Georgia Bulldogs: What Does Isaiah Crowell Need To Be Successful?

Photo Credit: JASON GETZ/AJC

Isaiah Crowell's announcement did more than relieve months of tension and worry among the Bulldog faithful, it gave them a reason to believe that the running game would again have the star it so desperately needs in the backfield—the perfect compliment to Aaron Murray.

Well, it was only six-months ago that fans were satisfied that the Washaun Ealey/Caleb King combo was everything Georgia needed to "run this state" too, and that didn't exactly work out as planned now did it?

Now, before you start thinking this article is meant to rain on the "dream team" parade, please step away from the keyboard and think about this for a moment: As unimpressive, underwhelming, and downright disappointing as Ealey and King both proved to be last season, there can be no doubt that they have talent and have, at some point, been serviceable during their careers at Georgia.

After all, in 2010, many predicted the duo could be one of the best 1-2 combos in the SEC.

Was that a mistake? Did the two generate too much hype for their own good last year, or was something bigger at hand in their collective freefalls from grace?

The only reason this question is worth asking today is because as studly as Isaiah Crowell may turn out to be, no one wishes to see him fall flat, under the weight of enormous expectations, simply because Georgia hasn't done all it can to prepare the way for him.

Before Crowell can be envisioned "running that rock" in any part of Georgia's offense, a few points need to be considered. Points that could have a major impact on his productivity from day one.

For one, A.J. Green's departure means the run game will get a lot more attention.

Without, at least presently, a player of Green's caliber to stretch the field and give defensive coordinator's fits, Bobo will need to do a much better job game planning each week because "throw it to A.J." is no longer an option.

Furthermore, once Richt decides who will be coordinating the run game, Bobo needs to improve the way he uses each running backs particular skills. Last season he, far too often in my opinion, placed them in situations where they were not going to succeed—let's be honest, it's never a good idea to send 5'8", sub-190 lb running back, Carlton Thomas up the gut on a third down.

Lastly, the new offensive line coach—whoever he turns out to be—will have his work cut out for him. The offensive line has talent, but years of poor conditioning cannot be undone in a handful of months, expect some growing pains as each player is reassessed and re-evaluated to see how he can best be used during both pass and run plays.

Can Georgia return to prominence in the running game? Absolutely, but it's going to take some time. The issues which contributed to the overall decline of the run game will have to be addressed quickly—before Crowell can shine—then, hopefully, we'll see him become the player we all hope he can.

Georgia Bulldogs: Will The "Dream Team" Be Complete Without Isaiah Crowell?

National Signing Day is less than a week away and the Georgia Bulldogs are hoping to close out strong. So far, Mark Richt's staff has done a phenomenal job of locking down some of the best the state has to offer, and there seems to be little doubt that this class will be one of his best yet—assuming they can nab a few more of the big names still left on the board.

Ray Drew, the highly-touted defensive end out of Thomasville, Ga., continues to make the most of his experience as one of the nation's best. He's used the power of social media to keep his allegiances a secret and, by this point in the game, it's anyone's guess what school will land him.

He is set to end the suspense tomorrow morning, and there isn't a publication or person anywhere who should be willing to bet the house on what he will say. As of now, the popular opinion is he will be a Bulldog—despite his penchant for speaking negatively about the program—and if Georgia does turn out to be his destination of choice, many hope to see John Jenkins follow.

Jenkins is a major JUCO prospect out of Connecticut and he is expected to step right into the role of nose at Georgia—should he decide to sign.

Still, though, you have to wonder if even those two would be enough to make this class the talk of the SEC? Will either of those guys signatures matter as much if Isaiah Crowell decides to head to Auburn or Alabama?

The bottom line is this: Georgia has put all of their running back eggs into Crowell's basket. They aren't looking at any other players and aren't actively pursuing any other players. It's Crowell or nothing and it's no secret that if he's all that we've been led to believe he is, then he's the guy that stands to make the biggest offensive impact in 2011.

