Ja'Juan Seider - Running Backs Coach

[KPENN]

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.

They have 2 NFL running backs. Play them

 

[Redbar]

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.

I am not disagreeing, but I think it helps his recruitment of high end talent. Most guys aren’t like Jadarian and Love, most young guys want the ball not committee’s.

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

I am not disagreeing, but I think it helps his recruitment of high end talent. Most guys aren’t like Jadarian and Love, most young guys want the ball not committee’s.

The idea will help you get them out of high school, but how do you keep them around after their freshman year where they probably don't touch the ball once?

 

[allenm5333]

The idea will help you get them out of high school, but how do you keep them around after their freshman year where they probably don't touch the ball once?

I would be curious how the rotation evolves in a post Love-Price era. If it is a 80% share for top 2 and we see a third get 20%, that’s fair. We have 2 studs right now and they deserve the 95%. Love can do whatever they forces fed Williams last year

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Seider always played two backs and said that would continue when he was hired.

Even when he puts the back ups in it was a two back rotation with Williams and the freshman.

 

[ulukinatme]

 

[Dale]

II saying he turned down Florida to stay.

 

[arrowryan]

II saying he turned down Florida to stay.

Unless this was for the OC job, it would’ve been a massive step in the wrong direction.

 

[irishff1014]

II saying he turned down Florida to stay.

Shew

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

II saying he turned down Florida to stay.

I take this as some sort of indication that Freeman is not intending to leave.

If I were offered another gig, I would certainly ask my boss, who has been rumored to be interested in leaving, to give me a sense of where the wind was blowing before I made a decision.

Maybe that’s rose colored glasses…. But, hey, it’s something.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I take this as some sort of indication that Freeman is not intending to leave.

If I were offered another gig, I would certainly ask my boss, who has been rumored to be interested in leaving, to give me a sense of where the wind was blowing before I made a decision.

Maybe that’s rose colored glasses…. But, hey, it’s something.

Said the same thing about Al Washington.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Shew

Please take all comments about Shewsberry to a basketball forum. Let's not bring that negativity here.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Said the same thing about Al Washington.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I take this as some sort of indication that Freeman is not intending to leave.

If I were offered another gig, I would certainly ask my boss, who has been rumored to be interested in leaving, to give me a sense of where the wind was blowing before I made a decision.

Maybe that’s rose colored glasses…. But, hey, it’s something.

Remember burnt ends Brian saying he wasn't leaving?

 

[ShamrockOnHelmet]

Remember burnt ends Brian saying he wasn't leaving?

No

 

[Domina Nostra]

(Posted this in wrong thread

I heard the Irish Illustrated people compare the unknowns with the 2026 RB room to the 2020 and 2019 rosters. Personally, I don't think there is any comparison.

• AW was VERY productive as a freshman and was a monster in garbage time this year.
• He was held off the field this year by (1) two all-time greats and (2) a RB coach who almost always plays only two RBs (unless its garbage time).
• The kids behind Aeneas are basically all 4-stars with high upsides.
• The one with the lowest ranking, NJ, is the guy the coaches are most excited about.

So I am personally not worried AT ALL about RBs in 2026.

I am worried about back-up QB and maybe a little about unknowns at WR. But RB is going to be just fine.

 

[DONTH8]

(Posted this in wrong thread

I heard the Irish Illustrated people compare the unknowns with the 2026 RB room to the 2020 and 2019 rosters. Personally, I don't think there is any comparison.

• AW was VERY productive as a freshman and was a monster in garbage time this year.
• He was held off the field this year by (1) two all-time greats and (2) a RB coach who almost always plays only two RBs (unless its garbage time).
• The kids behind Aeneas are basically all 4-stars with high upsides.
• The one with the lowest ranking, NJ, is the guy the coaches are most excited about.

So I am personally not worried AT ALL about RBs in 2026.

I am worried about back-up QB and maybe a little about unknowns at WR. But RB is going to be just fine.

