Board's Thoughts on Hughes

[NDGrad2001]

I love Robert Hughes and his story however I don't think he has the breakout speed that a RB needs. You can see it during the stanford game from the first play during the game he should have taken that play in for a touchdown. Don't get my wrong I love the kid but I wanted to know everyone else's thoughts on him and his speed.

 

[notredomer23]

Bus 2.0. He allen and aldridge will prove to be a great tandum for years to come.

 

[benneboy]

I love Robert Hughes and his story however I don't think he has the breakout speed that a RB needs. You can see it during the stanford game from the first play during the game he should have taken that play in for a touchdown. Don't get my wrong I love the kid but I wanted to know everyone else's thoughts on him and his speed.

Disagree with ya there. One of the things are heard most about Hughes coming out of High School was how he had really good speed for his size. He is like 240 lbs though so he isn't going to be as fast as Armando or anything, but I think he is faster than Aldridge although I seem to be in the minority on that one.

 

[NDOM]

Bus 2.0. He allen and aldridge will prove to be a great tandum for years to come.

I agree 100% Hughes may not be fast but he reminds me so much of Jerome Bettis and look how well he did. Hughes will be fine. He shows alot of promise besides how many long runs did the other ND running backs have this year? ZERO! Hughes had 3 alone in the stanford game.

 

[ColonialHead]

My opinion on Hughes is that while he may be a few .10's of a second slower than the other backs in the Irish stable, he has 10X better field vision than any of them.

Hughes may not have taken that long run to the house during the Stanford game, but the reason he was able to break a long run at all is because he runs to the space better.

Ultimately, all the speed in the world won't do anything for you if you can't get into the open to use that speed. Just ask Michael Bennett.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[NDGrad2001]

Like I said I love the guy and I think a lot of good points have been brought up. I hope he is our "GO TO GUY" for the future!

 

[Wham]

I love Robert Hughes and his story however I don't think he has the breakout speed that a RB needs. You can see it during the stanford game from the first play during the game he should have taken that play in for a touchdown. Don't get my wrong I love the kid but I wanted to know everyone else's thoughts on him and his speed.

He had enough speed to break 3 long runs. He also had enough confidence in the play to know where to go. Sometimes you can have poor vision and run blind and break a long run if you have practiced a play often enough.

The play that he ran for long yardage was a misdirection play where he starts right, then cuts left off tackle. Watch the line play here. Reggie Bush is now making millions in the pros off of that same play. You can run it off the I formation, the offset I, the split backfield, the wishbone, etc.... Key point here is that it is a misdirection play, and even a slow back can look good if the play is run often enough and practiced enough. I know of a high school team and two pro football teams that won championships running 5 plays (give or take, with wrinkles) all year.

Don't give running backs too much credit or too much crap.

It all depends on the overall scheme of things.

Some coaches don't know how to use speed.

 

[Irishknight1023]

My opinion on Hughes is that while he may be a few .10's of a second slower than the other backs in the Irish stable, he has 10X better field vision than any of them.

Hughes may not have taken that long run to the house during the Stanford game, but the reason he was able to break a long run at all is because he runs to the space better.

Ultimately, all the speed in the world won't do anything for you if you can't get into the open to use that speed. Just ask Michael Bennett.

Just my 2 cents.

----I agree plus Aldridge wasn't looking any faster this year. Hughes breaks a thousand tackles at the line of scrimmage to get those types of runs.

 

[johnnd05]

I agree that he needs some more getaway speed. Hopefully that's something that coaching and training will enable him to improve. He makes me think of Ron Dayne, who really could run away from people in a way that Hughes isn't (yet) able to.

 

[Wham]

He is what he is.
He did what he did.
Don't place your hopes on any one individual.
Don't fault any individual for not living up to perceived inadequacies.
He had a good game.
He had help.

 

[Junkhead]

I think Hughes has the best vision. Aldridge hits the hole harder, and maybe fights for yardage slightly more. Hughes can dance and get positive yards, while Aldridge is mostly north/south. Hughes has a pretty quick first burst, but not much speed, while Aldridge seems to gain speed/ momentum. If it were possible, I'd start Aldridge at TB (if healthy), Hughes at FB (with a good amount of carries every game), and Allen mixed in a Reggie Bush type role.

 

[Wham]

All backs ran north/south this year. Last year's back ran sideways for 6000 yard and gained 1000. He was the only one who touched the ball.