Armando Allen 2010

[TerryTate]

i like how he is alwways moving the pile foward, it is a game of inches

We NEED someone to keep his feet moving after making contact. Armando will need to break a few tackles this year if our running game is going to be successful. I'm hoping Cierre Wood gets the majority of the carries by the end of the season

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

agreed

agreed

We NEED someone to keep his feet moving after making contact. Armando will need to break a few tackles this year if our running game is going to be successful. I'm hoping Cierre Wood gets the majority of the carries by the end of the season

allen is to easy to take down. hope he steps it up this year

 

[TerryTate]

allen is to easy to take down. hope he steps it up this year

A strong gust of wind could knock him down

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

i think my 10 year old daughter had tfl on him last year

 

[NDinL.A.]

I agree with Allen guys, to an extent. I was all over him after his sophomore about shoelace tackles and a soft breeze being able to take him down. But he improved A TON in that area this year. Go watch the tape. He still needs work of course and he still goes down too easily sometimes, but the fact is that he ran a lot harder this year, was tearing it up before he hurt his ankle. People forget that.

His first 3 games he averaged 4.8, 6.6, and 5.0 yds per carry, and then he got hurt and wasn't the same until later in the season.

And the truth is, 2 different coaching staffs have declared him the best RB on our roster. He's a senior now, and if he continues to improve, you're going to see a very good running back next year.

And this is coming from a guy who was never a fan of his. Just sayin'...

 

[fitz_bu47]

I agree NDinLA, I wanted to fight him two years ago, soft as charmin....But last year he ran hard, and did break some tackles and finish runs before he got hurt. If he can stay healthy, he will have a great year.

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

he did run alot harder this year, when on the field. but his body of work is bust through the hole i stand up beer in hand then sit right back down.

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

that was alot of allen talk for that thread i do apologize

 

[nd1]

he does go down easy but with that new spread offense the d won't be jamming the middle like they used to. that will open more space and hopefully get him going.

 

[NDinL.A.]

he did run alot harder this year, when on the field. but his body of work is bust through the hole i stand up beer in hand then sit right back down.

Yeah, that does piss me off...whole opens up...we get all excited...arm tackle, gain of 4. I'm just saying, it happened a lot less last year when he was healthy, and I fully expect him to get stronger and better because of 2 things: natural progression, and Paul Longo. Don't underestimate the power of the hill!!!

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

lets hope so been a while since we have seen 35-60 yd tds

 

[DirtySecret]

lets hope so been a while since we have seen 35-60 yd tds

He's not Noel Devine. He's what you call a discipline runningback. If the play calls to run between two certain tackles than he's going to run there. He's not going improvise and change field of play. That's what olinemen hate the most.

 

[ACamp1900]

This thread is a year late... in fact no it isn't... dozens of threads addresed this a year ago... Allen last year was light years beyond Allen from two years ago... including his ability to break tackles and make people miss... I have very little concern about Armando right now... this time last year I agreed with ust about everything mentioned in the first few posts of this thread.

 

[Rocket89]

I agree that Allen has improved dramatically in his ability to break tackles and gain extra yards. Personally, I thought he was never as bad as people said he was in that category, but he's better now.

Two things I've always noticed about Allen:

1. He seems to have an awkward running style, where he never seems centered and is always leaning, slightly off-balance, and thus...easier to tackle. Like this picture:

http://nbcsportsmedia.msnbc.com/j/N...ame Central/Photos/080927_ArmandoAllen.h2.jpg

I'm not saying he always runs like that, but he does quite often.

2. His lack of a long run relates to the first point. He never seems to square his hips away and just run straight forward.

Does anyone remember his nice run in the spring game? The line opened up a huge hole for him but he only gained maybe 20 or so yards. Jurkovich and Brooks pointed it out immediately that he should have just stayed straight and ran ahead, he probably would have blown by the safety's and maybe scored. Instead he ran in the shape of an arc and didn't maximize his speed. He's always doing that...either running in an arc or slightly zig zagging.

