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
big JOE
December 8th, 2011
8:35 pm
Snake Doc
1) Logging on to your computer
2) Going to the UGA page
3) Reading blogs on UGA football
4) Registering w/ the ajc
5) Posting comments about UGA football
Non-UGA fan doing all of this, for what?
SO, YOU’RE the pot calling the kettle black… lol
YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!
December 8th, 2011
8:41 pm
Muschamp is a joke of a coach. HIs Defenses weren’t any good when he was a D-cord (anyone remember TEXAS last season??) and yet everyone kept saying ‘ HIre Muschamp!’ ‘ HIre Muschamp!’ Not sure what everyone saw in him as head-coach material, but I said he would be a flop. And maybe I’m wrong & he’ll turn things around, but by all indications I’m right. Even if he does get things together, why would a program with high expectations like FLA hire someone so questoinable??? Not sure, but I’m glad (and laughing).
NiceUni
December 8th, 2011
8:45 pm
There’s plenty to worry about in Athens without getting excited over Weiss leaving Florida. That probably helps the Gators anyway…maybe this new kid can stay healthy and run. Trying to predict which recruit will succeed is a joke anyway…I heard everyone on this blog talk up Crowell like he was Walter Payton.
ga gator
December 8th, 2011
8:54 pm
Trust me everyone, EVERYONE in Gainesville is extremely happy that Fat Charlie is gone; even Muschamp. Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun and I email and his inside sources said that Muschamp was saved from firing Weis.
ga gator
December 8th, 2011
8:58 pm
WDE, I do not usually come on here and critisize or bash Dawgs, but get real. Until UGA beats us more than one game in a row, don’t put a fork in us yet. I was at the game in Jax and you would of thought that beating the worst UF team since 1977 by 4 points when they played with a 1 legged QB was like winning the National Championship.
jlp85
December 8th, 2011
9:03 pm
Lay off Crowell. Watch the film of when the lineman rolled his ankle in the Auburn game. That was no little ding. Not many true Freshman have had to carry the load he has. He will mature and hopefully appreciate the great opportunity he has before him. “If it is to be it is up to me”
Mosely Wright
December 8th, 2011
10:08 pm
quit worrying about #1’s(offense) eligibility. Jan Kemp was his tutor
suwanee dawg
December 8th, 2011
10:12 pm
Fat a Charlie will be fine at Kansas in the big 8, or whatever the conference name is, all offense and no defense, his achilles heel at ND. Agree with Gator folks until we win two in a row or start splitting over a 5-10 year period, we have little to say. With that said, right now Georgia fans sense some changes in Athens and look forward to the future.
As to IC, attitude issues aside, it bothered me he did not break any 50+ runs. He seems to lack that second and third cut once past the initial line of scrimmage.
DAWGman 24/7 : The Quick Fix to be SEC Champs !
December 8th, 2011
10:13 pm
Everybody at Georgia now knows if we can’t beat LSU or ‘Bama, we gotta join them. There must be changes made to make SEC Champs and true national title contenders. CMR must be bold enough to make the adjustments or UGA will continue to come in second to SCarolina in the SEC East, because Florida and Tennessee can’t stay down much longer. Heads are gonna roll before those rivals in the SEC East accept mediocrity. Now let’s admit UGA “won” the Eastern division with Arkansas’ defeat of SCarolina & our “big” win over Ole Miss. Hey, its sometimes better to be lucky than good right? But in the SECCG versus LSU, the Dawgs luck ran out and we were badly beaten by a much better LSU team.
