'15 FL ATH Dexter Williams (Notre Dame Signed NLI)

[IrishLax]

And I think Tony Jones is the same at getting skinny and finding the hole efficiently. He's just less explosive than Dexter, but probably more powerful too. I think the running styles are similar, and I like both over Adams.

My issue with Jones is that he doesn't run away from defenders like Dex. Maybe he'll show improved burst next year with his ankle healthy. But with Dex... once he gets through the line, if a LB doesn't meet him in the hole they are not going to get the angle on him. He has a lot of ability to produce chunk plays... not Bryce Love level, but he's very good at separating in the second level of the defense.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I think we all hope Dex improves in pass pro because he can make some money and he can help us win games next year.

He lacks on thing that likely can't be improved: top end speed

Everything else is on him and I hope he grinds this offseason so he can shine through 2018

 

[koonja]

I think we all hope Dex improves in pass pro because he can make some money and he can help us win games next year.

He lacks on thing that likely can't be improved: top end speed

Everything else is on him and I hope he grinds this offseason so he can shine through 2018

But from a fan's perspective, and especially his, he just did that. All summer reports were how Dexter was going hard, looked like a different back, and he even put on like 15 pounds of muscle I think.

And his pay off is what, 2 carries a game, while averaging ~9 yards a play? No fumbles?

I'm upset as a fan because I think we're a better team if he gets 10 carries. If I were him I'd be downright irate.

 

[snoopdog]

Dex was hurt most of the year.

He went into games, did well and left immediately after coming up lame.

If you must, you can wish that he was healthy all year and BK didn't play because he hates playing good players....it does help with the narrative quite a bit.

 

[koonja]

Dex was hurt most of the year.

He went into games, did well and left immediately after coming up lame.

If you must, you can wish that he was healthy all year and BK didn't play because he hates playing good players....it does help with the narrative quite a bit.

He showed noticeably limp one time that I remember, and it was the quad-game. He took 1-2 snaps the following week, one was for 16 yards then he got benched again.

If anyone was hurting, it was Adams, who was noticeably hurt in what, at least 9 of the 13 games?

 

[RDU Irish]

How many times did Adams bust Wimbush loose with some great blocking? I get (and agree) that Dex is probably a more dynamic runner than Adams but to completely poo-poo any need to be able to remotely get in a defender's way is pretty weak, IMO. Maybe it is only in his DNA to avoid defenders.

Totally agree that it is lazy to keep him off the field b/c he can't do everything. Have seen it in many other positions and Dex is no exception. Put the kid in a position to succeed and add a dimension to your offense. It is college - MOST players are incomplete.

 

[snoopdog]

He showed noticeably limp one time that I remember, and it was the quad-game. He took 1-2 snaps the following week, one was for 16 yards then he got benched again.

If anyone was hurting, it was Adams, who was noticeably hurt in what, at least 9 of the 13 games?

So the point you are making is....BK played a hurt Adams over a healthy Dex....despite the fact everyone knows that Dex is a better RB than Adams when both are healthy or hurt....because BK is stupid and does stuff because he is stupid....and should just hand playing time decisions to someone less stupid.

Did I capture it accurately?

 

[koonja]

So the point you are making is....BK played a hurt Adams over a healthy Dex....despite the fact everyone knows that Dex is a better RB than Adams when both are healthy or hurt....because BK is stupid and does stuff because he is stupid....and should just hand playing time decisions to someone less stupid.

Did I capture it accurately?

I have no idea why BK won't play Dexter. Or why Nyles Morgan literally didn't take a defensive snap 2 years ago.

But I know I, and many others, think Dexter is the better RB. And if you want to talk being hurt, Adams was hurt as much or more than anyone.

And even if you don't think Dexter is a better RB, the drop off from Adams to Dexter would be so small that it's insane to rush Adams 90% of the time, and give Dexter 2 carries a game, when he offers a totally different dynamic than Adams. It keeps Adams healthy, it gives the defense another fresh back to worry about, it gives us a quick back, it helps develop Dexter, etc.