He needs to get the ball and just go forward, north-south...all day long.

 

[ACamp1900]

I agree with point one for sure...

point two...

Lack of Big Runs...

Same thing was said about Darius Walker (Great Irish RB)... if the holes are not there you prob. won't get teh long run at this level... period...

two things have been missing in the last ten years that have really hurt ND more than ANYTHING else... a strong O line that opens holes and protects the QB consistently... and an elite Defensive front.

I would say the lack of big runs speaks more to our O line than than our RB's... Riggo broke one tackle in his famous run... Timmy Smith was barely touched all gamewhile setting the all time Super Bowl record... both had the hogs blocking for them.

 

[BGIF]

I 'm with NDinL.A. and that Camp guy. Allen was a different runner when the '09 season started. Hammond even noticed it (so it had to be obvious) and talked about how hard Allen worked on his leg strength in the off season. Before the ankle injury he was a markedly improved RB. When he went down, so did ND's running game, and Charlie's career was over.

Fans remember the long runs but forget when ND was (supposedly) doing that under Holtz the long runs worked because the defenders didn't just stack the box to stop the run, they stacked the line. The DBs were all up close. Robert Farmer ran 81 yds in '96 on an option with two block, sealing of the end and a DB. Once he hit the line of scrimmage there was nobody in front of him. The other CB and S were way over on the far side of the field with no angle of pursuit. They were behind him with no chance to make a play.

Watch the Cheerios Bowl, when Bettis reaches 4 or 5 yds past the LOS there was nobody to stop him. Spurrier had pulled his secondary up tight.

It was the same way with most pass plays run in the Holtz years. He'd run the ball 7 or 8 straight plays then have Rice shotput a pass to a receiver who frequently was wide open not because of foot speed but because the defender played run first.

Now ND has gone to 3 and 4 WRs, and even double TEs sets using both the TEs as receivers downfield which means defenders line up further from the LOS and are taken downfield in coverage. Even when a RB gets beyond the LOS or LBs today there are still defenders that can come across the field to make the tackle because they were already downfield.

Audrey Denson gets chided by ND fans for only having a longest run of 54 yds during his career. Walker's was only in the 40's, I believe. ND fans talk about the big running plays they remember. Odd part is ND has only had 15 runs of 80 or more yards in its history. Only two have come in the last 60 years.

 

[BGIF]

He's not Noel Devine. He's what you call a discipline runningback. If the play calls to run between two certain tackles than he's going to run there. He's not going improvise and change field of play. That's what olinemen hate the most.

If the OL blocks the man he's supposed to, the RB doesn't have to improvise. Offensive coordinators hate it when the play they drew up wasn't executed because the guy that didn't block says, "he should have improvised coach"

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

35-60YRD gains at the rate of 1.5 a game and i would be happy. 80 yrd runs are pushing it

 

[Rocket89]

I agree with point one for sure...

point two...

Lack of Big Runs...

Same thing was said about Darius Walker (Great Irish RB)... if the holes are not there you prob. won't get teh long run at this level... period...

two things have been missing in the last ten years that have really hurt ND more than ANYTHING else... a strong O line that opens holes and protects the QB consistently... and an elite Defensive front.

I would say the lack of big runs speaks more to our O line than than our RB's... Riggo broke one tackle in his famous run... Timmy Smith was barely touched all gamewhile setting the all time Super Bowl record... both had the hogs blocking for them.

Walker was pretty slow. Allen looks like Chris Johnson in comparison.

The O-line hasn't been great, but they've blown open enough holes in the past. I like BGIF's assessment, that seems to make a lot of sense.

But Weis having Walker and Hughes...two of the slowest backs in ND history. That never helps the running game or the ability to break long runs.

