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
oklahomadawg
September 29th, 2010
8:42 am
should be “NO”, not “know”
GaGator
September 29th, 2010
8:43 am
ATHENS, Ga. — Head coach Mark Richt reserved judgment following the Georgia Bulldogs’ two-and-a-half-hour practice in full pads on Tuesday afternoon.
“We’ll see Saturday how they did today,” Richt said following the session.
A good coach could answer that question, they either practice well and should be ready or we will try to get it right Wed. cause there not ready. This “we will see Sat” is nothing but BS.
takedowndawg
September 29th, 2010
8:43 am
I am on the band wagon of all those above pointing the finger at our OFFENSIVE LINE. “It” has been “offensive” and ineffective thus far this year(running partic.). Last weekend, Ealey, got his bell rung, helmet flying off etc.. I could give him a pass on that one. Not the previous week’s fumble. Bobo, is looking for someone to blame other than himself. I would have rather he admitted that he has done a sub par job thus far and will greatly improve his play calling starting NOW. But, he hasn’t done that, he seemed to point to someone else other than himself and our offensive line. That is unacceptable to me.
GA Born Bama Fan
September 29th, 2010
8:44 am
Come on folks, the dogs are playing to the level of their leadership. 10 arrested????? No wonder they are 1-3. ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL
Phil
September 29th, 2010
8:45 am
Vixzilla,
True about Ealey, but you don’t see Mark Ingram, Lattimore from SC, or Dyer from Auburn fumbling. In fact, they will punish the defender more often than not.
Richt isn’t getting the big time running backs anymore, they go elsewhere.
Wesley
September 29th, 2010
8:48 am
Why do we still have Mark Richt as head coach? After reading all these posts it seems that there are so many other qualified and experienced coaches around the Atlanta area who know exactly how to fix the program and can get us a National Championship! Please send your Curriculum Vitae to AD McGarity ASAP! Oh and by the way, the pay is really good… you will actually make enough to move out of momma’s basement!
oklahomadawg
September 29th, 2010
8:48 am
I never thought I would see the day UGA fans getting heckled by Miss ST fans.
just a fan
September 29th, 2010
8:49 am
I THINK THAT ITS ABOUT TIME TO GIVE BOO MALCOME A CHANCE TO START
Phil
September 29th, 2010
8:49 am
“Why do we still have Mark Richt as head coach?”
Good question!!!
Taylor Wooten
September 29th, 2010
8:50 am
Not surprised, but way too late. I knew way back when they were after this guy, I asked why. Sure he had a great career but at the Class A level?? In his case, that doesnt translate to big time SEC running back. Yet another recruiting bust at UGA over the last couple years.
Proud UGA tradition
September 29th, 2010
8:51 am
“Coaching up” 4 and 5 star recruits into 2 and 3 star players.
GaGator
September 29th, 2010
8:52 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reVnna38sPI
Here is the Ben Jones cheap shot—-not very clear other than Richt pulling him out of the game.
bulldogmaniac
September 29th, 2010
8:52 am
I have said it 1 million times and I will say it again………STOP calling plays like we have Hershel Walker or Knowshon on the team.
WE DONT! We do not have a good RB! Aaron Murray was the #1 HS QB in the country for a reason! Quit trying play smash mouth, run the football down your throat, run every 1st and 2nd down WHEN THAT IS NOT THE STRENGTH OF THIS TEAM!
THROW THE BALL!
SadDawg
September 29th, 2010
8:53 am
cmac: “Bring back Willie! He never lost in Columbia, never lost to Ark & never lost to Miss St! Also, he costs ALOT less than the sham we have been given!”
***********************************
In ‘09, Willie’s D gave up 37 points to SC, 41 to ARK, 45 to UT, 41 to UF, 34 to UK.
In ‘10, TG’s D gave up 17 points to SC, 31 to ARK, 24 to Miss State.
I’m not sure, but basic math tells me if UGA’s offense was scoring more than 6 and 12 points, we could win some games.
cmac, you should be ashamed for writing such drivel. Dufus.
RTR!!!
September 29th, 2010
8:58 am
You Georgia fans are the absolute worst! A player is the greatest since Hershell Walker until he meets adversity or never fully develops. A recruit is a fine young man and a wonderful adddition to your Athens Valhalla, until he chooses another program. Then he becomes an untalented thug. You all deserve the season you’re getting!
ddawgdavis
September 29th, 2010
9:05 am
So if Ealey is being benched for fumbles. Can Richt bench Bobo for fumbling play calling? I mean come on Fullmer……ahem, Richt……..Grantham was the right move, one more.
