UGA signing Keith Marshall can only help Isaiah Crowell
Isaiah Crowell disappointed many fans and yet still was SEC freshman of the year. (Associated Press)
The shift in UGA fan support away from Isaiah Crowell and toward Keith Marshall has been swift and decisive, at least online.
But I really don’t understand some folks’ penchant for viewing Georgia’s tailback situation next year as an either-or proposition where Marshall, the new golden boy, supplants Crowell, the disappointing former favorite.
Let’s keep some perspective here. Yes, the injury-prone Crowell rubbed many the wrong way to start with this season by frequently taking himself out of games after a couple of runs. Then there was the immaturity that manifested itself in a couple of suspensions.
And there definitely seems to be a bit of an attitude problem, evident when we saw Crowell turn his back on his head coach in the middle of a dressing down for drawing a penalty with his mouthing off during the SEC championship game. That’s something even the ever-patient Mark Richt shouldn’t tolerate.
But Crowell still ran well enough this season to be the SEC’s freshman of the year and the Dogs would not have 10 wins without him.
Keith Marshall says he'll enroll at UGA in January. (Associated Press)
More importantly, Georgia will need to utilize the talents of both Crowell and Marshall next season and probably Richard Samuel, Boo Malcome and any other running back who is still on the roster.
LSU and its four-headed running attack is a prime example of what a successful SEC offense needs these days. Tailbacks get hurt; it’s just part of the game. If the talent gap between your starter and the backups is as stark as it was at Georgia this year, it puts you at a severe disadvantage (unless you’re playing Georgia Tech).
I believe Marshall competing with Crowell for playing time could be the best thing that has happened to Isaiah at UGA. But whichever one ends up the starter (and my money would be on a healthy Crowell), there’ll be plenty of carries for the other one. And if they’re both living up to their potential, well, Alabama didn’t do so badly splitting time between Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson.
Georgia signing the nation’s most wanted tailback two years in a row will be quite an accomplishment, but it shouldn’t be a rarity. You can never have too many good tailbacks in the SEC and Richt and his staff should be signing a five-star running back every season.
Go Dogs!
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433 comments Add your comment
Chet
December 7th, 2011
12:59 pm
I love this jab:
“If the talent gap between your starter and the backups is as stark as it was at Georgia this year, it puts you at a severe disadvantage (unless you’re playing Georgia Tech).”
Chet
Ron
December 7th, 2011
12:59 pm
Note to IC. One good game w/o injuries and all the naysayers and Gator, Ala and Alburn troublemakers on here will disappear. Don’t read the papers or Blogs on the internet. Keep healing, working hard and run wild in Tampa. You and Marshall are going to make Ga. tailback U. again. Good Luck. This Georgia fan is behind you all the way.
OkieDawg
December 7th, 2011
1:02 pm
Crowell would have been even better if the O-line had been better at run blocking. Other than a couple of cupcakes and the Auburn game, the O-line was rather inept at run blocking. If the O-line can step up the run blocking, next year can be great for Crowell and Marshall. I do give it to the O-line for providing excellent pass protection in the second half of the season. We have the size on the O-line but we need them faster and stronger. It takes a team to move the ball on the ground.
old dog
December 7th, 2011
1:03 pm
Congrats Keith! And congrats to the coaching staff…..we now have a tailback with an IQ above Mr. Coffee! Folks ain’t been piling on Crowell because of injuries….it was when he WASN’T injured and did a drum-solo on his helmet to come out after water-girl contact that made folks mad, along with gettin’ penalties for running that trap when he shoulda shut up. He’s a freshman, and he’ll learn. However, we were gettin’ pretty slack on tail-back recognization these days. We bring ‘em in and they are either dumb as a sack of rocks or have the character of a ….well, no character at all! We’ll never find the perfect tail-back, and nobody expects us to. Just find a non-complainer who runs the ball well and can pour p*ss out of a boot….the rest will fall into place!!
evil empire
December 7th, 2011
1:08 pm
no one calls uga “tailback u” anywhere else in the country except for here in georgia…delusional fanbase at its finest…
marseilles mutt
December 7th, 2011
1:08 pm
Agree totally that KM will only help ALL of thrunning backs, not just IC, who didn’t do half bad this year under the circumstances.
