Who do u want starting in our backfield??

[NDFan537]

Strange thread I'll tell you that. Nutereddoomer is actually making sense in three posts and talking about boobies at that. Wow never thought I would see the day.........

That being said I am not a huge fan of AA. I was surprised when I myself read the stat about him having the highest ypc. I would say 4.4 is pretty good. That is first downs if he carries every down. One thing I would like to see more of out of him is his explosiveness. He just seems to lolly gag a little, or something. I think that Hughes might have just been buried in the depth chart and a little contact shy. The main problem with all of them was the O-line. If that doesn't improve we will be FUCCCCCCCKKKed. That's the bottom line.

I can only hope that AA is as good as Charlie believes in the depths of his soul. Go Irish!!!

P.S. Mute point with Jimmy and the receivers we will put on the field the running game wont matter. The line still must be better for that to work.

 

[WabashFalcon]

If it helps... AA is pretty damn good in NCAA 2009...

 

[JeremyND07]

I agree that Jonas Gray is the best all around RB on our team and has better break it for a TD every carry potential. The big question is who transfers after falling down the depth chart?

 

[Riddickulous]

I agree that Jonas Gray is the best all around RB on our team and has better break it for a TD every carry potential. The big question is who transfers after falling down the depth chart?

No one.

 

[ACamp1900]

I have said for two years now that the only RB we have who plays to his ability as far as my scouts/coaches eye tells me is JA... he should be the every day back and a move to FB (obviously Luke's health makes this harder) would be a waste under normal circumstance...

I have never bought in to AA or RH... both pretty big disappointments to me, O line or no O line... RH seems to have zero push for a back his size and Allen seems to have zero burst even in the rare times he DOES have a big hole...

but who knows maybe Wood or one of the younger guns will settle the whole thing in spring (here's hoping anyway)

 

[Riddickulous]

I have said for two years now that the only RB we have who plays to his ability as far as my scouts/coaches eye tells me is JA... he should be the every day back and a move to FB (obviously Luke's health makes this harder) would be a waste under normal circumstance...

I have never bought in to AA or RH... both pretty big disappointments to me, O line or no O line... RH seems to have zero push for a back his size and Allen seems to have zero burst even in the rare times he DOES have a big hole...

but who knows maybe Wood or one of the younger guns will settle the whole thing in spring (here's hoping anyway)

Wood isn't going to be on campus until the summer. I expect that was a typo.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I have said for two years now that the only RB we have who plays to his ability as far as my scouts/coaches eye tells me is JA... he should be the every day back and a move to FB (obviously Luke's health makes this harder) would be a waste under normal circumstance...

I have never bought in to AA or RH... both pretty big disappointments to me, O line or no O line... RH seems to have zero push for a back his size and Allen seems to have zero burst even in the rare times he DOES have a big hole...

but who knows maybe Wood or one of the younger guns will settle the whole thing in spring (here's hoping anyway)

Yup, you get an 'A' for consistency. You have said that he's the top back for a while now. I have disagreed, but then again my guy (Hughes) took about 1000 steps backward this year.

Aldridge, IMO, is not the type of runner to flourish behind a mediocre line. Some guys can do it, most can't. And Aldridge needs a crease so that guys come at him from angles, so he can make them bounce off him with his power. But dude's are hitting him straight up before he can even try to make them miss; or CW has him run a friggin' slow-developing sweep in which he's caught 2 yards deep every time (those plays to him and Hughes KILL me).

And Acamp, I'll defer to the coaches here. Yeah, CW has a hard-on for AA, but a brand new RB coach came in and said that there was a distinct difference between AA, RH, and the rest. Aldridge as a fullback might be the best thing that's happened for his career if he can block. Dude has talent, and he can be mismatch for LB's if he's a good as you've been saying. And he gets HUUUUGE props for his attitude. Like I said in an earlier post, attitude-wise he's everything we want an ND player to be and more...

 

[WabashFalcon]

Yup, you get an 'A' for consistency. You have said that he's the top back for a while now. I have disagreed, but then again my guy (Hughes) took about 1000 steps backward this year.

