Fumbles will cost Ealey starting job, playing time this week
ATHENS — Washaun Ealey’s fumbles cost Georgia dearly in losses to South Carolina and Mississippi State, and they will cost the sophomore tailback some playing time this week at Colorado.
“He’s going to play, but if a guy is turning it over, you’ve got to take some playing time away from him,” offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said Tuesday night.
Bobo and running backs coach Bryan McClendon said either Caleb King or Carlton Thomas will start at tailback Saturday and get some snaps that otherwise would have gone to Ealey. All three tailbacks played last week and, according to the coaches, will again this week.
Ealey has started at tailback the past three games, but his fumbles inside the opponent’s 5-yard line denied Georgia potential touchdowns at South Carolina and Mississippi State.
Both of Ealey’s fumbles resulted from “a slip in his technique,” McClendon said. “We have to make sure that can’t happen. It’s so hard to win in this league, but you make it that much harder when you’re laying the ball on the ground.”
The coaches weren’t specific on how much Ealey’s playing time will be reduced, although McClendon said “it won’t be a bunch less.”
King played on a limited basis last week after missing the previous two games with a sprained right ankle. McClendon said last week’s game helped King regain confidence in the ankle. He is “not missing a beat” in practice this week, McClendon said.
The 5-foot-7, 176-pound Thomas, who entered the season as the No. 3 tailback, relishes the idea of increased playing time.
“I’m just pretty much waiting for more,” Thomas said. “I’m ready to get into that rhythm, man. . . . I love reps. I want some more to show what I can do.”
Georgia has struggled unexpectedly in the running game this season, ranking 11th — next-to-last — in the SEC with an average of 124.2 yards rushing per game.
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427 comments Add your comment
Herschel Walker
September 28th, 2010
10:50 pm
I have the solution. I think I have another year of eligibility left. No wait, that may be my other self. No way, that may be my other self. No wait, that may be my other self. No wait, that may be my other self. Nevermind, we suck.
Why don't my posts show up?
September 28th, 2010
10:56 pm
I can type anything here since the AJC is not accepting my posts.
But you tell ‘em Carlton Thomas. You only weigh 179 if you’ve got on 30 lbs of equipment. Love the heart, but the way our line is blocking it is insane to run you into the middle of the line when they are stacking the box.
Why don't my posts show up?
September 28th, 2010
10:57 pm
Yeah! Let’s dont let Ealey carry the ball anymore since he fumbled. Let’s run that 150 lb back into the middle of the line against 10-11 huge guys.
Fumble against So. Car was bad; I cannot fault the one against Miss St. Did you really see the hit he took? I think he was dazed and disoriented when the ball was on the ground.
Now I get as upset with him as anyone, especially when he and the OL got stuffed for no gain on 3rd and 1 against Ark, then during the ensuing timeout he is dancing to hip hop at midfield. Totally whiffing on the crucial block that almost got Murray killed, but not the fumble.
Please teach him dancing when you are getting your butt handed to you is not acceptable, teach him how to block properly, teach drills to hold onto the ball, but don’t throw him under the bus for getting racked in midair.
Why don't my posts show up?
September 28th, 2010
11:02 pm
Agree with realistic dog fan at 9:52.
Dancing was difficult to take when it was Moreno, but that kid at least was making a statement and had something to dance about.
ryan
September 28th, 2010
11:03 pm
TaxJacket that Nesbitt for Heisman stuff is over its going be Mallet or Ingram and you still put that score up that happened 2 seasons ago come up with new material buddy .
Tide Roll
September 28th, 2010
11:06 pm
Why is Ben Jones still on the team. Does anyone know the condition of the kid from Miss. State he cut blocked from behind. If your AD Mcgarrity had a pair, he would see to this. You know Richt and Searles aren’t. What a punk ass program.
Concrete Pete
September 28th, 2010
11:11 pm
Mark Ingram was the 58th rated running back in his high school class. King was consensus top 5. Ealey was top 10, depending on what web site you looked at. So what happened? Ingram got better. Bigger, stronger, tougher, and more mentally strong in the strength and conditioning program. King and Ealey have not been forced to reach their peak by a sub par weight program.
