No distinction between Todd Gurley and Georgia’s other tailbacks
ATHENS — Freshman Todd Gurley has out-gained the other tailbacks two-fold with 167 yards and 3 touchdowns on 15 touches in Georgia’s two scrimmages. But that hasn’t been enough for coaches to anoint him as No. 1 player at the position.
“As far as a clear-cut pecking order, I think we’ll probably come up with one a little bit later on, but not today,” running backs coach Bryan McClendon said after Thursday’s practice. “We have one more scrimmage next week and a few more padded practices to keep progressing. So we still have some time to do some evaluating and guys to get better as well. You don’t want to come up with something and then switching things up next week and create a mess.”
McClendon said after reviewing the video from Wednesday’s scrimmage and watching closely observing Gurley go through 15 preseason practices, he is as excited as everybody else about the 6-foot-1, 218-pound runner. But he is also getting positive feedback from the other three players battling to be the No. 1 tailback: sophomore Ken Malcome, senior Richard Samuel and freshman Keith Marshall.
“You get excited when you see [Gurley] go out and perform,” McClendon said. “He went out there and had a good scrimmage. But he wasn’t the only one. Keith had a good scrimmage and had some good runs. And Ken, stat wise, didn’t have the numbers that those guys did, but he was probably the best one out there yesterday. It’s definitely something you have to go by what you see, but all those guys are working their tails off and pushing each other. It’s exciting to see that now.”
McClendon said he envisions all four players getting carries in the Buffalo game. One of them will have to go first, and the Bulldogs can play it a lot of different ways.
It can start Malcome, who began the preseason in the No. 1 position and has done nothing to fall back;
It can reward the senior Richard Samuel for being willing to return to the position and split time at fullback;
It can go with either one of the freshmen, making one the first rookie to start a season opener since Danny Ware in 2004.
Whatever Georgia does, McClendon thinks it’s merely trivia.
“I definitely think we’ll use four,” he said. “We used three the last couple of years in each game. We’ve played three or four guys before, so I definitely think we can play all four of them.”
Here’s what Georgia’s five tailbacks have done in the two scrimmage. Keep in mind that situations and opportunities with the No. 1 offense vary for each:
- Gurley: 13 carries — 145 yards — 11.2 ypc — 3 TDs
- Malcome: 10-67-6.7ypc-1
- Harton: 14-56-4.0 ypc-0
- Marshall 12-46-3.83 ypc-1
- Samuel 6-40-6.67 ypc-1
Your thoughts?
MORE ON GEORGIA FOOTBALL
- UGA fullback Merritt Hall proves recruiters wrong
- Notebook: Richt more at peace with kicking game after latest outing
- Freshman TB Todd Gurley stars (again) in Georgia’s scrimmage
- Most questions answered as Dogs prepare for 2nd scrimmage
- Notebook: McGowan’s ‘dream comes true’ with scholarship
- Video: Georgia’s biggest surprises, greatest concerns
- It’s back to school for graduate Aaron Murray
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192 comments Add your comment
Whopper Dawg
August 17th, 2012
9:17 am
Samuels will start because he know the pass blocking assignments the best, which is the largest criteria now for a UGA running back, unbelievable as that may be.
Watch and see, go blowbo.
calm down
August 17th, 2012
9:19 am
…… it’s only the Buffalo Bulls coming to town.
old dog
August 17th, 2012
9:22 am
You put your best out there…..period. freshman, senior, or whatever. I remember the Pyburn/Belue controversy at QB…..Pyburn was a super athlete, but Belue was a better QB. They let Pyburn stay as the starter a little too long………this can cost you!
Bud
August 17th, 2012
9:23 am
It’s interesting to see the contrast in how UGA & GT handle the running back ecking order.
The pecking order at GT in the offseason is always in flux, based on who had the highest yard per carry that day.
At UGA, it tends to be more static and not based on objective criteria.
GT’s rushing results are usually #1 or #2 in the nation, UGA’s are usually 7th in the SEC, so I’d say GT’s way of doing things get much better results there.
Just Saying
August 17th, 2012
9:25 am
@GT4ever
Speaking of “jokes”, how are you today?
bulldogmaniac
August 17th, 2012
9:27 am
Lanier…I have to totally disagree with your comment (pasted below).
We should not give anything to anyone based on “their sacrifices”.
