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
HeHateGator
September 29th, 2010
9:39 pm
Next, you conveniently left out the overall Fla record of 2-7, yes, 3-1 against Alabama with 2 wins pre Saban and the Saban win in Saban’s first year, a year they lost to UL Monroe. LSU broke even 3-3 but 1-2 in the last 3, Again my argument is the program is dropping off from a level that didn’t even justify a salary that national champions get….my alma mater is overpaying for him….
HD27
September 29th, 2010
9:40 pm
@TEE
John Gruden would likely bolt UGA for an NFL job if he’s going to leave Monday Night Football to coach us!
HD27
September 29th, 2010
9:48 pm
@ HeHateGator
I left out UF because the entire world knows our struggles with Florida! Didn’t know I had to bring that up! I also said we are 3-1 versus Bama! You can break it down however its convenient for you. 1-1 versus Bama under Saban isnt saying we can’t hang with Bama! And WE ARE 2-3 versus LSU and 2-1 our last 3. Make sure you double check yourself and not try to correct me, because my stats are RIGHT! He’s not overpayed.
HeHateGator
September 29th, 2010
9:49 pm
At his current salary, the program should have been maintained as a Top 10 program if not playing in the BCS championship game which has operated since 1998. In that time, the SEC has by far the most representation with 6 teams, none by Georgia…Fla (2), LSU (2), Ala and Tenn….
HD27
September 29th, 2010
9:55 pm
Thats because of the respect that college football has for the SEC now! Its almost a forgone conclusions that the winner of the SEC will play in the National Championship Game! Whether they have 0,1 or 2 (LSU, which we may have been in if it weren’t for a conference title game, but that a different discussion) losses! I wish it was like that in 02′ and 05′. We may have had two! And Auburn may have had one more! But the times have changed and college football now respects the SEC!
Delbert D.
September 29th, 2010
10:06 pm
Some notable head coaches and their previous HC experience:
U. Meyer: Utah 2 years, Bowling Green 2 years
B. Stoops: None
C. Peterson: None
J. Harbaugh: U San Diego 3 years
C. Kelly: None
J. Tressel: Youngstown St. 15 years
HeHateGator
September 29th, 2010
10:08 pm
Actually HD, we’re both wrong…over the last 4 games Ga is 3-1 heads (wins in 2008, 2005 and 2004 and loss in 2009) up against LSU so which is very good but offset by the Florida record but LSU has played for the NC and Ga hasn’t and nowhere near it now but the other 3 are….again my point CMR is not earning his current pay comparative to those programs….
HeHateGator
September 29th, 2010
10:14 pm
None of those other programs would tolerate a drop to the cellar with these type of salaries they are paying those coaches which is one the reasons they have maintained while Ga has not…
It's about time!
September 29th, 2010
10:14 pm
Two fumbles that close to the goal line? Sit his ass on the bench!! If Georgia is going to lose, at least it won’t be from fumbles on the goal line!!!!
HeHateGator
September 29th, 2010
10:17 pm
Even with a climb out of the cellar to mediocrity, Richt is not earning his millions….
HD27
September 29th, 2010
10:27 pm
Yeah, I missed the 04′ game but to say we’be been nowhere near the national championship is flat out wrong. Read my 9:55 pm post! If you support uga football then you know that comment is false, or if youre even a realist.
HD27
September 29th, 2010
10:33 pm
Maintained? Bama has just now arrived this decade! They had nothing to maintain. And UF had probably the greatest qb/ player to ever play college football, but pre tebow they hadn’t been so hot this decade either! Thirty recent history is very exciting however!
HD27
September 29th, 2010
10:36 pm
@ HeHateGator
Love talking dawg football and seeing others opinions! Heading out for the night. Good night sir!
Thought You Should Know
September 29th, 2010
10:54 pm
Stewart Mandel>COLLEGE FOOTBALL MAILBAG
Historically, Georgia is more prestigious than either of those teams — but not as much as Dawgs fans like to think. In all my travels, I’m not sure I’ve ever come across a fan base whose self-perception is so far from reality. Georgia fashions itself a national power in the vein of Ohio State, USC, et. al., based primarily off one glorious three-year run 30 years ago with Herschel Walker.
