'13 FL RB Tarean Folston (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[woolybug25]

We also had a dominant defense if you are talking '12.

A defense that by design stayed on the field for long periods of time. If our defense is good this season, it probably wont be that brand. We should see a our offense on the field a lot more than we did in '12.

 

[NDdomer2]

We also had a dominant defense if you are talking '12.

I still expect to see the 50/50 mix because of a couple things.

Our defense should be closer to '12s than '14s (not saying as good just closer)

Our QB is more of a ball carrier than the combo of Fr. Golson/Tommy.

I really hope we go 50/50. We put a bleeding D on the field way too much this year. Our D is still pretty young why not help them by having them on the sideline methodically moving down the field.

Maybe, it's just wishful thinking on my part...

 

[Cackalacky]

I still expect to see the 50/50 mix because of a couple things.

Our defense should be closer to '12s than '14s (not saying as good just closer)

Our QB is more of a ball carrier than the combo of Fr. Golson/Tommy.

I really hope we go 50/50. We put a bleeding D on the field way too much this year. Our D is still pretty young why not help them by having them on the sideline methodically moving down the field.

Maybe, it's just wishful thinking on my part...

We'll see. My confidence in BVG is low. I hope he can re-capture his defense like we played against SCUM last year. I am not sure. That's just me and it will be included in any arguments moving forward until he shows me otherwise.

 

[woolybug25]

We'll see. My confidence in BVG is low. I hope he can re-capture his defense like we played against SCUM last year. I am not sure. That's just me and it will be included in any arguments moving forward until he shows me otherwise.

I would say that if that is part of the argument, it should be acknowledged that he was playing with a makeshift roster when the defense tanked. We had our middle LB, who called the plays, get injured for the season. We lost Jones, Day, Tranquill, Baratti and even Riggs for a period. We had such a bad depth/health issue that we once had a defensive tackle line up as linebacker.

I'm just saying that with the limited amount of time we got to see BVG, we only got a couple games with a real roster. In those games we looked great. It's just too early to be down on BVG yet, imo.

 

[Cackalacky]

I would say that if that is part of the argument, it should be acknowledged that he was playing with a makeshift roster when the defense tanked. We had our middle LB, who called the plays, get injured for the season. We lost Jones, Day, Tranquill, Baratti and even Riggs for a period. We had such a bad depth/health issue that we once had a defensive tackle line up as linebacker.

I'm just saying that with the limited amount of time we got to see BVG, we only got a couple games with a real roster. In those games we looked great. It's just too early to be down on BVG yet, imo.

Eh...I acknowledge it but injuries will always be an issue for any team and ND's depth is always a problem. Plus I am not basing it off just last season but his previous forays in CFB as a DC.

 

[NDdomer2]

Like was said before, he had 600 yards last year in a pass-happy offense while sharing the load with two other runningbacks.

He averaged 14 carries a game last season. Bryant is out the first 4 games and we have an OC that has had a 100 yard back every season he has been in charge of the running game (Boise, Stanford, Stanford). I guess I just don't see it as a stretch.

But I certainly understand the trepidation.

It may be more of me just NOT wanting him to take that beating all season, and hoping Kelly and Co don't want that beating on him either.

And don't come telling me you told me so if Folston breaks a couple long ones against UMASS

 

[woolybug25]

Eh...I acknowledge it but injuries will always be an issue for any team and ND's depth is always a problem. Plus I am not basing it off just last season but his previous forays in CFB as a DC.

He's been pretty darned good as a DC in other places. Hell, he won the Broyles Award in '03.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a comparative example of a defense with our level of injuries who found success.

 

[NDdomer2]

He's been pretty darned good as a DC in other places. Hell, he won the Broyles Award in '03.

I think you would be hard pressed to find a comparative example of a defense with our level of injuries who found success.

The one thing, injuries or not, that the D needs to improve on is not relying on sub packages. They are nice when we have a lead and force a team into passing situations, but I would rather have 11 guys we can throw out there and say, "beat us, dare you," no matter what style offense we play.

I do expect much more from our defense this year (very optimistic) and our offense helping them out as well.