And I will repeat what the poster responded with:

I'm more nervous about our OL being dominant and staying healthy than our RBs being the weak link of the offense. If the OL does their job, then our RBs will be very successful, imo.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

(Posted this in wrong thread

I heard the Irish Illustrated people compare the unknowns with the 2026 RB room to the 2020 and 2019 rosters. Personally, I don't think there is any comparison.

• AW was VERY productive as a freshman and was a monster in garbage time this year.
• He was held off the field this year by (1) two all-time greats and (2) a RB coach who almost always plays only two RBs (unless its garbage time).
• The kids behind Aeneas are basically all 4-stars with high upsides.
• The one with the lowest ranking, NJ, is the guy the coaches are most excited about.

So I am personally not worried AT ALL about RBs in 2026.

I am worried about back-up QB and maybe a little about unknowns at WR. But RB is going to be just fine.

Agreed. He’s not chopped liver. Irish Illustrated folks seem to be over correcting for the obvious fact that we’ve been spoiled w/ J. Love & JD Price and not to expect similar output from AW & whichever RB accompanies him. TBF, they’re probably coming from a mindset of their message board complainers and trying to set realistic expectations. I would hope most, if not all; posters on IE would understand the obvious. I mean the kid can run, catch passes & run block. I’m sure he’ll have his share of stuffs & being caught from behind but overall he’s a really good back. This is all provided the OL can remain healthy which Craig & Jagusah have yet to prove they can do.

 

[IrishLax]

And I will repeat what the poster responded with:

I'm more nervous about our OL being dominant and staying healthy than our RBs being the weak link of the offense. If the OL does their job, then our RBs will be very successful, imo.

I feel like OL is by far the sketchiest part of the team now... maybe that and TE. Maybe we should get a local judge to declare Zach Martin eligible for another year.

 

[GowerND11]

I feel like OL is by far the sketchiest part of the team now... maybe that and TE. Maybe we should get a local judge to declare Zach Martin eligible for another year.

Heck, I'd take Nick Martin having another year...

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I feel like OL is by far the sketchiest part of the team now... maybe that and TE. Maybe we should get a local judge to declare Zach Martin eligible for another year.

I saw Zack the other day. Should've asked if he had any eligibility.

 

[Irish#1]

I feel like OL is by far the sketchiest part of the team now... maybe that and TE. Maybe we should get a local judge to declare Zach Martin eligible for another year.

That would be criminal. lol

 

[NDFAN420]

(Posted this in wrong thread

I heard the Irish Illustrated people compare the unknowns with the 2026 RB room to the 2020 and 2019 rosters. Personally, I don't think there is any comparison.

• AW was VERY productive as a freshman and was a monster in garbage time this year.
• He was held off the field this year by (1) two all-time greats and (2) a RB coach who almost always plays only two RBs (unless its garbage time).
• The kids behind Aeneas are basically all 4-stars with high upsides.
• The one with the lowest ranking, NJ, is the guy the coaches are most excited about.

So I am personally not worried AT ALL about RBs in 2026.

I am worried about back-up QB and maybe a little about unknowns at WR. But RB is going to be just fine.

Added to that, RB is traditionally the easiest position to contribute to early (Frosh) or without a lot of previous playing time.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

RB expectations need to be adjusted accordingly. With that said, I'm far more concerned about OL and Denbrock moving the chains in short yardage w/o two RBs that made everyone on offense look like wizards every time they touched the ball. That doesn't mean I'm pissing down my leg over the offense. I'm just in wait-and-see mode. Love and Price bailed out the offense so many times last year, it's crazy. RBs in 26 will do fine (maybe even great) but it'll be more dependent on everyone else doing their job as opposed to Love/Price being able to do it alone.

