TB Isaiah Crowell to get first career start vs. Coastal Carolina
ATHENS – Just got back from interviewing Georgia players following head coach Mark Richt’s weekly press conference. As you could imagine there wasn’t a whole lot of talk about Coastal Carolina, the Bulldogs opponent for Week 3. It was more about the aftermath of last Saturday’s loss to South Carolina and what has to happen going forward.
The biggest bit of news to come out of the half-hour session with Coach Richt was the decision to start freshman tailback Isaiah Crowell this week. Crowell had 158 all-purpose yards — including 118 rushing — and two touchdowns against the Gamecocks was named SEC co-freshman of the week, The 5-foot-11, 215-pound Columbus native now leads the Bulldogs in rushing with 178 yards, or 89 per game and is the team’s second-leading scorer.
So here quickly is what Richt had to say about Crowell. . . .
- On tailback rotation: “Right now we do have [Crowell] slated as the starter for this week. Part of it is just his production as a runner. That’s a big part of it certainly. But Richard [Samuel] is also kind of hobbled. I don’t know how much work he’ll get today. Now that Isaiah is in that role, a lot of guys when they get into that starting role they can an even greater sense of urgency in their preparation.”
- His assessment of Crowell’s play so far: “I think he’s done pretty well. I think he has learned a lot. It’s just so hard to explain to a guy what it’s going to be like until they just start doing it. Now that he’s been in the Dome and had that experience and then he had a Southeastern Conference experience and a game that he could tell one play could make the difference. I think that he understands a lot more about what it takes and I think he’s even more motivated to work even harder in practice and to make sure he makes sure he takes care of every little detail. Not to say that he wasn’t, but it’s just . . . he’s a freshman. Until you play in an SEC game like that you just don’t get it fully. But I saw an even more urgency on his part, even in yesterday’s practice. He just seemed to be excited about what the future holds.”
- On Crowell’s performance versus South Carolina: “I think he is a very special back. As the game was going on I thought he was running very well, but when I looked at the film I realized he really made some great runs. So we hope he can keep doing that.”
- On Crowell not getting more carries: “He did take a shot in the ribs and he was having trouble breathing. A couple of runs in a row and I think, because of his energy level and excitement level, he’d raise his hand and want to come off. So when a guy does that, you could say stay in there but you don’t know why a guy wants to come out when he’s asking to come out. So he came out. I think he’ll stay in a little bit more than a couple of runs. Although there were a couple of relatively long runs, I think his endurance will build as we go, too, as he prepares and as the weather cools as the season goes on.
- On Samuel’s injury: “It’s not a muscle pull. It was like a heel, something with his heel. It wasn’t a break or anything like that. More of a heel contusion.”
- Who will be second team if Samuel can’t go: “Right now in my opinion it’d be Carlton [Thomas]. But today is a big day. It’s a competition day, a physical day, a day we’ll get in pads and do some live football. Guys will get an opportunity to show they need to be playing.”
– Chip Towers
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143 comments Add your comment
JB
September 13th, 2011
3:38 pm
Stinger2……….I’ve heard enough of the unrealistic fan base out of you. Go to any SEC school and start losing and bring me back a report. Last time i checked the news, no bricks thrown in Richt’s window or any trees killed on campus or our ‘cartel’ flying off during the season to interview a coach. We get it. you hate us. You hang around our blogs like the loser you are. And 9 of 10. Now that’s realistic !
DC
September 13th, 2011
3:39 pm
i hear ya Dawgin
Chip Towers
September 13th, 2011
3:39 pm
TallyDawg: Crowell’s rib injury not expected to slow him down or keep him out of practice.
NCDawgs fan
September 13th, 2011
3:41 pm
We can put a DB in the backfield on offense for some snaps, why can’t we put a RB on defense (LB) for some snaps? Especially against an FCS team. What better time to test out the option of filling a need! Malcome can get some snaps at TB.
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
3:42 pm
You’re right DawginLex…
That last game was a quality loss!
UGAKEV
September 13th, 2011
3:42 pm
Isiah Crowel this l Saturday…205Yards 3TDS 2 rep 30 yards …GO DAWGS!!!
Robert
September 13th, 2011
3:42 pm
This is a little off topic, but there’s rumor that Oklahoma has made their decision and that the Big 12 is basically toast
My only question is why in the WORLD would Oklahoma be looking to join the Pac-12 instead of trying for the SEC?
I’m an OU and I just dont get this. I dont care what conference I am in, if I am a college football team ready to switch conferences, my goal is SEC
I mean – bottom line – noone plays in Japan if they can play in the Show
DawginLex
September 13th, 2011
3:42 pm
Losing sucks
We did play better but
.