 

[EuropeanDomer22]

One of the most advanced running backs i have seen in quite some time, he runs like a pro since his first season. He could be in the NFL right now easily. He is not an special talent though, but i think he will be a 2nd or 3rd rounder in the next draft. He will leave 99% imo, it just does not make a lot of sense to come back if he has a good season, he has nothing to improve, like Kelly said, he does everything right.

 

[ACamp1900]

Especially with the way RBs are viewed by the league now, if your goal is to make a dollar and a cent as a RB, you'd better get the ball rolling asap. That's one position that is diffficult to fault for jumping early

 

[GowerND11]

What do you mean by "take it to the house"? He found the endzone 6 times last season and showed breakaway ability against BYU his freshman year when he busted a 43 yard TD. I guess I don't know what you mean when you say he "can't take it to the house".

Agreed. We saw Jonas Gray break away against Pitt and I'm confident that Folston can outrun him. Folston doesn't need to be a homerun threat all the time (that was the problem with GAIV), he just needs to be patient, find the hole, and pick up the 4-5-6-7 yards needed on a given down. That is what leads to the break away runs.

 

[irishfan]

Agreed. We saw Jonas Gray break away against Pitt and I'm confident that Folston can outrun him. Folston doesn't need to be a homerun threat all the time (that was the problem with GAIV), he just needs to be patient, find the hole, and pick up the 4-5-6-7 yards needed on a given down. That is what leads to the break away runs.

I completely disagree, I think Gray has way more straight-line speed than Folston. I think they look very similar with how they bounce things to the outside, but I can't imagine Folston replicating this run any time soon:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/58GhK358UUQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Agreed. We saw Jonas Gray break away against Pitt and I'm confident that Folston can outrun him. Folston doesn't need to be a homerun threat all the time (that was the problem with GAIV), he just needs to be patient, find the hole, and pick up the 4-5-6-7 yards needed on a given down. That is what leads to the break away runs.

Jonas Gray was one of the faster players we've had on this team in years. He was faster than Cierre and Cierre ran a 4.5. Folston isn't slow by any means but he just doesn't have elite breakaway speed. He has just about everything else in spades, including vision, balance, can make defenders miss, and is more than willing to drop his shoulder when need be.

It's amazing how quietly he's become the feature back

 

[EuropeanDomer22]

I completely disagree, I think Gray has way more straight-line speed than Folston. I think they look very similar with how they bounce things to the outside, but I can't imagine Folston replicating this run any time soon:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/58GhK358UUQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Problem is, in my opinion, Gray carries his weight better, has a better and more muscular frame. Folston does not look very natural at 215, he has not any type of muscular definition at that weight. Folston will lose some weight for the 40 yard dash at the combine, that´s for sure.

 

[Wild Bill]

Problem is, in my opinion, Gray carries his weight better, has a better and more muscular frame. Folston does not look very natural at 215, he has not any type of muscular definition at that weight. Folston will lose some weight for the 40 yard dash at the combine, that´s for sure.

He's not carved out of stone like Bryant but he's certainly well built and muscular for a 20 year old.

Some delts and biceps for ya.

A little calf and some thick thighs dragging a defender.

 

[woolybug25]

Problem is, in my opinion, Gray carries his weight better, has a better and more muscular frame. Folston does not look very natural at 215, he has not any type of muscular definition at that weight. Folston will lose some weight for the 40 yard dash at the combine, that´s for sure.

wut?

 

[EuropeanDomer22]

I mean, when i talk about muscular definition i am talking about fat body % specially, obviously he is a strong dude. Main problem with Folston is that he is not fast in a straight line and never will be, but i think he would be faster if he drops some weight, just a few lbs. There are guys who will never be fast in a straight line and i think Folston and Cole Luke, two really great players, are an example.

 

[EuropeanDomer22]

wut?

Jonas Gray is at 230 and is like a bodybuilder, his Body fat percentage must be ridiculous. It's like a heavier Greg Bryant. Tarean Folston at 215 does not look that natural, and sure he will drop weight for the combine in order to gain speed.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Agreed. We saw Jonas Gray break away against Pitt and I'm confident that Folston can outrun him. Folston doesn't need to be a homerun threat all the time (that was the problem with GAIV), he just needs to be patient, find the hole, and pick up the 4-5-6-7 yards needed on a given down. That is what leads to the break away runs.

