2013 Running Back Discussion

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Assuming all of our current commits stick, we'll be at 8/8 for RB/ Z WR in 2013. We might even get to 9/8 if Folston jumps on board. I don't expect the staff to take more RBs next year unless a truly elite athlete wants in. Overloading at any one position creates problems.

Think Sony Michel fits that description? I do

 

[pkt77242]

Think Sony Michel fits that description? I do

I would say yes, and so does Elijah Hood.

 

[Ironman8]

You never know. James Aldredge was a 5 bust for us at RB not too long ago.



Assuming all of our current commits stick, we'll be at 8/8 for RB/ Z WR in 2013. We might even get to 9/8 if Folston jumps on board. I don't expect the staff to take more RBs next year unless a truly elite athlete wants in. Overloading at any one position creates problems.

Labeling James a "5 bust" is unfair and really just inaccurate. James was easily a 5 RB before his knee injury, and was never anything like the player he was before it. It is a shame for him and ND that he never recovered to pre-injury form, but he should never have been kept as a 5 after his injury by any site.

I know several people who think Aldridge was a better prospect, pre-injury, than both Greg Bryant and Julius Jones. I didn't see enough of either James or Julius pre-injury to have an informed opinion on the matter, but I thought it was worth noting.

 

[aubeirish]

How is the O-line depth looking next? They will be the ones to dictate what any of these guys do anyways.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Labeling James a "5 bust" is unfair and really just inaccurate. James was easily a 5 RB before his knee injury, and was never anything like the player he was before it. It is a shame for him and ND that he never recovered to pre-injury form, but he should never have been kept as a 5 after his injury by any site.

I know several people who think Aldridge was a better prospect, pre-injury, than both Greg Bryant and Julius Jones. I didn't see enough of either James or Julius pre-injury to have an informed opinion on the matter, but I thought it was worth noting.

I didn't intend to disparage Aldridge as a player. I only mentioned him to point out the absurdity of saying that, "X player will do big things for us, guaranteed."

How is the O-line depth looking next? They will be the ones to dictate what any of these guys do anyways.

That depends mostly on Hegarty, Z. Martin and Watt. If Hegarty can start at C for us, and Z. Martin and Watt return, then our OL may be even better next year.

 

[Emcee77]

Think Sony Michel fits that description? I do

Well yeah, he's a top ten overall pick by 247's composite rankings. And we are also recruiting Bo Scarbrough, who is 16 in 247 composite rankings.

I would say yes, and so does Elijah Hood.

Yeah, him too, as a top-100-overall-caliber player. But anybody lower ranked than that is iffy at best, I'd think.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

I didn't intend to disparage Aldridge as a player. I only mentioned him to point out the absurdity of saying that, "X player will do big things for us, if he stays healthy guaranteed." grin:

Ok. fixed it.

 

[aubeirish]

That depends mostly on Hegarty, Z. Martin and Watt. If Hegarty can start at C for us, and Z. Martin and Watt return, then our OL may be even better next year.

That sounds good. Let's hope for the best here. A good O-line is the most important thing for this offense to be a force next year. We know all the other positions will have a lot of talent.

 

[gkautz10]

I didn't intend to disparage Aldridge as a player. I only mentioned him to point out the absurdity of saying that, "X player will do big things for us, guaranteed."



That depends mostly on Hegarty, Z. Martin and Watt. If Hegarty can start at C for us, and Z. Martin and Watt return, then our OL may be even better next year.

I think we are comparing apples to oranges here. We are comparing a 5 star player developed under Weis to a 5 star player being developed under Kelly. Not in the same ballpark if you ask me.

 

[Ironman8]

I think we are comparing apples to oranges here. We are comparing a 5 star player developed under Weis to a 5 star player being developed under Kelly. Not in the same ballpark if you ask me.

Aldridge was not a 5 player post injury! Wouldn't be for any coach. That is the issue with that argument.

But Whiskey is right. There are "busts" for every coach. It's why depth is so important, and why you can never relax for a second in recruiting.

 

[gkautz10]

Aldridge was not a 5 player post injury! Wouldn't be for any coach. That is the issue with that argument.

