Despite missteps, Isaiah Crowell on pace to run down 1,000 yards
When Isaiah Crowell has stayed on the field, he has proven extremely effective. He has 821 yards rushing despite missing five quarters of play for disciplinary reasons. (AJC photo by Brant Sanderlin)
ATHENS — There has been a lot to complain about in Isaiah Crowell’s first season with the Bulldogs. The freshman tailback has been suspended twice for disciplinary reasons, has had some fumbling issues and has frustrated many with his inability to remain in games. But as Georgia prepares to face Kentucky in a game that could clinch the SEC East on Saturday, it is evident that Crowell is also pretty darn good at what he does on the football field.
Crowell (5-foot-11, 215 pounds) is on pace to become the Bulldogs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Knowshon Moreno had, 1,400 yards in 2008. With 821 yards rushing, he has already surpassed Washaun Ealey’s production from a year ago (811). He is currently third in the SEC with an average of 91.2 yards per contest.
Getting to the 1,000-yard mark is something Crowell is determined to do.
“I want to get over 1,000 pretty bad,” said Crowell, who would be the only Bulldog other than Herschel Walker to do it as a true freshman. “My goal was to be a freshman All-American. I don’t know if that’s going to happen or whatever, but I definitely want to get a thousand. That was my goal at the beginning of the season and I want to be able to reach my goal.”
If the Bulldogs can keep him on the field, it’s likely Crowell will do that and then some. He’ll have four more chances to do so if Georgia can get past Kentucky this Saturday. If he averages 71 yards rushing in those games, he’ll move past Frank Sinkwich (1,103 yards in 1941) into Georgia’s top 10 for rushing yards in a season. An average of 145 yards moves him past Moreno (1,400, ‘08) into the top five of all time.
To run down any such marks, Crowell must prove more resilient than he has been the last half of the season. After recording 104 yards on 22 carries against Mississippi State on Oct. 1, Crowell has averaged 58 yards on 15 carries in the three games he played before Auburn last week. He had 17 carries in the second half alone and finished with 132 yards on 24 attempts as Georgia salted away victory last Saturday.
But once again, Crowell spent a significant period of time on the sideline when he got dinged up in the first half against Auburn. He hobbled out of the game at the 5:30 mark of the first quarter and didn’t play the rest of the half. Coach Mark Richt said this week Crowell is dealing with a minor knee injury.
Crowell’s penchant for coming out of games has called into question his durability and toughness. So far this season he has dealt with rib, wrist, elbow, thigh, knee and ankle injuries. None of them have been serious enough to keep him out of practices or games, however.
“I have always stayed pretty healthy,” said Crowell, who came to Georgia as the No. 1-rated running back prospect in America. “I’ve had, you know, small stuff, but it wasn’t back-to-back like this. … Something hurts all the time, but I’m getting used to it. It’s mostly aches and bruises.”
Crowell said Georgia’s coaches give him the option of removing himself from games, which he has done quite often. “I just wave and make sure Coach McClendon sees me,” he said.
“If I’m gassed or I’m hurt I want to come out because I want to be able to give 100 percent for my team,” Crowell explained. “If I’m not able to do my best I’d rather somebody else come in and do their best. When I get ready and think I can do my best then I’ll go back.”
Nonetheless, Crowell insisted he’s in good shape and that conditioning is not an issue. At this point in the season, he said he feels stronger than he has all year.
“I think I’m good and conditioned,” he said. “Doing it the whole season has helped me a lot. In practice they make me stay in a lot and do multiple plays and I think that has helped.”
Crowell’s 24 carries against Auburn were his most since getting 30 against Ole Miss on Spet. 24.
“It’s all about preparation during the week,” he said. “Me and Carlton did a lot during that week we were out and I think we both did well. I think my legs were fresh. You just have to be prepared to work during the week so I can be ready for the game.”
Of course, Crowell would be closer to 1,000 if not past it already had he not missed five quarters of play for disciplinary reasons. The suspensions coupled with Georgia’s SEC championship pursuits seem to have reinvigorated Crowell.
“Our team worked hard for this,” he said. “There were a lot of negative things people were saying at the beginning of the season. I think we got through it, we ignored the noise and, you know, just kept pushing and fighting and kept working hard. Now that people are saying positive things we’ve still got to ignore the noise. When we were doing bad everybody was on our back about that, now they’re on our back about doing good. That’s just how people are. So you have to ignore it and keep working hard.”
If Crowell can stay the course, major accomplishments could await.
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554 comments Add your comment
Rocktown Dawg
November 17th, 2011
10:06 pm
ARE YOU SERIOUS… CROWELL IS ANOTHER RICKY WILLIAMS…. RATHER SMOKE DOPE THAN PLAY FOOTBALL…. EASIER ON THE SIDELINE ISN’T IT CRROWELL… WATCHING LITTLE THOMAS RUN IT… HE’S LAZY… VERY UNMOTIVATED
CHDawg
November 17th, 2011
10:16 pm
Half of the IC bashers aren’t Georgia fans, but mere wannabes.