ReddJonn68
September 28th, 2010
11:13 pm
Well even though Ealey did put the ball on the ground, this time by rule when the players helmet came off, the play should have been blown dead as soon as it left his head, you cannot expect a defenseless player to dive at the ball without a helmet.That’s the only break I will give Ealey he has to secure the ball ! Now that we established the SEC is one the worst officiating crews in all of football ( the level of play is not getting good officiating ). The whole conference must save face, too many times last year they had to apologize, for incorrect calls. Not only did I see at least 2 terrible calls in the Bama vs Ark game, I saw several in the USC vs Auburn game.
We all know that bad calls will determine the out come of games, but when you make the kind of revenue we make in the SEC & generate the TV dollars we do, we must improve the product we put on the field, which includes officiating. Just like our fans at UGA are crying for a win now, we want a better product ! When will they realize even though I & several others are paying for a big TV package every week, that just because we are guaranteed playing for the national title, make sure the games your playing in your conference are called correctly. So the best BCS conference will put the best team in the Championship Bowl ! Go Dawgs !!!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
Mallet is out of the Heisman talk after the last INT he threw against Bama. Ingram didn’t deserve the Trophy last year. SUE or the Stamford Rb were better and ment mre to their teams. Bama has never had a Heisman winner and they were unbeaten so too many votes in the souther region went to Ingram. If Bama’s QB had a bad year last year Ingram wouldn’t even be heard of.
CHUCK UGA
September 28th, 2010
11:17 pm
No comment from Bobo or McClendon about Ealey’s inability (or refusal) to block. The same thing can be said about the wide receivers. They (other than Durham0 REFUSE to block.
Bunch of prima donnas if you ask me. Overrated prima donnas.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
11:18 pm
REDDJOHN68 and Horsecollar tackles are a 15yrd personal foul, but it hardly get called either. GET over it.
let's go Buffaloes!
September 28th, 2010
11:19 pm
with all of these distractions and losses at UGA – what are my buffs chances this week?
jimmy
September 28th, 2010
11:20 pm
can we bench Bobo for his crappy play (calling). What a joke, like the pot calling the kettle black. When is HE gonna be held accountable?
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
11:21 pm
LGBuffs: RALPHIE is going to STOMP Russ’ white butt in the dirt.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
11:22 pm
Mike Bobo and Patric Nix the GREATEST SEC QBs to become the great OCs. AHHAHAHAHA.
ReddJonn68
September 28th, 2010
11:26 pm
Well 5150 P.O. A. D. When I pay my hard earn dollars, I expect the best FBS conference to have the best officiating. Who gives a damn, one team wins the other loses, get some contacts or bifocals whatever it takes !!!!
ReddJonn68
September 28th, 2010
11:29 pm
Mike Bobo & Richt are like Nate McOut & Booby Cox, they have their own private little fishing hole somewhere on the back roads of GA !!!
Noble Lesley Devotie
September 28th, 2010
11:37 pm
U of F record against SEC East opponents from 2001 – Today: 41 wins 6 Losses
U of Tenn record against SEC East opponents from 2006 – Today: 14 wins 7 Losses
UGA record against SEC East opponents from 2006 – Today: 10 wins 12 losses
UGA record against all SEC opponents in last 10 games played: 3 wins 7 losses
Also, as a side note. UGA lost 7 straight SEC East games in a row during a span between late 2006 – 2007. This is a joke.
Although Damon Evans was not directly to blame for the demise of our program over the last several years, I can tell you that the disconnect between the Athletic Department and the Football team, coaches, staff and players is and should be of major concern to anyone who has invested any time, energy, feelings, emotions and financial support to the program.
We all know that coaches are hired and paid to recruit and then coach up the best kids they can. And yes, it is important that they help the kids graduate in a reasonable amount of time as well. At the same time, with any successful program there is always a solid working relationship between these two distinct areas of an institution. I know for certain that there has and maybe still is a certain disconnect between the two. I do feel that GM will fix that #$%@ real quick and make it very clear that in the future this will not be the case. It is critical that GM do this and do it quickly and with great confidence and passion or we will truly be doomed as a program.
It is not one player, or one coach or one play that has put us where we are today. It never is. Just look at the numbers previously mentioned in the post and you can see for yourself that this didn’t happen over night. You don’t have to be a recruiting expert or have even been in the arena to see that we have not gotten the caliber of players to dominate anyone.