.
.
losing still sucks
JB
September 13th, 2011
3:44 pm
Lex, notice all the long blogs today on different ones by new bloggers?
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
3:45 pm
@Robert
The Big12 has been toast since Spring of 2010, it just took it a while to pop out of the toaster. Oklahoma doesn’t want to be in the SEC because they aren’t in the South East.
JB
September 13th, 2011
3:46 pm
And playing most west coast teams is easier than most SEC teams.
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
3:47 pm
True that, JB.
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
3:49 pm
Oklahoma will be the King of the Mountain in the PAC 16.
JK
September 13th, 2011
3:51 pm
What freshmen have not played yet this year that could take off the potential red shirt and get in the game?
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
3:54 pm
This move makes it more likely that the SEC expansion will also go beyond 14 teams. I don’t see that happening without the ACC being broken up as well. Florida State and Virginia Tech would be wise to defect sooner, rather than later. I wonder if the remaining ACC teams will try to hold the conference together after that happens?
This could very well be the final year of CFB as we have known it.
JB
September 13th, 2011
3:56 pm
The ACC will survive and 8 -10 teams will form the AFC. ( almost football conference)
TampaDawg
September 13th, 2011
3:59 pm
JK, count Jay Rome out of that .. too much of a log jam at TE. Ray Drew and insert linebacker name here.
Hey, DawginLex...
September 13th, 2011
4:02 pm
…do you really think we will lose 63-0…
Leg Humping Mutts Stink
September 13th, 2011
4:02 pm
The leg humpers are gonna lose again!
JB
September 13th, 2011
4:03 pm
We need to sign 6 OL and 4 LB’s next year
TampaDawg
September 13th, 2011
4:03 pm
The ACC will just swallow up the rest of the teams from the Big East and no one will no any different.
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
4:03 pm
If they lose FSU, VA Tech and Clemson, then they won’t even be “almost football”.
Conventional wisdom is that we’ll wind up with four 16 team conferences. The rest of the league might as well give up on the NCAA when that happens. Better yet, maybe the Big 4 conferences will tell the NCAA that they can shove it?
JB
September 13th, 2011
4:03 pm
Hey hump, when does Tech play some team that needs a jock?
Frog from SWD
September 13th, 2011
4:04 pm
So???? Ken Malcolm Can’t get any PT against a Cupcake opponent this week. My fellow SWD Grad must be in the DOG HOUSE?
TampaDawg
September 13th, 2011
4:04 pm
Well on our way JB, got two great OL prospects already. A lot of offers out for LBs, but a spot where they are definitely shoring up for the future is the D-line. Great committs already there.
TampaDawg
September 13th, 2011
4:06 pm
Easily Amused, love the idea .. don’t know if it’s possible, but I love the thought of someone finally telling that gustapo of an organization to take a hike.
Professor
September 13th, 2011
4:06 pm
How is Cro-El doing in his remedial reading class?
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
4:08 pm
I see 14 game regular seasons and playoffs coming.
Money Talks!
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2011
4:09 pm
Empty the bench!!
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
4:10 pm
@1eyedJack
Is it time for a big dance?
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2011
4:13 pm
Easily Amused, the last thing I want to do is hurt your feelings. But it’s still on my list.
Manager at the Kool-Aid factory
September 13th, 2011
4:14 pm
35-21
45-42
Two humiliating beatdowns in a row, and the leg humpers are already swilling the Kool-Aid again.
Hope springs eternal, I guess.
Michael T.
September 13th, 2011
4:15 pm
Maybe he can put the fire out on Richt’s a$$.
http://coachesbythenumbers.com/should-richts-backside-really-be-on-fire/
This is the kind of great coaching decisions that will get you by such a ruthless competitor like Coastal Carolina.
1eyedJack
September 13th, 2011
4:17 pm
Who is Tech playing this weekend, the East-Central Nancy Boy’s School for the Blind?
Tobias Funke
September 13th, 2011
4:23 pm
Chip
Any truth to the rumor that Richt called the plays in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters?
How do you pronounce Isaiah’s last name? Is it Crowl or Crow-well?
