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
TampaDawg
November 17th, 2011
11:10 am
In the words of Tim Tebow (and obviously, I am not a Gator fan, but hard to not pull for Tim in the NFL), hard work beats talent everytime talent fails to work hard. IC has the talent, and if he puts the work ethic behind it this off season, he will go from being a good back to being DOMINANT!
RomeBulldog
November 17th, 2011
11:12 am
im sure richard samuel is getting very healthy for the lsu game, were gonna need him.
Speed Racer
November 17th, 2011
11:12 am
Total yards not a good stat. In Sinkwich’s day, the season was, what, 9 games maybe? Bowls did not count. Bowls did not count in season total for Herschel, and regular season was 11 games. Always have to use averages to compare (yards per carry, yards per game, etc.)
Should Earn It
November 17th, 2011
11:14 am
CMR, why does “pothead” Crowell continue to wear #1????
ARdawg
November 17th, 2011
11:15 am
David
You might be right. At least I hope you are. I am seeing it more as complacency on his part. He wants to do what “he” wants to do. The coaches are protecting him and I get that. He is the #1 but, I question why we are not going for multiple #1s
Ace
November 17th, 2011
11:15 am
Cronic
GTBob
November 17th, 2011
11:16 am
gtbob I’ll take his average any time as long as he get 100 yards a game.
To each his own, but better running backs would be getting 120 yards or more with the same number of carries. With him out there you are leaving yards on the field.
Destin Dawg
November 17th, 2011
11:17 am
IC is just a freshman… he should be alot stronger next year.. every big time program needs 2 or 3 deep at skill positions… Go dawgs.. beatKentucky
Terry
November 17th, 2011
11:18 am
The fact is, the human body was not made to take the kind of beating that Crowell, and these other RB’s are taking, we can sit around here, and question his heart, but even Lattimore couldn’t take the beating all year long, if y’all remember he missed time last year, and this year had a season ending injury, I guess some of you would rather see Crowell stay in, and risk a season ending injury, instead of taking a few plays off.
Mad Dog One
November 17th, 2011
11:20 am
Crowell is the first back we have had that made the D from other teams wonder if he was going to take it to the house ever time he gets the ball. Thomas has played his heart out and really looked good against the barnners. And don’t forget Harton that little dude can deliver a hit when he is being hit. With UGA’s O we should be in good shape for KY. and the trade school. I think it will be a #@$% of a fight for SEC title in the dome. As alwways GO DOGS & GATA
P.S. TRADE SCHOOL BE AFRAID BE VERY AFRAID THE DAWGS ARE COMMING THE DAWGS ARE COMMING.
Spaceman Spiff
November 17th, 2011
11:22 am
@ Terry
Good points. I just want to heart and not tap-outs after a couple of plays.
Mad Dog One
November 17th, 2011
11:22 am
Dont know where my head is but I LOVE OUR D best they have looked seince ERK.
THE Dixie Redcoat Band
November 17th, 2011
11:23 am
We all agree, let’s wait and see what he does vs UK/GT and…….LSU!
USCrose
November 17th, 2011
11:25 am
Against the schedule Ga played, I could have 1000 yds rushing. Ole Miss and Miss St are your West division opponents, pitiful.
crdawg
November 17th, 2011
11:27 am
GTBob. Herschel Walker averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his second year. So you are saying a true freshman that is gaining .1 yards less than Herschel did is not talented? In a balanced offense like we have at UGA (unlike Tech), 4.8 yards for a true freshman is absolutely wonderful. I expect his YPG average to go over 5 after Kentucky and GT games. Go IC keep doing what you are doing. GTBoob, keep representing the Jackets….your humor is refreshing.
TampaDawg
November 17th, 2011
11:32 am
USCrose
November 17th, 2011
11:25 am
Against the schedule Ga played, I could have 1000 yds rushing. Ole Miss and Miss St are your West division opponents, pitiful.
————————-
Miss State, you mean the team that held LATTIMORE and SHAW together to under 100 yards and held LSU’s top back to just 107? You could get 100 against them huh? Dufus, the argument has been beaten down so badly on here but nice try.
GTBob
November 17th, 2011
11:34 am
So you are saying a true freshman that is gaining .1 yards less than Herschel did is not talented?
