Hughes

[tonyroberts4life]

Is this the type of play that this team has been lacking in the Weis era. Hughes showed straight north south physical running, and putting Allen with him in that backfield will take some serious pressure off Clausen. Clausen is getting all of the hype right now, and be it well deserved, but should we be running the ball more? It seems like this team hasn't had a problem running the ball on anyone thus far, and Hughes just showed another big dimension of this offense. He is the type of traditional bruising back this team always had in the past, should he get more carries?

 

[GDomer09]

Hell Yes!!!!!! I was thinking the same thing. The biggest problem I belive is that, we have these capabilities and CW just likes to find something that works, like Hughs, and then he'll use it over and over instead of switching it up. It drives me crazy. Pass with Jimmy, run it with allen, run the wild cat, pass with Jimmy, give the ball to Hughs. Is this so much to ask for. Its not rocket science, KEEP THE D GUESSING!!!

 

[We_Are_ND]

Its funny. It was nights like last night where you really appreciate hughes, but against Michigan I wanted to fucking kill him. He played well though.

 

[BGIF]

Its funny. It was nights like last night where you really appreciate hughes, but against Michigan I wanted to fucking kill him. He played well though.

Apparently tony4life didn't see the Michigan or Nevada game. Visions of Hawaii stuck in his head.

 

[tonyroberts4life]

No I simply seen how hughes CAN run. He ran harder than any back i've seen in YEARS here last night. He is averaging 4 yds a carry, and not one run for a loss on the season. Kind of refreshing that their may be physical play in our backfield. Speaking of physical runs anybody remember that first run from crist. boom!

 

[kmoose]

Is this the type of play that this team has been lacking in the Weis era. Hughes showed straight north south physical running, and putting Allen with him in that backfield will take some serious pressure off Clausen. Clausen is getting all of the hype right now, and be it well deserved, but should we be running the ball more? It seems like this team hasn't had a problem running the ball on anyone thus far, and Hughes just showed another big dimension of this offense. He is the type of traditional bruising back this team always had in the past, should he get more carries?

I watched Hughes, at one point, completely whiff at blocking a blitzing linebacker. THAT is probably why he hasn't seen the field more often. This is not the Lou or Ara era of college football. These backs have to be able to do more than just run the ball. If they can't pick up blitzes, then they will end up getting the QB killed.

 

[BGIF]

Is this the type of play that this team has been lacking in the Weis era. Hughes showed straight north south physical running, and putting Allen with him in that backfield will take some serious pressure off Clausen. Clausen is getting all of the hype right now, and be it well deserved, but should we be running the ball more? It seems like this team hasn't had a problem running the ball on anyone thus far, and Hughes just showed another big dimension of this offense. He is the type of traditional bruising back this team always had in the past, should he get more carries?

Wasn't it 6 months ago that Weis put Aldridge at FB. Turned out ND had its first FB since Powers Neal. (Powers Neal as much as I liked him was a shadow of Marc Edwards.) Then Aldridge got hurt and Robert "I don't want to be a fullback" got promoted to - Fullback.

Who was the last "traditional bruising back this team alway had in the past"?


I know I've been waiting for the next Bus since '92.

 

[DirtySecret]

Wasn't it 6 months ago that Weis put Aldridge at FB. Turned out ND had its first FB since Powers Neal. (Powers Neal as much as I liked him was a shadow of Marc Edwards.) Then Aldridge got hurt and Robert "I don't want to be a fullback" got promoted to - Fullback.

Who was the last "traditional bruising back this team alway had in the past"?


I know I've been waiting for the next Bus since '92.

I know! I know! I know! Damn it, got a brain fart.. Just forgot now. Anyways what would be your assessment of Bobby Burger back in the offset. I would like to see them line him up in the "I" with him. One thing ND needs in this year recruiting class is a true fullback, but it's really hard these days because not many high school teams run pro set offenese and have those true fullbacks..

