'17 KS WR Jafar Armstrong (Notre Dame Signee)

[arrowryan]

A main priority this off-season should be to find a role for him in this offense. Being a pure RB isn't working out; I don't think we need him as a pure RB with the amount of running backs we already have and the arrival of Tyree.

Jafar is a great athlete and they need to figure out how to maximize that.

 

[stlnd01]

A main priority this off-season should be to find a role for him in this offense. Being a pure RB isn't working out; I don't think we need him as a pure RB with the amount of running backs we already have and the arrival of Tyree.

Jafar is a great athlete and they need to figure out how to maximize that.

Been saying it for awhile but 5 to 10 touches a game on screen passes, swing passes, stuff that puts him in space. That's the best way to utilize Jafar. He's not made for handoffs between the tackles.

 

[Wingman Ray]

A main priority this off-season should be to find a role for him in this offense. Being a pure RB isn't working out; I don't think we need him as a pure RB with the amount of running backs we already have and the arrival of Tyree.

Jafar is a great athlete and they need to figure out how to maximize that.

Question, without Tyree being an EE, what shows that he can possibly carry the load of RB1 his TF year? 175lbs isnt going to hold up long in D1 ball. He will need to be at least 200 to withstand that.

 

[NDdomer2]

Question, without Tyree being an EE, what shows that he can possibly carry the load of RB1 his TF year? 175lbs isnt going to hold up long in D1 ball. He will need to be at least 200 to withstand that.

he didnt say carry the load tho - he said "with the amount of running backs we already have AND the arrival of Tyree"

We have enough big boy bangers with TJJ and Jahmir. Tyree will be the speed back. Where does that leave Jafar?

 

[Luckylucci]

Question, without Tyree being an EE, what shows that he can possibly carry the load of RB1 his TF year? 175lbs isnt going to hold up long in D1 ball. He will need to be at least 200 to withstand that.

I think the weight issue is overstated. There are plenty of examples of RB’s playing under 200 and being able to carry the ball frequently. Oregon had an entire backfield of RB’s under 200 for multiple years while leading the nation in rushing or close to it.

 

[Luckylucci]

For example, LaMichael James was listed at 180 as a recruit and rushed 230 times (over 13 games) for 1547 yards as a freshman.

 

[IrishLax]

I think next year you're probably looking at something like this:
-Tyree: 10 touches per game, or as much as he can handle in standard down & distance situations.
-Tony Jones: 10 touches per game, will get almost all short yardage and redzone work unless supplanted by Kyren Williams. Jahmir Smith is the mystery man.
-All other backs: 5-10 touches per game... I think you mainly see Kyren Williams and Jafar Armstrong battling it out for who will be the 3rd down back, other backs rotated in for mop up duty.

This year, backs averaged 23 carries a game with 3 catches a game. I expect with increased talent in the backfield and potentially better OL play that the number will remain somewhere in the 25-30 touches category depending on who is the QB.

 

[arrowryan]

Question, without Tyree being an EE, what shows that he can possibly carry the load of RB1 his TF year? 175lbs isnt going to hold up long in D1 ball. He will need to be at least 200 to withstand that.

I agree with you, he probably won't be a running back in 2020 that can handle 20+ carries a game; true frosh running backs can rarely be a true 3 down back.

But give him the ball 5-10 time a game on the edge and in space. Lets see what he can do.

 

[stlnd01]

I think next year you're probably looking at something like this:
-Tyree: 10 touches per game, or as much as he can handle in standard down & distance situations.
-Tony Jones: 10 touches per game, will get almost all short yardage and redzone work unless supplanted by Kyren Williams. Jahmir Smith is the mystery man.
-All other backs: 5-10 touches per game... I think you mainly see Kyren Williams and Jafar Armstrong battling it out for who will be the 3rd down back, other backs rotated in for mop up duty.

This year, backs averaged 23 carries a game with 3 catches a game. I expect with increased talent in the backfield and potentially better OL play that the number will remain somewhere in the 25-30 touches category depending on who is the QB.

This seems about right unless Tyree struggles to learn pass pro - the eternal Achilles Heel of freshmen RBs under Kelly - in which case: More of either Jahmir or Williams.
I will say C’Bo was better than I’d expected, in limited action. He runs with a ferocity. I hope he finds a niche.

 

[arrowryan]

C'Bo deserves more carries and is probably the most pure runner of our current group. A pleasant surprise, imo.

 

[rtrn2glory]

C'Bo deserves more carries and is probably the most pure runner of our current group. A pleasant surprise, imo.

agree 100% with this.

you can tell he's a natural RB and is used to having the ball in his hands and running between the tackles.

i'm hoping he busts out next year, we'll need him to.

 

[Irish#1]

I think the weight issue is overstated. There are plenty of examples of RB’s playing under 200 and being able to carry the ball frequently. Oregon had an entire backfield of RB’s under 200 for multiple years while leading the nation in rushing or close to it.

For example, LaMichael James was listed at 180 as a recruit and rushed 230 times (over 13 games) for 1547 yards as a freshman.

It's overstated when your platooning a lot of backs. 17 carries a game isn't big, but at 180lb it can and will wear a kid down if they up his carries.

 

[rtrn2glory]

It's overstated when your platooning a lot of backs. 17 carries a game isn't big, but at 180lb it can and will wear a kid down if they up his carries.

right. and giving one player that many touches usually isn't a very good display of the depth of that team.

