Despite fumble, tailback King ‘has made a good case to be the starter,’ Richt says
ATHENS – A few quick notes from Mark Richt’s news conference today:
- Despite his late fumble against Colorado, Caleb King seems likely to start at tailback this week. Richt said the decision will come later in the week, but “Caleb certainly has made a good case to be the starter.” King had 100 yards rushing on 12 carries last week. “No one’s happy about the last play,” Richt said of the fumble. “There were circumstances. That wasn’t just your normal fumble in my opinion. It was right in the middle of an exchange.” King fumbled upon being hit by an unblocked Colorado linebacker.
- With cornerback/punt returner Branden Smith out for this week’s game and likely longer because of his second concussion in three weeks, Richt said Carlton Thomas, Logan Gray and, yes, A.J. Green are returning punts in practice. Richt was unsure when Smith might be able to play again, saying “probably not anytime soon.”
- Richt was asked if he intends to be more actively involved in the play-calling. “Right now that’s not the plan,” he said. But he did say he will be “more assertive” in making sure offensive coordinator Mike Bobo knows Richt’s thinking in certain situations.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
99 comments Add your comment
CDAWG
October 5th, 2010
4:26 pm
Roaddawg, no way was I throwing Murray under the bus, but Mason is pretty good and since we are clearly not winning why not throw him out there to give him some playing time just in case Murray goes down. I am not a Lassiter High football fan but saw Mason play, pretty impressive. I didn’t get to watch the game this past weekend but did see the previous game and also saw where Murray threw into double and triple coverage.
Ace
October 5th, 2010
4:27 pm
Good way to thank him for blowing the game.
MURPHY
October 5th, 2010
4:29 pm
Whats the big issue-Put AJ back for kickoffs and punts!! Ever heard of Tim Brown,Rocket Ismahil,Desmond Howard,Peterson for LSU.yOUR BEST PLAYER MUST GET HIS HANDS ON THE BALL. What about that kid we have that set the 40 time record at UGA-Where has he been hiding?
AltamahaDawg
October 5th, 2010
4:30 pm
godawg, that article seemed to be nothing more than a recap of events. How was that thesis on what need to happen to restore the program? Thats going to take some serious look at how they approach recruiting over the next few seasons some modification of how they prepares comeing into the season, not a suggestion of some play to run next time. No shortage of that these days.
Roaddawg80
October 5th, 2010
4:35 pm
Can anyone explain to me why we wouldn’t red shirt Ogletree if he is not going to play any on defense. We wasted a red shirt so he can play on special teams. This makes no sense to me. We need to work him in the game somehow. Did yall see the hit he had on Saturday on a kickoff? WOW!
Mark (another one)
October 5th, 2010
4:35 pm
AJ and Jones of AL were the two top receivers in their class, and AL uses Jones to return punts. I say put AJ back there and let him create. This isn’t that he isn’t valuable, its that his value is zero when he’s on the bench. AJ is a football player, so let him play.
I watched a few teams setup their kickers with positional runs over the last few weeks. The runs made little yardage but put the kicker in position. I only saw one back get hit during the QB exchange and that was King. People have to execute on every play, or something bad can happen. King was the starter at the beginning of the season because he did the ‘little things’ like pickup the blitz and run routes. He needs to do it some more.
AltamahaDawg
October 5th, 2010
4:36 pm
When exactly was the game not in doubt that we wanted to put in the back up QB just to get him some reps? Hint: We did.
BTW, isn’t a players college career over if he suffers more than 2 or 3 concussions? I thought there was a limit before he was medically disqualified.
Tom
October 5th, 2010
4:38 pm
CDAWG, How do you know Mason is any good? Is it because he took a 5 step drop and threw a td to the recieve running a post route? He wasn’t asked to read the defense. He was told to take the snap make a five step drop and let the ball to Logan Grey. That simply doesn’t prove anything much less that he is a great qb. Some of simpletons that think they understand the game of football more than players and coaches just crack me up.
Frank Lane
October 5th, 2010
4:38 pm
Samuels is injured
Ace
October 5th, 2010
4:41 pm
The Georgia Possums – play dead at home, get killed on the road.