Regardless of who you think is better, running Adams every time is asinine. Unless you have Saquan Barkley out there, backed up by a chump, you don't do what BK did this year.

Urban Meyer and Saban are the two best coaches in the game. How do they distribute carries?

 

[snoopdog]

I have no idea why BK won't play Dexter. Or why Nyles Morgan literally didn't take a defensive snap 2 years ago.

But I know I, and many others, think Dexter is the better RB. And if you want to talk being hurt, Adams was hurt as much or more than anyone.

And even if you don't think Dexter is a better RB, the drop off from Adams to Dexter would be so small that it's insane to rush Adams 90% of the time, and give Dexter 2 carries a game, when he offers a totally different dynamic than Adams. It keeps Adams healthy, it gives the defense another fresh back to worry about, it gives us a quick back, it helps develop Dexter, etc.

Regardless of who you think is better, running Adams every time is asinine. Unless you have Saquan Barkley out there, backed up by a chump, you don't do what BK did this year.

Urban Meyer and Saban are the two best coaches in the game. How do they distribute carries?

Well Adams did have 206 carries, where as Meyer kept Dobbins carries well below that number at 194 carries, so yeah 206 is more than 194

And as for Saban he has FIVE .....5 Star running backs and a running qb who had 148 carries. Trying to manage all those 5 star RB's is admittedly a challenge.

Adams had 36% of ND's total rushes....not 90%...but yeah very close.

 

[Luckylucci]

Dex needs more touches and it's insane that he's not included more. He averaged 9.2 yds/carry.

Certainly happy with the season, but there is room for improvement and some of that is not getting some players more PT.

 

[Irish#1]

Adams is the Joe Schmidt of the offense,

 

[IrishLax]

So the point you are making is....BK played a hurt Adams over a healthy Dex....despite the fact everyone knows that Dex is a better RB than Adams when both are healthy or hurt....because BK is stupid and does stuff because he is stupid....and should just hand playing time decisions to someone less stupid.

Did I capture it accurately?

No, you obviously didn't capture his point accurately at all.

Bottom line is that "injury" is not what kept Dexter Williams from getting more carries. It was a convenient excuse and that's it. We don't know why he gets so few carries... we also don't know why they played an injured Joe Schmidt over Nyles Morgan. We don't know why they moved Matthias Farley from FS for a worse player. We don't know why they played John Goodman at PR (or Finke over Sanders this year despite Finke being awful AND making more mistakes fielding the ball than Sanders ever did). Need I go on? And this isn't unique to Notre Dame. Coaches on every team at every level in every sport can make poor personnel decisions.

I've been on multiple teams where the more talented player sat for a less talent guy because [insert reason]... and far more common is the situation where a coach can't decide how to split up time among multiple really good players. Maybe the best example of this was USC under Pete Carroll with his linebackers and how Clay Matthews -- future All-Pro -- sat on the bench until an injury gave him an opportunity.

It's completely reasonable to question why Dexter Williams finished the year with less carries than 3 other RBs despite producing an eye popping 9.2 (!!!!!) yards per carry and a TD 1 out of every 10 carries. And, again, him being "injured" only applies to a couple weeks not 75%+ of the season. It certainly doesn't apply to the last four weeks of the season when the offense has been in the toilet and Adams was playing awful. It also didn't apply to Week 2 against Georgia where Adams' lack of burst at the LOS made him a poor fit for how Georgia was defending ND. He's been healthy enough to play at a high level, ask anyone who has been at practice.

 

[stlnd01]

Dex has two years of eligibility remaining, yes? Given the way our RB1s tend to get worn down (Adams, Prosise in ‘15), we may be thankful come 2019 that Dex didn’t get more carries this year.

Looking for silver linings from an oddly-wasted year for him.

