Georgia drags major tailback dilemma into Georgia Tech game (UPDATED)
Georgia has already displayed recognitiion of its 2011 SEC Eastern Division championship on the wall of the team meeting room at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. (AJC)
UPDATE (6:20 P.M.) Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo said he expects both Carlton Thomas and Isaiah Crowell to play at tailback. . . .
ATHENS — The question posed to Georgia coach Mark Richt was a simple one. His answer was not.
Richt was asked what the Bulldogs’ tailback rotation might look on Saturday against archrival Georgia Tech. In a nutshell, he either legitimately does not know or is not saying.
“I don’t know the answer to that,” Richt said at his weekly news conference Tuesday at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall. “We have to sort through it. It’s just not cut and dry. I don’t know who is going to start. I don’t even know who’s going to play 100 percent. But we’re working our way through it and we’ll know more by the end of the week. I don’t know what I’ll announce, but right this second I do not know exactly how it’s going to come out.”
There are a number of issues facing the Bulldogs at their prestige position:
- No. 1 tailback Isaiah Crowell was limited to two carries for 11 yards this past after spraining his left ankle. Initially, Richt expressed optimism that Crowell would be able to go Saturday. Now he says he’ll be in a green, non-contact jersey for Tuesday’s practice and his status is questionable.
- No. 2 tailback Carlton Thomas is coming off his third-one-game suspension of the season on Saturday and Richt has remained vague about what his status will be for Saturday’s game. “I don’t know that answer right now.,” Richt said Tuesday.
- No. 3 tailback Richard Samuel, who had ankle surgery on Nov. 1, is now practicing in a limited capacity but is not ready to come back. “We hope he’s in the mix next week,” Richt said.
- Nos. 4 and 5 tailbacks Brandon Harton and Ken Malcome combined for three fumbles this past Saturday. At this point they have seriously breached the coaches’ trust regarding ball security. “We’ve got some guys that need to learn to hold onto the football,” Richt said.
So the rotation, Richt said, will be determined in practice this week.
“I want to see them practice,” he said. “I guess competition is the hold up, deciding through competition who deserves to start, who deserves to play.”
Despite its many issues Georgia has had this season, it has managed to run the ball fairly effectively throughout. The Bulldogs are fourth among SEC teams in rushing at 185.4 yards per game and they’ve had three different players bust the 100-yard barrier.
That will be especially important against the ball-hogging Yellow Jackets.
“We always like to run the football,” Richt said. “But you have to have backs who can do it and some backs who are willing to hang on to the football in the process. The thing about this game is every possession really is pretty crucial.”
– Chip Towers
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248 comments Add your comment
trupert
November 22nd, 2011
8:06 pm
Let’s get this straight.
The cutblock technique that Tech coach Paul Johnson uses is very dangerous, but not illegal.
It’s simply a technique that teams stoop down to when they can’t really block their opponent.
RabidDawg84
November 22nd, 2011
8:08 pm
Can somebody please tell teh running backs to carry the ball over their chest muscle. On the ribs, the D can punch up or down and the ball easily comes out. Tiki Barber fumbled for NYG 24 times in 5 seasons, then he discovered if you carry the ball over the pectoral muscle, there is no where for it to go. Only 1 fumble the next 2 or 3 yrs. Knowshon, Ingram and Richardson do this and almost never fumble. ANyone know the runningbacks or the coach?
reality DAWG
November 22nd, 2011
8:08 pm
News out of Tuscaloosa is Saban is interested in the Indy Colts job. They will be winless this year and draft Andrew Luck to be groomed by Peyton and Saban will be the HC. You heard it here first!
Hold 'Em
November 22nd, 2011
8:10 pm
I hope Bobo stays home and Richt calls the offenses plays !
honky kong kracker
November 22nd, 2011
8:11 pm
Like I have said… Crowell would rather smoke some green and wear the jersy…. he’s a complete pu$$y,,,, Murray is a terrible passer.. He couldn’t hit the back side of Rose O’Donnell’s a$$with a ball. We can’t cont to run tiny toon running backs and expect their little short arms to holdon to the ball… They look like little T- Rex’s out their….
honky kong kracker
November 22nd, 2011
8:14 pm
oh yea… Bobo sucks…… Crowell sucks… Murray sucks…. C Thomas needs to be kicked off period..
