Isaiah Crowell leads the team in rushing yards, carries and likely in enthusiasm. So in many ways I think the next big step for the freshman running back is the same as the first one: don't let your head get in the way of your feet.
Early in the Ole Miss game Crowell was busting big runs and gashing Ole Miss' defense to shreds. That was a good thing. However, he was also running his mouth after the play just about as fast as his legs were moving during the play.
Now, I'm not so old that I don't enjoy seeing a kid get excited and pumped up after making a big play. But it reached a point where I was surprised he did not draw a flag. It's one thing to get up off a tackle jawwing, it's quite another to face an opponent, jumping up and down while doing so.
And we weren't the only ones who saw it. Richt ran about half way to the huddle to try and speak to Crowell. I'm not sure the kid ever heard him over the noise, and it ended with a pat on the butt.
I guess when you put an 18 year old in the "missing man" formation you run some risk of inflating an ego, creating a monster. And let's not get into the whole #1 jersey thing again. I'd just hate to see the kid make a game changing play only to have it wiped out by a little yellow flag.
Richt seems to have brought a monster to Athens. It's up to Isaiah Crowell to keep from destroying the village.
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Richt sprinted on the field to get in his ear piece. I really like Crowell's intensity. I think it is something the team has been missing, but I totally agree, he's got to learn to keep his mouth shut. I am sure Richt said in there somewhere, "Act like you've been there before."
A monster? Yeah, we should be cautious in regards to his ego but to call him a monster? Give me a break. What about Knowshon? He did a lot of popping up and smack talk.
The monster reference was a little unclear as I read it again. My intention was to say IC has the obvious potential to be a monster of a player. We just don't want his actions to turn on us. That's the only chink in the armor I see so far.
It's probably just a coming of age thing. And to be honest I probably would yap too if I had that kind of speed, quickness.
Eh.. that first run he could have run out of bounds, he already had a large gain, instead he turned and gave the DB a hit, letting him know he wasn't about to take the easy route. That isn't smack talking, that's called setting the edge (something we haven't had in a runner since Knowshon). It got me jacked up watching it a day later on the replay.
Crowell is a freshman caught up in the emotion of SEC competition and I'm sure he'll be reigned in by coaches so his actions won't cost his team on the field. That being said, it sure is great to see a running back pop back up again chirping like Moreno did. Last years team had little or no emotion (see Bowl Game) and it's good to see these "Dream Teamers" pump a little into the team around them.
Okay, I understand the ref now. Guess I got caught up on the seemingly endless line of criticism that goes on now. Some well deserved of course. I agree - Crowell has potential to be a monster of a player - clearly a future first round draft pick if he continues his current success and improves upon it. I enjoy his "get in your face" attitude but am also cautious about it becoming taunting versus healthy jabbering. What comes out of his mouth is important and the refs get that....
That Dawg can hunt!
I think he got sucked into it. This is the first time I've seen him jaw like that and he's had plenty of opportunities to smack talk to other teams. So I'm guessing he was getting some taunting from the other side. He probably used it to play harder, which I like, but he doesn't need to say anything, they got the message loud and clear. I do like his enthusiasm though.
Bernie, A monster? cmon man. Enough with the #1 talk. Who cares if branden smith plays offense or not? He's too small and doesnt even start on Defense. Who cares what he did on Gday. Give it a rest. Try and focus on the positive. Crowell is fine. In fact hes much better than fine. He can talk all the shit he wants as long as he keeps running for 120+ yds and making explosive plays.
The only chink I've seen in his armor is that he gets winded easily especially late in games and he misses some assignments in pass protection. Stop looking for negatives. You're the first person I've heard that is worried about where his ego is headed. He seems like a great kid. He should have a big head... Hes fucking awesome.
Totally agree as to his talent. Not searching for negatives. But SEC refs tend to look for reasons to throw laundry. Just sayin'.
Nope, no penalty for setting the edge. And the fact that Crowell isn't afraid to do it is the most welcome thing I've seen in a long while.
Crowell is a monster. And he came to Athens on an empty stomach.
I think you had a very fair assessment on his pushing the edge of a flag a few times but the good thing is it is usually early in the game to set the tone and then he gets to just playing ball. As for being winded in the 4th quarter I think it is simply a matter of not being used to carrying the ball that much. In high school his junior season he averaged 14 carries and his senior I think it was just over ten carries a game. Carver was winning by so much and had such good backups that there was no need for them to wear his body out. Against Ole Miss he carried it 32 times (two runs for 33 yards between then were called back for holds). Yes he has a ways to go but if he can tote the rock 32 times in a game his freshman year then he is going to be fine. Not every running back can carry the ball as many times as HW or even Lattimore (and both the wear and tear on their bodies their freshman year showed as they missed games due to injuries).
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