CHDawg
September 13th, 2011
4:23 pm
SWD, I think it is more likely that Macome is just hurt. Even hurt, he was the best looking TB in the GDay game IMO. I believe he has a very bright future at UGA, with Crowell being great, too. Bama flourished with two pretty good TBs last year. Btw, doesn’t Bama have lousy coaches! They had a bunch of first rounders, a Heisman winner and Richardson, too, and even though they were rated #1, they lost 3 games. Richt would have easily won the NC with that kind of talent. Why do the Bama fans put up with those losers?
tony
September 13th, 2011
4:24 pm
LOL! After losing 2 games Mr.Richt decided to start his best rb. Why hasn’t RS return to LB? Don’t they have a shortage at LB? This team desperately needs a hc who knows what the heck he is doing.
magnolia, tx dawg
September 13th, 2011
4:25 pm
I never expected a perfect season with all our freshman. I am not totally sold on Murray. I do expect an all out effort from this team for the rest of the year and therefore, expect to see improvement. I also believe we can beat any team remaining on our schedule with good preparation and effort.
KungFuMaster
September 13th, 2011
4:25 pm
The last time Georgia football was relevent was when Bill Cosby had the number one TV show in America. UGA has a good football program but they are not at the level of an Alabama, Florida, LSU, or even Auburn. If you would have paid Cam Newton’s dad his finders fee. You would have won more games. I think Georgia should move to the Big East, they just might win there………..Boise rocked you TRICKS!!!!….and you say Boise State can’t win in the SEC EAST, yeah, right!!
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
September 13th, 2011
4:30 pm
Rural education said, “Crowell is a punk, he trashed talk the whole game. The real RB, Lattimore just ran and let his actions do the talking. Ga is full of showboats.”
I didn’t see anything like that, but if you want to find someone with a punk’s ego, look no further than Jadaveon (spelling?) Clowney at Carolina. Not only did he trash Nick Saban after he picked Carolina (and Saban was his runner up!), he went onto ESPN’s SEC blog chat this week and talked trash about Aaron Murray.
And the fact that the media is practically worshipping at the altar of this kid (I say kid because he doesn’t seem to have the self-control and attitude a man should have) is doing nothing but inflating his ego. He may be a good football player, which he seems to be, but he appears to embody everything that’s wrong with the recruiting culture in college football. All ego and entitlement.
Crowell, from what I saw, went out there and busted his tail without flapping his gums. Yeah, he said he plans on being a 1,000-yard rusher this year. That’s what we call a “goal,” which, if he keeps playing as well as he did again SC, he should easily obtain.
Rant over! Go Dawgs!
CHDawg
September 13th, 2011
4:31 pm
Kung Fu, being a three yr old, you obviously can’t remember four years ago, when UGA finished at #2. That is below average for the top two teams in college football.
Sam Robards, Dawg Fan
September 13th, 2011
4:32 pm
Sorry, my last post got derailed a little bit.
Congratulations, Isaiah! You’ve earned the starting spot from here on out, as far as I’m concerned. And if people are still down about his pass protection skills, they’ll improve as he plays more. ‘Nuff said.
CHDawg
September 13th, 2011
4:33 pm
Agree that Crowell is doing great, Sam. Rural is jealous, I suspect. The time he got up aggressively, the SC guy got in his face first.
ken
September 13th, 2011
4:35 pm
I think more of the “dream team” should be thrust into the fire and learn this way, after all they are the dream team supposedly bluechippers of the sort, i was at georgia the day all came on campus and in the room where the team meets, all the other parents and coaches. Richt asked us to trust him with our kids, that what we are suppose to do, but as i said to mark, let them play, you have real burners in this class, justin, jr. seay, the kid from valdosta te, dont let them marinate, let em bar b que
UGA Insider
September 13th, 2011
4:36 pm
I’m ready to see how The Junkyoung Dawgs react Saturday. I will also be on the sidelines in Oxford as well. Hopefully I will not oversleep for the 11:20Am start.
I have resigned myself to the fact that 2011 is a total rebuilding year for UGA. I had no idea we were so youthful at so many positions. I’m afraid of trips to Knoxville and Jax as tough places to play for these kids and CMR doesn’t exactly have the best history at those places.
ken
September 13th, 2011
4:37 pm
that’s junior seay, jb, the wide outs that can fly #84 & 86
Easily Amused
September 13th, 2011
4:38 pm
@CHDawg
I don’t think Bama fans would put up with very many 10-3 seasons.
Georgia fans, OTOH, would call that a “good” year.
ken
September 13th, 2011
4:39 pm
insider i was there that is one hell of a group not because of my boy being one of them, the kid theus from jax who has a brother already there
ken
September 13th, 2011
4:40 pm
otoh that’s life there is peaks and valleys so let’s not get to bougie
UGA Insider
September 13th, 2011
4:43 pm
ken,
At this point I think it’s time to let these young players play. As did UT last season. Put Marshall, Drew, Swann and let them get playing time now.