Practice report: TB Isaiah Crowell in line to get start in opener
Walking wounded: NG John Jenkins (66) and SE Marlon Brown couldn't practice Tuesday due to injuries. (Photo by Guy Prokay/DawgTime.com)
ATHENS – Isaiah Crowell doesn’t know whether he will start at tailback in Georgia’s season opener against Boise State, but he probably won’t know what to do with himself if he doesn’t.
“I haven’t ever not started,” Crowell revealed Tuesday after practice.
And when he says ever, he means it.
The true freshman from Columbus said he started as a safety on defense in his first game as a 6-year-old little leaguer with the Eastway Cherokees. By Game 2, “Coach Buckner” (Crowell couldn’t recall his first name) came to his senses and moved Crowell to running back. And Crowell has been toting the rock with the first team ever since.
Of course, Georgia coach Mark Richt famously hinted on national signing day that Crowell could start his first game. “I wouldn’t be shocked to see him running that rock in the Dome against Boise State on the opening play if he does what he’s supposed to do,” Richt said last February.
At this point it seems likely that could happen. With just 10 days remaining before the Bulldogs face the No. 5-ranked Broncos in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in Atlanta, Crowell is solidly the No.1 tailback. Never mind that it’s by default.
Last year’s leading rushers Washaun Ealey and Caleb King were unable to stay with the team and junior Carlton Thomas is suspended forf the opener. And as of Tuesday evening, converted tailback Richard Samuel is still slowed with a strained quadriceps muscle and Crowell the majority of snaps with the No. 1 unit ahead of Ken Malcome and Brandon Harton.
Nevertheless, Crowell insists he’s neither hopeful nor expectant when it comes to taking the first snap on offense on Sept. 3.
“Starting is not a big deal to me,” he said. “I just want to do whatever I can do to help my team win.”
At this point, Crowell’s significant contribution is a more of a need than a wish for the Bulldogs. And a first-year starter in a first game against a Top 10 opponent is problematic.
“He just hasn’t experienced enough of the situations that are going to come down the pipe,” Richt said. “Has he had a chance to see every blitz against every protection that he needs to understand? The answer is no. In theory, you take mental reps and try to give him as many situations as possible. We haven’t given him every single scenario yet. But before these next 10 days are over, we hope to make sure he’s got enough to feel comfortable.
“The good news is he’s picking up things quickly and he doesn’t shy away from any kind of contact.”
For his part, Crowell appears to be holding cool and steady. He said he gets nervous before games but not the “throw-up-in-the-trash-can” kind of nervous. And claims he is largely unconcerned with how he does in his first game.
“Doing whatever I can do, going 100 percent every play and helping my team win, that’s my goal,” Crowell said. “Really nothing about yards or touchdowns. I’d like to have a lot of yards or a lot of touchdowns. But if it doesn’t happen I just want my team to come out on top and win.”
Here’s a link to video of Crowell’s entire interview Tuesday at DawgTime.com.
Let the games begin
Georgia will take its first major step toward game preparation on Wednesday when it holds a “dress rehearsal practice game” at Sanford Stadium. Richt said the workout will be 90-95 percent scout work, with the No. 1 offense and defense going against scout teams simulating Boise State and a lot of scripted situations.
“We’ll play a half of football,”Richt said. “We’ll get our pregame ready, go into a coin toss and we’ll actually name captains by then.”
The Bulldogs have an ideal situation for simulating Boise State’s offense. Left-handed quarterback Michael Tamburo – a transfer from Boise State – will simulate the Broncos’ heralded, left-handed quarterback Kellen Moore.
Georgia practiced for only an hour Tuesday in shorts and helmets to rest up for Wednesday’s work.
Injury report
Two new players were among the injured players dressed in green jerseys on Tuesday. Fullback Bruce Figgins was sidelined with “a pulled muscle” that Richt described as “not too serious.” Also, tailback Carlton Thomas, who is already out for the opener due to suspension, was sidelined to give a chronic ankle injury rest. . . . Starting split end Marlon Brown (ankle) and backup nose guard John Jenkins (hamstring) remained sidelined.
