Ealey Pays For Cox’s Mistake
Georgia’s Mark Richt announced Tuesday that Caleb King will start this weekend instead of Washaun Ealey at running back. Seems Washaun missed a block that allowed pressure on QB Joe Cox. Cox threw the ball up for grabs and it was intercepted. Cox would go on to throw two more interceptions, with one being a deflection off A.J. Greens hands. That one is not really Joe’s fault. But the first one was, and yet Washaun sits and Joe continues to start.
Now I’m not one of the bench Joe Cox crowd. When Mark Richt says Joe gives us the best chance to win, I try and accept that as the gospel truth; but when he benches Washaun over this, I question his judgment all over again. Washaun had started the last two games and was one of the only positive things that Georgia had going in the Florida game, gaining 70 yards on 17 carries.
I along with nearly every Georgia fan I know believes Washaun Ealey is our best running back right now. He missed a block. He may have missed more than one, I’m not going to study the tape.
I don’t care…
Washaun’s primary function is to run the ball. Blocking, while important, is a secondary function for him. Now, he along with every player should strive to improve in every phase of their respective games. Now, follow me on this. Georgia’s problems on offense are not because of Washaun Ealey’s deficiencies in a secondary function. The offense has struggled because of our inability to adequately utilize his talents in his primary function, running the ball.
I just don’t understand.
It’s as if Richt is shining a bright light on Washaun’s weaknesses to distract us from Joe’s continued struggles. Spreading the blame around to lighten Joe’s burden. This staff has always harped on it’s running backs having to be able to block to get on the field and I understand that this is a crucial issue in most situations. But do you really think that is Georgia’s biggest issue on offense? Please.
Are the Georgia Bulldogs Coached Up?
I was reading THE Bulldog’s Blog and one of David Hale’s readers used the term “coached down”. It’s not a very commonly used phrase, but very descriptive and it made me think….no comments please! Especially you Bernie! It reminded me of a conversation I had with one of Thomas Brown’s high school coaches several years ago. Thomas was probably a junior at UGA at the time.
He was expressing some frustration because he felt Thomas was having his natural running instincts and abilities “coached out” of him. He said Thomas had shown a game breaking ability that I am sure helped him get recruited and a scholarship offer. Why then would the Georgia running backs coach go against that grain?
It could be as simple as the coach wanting the backs to run north and south and not to go east and west. That’s a pretty common mantra, but sometimes you have to go east and west just a little. These days that hole that was supposed to be there just isn’t there. Some of our backs run there anyway and fall down.
One of my favorite books as a kid was Run to Daylight by Vince Lombardi
That’s some basic stuff, but do we do that? Seriously.
Here’s a question for you. Since when do we recruit running backs as projects? The comments from Coach Richt recently regarding Richard Samuel prove to me that he is an ongoing project at running back. The fact that he is “still learning the position” doesn’t ring true to me. He’s been on campus 18 months and still doesn’t know what to do or how to do it? How can that be? And he’s starting again this weekend vs. Tennessee.
Now I have an occasional reader that feels I dislike Richard Samuel. That’s not the case. I want Richard to be successful. It’s up to the coaches to give him a chance to be successful. I’m just not sure that running back is the spot. If this weekend is Richard’s coming out party, I will dance naked in the street and kiss him square on the mouth, I swear I don’t care.
To clarify, I will get dressed again before said kiss on the mouth.
I think the more likely scenario is it could be Washaun Ealey’s coming out party. A fractured jaw and concussion for Caleb King may have created that opportunity for Washaun. It took an injury to Thomas Brown in 2007 for Knowshon Moreno to get the numbers of carries that proved his true value.
Bottom line is, I want to win. I am very concerned about our ability to run and consistently stop the run. Monty Kiffin will have his defense ready. He will put the onus squarely on Joe Cox to win this game. Joe will be hit early and often if we can’t slow the Tennessee pass rush by running effectively.
This will need to be our best over-all game to win.
Let’s do it! Go Dawgs!
Georgia Fans, Time To Get a Grip
The 2009 Georgia Bulldogs are exactly who we thought they were, so why don’t you let them off the hook! All summer long the majority of reasonable bulldog fans saw a season with three or four losses. Well, we are on that schedule, as hard as it is to watch, these Bulldogs are not of championship caliber. The sooner we understand that, maybe we can cheer for them with a new perspective and level of understanding.
Now, if you have problems with the coaching that’s another blog for another day.
It has always amazed me how fans can have such unrealistic expectations when the facts point to something else. For instance, Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Moreno were two of the more exciting and prolific offensive players Georgia has ever had. That’s ev-er, as in his-tor-y. How could you think we would not miss a beat?
Something that has always bothered me is the notion that just because a particular player is not the All-American player of yester-year, then he sucks! Really? I’ll give you an example. Joe Cox. Joe has most often been described as a QB of adequate physical ability, smart and a game manager. Well, because Georgia can’t run or run block Joe has been put in the position to try and win games, and he has. But he can’t do that week in and week out, he needs help.