Caleb King and Washaun Ealey have not lived up to their expectations. They have been a disappointment in both behavior and performance, and many are ready to see something better at the running back position come next season.

In the eyes of many, Isaiah Crowell is the player that Georgia needs to return this offense to the type of efficiency it saw in the early days of Richt's tenure. He is felt, by some, to be the "Marcus Lattimore" of the 2011 class—the spark that Georgia needs to make a championship run of their own.

However, his decision is currently unknown as well.

While all signs seem to point to Georgia being his school of choice, his father made some rather interesting comments about what's most important to him (as a parent), "I’m just looking at him finishing his education and going where they can keep him in line and where there’s a good mentor for him. Where and when he’ll play on the field, I’m not really paying attention to all that."

Crowell expressed a similar sentiment last October when he discussed the arrests and issues that Georgia was having with discipline, said Crowell then, "...there’s just a lot of things going wrong. I do want to play right away but I also want to be where it’s disciplined and they win championships."

It sounds like Isaiah and his father are on similar pages. 

While the culture at Georgia appears to be changing, it's unclear if the moves that have been made will be enough to persuade Crowell to sign with the team on February 2. It's a tough call to make given the success of both Alabama and Auburn (two schools who also remain in the running for Crowell.

That said, if Georgia ends up missing on Crowell, will this Georgia class still be a "Dream" or will it fall just shy of expectations?

What say you?

Did The Georgia Bulldogs Commit a Secondary Violation During 'Dawg Night'?

According to MrSEC.com, the Georgia Bulldogs could be in line to receive a secondary violation from the NCAA after this photo appeared in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution over the weekend. The photo was snapped not long after Zach DeBell committed to the Bulldogs on Friday Night.

The NCAA prohibits publicized contact with a recruit.

It's not likely that the potential violation will net much more than a warning letter from the NCAA, but you have to wonder what coach Searles' was thinking when he allowed the photo to be snapped in the first place—no doubt it was an honest mistake. 

In other recruiting news, Georgia continues to make gains with some of the biggest prospects—both in and out of the state.

Isaiah Crowell, one of the top-rated prospects in the state according to Rivals.com was in Athens over the weekend for 'Dawg Night' and couldn't stress enough just how much the presence of Jarvis Jones (the recent USC transfer) has helped in his overall impression of the Georgia Bulldogs.

In an interview with Dawg Post's Chad Simmons ($$$), Crowell states that Jones:

"...told me all about Georgia while I was there and he told me it was a good fit for him and that he thinks it would be a good fit for me too. He wants me to make my own decision and he is going to keep it real with me, so he answered all of my questions, he kept it real with me, and him being at Georgia does make a difference."

Crowell and Jones both attended Carver High School together and Crowell has always looked up to Jones as both a friend and a mentor. The Bulldogs have recently re-established their relationship with Carver and their head coach, Dell McGee—giving them access to two of their biggest prospects (Gabe Wright and Isaiah Crowell). 

Speaking of Gabe Wright, the stellar defensive player who was thought to be leaning heavily towards the Auburn Tigers is now back to feeling good about the Bulldogs. He's got a lot of people in his ear—all of whom are pulling for Georgia to keep Gabe safe at home. How much that will ultimately play a role in his decision is any one's guess, but it's good to know that Georgia is on the (W)right track. 


Other prospects who are still feeling the love (and giving it back) from the Bulldogs are:


Jay Rome (TE): The state's top prospect remains very interested in the Bulldogs—thanks in large part to their history of churning out big time NFL pro prospects at his position. 

Brandon Shell (OL): Despite the recent commitment of Zach DeBell, Brandon Shell remains interested in Georgia. The No. 2 rated offensive lineman in the state of South Carolina listed Georgia in his top two—along with South Carolina. Shell is not expected to take any more official visits and a decision is thought to be coming soon.