Samuel practiced in a green jersey but his mobility was clearly still affected as he ran and walked with a noticeable limp. . . . Freshman flanker Malcolm Mitchell (hip) was able to return to practice in a limited capacity but is expected to be close to full speed for Wednesday’s workout.
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551 comments Add your comment
bitter smurff-ett
August 24th, 2011
7:22 am
credit to kellen moore and all the blue tatter framers————they will bring a well coached
—team and will put up a fight untill the 4th quarter, then the running game should take over
——–and the dawgs size should prove———-size does matter—————FACT
———–moore and the blue people have put a beat down on oreagon and VA. tech the last 3 years
—————–so all these punks they say they will roll over like a rotten–tatter are not watching
———————enough collage ball——-this game will decide how well ga play’s the rosters
————————-we beat the spuds and the chickens are in for a beat down
———————————then dawgs back in top ten———————yaaaw
AltamahaDawg
August 24th, 2011
7:30 am
See what BuzzKill did there, he took what you posted , but said, na huh that’s you. clever boy.
Destin Dawg
August 24th, 2011
7:34 am
Can’t wait !! Junkyard Dawgs are back under Grantham !!! big rush and improved tackling… great kicking game = field goals and field position…. we have speed on special teams and D backs…. 34 to 17 DAWGS !!
Thomas Brown
August 24th, 2011
7:42 am
AltamahawDawg, is that you ?
AltamahaDawg June 24th, 2010 4:51 pm
“The attitude was bad, and the execution was worse.”
“Pretty much 2009 in a nutshell. No matter what/who I would expect the team to be more excited to play, and be more exciting to watch 2010 season. Much of that coming from a new staff, exited to coach rather than just trying to recover or survive. 2009 just seemed like the shadow of 2008 to me. Bad vibes all around. And if you think about it, why should we have been excited coming into the season 2009? Lost your big star players, the talent level not where it should have been, an unpopular staff, and a Head Coach having to spend his energy defending everybody from top to bottom, and some serious legitamate problem areas on the field that would have been a drag despite none of the above. 2010 feels more like the first of the next few years stretch. I think the fans will enjoy 2010 more it more even if the record isn’t much different.”
JB
August 24th, 2011
7:55 am
I’m excited about our Defense. I am concerned after reading a story on the Athens Banner Herald this AM that Richt is quoted as saying ” I hope Jenkins ( New nose guard from Mississippi JC) can help us this year”. Was hoping he would come in and dominate like Cody did for Bama. I am not hearing that from the coaches. I do think he will help and give us depth, but looks like Geathers will be the man.
Trojan
August 24th, 2011
8:11 am
Ms. Frances: Your mama carries the ball.
RedandBlackDAWG
August 24th, 2011
8:13 am
BLU TURF,
Do you have a designated player to pick up your QB’s butt when he gets planted by the UGA defense. Your QB is truely going to know what the term means, ” A game of football is a marathon”.
The tackle that has to protect his blindside has never started for you. The center had a leg injury last year and has to stare at one of two nose tackles that outweight him by 60 pounds and are a half of a foot taller. UGA’s linebackers are the biggest, fastest and strongest, your team will face all year, in your wacked out conference. Your QB is going to have happy feet so much, he will think he is dancing at a square dance for two days after the game.
You do have a fast defense, but it is much smaller than the O line of UGA and we have a TE almost as big as your biggest D lineman. Speed kills, remember that, as UGA will run you to death with theirs. We will either run a tailback that can juke you at the line and leave you behind grasping for a body that is already past them, and then for a change of pace, we can use a TB that will mow you down. You might even see a big fullback toting the rock on occasion, that will be a load for your defense to bring down.
You would do well to go back to your blue turf fan blogs and brag there because that is about the only place you are going to win this game at. The Dome will be your doom.
GO DAWGS and GATA
Wednesday morning buffet | Get The Picture
August 24th, 2011
8:23 am
[...] of seeing the field, Isaiah Crowell may wind up being the last man standing at [...]
JB
August 24th, 2011
8:26 am
After our game with Boise, we will be ranked about 12th and they will be ranked 20th. They can then go back out West and beat up on North Nevada State 63-7 and make everyone think they are a power.
Rivals ranks all 120 div 1 teams and 9 teams on their schedule are 71st and higher. Us and TCU is their only real games.