Clean House
September 29th, 2010
9:06 am
Wow the homers are out in full force today. Mediocrity at its best!
gdawginkalamazoo
September 29th, 2010
9:07 am
Good for Thomas. Sounds like he WANTS to play and make a difference. Do that with the entire offense and see which squad is more productive. And by productive I mean SCORING TOUCHDOWNS, not putting up unused yardage.
Good luck Carlton I hope you wear out your shoes this weekend.
Concrete Pete
September 29th, 2010
9:07 am
Still can’t believe Tech people are still referring to a score almost 2 years ago, especially after UGA beat them at their stadium last year when they were a top 10 (undeserved mind you) team
B5
September 29th, 2010
9:09 am
80Dawg, I couldn’t have said it better myself! These Tech morons crack me up with their comments. I know they don’t go to the games to support their team, but surely they’ve seen the scores on TV?!
01HAWK
September 29th, 2010
9:10 am
5150 P.O.A.D …………………….Get over yourself. You are PATHETIC.
Clean House
September 29th, 2010
9:11 am
Sorry folks but Mark Richt is a bust just like many players on the team are bust. Time for new life in the program and new ideas.
GaGator
September 29th, 2010
9:15 am
This is the article with the video of the cheap shot.
Georgia center Ben Jones chops Mississippi State defensive tackle Fletcher Cox while the players were casually following a play in the closing minutes of Saturday’s game at Starkville. Although you can’t fully see the act on the video, Georgia’s Mark Richt and Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen are clearly upset, with Richt — to his credit — ripping into Jones as the player returned to the sideline.
Readers Rob and Robbie both sent us messages after having watched it while in attendance at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Robbie writes that Jones not only should have ejected, but “suspended for at least 2 more it was so nasty.”
This should help
September 29th, 2010
9:15 am
This is the same Carlton Thomas who tripped over the 35-yard line last week? Problem solved, huh?
Run, ealey, Run
September 29th, 2010
9:17 am
Why you be cracking on me. Last year I be the one who you be talking about bringing it to other teams. I be great in high school. My problem is I don’t be to good at driving. That driving course in high school sure be hard.
GatorMater
September 29th, 2010
9:25 am
Some of you so-called UGA fans really need to shut up about Richt and your team. They’re not that bad. They have to deal with adversity, so why can’t you?
reality
September 29th, 2010
9:28 am
Hey B5, 80dawg, etc…UGA fans are still Trolling the GT blog making stupid comments…so don’t act so high and mighty about GT fans on this blog. We know based on recent weeks performance that you are not.
46-39
September 29th, 2010
9:28 am
DostaDawg , Why don’t you stop w/ all of the Christian slang. Richt is a good guy & a good coach. Do we have problems? Absolutely. Throwing rocks at Richt about his religious beliefs won’t help correct them & him being a Christian has nothing to do w/ losing 3 games.
Blundermutt
September 29th, 2010
9:29 am
Richt needs to hire Michael Vick as his head of conditioning/discipline. He knows what to do with a dog that won’t fight.
NEXT YEAR
September 29th, 2010
9:31 am
The problem UGA has is that it is a stagnant program, always thinking about next year……..I am tired of all the mental mistakes….Richt got rid of Willie about a year or two too late…..Bobo needs stop running the same play out of the same formation….Every time UGA went 1 back and sent the WR in motion UGA ran Inside ZONE!! Bob needs to be assigned a new postion: OC for Athens Middle School….If Richt brings in a new OC for next year, I hope he lets the guy bring in who he wants……..if not things may not be any better……(I.E. Auburn and Tony Franklin). This could be a good time to shake things up Richt….IF not you may no longer be the HC at UGA
46-39
September 29th, 2010
9:33 am
reality , Call them out if they are. Question: why are YOU on the UGA blog??
No, we are not ‘high & mighty’ & I think al UGA fans know this. They also know UGA is 9-1 vs Tech this century.
BTW…What’s Tech’s record this yr?
will50
September 29th, 2010
9:35 am
What I don’t understand is why so called fans like DostaDawg have to stoop to belittlig the character of the player just because he is upset that the team is going thru hard times are the player is going thru hard times. To call the player a “thug” is not warranted. Every time a player does something against the grain of the norm, it is not because they are a “thug”. In my eyes, that makes you no better than the “thug” player you are belittling. It is only football, a sport, it is not life or death.
dawgfan
September 29th, 2010
9:35 am
God bless Carlton Thomas, but if that guy is an everydown SEC running back I’m Elvis Presley.
AltamahaDawg
September 29th, 2010
9:36 am
Nice to know that your aspirations are so high there, reality. You are, in fact, no worse than the biggest UGA idiots on the tech blogs. Congrats.