Macclenny_dawg
October 5th, 2010
4:49 pm
I don’t think AJ will make any difference in returning punts!!!! He is a play maker but he makes a play on the ball in the air. Here he will have to catch it and then try to evade 11 potential tacklers. Plus it want matter anyway cause he want be out there Gray will be back there making a fair catch anyway!!! But while Gray is back there going to make a fair catch rush the freaking punter. I bet Tennessee runs a fake punt if Green is back there and they get a 1st down. Why because no aggressive play calling!! Pedictable Georgia just keep grinding its Richts moto!!! Richt was asked if he intends to be more actively involved in the play-calling. “Right now that’s not the plan,” he said. But he did say he will be “more assertive” in making sure offensive coordinator Mike Bobo knows Richt’s thinking in certain situations. There is our problem!!! Richt its time to grow a pair and take control of this team!!!
MURPHY
October 5th, 2010
4:50 pm
Ace,
That’s original!!!! Gee your education from Tech was worth the money!
dbc
October 5th, 2010
4:50 pm
Below is an interesting piece from College Football News titled: How To Fix Georgia. I think it’s spot on.
The Problem: 1980. Thirty years ago. That’s the last time Georgia won the national title, and outside of a decent run in 2002, it hasn’t been close to the grand prize since losing to Penn State in the 1983 Sugar Bowl. Mark Richt was supposed to change all of that.
91-31 overall, 50-25 in SEC play (with 11 of those losses by seven points or fewer), and with two SEC championships, Richt has done a fantastic job over his nine year, five game run. However, Florida and LSU have won two national titles each during that time, Alabama has won once, and Auburn was close to getting one of its own in 2004. Georgia, to use Richt’s words, has never been able to “finish the drill” despite having the No. 1 team in the country in 2008 and being strong enough to be close in 2002, 2004, and 2005.
This year’s team was supposed to be good. We might have been nuts to put the Dawgs No. 3 in our preseason rankings, and while we were wrong, there was a reason we went so overboard. Based on the talent coming into the season (and assuming A.J. Green would be there from the start), there was just enough on both sides of the ball to come up with a special year if the offensive backfield was solid. The offensive backfield has been a bowl of pudding, and 2010 has been special in a much different way starting out 1-4 with an 0-3 start in SEC play and with an unforgivable loss to a mediocre Colorado team. Meanwhile, Alabama is once again front and center in the national title chase, LSU is 5-0, and Florida, for all its problems, appears to be the lead dog in the SEC East race.
The Solution: Cut bait. 2008 was the real hot seat season for Richt with a heater of a team led by Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno, and A.J. Green, and it didn’t happen. If that team couldn’t win the national title, it’ll never happen under Richt. That was the Dawgs’ chance.
Richt is a great guy and the type of coach you’d love to have leading your program, but Georgia has been lapped by Florida, Alabama, and LSU, and there’s no sign of that changing soon with the emergence of Auburn and Arkansas as powers, too. It’s time to make a decision right now on what Georgia’s real goals are. If so, then keep Richt, go to bowls every year, and be a solid eight-to-ten win team after this storm passes. Otherwise, if it’s national title-or-bust, you realize that the rest of this season doesn’t matter, you fire Richt, and you find your new coach as soon as possible to get a jump on recruiting. Make the change after the season and you’re dead come early February and you’re a year behind in the process.
Take a look at Temple’s Al Golden before Penn State does. Try to gauge Jim Harbaugh’s interest to see if he’s looking to make his next jump to the NFL or to a bigger name program. Fine-tooth the contract of Texas-head-man-in-waiting, Will Muschamp, think about Illinois offensive coordinator, Paul Petrino, and see if Brady Hoke might have any interest in leaving San Diego for Athens.
Georgia, it’s time to become a national title contender. It would be nice if Richt could be the one to make that happen, but he won’t be.
JayD
October 5th, 2010
4:53 pm
I actually saw Julio Jones on the punt coverage team on Saturday. Play your best players!!!
MURPHY
October 5th, 2010
4:53 pm
dbc,
I applaud your efforts. Yes it is right on. I dont think Harbaugh is the man though.
