RB Situation - Change needed

[jonesman]

First, let me say absolute KUDOS to Armando for running like a true leader all season. He has made yards when none were there. He has played thru injury. The guys is plain and simply laid it all on the line this year. Thanks Armando!!!

This past week, Kelly was challenging Cierre Wood to run harder. I do not think he got the message. I call them like I see them and Wood is running tenative and scared. Yesterday, I saw him slow up several times before contact. It is time to have hime take a seat.

Jonas is playing decent with more burst than Cierre. Not sure he is ever going to be a breakaway guy, but I will take his effort.

Now, for my biggest question to Kelly. I am a huge Kelly supporter, but I am going to be blunt here. Where the F%$@ has Hughes been all year. I know he is not a perfect spready offense back, but he sure as hell runs better than what any of us are seeing from Wood or even Jonas. There is no way Allen will take this beating all year without some breathers. Kelly better atleast give Hughes some carries after what I watched this week.

 

[RyCo1983]

where has kelly's brain been on ohhhh so many play calls this season...haha
he doesn't have the personel to run his offense wide open...yet he continues to try and fail

 

[Irish Man3]

He hasn't been running his offense wide open by any means. If you watch the way Cinci's offense was operated over the last two years, we are a far cry from that. Biggest difference is the use of the quarterback. On all those zone read running plays, Dayne has had about ten yards of space but chooses to hand the ball off for no gain or a loss of yards. BK wont free up Dayne Crist and anyone that saw the Michigan game knows why. Also, our pace at which we run our offense is way off from BK's traditional offense. We have a long way to go and BK has kept it about as vanilla as he possibly can. He cant change his whole offensive scheme because the players were recruited for a different offensive style. He has to implement his system and begin to recruit the players that fit his system. He is doing about all he can with what hes got (lack of athletes).

 

[Riddickulous]

Hughes had two receptions in garbage time against Stanford's backups. Nothing to write home about.

 

[jonesman]

I saw the Hughes play late in the game, but it is about time he saw some real carries when the game mattered.

 

[Butchie]

HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHEEESS
HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHEEESS
HUUUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHEEESS

 

[RyCo1983]

Give the big man the ball!

 

[tankjeep]

He hasn't been running his offense wide open by any means. If you watch the way Cinci's offense was operated over the last two years, we are a far cry from that. Biggest difference is the use of the quarterback. On all those zone read running plays, Dayne has had about ten yards of space but chooses to hand the ball off for no gain or a loss of yards. BK wont free up Dayne Crist and anyone that saw the Michigan game knows why. Also, our pace at which we run our offense is way off from BK's traditional offense. We have a long way to go and BK has kept it about as vanilla as he possibly can. He cant change his whole offensive scheme because the players were recruited for a different offensive style. He has to implement his system and begin to recruit the players that fit his system. He is doing about all he can with what hes got (lack of athletes).

couldn't have said it any better, nicely put.

 

[TinyT]

Hughes' receptions may have been at the end of the game, but it was against Stanford's starters. He looked faster to me. I would love to see if he decided to become a power back, and we all know that he can pick up the blitz. I don't see the harm in giving him a few carries to find out if he is willing to make people pay for making contact.

I was holding my breath when Gray had the ball yesterday, fearing a fumble. He held on tight so perhaps he trained his arms to hold on to the rock. I didn't notice him in blitz pickup so I have no comment.

Wood definitely seems tentative, both on kick return and running the ball. I am thinking that he has homerun speed but his acceleration might no be there quite yet, perhaps more time in the weight room will allow him to power through arm tackles...a la Allen. He also got blown up trying to block a blitzer, which is probably an experience/technique thing.

The horses are in the barn...Allen is certainly number 1, I believe that Gray and Hughes should be number 2/3, then Wood can continue to improve his leg strength and pass blocking. When all is said and done I believe it will be Wood who is the most dynamic of the four, but just not this year.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

What Wood has really cost us is a quarterback, and if he is left in he may cost us a quarterback for the whole season. Aproximately 75 percet of the plays I did get to see in the Stanford game, he missed his blocking assignment. I don't care about the running, even, until we can get someone else who understands their blocking assignment!