 

[GEORGIA DOMER]

walker looked fairly fast against LSU in the bowl game. anyone know his 40 then

 

[Rocket89]

walker looked fairly fast against LSU in the bowl game. anyone know his 40 then

Walker ran a 4.56 and 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

I guarantee Hughes can't break 4.7.

I think Walker can be described best as quick, slipper and smooth.

 

[TerryTate]

Walker spent most of that 4.5 speed dancing behind the line instead of hitting the hole. I've noticed that most of the guys here really like Walker, which is fine, but I would have liked to see him be more direct with his running.

He did have good hands coming out of the backfield, but I never saw him as a top RB

 

[tommyIRISH23]

Walker ran a 4.56 and 4.57 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

I guarantee Hughes can't break 4.7.

I think Walker can be described best as quick, slipper and smooth.

Yeah. I think Walkers game speed was a lot slower, he was more patient of a runner rather then one who attacks the wholes. I like Cierre Wood, I think hes going to be something special. I think hes goin to be used A LOT this year.

 

[DirtySecret]

If the OL blocks the man he's supposed to, the RB doesn't have to improvise. Offensive coordinators hate it when the play they drew up wasn't executed because the guy that didn't block says, "he should have improvised coach"

What I meant by improvised, is how Noel Devine in his hightlight will run the correct play than decide to change direction and run the oppsite way.

 

[jason_h537]

Allen is a good back who plays smart and blocks. Kelly is not exactly known for his running game. He will do just fine for us if he stays healthy. I know Ciere Wood (always upto no good) is a sexier option because he is unknow but he will have his chance. Allen has earned the trust of 2 coaching staffs already so i trust he is the best option.

You know who else has earned the trust of 2 different staffs and gets shitted on
<--------- Brian Smith says waaatsssuuppp

 

[Riddickulous]

lets hope so been a while since we have seen 35-60 yd tds

Downfield blocking was horrific under Weis when the running back actually found a rare seam and broke free, thus the lack of long runs. That's an area of gameplay that showed tremendous improvement in the spring game.

I 'm with NDinL.A. and that Camp guy. Allen was a different runner when the '09 season started. Hammond even noticed it (so it had to be obvious) and talked about how hard Allen worked on his leg strength in the off season. Before the ankle injury he was a markedly improved RB. When he went down, so did ND's running game, and Charlie's career was over.

He was incredible against Michigan. Many, many times last season, Allen showed great determination and heart to get the extra yardage needed for the first down.


Allen is certainly not the fastest player in the country that he was at the junior Army All-American combine in 2006. That high school knee injury did something to that speed. I remember the USC game in 2008. Allen had a massive lane to the left side, there was literally no one within five yards of him. Armando swung to the left, went for the corner, and got ran down by Taylor Mays after a gain of one. He has good speed, but not the elite speed that we all were hoping for coming out of high school.

 

[ACamp1900]

lol Brian Smith today on his twitter said he hasn't done anything at Notre Dame.... technically speaking of course...

 

[jason_h537]

Brian Smith is in his last year, paying his natural position and has great talent around him.

Ethan Johnson,KLM, Willimas are a veteran group with great talent.

Smith, Te'o, AMac, and Fleming sound great to me.

The front seven should be really solid, the more i look at the roster, the more this team reminds me of 05. A solid scatback with a great aerial attack. Solid front 7 with a weak defense.

 

[DirtySecret]

Brian Smith is in his last year, paying his natural position and has great talent around him.

Ethan Johnson,KLM, Willimas are a veteran group with great talent.

Smith, Te'o, AMac, and Fleming sound great to me.

The front seven should be really solid, the more i look at the roster, the more this team reminds me of 05. A solid scatback with a great aerial attack. Solid front 7 with a weak defense.

Hey what about Tyler Stockton! That's a name I haven't heard of late and was wanting to get around to know if we're going to see Stockton in the future

 

[ACamp1900]

I'm sure we will... TS has talent for one but BK is also known for going deep in his depth chart... that should be a noticable difference with BK... the ammount of players that see legit playing time.