In addition, I’d personally like to see CMR do the following:
First- Hire a full time special teams coach, unless it interferes with position coaches. (i.e. numbers thereof)
Secondly- Open up competition for BOTH the QB as well as the RB position; and be ready to play two QB’s!
and Lastly- Spend an equal or even greater time recruiting at the O line positions as well as the ’skill’ positions. We always have seemingly great skill players, but little depth on the O line.
One last comment. The majority of Bobo’s critics seem to have little knowledge of the game. Case in point; “he insists on running the same play time after time…” Take as an example running btween the tackles. Same play every time, right? Sorry, not the case. Most players and former players could point out that a team can run the same play from 5 or 6 sets, or block it from the same set an equal or greater number of ways.
Why start off the second half vs LSU with a run? Well we were hurting them with the pass, and since we ‘assume’ they will make adjustments at the half, let’s see what they are, maybe catch them with personnel that don’t matchup, for example. Frankly, I think Bobo does do a pretty darn good job.
As for his (and most of UGA’s) critics, well, I suppose it’s better to be opinionated rather than informed…kind of like some sports writers we all know.
gbal
December 7th, 2011
1:09 pm
Crowell was a mjor contributor. yes some injury issues and distractions but any true UGA fans need to hope the off season will be good for him to get healthy, stronger, and focused. Great potential… regret that he had to be thrown into the the fire so quickly. Thats tough for most 18 year olds. Ive had ‘em and know.
DAWGS forever
December 7th, 2011
1:12 pm
Well said Mr. King. We need ALL the backs. Look at this year and LSU as examples.
GO DAWGS!
evil empire
December 7th, 2011
1:12 pm
Crowell will be ok…this season can’t end quickly enough for him though…keep your head up kid…
Pago Pago Dawg
December 7th, 2011
1:13 pm
Enter your comments here
gbal
December 7th, 2011
1:13 pm
Old dog, it’s great being able to hide behind a computer screen isn’t it. What a idiot.
Pago Pago Dawg
December 7th, 2011
1:14 pm
We all should be happy that KM is the replacement for Isabell.
LCDawg
December 7th, 2011
1:19 pm
Shock & Awe
Brucerugby79
December 7th, 2011
1:19 pm
I hope Samuel continues where he left off at the end of the Florida game-Malcome looks like he could be a tough runner–little Carlton has shown he can be effective-(another year in the weight room) Crowell will mature and be better and with Marshall coming in -I think we are loaded-hope the redshirted ol have gotten bigger-we have a great QB and are loaded with talent at tight end and WR–with almost the whole defense coming back–Things look good to this old Dog–folks give Crowell a break he is 18 years old—GO DAWGS !!!!
HeeHawDawg
December 7th, 2011
1:21 pm
Shucks & Aww
old dog
December 7th, 2011
1:24 pm
@ gbal,
You lose as many tailbacks as we have, its gotta be more than the luck of the draw……hidin’ behind a screen doesn’t enter into a conversation about losing tailback after tailback…..and we have lost some. All fans want their players to do well, and will accept some freshman screw-ups. Just try not to demonstrate ALL bad character traits at once!!!!!!!!!!! Crowell is salvagable, and may do okay. However, he acts like an entitled brat. We just need backs that can STAY here!