 

[Old Man Mike]

100% agreement with Bogtrotter. In this offense, and in our Quarterback situation, nothing is more important to our quality of play than the running back picking up the blitz. If Hughes can do that, and I assume that he can, maybe he IS the man to give Allen some rest. Stanford has, unfortunately, given everyone else on the schedule a blueprint for completely discombobulating our offense. I believe that Kelly can fix the line reads, but he can't fix an RB who doesn't seem to have a clue about blocking [sadly and mysteriously]. Because Hughes has sat there, doubtless simmering, for four games, maybe he would come out with fire in the belly and run hard. It seems to me to be worth the experiment.

 

[Irish Man3]

Jonas did a much better job in picking up the blitz packages than Cierre. However, it is just as much the quarterbacks responsibility in pre-snap reads to identify the blitz and set up the protection. Crist looked very tenative and lost in the pre-snap process on saturday.
As far as Hughes, I would have to agree with those of you that said he deserves a shot. He has been with this team through some rough times and has been an off the field leader. Yes he is not the prototipical back for this system and we may not see another back like him again under Kelly, but while he is here we should use his power and experiance.

 

[ryno 24]

Hughes does not run as hard as he should he is a good leader but he does not really fit

 

[Irish Man3]

Hughes does not run as hard as he should he is a good leader but he does not really fit

Doesn't really fit into what? Our amazing and effective running game? Or wait, maybe its our running backs staggering ability to pick up a very vanilla weak side blitz? If you want to see a back that doesnt run hard then watch the last three games of this season and watch every running back in our backfield aside from Armando. Cierre Wood looks like he is lost or scared.
BK has said numerous times that you have to run the ball to win championships. We can't line up and get one yard if we need to right now (STANFORD). Hughes may not "fit" into what a spread back should look like, but right now we dont "fit" into an offense that runs the spread.

 

[Rocket89]

As soon as Hughes broke that long run after catch I knew there'd be someone clamoring for him to play more.

He's too slow. He's never played well against a good defense. Ever.

Biggest problem as some have mentioned, is that Crist isn't keeping the ball on the read play. Tough front 7's like Stanford will eat up our shotgun running game if it's one dimensional.

 

[jonesman]

I am wondering why not one single reporter has asked Kelly why Hughes is not getting any opporuntity at all. It just does not make any sense to me after watching our one man running attack the last three games. Cierre looked good at Purdue, but my fat *** could have ran thru the giant holes our line made that game. Since then, he is looking scared and timid. I have never seen that out of Hughes.

As an infamous WR once said, "Give Hughes the damn ball"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dspeters5]

Spread offenses need athletes, elusive, quick, runners, able to use open space. I love Hughes, but not in this offense. Jonas Gray has more potential than Hughes. That was why Cierre Wood got the call, because he had athleticism at running back. And I agree with everyone that he is playing tentative, as is Crist. Dayne is getting the crap kicked out of him. They jam Rudolph, his safety valve, then he has 1.5 seconds to find someone else. Go figure. Maybe Gray and Allen can break thru here.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Joonesman I agree with you...I posted in another thread that he should see time. Either as a third down back or to give AA a breather. Hughes can pickup the blitz, which is huge and has always been a good receiver out of the backfield.

 

[Irish Man3]

For those of you who keep up the arguement that Hughes is to slow, how many sweeps have we run outside the jet sweep with Theo Riddick? Hardly any at all. Our runs are between the tackles and involve zone blocking. Very few times has breakout speed become an issue. We need some experiance in the backfield. We need the guy thats going to get us the fourth and one against Stanford and Hughes is the best guy for that job. With Jonas Gray out with a strained groin and Cierre running like he's blind-folded, I look for Hughes to see the ball a lot against a rugged and stout defense like Boston College. Speed right now is an after thought. We need a runningback that can provide solid pass protection and toughness.

 

[kmoose]

For those of you who keep up the arguement that Hughes is to slow, how many sweeps have we run outside the jet sweep with Theo Riddick? Hardly any at all. Our runs are between the tackles and involve zone blocking. Very few times has breakout speed become an issue. We need some experiance in the backfield. We need the guy thats going to get us the fourth and one against Stanford and Hughes is the best guy for that job. With Jonas Gray out with a strained groin and Cierre running like he's blind-folded, I look for Hughes to see the ball a lot against a rugged and stout defense like Boston College. Speed right now is an after thought. We need a runningback that can provide solid pass protection and toughness.

