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Tailback talk: Thomas out 1 game, Samuel to start No. 1, Crowell to wear 1

11:24 am July 21, 2011, by Chip Towers

Hoover, Ala. – Georgia coach Mark Richt and three Bulldogs players met with the local beat writers and a few national reporters Thursday morning before their main session at here at SEC Media Days. As expected, UGA’s running back situation was the issue most discussed.

To his credit, Richt was not wishy-washy about his feelings on the position or what he expects to happen. So without further ado, here’s what he had to say about the tailbacks:

  • Richt confirmed that Carlton Thomas is indeed suspended for the opener against Boise State and that it is a one-game suspension.

“All I’ll say on that is Carlton won’t play Game 1 and I’ll say ‘team rule’ and you guys can figure out whatever you want.” Asked if Thomas would be back for South Carolina, he stated flatly, “yes.”

  • On overall running back situation in light of attrition with loss of Washaun Ealey and Caleb King:

“I’m just going to reserve my decision on whether or not we’re losing anything there or not. We may be gaining, OK? A year ago, I can’t sit here and say I was ever really at a point where I was saying, ‘man, our guys are being highly productive and kicking butt and they’re guys I can count on.’ That wasn’t happening. By the end of this year I might say, ‘these guys were kicking butt and guys I could count.’ So I wouldn’t sit here and say our running back situation is worse now than it was a year. We’ll see on that.”

  • What about the young backs, Isaiah Crowell and Ken Malcome?

“These are talented guys who are going to get an opportunity to make plays. I’ve seen so many young backs play well over the years, I’m not fretting right now. I don’t lay awake at night going, ‘oh my goodness, what are we going to do now.’ I just don’t. I know that we’ve got some guys on this team that can be highly productive offensively. Now will we find a back that carries the ball 20 times a game? I don’t know. Maybe we will, maybe we won’t.”

  • What about moving Richard Samuel from linebacker back to tailback?

“I do think moving Richard Samuel back was very much needed. If anybody needed to be soothed a little bit, that should do it, because he’s a very physically mature man and he’s a mature man in the way he goes about his business. And he certainly has two years experience within our system and knows what to do. So it’s not like we’re wondering what he can do.

“He’ll be in those meetings and will be a great example of how to prepare and how to play the game and the position of tailback. I know he’ll hold onto the ball; I know he’ll secure it; I know he’ll strike you; I know he’s fast; I know he’s powerful; and I know he’ll play hard. He’s not really interested in dodging many people, but he is what he is. I’ve seen a lot of backs with that type of style who are going to hit you and drive their feet and make it tough on you to take them down. So there’s a lot of very positive things about Richard that are really going to help us.”

  • Will there be anymore players miss the opener due to suspension or ineligibility?

“Well, I’ll say this: If there’s anybody else we need to announce, we’ll announce it at the appropriate time, which is not today. We’ll see. But we’ll be ready to play on Sept. 3rd, I can promise you that.”

  • What do you know and what have you heard about Crowell?

“He’s a freshman like the rest of them. He’s got to learn how to handle college, period. I think he’s doing well. I don’t know. You can’t get reports from your strength coach and you can’t go out and watch or coach those guys. You can talk to your players. You might want to ask [Aaron] Murray, you might want to ask [Ben] Jones or [Brandon] Boykin, who are here. They’re really leading our off-season program. They can tell you how they’re doing.

“But we don’t expect Isaiah to save the program. We don’t expect Isaiah to put the team on his back. We just want Isaiah to learn what to do, to do things the Georgia way and try to do anything he can to help the team win as a freshman. How far that goes, I don’t know.

“I’ve got a sense of anticipation. I’m excited to find out what’s going to happen when we put the pads on for the first time and get him in an inside drill or go live and see what he does. I want to see how he handles getting hit real hard and how he handles the speed of the Southeastern Conference. I’m like any other fan would be, just curious to see how it’s going to go. We won’t treat him a whole lot different than any other player who is talented, but we want to make sure that he has success.

