Ja'Juan Seider - Running Backs Coach

[allenm5333]

Biggest improvement I’ve seen from the backs this year is the pass blocking from Love and Price. They’ve been money

Biggest improvement has been using 2 rbs and not acting like every rb on the roster needs to play. Let the most talented guys cook

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

You think RB3 being done for the year might have something to do with that?

Where is Denbrock in that as well? Price's first carry has been coming a bit late in games. I think he didn't have a carry against Boise until the second half.

It's hard for anyone to get meaningful carries from those guys and most of the games so far have been tight in the first half.

Wrong to assume Young was RB3 when he wasn't last year.
Position coaches typically are in charge of the rotation and Seider went on record after taking the job that he liked a two back system. It's no coincidence that we're seeing that exclusively. Even when he put in the reserves, it was a two back system of Williams and James.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Hopefully everyone stays healthy because I'd hate to have to rely on Williams or James in the playoff after getting so few touches in the season.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Wrong to assume Young was RB3 when he wasn't last year.
Position coaches typically are in charge of the rotation and Seider went on record after taking the job that he liked a two back system. It's no coincidence that we're seeing that exclusively. Even when he put in the reserves, it was a two back system of Williams and James.

Sounds good. I would have assumed and or liked to have seen Young as the third guy behind Love and Price, but I'm not really hand wringing about this. The thought hasn't truly occurred to me whatsoever. I honestly thought this thread was going to go to "they must pay him so he can never leave even if he wants to advance his career".

I have zero issue with it at the moment. They're on a four game win streak and have SC coming to town as a decent underdog. Keep doing whatever works and if that's giving the two star backs the bulk of the carries, so be it. Free, Denbrock, Seider see these dudes every day. If they're not getting any significant carries, I assume there is a good reason for it that has nothing to do with ineptitude or vindictiveness. Players have transferred out before and life has gone on.

 

[Bane]

Who runs these anymore outside of a handful in the NFL?

I’m not asking for a full games worth, just a nice wrinkle to have 2 of our best players on the field at the same time. Especially during the wildcat packages Denbrock is enamored with this season.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I’m not asking for a full games worth, just a nice wrinkle to have 2 of our best players on the field at the same time. Especially during the wildcat packages Denbrock is enamored with this season.

If there is an alternative to this, then yes, I'm all for a split back set down inside the 10 and or 5. Yes, please.

Apart from that, this rotation or lack thereof isn't anything I am truly bothered by at the moment. I suppose I'd like to see the gap of carries between Love and Price close a bit, but then again, Love is pretty fucking good.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Biggest improvement I’ve seen from the backs this year is the pass blocking from Love and Price. They’ve been money

I thought that too b/c I’d seen Price really step up in some previous games. That said, he didn’t fare too well pass blocking vs NC ST. Definitely getting better but Love is still the standard.

 

[stlnd01]

Sounds good. I would have assumed and or liked to have seen Young as the third guy behind Love and Price, but I'm not really hand wringing about this. The thought hasn't truly occurred to me whatsoever. I honestly thought this thread was going to go to "they must pay him so he can never leave even if he wants to advance his career".

I have zero issue with it at the moment. They're on a four game win streak and have SC coming to town as a decent underdog. Keep doing whatever works and if that's giving the two star backs the bulk of the carries, so be it. Free, Denbrock, Seider see these dudes every day. If they're not getting any significant carries, I assume there is a good reason for it that has nothing to do with ineptitude or vindictiveness. Players have transferred out before and life has gone on.

Why would anyone even transfer? Love and likely Price are both gone next year and Williams/Young/James will get their shot. Generally I think what we're doing is fine, though for next-year purposes I wouldn't mind seeing them the younger guys get a little more run in the second half of the year. I suspect they will.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Why would anyone even transfer? Love and likely Price are both gone next year and Williams/Young/James will get their shot. Generally I think what we're doing is fine, though for next-year purposes I wouldn't mind seeing them the younger guys get a little more run in the second half of the year. I suspect they will.

I don't know.

It was suggested in an earlier post that it could potentially happen:

Not a huge fan of the rotation. He better keep recruiting well because only playing two backs will probably lead to some transfers.

I agree with what you're saying otherwise, @stlnd01

I do think, however, that transfers could be within the realm of possibility even if Love and Price leave for the NFL. That said, I don't think I calling the plays or rotating the backs predicated on that. It's about what's important right now, and that's having to win every game left to go 10-2 and then see if you can squeeze into the playoff with two losses.

 

[stlnd01]

I don't know.

It was suggested in an earlier post that it could potentially happen:

I agree with what you're saying otherwise, @stlnd01

I do think, however, that transfers could be within the realm of possibility even if Love and Price leave for the NFL. That said, I don't think I calling the plays or rotating the backs predicated on that. It's about what's important right now, and that's having to win every game left to go 10-2 and then see if you can squeeze into the playoff with two losses.

Yeah, I agree with all of that. More concerned right now with winning games this year than who might transfer next year, and we have two elite RBs who should each get a lot of carries. It's a bit like the "Greathouse transfer?" worries of a week or two ago because he wasn't getting more touches. Who, exactly, should be getting fewer touches?

Then next year Love and probably Price are gone and you re-set. Now, if someone's clearly RB3 next spring and Seider only plays two guys, we might lose that person. But OK. There will be others (including the very good incoming freshmen).

 

[SeekNDestroy]

Eh...I dunno about that. Love's blocking has always been generally good, Price still has some room to grow. One of the talking heads just did something on the RB blocking being unsatisfactory against NC State actually, I'd have to find it. Price missed a big block against Boise too, a blitzing LB that came right up the middle. That said, I do think Price is improved from last year for sure.