We are just skirting by with our recruiting and if the coaches could actually admit this, they would tell you the same. Recruiting isn’t easy. Sure we have good players and even some great players at certain positions, but for the most part we are getting the best of the rest. We can do better, but it may take committing a few minor recruiting violations to do it. We are basically being out foxed by our competition from time to time and this has caused us to loose out on some great players that could have easily changed the outcome of more than a few games over the last several years.
As far as the play calling goes, it is real simple. We have the same plays in our playbook as every other school in the country. Really….how many plays do you think a certain team can come up with that another team hasn’t seen a hundred times. Sure, we have called a few bad plays over the years, but those same plays have lit other teams up as well.
At this point we are what we are. When you get to this point, it basically comes down to the players themselves. If they don’t have the desire to be great, if they don’t see themselves being great, then they will never be great at UGA or life in general. Coach Richt has coached in some big games in his career and won. He has also coached in some big games and lost. Coach Bobo has seen adversity before. For those of you that don’t remember, 1996 wasn’t a great year for him personally. He had an SEC leading 16 interceptions and had to deal with all kinds of negative press about his ability to play QB as well as some pretty severe personal attacks. All the time, Coach JD would only say that the kids are just not picking up the scheme like we want them too. Who do you really want coaching our players…..some guy who never played in a big time college football game or a guy who can look our players in the eyes know that they have been there before and come up with the best solution for the given circumstance. Don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to have been in the arena to be a great coach, but most of the time it is better than the alternative. Again, for those of you who have forgotten, Bobo led our Dawgs to a 10-2 season and is one of the few QB’s in the last 20 years that can say he lead his team to a victory over the Gators.
As far as the other coaches, they are all we have and I can assure you that they are hurting just like us the fans. If for some reason they aren’t, that will play itself out in time. CMR want have to fire anyone that doesn’t want to be a DAWG. The ones that don’t will find there way with another team somewhere down the line. Do you really think Willie is hurting right now for his former players. Hell no, he out in Norman game planning for his next opponent.
Coach Richt wants to win again here at Georgia. Are we always happy with our he handles himself on the field ? Probably not. Would it be nice to see him get excited ? Hell Yeah it would be. I’ll say this…..and you can mark my word. When these players get it in their mind that they want to be great and execute perfectly what they have been coached to do, we will see more excitement from our coaches and players than you could ever imagine.
It’s human nature.
NLD
robo
September 28th, 2010
11:39 pm
Bobo needs to go to the shotgun spread offense 65%, the backs are better suited to the open field, the OL is better at pass protection than run blocking and the freshman QB can call better plays than Bobo in pressure situations, I’m tired of getting out-coached.
ReddJonn68
September 28th, 2010
11:42 pm
Mark Richt is just too Vanilla, but when it comes to getting locked up this team has 31 flavors !!!
ReddJonn68
September 28th, 2010
11:43 pm
I’m out dog fans G-nite & Go Dawgs !!!
5150 P.O.A.D
September 28th, 2010
11:49 pm
Nite REDDJOHN68 better luck in Colorado but I am not sure AJ makes a difference this weekend. The Daws do get to play late and get over Jet Lag and the time change, but the altitude thing could be the X-Factor.
Ralph
September 29th, 2010
12:08 am
Ealy is a typical thUGA football player. He thought he was above the law when he drove off, drove without a license, and dances and prances at INDIVIDUAL plays with total disregard of the how the team is doing or how it looks (or gets penalized). It’s all about him, and the coaches don’t discourage ANY of this disgusting behavior. They are reaping what they recruited, and how they tolerate such crude actions. The alumni and fans have gone along with it – only until some embarrassing loses which are only symptoms of player attitudes. The program is rotten top to bottom.
ARdawg
September 29th, 2010
12:18 am
Yes let’s put all the focus on Ealey’s fumbles and divert attention. BULLshyt Bobo. Washun might have fumbled a couple of times but he didn’t lose the ballgames. Man the fugg up
drbasic1
September 29th, 2010
12:45 am
Just for some info, for those that keep saying “thuga”, I can attest to the fact that as a GA alum from 81 and Fl from 83…(yes i know eons ago) Florida is GREAT at covering up the “minor” infractions. Things were handled internally. These infractions made by the Georgia players are way blown out of proportion (not saying I condone or were not stupid mistakes) by the media and I can also attest to campus police and athens pd as over zealous when it comes to arresting ga students, including athletes. 90% of GEORGIA arrests only warrant “TICKETS” at other universities, and never make the paper. Every college has its share of incidents involving MINORS in possession, public intoxication, no license, suspended etc…So get off the “THUGA” crap, most who say this have either never attended college, or, NEVER BEEN CAUGHT! Mistakes by young men and women are all a part of growing up…were any of you perfect? I realize that being an athlete puts you under a microscope so to speak and you are representing your school, but that does not change the fact that you are young, probably away from home for the first time, spreading your wings and growing up…and yes making mistakes and learning from them.