 

[arrowryan]

Where are these OL concerns coming from? They’re returning 3/5 starters

 

[Old Man Mike]

My sketchy opinions:
A. Aneyas is going to outshine nearly every RB in the country this year UNLESS he gets passed by OTHERS in his own RB room;
B. Our RB room will be (again) the best in the country, maybe even requiring an NCAA investigation as to how that's possible;
C. I don't know who of the "other four" will emerge but they probably ALL will, giving IE (incredibly) something to gripe about all season ("WHY OH WHY IS _____ not getting Snaps ? sound of sobbing";
D. Several of the "youngsters" not only come into the program with power back reputations, but already look the part. Lord have (a little) mercy on the LBs and DBs who get in the way (they were just doing their job and now they're in the injury tent);
E. But. but. but the OLine!!!! I'm going to bet that we have 10 to 12 blasters who would start on most programs elsewhere, and that our problem is keeping them. Knapp, Otting, Craig, Lambert, Abshur, Jagusah (all with starting experience and with significant success, especially when it comes to run blocking), plus Augustine, Terek, Black, maybe even Styles although he hasn't moved the needle yet, plus Cam Herron, and a bunch of even younger dudes who are perfectly acceptable first-off-the-bus possibilities. Will we fail because every lineman on the roster wrecks in Wyoming? If that happens sure. Mother Mary will cry in Heaven.

... but I doubt it.

P.S. with that OLine room, I wondered about us going for SIX OLine (all superbly rated ones)in our last class. Two thoughts came to the surface:
1: The Bigs are where we win, and they're available because they know we're winners there; AND
2. We have to overstock "starters" because everybody else in the country wants to poach our second team guys.
... and THAT should tell us a lot about who is residing (playing or not) in that OLine room.

 

[Wild Bill]

Where are these OL concerns coming from? They’re returning 3/5 starters

The Oline hasn't met it's potential the last couple of years, mainly due to injury, and we are going into the spring with the two most talented lineman injured.

If Knapp, Jags, Craig, and Lambert in in the lineup, stay healthy and play anywhere near their ceiling, that line is going to be nasty regardless of who fills the fifth spot.

Hopefully that's what we get but I doubt it.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Still can't help myself so ... we should at least note what the outside football world thought about our OLine last season.

A. In mid season, we were recommended as one of the JOE MOORE Award finalists. Note that this was AFTER "No Jagusah" and the games vs Miami and A&M;

B. By season's end (November 28th to be precise), the ND OLine was rated THIRD in the nation in power performance impact. Note that this is essentially whole season, including Schrauth et al injuries.)

I include the stats/ratings.


Now of course this can't be true since we're so weak in our ability to next-man-up, but I'll include some outside commentary anyway.



Gentlemen: WE GOOD. ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BENCH>

 

[arrowryan]

The Oline hasn't met it's potential the last couple of years, mainly due to injury, and we are going into the spring with the two most talented lineman injured.

If Knapp, Jags, Craig, and Lambert in in the lineup, stay healthy and play anywhere near their ceiling, that line is going to be nasty regardless of who fills the fifth spot.

Hopefully that's what we get but I doubt it.

Until I physically see Jagusah suited up and playing on Saturday this Fall, I’m not getting my hopes up. He broke his arm 6 months ago. He’s still not participating in team workouts? C’mon..

I think the OL will be just fine.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I'm with Old Man Mike and Arrowryan.

I think the O-line went through an unexpected transition period because a dominant OT never really emerged between Carroll/ Baker/Kristofic/Lugg/Carmody.

Alt and Fisher both got onto the field sooner than anticipated due to injuries and lack of competition. Then they turned out to be so good, they both left 1-2 years early and created a new hole at OT. When Jagusah went down again last year, the OL was in a bit of disarray. Not a good place to be when you are opening against the 2025 Miami D-line.

I think that between Knapp, Jagusah, Black, Lambert, Prescod, and Augustine, they are going to have 2 excellent OTs. And there are plenty of very good options at OG.

So I am expecting ND to be back at O-line in 2026.