ZinoDawg
August 24th, 2011
8:32 am
Hey at least we can soften the Broncos up for their TOUGH schedule. After the Dawgs they play Toledo, Tulsa, and Nevada. Now that’s tough!
DawginLex
August 24th, 2011
8:34 am
I went back and looked at VT depth chart last year that played in the boise game.
QB was solid
RB was solid
??? at WR
The big thing I noticed was the lines were undersized compared to ours. We average about 30 pounds more on the OL and DL. Plus, VT was breaking in a lot of young players on defense.
After trying to give the game away, VT took the lead and Boise came back late and won it.
Key folks missing for Boise
WR-Young
WR-Pettus
OC-Bryan Hansin(at Texas now)
They also have a freshman kicker. We have Walsh.
They are a good team but they are not national title worthy IMO if they competed in our league week after week.
I say a 3-5 point win for UGA wiht no more than 48 points scored.
My $.02
DC
August 24th, 2011
8:36 am
Oh my…now its a “positive” that these kids are injured so they can learn the blocking schemes better?..uhhh no..
Common Sense
August 24th, 2011
8:37 am
Thanks for the link to the Gainesville Sun, Beast. Why don’t you just stay there?
DawginLex
August 24th, 2011
8:45 am
Crowell didn’t win this job by default. He is the best we have, just young. Samuel is there to be his character coach and to provide a changeup of more size at RB. Thomas Brwon is also being a great mentor to Crowell.
This kid is trying to do things right and for that I give him credit. He is not spouting about being the featured back and running into parking garages.
He may not be the greatest thing we have ever seen but I am sure pleased with what I am hearing. I also will be pulling for Samuel to get back healthy.
JB
August 24th, 2011
8:47 am
No no no… Beast is always welcome here. He is NOT a hater. He’s a guy who offers good insight, and although a Gator fan, makes solid comments about our Dawgs.
Joey
August 24th, 2011
8:50 am
I am worried. Boise has a good squad, no doubt. Its about tempi. Just like those that mentioned Hawaii. Come out and hit them in the mouth, and keep hitting them in the mouth. I love my Dawgs, but I do watch all the games that I can. This could go either way. All I ask is the Dawgs play four full quarters. Dont take plays off. And Get After There A$$! Gata. Go Dawgs!!
Moe Dawg
August 24th, 2011
8:56 am
@Gator don’t play that
“It’s a fact that most UGA fans are uneducated. Fact of the day.”
It’s a fact that most tech fans pose as gator fans because their own pathetic team can’t win. Fact of the day.
UGAgirlFAN
August 24th, 2011
9:04 am
Send Boise State to the DAWG POUND! SIC ‘EM DAWGS!!!!!!!! All you bandwagon fans get the heck off and go somewhere else if you cannot support your team thru the hard time then you are not a true fan….JUST saying! BLEEDING RED AND BLACK DIE HARD FAN HERE, Love them Dawgs! GO DAWGS-BELIEVE THIS IS YOUR YEAR AND TAKE IT! BE POSITIVE FANS!
)))))
coachgator
August 24th, 2011
9:11 am
TAMPAGATOR….TELL IT LIKE IT IS….GATORS WILL WIN THE EAST..AND WE WILL BEAT BAMA IN THE SWAMP NOW LSU IS ANOTHER STORY…BUT IN JACKSONVILLE THE GATORS WILL PREVAIL OVER THE LITTLE PUPPIES
Mobile Dawg
August 24th, 2011
9:15 am
I just hope among all else that lady luck resides in our camp this year. I’m a believer that the better you plan and prepare, the better your luck is going to be, however sometimes luck is just the way the ball bounces, ask the Bama fans against AU last year and vice versa. It’s another year, and right now the sky’s the limit. I’m not high on the kool aid and proclaiming a MNC, but right now anything is possible, so let’s enjoy the moment for what it is. At my stage in life i’m not going to wish my life away but I am looking forward to Saturday night.
Destin Dawg
August 24th, 2011
9:16 am
project ” Dome To Dome “… we’ll win 3 games in Atlanta this season … UGA 34 Boise State 17…. UGA 42 GT 10… UGA 24 Tide 20… SEC Champs !!! Go Dawgs !!!