But Whiskey is right. There are "busts" for every coach. It's why depth is so important, and why you can never relax for a second in recruiting.

He showed his ability in his senior season with Kelly. I think him being a 5 star player post injury is up for some debate. Not saying your wrong, I just don't think it's cut and dry.

 

[Ironman8]

He showed his ability in his senior season with Kelly. I think him being a 5 star player post injury is up for some debate. Not saying your wrong, I just don't think it's cut and dry.

Look at his pre-injury tape and then any clip of him after. He is not the same player.

He become a solid player his senior year after having to change who he was as a player, but still wasn't half as explosive as he was.

Verify that with anyone who followed his recruitment.

 

[KPENN]

He showed his ability in his senior season with Kelly. I think him being a 5 star player post injury is up for some debate. Not saying your wrong, I just don't think it's cut and dry.

Aldridge never played for Kelly.

 

[cody1smith]

Insert Dayne Crist here^

 

[Grahambo]

BK is known for turning low star players into studs. It's getting to the point whoever BK accepts is okay in my book because he sees things that most of us just don't.

 

[gkautz10]

Aldridge never played for Kelly.

Your right, was thinking Jonas Gray. Similar careers. Please proceed with the argument haha.

 

[gkautz10]

BK is known for turning low star players into studs. It's getting to the point whoever BK accepts is okay in my book because he sees things that most of us just don't.

This is what I was essentially getting at. While at Cincinnati, Kelly never had this type of talent and he developed those 2 and 3 star players into football players. I am excited to see what he can do once he gets his hands on 5 stars for a few years.

 

[DillonHall]

1. Carlisle
2. Bryant
3. McDaniel
4. Atkinson

 

[Whiskeyjack]

1. Carlisle
2. Bryant
3. McDaniel
4. Atkinson

So the only returing RB with a significant number of reps is getting demoted to 4th on the depth chart? Color me skeptical.

 

[Patulski]

Anyone think George Atkinson can be a starter? or is his lack of pass protection skills and most importantly lack of ball security make him too risky of a road to go down?

Atkinson handled the ball 72 times this year in rushes, kickoff returns and passes caught. How many times did he fumble?

I wonder if he'll skip track this year and decide to work on getting bigger and stronger.

I still think he's going to be a big star, and a future high NFL draft pick. Too much speed to ignore. All he needs is more power.

 

[Old Man Mike]

What does Coach want in a back?

a]. ability to see and hit the hole downhill;
b]. ability to run sharp routes and catch the ball in the intermediary area;
c]. enough power to get the tough yards, and rip arm tackles;
d]. ball security;
e]. ability to understand defenses so as to recognize blitzes;
f]. discipline and courage to actually make the block.

A good exercise on this is to compare Theo and Cierre in your minds on these criteria. Then compare GAIII. Then, even given the paucity of actual data [but since is boring time-wasting addictive behavior, who cares?], compare these RB candidates for next year. You will have noticed that "blinding speed" does not occur on the list. That is because Kelly wants maximum control conservative "system-wins" offense, not spectacular High Risk/ High Reward offense. Theo and Cierre had plenty of speed as far as Coach was concerned.

That skill set is why I see Cam McDaniel as an outstanding fit for what the Kelly system requires. If people like Will Mahone and Amir Carlisle and Greg Bryant prove, when we finally see them, to be "the whole package and then some", I will be ecstatic as that will mean we have one He!l of a bunch of backs. If GAIII learns how to do those things in that list that he does NOT do well yet, similar ecstasy. There was a very good set of reasons that Theo and Cierre played so much and George didn't. It wasn't some "social" thing like honoring old greybeards. They were significantly better players for Coach's philosophy, and Theo close to perfect.

 

[Patulski]

You will have noticed that "blinding speed" does not occur on the list.

That's your list, not Kelly's. Furthermore, nobody knows what Kelly's offense is going to look like next year. Kelly doesn't appear to me to be a guy who is stuck on one offensive philosophy. He appears to tailor his system to his personnel.