4.9 is not a great average. I will give Walker the benefit of the doubt though. He rushed 385 times that season. If you are running that much then yes you are bound to get tired on some plays. Crowell will finish with a little over half that many carries which makes his average look terrible.
bethlehemdawg
November 17th, 2011
11:36 am
UsCrowell’s problem is he is a kid acting like a kid. He is learing how to live quasi on his own, being responsible for himself for the first time, and having to balance school, football, and free time. The thing he hasn’t do too great at it, hence the trouble. But tink about how many freshmen actually do, even the ones that don’t play football. He is a freshman and it shows. Not only is he a freshman trying to learn life, football, and eveything else. He is a rockstar around Athens and has a lot of expectations to live up to. I think he would be one of Georgia’s greatest running backs if he played with half yhe heart as Harton. He has the talent. But that is the difference in a redshirt sophomore with everything to prove and a freshman with little to prove, just do what is expected. We will learn a lot about crowell next year, when we can see how much he matures. It will also give us time to see if he corrects the discipline problems.
I’m like many other I think we need another runningback. Marshall may be the guy, I don’t know. All I know is right now with Samuel out, we don’t have anyone that is proven up the middle. Crowell has the size to do it, but not really his style. Thomas and harton are too small ( they may can run between the dlines legs), malcomes yet to prove himself. If we gat another back or two it increases competition and makes everyone better. You never know when you bring someone in and hqve to redshirt them because someone else stepped up, or they come in and blow everone out of the water. More bqcks would also bring us back to where we used to be when we were a breeding ground for backs.
fan
November 17th, 2011
11:37 am
Ever notice how tech fans aren’t on our page anymore? I think they know we’re gonna put a hurtin on them.
Go Dawgs!
November 17th, 2011
11:38 am
4.9 yards per carry isn’t a great average?
What planet are you living on?
For all the people wanting Marshall, if we don’t get him it’s no big deal, I live in Jax and let me tell you we’ve got a man-child coming in 2013 in D.Henry.
Lake Oconee Dawg
November 17th, 2011
11:44 am
Crowell is the boy! He is no where near a UGA DAWG man. Coaches as long as you let him take himself you are the problem. If you are hurt you are hurt come out of the game and sit on the side line the rest of the game. Now we know who the coaches are at UGA it the players that demands, I tired I’m out of the game. Coach Richt you need to fix this problem, you created it so fix or bye! Because you will never have a top rated team as long as you and I say YOU let this childish behavior comtinue. Maybe we need let the other HB run with the ball because he shows “gut”. Let Mr Crowell sit on the bench and hide in the hedges and smoke a little “pot” or something.
DAWGs you have got to beat the Cat’s. Go Dawgs.
I need to get down off the ladder! Bye
News | MrSEC.com
November 17th, 2011
11:45 am
[...] — he’ll be the first Georgia freshman to hit 1,000 since a fella named Herschel Walker.“I want to get over 1,000 pretty bad,” Crowell said yesterday. “My goal was to be a freshman All-American. I don’t know if that’s going to [...]
GTBob
November 17th, 2011
11:46 am
4.9 yards per carry isn’t a great average?
What planet are you living on?
The planet where 4.9 yards per carry wouldn’t even get you into the top 100 right now.
AltamahaDawg
November 17th, 2011
11:48 am
Just so that we all on the same page:
We have folks that believe that the Isaiah Crowell is taking himself out of games in direct conflict with what the coaches have described to him as their expectations?
Dawg48
November 17th, 2011
11:48 am
The kid is pushing to get a 1000 yards his freshman season! Come on people stop living your lives threw these kids, and just support them and cheer them on!
Brewmaster
November 17th, 2011
11:49 am
GT Bob, any RB who goes over 1000 yds in a season did a Great job for his team. Maybe averaging 4.8 yds/carry with a season total of 200 yds would make your point more credibe. By the way, how many carries per game did you average in college ? Neither you nor most of the posters on this blog have any idea what a ponding these kids take every Saturday, only to have their “heart” questioned by professional couch potatoes.
tell me again
November 17th, 2011
11:50 am
The kid has the skills necessary to be a great SEC back. He probably will not be at UGA past his junior year. Better love him while we have him. I want to see Boo Malcombe tote the rock more. Beat the cats!