Get a room
August 24th, 2011
9:27 am
Dawggirl, you sound a little creepy, bet you were popular around the ‘ole locker rooms”, likely in MILFORD GEORGIA, BAKER COUNTY.
Mobile Dawg
August 24th, 2011
9:35 am
And if I were an investigator looking for perverts you would be a prime suspect, starting with your computer’s ISP address.
WDE
August 24th, 2011
9:37 am
@Get a room that is a pretty classy comment you bloody troll.
PMC
August 24th, 2011
9:39 am
Boy is this a sad inditement of the runningback coaching and recruiting over the past 5 years. Basically no one since Knowhon who could play.
Dawg fan 007
August 24th, 2011
9:42 am
With those Power Rangers uniforms Ga. is wearing this year…They are going to be out of this world.
Ga. defense will prevail..
GT Joe
August 24th, 2011
9:47 am
LOL, silly mutts.
GT and CPJ AVERAGED like 35 pts/game on UGA, Boise State probably drops 40 on UGA.
And without AJ Green, there’s no way UGA can keep up. Just look at last year’s games without AJ. Scary.
And to the morons who say “BSU hasn’t seen REAL speed or a REAL defense”, LOL, they played (and beat) oregon, oklahoma, and VT. Went TO VT and beat them (hate to say it, Blacksburg is WAY tougher to win as a visitor than the Dome).
BSU 45, UGA 21
GT Joe
August 24th, 2011
9:49 am
By the way, that uniform is AWFUL. Why does UGA do such stupid gimmicks, like this or the all black uniform. Dumb. Yet I’m not surprised for some reason.
Where’s HeeHawDawg and CantReadDawg?
TampaDawg
August 24th, 2011
9:49 am
@Paul in NH (formerly RDU) — Guarantee, like other incoming freshman, he got a good look at the playbook. He is a redshirt sophomore. Meaning he has experience around the offensive system. They won’t let on to too much but you know they are picking his brain a bit. You’re making it sound like he barely even saw the practice facility before he transferred. Being a redshirt sophomore he has had more than enough time in the playbook there.
UGA Gold
August 24th, 2011
9:50 am
Will Samuel,M. Mitchell,& J.Jenkins be ready for the opener against Boise State ? Saying they are still injured could mean for 2 weeks,5 weeks,all year. How about a timeline to play for each please ?
'94 UGA Alumni
August 24th, 2011
9:50 am
Hey Mobile Dawg,
I totally agree with you but don’t forget about Ken Malcome. When healthy I think he’s a pretty darn good back.
bubba4dawgs
August 24th, 2011
9:50 am
OK, who is this “blue turf”? He’s going to have a blue a** when the DAWGS get thru chewin! They gonna do some kinda chewin too! Oh, I love this smack mouth stuff!! Ain’t it fun!!
GT Joe
August 24th, 2011
9:51 am
I can already predict the responses after BSU drubs the dogs. “FIRE RICHT”. Just like after UCF beat you guys.
Amazing how quick mutts get tricked. Just start yapping some Dream Team BS and Bam, job security for another year. LOL.
DawginLex
August 24th, 2011
9:51 am
VT 1-19 versus top 10.
VT lost to a rebuilding UGA team in 2006
VT is the most overrated joke in all of college football
That’s why they lost to Boise
That’s why they lost to JMU
That’s why Stanford raped them
Their lines are nowhere near the size of ours. They make their living in a watered down ACC. All that is about to change as Jimbo will own the ACC like Bobby did.
Oregon and Oklahoma have always lost to SEC schools too.
Boise has never beaten an SEC school and won’t beat one until they play Ole miss in 2014
Football Insider
August 24th, 2011
9:51 am
Crowell is starting because there IS NO ONE ELSE TO RUN THE BALL.
What a bunch of ignorant homers.
Like I have been saying all offseason, UGA is replacing their top RB’s with a freshman. Only Dawg fans would see the good in that.
JB
August 24th, 2011
9:53 am
When you look at Boise scoring 40,50 ,60 points on people, they are rolling up those numbers against athletes not as talented as our scout team. Really, they aren’t.