Hold 'Em
November 22nd, 2011
8:16 pm
Why did A.Murray play well for 7 games then play pathetic against Kentucky ?
Sam
November 22nd, 2011
8:20 pm
Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team.
Watch for yourself…it is unreal!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g
BTG MIKE
November 22nd, 2011
8:20 pm
RABID DAWG 84———————What the heck are you talking about. You sure as heck don’t know. That’s not how you carry a football. The nose is securely tucken in the armpit of the arm carrying the ball with your hand around the opposite nose of the balll, pulled snuggly against your upper chest area (including ribs). When you are expecting close contact, both arms are used.
The fumbles I saw were due to a lapse in concentration. Initally these guys were carrying the ball correctly, but they allowed the ball to lose contact with their body and got sloppy at the “end of their runs”. That is something that needs to be coached.
JB
November 22nd, 2011
8:32 pm
I’m thinking this little back we’ve been playing could be OK for beating Tech. He’s fast and a pretty good runner. If Thomas plays, and Bobo say’s he will, I rest Crowell. Murray , if on, will light Tech up.
North ave. faithful
November 22nd, 2011
8:34 pm
You know i try to stay somewhat civil, buit trupert and honky donkey kong what ever the hell that was are just a waste of blog space.
BTG MIKE
November 22nd, 2011
8:35 pm
And another thing concerning you Aaron Murray critics. I’ll kiss your a$$ on Peachtree Street if you can name a QB that didn’t have a bad game or two or three in their career. I would rather have this kid at quarterback in the 4th qtr down by 3 with 2 minutes on the clock than anybody in the country. You can take the STATS and smoke ‘em in your crack pipes.. Johnny Unitas didn’t do it pretty eitha’ but he won ball games with poise and guts…………and that’s what Murray does. Along the way Johnny U amassed a few stats that lasted for a while, but that’s not what he was playing for. He played to win. By one point or on hundred….it doesn’t matter.
JB
November 22nd, 2011
8:44 pm
North ave faithful……………….Both fan bases have people we are not proud of. I want to beat Tech, but don’t hate them. The feelings of hate always come a little stronger from Tech IMO, but there is plenty to go around. I have Tech friends, and they will tell you we just don’t get the players Georgia gets, so the Dawgs will always have the edge. Johnson keeps it close and does a good job. I don’t care for the man, but I don’t hate him.
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
8:49 pm
“Tex Tech” (assuming Texas Tech abbreviated) does not belong in that group of schools. Good lord, they are ranked 160! That is almost Louisville and West Virginia-bad. No one will take you seriously! You must retract that silly post!
Delbert D.
November 22nd, 2011
8:52 pm
“It’s simply a technique that teams stoop down to when they can’t really block their opponent.”
The body block is the fundamental blocking technique taught at the midget football level for over 60 years.
KingDawg88
November 22nd, 2011
8:54 pm
Mike Bobo says TB Carlton Thomas will play on Saturday. Confident about Crowell, too.
BTG MIKE
November 22nd, 2011
9:07 pm
Delbert D. ————————If you read these BLOGS very often get used to it…………the closest, most of the people on here, have been to a football field, is the front row. They don’t know anything about football. They’re just fans. But every football team is greatful to have them.
My grandmother (during New Years day bowl games back in the ’60’s and 70’s), bless her heart, used to ask me and my dad why the kickoff return man always ran toward the biggest crowd of opposing players. That used to give us a big laugh. And we would explain that it was the other way around. The opposing players were running to the football. That’s pretty much how someone who has never played the game looks at it. Nothing against them, it’s just that they don’t know.
We Have No Class
November 22nd, 2011
9:28 pm
Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall
How do you pronounce that? It sounds like an undergarment stain when I say it.
dawgfan6
November 22nd, 2011
9:31 pm
Harton weighs about a buck fifty and has no business running the football for UGA. The kid about got killed against Kentucky.
