Georgia Bulldogs: Weeding Out The Bad Apples and Cultivating The Seeds

Photo Credit: WES BLANKENSHIP

Make no mistake about it, changes are being made at Georgia. The installation of the new S&C program has brought out the bad, and the good and, for some players, that means a stern reality check has made it's way into their hands—much to their dismay.

Washaun Ealey has been indefinitely suspended after failing to show up for a punishment run and this latest transgression could turn out to be the denouement on a career marred by missteps.

While nothing has been said, publicly, about Ealey leaving Georgia to seek opportunities elsewhere, the writing is on the wall this time and the indefinite suspension doesn't appear to bode well for the young man's future prospects with the team—particularly with Isaiah Crowell on board.

If Ealey decides to transfer (which is merely speculation at this point), Caleb King, Ken Malcome, and Carlton Thomas would be left to split carries along with Isaiah Crowell—assuming Crowell come in ready to play—unless, of course, King runs into more eligibility issues.

Recall that King  was forced to miss time on, at least, two occasions last season due to academics so there is zero guarantee that he will be ready to get on the field by this spring.

If King is also out of the equation, Carlton Thomas will be the lone returning tailback with game experience.  Ken Malcome (who didn't play a down last season) and the incoming Crowell would round out thee depth chart. Scared yet? Well, don't be, the situation could be massively inconvenient, but don't know that it qualifies as dire—especially if the changes in the S&C program lends to less injuries on the field.

The vast majority of SEC teams last season weren't more than two-deep at tailback, and while that isn't ideal, it happens, and many teams have been able to succeed using a two-back rotation.

What should be of greater interest to fans is Georgia's burgeoning commitment to changing the culture of the program. For the first time, in a long while, it actually looks like Richt is trying to get a handle on this team. The good and bad apples are being separated from the bunch and that's great news!

The following tweet, made by a former athlete (non-football) at Georgia, caught my eye last night:

People complained of the players being soft and out of shape, this is Tereshinski's response to that criticism and the players, apparently, aren't happy about it.

Again, a hard-nosed approach was needed if Georgia's team was going to show any improvement and, if nothing else, this approach is helping to weed out the guys who want to work from the ones who don't and, in my humble opinion, it's about time.