JB
October 5th, 2010
4:54 pm
I would love to see every post start with ” STH” before blogging……( season ticket holder). They have skin in the game. I do not…dropped mine in 1990 when TV coverage via cable got so good, plus I don’t drink, so that puts in a minority tailgating. Those are the real people that the Administration will gauge.
Yes, I understand TV and Radio Ad revenue and how it works.
mike on lake hartwell
October 5th, 2010
4:56 pm
when was the last time u saw anyone returning punts get hurt?
mikey henderson rings a bell. he got his head ripped off in his final
game and all it cost the opponent was 15 yards. it would be open
season on a.j. if he were back there returning punts.
DON’T DO IT.
Dawg Gonnit
October 5th, 2010
5:00 pm
King is the best option at RB right now. Ealey fumbles and CAN NOT PASS BLOCK AT ALL! Thomas is all heart but I wish he was 6′0″ tall. Our RFreshman QB is our lone bright spot along with AJ Green. The biggest problem we have on O is the fact that our O line SUX. Combine that fact with our overall lack of desire on both sides of the ball, and we are going to be embarrassed by Tenn on Saturday. At least Tennessee has the heart and desire to win, if not the talent. I’m sick just thinking about it..
Jim
October 5th, 2010
5:01 pm
Richt and his staff can not recognize talent! Redshirted Moreno. Played Cox when Murray would have been better option! Did you see Carlton Thomas? Give me a break. He is not an SEC back. Wiffed on a couple of blitz situations. Any fool can see that Boykin would be a better option than Thomas if you do not have confidence in Ealey. Any fool can see that Logan Grey does not belong in the SEC!!! I AGREE WITH dbc AND COLLEGE FOOTBAL NEWS!!!!
MURPHY
October 5th, 2010
5:02 pm
mike on lake h,
Why not? Has Julio or Richardson been hurt yet at Alabama.Of course people are gonna take shots at your best players. If you as a coach reconize that then you plan for it. This kinda of thinking is why we havent won like we should. Have your best players touch the ball as much as possible. Heck he could get hurt steeping off the bus. Larry Munson can sure tell you this happens!
gomdawg
October 5th, 2010
5:15 pm
Put your best players on the field freshmen or seniors don’t matter DAMN REDSHIRTING THATS FOR THE ONES THAT GET HURT.
Mark (another one)
October 5th, 2010
5:19 pm
STH(6): I think Richt can get it done, and I don’t want to go backwards. I do think the players need to be more aggresive, and I think Richt can coach them up. The real disappointment this year has been the offensive line play, the injuries and the suspensions. I understand that injuries happen, but they still hurt.
Grantham is building a defense and I believe it takes time. Give him another recruiting class, and I bet it becomes consistently better.
Baron of Brumby
October 5th, 2010
5:21 pm
This is such a complex issue. King probably should start based on the fact that he pass protects better than the other backs. The reason the other backs can’t pass protect is they are really small and the S & C hadn’t done enough to make these guys true SEC backs. Richt has to recruit big fast, backs that can handle the SEC. I think the whole player evaluation process currently is travesty realtive to the rankings and how these players execute on Saturday.
MURPHY(not to be confused with poster under MURPH)
October 5th, 2010
5:22 pm
We need to hire an offense cord. Richt needs to run his program like the successfull coaches around the nation. Hire great talented asst coaches and let them coach. You are only as good as the people you have working for you!
CDAWG
October 5th, 2010
5:29 pm
Tom, I do know a little about football. I saw Mason play at Lassiter and he ran the spread pretty well.
Still@theBAR
October 5th, 2010
5:42 pm
Fill the UGA football with air and Mary Jane and the running backs will never let the ball go.
Jimmy
October 5th, 2010
5:54 pm
At Bama, Trent Richardson returns kickoffs and Julio Jones returns punts. They both have the talent to change field position so they play on special teams.
At UGA, AJ Green, our most talented and ‘gamechanger’ doesn’t return punts(even though he did in HS) because the coaching staff is AFRAID he might get hurt.