“Was I anxious to see A.J. Green and what he could do? Yeah. I’m anxious to see these guys also. But, you know, you could have a missed assignment at receiver and not be nearly as devastating as a tailback missing an assignment when it comes to pass protection or going to wrong way on a run. When a running back makes a mistake it’s not good. When a wide receiver makes a mistake you can probably just line up and run another play or punt. There’s a buzz out there about him. Our veterans believe he’s a very talented guy.”

  • Who will start the preseason as the No. 1 tailback?

“I would start practice with Richard No. 1.”

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167 comments Add your comment

Mobile Dawg

July 21st, 2011
3:14 pm

Do you think Richt has that in him Lex? That would change my opinion of him 180 degrees.

edumacated

July 21st, 2011
3:15 pm

I’m supposed to be optimistic over the fact that our number 1 at RB against Boise has been playing LB for the past year? Richt sure knows how to sugercoat it, and a lot of you are buying it as well. If Samuel had been half decent at RB, then he would have stayed there, but he couldn’t break tackles or avoid contact either. That one long run against ARK was through a hole big enough to drive a truck through. I sure hope Crowell is as good as everyone thinks he is. We are going to need him or else Murray will be running for his life all season.

Big Earl

July 21st, 2011
3:16 pm

@DawginLex…I like the way you’re thinkin with the power game! In that same “Dooley” vein of thought… I think EVERYONE on our schedule will present a tremedous challenge to our little bitty Dawgs because their kickers are just outstanding! We may not be able to even stay on the field with anybody…..I used to love Dooley’s mealy mouth comments before we played Vandy…or anyone else for that matter. Then we’d go out and beat the snot out of them. I hope those days are about to return.

FLA DAWG

July 21st, 2011
3:17 pm

Like I said………..”not even a tough call.”

RAMBLE ON!!!

July 21st, 2011
3:18 pm

DawginLex,

I agree that you should be proud of Richt. He’s is the best coach you mutts have ever had…much better than Dooley, but, your sidewalk fan base will run him out of town after this probable 8-4 season.

It will be interesting to see how things pan out.

FLA DAWG

July 21st, 2011
3:19 pm

Correction…………I had Samuel at Fullback and Crowell at Tail – and I still think that would be a better tandem.

UGA what a Joke

July 21st, 2011
3:21 pm

I pray to the God’s that UGA doesn’t win 1 game this year.They will still be in front of a tv camera with 1 finger up and that’s the finger they pick their butt and nose with.. I totally hate UGA. Forgive me Lord and Bless All The Little Pygmies In South America..Bunch of Freaking A$$ crybabies..

JE

July 21st, 2011
3:21 pm

Just line Figgins and Samuel up in the backfield and let the other tb’s follow their blocks. With those two back there the other backs should find a hole to run somewhere. But one thing for sure you cannot sacrifice Samuel’s speed and size for him just to block. He will have to touch the ball. One thing that has hurt our offense in recent years is there has not been a running attack for the FB except inside the three yard line. Defensive Coordinators know this. They also know when the screen pass will be thrown to the FB. What happened to the Haynes play.

UGA '05

July 21st, 2011
3:22 pm

Yahoo sports is writing on an SECw team and it’s not LSU or Arkansas. It’s supposed to be huge. I heard this on 680 the fan from Chuck n Chernoff

FLA DAWG

July 21st, 2011
3:22 pm

So after the abysmal record of last season you think that Richt is a really good coach even if he goes 8 – 4 this season!?

That does not compute.

gdawginkalamazoo

July 21st, 2011
3:24 pm

Insider, throw us some bones on the story dude.

FLA DAWG

July 21st, 2011
3:26 pm

Probably Auburn. NCAA is still doing their investigation(s).

gdawginkalamazoo

July 21st, 2011
3:28 pm

And congrats to #22. Hard worker and great team player.

edumacated

July 21st, 2011
3:29 pm

It doesn’t take an insider to know that the NCAA isn’t done w/ Auburn yet.

FLA DAWG

July 21st, 2011
3:30 pm

Didn’t say I was an insider…………pick up a book and read

Ace

July 21st, 2011
3:31 pm

UGA fans talk big in the summer, after the UF game they are like church mice or 2 year olds.