No idea why Jones gets so many more reps than Dex, and Dex wasn’t used more as a change of pace from Adams. But he did almost get Book killed yesterday. And we know pass pro matters for BK running backs. Remember when Cam McDaniel was playing over Folston and Bryant?
That said if Dex can learn to block just a little I can see a great platoon next year with him and Tony Jones.

 

[NDRock]

Dex has two years of eligibility remaining, yes?

No. Next year will be his last.

 

[BeatSC]

Not sure what the numbers were but injury or not having one of the best line in CFB in front of him Adams looked like our worst RB the last 3-4 games. HE was the benefactor of great line play early on which suited his particular running style. He has not been good at making something out of nothing or just blasting ahead at full speed when that has been needed like Dex does. I'm sorry but if the only way to get more Dexter is for Josh to go pro then I say go get a few bucks from mom and come back and finish your degree as soon as your career fizzles out. I do appreciate some of your good work but I also acknowledge that Dex if healthy could have put up those numbers plus some. Yes Dex needs to work on his blocking just like Theo Riddick did with Mantii Teo in the off season.

 

[BeatSC]

No. Next year will be his last.

That stinks, hope he gets the rock plenty next year. If not it will be another talent wasted which should send a message to recruits considering to come here at skill positions. Many are left unfulfilled like no other program.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

The coaches won't have the luxury of using Adams behind a dominant left side. This will force Dex into the rotation more if we hope to keep Adams 90%+ through the entire season.

 

[NDty9]

Hahaha, phew, Im glad you all confirmed i wasn't alone with my opinion!!!

 

[snoopdog]

No, you obviously didn't capture his point accurately at all.

Bottom line is that "injury" is not what kept Dexter Williams from getting more carries. It was a convenient excuse and that's it. We don't know why he gets so few carries... we also don't know why they played an injured Joe Schmidt over Nyles Morgan. We don't know why they moved Matthias Farley from FS for a worse player. We don't know why they played John Goodman at PR (or Finke over Sanders this year despite Finke being awful AND making more mistakes fielding the ball than Sanders ever did). Need I go on? And this isn't unique to Notre Dame. Coaches on every team at every level in every sport can make poor personnel decisions.

I've been on multiple teams where the more talented player sat for a less talent guy because [insert reason]... and far more common is the situation where a coach can't decide how to split up time among multiple really good players. Maybe the best example of this was USC under Pete Carroll with his linebackers and how Clay Matthews -- future All-Pro -- sat on the bench until an injury gave him an opportunity.

It's completely reasonable to question why Dexter Williams finished the year with less carries than 3 other RBs despite producing an eye popping 9.2 (!!!!!) yards per carry and a TD 1 out of every 10 carries. And, again, him being "injured" only applies to a couple weeks not 75%+ of the season. It certainly doesn't apply to the last four weeks of the season when the offense has been in the toilet and Adams was playing awful. It also didn't apply to Week 2 against Georgia where Adams' lack of burst at the LOS made him a poor fit for how Georgia was defending ND. He's been healthy enough to play at a high level, ask anyone who has been at practice.

We do know why Schmidt played over Morgan

BVG's idiotic defence needed an on field play caller to set the players into place and Morgan couldn't grasp it well enough to make the accurate on field calls.

Obviously a completely retarded decision by all the coaches involved....but whatever.

As to Dex, he was apart of the Redfield 5 and started the year in all likelihood behind the 8 ball, getting fewer carries than normal but performing well. Then he ended up banged up. First he had the ankle sprain and then suffered the quad/hamstring injury. He played sparingly from that point on.

 

[stlnd01]

As to Dex, he was apart of the Redfield 5 and started the year in all likelihood behind the 8 ball, getting fewer carries than normal but performing well. Then he ended up banged up. First he had the ankle sprain and then suffered the quad/hamstring injury. He played sparingly from that point on.

The Redfield 5 was at the start of LAST season though. Membership in that club never seemed to hurt Coney, and Dex was probably out of the doghouse by the time in mid 2016 when BK basically called him the only guy on the team who was playing like he gave a damn.
The guy has certainly been banged up, and seems to struggle with pass protection, but he has to get on the field more next year.