DawginLex
August 24th, 2011
9:54 am
You don’t think Richt regrets redshirting Knowshon in 2006?
He was a freshman.
You don’t think he could have played?
Not too much insider knowledge there huh?
Ag Dawg
August 24th, 2011
9:57 am
Wow I forgot about Tambaro, wonder what kind of details we are getting about the Boise’s playbook?
Win first two games ,should go undefeated for season
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 24th, 2011
9:57 am
Football Insider,
Why did Lattimore run the ball for Carolina? Because they had no one else to run it. Not saying Crowell will perform near Lattimores standard but the standard has already been set. Carolina was not even the first example only the latest. You are far from a insider.
GT Joe
August 24th, 2011
9:57 am
DawginLex. The most overrated joke in college football is UGA. By far. Look at preseason ranks and final ranks. It’s embarrassing.
Boise has never beaten an SEC school? have they played any in the past 3-4 years? LOL
DawginLex
August 24th, 2011
9:58 am
Ag
Only problem with the playbook thing is their OC from last year is at Texas now
JB
August 24th, 2011
9:59 am
GT Joe……….you need to start worrying about the train wreck Johnson has made of your program. You are nowhere on the National scene as even being competitive. 5th in your division of the ACC. Can’t beat a horrible Georgia team the last two years. I would be mad if in year four a new coach had us nose diving rather than on the up tick. Johnson will make Gaily look great before it’s over. Tech will beat no one worth their salt this year. Just Duke,Wake, Western Carolina etc. Pitiful
Ag Dawg
August 24th, 2011
9:59 am
Good point JB wonder what kind of #s could Murry have put up last year playing in that weak as conference. Georgia would have went undefeated too.
DawginLex
August 24th, 2011
10:00 am
Gt Joe
We get it you hate UGA.
Richt owns Tech and you can’t stand it.
We were discussing the teams Boise has beaten and i pointed out that none of those teams are successful against the SEC and Boise has never beaten an SEC school.
You respond with venom
I respond with facts
Big Dirty Dawg
August 24th, 2011
10:01 am
Never underestimated a consistently well coached team!! Dawgs should pull this one out….but Peterson is a very good game planner and coach. Both BSU and UGA have there issues with their overall teams…both have chips on their shoulder. BSU…no respect. UGA…underestimated. Just depends who wants it more!! However, seems to be another barn burner in the making!! HUNKER DOWN!!!
GT Joe
August 24th, 2011
10:02 am
Venom? You said VT was the most overrated team, i said it was UGA, pointing to facts (preseason rank vs. final rank). You said BSU hasn’t beat an SEC team, I asked you how many SEC teams did they play in the past 3-4 years when BSU was legit. thats venom? or do facts scare you? LOL.
Ag Dawg
August 24th, 2011
10:03 am
Lattimore is a great runner…. but remember that was our first true game in the 3-4 plus freshman QB and fumbles . We have a much better team on offensive and defensive, even with lost pl;ayers.
GT Joe
August 24th, 2011
10:04 am
JB, CPJ is trainwrecking GT because we were 5th in our division? LOL. UGA was 3rd in their division and lost to central florida, is that a trainwreck?
GT Joe
August 24th, 2011
10:06 am
JB, that trainwrecked GT team has played TIGHT games against your team the past 3 years under CPJ.
Don’t think your team is head and shoulder above us; the games are coin flips.
DawginLex
August 24th, 2011
10:07 am
Facts don’t scare me
Richt is on the hot seat.
When you look at UGA over his tenure, the last 3 years have been a dissappointment.
This schedule is set up for 9 or 10 wins. If he goes 8-4 or less, I will be wanting him gone.
VT has underachieved when put on the national stage. They are 1-19 versus the top 10 and consistently lose their BCS bowl game after winning a watered down ACC
You put us in the ACC and we win it more times than not and you know it.
Boise plays 2 or maybe 3 legit games per year. The other 9 or 10 are against teams that SEC schools play as OOC cupcakes. They are conference games for Boise. I have no respect for that.
Put them in the SEC. If they go 11-1 or 12-0 in the SEC, then I buy it. Problem is, they wouldn’t go 11-1 or 12-0 in the SEC.