His “sacrifices” got him a FREE education.
We need to put the BEST PLAYER on the field….not a player because we “owe” it to them.
lanier
August 17th, 2012
6:39 am
got to be Samuel for his sacifices for the team
Bud
August 17th, 2012
9:30 am
Gurley’s teammates, who see him every day in practice, are raving about him, and comparing him to Trent Richardson. It is odd that the teammates and defenders are not raving about Malcome or Samuel or Marshall.
DIT
August 17th, 2012
9:38 am
Heck, just line all 4 of them up in the backfield on the 1st series…………………
I’m not worried so much about who is starting at RB. I just want to see one, preferably 2 RB’s step up and stand out. Of course if the O-Line can’t open up holes. In the words of Joey on “Friends”, it’s a Moo point!
Funny stuff coming from our adversaries this morning. Thanks for the morning laughs!
AirForce1
August 17th, 2012
9:42 am
Run a quadruple option with the 4 running backs
AirForce1
August 17th, 2012
9:43 am
@ DIT…I agree…LINE all four up in the backfield!
Mountain DAWG
August 17th, 2012
9:44 am
Jan Kemp- violations going on probably everywhere else; UGA got caught
Damon Evans- No NCAA violations for trying to get a little piece of @$$
Jim Donnan- Being a sorry excuse for a coach is no NCAA violation. His legal problems have come about long after UGA tenure.
Dawg48
August 17th, 2012
9:45 am
Hey Twinkie……
http://i.imgur.com/lvvqi.gif
satxdawg
August 17th, 2012
9:46 am
People get so worked up over PRACTICE stats geez. Scrimmages is practice of course freshman are going to go harder then the older guys to prove them selves . I hope gurley does turn out to be a gem but still I want to wait and see it in a game . Against a defense you don’t go up against all summer .
AltamahaDawg
August 17th, 2012
9:50 am
yea, it’s so unbelievable that picking up a blitzing LB who would blow up the play, erasing whatever yards were gained the play before, would even be part of the equation.. And no way that LB could cause a TO, or an injury. Who cares if the drives stall in a real game, we have those stats to look at from the scrimmage.
I wish Richt and his staff had as much at stake as you guys do. They can’t possible understand the pressure you are under to get it right.
faithfuldawg86
August 17th, 2012
9:54 am
All of them are averaging at least 4 yards per carry… I’ll take that all day long! Go Dawgs!
UGA Insider
August 17th, 2012
9:55 am
Trivia time…
Name the program who has been on the NCAA “habitual violator” list for 3 consecutive 5 year terms?????
Dynomite
August 17th, 2012
10:00 am
Tide Roll….”Bama’s # 1 fan since 2008!
Why stop at four? | Get The Picture
August 17th, 2012
10:04 am
[...] tell you what, Bryan McClendon – if Georgia doesn’t pound Buffalo enough to let Brandon Harton see the field, [...]
Bud
August 17th, 2012
10:11 am
Richt & McClendon are creative in how they attempt to minimize Gurley’s outstanding performances.
Richt gives it the ole “Well, he had 1 big run there”
McClendon goes more for the ole “Well, we’re looking more at 15 practices”.
Really is fun watching Richt & McClendon try and deal with Gurley’s clear stand out scrimmage performances.
They are creative.
But I’m not buying it.
Just Saying
August 17th, 2012
10:13 am
@Bud
I think you are correct. I like the idea of Samuel and our new killer fullback in the backfield blocking for AM. Imagine, 2 converted linebackers simultaneously blocking for our QB……sounds like a plan to me!!!
DIT
August 17th, 2012
10:15 am
No one is asking you to buy anything Bud. It’s way too early to evaluate any of the running backs after only 2 scrimmages. Maybe, the coaches are down playing his efforts for a reason. Who knows. That’s why they are coaching and we are not.
Kevin
August 17th, 2012
10:26 am
Zippy the clown at 9:41, Herschel was NOT a “little known freshman.”
He was the most recruited hs player in the nation out of high school.
Ghost
August 17th, 2012
10:28 am
These are pretty meaningless stats. this was a “controlled” scrimmage,unless you attended the scrimmage and were able to see what the down and distance were for these stats perhaps you should wait until the games start before you start keyboard coaching.
Mittens Romney
August 17th, 2012
10:30 am
Malcome should start followed by the freshmen.