Evansdawg
December 7th, 2011
1:24 pm
The competition will be great for IC. I think this is a golden opportunity for IC to advance his game and play a mentoring role, rather than being the new guy.
hind tit
December 7th, 2011
1:29 pm
All this talk really means nothing. Crowell has two choices either get serious about a life style change or continue down the same road that past athletes with great potential had and wasted. He’s at a cross roads in his life at this very minute. If he listens to coach Richt he will go on to be one of the great backs in Georgia history or if he listens to that other voice he will became another great athlete who listened to that voice of doom. If your going to play for Mark Richt either it’s his way or the highway just ask any player, which has be many no matter how many stars or how good of a player they were, that has been shown the door. I truly believe he would quite coaching before he would give in to lawlessness. It’s his choice!
old dog
December 7th, 2011
1:34 pm
@ Evansdawg,
Just what Marshall needs….an honors student w/Crowell for a mentor. “There’s your sign!” Marshall can come in and be the mentor, and then they’ll have a shot at a successful backfield next year!
JSD
December 7th, 2011
1:37 pm
After 2012, we will know for sure if Crowell is meant to be. Allow for the mistakes his frosh year to take place. Hopefully the learning process will kick in. He has no room to wiggle in year two. I hope for the best, but his pre-madonna attitude and skittish running is not enough to convience me he is a keeper if it continues.
Bad Attitude = THUG
Sj21
December 7th, 2011
1:38 pm
I never remember Walker taking himself out of the game, or taking a play off as a freshman. IC is on his way out at UGA, he never got hit in high school, and is a total distraction to the team. Aaron has to tell him what to do every time he changes the play at the line, and 85% of the time he still goes the wrong way or misses his block, every time he get’s hit he jumps up and looks to the sideline wanting to come out. Not a team player and Georgia does not need him.
Dawg 39
December 7th, 2011
1:53 pm
One unverified poll naming next years starter had Marshall at 52% & Crowell at 48 %. I was in the 48%. Actually I believe we need more than 2 RBs that we can count on. In 2012 I also believe that we will have them.
Establish the run, stop the run, & a play action passing game will be the key next year. Actually special team play remains my biggest concern. That & turnovers.
CHDawg
December 7th, 2011
1:53 pm
I’m with Bill. The negative press on Crowell is overdone. Some people who are talking about how great backs were yesterday forget that defenders are bigger, faster, stronger and better. One guy running it 40 times is probably a thing of the past. Also, building the expectations that they will be stars as 18 year olds might lead to problems. It used to take a couple of years in practice and the weight room for most guys to get up to SEC speed. Give them time, and we could truly have some special backs. Personally, I think we think about moving Samuel to FB at this point. Get him on the field with some of these other guys.
Kris
December 7th, 2011
1:58 pm
The way it’s done with the top SEC West programs is to have at least 2 great running backs. We’ve got to become more like LSU & Alabama in that regard.
If we run it as few times as we did in 2011, we’ll lose 3 or 4 games again. LSU runs it a lot more times per game than we do, and they’re 13-0, that’s the way it’s done today.
You have to limit your QB passes to 15-20, max, and run the ball. And you have to have a great defense, to do that, which LSU & Alabama have, and if Grantham returns, we have also.
We could have the top 5 running backs in the country, and Bobo would try to win the SEC passing it. 40 passes in SEC Championship game = another blowout loss.
While a running game helps you if you’re Alabama or LSU, it doesn’t fit with Bobo’s pass happy offense, Bobo is looking for backs that can pass block for interception prone, and big game bust Murray.
Kris
December 7th, 2011
2:04 pm
We usually get 2-3 rushing td’s per year, against ranked teams, while the SEC Champ usually has 10+ rushing td’s against raeked teams.
We’re just a pass happy offense.
Kris
December 7th, 2011
2:07 pm
We’ve ranked 9th or 10th in the SEC in rushing td’s in 2009, 2010 & 2011. RB coach needs to be fired.
harold
December 7th, 2011
2:08 pm
CROWELL FEELS VERY “DISRESPECTED” AT UGA. MANY PREDICT HE WILL TRANSER & GO WHERE HE FEELS APPRECIATED!
RDUdawg
December 7th, 2011
2:08 pm
Agreed that Crowell fully deserves an offseason to work on his physicality and maturity. A lot was put on his back from the very beginning.