We Have No Class
November 22nd, 2011
9:34 pm
He’s a Dream Back©.
Chip Towers
November 22nd, 2011
9:40 pm
It’s pronounced “Mayor.”
Chip Towers
November 22nd, 2011
10:04 pm
DawginLex: You really don’t need me to answer that, do you?
Spaceman Spiff
November 22nd, 2011
10:10 pm
@ Dawginlex
How would chip know that? Seems that is nothing more than a rumor concocted by the technerds who so desperately want to distract us.
bitter dawgs fan
November 22nd, 2011
10:11 pm
where are all the gaytard hatters——-war chicken hatters——-talk $_it now!!!!!
———–fire preacher man–fire bozo—-fire grantham—-fire dooly—–fire hershal
————————————where are all the hatter trolls—–aka——tide troll
——9 game winning strick—-hahahahahah——–5 losses again gaytards
————————————crystal ball holders 5 loses—–hahahahahah
————————————————-DAWGS RULE—-bamma state flower????a satilite dish—-hahaha
bitter michael cravell
November 22nd, 2011
10:15 pm
take your ole job back towers!!!!!!——–!im no good at finding info on high school kids
We Have No Class
November 22nd, 2011
10:21 pm
Our grammar also leaves something to be desired.
Zephyr Dawg
November 22nd, 2011
11:06 pm
Just hold on to the ball on offense and let the defense Hunker Down – the nerds will go quietly.
bitter michael cravell
November 22nd, 2011
11:22 pm
f@#$%$ the spell check police——–just saying troll nerds
Bill
November 22nd, 2011
11:24 pm
$10 says Crowell isn’t passing his classes and will not play in a bowl game.
WhicheleBlive
November 22nd, 2011
11:56 pm
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UGA Dawgs
November 23rd, 2011
1:11 am
I dont know why everyone is so hard on Boo Malcome. He showed to be a SEC-type back in the 9 carries he had. Sure he fumbled his 1st carry but he still ran the ball hard the other 8 carries. Everyone seems to love Harton but he is just TOO small for the SEC. thats why he fumbled 3 times and lost 2 of them while getting 23 carries. he cant hold the ball because the forcce of an SEC hit is too much for him to handle. I think Richt should give Malcome more carries than Harton this week cause our offense works better with Malcome in there. Defense dont even bite on the play action when Harton is in there because they dont fear him. Everyone on UK’s defense was foaming out the mouth at a chacne to get a highlight hit on Harton because he’s so little. it was obvious that Richt wanted to make sure that Harton got 100 yds rushing because he didnt allow him to against NMSU so thats why he got most of the carries. I hope he dont do that this week because GT offense is better than UK and they can beat us if Richt dont play his best players (depending on whoever suits up)
JaxDawg05
November 23rd, 2011
7:48 am
So, you ask a stupid question after the Florida game and now you expect Coach Richt to give you direct and concise answers to your questions? Nah, not how it works Chip. You act like a jackass so these are the answers you deserve.
Old Dog
November 23rd, 2011
7:56 am
Who is this nerd “SAM” that posts on all the blogs a link to a youtube video – is he trying to get us to upload a virus or what? I am getting tired of seeing this same thing over and over. Can the blog owners not cut him out, please?
Thanks.
Who are you?
November 23rd, 2011
8:40 am
Kyle? Nick Marshall? Why not give these guys a chance?
Rabid Dawg'84
November 23rd, 2011
10:01 am
BTG Mike———————Thanks for agreeing with me, your description is good. The ball might touch a rib, but the pressure point is on the nipple. The elbow angle is 90 degrees with our fumblers and the ball is by their side. The elbow angle should be much more acute and higher up, against teh pectoral. There is no where for the ball to go unless you are knocked out. Murray also needs to tuck it immediately when he runs, defenders behind him have caused fumbles already.
DawginLex
November 23rd, 2011
10:29 am
Chip
i think I was pretty clear in that i doscovered the truth about the rumor regarding Richt.