"All da Way Turnt Up" not

July 21st, 2011
3:33 pm

#1 Crowell will be # 1 Bust. Bank on it! Buh Bye Mark Richt……

Ace

July 21st, 2011
3:39 pm

The last 3 teams had better players and what did they do ? 3 more years of pain, fun and high ticket prices.

UGA '05

July 21st, 2011
3:46 pm

Let me comment!!!!

UGA '05

July 21st, 2011
3:48 pm

Let me comment about I.C’s fb page.

UGA '05

July 21st, 2011
3:48 pm

Jerk

UGA '05

July 21st, 2011
3:49 pm

I.C said he deleted his fb page

UGA '05

July 21st, 2011
3:49 pm

Eiterhe lied or someone is impersonating him to make him look bad

truedawg

July 21st, 2011
3:51 pm

I’m really excited about this season. seems to be a real, “i’m tired of this mediocore play and doomed state, and I’m working my butt off to make this year better” type of attitude in Athens. Seems like the players are pushing each other harder. Working together more, and demanding more of themselves. CMR seems to have a work hard mind set as well. “blunder to Wonder-DAWGS!! feel free to use that AJC, after the Dawgs start 2-0. GATA GO DAWGS!!!

Vince Lombardi

July 21st, 2011
4:09 pm

Let’s see Crowell is now in line behind a former reserve linebacker? Can’t wait to see how this plays out. Maybe Thomas Brown needs to get him out of bed a little earlier in the mornings.

ugab

July 21st, 2011
4:14 pm

Bringing Samuel back to rb is the right move. Samuel has the size and speed. He has experience also

ugab

July 21st, 2011
4:16 pm

Crowell has to learn the offense and learn how to pass block. He may get to play in the 3rd game. I do not see him play in the 1st two games. Why do we play boise to start off the season? We need a couple of games to get the ball rolling. Its all about money.

ugab

July 21st, 2011
4:19 pm

Everyone needs to support our players. Our coaches are making and taking the right steps to get this program back to par. Football season is almost here!!!!Gooooo Dawgs!!! woo hooo

Oh, the bitterness on here

July 21st, 2011
4:20 pm

What did UGA do to hurt your feelings?

Need to calm down, its not good to go through life full of anger and jealousy.

Mark Richt 2011 Farewell Tour

July 21st, 2011
4:24 pm

I knew it! Its Thomas Brown and Knowshon all over again. Sit the best player and play the one with senority. Dont let the door hit you Richt.

inspired

July 21st, 2011
4:31 pm

all you old dawgs will remember Al Wilson, #23 at UT….tuff as nails… that’s what I believe Samuel will be…a whole new breed of RB who is LB tuff…can’t wait to see it….maybe Crowell will pick up a few points from the new Samuel…

Charlie Hayes

July 21st, 2011
5:13 pm

Has great vision and balance and runs in traffic extremely well. Rarely brought down by one man and has excellent speed in the open field. Can run with power, but often can beat a player without having to absorb contact. Plays both sides of the ball with a linebacker mentality. He’s excellent in pursuit, and extremely aggressive attacking blocks and the ball carrier. Samuels could star on either side of the ball — Scott Kennedy, Scout.com.

This was the review on Scout when Samuel was being recruited by UGA. He was a 5-Star # 4 in the nation tailback…..Now we will see without the other two morans in his way of how well he will live up to his former hype. I have a feeling that he will prove a lot of people wrong and be a huge asset to UGA in the backfield. With Figgins blocking for Samuel I expect a lot of traps and misdirection pounding between the tackles to control the game/clock.

kerryb

July 21st, 2011
5:35 pm

Everyone is judging Samuel on what they saw 2 years ago. Samuel was a 17 year old kid when he came to UGA. Now he is a man who’s bigger, stronger, faster, and more mature. I can’t wait to see what he does now with a huge FB in front of him. Between him and Figgens that’s a huge and powerful backfield.

the dude

July 21st, 2011
5:45 pm

ALL THIS JIBBER JABBER IS A WASTE OF TIME. SEPT 3RD WILL BE HERE SOON ENOUGH. ALL I KNOW IS ga tech IS A LOSER AND CHEATER AS WE ALL KNEW THEY WERE. SO DAWG ON.

Chip Towers

July 21st, 2011
6:02 pm

Lake poet: It’s a fake Facebook page.