Hope his attitude in the classroom is better than C King’s was. While he’s at it he needs to learn to pass BLOCK and catch the ball out of the backfield. Pro scouts are looking and no one wants a lesser version of R Bush who can’t run between the tackles without breaking AND who is a total liability in the passing game as his hands are suspect and blocking is non-existant.
He’s not the only Dawg to miss extensive time due to injury/suspension. Remember AJ Green??? Even Mitchell missed a bunch of time this year.
I’m a 4 year grad of UGA and if I had ever been drug tested for the green I would NEVER have passed. And I finished with a 3.2 from Terry School of Business. Thousands of undergrad at UGA and everywhere else are guility of the green…maturity and loss of playing time should set him straight. If not…it’s his lost opportunity. Absolutely absurd for fans to boo him at games like the SECCG.
ARdawg
December 7th, 2011
2:09 pm
kerryb
evil empire doesn’t have a school. McDonalds Hamburger university doesn’t field a football team. If he had graduated, he would have been a shoe-in for assistant fry cook
Jim
December 7th, 2011
2:09 pm
Welcome to Keith Marshall and thanks for comitting to the Georgia Bulldogs. Don’t read to much into what’s written in these blogs, twitter, or on face book. Just take them to be an extention of the comic section. Take them for what they are and don’t believe a word you read. They are a poor excuse used to sell papers by people who have forgotten how to write an artical about a player. I would rather see a nice artical about you, that includes your thought process in choosing UGA, background on your accomplishments, and maybe highlighting some players you played againt who are already playing college ball. I also believe that would be something real fans would like to read. The media should let the coaches handle the players and they neew to report, not make, the news!
LawDawg
December 7th, 2011
2:20 pm
Is there some reason my comments never seem to post on here? I did not write anything profane, but two comments never posted.
coastaldawg
December 7th, 2011
2:22 pm
Does anyone know who are the remaining recruits we have targeted for 2012 class? What are their names and projected positions at the college level? Richt etc have done a good job with “targeted recruiting” lately and I’m wondering who their attention has shifted to post Marshall….
Registrars Office
December 7th, 2011
2:25 pm
Crowell will be dismissed –grades.
Ed Pilcher
December 7th, 2011
2:31 pm
Injuries are part of the game. I’m not concerned about Crowell and injuries , because we don’t know what his threshold of pain is. What does concern me is his attitude and character.
Pay attention Mr. Crowell. If you work harder, straighten up your attitude, and stay out of trouble, you will be re-embraced by the UGA nation.
ARdawg
December 7th, 2011
2:31 pm
LawDawg
Bill’s blog is pretty sensitive. Check your words that might even be remotely close and put periods between the letters
Alphare
December 7th, 2011
2:31 pm
Bill,
I see where you are going, like Ealey helped King, Crowell helped Ealey?
or King->Ealey->Crowell->Marshall. Yes, Bill, what a creepy logic.
Far from first
December 7th, 2011
2:36 pm
and Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care………………….
RoJo
December 7th, 2011
2:37 pm
I think the addition of Marshall will give UGA a nice 1-2 punch. As long as the coaches can make them both buy into the total team concept, it won’t much matter who is the 1 and who is the 2. Yes, Crowell is a bit immature, but he is only 18 and he has room to grow. It was a lot to ask of a true freshman to just come in and be the man in the SEC. Unfortunately, a few guys older and supposedly more mature than he (King & Ealey) left the team with no choice but to play him more than initially expected. Hopefully he will do some growing up between now and next season. I support him and I want him to do well in every phase of life, not just on a football field.
RoJo
December 7th, 2011
2:46 pm
Enter your comments here
RiffRaff
December 7th, 2011
2:52 pm
What a week for running back Mike Davis (Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson). The four-star prospect decommited from Florida and reopened his recruitment just days ago, and his phone has been blowing up ever since. Between getting calls during class and bombarded on various social networking platforms, Davis admits he still was surprised when he got word of who was on the other end of the line Tuesday morning.