Bud
August 17th, 2012
10:30 am
Richt & McClendon are trying to sell us, and themselves, in the post game conferences on the idea that Gurley isn’t the best running back so far. I am not buying it.
McClendon’s track record of rushing is 7-10th in the conference last 4 years, I’d say the coaches, particularly, McClendon, clearly don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to the rushing game.
McClendon has done nothign in 4 years to convince me he is qualified to do his job.
DirtyDawg
August 17th, 2012
10:31 am
They watch he kids practice…they evaluate them…they decide on a rotation for game one…and go with it, then do it all over again. My thoughts are that that’s what the coaches are paid to do…not that they don’t know that and will do it to the best of their ability, which should be good enough for you and me.
ATL Sports Fan
August 17th, 2012
10:32 am
I see BC is back with a new screen name (BUD). I’m sure it would be hard to show face under the name of BC after Chip Towers to you to school the other day.
By your logic on who should start, Trent Richardson should have never started at Alabama. I mean Eddie Lacy had a more ypc average than he did. Same goes for other running backs. I guess that is why you have your lazy profession and are not coaching college football.
Spike 80DF
August 17th, 2012
10:34 am
start Malcome with his experience, rotate in Gurley and Marshall for all the meaningful carries, then throw in Samuel to grind it out late with his physical running.
Chris Mike
August 17th, 2012
10:41 am
Tide Roll yes Ala. have won two national champship in thelast four years and get a lot of five star recruits. But what is that old saying its not where you start, its where you finish. I will but UGA players up against any alabama player once they get to NFL. Just like last night at the Falcons and Bengal game. Aj Green v/s Juilo. Fantastic td by Aj, Juilo just off the fingers tips. These were the two top wrs coming out of High school. When was the last time an Alabama players inducted to the hall of fame. Lets see Hmmmmm maybe thirty years ago. We got two future right now. One first ballet Champ Bailey, and late balllet Hines Ward and probably Terrelll Davis. Now roll that.
Jeff
August 17th, 2012
10:41 am
Who was that guy from last year???? Already forgot him….
BigGAdawg
August 17th, 2012
10:42 am
So our big problem at RB is that we have several guys who are all performing at a similar level–not so bad as problems go. We know that they are all going to get playing time–especially against Buffalo.
I just hope that Harton is not run up the middle. If Bobo runs him up the middle again on 3rd and long, Richt should give him a smack on the back of the head (Gibbs style). Harton has alot of heart but the laws of physics get in his way. He is good but not Warrick Dunn. They should only use him in screens and short passes as a safety valve.
The play I would really like to see more that once a season is an old fashioned power sweep. Put Hall and Samuel in as double fullbacks and run Marshall or Gurley behind them and a TE or pulling guard. Smash-mouth football.
WOOF!
AltamahaDawg
August 17th, 2012
10:44 am
“Looks like McClendon is looking for backs that are passblockers, more than runners.”
And you base that on what evidence?
dawgfan
August 17th, 2012
10:44 am
Well, we’ve heard all of these glowing reviews out of preseason practice before haven’t we? I remember this time last year there was some talk about how unstoppable the sweep would be with Samuel at tailback and I think it was Figgins at fullback because of their size. Anyone remember that? I got pretty excited and thought maybe a coconut had hit Bobo in the head while he was on vacation and he finally realized that a physical running game is the way to win SEC football games. Well, I don’t recall seeing that play a single time throughout the whole season.
Gurley may be looking good in practice but we’ll see if Bobo will properly use him in the games. I like Gurley’s size but it will probably be a waste because Bobo thinks this is a flag football league. Bobo gets impatient with the running game and his passing game trigger finger starts getting might itchy, especially in the red zone. I’d love to see a breakdown of pass vs. run in the red zone. It seems like whenever we get close Bobo starts letting Murray fire away on almost every play.
Thanks.
Buckeye
August 17th, 2012
10:46 am
Chip,
Are you really going to “annoint” another freshman running back?
Seriously?
Bud
August 17th, 2012
10:46 am
Gurley 11 ypc, 3 td’s, everybody else 6 ypc and 1 td. They’re not all performing at the same level. Chip said in the article Gurley has outgained the rest of the backs twofold.