WDE
November 17th, 2011
11:51 am
@Lake Oconee Dawg sorry I have to disagree taking your self out of the game in its self isn’t childish, heck everyone in the NFL does it. No one knows if your hurt or how badly..heck if you’ve just had the wind knocked out of you your not going to be much good on the next play. IC is still a very young man I’m sure if he works in the off season he will cut down on this a lot next year.
Daily Aued
November 17th, 2011
11:53 am
Curricular standards rather ligated.
Brewmaster
November 17th, 2011
11:55 am
People had the same complaints about Knowshon taking himself out of games. I guess those bozo NFL scouts were so concerned with it that he was a first round draft pick ! But I guess you bozos are a better judge of talent and heart.
Keep Flying High Crowell
November 17th, 2011
11:57 am
Uh on second thought, that may get you another suspension.
Nice job averaging under 5 yds/carry against the bottom dwellers of the SEC. Better toughen up cause whoever you get in the SEC Championship game is going to hit you harder and faster than you have ever been hit before. No comparison between Bama, LSU, Arkansas and the bottom dwellers that UGA lucked onto their schedule this year….
AltamahaDawg
November 17th, 2011
11:58 am
True Bob, but nobody really thinks what somebody does against N. Illinios St. is that fair of a comparison. Or worse, ACC teams.
Also there are probably only 20 players in the nation with more carries and of those….4.9 is right there with any of them.
1eyedJack
November 17th, 2011
11:58 am
GT Bob averages a gazillion yards per carry…..in Madden football.
Brewmaster
November 17th, 2011
11:59 am
You idiots also questioned Matt Stafford’s “heart.” He was only the #1 pick in the draft and has almost single handedly turned around a horrible NFL franchise. I am soooo impressed with your expert opinions. Maybe you bozos should apply for positions of talent evalustion at the NFL combine.
Doug
November 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
In case Isaiah Crowel doesn’t realize it, he is a running back. Running backs live with dings and little things all year, that is just par for the course. What separates the running backs is what is above the shoulder pads. It has been readilly apparent that he does not have the heart nor the desire to overcome the little things and play. Most of the season he has been awol in the fourth quarter, a time when his team needs him the most. Until Crowel conqueres these issues and plays in the fourth quarter, he will never be considered a top running back.
GTBob
November 17th, 2011
12:02 pm
Brewmaster, here is a quote from an article in Denver before this season started:
“According to Denver Post columnist Woody Paige, McDaniels and his staff thought they made a grave error in picking Moreno and consider him a bust.”
Those genius NFL scouts you speak of really came through on that one huh? Moreno’s career might be over now.
AltamahaDawg
November 17th, 2011
12:05 pm
The NFL scout that lives in Putnam County didn’t want to draft Moreno we are told.
Contractor
November 17th, 2011
12:08 pm
Tobias Funke,
Even though I am a Georgia fan, you are in no shape to question Marcus Lattimore’s toughness. The guy shouldered the load of a crappy quarterback last year and took his team to an SEC Championship as a TRUE FRESHMAN. He has completely KILLED our defense the only two years he’s been on campus, and averages almost 30 carries a game. No one has been able to stop him. It’s sad that he tore his ACL, because he is as tough as they come, and as gifted. I wish he was at Georgia. I hate South Carolina, but I think it is pathetic that anyone question his toughness or poke fun of him for getting hurt when he has carried that program for the year and a half he’s been there.
midtown123
November 17th, 2011
12:11 pm
@Spaceman Spiff: Crowell staying through next year only? Are you stupid? He’s required by the NFL to stay in school for at least three years! Get your facts straight!
UGA dawg commit
November 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
some of you dnt know what its like to be 18, in a big university, and be a star freshmen. Yea he is growing up and is starting to realize what kind of back he can be. He will be an all down back. He has made some mistakes, but who hasn’t, get over it. Your still going to go crazy when he scores and this team really takes off next year. Go Dawgs, hopefully some of you so called fans will learn to stop sitting in front of the computer everyday and realize that he is a kid still and is going through a growing process, get off his back
Just Sayin
November 17th, 2011
12:13 pm
4.8 Yard per Carry is the correct number and that is really not that impressive. GT has what 8 players averaging more than 5 yards per carry and the defense knows every freakin time that the play is going to be a run. UGA has the fattest O-Line in college and pros and can’t get smoke a dope Crowell more than 5 yards a carry?