Stairway to the SEC cellar
September 29th, 2010
11:49 pm
Won’t matter who is at running back, none of them are any good. Thomas really shouldn’t even be on the team and King has be overrated ever since he walked on campus.
TN-Dawg
September 30th, 2010
12:01 am
Here is an interesting blog from someone who obviously knows what he is talking about – great article. .
http://sportsandgrits.blogspot.com/2010/09/greg-mcgarity-didnt-know-he-was-buying.html?spref=fb
dawgman
September 30th, 2010
7:44 am
BOBO! Good quaterback yes. Good coach? Not Hardly. The sooner Richt takes over the playcalling, the sooner things will start to turn around. You gotta admit he is a offensive genius. Why he has not been calling the plays all alone I dont know. The talent on the team is definatly there, they just need to use in Richts way not BOBO’s….And Ealy does have the speed but when 70% of the game BOBO is calling up the gut running the opponent will catch on and shut you down. It dont matter who is running the ball. You have to mix it up…Just think about it what has happened when they have run a pitch or sweep? THATS RIGHT 20+ yards everytime. Three and out on dive plays, give me a break BOBO. He is not cut out for the position for play calling. So maybe its time for new offensive coaching staff. But no matter what happens this season GO DAWGS.
Randy
September 30th, 2010
8:11 am
Ealey needs to wake up. He’s a force. He needs some confidence. He needs to run like he can. Needs to protect the football.
Ealey gives the Dogs swagger when he plays at his best.
Suddenly Saturdays
September 30th, 2010
9:15 am
Well it looks like my Saturdays are free for at least two more years. Poor Aaron Murray will not get better next year as he will not have any offensive line and there will be no A.J. “Need a Thou Now, Can’t Wait For My 50 Mil Later” Green. Aaron will show marked improvement, if he is still alive, by his Junior year, but will still be running for his life from the more improved teams in the SEC.
So by Murray’s Senior year in 2013, Georgia should field a competitive team, unless Bobo is still around sucking a paycheck to feed his 9+ kids.
NEXT YEAR
September 30th, 2010
9:25 am
TO MURPHY: I threw Miles into that list because he has won a BCS championship…….I richt is not willing to make changes. UGA needs to go after Peterson and Harbaugh big time
Russ the wonder dawg!!
September 30th, 2010
9:34 am
How bout Tony Dungy??
Wreckmaniac
September 30th, 2010
10:02 am
Why not hold a reality TV setup and let the team vote each other out. That way the guys who want to achieve can get rid of the primadonnas ( a synonym for 5 stars) and get on with creating a team.
lakesidegator
September 30th, 2010
12:12 pm
Please, don’t bother doing anything different until after the Florida game.
meangreen
September 30th, 2010
3:07 pm
The problem is not with Ealey. Their are a lot problems with the team mainly is the offensive line play. What was suppose to be the strongest part of the team has turned out to be the reason why we can’t run the football. They need to step it up for the running game to have a chance of winning.
anniston dawg
September 30th, 2010
8:27 pm
nows not the time to point fingers all the players are young and some one on each side of the ball needs to teach the team to come together and play the game as a team, since knowshow and stafford things have been out of whack because of there ability, georgia football is a team effort not an individual effort and all the sidewalk fans are not making it any easier its time to come together as a team win or loosw and learn the game of football all over again and play as a team then things will fall into place (and getting rid of bobo wouldnt hurt either searles as well hes still mad for not getting the dc posistion) i still say go dawgs time to rethink the plan !!
BeDawg
October 1st, 2010
4:11 pm
Fumble caused by a “slip in technique”? Really?
A slipped disk in his back maybe after that hit by Nickoe Whitley, is more like it, that sent his helmet, mouthpiece, and the football into the air and him sitting upright on the goal line — too stunned to even fall on the ball!
Stinger
October 5th, 2010
5:13 pm
Chill-Out, It could be worse. You could have lost to Louisiana Laugh-a-lot. I told you before the season that you had no QB or running backs. It is showing up now. I can’t believe that you lost to Missy State. Of all the teams that team prevented you guys from being the bottom feeder. Well guess what, you are the bottom feeder now.