A few snippets from yesterday’s press conference revealed little about the lingering question around Etienne’s availability for Saturday, but Kirby did share some praise for Cashion Slade Jones.
Smart said the first moments he remembers of Cash Jones were him making a lot of plays during his second spring in Athens. He noted that Jones runs Georgia’s runs exactly the way he should in terms of identifying keys and reads. Smart added that he has done a “dominant” job on special teams. Smart is excited to see him play with the buildup he’s had through camp.
Another walk-on Cinderella story? Where have we heard that before? In case your memory is fuzzy on Jones, here’s his 2023 highlights:
Some observations on Cash here:
- For a running back, he’s tallish and light. He reminds me more of a Torin Kirtsey in physique.
- He played multiple sports in high school and did well in track. He has speed, that’s for sure.
- I wouldn’t expect him to be a goal-line back. As Kirby said, he seems to be able to find the hole and commits to it, but doesn’t break the contact too often.
- He’s a solid route runner for a back and seems to be able to secure the ball, which is good for a check down pass option that is intended to get a guy in space and a few yards as a safety net forward if he gets picked up quickly.
- While I don’t seem him becoming RB1, he’s a guy you have to respect, as he did show some squirrelishness on a few of those plays.
Of course, this is all speculation and Kirby could be pulling a psy-op to distract Dabo, but I don’t think Kirby is really hedging on mind games this weekend. Jones is also said to be a contender for return duties, which I can see in his good hands and ability to make some guys miss, but paramount to that is ball security.
Of course, there’s another shifty guy who is eager for opportunity:
Injuries aside, I think our running back room will be okay.
Happy to see him get some touches when the game is well in hand. That’s about it though. If Nate Frazier is half as good as what has gotten out then I can’t imagine he won’t be in line ahead of this guy. As for Etienne, kind of stupid for him to have to serve a suspension with dropped charges but it’s not like it would surprise me. Kirby mentioned him yesterday but who knows if that was just to slam the door on anybody wanting to say, “So he’s definitely not playing.”
As was with the hiring of UGA football staff, those coaches recently have proven to be better than average hires (past few years), Coach Scott was evident a couple years later, following Dell McGee, who had been a sounding board for CKS, Coach Crawford hire is gonna’ be in the for front this 2024 season, UGA football RB room should be ready for saturday, will their coach be ready, week in, week out, given his resume, he should be up to the task….GO DAWGS!!
Is Frazier there with pass blocking, though? No blocking, no playing.
I dont know but from what I understand Frazier is the first guy Kirby has had in a while who is a legitimate threat to score a touchdown at any given time. I bet he plays Saturday.
We could see the next great RB for UGA in Frazier.
I looked at some high school film of him and he was outstanding. I hope he is ready.
Cash is a great story, and I am very glad he is on my team, but I wish he were a little bigger and a little stronger.
Agree with everything you said other than him being “tallish.” That would make me a giant at 6’1”, lol. I think he’s 5’10”. Great speed and vision though.
maybe lanky. He’s 5’ 11” so I guess I was saying he’s not a short, compact runner that can knock a guy back. He’s going to try, but he’s not going to have leverage to put a guy on his back.
Yeah, he’s listed at 5’11” but when you see him next to other guys in those clips you have to wonder if he’s actually shorter. Glad he’s a Dawg, either way, and especially this weekend because we’re going to need him.
Y’all got me curious. So I went to georgiadogs.com and they have him listed in the roster at 6’0 tall 182lb So he is, normal size. But standing next to the rest of the offense, well, “there be giants.”
True, Moe. But colleges are well known for BSing heights and weights.
You cannot stop Cash Jones. You can only hope to contain him.
Dooley’s axiom about starting freshman RBs still rings true (essentially a guarantee of a fumble…he didn’t start HW game 1). Fraiser needs to be worked in. Cash has experience and is serviceable especially for a big time opener at MB. Bobo will use the run to set up the pass and will be focused on getting Beck in a groove with his TEs and receivers. “Balance” will be enough running to slow the Tiger pass rush. If we have Entienne available then Bobo might just have one of his masterpiece games.
Agreed. Pass Pro is the key for Frazier getting prime touches.
Torin Kirtsey???? Is that the chick from 90210????
Don’t use a back because he’s a freshman? Like Gurley, Chubb, Sony, and Swift? Sorry but that idea is ridiculous. This ain’t the 80s.
I have nothing against Cash Nones personally but I do t want him carrying the ball until the fourth quarter with a big lead. Give me Nate Frazier. I’ll take his taken t over whatever experience anybody thinks Cash Jones has.