Aldridge, IMO, is not the type of runner to flourish behind a mediocre line. Some guys can do it, most can't. And Aldridge needs a crease so that guys come at him from angles, so he can make them bounce off him with his power. But dude's are hitting him straight up before he can even try to make them miss; or CW has him run a friggin' slow-developing sweep in which he's caught 2 yards deep every time (those plays to him and Hughes KILL me).

And Acamp, I'll defer to the coaches here. Yeah, CW has a hard-on for AA, but a brand new RB coach came in and said that there was a distinct difference between AA, RH, and the rest. Aldridge as a fullback might be the best thing that's happened for his career if he can block. Dude has talent, and he can be mismatch for LB's if he's a good as you've been saying. And he gets HUUUUGE props for his attitude. Like I said in an earlier post, attitude-wise he's everything we want an ND player to be and more...

When JA was at Merriville, he had a stacked oline. (Including a center who actually came to Wabash and played with me). Merriville went deep in the playoffs his Sr. year and did work. If that helps/hinders his cause, I only put it out there as an observation.

 

[chyrspchuck]

I agree that Jonas Gray is the best all around RB on our team and has better break it for a TD every carry potential. The big question is who transfers after falling down the depth chart?

no one thinks jonas will transfer after he see's cierre take his spot in the fall....? just saying i could see it happen.

 

[JeremyND07]

Someone will drop to the bottom of the depth chart that thinks they deserve more touches. If CW finds a way to keep all of these backs happy I will be VERY impressed!

 

[NDinL.A.]

From CW's presser yesterday, regarding Jonas Gray:

How does Jonas Gray look so far?

“He looks like a guy who hasn’t had a lot of experience, but he looks as talented a runner as the other guys. He had a bunch of yards rushing the other day but then he had a couple of big miscues as well. So like I said to him after the game, ‘In a scrimmage I can put you back in after miscues, but if it was a game and there’s 80,000 people there, you’d be hanging out on the bench right over there with me.’ So I think he is going through some growing pains but the kid, when he has the ball in his hands, is a very dangerous runner.”

 

[NDinL.A.]

From CW's presser yesterday, regarding Robert Hughes:

Is Robert Hughes’ weight a concern and do you want him to lose weight?

“Well, I mean he has two choices, either lose weight or play big. He wants to be Armando (Allen) as far as how he runs the ball. If he wants to be Jerome Bettis, he doesn’t have to lose any weight. So it all depends upon the style he likes to run. He will run them over but he likes to make them miss, and if you are going to do that, dropping a few pounds is always a good thing when you are a big guy.”


Which way do you want him?

“I want either/or. If he is going to be big, I expect that style to play big. I’m comfortable with either one, but if you want to play the style of making them miss, then you are better off being a little bit lighter.”

 

[Clausen2Kamara]

Last season Hughes def ran a lot more like AA. I agree he should shed some pounds if he wants to run like that and not use his power. If he does that effectively than he could become our best all around RB. From what I heard though is that AA is our legit #1.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

NDinL.A., I hope we don't lose you for too long after you marry her. Keep the honeymoon short.

Geez. It gets sore after awhile.

I think Armando Allen is magic.

 

[chyrspchuck]

NDinL.A., I hope we don't lose you for too long after you marry her. Keep the honeymoon short.

Geez. It gets sore after awhile.

I think Armando Allen is magic.

i agree whole heartedly with neutered doomer. you only have 1 nd message board you could have lots of wives in your life here on earth....

 

[z_iRISH_z]

I think Allen should start but I wanna see Cierre Wood get some action this season.

 

[IRISHFBFAN1]

Armondo is the man, I think he will have a great season. So many ways he can help us, and like many have said, get the ball to him in space, thats when he is at his best. We will be fine with him there. Love Aldridge at fb, Like to see a healthy Robert Hughes giving AA a break as well as J. Gray

 

[IRISHFBFAN1]

I cant wait to see C Wood in action!

 

[Riddickulous]

I cant wait to see C Wood in action!

If Cierre sees any playing time at all, it will be on special teams. That's where you'll get to see him.