'15 PA RB Josh Adams (Notre Dame Signed NLI)

[arrowryan]

With the coaching addition of Chip Long and the larger emphasis on 2 tight end sets, I think Josh is a guy that could greatly benefit from that. I know Dex and Jones are guys that deserve carries, but I'd still like to see Josh get 15-20 carries a game. For a guy that could reach 3,000 yards rushing in just 3 seasons, we don't talk about how good this kid is. His catching skills aren't bad either.

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[Domina Nostra]

With the coaching addition of Chip Long and the larger emphasis on 2 tight end sets, I think Josh is a guy that could greatly benefit from that. I know Dex and Jones are guys that deserve carries, but I'd still like to see Josh get 15-20 carries a game. For a guy that could reach 3,000 yards rushing in just 3 seasons, we don't talk about how good this kid is. His catching skills aren't bad either.

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He's the most under-appreciated player we've had since I can remember.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I don't want to do it (too lazy) but during the Blue.Gold game there were several times on the first team offense where it looked like the OLine did what was expected but the RB was confused about his blocking assignment, or whether he had one at all. Maybe someone knows off the top of their head which RB might have been blowing blocking assignments --- we all know how crucially that is rated in this offense. (as it, in my opinion, should be.)

 

[Valpodoc85]

I don't want to do it (too lazy) but during the Blue.Gold game there were several times on the first team offense where it looked like the OLine did what was expected but the RB was confused about his blocking assignment, or whether he had one at all. Maybe someone knows off the top of their head which RB might have been blowing blocking assignments --- we all know how crucially that is rated in this offense. (as it, in my opinion, should be.)

Is that the RB not knowing the assignment or Elko?

 

[IrishLion]

Is that the RB not knowing the assignment or Elko?

Probably a bit of both, along with some offensive limitations put in place for the B&G Game that have been "theorized."

It has been said in several places that the offense/Wimbush were intentionally failing to adjust protections and account for pressure, which lead to several instances of rushers coming free. Supposedly, that was by design, as they just wanted Wimbush to call-it-and-haul-it, rather than taking the time to change protections. They can still move fast with the proper protections calls, but they didn't want to worry about that yet (again, "supposedly").

I don't know if I buy that. But I hope it's the case, because our OL and RB's missed some assignments that would be bad news in game situations.

There were also some instances where letting someone come free really WILL be by design once we hit the season, as that will result in a clear read for Wimbush on an option/read of some sort. It just won't be nearly as often as we saw in the Spring game.

 

[Domina Nostra]

ISD's Mike Frank is continuing to describe Adams as a steady-Eddy, and pointing towards Tony Jones as the best RB.

I'm not sure about Jones yet, but the description of Adams is just inaccurate, IMO. He scored on his first ever possession, set many of the school freshman RB records as a freshman, had many long runs, including a school record 98 yard run, and ran all over Stanford and USC when he was healthy. He looked a lot like Procise, when Procise was not in, in 2015

Who have we had lately that has been more productive or that you'd rather have? Jonas Gray as a Senior? Procise? and Cierre Wood as a Sophmore or Junior (can't remember which year)?

Last year he was "steady, solid and dependable" because he was playing hurt,. When he was finally healed up, he was back to his old ways.

I think a better description of him is:

"A kid who doesn't look like a typical bowling-ball RB, but will really surprise you in almost every aspect of his game when he's healthy and getting touches."

That's my hope. There are situations where we would want to keep pounding them with a big back and times where we have already wore them down and can bring the lightning with Dex. Having the three of them is an awesome luxury. I just hope that we get the opportunity to take advantage of it.

With that depth. We should be running the ball close to 60% of the time.

My thing would be to play Dex as the lightening to BOTH Adams and Jones. Adams would be the feature back, but Jones would spell him, have some power packages, and come in whenever we have a solid lead.

 

[IrishLion]

My thing would be to play Dex as the lightening to BOTH Adams and Jones. Adams would be the feature back, but Jones would spell him, have some power packages, and come in whenever we have a solid lead.

He'd be playing the role that GAIII played behind Riddick/Wood.

BK has handled three RB's previously, I've got faith it will happen again (and correctly) in an offense that should run the ball more often than it did in '12.

 

[Domina Nostra]

He'd be playing the role that GAIII played behind Riddick/Wood.

BK has handled three RB's previously, I've got faith it will happen again (and correctly) in an offense that should run the ball more often than it did in '12.

Exactly.

 

[Luckylucci]

ISD's Mike Frank is continuing to describe Adams as a steady-Eddy, and pointing towards Tony Jones as the best RB.

I'm not sure about Jones yet, but the description of Adams is just inaccurate, IMO. He scored on his first ever possession, set many of the school freshman RB records as a freshman, had many long runs, including a school record 98 yard run, and ran all over Stanford and USC when he was healthy. He looked a lot like Procise, when Procise was not in, in 2015

Who have we had lately that has been more productive or that you'd rather have? Jonas Gray as a Senior? Procise? and Cierre Wood as a Sophmore or Junior (can't remember which year)?

Last year he was "steady, solid and dependable" because he was playing hurt,. When he was finally healed up, he was back to his old ways.

I think a better description of him is:

"A kid who doesn't look like a typical bowling-ball RB, but will really surprise you in almost every aspect of his game when he's healthy and getting touches."



My thing would be to play Dex as the lightening to BOTH Adams and Jones. Adams would be the feature back, but Jones would spell him, have some power packages, and come in whenever we have a solid lead.