 

[Junkhead]

Hell Yes!!!!!! I was thinking the same thing. The biggest problem I belive is that, we have these capabilities and CW just likes to find something that works, like Hughs, and then he'll use it over and over instead of switching it up. It drives me crazy. Pass with Jimmy, run it with allen, run the wild cat, pass with Jimmy, give the ball to Hughs. Is this so much to ask for. Its not rocket science, KEEP THE D GUESSING!!!

I agree. It's all or nothing. The run works, run 15 times in a row, the pass works, NEVER RUN. I don't get it sometimes.

 

[BGIF]

I know! I know! I know! Damn it, got a brain fart.. Just forgot now. Anyways what would be your assessment of Bobby Burger back in the offset. I would like to see them line him up in the "I" with him. One thing ND needs in this year recruiting class is a true fullback, but it's really hard these days because not many high school teams run pro set offenese and have those true fullbacks.

Ok now you've got me confused I posted in response to a post by TonyRoberts4Life are you also him?

I don't see a previous post in this thread by you.

As for Burger I have to go replay the game late tonight. I didn't pay much mind to him.

 

[tonyroberts4life]

Agreed bgif bruising back wrong wording, hard runners more like it. Apologies, but Hughes ran very hard and his numbers are good. Offensive line has the biggest bearing on the success of the running back but when it is not their I like to see a player lower his head and create it. It seems as though Hughes had no problem doing that. We are lacking a fullback and I sure do not feel hughes is the answer, given his blocking ability, or lack thereof. As a runner, he needs more carries. 4 yds a carry is what this team needs especially with the loss of floyd.

 

[tonyroberts4life]

not me, but that is confusing! when i read it it kind of draws a picture of this guy tweaking on coffee with spiked haircut and big eyes!

 

[DirtySecret]

Ok now you've got me confused I posted in response to a post by TonyRoberts4Life are you also him?

I don't see a previous post in this thread by you.

As for Burger I have to go replay the game late tonight. I didn't pay much mind to him.

I'm every poster on this board. I suffer from an indentity crisis, but I'm in your head now. Muhahaha

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

...I've been waiting for the next Bus since '92.

The Bus was such an amazing player. How about a guy like Mark Edwards? No flash. No showboating. Just a crew cut and about 230 pounds of whoop-ass! I miss that. It is very tough to find a HS player that wants to only play full back because it just is not a glamorous position and it does not get the headlines anymore, but if I were a current player buried on the depth chart at another position, I would be looking at a switch to FB as a way to get on the field.

 

[Junkhead]

Hughes and Allen both are running harder, hitting the hole quicker....has to be the new coaching, at least partially. Good to see, and good game by Hughes.

 

[domerfor life]

I thought Hughes ran better last night than at any point in his career. Very quick in hitting the hole and getting north-south. Like the fact that he was carrying defenders as well. If he can get blitz pickup down, he will be very effective. We could average 200 yds/game on the ground with him and Allen back there.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I'm very happy for him. He looked great out there. I hope he keeps it up. Could be a BIG weapon in the arsenal.

 

[Riddickulous]

I had given up on Hughes, but he was very impressive last night. Good speed and he finally started using his body as a weapon.

 

[Junkhead]

Imagine how much Aldridge has improved if Allen, Hughes etc are any example.....

 

[jason_h537]

Yeah Hughes played great despite being slower than dirt right

 

[irishtrain]

hughes

hughes

Man he would be some wild card if they loaded him up and he ran like that the next 2 games. Shoot him off for about 18 carries , keep him fresh, give him something to work for and reward him with playing time. I think Charlie wants him to succeed but something has not been adding up when he performs like that against Purdue and other times just hardly factors in. Maybe its just playing time. Big backs need to get oiled up and get game rhythm-that could be why we have'nt seen the real Robert Hughes.

 

[BGIF]

The Bus was such an amazing player. How about a guy like Mark Edwards? No flash. No showboating. Just a crew cut and about 230 pounds of whoop-ass! I miss that. It is very tough to find a HS player that wants to only play full back because it just is not a glamorous position and it does not get the headlines anymore, but if I were a current player buried on the depth chart at another position, I would be looking at a switch to FB as a way to get on the field.