It was none other than Georgia head coach Mark Richt. The Bulldogs had not been in contact with the former Gators commitment for some time, and they also were awaiting word on the decision of five-star tailback Keith Marshall (Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook). Nonetheless, Davis was excited to hear what Richt had to say.
“Coach Richt told me he wanted to offer me a spot at Georgia, and that they needed more than one running back in this class,” Davis said. Schools including Florida State, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee also have jumped into the mix, with Davis set to take official visits to Tallahassee on Dec. 16 and Columbia on Jan. 13. With the latest news of Georgia offering, Davis was quick to point out that the Bulldogs’ timing could not be better.
jay
December 7th, 2011
3:00 pm
Marshall is exactly the type player Dawgs should be recruiting. I still haven’t given
up on Crowell. He’s very talented.
bugsquacher
December 7th, 2011
3:02 pm
Lets cut Crowell a little slack…. he is a young kid that has yet to grow up…. He has for the longest time been told how great he is….. Im sure this has gone to his head…. hopefully this season has given him something to think about….. Im sure over the next couple of months we will learn the TRUE CHARACTER of Crowell…. if he quits or leaves, so be it, everyone will think he is a thug, if he learns from his mistakes and improves both in attitude and performance the dawgs are potentially to have a dynamic one two punch in the backfield for the 2012 season. I wishing for the second…..for christmas.
JAP
December 7th, 2011
3:02 pm
IC will not around for spring ball. He will likely be academically ineligible. Signing Marshall is a relief
Dawg Fud
December 7th, 2011
3:02 pm
Isaiah is going to be fine. He has done more in one year that half of the dodos on here complaining.
Isaiah will have strong sophomore campaign. Give him to develop.
I guarantee 99% of the people on this blog were not in his shoes when they were 18 years old. Cut the young man some slack.
roc5542
December 7th, 2011
3:09 pm
some of you two faced uga fans suck! IC is young, we prayed for him last year and now some of you are ready to throw him away! You need depth at the TB position! The kid was fresh out of High School, never had a full time to get Bigger, Faster, Stronger! Now with the off season upon us let the growing begin. IC, RSIV, BOO, and Keith Marshall will all make one another better and The Four Horsemen will ride strong, any additions at TB is great. So please lay off the kid! Because some of you really sickens me with your nite and day moods! Expecting a true freshman to do it all is foolish! Now Lets increase our O line depth and where ever else it is needed! Oh and I said it first, “The Four Horsemen” IC, RSIV, BOO, and KM. You have my permission to release the m@#$%^f&*$#@! Kraken on all opponents! Go Dawgs
LHarding Dawg
December 7th, 2011
3:13 pm
Enter your comments here
GulfShoresDawg
December 7th, 2011
3:16 pm
Crowell & Marshall…they both win the Heisman at UGA!!! Energy Vampires…Knowshon got red shirted!!! Grow up, Crowell is more mature than most of you…Let NFL D linemen pound on you for 13 weeks…Get off our players backs and support them…CMR will have them ready and gunning in the top ten next year!!!
chris
December 7th, 2011
3:19 pm
I would love to see Crowell get his act together and see what this would do to our backfield. However, I don’t believe it will happen. I think the kid wants things handed to him instead of having to earn it and I think we have another Ealey on the team and he will soon be leaving Dawg Nation.
Ty
December 7th, 2011
3:21 pm
Just asking. I support him, of course. But can Ray Drew play?
Dawg 39
December 7th, 2011
3:22 pm
The QBs, WRs, &TEs that we have make it tempting to pass a lot. BUT, Bobo does not run a pass happy offense. He & Richt run a run first, play action pass offense, if & when he can. Some complain he runs it to much. It still comes dawn to running the ball & stopping the run as the primary objective. Nobody wants us to be one dimentional except the opposing DC.