I agree, that is not how I'd described him but I think the point he's trying to make is he's not the most complete RB on the roster. Adams has had issues running inside, in fact, I'd make the argument that he was a fairly significant part of why we struggled so much in short yardage, last season. He got better as the season went on, but I think that could be why he's saying it, but using a terrible analogy to do so. Not Mike Frank, so who knows.

 

[Rocket89]

Josh Adams has the 2nd and 3rd best run success rate seasons in the Kelly era for qualifying running backs. He was also successful on 16 of 22 of his 3rd/4th down carries last year. There's a case to be made he's the most underrated player, relative to his production, in many years at ND.

Given how the top back has been treated in the past I'd say there's virtually no chance Jones passes Adams, barring injury.

There's also a huge misconception about our short-yardage game which is actually fine. What we've really sucked at is explosiveness on the ground something Jones is unlikely to help with all that much. Adams pretty much stands alone as the most explosive.

 

[calvegas04]

I think part of the reason he or any RB wasn't making runs up the middle last year was the OL not getting any push

 

[Wingman Ray]

I think part of the reason he or any RB wasn't making runs up the middle last year was the OL not getting any push

Which blows my mind. How do you have an OL like ND and not be able to get push against the teams ND played against last year? I mean, how do you have guys going pro and they cant move the line vs subpar college football teams?

 

[Valpodoc85]

Which blows my mind. How do you have an OL like ND and not be able to get push against the teams ND played against last year? I mean, how do you have guys going pro and they cant move the line vs subpar college football teams?

Teams were loading the box with no deep threat. Hard to get a good push when you don't have numbers. This year will be different.

 

[Shamrock Theories]

Teams were loading the box with no deep threat. Hard to get a good push when you don't have numbers. This year will be different.

I mean...EQ and Sterpherson were pretty good deep threats. Not Fuller but nobody is

Josh averaged 5.9 YPC last year...

Tarean was a shadow of himself, averaging only 4.3 on 77 carries

 

[Crazy Balki]

Which blows my mind. How do you have an OL like ND and not be able to get push against the teams ND played against last year? I mean, how do you have guys going pro and they cant move the line vs subpar college football teams?

It's not that surprising given how undersized they were.

Outside of Nelson and Bars, I'll bet that every other starter on that unit weighed in at no more than 290. That is utterly ridiculous. S&C played a major part in our inconsistencies up front.

All I'll say is that McGlinchey better be 315, at least, Mustipher 300+ and Kraemer at least 315 as well. No reason for them to be that undersized. Inexcusable.

 

[calvegas04]

It's not that surprising given how undersized they were.

Outside of Nelson and Bars, I'll bet that every other starter on that unit weighed in at no more than 290. That is utterly ridiculous. S&C played a major part in our inconsistencies up front.

All I'll say is that McGlinchey better be 315, at least, Mustipher 300+ and Kraemer at least 315 as well. No reason for them to be that undersized. Inexcusable.

HH should have had them ready as well as S&C

 

[Crazy Balki]

HH should have had them ready as well as S&C

I put very little blame on HH. He's gotta have big uglies who are...y'know BIG. If an offensive lineman isn't developed strength-wise, he's not going to be effective in run blocking. No amount of coaching is going to mask deficiencies in the weight room. I also think the scheme did him no favors by putting the offense in many 2nd and 3rd and long situations, which puts more pressure on them to produce.

 

[dublinirish]

It's not that surprising given how undersized they were.

Outside of Nelson and Bars, I'll bet that every other starter on that unit weighed in at no more than 290. That is utterly ridiculous. S&C played a major part in our inconsistencies up front.

All I'll say is that McGlinchey better be 315, at least, Mustipher 300+ and Kraemer at least 315 as well. No reason for them to be that undersized. Inexcusable.

McGovern finished the year at 275 lbs apparently

 

[arrowryan]

Named a team captain. The only junior captain on the team. Josh's development as a player and leader on this team never fails to amaze me.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josh Adams named a captain, per Brian Kelly.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/899383627145990144">August 20, 2017</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[brewdog_14527]

Remember when everyone considered this kid as an afterthougt?

 

[ACamp1900]

Remember when everyone considered this kid as an afterthougt?

It feels so good to fall in love with a running back again... it feels like the 1990s again...

 

[Cackalacky]

It feels so good to fall in love with a running back again... it feels like the 1990s again...

Agree. Totally he is definitely my first favorite since 1993.

 

[Riddickulous]

443 yards though 3 games. Beast.

 

[Fbolt]

Certainly playing on Sundays.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

499 yards rushing through 4 games this season. (and minimal work last week against MSU - only 9 carries)

69 yds receiving.

The man is putting in work

 

[AKRowdy]

Honest question... do you think Josh gets +/- 9 carries this weekend against Miami?

 

[GowerND11]

Honest question... do you think Josh gets +/- 9 carries this weekend against Miami?

I take the over, but barely. 10 carries.

 

[koonja]

I kind of wish they'd sit him if Jones is healthy. Let Jones/Dexter get the carries/experience for a week. Josh healthy but banged up isn't nearly as effective. Keep the horses healthy.

IDK that he's banged up, but I know he's gotten up slowly more than a few times so far.

 

[AKRowdy]

Same. It would be another good week to play him but then rest for the upcoming weeks. Get Dexter and Deon carries. Also hope to see Book in the game by midway through the 3rd quarter.

 

[zelezo vlk]

He's gone after this year, right?