 

[snoopdog]

The Redfield 5 was at the start of LAST season though. Membership in that club never seemed to hurt Coney, and Dex was probably out of the doghouse by the time in mid 2016 when BK basically called him the only guy on the team who was playing like he gave a damn.
The guy has certainly been banged up, and seems to struggle with pass protection, but he has to get on the field more next year.

absolutely 100% agree.

 

[Shamrock Theories]

All I have to say is

 

[Irishize]

Per Pete Sampson

Dexter Williams finished one carry short of the minimum to qualify among the national list of rushing leaders (4.0 carries per game).

If Williams did qualify, his 9.2 yards per carry would have led the nation among running backs.

 

[ThePiombino]

Per Pete Sampson

Dexter Williams finished one carry short of the minimum to qualify among the national list of rushing leaders (4.0 carries per game).

If Williams did qualify, his 9.2 yards per carry would have led the nation among running backs.

lol unreal

 

[koonja]

Per Pete Sampson

Dexter Williams finished one carry short of the minimum to qualify among the national list of rushing leaders (4.0 carries per game).

If Williams did qualify, his 9.2 yards per carry would have led the nation among running backs.

What a coaching joke that is. Unfucking real.

 

[calvegas04]

should have played him more, but then teams would know we will be running based on his poor pass blocking

 

[IrishLax]

Per Pete Sampson

Dexter Williams finished one carry short of the minimum to qualify among the national list of rushing leaders (4.0 carries per game).

If Williams did qualify, his 9.2 yards per carry would have led the nation among running backs.

That's crazy.

 

[BoredIrish]

Per Pete Sampson

Dexter Williams finished one carry short of the minimum to qualify among the national list of rushing leaders (4.0 carries per game).

If Williams did qualify, his 9.2 yards per carry would have led the nation among running backs.

Even worse than being 1 carry short is the fact that all it takes to qualify is 4 carries per game... and the #2 RB didnt even get that???

I'll bet Tommy Rees got 4 carries alot of games when he played.

 

[Irish#1]

Per Pete Sampson

Dexter Williams finished one carry short of the minimum to qualify among the national list of rushing leaders (4.0 carries per game).

If Williams did qualify, his 9.2 yards per carry would have led the nation among running backs.

lol unreal

What a coaching joke that is. Unfucking real.

That's crazy.

Even worse than being 1 carry short is the fact that all it takes to qualify is 4 carries per game... and the #2 RB didnt even get that???

I'll bet Tommy Rees got 4 carries alot of games when he played.

You're worked up about nothing. No one should qualify at four carries. You can't get a realistic idea of a players ability on four carries. Minimum should be ten carries a game. I'm not knocking DW because I would like to see him more, but it seems to me everyone thinks he would be be averaging 10 or more YPC if he played all the time. Keep in mind that if he played more his average is probably going to drop due to teams adjusting to him, him needing to be spelled, DW not getting as mentally amped up to run the ball because his playing time is more norm that not, etc.

What's the old saying? The 2nd string QB is always the most popular guy on the team among fans.

 

[IrishLax]

You're worked up about nothing. No one should qualify at four carries. You can't get a realistic idea of a players ability on four carries. Minimum should be ten carries a game. I'm not knocking DW because I would like to see him more, but it seems to me everyone thinks he would be be averaging 10 or more YPC if he played all the time. Keep in mind that if he played more his average is probably going to drop due to teams adjusting to him, him needing to be spelled, DW not getting as mentally amped up to run the ball because his playing time is more norm that not, etc.

What's the old saying? The 2nd string QB is always the most popular guy on the team among fans.

Literally no one thinks that. What everyone does think is that if he's routinely explosive and productive at ELITE levels with a handful of carries a game then it's logical to give him more carries. No one thinks that his production is going to stay at 9+ YPC having to do the "dirty work" also.