Tengwell is the talking head you’re referring to.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Yeah, I agree with all of that. More concerned right now with winning games this year than who might transfer next year, and we have two elite RBs who should each get a lot of carries. It's a bit like the "Greathouse transfer?" worries of a week or two ago because he wasn't getting more touches. Who, exactly, should be getting fewer touches?

Then next year Love and probably Price are gone and you re-set. Now, if someone's clearly RB3 next spring and Seider only plays two guys, we might lose that person. But OK. There will be others (including the very good incoming freshmen).

The recruitnik meatball culture makes us forget about what's actually important: football and football games. I want nothing but good things for Greathouse, but I am not in any way shape or form spending a moment's time as a fan worrying about him leaving when you look at what is going on right now. I'm also not worried about anyone's feelings that can't get meaningful carries in meaningful games over Love and Price.
Job's not finished.

 

[NDdomer2]

I would be interested in the RB utilization last year pre love injury.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I would be interested in the RB utilization last year pre love injury.

Final stats for last year.

 

[NDRock]

I am surprised at the rotation this year. Based upon the fact that Love was injured last year in the playoffs, I assumed that they would spread the carries around to improve the chances that they would be healthy for the playoff run.

Problem with losing the first two games is the rest of the schedule is essentially the playoffs. Need to win them all.

 

[stlnd01]

Problem with losing the first two games is the rest of the schedule is essentially the playoffs. Need to win them all.

It was basically the same last year. Certainly felt that way for much of the season, like we couldn't take a second loss.
I do suspect that after USC, when the schedule lightens up a bit, we'll see a little more of the younger RBs and focus a little more on preserving Love and Price for the playoffs. Assuming we win.

 

[ab2cmiller]

It was basically the same last year. Certainly felt that way for much of the season, like we couldn't take a second loss.
I do suspect that after USC, when the schedule lightens up a bit, we'll see a little more of the younger RBs and focus a little more on preserving Love and Price for the playoffs. Assuming we win.

That would be fine. At this point, I would be satisfied with a more balanced work load between Love and Price. Not sure if needing to preserve Price is even a thing.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The trick is going to be rolling on some teams in the first half. ND is a very good second half team. They've just had tight games at halftime virtually every week minus Arkansas.

If these dudes can't be in there for the meaningful snaps when the game is in question, I don't want them in there and don't care enough to see them at all. Save it for garbage time of any blowouts. If these games are tight and with everything at stake, give the ball to Love and Price. Don't forget this mega passing game we've suddenly found ourselves getting to see too.

 

[LifelongFan]

I would be interested in the RB utilization last year pre love injury.

These are the snap counts after the Army game.

 

[irishandy]

I feel like Love/Price have handled their roles perfectly this season especially with the upgrade ND got with Seider. I'd like to see more of Williams and I wouldn't rule using him more this year yet, his time will come next season. I also think that compared to last season where we had a running QB vs. this season we have a better passing QB/athletic WR's.

The best thing ND did was get rid of the wildcat in the offense, I think Denbrock has some plays he's kept to show as a surprise when needed.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Williams should be getting for reps and he earned that with his performance against Penn State in the playoffs we really haven’t used any running backs in the passing game the last two games and I don’t think price has caught a pass all year

 

[stlnd01]

Williams should be getting for reps and he earned that with his performance against Penn State in the playoffs we really haven’t used any running backs in the passing game the last two games and I don’t think price has caught a pass all year

 

[KMac151993]

I don’t think price has caught a pass all year

...except the pass he took 35 yards to the house against Arkansas.

 

[stlnd01]

That's his only one on the year though. Price isn't really a factor in the passing game. I wouldn't mind using Williams as a blocker/receiver on 3rd down plays like last year - he's a very good blocker - but I don't think giving him carries just for the sake of it is a priority. We have better weapons right now.

 

[NDFAN2008]

...except the pass he took 35 yards to the house against Arkansas.

Okay 1 pass all year I mean Love had a great game 3 weeks ago and I don’t think they have attempted a pass to him the last two weeks

 

[irishandy]

Kudos to what Williams did all of last season- his # was called and produced results. We may see more of Williams today, especially if it's a running game. I'd like to see Love & Price evolve their passing game for the rest of the season.

 

[NDdomer2]

These are the snap counts after the Army game.View attachment 3060627

Assuming this includes ST so I'm not going to count anything below kedren. Love and price are 69% of snaps through 11 games. Which includes some big blow outs.

I don't know what that looks like through 6 games that have included less blow outs.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Problem with losing the first two games is the rest of the schedule is essentially the playoffs. Need to win them all.

It was worse last year with the loss to NIU week 2. They still found carries for 5 backs and the quarterback. It wasn't a lot of attempts, but it kept them all invested.

People are going to say that they're throwing more this year and that's true, but if you take Riley's runs and passes it probably exceeds Carr's passes.

Seider is doing a great job, I just wish he gave Williams and James a few carries a game to keep them sharp in case they're needed in a big moment. They're both one hurdle gone wrong from being the number 2 back.

 

[irishff1014]

I feel like Love/Price have handled their roles perfectly this season especially with the upgrade ND got with Seider. I'd like to see more of Williams and I wouldn't rule using him more this year yet, his time will come next season. I also think that compared to last season where we had a running QB vs. this season we have a better passing QB/athletic WR's.

The best thing ND did was get rid of the wildcat in the offense, I think Denbrock has some plays he's kept to show as a surprise when needed.

I would like to see more of an inter grated combo of Love and Price.

Once Love is in he is in and same with Price. In the same drive you have 5 plays with love and 3 with Price I think it would help a little bit more with their effectiveness. Not love gets Love gets a drive then Price.

 

[NDohio]

Overall JS is a really great coach, but I hate that he only goes two deep. It’s a serious flaw in his coaching philosophy.