By forcing Joe to be a world beater, he has to try and do more than is reasonable for him to do. Does that mean he sucks? Hell…and no. Our being so one dimensional has put Joe and the Dawgs in a bad position.
45 yards rushing vs. LSU on 24 attempts
Joe Cox was 18 for 34 for 229 yards…2 TD’s and 1 INT at the very end. I bet if Matthew Stafford had had that line you wouldn’t be running your mouth Mr. Know-It-All Dawgfan. Again, get a grip.
Arkansas, the Other White Meat
The Georgia Football Bulldogs have shown signs of life. After looking rather dead in Oklahoma, they were on life support again last Saturday night. Rennie Curran answered the 911 call and the DawgNation took in a collective breath of life. I literally took my blood pressure medication in the 3rd quarter before my head popped off.
Some one said it was a crazy game but fun to watch. Hey, I don’t need fun in my life. I need life in my life, thank you very much. I won’t go over all the game’s details because they have been discussed plenty. All I want to say is this:
Thank the Lord for touch-backs. Or even the chance for some!
Great Job BW! Keep it up!
I am concerned about this weekend. I am really hoping Bobby Petrino gets a job offer today and maybe he’ll be gone by Saturday. If that does not happen, then we better get a better pass rush or pass coverage. I don’t care which, either one will help immensely. Justin Houston will be back from suspension and that’s a good thing. Going with four tackles was not the ticket.
Last week Ryan Mallett, who sat out last season after transferring from Michigan, went 17 for 22 for 309 yards and a touchdown for the Razorbacks. Backup Tyler Wilson also played and threw for 138 yards and two TDs. But that was against Missouri State.
Hopefully the Dawgs can slow-cook the Hawgs.
The reason I am optimistic is Joe Cox played better. He still needs to do more. Richard Samuel was an under-utilized bruiser. Branden “That little joker is fast” Smith finally had something go right for him. A little end a round action and a 61 yard touchdown.
Pssst. Branden! You can take a knee in the end-zone. Nobody will boo.
They might even cheer at this point.
Here’s the clincher. Dawg Fans have been screaming for Marlon Brown and Rontavious Wooten, our speedy freshman. I think Coach Richt and Co. are slowly adding the ingredients that as the season progresses, will be come a potent mix on offense. I think this eventually will include Logan Gray as well. We have so many weapons, it must be tough to decide which to pull out.
But even the biggest knife loses in a gun fight , remember?
Georgia Fans…A Little Something Sweet
Georgia Football fans should know. This blog will never “rival” the big boys for news and numbers. That’s the meat and potatoes of an online fan feast. I don’t want it to be like all the other blogs. Many have good well rounded information, like a helping of your favorite veggies. There are a few of these blogs with enough flavor to pass as a really good dessert. But I want Roughing the Kicker to be that place that when you are too full from the main course, you hold off. Then on your way home you stop by for something a little different…a special treat. I call it Blaagen Dazs. It may not be something you want to consume every day, or maybe your metabolism can take a daily helping. Who knows?
Below you will find a listing of flavors you can expect in the future:
*One flavor that has been discontinued is the Rocky Road…too much of that last year* Some new favorites are expected to be the Joe Cox Strawberry… The A.J. Green “Mint Chocolate”… The Blair Walsh Irish Cream… Justin Anderson Vanilla Bean? …and introducing Rookies and Cream for freshman only…. and all Dawg Fans love Bark Chocolate…lol…Boy, I amuse myself sometimes.
Clean Old Fashioned Hate….Ain’t It Great!
Wednesday I posted my feelings on Georgia Tech’s resurgence. No, not the football team, the fans. The response has been great from both sides and that can mean only one thing. Clean Old-Fashioned Hate, which had been relegated to the bookshelf has returned to the field AND cyberspace. You know it’s human nature to be ambivalent when you know you can pound your little step brother on a regular basis. But when he reaches maturity, has gotten his brown belt in RunKwanDo AND has busted your nose, you better wake up.
I believe we have!
I believe our off season work-outs were more focused and intense. I believe our coaches renewed their commitment to excellence. I believe our leadership is improved. I believe our fundamentals will improve. I believe in Joe Cox. I believe Uga VII will actually come out of his Doghouse in 2009(Lazy Sumbuck). I believe our special teams will actually be SPECIAL! I believe the Ghost of Junkyards past will lead our defense onto the field this fall. I believe our recruiting has gone to another level. Most of all I believe in Mark Richt.
Between the SEC’s lack of truly weak sisters and Tech having a quality coach, I fully expect Coach Richt to be bald by 2011. Show him some love when you see him. He is earning every dollar he makes these days.
Call Georgia Tech what you will…nerds…bees…locusts.
Just don’t call them losers, those days are over.
Georgia Football and Senior Leadership
You hear about it every year, but you don’t really have it every year, do you? At least not championship caliber. Senior leadership is a vague, mysterious notion that can make or break a team, but what exactly does it mean? (more…)
Tell me what you really think!