Be a Man about it
November 17th, 2011
12:15 pm
if you never played the game at a high level then your opinions about playing hurt mean nothing.
Be a Man about it
November 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
Just sayin I will bet money you never played
Tech runs a totally differnt scheme that is more apt to average higher ypc
Even the most elite backs rarely average 5 yards in a traditional offense
Best Dawg
November 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
Good to see Richt has changed his philosophy of running with Crowell.
Crowell has multiple suspensions, and a bunch of fumbles, yet Richt keeps giving him a ton of carries each game.
Even though Crowell isn’t as good as Ealey in TD’s, yards per carry, or 4th quarter conditioning yards per carry, he’s been an ok back.
But he’s no Ealey.
Brewmaster
November 17th, 2011
12:17 pm
GT Bob, do you expect Moreno to play with a torn ACL ? I guess maybe the Chargers said Michael Turner was a bust so they let him go to the Falcons. Worked out real well for the Chargers, didnt it ? Many NFL teams would be glad to have a healthy Knowshon. If his careeer is over because of his torn ACL, that has absolutely nothing to do with his talent or heart, you moron. I’m sure I could fing many other quotes from NFL experts, even today who would say good things about him. Finding one negative quote proves nothing. Hell, I could probably find one person who says Occupy Wall St is an intelligent movement, wait, Nancy Pelosi endorsed them, so it must be good. Nevermind the millions of qoutes about how stupid they are. GT Bob, take your slide rule where the sun don’t shine !
We did FINALLY PLAY BOO HOO Malcom
November 17th, 2011
12:19 pm
Ken (BOO) Malcom finally did play at running back vs AU for maybe 3 or 4 carries for 20-30 yds. I say ……………COME ON KEN, WE NEED YOU MAN !!
I saw Malcom play in HS vs Marist, a quality. well coached team for 30+ years, that CAN LOCK UP and TACKLE and he pushed them back, although in that specfic game with Marist, he was nursing an ankle. He looked great, like his old SW D team mate TJ Stripling ( LB ) that we need to heal his knee and get it ready for next year …….all 6′6″ and around 250 lbs of him.
Malcom CAN HELP US ………….IF he gets his head on straight.
Go Dogs and we are pulling for you Boo !!!
Registrar
November 17th, 2011
12:21 pm
We now have the complete list of courses that Isaiah Crowell is taking for the fall semester. It’s a pretty ambitious schedule for the lad, but I’m sure he’ll be up to it.
1. Know Your ABCs – Part I (A-M)
2. Fun With Dick and Jane – The Coloring Book
3. Life Studies: Put the Mojo on Your Teammates While Emptying Their Lockers
4. Law 101 – Know Your Miranda Rights
5. Dress for Success: The Inspiring True Story of the Fabled Red Panties
6. Arithmetic 1 – Dividing by One
7. Psychology: Getting Along With Your Cellmate
8. Pharmacology 101 – How to Pee into the Cup Without Getting Your Hands All Icky
9. Personal Grooming (freshman level) – Cleaning Those Dreadful Dreadlocks, a Once-a-Year Experience
10. Pharmacology 102 – How to Score the Best Stuff (taught by guest instructor Dr. Conrad Murray)
Columbus Dawg
November 17th, 2011
12:21 pm
Isaiah Crowell was a Rothschild Falcon!!
GTBob
November 17th, 2011
12:21 pm
Also there are probably only 20 players in the nation with more carries and of those….4.9 is right there with any of them.
There are 32 players with more or equal attempts then Crowell. Of those 32, 19 of them have a better average. 20 of those players play in a BCS conference. Of those 20, 15 have a better average then Crowell.
TampaDawg
November 17th, 2011
12:22 pm
For those, GTBob, who want to bash the 4.8 per carry, let’s look at it this way. How many runs on 3rd and short, lately 4th and short and even in goal situations are there? Those things diminish yards per carry. So, GTBob, shouldn’t you be more worried about whether Tevin Washington will be able to pass for more than 4 completions a game?