2012 Running Backs

Whiskeyjack

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Strongly doubt GAIII moves anywhere.

Curious where the strength of this conviction is coming from. I'm assuming it's primarily from GAIII's allegedly poor hands.

We're dying for outside WRs, he fits the physical profile, and our backfield is so crowded that there's a serious danger he won't get many touches in 2012 if he stays at RB. A move to W/X WR fixes lots of problems.
 
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Jimmy3Putt

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That's what I'm saying.
He's got the blood line!
He can still return kicks and even get a few offensive snaps.

I just really like the thought of the twins being shut down corners!
 

IrishLion

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From what I understand, GA III has more of straight line or one cut speed and his lateral agility isn't as good.

I've heard this alot as well, making me think his future is at RB, splitting time with Carlisle after Wood is gone. Jonas Gray made a living out of making one cut and exploding upfield with his suprising speed, and that worked out pretty well for him.
 

woolybug25

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From what I understand, GA III has more of straight line or one cut speed and his lateral agility isn't as good.

I heard this as well. This and the "ball skill" debate is crazy with this kid. I have never seen people so down on a kids physical skills when a kid is as athletic as GAIII. This is a kid that shown glimpses of being a special player as a FRESHMAN. I am astonished that people say he doesn't have "ball skills" or "lateral agility" and in the same breath slot guys with even less athleticism, ball skills and lateral agility into the positions he should be playing. Instead, it seems like there is a growing contingent that thinks he should be a special teams player that gets in as a WR/RB for 5-10 plays a game. Meanwhile, throwing much less athletic players at positions of corner and safety.

GAIII is a freaky athletic kid that is straight up clutch. He needs to be on the field as much as possible at whatever position he makes the biggest impact in. If thats corner, fine. If that's WR, fine.

But personally, with Cierre and Amir, I don't see using him as a "flex" guy as a good use of his skills. He needs to be an every down player. Which means he needs to play whatever position allows him to do that. Otherwise, there is no reason a less athletic player should be playing more snaps than GAIII, period.
 

magogian

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I heard this as well. This and the "ball skill" debate is crazy with this kid. I have never seen people so down on a kids physical skills when a kid is as athletic as GAIII. This is a kid that shown glimpses of being a special player as a FRESHMAN. I am astonished that people say he doesn't have "ball skills" or "lateral agility" and in the same breath slot guys with even less athleticism, ball skills and lateral agility into the positions he should be playing. Instead, it seems like there is a growing contingent that thinks he should be a special teams player that gets in as a WR/RB for 5-10 plays a game. Meanwhile, throwing much less athletic players at positions of corner and safety.

GAIII is a freaky athletic kid that is straight up clutch. He needs to be on the field as much as possible at whatever position he makes the biggest impact in. If thats corner, fine. If that's WR, fine.

But personally, with Cierre and Amir, I don't see using him as a "flex" guy as a good use of his skills. He needs to be an every down player. Which means he needs to play whatever position allows him to do that. Otherwise, there is no reason a less athletic player should be playing more snaps than GAIII, period.

You are missing the point. In regards to CB in particular, having great straight line speed is probably one of the least helpful qualities. Lateral agility is far more important of the two. Another player may not be the same overall athelete that GA III is, but, because of better lateral agility or other traits, may make a better CB.

GA III is a good player that needs to be on the field. But the point is that he needs to be in a position that utilizes his strengths.
 

Whiskeyjack

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But personally, with Cierre and Amir, I don't see using him as a "flex" guy as a good use of his skills. He needs to be an every down player. Which means he needs to play whatever position allows him to do that. Otherwise, there is no reason a less athletic player should be playing more snaps than GAIII, period.

Agreed.

You are missing the point. In regards to CB in particular, having great straight line speed is probably one of the least helpful qualities. Lateral agility is far more important of the two. Another player may not be the same overall athelete that GA III is, but, because of better lateral agility or other traits, may make a better CB.

GA III is a good player that needs to be on the field. But the point is that he needs to be in a position that utilizes his strengths.

Also agreed. AFAIK, a move to CB has never been a serious consideration for GAIII. But I don't understand those who feel he's only fit for RB. Good lateral agility isn't a prereq for Div. 1 WRs.

He's got the speed and the height for outside WR; strength and blocking ability must surely have been improved during his stint as a RB. He'll likely need to work on his hands and his route running, but that's nothing that can't be coached.

As wooly stated, GAIII needs to be on the field, and he's unlikely to see much of it at RB in 2012; at W/X WR, though, his chances of breaking into the 2-deep are far better.
 
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woolybug25

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You are missing the point. In regards to CB in particular, having great straight line speed is probably one of the least helpful qualities. Lateral agility is far more important of the two. Another player may not be the same overall athelete that GA III is, but, because of better lateral agility or other traits, may make a better CB.

GA III is a good player that needs to be on the field. But the point is that he needs to be in a position that utilizes his strengths.

You are the one missing the point, my friend. GAIII is a better overall athlete than maybe every other guy we have in our secondary. He is also a big time playmaker. So it is silly to say he cant play the position because of some perceived opinion (based on what?) of his lateral agility. If he can play the position better, be more athletic and make more plays than the other guys in the secondary. Then he is more useful there than letting him sit on the bench 2/3rd's of the game so we can give him 5-10 plays on offense.

Especially when we have other guys that can do that.