Enough said.
brooks
October 5th, 2010
6:05 pm
Roaddawg80, I totally agree with you. Why is ogletree not starting right now at safety. The hitman hamamilton has been a bust. We are wasting a year with him at special teams. We will regret it. The guy is a big time talent. Please let us beat the vols lord. Dawg fans will be there on Saturday. Go away bandwagon riders we don’t need you. Go dawgs!!
judge
October 5th, 2010
6:10 pm
always thought King ran pretty hard—-I cant understand why he hasnt run for more yards—I would keep playing him and do some really short passes to him so he can get in the open field maybe—–he is a good player I think—-no biggy—he will get better —-just put a couple of monsters in front of him and let him go——-good luck this week dogs!
Brad
October 5th, 2010
6:22 pm
AJ is too tall to run back punts. You need a shorter guy with a quick first step.
The Truth
October 5th, 2010
6:35 pm
If You Look At The Play Closely It Look Like They Were Going To Try A Flee Fliker And The Play Was Blown Up.
The Shadow
October 5th, 2010
6:39 pm
The reason Richt is not holding the fumble against King is that it was not King’s fault. At that crucial point in the game, our offensive tackle had his shoulder so beat up that he had lost all feeling in it. The Colorado defender blasts by him and nails King before King had a chance to secure the ball. If we need to blame someone, then blame the position coach. It’s his job to know when his guy is non-functional and to get someone in there to replace him. In this day and age, “play through the pain,” while heroic, is stupid.
Still@theBAR
October 5th, 2010
6:46 pm
Crowell reall wants to come to UGA with a Sr/Jr O-line that can’t get the job done? So he can be a RS Soph behind a Sr/Jr O-line thatis still coached by the bad O-line coach and a 2nd year OC? Bobo is gone after this year.
Tom
October 5th, 2010
6:46 pm
The Shadow, you are correct but most people are stupid. Thats why they think it was King’s fault.
used2badawgsfan
October 5th, 2010
6:50 pm
I just wonder if STORM JOHNSON (THE U) would come into play here? Hey Tony Ball! He’s the 6′1 220lb Tailback you didnt even breath at. Georgia’s Recruiting Classes are proving that you can have all the talent in the world but athletic head cases and soft 6′6 260’s 0r better lineman wont win games. Guess Rodney Garner needs to rethink his motto “WE ARE GEORGIA, YOU DONT SEEK US…WE SEEK YOU.” How did you miss out on Greg Reid? And you tried to offer at the last minute. LOL! BIG UPS TO ALL THE GA PLAYERS WHO ARE GIVING GA AND GA TECH THE BUSINESS THIS YEAR!!!
Cesspool alert!!!!
October 5th, 2010
7:08 pm
Hey guys,cheer up. I mean you are the fulmer cup champs and your recruiting theme by CMR is dubbed as “THE DREAM TEAM”!
The dream team may be wishing for a berth to the toilet bowl this year if you lose again saturday. Recent history vs the rocky flop have not been kind to the doggies. Just keep sniffing butts guys, that’s what your best known for up in the cesspool!
Someone please explain why
October 5th, 2010
7:31 pm
Have you noticed UGA players reqress rather than get better under UGA coaching? Read Ealey’s Bio about his ability to run block, you ever thought that if these backs are told enouth that they can’t run block they begin to believe it and then when they are in their 3th year and should be good at their position they are worse than they were in high school. UGA has year in and year out not had a QB or RB ready to play. Case in point we are going into our 6th game and we still don’t know who will be are RB. It’s like the whole coaching staff has ADD. We need to quit recruting WRs at get some big OL and DL boys. King looked good to me last week and it just wasn’t in the caeds for us to win that game, I would have liked to see him get 20 touches and AJ Green get around 12. Another thing is if we can protect the QB why don’t we come out in a full house backfield with both our fullbacks in the game or run a wishbone with AJ Green and M. Brown as WRs. But no we still run the same 6 plays in the same order with the same results. If things don’t change we will lose to Tennessee this weekend and if we do it will still be better to lose to D. Dooly than be spanked by Kiffin as we were last year
HeHateGator
October 5th, 2010
8:09 pm
Top running back recruit now has Bama over Georgia: “Well, they’re losing a lot of games and have a lot of people getting arrested,” Crowell said of Georgia. “There’s just a lot of things going wrong. I do want to play right away but I also want to be where it’s disciplined and they win championships.”
