'24 MO RB Aneyas Williams (Notre Dame Signee)

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irishrb

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Luckylucci said:
For me it’s just the eye test. Williams looks noticeably less explosive with the ball in his hands. Said as much in the game day thread.

Dudes were flying around making plays and Williams just looks average. And then he has average production results. I’d be disappointed if the other backs don’t get more opportunities.
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Exactly how I feel....I’m not seeing the first-step burst, decisiveness through the hole, lateral agility, or second-level acceleration you want from an elite college RB. If the hole is there, he gets what is there.. If the hole isn’t there, I’m not seeing him create much on his own...no real jump cut, no sudden change of direction, no consistent ability to turn a 1-yard play into 5. There’s a difference between getting what the blocking gives you and actually making something happen when the blocking breaks down.

Maybe he proves me wrong, and I hope he does. But right now? I’m expecting a legitimate RB-by-committee moving forward. Give me the guy who can consistently hit the hole downhill, force missed tackles, and make the defense account for him every time he touches the ball. Right now, I’m just not seeing that guy.
 
Old Man Mike

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Of all "tests" that have any validity at all, it is my experience that the "eye test" is the poorest to rely upon.
 
NDPhilly

NDPhilly

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Luckylucci said:
For me it’s just the eye test. Williams looks noticeably less explosive with the ball in his hands. Said as much in the game day thread.

Dudes were flying around making plays and Williams just looks average. And then he has average production results. I’d be disappointed if the other backs don’t get more opportunities.
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He’s a very 2nd half BK era player for better or worse. Does all the right things, talented enough to win 10 games and be a productive college player, but never going to be an elite talent / nfl starter.
 
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Krooter

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T-Boone

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He needs to keep chipping away at his game while accepting that he is number 2 the next few weeks. James looks good.
 
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TheProspector

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Wild Bill said:
It's always blown my mind that pass blocking can keep a elite talent off the field. The type fo back that ends up at ND, or any other big time program, almost always has ridiculous physical traits - size, speed, strength, athleticism, or some combination of the 4. It's a requirement for the job. Sure, some are undersized, but that really doesnt even matte - some of the smallest backs have been the best pass blockers, i.e., Kyren Williams

Most of the time, it's really not that difficult of a block. You're not being asked to pass set an edge rusher 1 on 1 and sustain the block on a 5 step drop. Usually, you're stepping up into the pocket and putting a hit on a blitzing LBer or helping out a lineman who gets beat. The pass-pro responsibilities for a back usually aren't that complicated either. Most of the time, you're scanning inside to out and hitting the first guy who comes through the line.

If you're physically capable of carrying the ball at this level and know the offense well enough to run it, you should have zero issues learning to pass block. It's almost always a matter of wanting to do it.

This rant has absolutely nothing to do with the freshman backs on the roster. It's just me screaming into the sky.
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This is categorically false. I have a close family friend who played RB in the NFL who said pass blocking is by far the hardest thing for a back to learn and it often makes some stud backs unplayable. You’re dealing with freak athletes at LB and DL coming downhill at full speed and you need to quickly identify where the free guy is going to come from and have very little time to react.

Blocking for non-OL in general is absurdly hard. It’s why a guy like Durham Smythe has carved out a long NFL career despite having limited utility as a pass catcher.
 
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BigErnMcCracken

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He is a good 3rd down back, but he isn't a feature back. 3rd down should be his niche. James should be RB1 with Walton getting more time and carries. I am also somewhat perplexed as to why we don't use Young more in the RZ and short yardage.
 
RudyVerse

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Walton needs more chances until he provides he doesn’t provide something extra, or is an actual liability in pass pro.

It’s great that James has moved above but to maximize this team Walton needs a chance to also move.
 
MacIrish75

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I sort of like him in the HB role they have Flani/agan playing. Williams is a willing blocker and a good receiver. He’s good in space, but the problem inline is that he can never find any space.
 
Jimmy3Putt

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BigErnMcCracken said:
He is a good 3rd down back, but he isn't a feature back. 3rd down should be his niche. James should be RB1 with Walton getting more time and carries. I am also somewhat perplexed as to why we don't use Young more in the RZ and short yardage.
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This is where I am.
James RB1, Walton RB2, Williams is the third down back to utilize his blocking and receiving, and Young in short yardage.
 
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arrowryan

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tko said:
Man, I forgot about Young last night. I like Williams in the passing game. He excels in that capacity. Can someone give me a wheel route one time?
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This is what doesn’t make sense to me. How is Williams good in the passing game but lacks any sort of speed? IMO, no speed means you can’t be a 3rd down back.
 
BeatSC

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arrowryan said:
This is what doesn’t make sense to me. How is Williams good in the passing game but lacks any sort of speed? IMO, no speed means you can’t be a 3rd down back.
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He’s fast enough and hard to tackle in the open field with good hands.
 
rtrn2glory

rtrn2glory

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RudyVerse said:
Walton needs more chances until he provides he doesn’t provide something extra, or is an actual liability in pass pro.

It’s great that James has moved above but to maximize this team Walton needs a chance to also move.
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He was in two plays yesterday and he proved to me he was a liability in pass pro. He legit passed up a blitzing LB to work to the check down. That is very bad pass pro instincts that need to be corrected before he's on the field with CJ.
 
rtrn2glory

rtrn2glory

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arrowryan said:
This is what doesn’t make sense to me. How is Williams good in the passing game but lacks any sort of speed? IMO, no speed means you can’t be a 3rd down back.
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A lot of times the box is less cluttered on third down so there's less traffic for him to dodge. Also he is much more natural catching the ball and in pass pro then he is running between the tackles. Kinda strange that is the case but
 
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