So how do the Dawgs get better and shed its SEC pretender status? Here’s how. UGA’s defense with Grantham is ahead the Richt/Bobo braintrust at offense, and UGA must shore up its unacceptable special teams. To balance the inbalances between offense, defense, and special teams, Richt has to step up and make immediate decisions on offense and special teams. He must search the assistant coach landscape and bring in a proven special teams coach/coordinator, who can right our wrongs on kick coverage and lend some much needed attention and encouragement to our beleagered field goal kicker. Problem solved on special teams now on to the tough part, the offense. I’ll start QB position on two fronts. Murray to this point has been an adequate QB for two years as starter, but just being adequate hasn’t proved to be quite enough because UGA has yet to win the big game with him at the helm and we’ve had many disappointing losses. With that in mind Richt must open up the position for competition from QBs LeMay and Mason. Murray cannot be grandfathered in as he was this past season as the starter. Murray must battle Lemay and Mason this spring for the position to improve. May the best man win. If Murray, who has game experience advantages over the others loses the competition and desires to transfer. Fine we wish him the best. If he is a true team player he’ll stick around to provide proven depth at QB. But even before that, OC Mike Bobo needs to step down to strictly and without bias coach the QBs only. Then Richt again must go out and find a top, proven offensive coordinator and give him complete control of the offense. This new OC will set up the kind of pro-style offense that dedicated Georgia fans have been craving since the glory days of Dooley. A run-first, pound it out, ball control offense that will wear down opposing defenses in true smashmouth style. Forty attempts running the ball with a stable of SEC calibre RBs, beats forty pass attempts by an adequate QB with young WRs and no running game versus bullies like run-first LSU and ‘Bama in a championship game. Richt has to fight fire with fire versus Miles and Saban. He can no longer turn the other cheek and accept being routed by ‘Bama & LSU.
There it is y’all, it’s all up to Richt now. Does he stick with what he’s been doing and keep UGA in second tier SEC status, or does Richt do the right thing by overhauling the offense and bring in help to fix his ailing special teams? The choice is his, but if he fails to do so, Florida and Tennessee will. Go Dawgs !
Stephen A. Dawg
December 8th, 2011
11:29 pm
@ Dawgman. I agree with you about improving the offense and special teams. But let’s be more specific about the running backs. We now have Marshall and Crowell as candidates to work themselves into SEC calibre running backs. Crowell wasn’t ready to be the lead Dawg at running back this year, we know that, but he was thrust into a bad situation and people need to knock it off with all the stupid attacks on a immature 18 year kid, who was playing Class A football last year. He barely survived a injury plagued season, and he pretty much did his best at the time to show up and play through the hurt and pain. I’m sure Crowell now knows he’s got to take his training seriously in the offseason and win the trust of his teammates by stepping up and setting a positive example. Crowell doesn’t totally trust his coaches after being thrown in a meatgrinder as a true freshman, but he has to realize he has to move past that and be more coachable in order to get to the next level. He still has a tremendous upside and talent. Next season, his coaches must get him SEC level help to wear down defenses, because little 5′-6”, 165 pound Carlton Thomas wasn’t wearing anyone down. The mighty mite and poor lil fella was strictly in survival mode and it didn’t look good on UGA coaches that such a small RB at a big time school was sent to scamper up the middle as much as he did. From the little I’ve heard of Marshall, it appears he is a speed back with 4.29 sprint speed. A guy that can be gone if he turns a corner. Pretty good. But UGA still needs another guy like Samuels at RB that can break tackles and go up the middle in attack mode against LBs and safeties. In other words we still need another pounder to go with Marshall’s speed, Samuel’s brawn, and Crowell must up a little bit to start breaking a few tackles along with being the artful tackle dodger he showed to be this year. IC is much tougher now than he was when he first came in and he needs to heal up and get his mind/head right to go to work on and off the field.
Right on Dawgman about QB Murray. Richt has got to give Mason and Lemay a look or he runs the risk of losing both of them and the last thing UGA needs is another mess at QB as big or bigger than the mess that was made at RB. Murray reminds me a lot of Richt’s old 1991 FSU qb, Casey Weldon, who was a limited overachiever who relied on the cast around him more so than his own abilities. The offensive line needs to be rebuilt and suitable depth need to be brought in.
We might as well face it, we will never see another legend at UGA like the great Herschel Walker, who had all the super speed, intimidating power, great mental strength, great discipline and dynamic physical build in one package. Now Georgia must have at least a quartet of SEC RBs to do what HW did for us and carry on the great running Dawg tradition to win championships. Go Dawgs!!!