 

[arrowryan]

It's overstated when your platooning a lot of backs. 17 carries a game isn't big, but at 180lb it can and will wear a kid down if they up his carries.

Whether you're 180 pounds or 210 pounds, 17 carries a game in big boy college football is a lot for a freshman. Even if Tyree was 200+ pounds the staff doesn't need to, nor should they, throw Tyree in there and baptize him with fire.

 

[Luckylucci]

Tony seems like a great young man but I’m hoping we give the other backs every opportunity to supplant him this offseason. I don’t think he’s a consistent runner. He’ll run a little high or he’ll run with his head down. Doesn’t change direction well. I don’t think the OL is doing well with the injuries but I think he leaves too much on table. Even if it’s just a yard or two on certain carries, that can be the difference between 2nd and 8 or 2nd and 6.

 

[Luckylucci]

It's overstated when your platooning a lot of backs. 17 carries a game isn't big, but at 180lb it can and will wear a kid down if they up his carries.

I don’t think they will do that so there is no reason to worry about it but the point is it’s possible and been done before with elite success.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Tony seems like a great young man but I’m hoping we give the other backs every opportunity to supplant him this offseason. I don’t think he’s a consistent runner. He’ll run a little high or he’ll run with his head down. Doesn’t change direction well. I don’t think the OL is doing well with the injuries but I think he leaves too much on table. Even if it’s just a yard or two on certain carries, that can be the difference between 2nd and 8 or 2nd and 6.

I hope ND can get away from dependence on one particular RB to do the dirty work and be trusted on passing downs.

 

[koonja]

Tony seems like a great young man but I’m hoping we give the other backs every opportunity to supplant him this offseason. I don’t think he’s a consistent runner. He’ll run a little high or he’ll run with his head down. Doesn’t change direction well. I don’t think the OL is doing well with the injuries but I think he leaves too much on table. Even if it’s just a yard or two on certain carries, that can be the difference between 2nd and 8 or 2nd and 6.

Has a horizontal sweep to Tony Jones ever worked? It's always pretty well blocked too. You might as well hand it off to Brock Wright.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Does Jafar move back to WR? He has the ability to play outside and inside. And you can still hand him the ball on jet sweeps.

Could you imagine Lenzy and Jafar on opposite sides and both go in motion for a jet sweep? Who will the defense follow?


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[Luckylucci]

Has a horizontal sweep to Tony Jones ever worked? It's always pretty well blocked too. You might as well hand it off to Brock Wright.

There was one on Saturday that looked good but he just couldn’t get the corner fast enough. Went for a 2 yard gain I believe. Most backs that’s probably out of bounds after 4 or 5 yard gain. And that’s on the staff though as those plays shouldn’t be called when he’s in the game. It’s that thought process that at all times we have to use the entire playbook to keep teams ‘honest’.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Tony seems like a great young man but I’m hoping we give the other backs every opportunity to supplant him this offseason. I don’t think he’s a consistent runner. He’ll run a little high or he’ll run with his head down. Doesn’t change direction well. I don’t think the OL is doing well with the injuries but I think he leaves too much on table. Even if it’s just a yard or two on certain carries, that can be the difference between 2nd and 8 or 2nd and 6.

he missed a few holes saturday as well that were there, but he bounced them.

 

[ThePiombino]

There was one on Saturday that looked good but he just couldn’t get the corner fast enough. Went for a 2 yard gain I believe. Most backs that’s probably out of bounds after 4 or 5 yard gain. And that’s on the staff though as those plays shouldn’t be called when he’s in the game. It’s that thought process that at all times we have to use the entire playbook to keep teams ‘honest’.

Running that play with Jones is literally the definition of insanity.

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[fightingirish26]

Does Jafar move back to WR? He has the ability to play outside and inside. And you can still hand him the ball on jet sweeps.

Could you imagine Lenzy and Jafar on opposite sides and both go in motion for a jet sweep? Who will the defense follow?


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[Sherm Sticky]

After the snap I meant.

 

[stpeteirish]

he missed a few holes saturday as well that were there, but he bounced them.

watching the Stanford game did give me renewed appreciation for Tony Jones' blocking. He laid a guy out on one of Jafar's runs, it was a thing of beauty.

That alone should give him a 5th year but we need a better option to emerge.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

If JK Dobbins is the Notre Dame RB in 2019, he isn't a Heisman contender behind this O line. Things have to get better up front first.

 

[Irish YJ]

If JK Dobbins is the Notre Dame RB in 2019, he isn't a Heisman contender behind this O line. Things have to get better up front first.

This....

I do think we are short on RB talent, but being 90th in power success rate is just bad...

Regardless, I hope to see
Tyree 35% RB1A
CBo 35% RB1B
Jones 20% Short Yardage Back
10% mix of "Alternative Running" like sweeps with Lenzy or other,

Let Jafar play in the alternative space with a little slot mixed in.

 

[koonja]

If JK Dobbins is the Notre Dame RB in 2019, he isn't a Heisman contender behind this O line. Things have to get better up front first.

I don't think that's true at all. I think he has an outstanding year.

I feel like the one thing that's been overlooked is how many run lanes were created this year, our backs are just below average.

At least ~8x a game I see it open up and for a split second get excited, only for Jafar to miss the read or Tony be too slow to get there.

 

[Riddickulous]

What happened here? Injuries? Wrong position? He hasn't looked good at all these past two years.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

What happened here? Injuries? Wrong position? He hasn't looked good at all these past two years.

Wrong position. And it looks he got bulky. Time to move back to WR after the season.


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