 

[tommyIRISH23]

That's your list, not Kelly's. Furthermore, nobody knows what Kelly's offense is going to look like next year. Kelly doesn't appear to me to be a guy who is stuck on one offensive philosophy. He appears to tailor his system to his personnel.

I agree. We have been slowed down offensively bc of our QB's. I think Kelly is developing his own identity; spread+power. I think we are still another season away from where Kelly envisions the offense being. In 2014 our offense will be very hard to stop.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

What does Coach want in a back?

a]. ability to see and hit the hole downhill;
b]. ability to run sharp routes and catch the ball in the intermediary area;
c]. enough power to get the tough yards, and rip arm tackles;
d]. ball security;
e]. ability to understand defenses so as to recognize blitzes;
f]. discipline and courage to actually make the block.

A good exercise on this is to compare Theo and Cierre in your minds on these criteria. Then compare GAIII. Then, even given the paucity of actual data [but since is boring time-wasting addictive behavior, who cares?], compare these RB candidates for next year. You will have noticed that "blinding speed" does not occur on the list. That is because Kelly wants maximum control conservative "system-wins" offense, not spectacular High Risk/ High Reward offense. Theo and Cierre had plenty of speed as far as Coach was concerned.

That skill set is why I see Cam McDaniel as an outstanding fit for what the Kelly system requires. If people like Will Mahone and Amir Carlisle and Greg Bryant prove, when we finally see them, to be "the whole package and then some", I will be ecstatic as that will mean we have one He!l of a bunch of backs. If GAIII learns how to do those things in that list that he does NOT do well yet, similar ecstasy. There was a very good set of reasons that Theo and Cierre played so much and George didn't. It wasn't some "social" thing like honoring old greybeards. They were significantly better players for Coach's philosophy, and Theo close to perfect.

A. Cam does this great. natural RB.
B. 2 catches this year
C. Runs with power, but he is smallest Rb. IMO this is his biggest knock. The biggest hits this year on a Rb for this team have been on him and that was in 1 game. Can he handle it all season?
D. Holds the ball properly. +1
E. Don't remember if we ever passed when he was in the game
F. Same as E

Lastly, it's pretty obvious Cam is by far the more natural RB yet GA3 was called up first each time. How do we explain that?

GA3 51 carries
Cam 23 carries (11 against Miami)

 

[tommyIRISH23]

1. Carlisle
2. Bryant
3. McDaniel
4. Atkinson

Atkinson/Carlisle
McDaniel (I think McDaniel is going to see a significant amount of playing time filling in for a few different roles. He is strong, works hard, and is tough as nails. That cant be ignored)
Mahone

 

[tommyIRISH23]

A. Cam does this great. natural RB.
B. 2 catches this year
C. Runs with power, but he is smallest Rb. IMO this is his biggest knock. The biggest hits this year on a Rb for this team have been on him and that was in 1 game. Can he handle it all season?
D. Holds the ball properly. +1
E. Don't remember if we ever passed when he was in the game
F. Same as E

Lastly, it's pretty obvious Cam is by far the more natural RB yet GA3 was called up first each time. How do we explain that?

GA3 51 carries
Cam 23 carries (11 against Miami)

GA3 is a homerun threat

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Mele on ISD predicts that Bryant wins the job and rushes for over 1,000. GAIII over 700, Folston and Cam over 400. Carlisle sees limited action out of the backfield but gets carries out of the slot on sweeps and reverses. Predicts he also catches around 25 passes.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Mele on ISD predicts that Bryant wins the job and rushes for over 1,000. GAIII over 700, Folston and Cam over 400. Carlisle sees limited action out of the backfield but gets carries out of the slot on sweeps and reverses. Predicts he also catches around 25 passes.

I would call that a bold prediction

 

[woolybug25]

Mele on ISD predicts that Bryant wins the job and rushes for over 1,000. GAIII over 700, Folston and Cam over 400. Carlisle sees limited action out of the backfield but gets carries out of the slot on sweeps and reverses. Predicts he also catches around 25 passes.

Take out Folston/Cam and my guess would be the exact opposite of this. ha

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

The freshman rushing record is 786 yards by D Walk. The previous record stood for 30 years...