CHDawg
November 17th, 2011
10:28 pm
GT Joe,
I see where you conveniently left four of Tech’s first six opponents out of your Total D list: Kansas, at 120 out of120 rated, Maryland at 108, and Western Carolina and Middle TN. You don’t think that might have skewed the stats do you? Plus four of the top 10 Ds are in the SEC, with two in the East and two in the West. Florida is just out of the top ten. When you play top 10 Ds on a regular basis, it hurts your offensive stats, but the competition makes you better. So maybe Bama, LSU, SC, and UGA really have strong numbers because SEC offenses are weak? That could be what the stats tell us, and your theory could be correct…I doubt it, though.
Dr. Morpheus
November 17th, 2011
10:58 pm
Yo, kerryb, I happened to catch a replay of the Florida game in a hotel room in Baltimore and I had forgotten how tough Crowell ran when we needed some first downs. Check the tape and see what you think, mon ami. And as they say down here in Baton Rouge, “Geaux Dawgs!”
Fair and Balanced
November 17th, 2011
11:16 pm
Crowell is gonna put up some good numbers for 3 years at Ga….probably the most since Walker. Ga will use him to win games and Maybe a couple championships and he will use Ga to get to the NFL. My hope is that somewhere down the line he really becomes a Bulldog. Since his signing it’s all been about him. HW was a Bulldog from the beginning. But I would rather have him ( IC) than not.
Had enough
November 18th, 2011
12:05 am
He is about to finish the 2nd best rushing season for a freshman.
Had enough
November 18th, 2011
12:06 am
2nd best rushing best season at uga.
GT is a 4th rate high school team
November 18th, 2011
1:27 am
A lot of those negative comments here I am sure are coming from the fans of my favorite team to bash. LOL
Ralph Meadows
November 18th, 2011
1:59 am
In the local paper ( The Eagle) here in Dothan, AL, Nick Saban pointed out that “Bama beat MSU by a greater margin than did GEORGIA…” Wow! What a comment; sort of back-handed praise from an alleged great coach! And to think UGA wanted Kirby Smart for Defensive Co-ordinator – but had to “settle” for Coach Todd Grantham! CTG, keep up that “Junkyard Dawg” mentality! Gooooo Dawgs!
TheAntiMe
November 18th, 2011
2:14 am
Hopefully, Isiah Crowell is over his chronic problems.
William
November 18th, 2011
2:32 am
1. Isaiah Crowell will be O.K.
2. Concentrate on Kentucky
3. You people on here all day, get a life. get a job, do your job before you get fired.
Furman Bishop
November 18th, 2011
6:51 am
What Crowell does with the remainder of his career remains to be seen. What we do know, however, is that if Richt had had the brains to play Moreno as a true freshman, he would have rushed for a thousand yards and more.
Morning Reads for Friday, November 18th — Peach Pundit
November 18th, 2011
7:05 am
[...] few that I like… – It’s Punk Rock Friday. – Isaiah Crowell, despite some missteps, is on pace for 1,000 rushing yards. – Will Georgia sign Todd Grantham to a contract [...]
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
7:26 am
Hey Gulfshores, how do you know those bashing IC/UGA are GA fans and not technerds? Those fools stoop to anything, ya know…
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
7:27 am
The real thought is will the team overlook the nerds next week?
Crowell = Dummy
November 18th, 2011
8:17 am
Is Crowell passing any of his remedial studies courses?
Is he even attending any of his classes?
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
8:18 am
Chip
Is there something you can do about the tehcnerd trolls that delight in coming on here posing as UGA fans? If other blogs can clean theirs out, then this one should too!
All Saints
November 18th, 2011
8:19 am
This is a reminder that we’ll be having our regular tribute and moment of silence on Saturday for Saint Jan Kemp, the courageous martyr who exposed UGA and Vince Dooley’s “remedial studies” fraud, a shameful scam that Mark Richt carries on today, almost thirty years later.
Please approach this special moment with awe and reverence as we honor her sacred name.
GoDOGS
November 18th, 2011
8:39 am
I love how Bill King has been reduced to blogging about Russ. Why the AJC keeps this moron around is anyone’s guess
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
8:41 am
@ GoDOGS
Well, this is the AJC you know…where everything is the technerd way or no way…
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
9:20 am
Once again, CHIP, is there anything that you will do (as in the over-controlled nazi-like other blogs on here) about these trolls? Seems that there aer so many on here, but the good news is that us UGA fans aren’t crybabies like some others!
G-Dawg
November 18th, 2011
9:47 am
Yo Bob..why dont you go blow Joe? Two complete tools with their bogus stats and quotes!!
Bama Dawg
November 18th, 2011
9:55 am
He probably gets tired from running his mouth and jawing with opposing players. Even money says he will have more suspensions and will end up washing out like Ealey and King. Richt needs to knock him up side the head and tell him to grow up . . you want all the glory, you pay the price.
GAFANINTN
November 18th, 2011
10:17 am
Going to the game this weekend. First in a long time. Where is the best place to find parking? Bigger question, never been part of the Dawg Walk, what time does it start?
Thanks,
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
10:21 am
He is about to finish the 2nd best rushing season for a freshman.