All of you want these young men kicked off the team for these minor infractions…hitting a parked car in a garage is different from a hit and run which people want to use as the infraction…yes he was not suppose to be driving, yes he left, maybe he was scared as he knew he screwed up and had to face it. scooter incidents, good grief, ya thats worthy of being kicked off the team and being called a “thug”. You are all such hypocrites. Major infractions that are felonies of course must be handled differently.
Does this off field behavior reflect on to the field, i doubt it. I feel alot of you are not really GA fans but rather trolls who want to see these young men kicked off the team as you see the team WORSE without them. I think a lot of you are very racist especially with the THUG comment and are not quite smart enough to look up the meaning of the word.
I am as frustrated as you can get as a dawg fan over the curse of the season thus far, but i am not a fair weather fan and will cheer on the dawgs if 12-0 or 0-12. ALL teams go through rough spots, these are ours, but rest assured, the problems will be fixed, we will get better. I am not a coach, nor a player anymore, and would not suggest to keep or fire the current staff as my expertise is not in that area, but as to some of your suggestions…in my opinion- kirby is not that smart…saban is, muscamp could not beat UCLA, the MACs and WACs of the world do NOT play SEC teams weekly, Gary Patterson at TCU…same thing, the list goes on. Be happy with what we have and show a little pride and support, God forbid any of the coaches or players read the dribble from these Blogs….yes everyone is allowed to vent but please especially Ga fans…show some class and pride. Sorry didn’t mean to take up so much space but just wante to “vent” a little…..sorry for the sp mistakes, before someone corrects that also
AFDawg
September 29th, 2010
12:52 am
1-3-10, So what happened on 3 January 2010?
dawg from a distance
September 29th, 2010
1:33 am
No speed at tailback except Carlton and the wind blows him down. It’s a bad combination with the line no blocking, the backs not breaking tackles and no speed to the edge. Then of course you add the fumbles and we have a recipe for disaster or a formula for a 1-3 start.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
1:36 am
How can EALEY walk around the UGA campus holding his JUNK in one hand and his pants up with the other hand, but can still carry his books to classes! How can Ealey still find time to fumble the football on Saturdays? Hell, Ealey can keep his hands on and protect the things that really matter all week, but can’t hold on to a football. Why don’t the UGA coaches make the Football lock like an African American C..K and he would never let go of it unless a white tramp in Athens reached for it. HAHAHAH. THE TRUTH HAS BEEN TOLD.
Souljaboy
September 29th, 2010
1:36 am
Somebody mentioned Ealey juking while down 14 pts to Arkie. Hard to forget the Soulja Boy dance on the sideline two years ago. Richt’s been slowly losing the handle of his team since 2008. All of the stunts have finally caught up to him. He’s getting barbecued by the media nationally on tv and in the press. It’s no longer a regional story.
The schedule is so easy that Georgia could stumble into 6 more wins with losses to Fla and Aub. Will that heal the wounds? I say the locals back off if he wins 7 games and gets a bowl game.
5150 P.O.A.D
September 29th, 2010
1:38 am
LOOK LIKE
tony
September 29th, 2010
2:56 am
DostaDawg, if Ealey is a thug then that makes you a racist thug. Now look below in learn the meaning of the word.
thug /θʌg/ Show Spelled
noun
a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer.
UGA Friend
September 29th, 2010
4:17 am
Not much to comment on …..the coaches have the responsibility
to determine the playing time for every player based on previous performances. If they think Ealey has not earned the time he has
had in the first 4 games, then they let him sit and give the other
tailbacks more time.
Notso Fast
September 29th, 2010
4:22 am
There is a lot of pressure on the coaches at GA. Ealey probably needed some decipline in a lot of things including how to hold on to the football BUT this is something that should be handled inside the program not in the media. Just shows Bobo is feeling it.
Jim007
September 29th, 2010
4:54 am
Not sure why Ealey is even on the team ?