Terry
December 8th, 2011
11:39 pm
Ok, so now that Charlie Weis is leaving, the Gator people want to make us believe, its a good thing, when just last year, he was y’all Offensive guru, make up your minds, was he, or wasn’t he, suppose to be y’all Offensive Messiah, and turn y’all team into some kind of Offensive Juggernaut for 2012? At least that’s what you Gator fan were telling us.
Terry
December 8th, 2011
11:57 pm
NiceUni, Tell me exactly how it helps the Gator’s, that Weis has left? Now they have to hire another Offensive Coach, and those offensive recruits for 2012 don’t even know who’s going to be the next Coordinator, and who ever it is will be implement his offensive game plan for next year. Actually, they are going to have to start all over with their offense, Tell me once again, how is that going to help the Gators?
Ray Richardson
December 9th, 2011
6:03 am
Crowell is a thug, get him outta here!!!!!
Jborodawg
December 9th, 2011
7:58 am
Again, Crowell should develop nicely and be a good TB.
Even in the past when we had a great FB (Sutherlin, Chapas), we didn’t give him the ball much except at the goal line. However, I do like throwing it to Figgins on screens; which we also have done traditionally.
I too wonder why we didn’t put Mason in more often. Mop-up duty just doesn’t cut it for getting experience.
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
8:34 am
My prediction for the gators was DEAD ON CORRECT.
I told that smartalec SSIGator that Muschamp and Weis would never co-exist together. Never. One year, over, done with.
I get one right every now and then…………..
big uglies!!
December 9th, 2011
8:36 am
CMR still doesnt understand you need O & D lineman in the SEC! He does have a few good D lineman now but the O-LINE is STILL a huge problem; well that and Bobo.
Keniboy
December 9th, 2011
8:58 am
How bout getting some offensive linemen.
AltamahaDawg
December 9th, 2011
8:59 am
In terms of numbers, UGA has recruited just as many OL as anyone else, over a period of time. Development is another issue, but give credit for moving on when SS didnt work out (and everybody thought he was a great hire). Friend has done a fantastic job. Changes in conditioning was a positive move. And you have to admit some just plain bad luck too. Oline no doubt an issue, but’ I don’t believe its because they don’t understand the need for linemen to compete in the SEC. That’s not very believable IMO.
Keniboy
December 9th, 2011
8:59 am
Good comment, big uglies
DawginLex
December 9th, 2011
9:03 am
The spin from the florida idiots like SSIGator will be PRICELESS
justifying Weiss leaving.
One year ago, we were supposed to tremble like puppies remember?
Weiss coached Tom Brady
Weiss led Kansas City to the playoffs
Weiss could turn Brantley into Brady II
The spin now will be PRICELESS
tell me again
December 9th, 2011
9:04 am
Charlie Weiss has taken the head coaching position at Kansas State: What does that tell you about the state of the Florida football program when the offensive coordinator leaves “The best coaching job in America” to go coach a team that won two gmes last year and has been in decline for the past 6 years. And no – it’s not for an opportunity just to be a head coach again. LOL. Florida is in the dumps. The rats are jumping ship from coaches to recruits – my, my….the invincible Gators. Ouch.
tell me again
December 9th, 2011
9:04 am
Sorry – NOT Kansas State – KANSAS
AltamahaDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:15 am
Everybody signs about 4 a year on average. And actually, in the past 5 yrs UGA has signed more OL than either LSU or Bama. We signed 6 last year. I understand they plan to sign a good number this year too.
AltamahaDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:19 am
You guys need to consider that UF will most probably hire an OC that will be an upgrade, or at least a better fit.
villedog
December 9th, 2011
9:25 am
Key to running game is offensive linemen. With 4 and 5 stars on the line most backs at Georgia are capable of having a great year.
AltamahaDawg
December 9th, 2011
9:26 am
DIL, you are giving away too much credit. If they hadn’t read it in the Georgia Blogs, guys like SSIgator couldn’t even name the UF coaches.
big uglies!!
December 9th, 2011
9:38 am
We signed 5 last year, one was a long snapper. Yes we have had injuries but so has everyone else. You mean to tell me in 11 years he cant get a solid O-line? 2 maybe 3 years we have had a SEC o-line.