He most certainly could not outrun Jonas Gray. He had excellent top end speed. Jonas' biggest problem was inability to run through contact. He was a tank but went down far too easily at the beginning of his career. I still hate thinking about his injury, he was starting to really turn it on at the end.

 

[Wild Bill]

I mean, when i talk about muscular definition i am talking about fat body % specially, obviously he is a strong dude. Main problem with Folston is that he is not fast in a straight line and never will be, but i think he would be faster if he drops some weight, just a few lbs. There are guys who will never be fast in a straight line and i think Folston and Cole Luke, two really great players, are an example.

Body composition.

 

[ulukinatme]

I'd rather not make Folston comparisons to Jonas. That career was very up and down (Or down, down, down, then starting down again before finishing very well prior to the ACL tear). Poor guy had the injury bug at times and issues holding onto the ball.

 

[wizards8507]

It's getting a bit Koonja up in here.

 

[irishfan]

Jonas Gray is at 230 and is like a bodybuilder, his Body fat percentage must be ridiculous. It's like a heavier Greg Bryant. Tarean Folston at 215 does not look that natural, and sure he will drop weight for the combine in order to gain speed.

Jonas Gray has some obscure nickname that Patriots teammates gave him that I'm forgetting right now, but it's a reference to how jacked he is. Gray is just a beast. It's cool he's on the Patriots, but I think he could be a force for a team that puts more emphasis on the running game. I'd love to see him as Lynch's #2 in Seattle.

 

[NDBoiler]

Jonas Gray has some obscure nickname that Patriots teammates gave him that I'm forgetting right now, but it's a reference to how jacked he is. Gray is just a beast. It's not cool that he's on the Patriots, but I think he could be a force for a team that puts more emphasis on the running game. I'd love to see him as Lynch's #2 in Seattle.

FIFY

 

[kmoose]

Last year we actually rushed more than we passed believe it or not though it was very close to 50/50. In '12 we rushed 56% of the time. Each of BKs other years here we passed more than rushed though it is still about 52-55%.

In 2014, ND rushed the ball 484 times, to 463 pass attempts.

In 2013, ND rushed the ball 440 times, to 429 pass attempts.

Actually, he has run more than passed in 3 of his 5 seasons at ND.

 

[nsisk157]

In 2014, ND rushed the ball 484 times, to 463 pass attempts.

In 2013, ND rushed the ball 440 times, to 429 pass attempts.

Actually, he has run more than passed in 3 of his 5 seasons at ND.

Not trying to be dicky, but approx how many rush attempts were QB scrambles after a play breakdown?

With Rees at the helm for one year, maybe not as many as I am thinking.

 

[NDdomer2]

Not trying to be dicky, but approx how many rush attempts were QB scrambles after a play breakdown?

With Rees at the helm for one year, maybe not as many as I am thinking.

This. When I say 50/50 I'm taking about play call not play result

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

In 2014, ND rushed the ball 484 times, to 463 pass attempts.

In 2013, ND rushed the ball 440 times, to 429 pass attempts.

Actually, he has run more than passed in 3 of his 5 seasons at ND.

There was an article posted about national champions over the last 5-10 years and the only team that made it to the NCG and ran less than 58ish percent was USC, if I'm remembering correctly. My point being, it's not good enough in my mind to be at 54 or 55% rushing, We need to have that extra 4ish percent unless Kelly can prove he's such a genius that he can chuck it 45-48% of the time and still make it to the playoffs.

Can anyone dig that article out of da webz?

 

[Bluto]

In 2014, ND rushed the ball 484 times, to 463 pass attempts.

In 2013, ND rushed the ball 440 times, to 429 pass attempts.

Actually, he has run more than passed in 3 of his 5 seasons at ND.

On the latest Power Hour on ISD they alluded to the fact that Golson checked into passes at the line of scrimmage when he should not have quite a bit last season.

 

[Junkhead]

On the latest Power Hour on ISD they alluded to the fact that Golson checked into passes at the line of scrimmage when he should not have quite a bit last season.

He was trying to pad his stats to get noticed by FSU