Marc Edwards was the last great fullback at Notre Dame. Devastating blocker, tough rusher, great pass catcher. He owned the goal line. If he wasn't crossing it with the ball, he was bowling over a LB for the RB scoring in his path.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

They were both phenomenal.

It doesn't seem to me though that CW's offense needs a Bus or Edwards at all though, it just needs a big looking guy. His O seems more of a finesse thinker's surprise attack, and sticking in a fullback for a certain play would only tell the D to follow the fullback.

Might as well go with Tate and Allen in the backfield.

 

[Irishlew]

what's funny is Tate is the best RB on our team, kinda sucks he's the best available WR too. Carlo Calabrese may be Edwards love child...can't wait to see Carlo, Manti, and Fleming wrecking people in the future.

 

[BGIF]

They were both phenomenal.

It doesn't seem to me though that CW's offense needs a Bus or Edwards at all though, it just needs a big looking guy. His O seems more of a finesse thinker's surprise attack, and sticking in a fullback for a certain play would only tell the D to follow the fullback.

Might as well go with Tate and Allen in the backfield.

I'll buy it's "more of a finesse thinker's surprise attack" but I have no doubt Weis would utilized a Bettis or Edwards to maximum efficiency within his offense. He could have pounded Bettis into the line 7 or 8 times in a row ala Conjar and Anthony Johnson then ran him one more into the breech in play action as Clausen lofted 6 points to a wide open Tate or Rudolph as 8 Boilers closed on Bettis.

In the limited time Charlie had Powers Neal, again a shadow of Bettis or Edwards, Powers Neal was a prime time red zone/short yardage weapon. Charlie's offense stumbled when Powers Neal stopped playing.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

But Bettis and Edwards dominated under Holtz's system.

CW seems to use what he has under his system and the system allowed him.

CW does not seem to need fullbacks other than for bluff purposes.

 

[domerfor life]

But Bettis and Edwards dominated under Holtz's system.

CW seems to use what he has under his system and the system allowed him.

CW does not seem to need fullbacks other than for bluff purposes.

Everytime I see quotes like this I chuckle. Nowadays, it seems you have to recruit big backs and convert them to FB. Not alot of natural FBs these days. If you remember Charlie's first year, he used RPN extensively. Especially in short yardage situations. RPN got more touches than alot of people remember.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

...he used RPN extensively. Especially in short yardage situations. RPN got more touches than alot of people remember.

So like I said, FB comes in under CW's offense, guess who is getting the ball or who is leading the block.

How many times did he carry?

I agree that a powerfull FB, or lack of, has changed CWs O. But that goes back to what I have been saying all the time. It seems to me this team started from (-) scratch.

I could use a chuckle right about now.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I really miss this guy. Just watch what he does. This could be Hughes. I don't see any reason why Hughes couldn't do this kind of stuff. Is it heart? Is it work ethic? Is it talent? I don't know. This guy was a monster and I miss this kind of running so much.

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[TDHeysus]

Everytime I see quotes like this I chuckle. Nowadays, it seems you have to recruit big backs and convert them to FB. Not alot of natural FBs these days. If you remember Charlie's first year, he used RPN extensively. Especially in short yardage situations. RPN got more touches than alot of people remember.

Its a pro-style offense.....

....do you see alot of FB's in the NFL? the very small amount you do see, what are their roles in the NFL? Being Weis has a Pro style OFF, you can see how that position is used in Weis' offense. Its not a focus of the offense.

FB's dominated in the Holtz offense when he was averaging 300+ yards a game running the ball. Weis is not hanging onto ND past running success; Passing offense does not utilize the FB all that much outside of blocking, its by-product of the offense. Just like in basketball how the triangle offense doesnt have a great need for a point guard, its a by-product of the offense. nothing more, nothing less

Bettis, Edwards = Holtz, running, 1980's-90's.
Floyd, Tate = Weis, passing, 2000's.