Yeah, you know why? Because most teams (even UGA) don’t lose all their running backs before the season starts and have to start a true freshman.
TampaDawg
November 18th, 2011
10:24 am
Good golly, the trolls on here are so uncreative now. Same old crap, in some cases 30 year old crap too. Tech grads aren’t taught creativity though so I guess I shouldn’t expect much.
TampaDawg
November 18th, 2011
10:25 am
GTBob, guess checking a depth chart is beyond you. Richard Samuel and Carlton Thomas aren’t freshman and Samuel started the season ahead of IC for the first couple of games.
Chip Towers
November 18th, 2011
10:26 am
Spaceman Spiff: Unfortunately we can’t ban people for being immature jerks.
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
10:28 am
@ GTBoob,
Really, do you just say stupid sh!t?
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
10:29 am
@ Chip
Thanks for the answer!
TampaDawg
November 18th, 2011
10:30 am
Chip, can we ban them for placing tastless, classless and plain offensive comments? If you see someone with a name that is an offset of Jason Marcus (a disgrace of a UGA fan/grad), he has done it on here, and on Ken’s blog.
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
10:31 am
@ Tampa
Haven’t you realized that GTBob, like any other technerd troll, talk big and nonsense for attention? I mean, look at the school they support…
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
10:33 am
Chip, Tampa is right on this one…that “law” dude says some really tasteless stuff. Banter doesn’t bother me, but over the line stuff is out of hand. Go back through this blog – he his here in all his glory…
TampaDawg
November 18th, 2011
10:33 am
I know. But this guy who uses offsets of Jason Marcus uses Marcus material on here to try to be funny making fun of UGA. And it involves jokes that are abusive to women among others. He not only needs to be banned, he needs his butt tore up.
7576DAWG
November 18th, 2011
10:34 am
CMR learned a lesson when he didn’t play Moreno his Freshman year. That’s why he play’s so many Freshmen now. Grantham believes in the best players should be on the field and I think CMR also, believes that now.
After Spurrier ran Lattimore 37 times against Georgia last year I said it only a matter of time before Lattimore go’s out with an ACL. By the way sorry to hear that Moreno tore his ACL last week. He’s a DGD and I only wish him the best with a full recovery.
The point is I don’t think that CMR will let Crowell carry more than 25 times per game and hope’s to keep that around 20 times per game. If your running back get’s too tire from over use I think it improves their chances of having a major injury. I think CMR feel’s that way too. So Crowell running a few play’s and then wanting to come out , as he said so he will be at full speed when he is in there , is a good thing.
Who we need to convince is Marshall , that two tailback’s are needed at each SEC school and don’t think that Crowell will get more running time than he will. Georgia need’s two great running back’s for the next 3 or 4 year’s.
potheaded punk
November 18th, 2011
10:36 am
its me, its me, its ernest t…
columbus garbage
November 18th, 2011
10:37 am
what you talkin bout willis…
trash talkin idiot
November 18th, 2011
10:37 am
im victoria barkley…
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
10:38 am
TampaDawg, my bad. I forgot about super bust Samuel who had to be converted back to RB just so you could have warm bodies at the position. That was really a threat to Crowell.
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
10:40 am
@ GTBob
Maybe your backs can instruct IC on how to get 1,000 yards this season.
remedial english
November 18th, 2011
10:41 am
here…
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
10:46 am
Maybe your backs can instruct IC on how to get 1,000 yards this season.
Nah, we spread the ball around too much for that. They could show him how to run more then 20 yards though. He doesn’t seem to know how.
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
10:54 am
@ GTBob
While they are in the teaching mode, maybe they can draft next year’s lessons plans while they are watching the All Cupcake Conference CG on tv…Oh, what does it feel like to be UVA’s little boy?
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
10:58 am
Oh, what does it feel like to be UVA’s little boy?
It feels fine. They have more wins then any team UGA has beaten in the past 2 years.
Spaceman Spiff
November 18th, 2011
11:00 am
@ GTBob
Glad you feel that way. By your logic, then UGA must really be a bad team. On that note, since GT is owned by UGA, what does that make GT?
GT Joe
November 18th, 2011
11:01 am
Hey GTBob, will you please clean up my UGA blow-up doll when you are finished with it?
ColumbusDawg
November 18th, 2011
11:03 am
Like most of the Bulldawgnation I so want Crowell to be a success at UGA and we do, given his hype coming out of high school, excect that. I don’t think it’s his heart and his skill that are missing.I think he needs to do a little self-evaluating and decide if smoking (cigarettes) is worth missing plays. Or if partying with the guys is worth the risk of another suspension. Gotta listen to achedemic advisors and start showing up on time for work-outs. He was a prima donna in high school but son, this ain’t high school! Grow up Isiah and become a Bulldawg! Make this Bulldawgnation proud!
SEC Fans for Richt
November 18th, 2011
11:12 am
misstep? you mean mistoke, right?
GTBob
November 18th, 2011
11:23 am
On that note, since GT is owned by UGA, what does that make GT?
An embarrassment. Just like any other team who loses to UGA.
dreds and weed
November 18th, 2011
11:35 am
columbus is loserville…