With key fumbles in 2009 ( Ky ) & 2010 ( SC & Miss St ) ?
Not to mention his off the filed issues ?
jimmy
September 29th, 2010
5:18 am
thomas needs to go home.
casual observer
September 29th, 2010
5:37 am
The whole issue of what is wrong with the football team is disipline (in the lack thereof).
College Football is a game, it is now a money making event for the Athletic association. The Associations oversite of this business venture lacks disipline because it has become complacent with a few things that years ago would not have been tolerated. For example dredlocks, gold teeth, tatoos, poor manners, lack of self disipline, lack of responsible observation and control,lack of self control, lack of respect. These are learned values that have to be taught as well as followed. It does start at the top let us see the examples
Regent Leeburn, running around on his wife with a GA coach, why aint he gone? Disipline.
Damon Evans and the red panties? at least they let him go but look what they paid him? disipline.
The starters that were arrested get hand slaps the non starters get kicked off the team. what says that for disipline.
Why do some players dress differently than others on the field? lack of disipline.
With the dred locks,” do rags”, have you noticed the number of helmuts flying off kids heads. This lack of disipline may get someone hurt or killed .
look at the fans and the trash they leave after the games last year and this… lack of disipline
Look at the students and the party time image of athens,,… lack of disipline.
Look at the overzealous law enforcement trying to make up for lost revenue by badgering college students and fans with misc. offences..lack of disipline
Look at Pres. Adams asking the legislature/regents for more money for Med school and engineering programs and raising tuition/fees to offset costs, cutting professors salaries and padding his own….lack of disipline
yep its time to clean house all right
Big time?? Not
September 29th, 2010
6:10 am
Four tickets, four hot dogs, four cokes
judge
September 29th, 2010
6:12 am
let easy be the water boy from here out——and also clean the toilets——— I swear, this Georgia thing has turned into one big circus and it has to end. I wonder what makes Richt so easy to get over on? Is it his religion or his lack of faith in discipline. Interesting question. Discipline sucks, but it has to be enforced or else. Go to school and classes and anything else —-your off the team. Thats all folks! Oh yea, it wouldn’t hurt the whole team to run an extra mile or 2 at every practice. Would it?
GaCracker
September 29th, 2010
6:20 am
Well Bobo, take Ealey out in the red zone! Now watch King fumble! Thomas is too small. Can we get a back 6 feet or taller also that carries 220 or more lbs.
Zack
September 29th, 2010
6:32 am
new posts up:
http://rebuildingthedawgs.blogspot.com/
Hu Flung Pu?
September 29th, 2010
6:45 am
“if you continue to do what you have been doing, expect to get what you have been getting.” In order to get what you haven’t got, you have got to do something you haven’t been doing. Doesn’t sound like this coaching staff is willing to do that. Right players, wrong coaches.
Buckeye
September 29th, 2010
6:54 am
Regardless of his ability to hold onto a football, he is classless and a punk. I watched him spit on an opposing player in his HS state championship game….cemented my opinion of him right then and there.
Some lame name here
September 29th, 2010
6:54 am
Get a life
Paddy
September 29th, 2010
7:07 am
Our running game is poor because our O-line is not what we were told to expect. It is not one of the 3 best lines in the nation. It is not even one of the top 3 lines in the SEC East. The line has had almost 2 years to make it happen. Sorry fellow Dawgs, this line just does not play very well.
We HIT AND RUN
September 29th, 2010
7:10 am
AND fumble.
No chance
September 29th, 2010
7:10 am
Take a good look at all the UGA running backs. There isn’t one that could even make the team at Bama. Bama’s are much bigger, stronger and quicker. You can’t compete in this league if you don’t have at least one really good running back. UGA has none.
The Brain
September 29th, 2010
7:12 am
Isn’t this the guy that made 650 on the SAT? hey, you get 600 just for spelling your name!
Reality
September 29th, 2010
7:12 am
Like most of the GA team…OVER-RATED!
FORTY ONE POINTS to your seventeen points
September 29th, 2010
7:14 am
to my 1-3 friends
(((((((((((((((((((((((41-17)))))))))))))))))
Jeff
September 29th, 2010
7:17 am
Way to go coaches…..way to send that message….”it wont be a bunch less” WOW….be that sends a stong message to this full of himself moron….and you wonder why we are 1-3 soon to be 1-4