Who cares?

July 21st, 2011
6:13 pm

When I first saw the link to this article I thought it said “UGA Tailbacks Arrested”. That makes more sense, anyway.

Who cares?

July 21st, 2011
6:13 pm

did someone really just say “Dawg on”? My God, I weep for your future.

gtfanfrom1951

July 21st, 2011
6:37 pm

Its going to be a long, long, long, season for UGA!!!!

Joe

July 21st, 2011
7:04 pm

It will be a miracle if they win 8 games. Of course Coach Richt does not lie awake at night worrying, he has more money in the bank than his kids will ever be able to spend, and he is going to get paid for another year before he retires to his missionary work.

He is a fine human being, but no longer has the dedication it takes to succeed in the SEC. Whether that is looking the other way, like many of the coaches in the conference do, or it is being a 24-7 guy, he is not doing the things it takes. Been a good run, but this will be the last year of it.

HECKLE

July 21st, 2011
7:52 pm

Will someone honestly settle the question of how tall or short Murray is? This question has gone on far too long!!!

Just saying

July 21st, 2011
8:02 pm

Should have recruited Bobby Rainey when he came out of Griffin, he finished 3rd in the nation in rushing last year with 1649 yards and 15tds. Check his highlights on you tube. He will be playing on Sundays. Better than King or Ealey.

LogicalUS

July 21st, 2011
8:11 pm

“Kinda surprised he would just anoint Samuel the #1 running back BEFORE fall practice begins”

There are no other options.

Look UGA is are down to using this 3rd team LB who was shunted off there because he was a 4th team RB and could make the field behind the “cancers” Washaun Ealey & King. Of course just a few months ago both of these kids were better than the Lattimore kid at SC or the Trent kid at Alabama, today they were just holding back the newest undiscovered Hershel who was being hidden on the scout squad at LB????

But the situation is really so dire that all sort of delusions have to be invented to sooth the knawing realization that this season is toast.

Yep, the 3rd team LB is just a Lattimore\Trent in waiting. Who is crazy enough to believe such silliness?

bobby

July 21st, 2011
8:11 pm

uga could have a nasty power running game picture this samuel at 245 pounds, malcome at 220 as the power backs and crowell as the change of pace back plus people forget that you have bruce figgins at almost 275 pounds at fullback plus remeber o the line is huge you got glenn at 345, gates at 330, beane at 350, ben jones at 320 and brunette at 315-320 that’s a huge line and if the line blocks and the backs pan out this could be a devasting running game.

LogicalUS

July 21st, 2011
8:19 pm

“uga could have a nasty power running game picture this samuel at 245 pounds, malcome at 220 as the power backs and crowell as the change of pace back plus people forget that you have bruce figgins at almost 275 pounds at fullback”

Yeah, that the ticket, I guess there is enough silliness going around.

Look people this isn’t 1943 and modern college football teams can NOT run the flying wedge anymore. But I suppose when you are left with nothing else any fantasy will do.

RB U

July 21st, 2011
8:23 pm

Crowell should be starting in game 1, not samuel. Samuel’s not that good.

FLA DAWG

July 21st, 2011
8:38 pm

Charlie,

I agree with you. Samuel will hit the line hard with experience and confidence. Unfortunately there will be few holes for him because of our below average (in my opinion) O Line.

LHarding Dawg

July 21st, 2011
8:40 pm

I believe Samuals is going to be fine at tailback. He probably should have never been moved to linebacker. Coach Richt has been coaching him since he was 17 and knows what he can do. You Georgia fans need to relax and let the coaches do their jobs. The haters and trolls, well you simply don’t matter.

bigroot

July 21st, 2011
9:14 pm

UGA lost it’s top WR to da draft and Richt still can’t get da top WR’s in GA and da top RB’s in GA are going TENN,AUB,ALA & FLOR

Tech Vacates Their Bowles

July 21st, 2011
9:56 pm

Is there a rule that says Tech fans must be homos?

bigguy

July 21st, 2011
9:57 pm

Crowell will have to wait til Sept 10 to see SEC speed. I saw that he couldn’t handle Calhoun speed. I wish him the best. We’ll see…

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