StuDawg
August 17th, 2012
10:47 am
@ lanier, No it doesnt have to be Samuel for his sacrifices to the team! Thats exactly the problem we have had in the past! Seniority shouldnt take precedence over skill/talent! Play the best players no matter how old they are!!!!
CHDawg
August 17th, 2012
10:47 am
Bud, no doubt you are on to something here! I can just imagine the coaches’ discussion from reading your post: CMR- OK, how do we convince the public that Gurley is only average so we can play somebody else other than the best TB? CBM- Well, we didn’t play Malcome last year, so let’s play him this year, no matter how good 3 & 4 are. CMB- That sounds good, and let’s also recruit linemen from outside GA to make Tide Roll mad, even though SC and Vandy are getting the really good players. We really aren’t trying to win championships; it is all about playing favorites. Bud, think back through the great RBs that CMR and CMB have coached in their careers and ask yourself if maybe, just maybe, they know what they are doing…
Homepage | MrSEC
August 17th, 2012
10:50 am
[...] 4. UGA’s tailbacks are all bunched together at the moment. [...]
Carz
August 17th, 2012
10:54 am
Stop using the ‘H” word every time UGA gets a talented freshman Running Back. It’s too much like living in the past. There have been plenty of great ones since.
Bud
August 17th, 2012
10:57 am
I’m sure McClendon sincerely thinks Samuel & Malcome are better than Gurley. And most of his ideas are the ones that led to UGA being ranked 7-10th in the conference for the last 4 years. Last 4 of the time when it comes to the rushing game, McClendon is always sincerely wrong. What makes anyone think he’s finally right now for the first time in 5 years?
flo-ri-duh
August 17th, 2012
11:01 am
Herschel was a little known freshman says Zippy. Hardly! He was the most recruited player in the country. Malcolme will start, followed by Samuel. The freshmen will play to.
CHDawg
August 17th, 2012
11:04 am
Well, CMB, CMR, and CBM have said that all of them will get plenty of carries and they will sink or swim on their performance. I’m going to make a bold prediction: if Gurley averages 12 yards a carry and he doesn’t fumble, he will be the number 1 TB, and probably a freshman Heisman winner! Bud, the coaches want to win much worse than you do.
Bud
August 17th, 2012
11:04 am
6 ypc = 11 ypc
1 td = 3 td’s
57 yards = 145 yards
No clear seperation?
McClendon must have flunked math.
Hot dog
August 17th, 2012
11:09 am
Apparently Hutson Mason is SO good he’s going to be the next Peyton Manning. Murray will get hurt and he will end up being better than Stafford and be drafted in the first round in the NFL. Then we’ll know for sure that Richt only started Murray because he liked Aaron better! Some of you guys are morons on here.
Hot dog
August 17th, 2012
11:13 am
No separation may just mean Gurley still has a lot to learn about the playbook or pass blocking. Or McClendon may just want to wait and see if Todd can keep up the good work in the last scrimmage. We all know these numbers are a little inflated when our defense is giving up over 5 to almost all of the backs. If must have had something to do with the playcalling.
Hot dog
August 17th, 2012
11:16 am
I think a coach’s ego would get in the way of leaving a better player on the bench. Remember, running backs must learn pass protection and the playbook and Richt has made it clear in past years how important pass protection is in this offense.
Hot dog
August 17th, 2012
11:19 am
Brantley was a GREAT quarterback when he played mop-up behind Tim Tebow. Then when Tebow graduated, everyone realized how bad he was. When the bright lights go on, you find out how good a player is.
Bud
August 17th, 2012
11:28 am
It’s time for Georgia to figure out whether:
a) You want to finish in the top 3 in SEC in passing and watch someone else win the SEC
b) you want to win the SEC by finishing #1 in rushing
If it’s (a), then keep looking for backs who can PASSBLOCK, like you have since 2008 and finish between 7-10th in the conference in rushing, don’t win the SEC, but have good passing numbers.
If it’s (b), you have to average over 215+ yards a game rushing, instead of 164. And look for backs who can RUN.
Frank Lane
August 17th, 2012
11:30 am
There are two many variables to go just with YPC. What team were they running with? What team were they running against? Who was the fullback? Who was the quarterback? What were the plays? Was the defense expecting pass? Etc.
Joe Biden
August 17th, 2012
11:37 am
I am the dumbdest person in the world….