So to answer your question, No
SumterDawg
November 23rd, 2011
10:45 am
If you can’t trust a player to follow the rules he does not need to be on the team. Knowing the rules and breaking them intentionally is stating to the other players you are not concerned being a team member, your concern is self. This ruins a team. I love the Dawgs, but college football has become more important than education. I suppose we can go to the Garcia grading system. In the classroom you will have at least 5 opportunities to fail the class, in football you can have small failures and still be part of the team. Just hope and pray all of the players don’t do the same infraction at the same time. Oh, that wouldn’t be a problem, we would just look over that as it was a team effort.
Ken Malcome
November 23rd, 2011
11:31 am
Ken Malcome could be the man. He is about 6′1″ and weighs around 210 or 215 and whne hit, he moves the pile two yds. . He is a solid, but not spectacular back. Fumbles need to go but if he can grind on them and help Muarry set up the play actions with credibility, then if the weather is fine, we should do ok.
One question
November 23rd, 2011
11:32 am
Did girl whupper Robert Hall of GT play last year in this game? I recall that he slapped his roomie, a lil gal.
More important news
November 23rd, 2011
11:43 am
CPJ is on the HOT SEAT and that sort of explains his shot at UGA fans. He feels the pressure and he knows he must handle UGA to keep the faith over at the TECH FUND offices. He has rec’d phone calls with “votes of confidence” from prominent GT alums for two weeks now on the UGA game.
He must win some game that will project him AND HIS SCHEME as relevant beyond a Clemson game or ( UGA in 08) for him to be considered worthy. It is what it is. Hence, the nervous shot on the radio toward UGA fans. Besides, he grew up in NC and that IS WALMART country.
Lots of GT/UGA golfing groups are gathering this week and we talk. We know. We are older UGA/GT alumni and we are in THE KNOW.
Big game upcoming. Wrod is that if UGA wins this game, but loses in the DOME, we enjoy the Cotton Bowl, WIn em both and we are Sugar Bowl bound.
GT’s bowl??? Belk Bowl IF they win vs UGA.
Tallcarl
November 23rd, 2011
11:57 am
@George Stein please read the article about the season motto- ”Get on the Bus”. Then you will understand why those young men are gone.
Alabama | MrSEC.com
November 23rd, 2011
12:00 pm
[...] have been joking about their co-owned beach house this week.15. Offensive coordinator Mike Bobo expects Isaiah Crowell and Carlton Thomas to be ready to play some tailback for Georgia on Saturday.16. Meanwhile, UGA’s defense is preparing for Georgia Tech’s [...]
docdawg
November 23rd, 2011
12:25 pm
2 good teams, for tech, qb pressure, line play, ballhawking and coverage, hold blocks, big plays; for uga line play, disciplined assignments, sure tackling, ballhawking, mobility and accuracy, run it,Walsh, both teams, turnovers, create and avoid
Option Activity Alert: JPM, BCS, ARCC, YGE - Wall Street Pit
November 23rd, 2011
3:06 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
A view of opposing QBs this year
November 25th, 2011
11:28 am
Never in my 45+ years of viewing Qbs vs UGA D. teams have I seen the first ANDsecond team QBs get up like a prize fighter, stunned and cross eyed after taking a sack.
Alec O and Jarvis Jones and Gathers, Gilliard and Garrison Smith and Abry Jones and Tyson really bring it on the QBs. AU’s and KY’s and NM State’s and several others, like MSU and Ole Miss and UT QBs …………… ALL got up slowly and shaking their heads to avoid spewing on the field.
THIS is why I think UGA can dominate …………………IF UGA brings it on D. That pitch point for GT will be very painful for T Washignton and his pitch man back. Fumbles will take place for quick 6 TDs for UGA.
CMR Character Conflict
November 25th, 2011
11:25 pm
Once again – that great man of character – CMR (NOT) is lying through his teeth – he knows who is going to be able to play by now. What a liar he is.
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1:42 am
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November 26th, 2011
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