Pretty much says it all…
ASA
October 5th, 2010
8:46 pm
DONT WORRY GOT 4 STAR RECRUIT OUT OF EAST HALL THAT GIVES UP 40 PLUS POINTS A GAME COMING {DON’T LAUGH TECH YOU GOT THE OTHER D END FROM E HALL COMING AND WE WONDER WHY GA AND TECH DEFENSES CANT STOP ANYONE RECRUIT KIDS THAT PLAY IN BETTER COMPETITION AND CAN TACKLE
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
8:51 pm
looking foreward to being with all my tech friends in the bushes in Piedmont Park this weekend!
Bill Lewis
October 5th, 2010
8:54 pm
My Tech teams were better than this Tech team!
The Shadow
October 5th, 2010
9:34 pm
To someone else please explain why:
You are right about guys getting worse the longer they stay. It’s because of the Georgia philosophy. Do it the Georgia way or go to the scout team. They have no flexibility. If Tebow had played at UGA, he would have been just another sucker.
The coaches do not capitalize on what a player does best. I doubt they will ever learn, and it’s too late for them to learn now.
ugabean
October 5th, 2010
10:18 pm
Ealeys the best back. His last fumble was not Ealeys fault.
5150 P.O.A.D
October 5th, 2010
10:38 pm
ugabean did EALEY go back to Miss St and dig his D..k out of the Endzone Dirt where the Miss St player planted it on that FUMBLED TD?
UGA faithful, this is so easy
October 5th, 2010
10:39 pm
Ealey and King will be forgotten within 3 years. They have done nothing.
AJ Green will also be forgotten. He has delivered nothing.
This 2010 team? Like the 79 or the 69 Uga team ( I know, I was in UGA at the time-69 ) they will be forgotten.
UGA in 1969?? Sunbowl blown out by Nebraska …………55-10 and we were like 5-4-1 going in. Sad. 2010 ……….ONE OF THOSE YEARS AND SOON FORGOTTEN.
Such is life loving NCAA colleges. Oh well.
Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs. SIC em !!
Thes bleachers have eyes
October 5th, 2010
10:54 pm
Saturday in Sanford Stadikum will reveal the depth of UGA fan approval for Mark Richt. This game will determine his future. He needs to win and win big ………….it will not be good to lose to Dooley’s baby boy. The emotional outcry will be un real. Oh no ………..Richt must win, as the UGA $$ boys are watching.
If a young, unknown coach with a depleted UT team comes in here and for the THIRD TIME in 4 years and blows out UGA ……………………Richt will absolutely know that his era is over.
As a gentleman ……………..he will recognize it in maybe two more games …………and resign.
Folks …………….this is the way that it should be. All UGA lovers know this is true.
We will be fine by 2011 and making some big noise by 2012 and 2013.
It is what it is. The years roll on and we all know that GT has nevered recoverd from Bobby Dodd being run out of the SEC by Vince Dooley. Colorado re- claimed their 1990 Nationa Championship.
The sports world saw it ………………right GT fans. AAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAHHAA
Goooooooooooooooooooooooo Dogs. Sic em !!
BoWeevil
October 6th, 2010
4:48 am
vs. SEC 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 :
.815 Florida 31-7
.694 Alabama 25-11
.666 LSU 24-12
.571 Coach Richt 20-15 UGA 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 vs SEC
BoWeevil
October 6th, 2010
4:51 am
According to the Offensive Coaching Staff, it is Carlton Thomas who is our BEST RUNNING BACK, which is why they gave him the STARTING TAILBACK JOB in the LAST LOSS.
Coach
October 6th, 2010
6:47 pm
I used to Coach Carlton Thomas in highschool. It’s not hard pitch right then pitch left, don’t run him up the middle. Give him the ball in space and see what happens. Also pick a back and stick with it. All great backs get better as the game goes along. They need to get into a rhythm, that doesn’t happen by running a different back every other series. Pick one back and stick with him.