Will
September 29th, 2010
9:38 am
I wish Bobo would bench the entire 1st and 2nd string offensive line. Play a buch of redshirts and walk-ons, I don’t care. We stink so bad.
how2fish
September 29th, 2010
9:39 am
I’m not saying a thing against Ealey and the fumble in the Miss St game..he took on 2 defenders, split them and got extra yardage, however in the process due to the ferocity of the collision he lost his helmet , the ball and any short term understanding of what day of the week it was.He went flat out trying to score and I’m not going to fault him for the extra effort..if he had held the ball it would have been a TD and he would be everyone’s hero..this is not like the SC fumble where he lost focus and the ball..at Miss St he was desperately trying to score and just got rocked its the SEC it will happen.
Blundermutt
September 29th, 2010
9:41 am
Any truth to the rumor that in addition to reduced playing time, Ealey will not be allowed to swim with the team this week?
how2fish
September 29th, 2010
9:44 am
Blundermutt Any truth to the rumor that you spent all of last Saturday in the North Ave Tickle Pile?
UGAG is gitting the ncaa death penalty, he he ha ha
September 29th, 2010
9:45 am
LAST IN THE SEC, HE HE HA HA….UGLY MUTTS SUCK!
Fantasy Island
September 29th, 2010
9:45 am
WHat happend to that vaunted running game that was going to carry this team this year?
Larry
September 29th, 2010
9:49 am
Nothing like watching a 5′7″ 170 pound back run it inside the tackles. What a joke !!!
TrueDawgFan -- We need Jim Harbaugh!!!
September 29th, 2010
9:53 am
We need to get Jim Harbaugh as Head coach before someone else does!!! He recruits nationally and WINS at an academic school.
reality
September 29th, 2010
9:53 am
Thanks Altamahadawg. I also see you trolling the GT blogs so you are in the same category you described above.
college is forever
September 29th, 2010
9:55 am
http://www.collegelunchboxes.com Come on Dawgs, redeem yourselves this week and kick some Buffalo ass. I know everyone is P.O., me too. but it would still be cool for you or your kid to trick ot treat with a UGA lunchbox, get one at Kroger or online. Go Dawgs!!!
jon gruden
September 29th, 2010
9:55 am
jon gruden!!jon gruden!!
Mobile Dawg
September 29th, 2010
9:58 am
A few of CMR’s latest quotes, statements. Have you ever noticed his communication style, skills? He uses a lot of Uh’s, I means, you know’s, I guess. Most of these lead ins to his comments are time buyers because he doesn’t know the answer, and they also don’t suggest strong Leadership Skills.
“There’ll be nothing drastic,” Richt said. “I guess the most drastic personnel change would be A.J. getting in the game.”
As soon as we took that first trip to Arizona State, I said I don’t know if this was the best idea or not,” Richt said
A possible reason for the success of opposing team’s opening drives: Mississippi State showed some formations that Georgia hadn’t seen on film, according to Richt. MSU also played some guys that Georgia weren’t sure would play because of injury. “There were a lot of common threads, but it wasn’t exactly the way we practiced it,” Richt said.
The bottom line is things will get worse or things will get better,” Richt said.
I blogged the other day that there is a Head Coach here in Mobile, Joey Jones, who has started 2 programs from the ground up. When he talks, he talks direct, facts, etc. He was asked by a caller the other day about his offensive line; his comment ” we need at least 16 offensive linemen on scholorship at any given time, due to the nature of the position, susceptable to injury, etc.” so that’s one of our focuses on recruiting”.
Like I said then, this man played for Bear Bryant 3 years, started two programs, has excellent results now, very smart guy. There are a good number of these types of candidates waiting for a shot.
If UGA elects to stick with CMR he has at least a three year project IMO to rebuild this program. Minimum is a new coaching staff, new strength and conditioning program, etc. Then we are taking a chance that things will just be the status quo.
When you analyze things from a neutral perspective, how could you miss all the signs?
Blundermutt
September 29th, 2010
9:59 am
Sorry to get you all worked up How2, guess you hate having the fact that your coach is soft and can’t/won’t discipline pointed out. Should be obvious, even without me, by the results you guys get on the field. I’ll leave you alone now and I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.
Mobile Dawg
September 29th, 2010
10:02 am
how2fish, the game time for the bama/uf game changed. You still going to the Florabama?
GDAWG65
September 29th, 2010
10:02 am
I agree Homer Simpson would make a better offensive coordinator. Bobo is totally lost in that position.
Fantasy Island
September 29th, 2010
10:04 am
Brang back Ray Goof!!! or Jim Donnan, either were about as successful as Richt, and at least Donnan could recruit.