Side note on "lateral agility", how do any of you know how guys like Farley stack up? None of you have seen him play college football yet. Bennett Jackson, for as much as I like him, does not have one physical attribute (including lateral agility) that is better than GAIII. But you want to act like one of the best playmakers on the team is inferior to them? Give me a break.
 
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Patulski

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I heard this as well. This and the "ball skill" debate is crazy with this kid. I have never seen people so down on a kids physical skills when a kid is as athletic as GAIII. This is a kid that shown glimpses of being a special player as a FRESHMAN. I am astonished that people say he doesn't have "ball skills" or "lateral agility" and in the same breath slot guys with even less athleticism, ball skills and lateral agility into the positions he should be playing. Instead, it seems like there is a growing contingent that thinks he should be a special teams player that gets in as a WR/RB for 5-10 plays a game. Meanwhile, throwing much less athletic players at positions of corner and safety.

GAIII is a freaky athletic kid that is straight up clutch. He needs to be on the field as much as possible at whatever position he makes the biggest impact in. If thats corner, fine. If that's WR, fine.

But personally, with Cierre and Amir, I don't see using him as a "flex" guy as a good use of his skills. He needs to be an every down player. Which means he needs to play whatever position allows him to do that. Otherwise, there is no reason a less athletic player should be playing more snaps than GAIII, period.

The thing about Atkinson is that he's a long strider. Not that that's an impediment to greatness. I'll bet he's one of the fastest players on the team.

I would not be surprised to see him pushing Wood as the #1 running back. I agree: He's a playmaker that needs to get the ball a lot.

Though he's 2 inches shorter, he reminds me of this guy:

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NDhoosier

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I would not be surprised to see him pushing Wood as the #1 running back. I agree: He's a playmaker that needs to get the ball a lot.

That would be the BIGGEST surprise of the season if that would happen. Wood has the making of an NFL RB and will be a stud for us next year. If this were to happen, I cant even begin to explain how loaded our backfield would be...
 

Irish YJ

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Wooly I'm with you. I think the lateral agility conversation is suspect at best compared to other unknown and unproven prospects. Even if true, what's to say it's not something that can be learned or improved... Honestly I don't care where folks end up. I just want the 22 best kids busting it. I just hate to see A1 play makers sit behind other A1 play makers while other positions are starting C grade talent.
 

STLDomer

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That would be the BIGGEST surprise of the season if that would happen. Wood has the making of an NFL RB and will be a stud for us next year. If this were to happen, I cant even begin to explain how loaded our backfield would be...

Yeah he is probably our third/fourth best pure RB this yr.

Wood I think will go NFL next year and with Carlisle, GA3, etc waiting it might be best for both parties

Then he is behind Riddick so next yr he and Amir will shoulder the load and GA3 to me at 210 lbs should be the primary back, but I don't think we have seen him or Carlisle run between the tackles
 

Old Man Mike

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I believe that Kelly [currently] disagrees with some of this commentary. This is because I believe that he is rather roundly hinting to us that he is going a lot more "empty" or pseudo-empty this coming year. Kelly is impishly smiling when he speaks of Riddick at the RB position. He sounds very much like he can't wait to get Theo at the RB and either flank him out immediately or motion him out pre-snap. During the post-practice presscon, he laughed and said "we will not be spending a lot of our time getting Theo ready to handle the linebacker blitz package". Then: "we are going to get him [waving his arms wide] out there".

I see Kelly fairly happy to get Cierre the large bulk of the actual running carries, and Theo some, but mainly bending the defense weirdly out of shape trying to decide what kind of player is going to match up with Riddick and a flanked out Eifert. When Carlisle gets back healthy, he'll Riddick/Cierre it also, and Koyack will flank out with Eifert some [either one imitating the smaller New England Patriot TE, while Niklas imitates Gronkowski]. GAIII if he gets much playing time gets it when Kelly needs a bigger back --- his way of describing GAIII. Kelly sounds like he's going to deliberately go much more non-traditional this season [ which also points subtly away from Tommy in my guess]. The words "Five Wide" will be very much in the ND vocabulary.
 

Irish YJ

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The words "Five Wide" will be very much in the ND vocabulary.

I think "Five Wild" will be more accurate this year. New O coordinator, new QB, embracing talent/skill where ever it is instead of forcing the traditional,,,,,, it will be interesting and fun. Neal, Eifert, Niklas, Daniels, Wood, Riddick, and whoever else steps up.......

OR AT LEAST I HOPE SO
 

Patulski

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GAIII if he gets much playing time gets it when Kelly needs a bigger back --- his way of describing GAIII. Kelly sounds like he's going to deliberately go much more non-traditional this season [ which also points subtly away from Tommy in my guess]. The words "Five Wide" will be very much in the ND vocabulary.

This "bigger back" designation for GAIII is baffling to me. Atkinson ran two touchdowns back for TD's last year, one for 89 and one for 93 yards. When's the last time that happened, let alone by a true freshman? I've watched Wood and Riddick for two years and I do not believe that either one would have returned those kickoffs for touchdowns. Riddick is a guy who can make a guy miss, but does not have home run speed afterwards. Wood is more of a conventional back, who was recruited for Weis and his offense. He's a good combination of skill and power, but does not have homerun quickness or speed. GAII has home run speed.
Kelly has got to find a way to get him lots of touches.
 
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