Roswell Dawg4Life
December 9th, 2011
9:53 am
I think Isaiah did very good this year. When I think back to my younger days (BBA 74) I know I would not have had the maturity to stay out of trouble. What he has done is pretty mild compared to some of my exploits back then and a large portion of the student body made me look tame by comparison. I don’t doubt he has had some injuries that would have kept other players out of the game. I admire him for toughing out the ankle injury for the SECC and I think he deserves our respect for that. I also don’t think his wrist and rib injuries were small matters and he fought through them. He has been subjected to a lot of unwarranted criticism from Dawg supporters and foes alike. I understand that he does read blogs and other internet gossip columns. I encourage true Dawg fans to let him know that he had a very good season, despite the setbacks, and that we all expect him to continue to grow and be a dominant SEC back in the years to come.
ga gator
December 9th, 2011
9:58 am
DawginLex, go on Gatorsports.com at the Charlie Weis comments the last 3 months and see just how happy Gator fans were with his offense. You are correct about many thought he would be a good fit; me included. But once I saw that after his 15 scripted plays to start each game he was clueless on how to adjust, I knew he would either be 1 and done or Muschamp would be gone after year 2. His style of offense did help Brantley who had 190 yards against Bama in the 1st half, but after his injury, he was basically a 1 legged QB the rest of the season. IF and that is a big IF, UGA can win 2 in a row against us for the 1st time since the late 80’s then I will agree we are on the downside and UGA is on the upswing. Until then, I would put a fork in us yet. So far according to our recruiting website not a single recruit is leaving, so time will tell. Another thing that some of you were correct about and that was Muschamp and Charlie will not get along. One of my contacts close to the situation was that Muschamp was going to just make him a QB coach and hire someone else to actually be the coordinator and Weis would never agree to it. The inside favorite to get the job is Kerwin Bell, JU Head Coach and former Gator QB and reports are he has let Muschamp know that he would accept if offered.
Dwayne
December 9th, 2011
10:23 am
IC does not need to read the blogs or papers to know UGA fans did not appreciate his lack of effort. He heard the Boo’s. Now, if you can convince him that the fans were cheering for Boo Malcome or OC BooBoo, things might be ok. Didn’t Boo get his yards after the game was “over”? I am hoping IC stays, that he can prove all nay sayers wrong, battle for a starting job, go to class and pass and be DGD. I am a fan of UGA’s but far from delusional. We will still struggle to beat Fla., Vandy and SC. I don’t know what ‘Bama has coming back but I do look forward to that game.
AltamahaDawg
December 9th, 2011
10:28 am
Well, There is a difference between not having and not wanting. My point was simply that it’s certainly not for lack of trying. Or at least on the surface, not for a lack of numbers.
I think some of it is turnover at that position coach. And no doubt, some cases of picked the wrong recruits.
And I would question only having 2 good lines in 11 years, but lets say that is true. Your guess is as good as anyone why it hasn’t panned out.
So what would you think the issue has been? Surely, you can’t truly believe it’s as simple as not knowing any better, as you originally said.
HW II
December 9th, 2011
12:26 pm
Mark this down–Marshall is the next H. Walker! Marshall is the real thing and is the best Ga back since H. Walker in the 80s! With Marshall and Davis, Ga will rule the SEC!!! Ga beats bama in 2012 for the SEC title!!!!
Patient Gator
December 9th, 2011
6:13 pm
You Dawg fans talking about Marshall as the next Herschel Walker, and comparing Crowell and Marshall to Ingram and Richardson, is comical. Marshall only weighs 190 pounds and Crowell isn’t exactly a picture of toughness. And by the way, Marshall is 35 pounds lighter than Herschel.
And while were on the subject of weight, Gator fans are universally glad to see Weiss leave. With minimally competent offensive game-planning, coaching and adjustments, we would have beaten Auburn, FSU, South Carolina and probably Georgia. Our offensive line does lack depth and size at the moment, but that doesn’t explain the poor performance. We have more than enough talent at the other positions.