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
Keep it simple
You call UGA student athletes “Inbreds” and you expect someone to respond cordially?
Ain’t gonna happen TROLL boy.
The only positive response you will get is from another TROLL or from yourself under another blog handle.
Joey
June 22nd, 2011
12:41 pm
“that will happen again.”
***********************
Altamaha – I pray that you are right and I’m wrong. If Bobo proves me wrong this year, I’ll be the first to admit it, and would be estatic to do so, because it would mean that the Dawgs had a successful season.
In my mind, he has been mediocre at the OC position when he didn’t have an offense that was full of 1st (and 2nd) round NFL picks. And even with a teams like that, he was shut down by good SEC DCs.
SSIgator
June 22nd, 2011
12:43 pm
“I’m afraid there’s probably an awful lot of wishful thinking fueling”
Bill, it is not wishful thinking. Any thoughts as absurd as the ones Buck shared in this piece would have to have been created by some sort of drug. LSD would produce such a mind altering experience.