I don't disagree with anything you say here, but consider it from this angle.........

It's not so much speed, as in getting to and turning the corner on a sweep. The Offensive Line is NOT a group that is opening huge holes. That means that the backs have to hit them quickly. Hughes takes some time to get going, so those holes are very likely to be closed by the time he gets there. Having said that, I realize that none of the other backs are doing an outstanding job of slipping through the creases and then breaking through the second level, but I am only left to assume that the coaches have chosen the "lesser of two evils", so to speak. I would absolutely like to see the coaches find some way to get Hughes involved in the offense, just like you and others.

 

[Irish Man3]

We havent been running sweep plays with our running backs. There is no need to turn any corner because our runs have not been designed to move to the outside. I would rather have Hughes lower his shoulder and pick up 3-4 than have Cierre dancing behind the line of scrimage. Im not basing my assesment of Hughes from the late performance on saturday, but people are acting like Hughes cant be a factor in this offense. What we are doing now is NOT working. If BK wants to send a message to this team about toughness, then put people in the game that are tough.

 

[irishtrain]

He hasn't been running his offense wide open by any means. If you watch the way Cinci's offense was operated over the last two years, we are a far cry from that. Biggest difference is the use of the quarterback. On all those zone read running plays, Dayne has had about ten yards of space but chooses to hand the ball off for no gain or a loss of yards. BK wont free up Dayne Crist and anyone that saw the Michigan game knows why. Also, our pace at which we run our offense is way off from BK's traditional offense. We have a long way to go and BK has kept it about as vanilla as he possibly can. He cant change his whole offensive scheme because the players were recruited for a different offensive style. He has to implement his system and begin to recruit the players that fit his system. He is doing about all he can with what hes got (lack of athletes).

This comment really hits the mark. This offense needs either a run threat QB or a fine offensive line so the runs by the backs are open. Dane Crist is a fine throwing QB ( with guts ) who will improve vastly over the next 2 years-if he keeps his job. What you see in his bad moments is diffculty in 4 starts to move this offense as the coach sees/teaches it, not lack of toughness or %$#@^. They need players (of course) but they need the players they have to keep chopping wood and look for the fine line of excellance that is needed to improve. Right now they must decide. They must take it further. Armando Allen and Manti Teo have made that decision. Until the calvary comes in the next few years these guys have to find a way to hold the fort. Kelly knows what he's doing and given the players he will win games. I dont think its toughness as the seem to be game by my eyes, but they do have to regroup as their SUPER season dreams have ended. The assignment now is make Notre Dame respectable again and get to a bowl game and win it.

 

[lookingdeadred]

Yes, the Stanford starters were still in

Yes, the Stanford starters were still in

but they were playing soft. Getting excited over the two plays Hughes made is an overreaction.

Hughes' receptions may have been at the end of the game, but it was against Stanford's starters. He looked faster to me. I would love to see if he decided to become a power back, and we all know that he can pick up the blitz. I don't see the harm in giving him a few carries to find out if he is willing to make people pay for making contact.

I was holding my breath when Gray had the ball yesterday, fearing a fumble. He held on tight so perhaps he trained his arms to hold on to the rock. I didn't notice him in blitz pickup so I have no comment.

Wood definitely seems tentative, both on kick return and running the ball. I am thinking that he has homerun speed but his acceleration might no be there quite yet, perhaps more time in the weight room will allow him to power through arm tackles...a la Allen. He also got blown up trying to block a blitzer, which is probably an experience/technique thing.

The horses are in the barn...Allen is certainly number 1, I believe that Gray and Hughes should be number 2/3, then Wood can continue to improve his leg strength and pass blocking. When all is said and done I believe it will be Wood who is the most dynamic of the four, but just not this year.

 

[TinyT]

but they were playing soft. Getting excited over the two plays Hughes made is an overreaction.

I didn't base my observations on the two plays, but if you want to look at them, you'll notice that Hughes caught the ball...no juggling...no question. He doesn't have breakaway speed, won't juke most second level defenders out, but he does bring more strength, mass and experience than any other back on the team. He hasn't really shown a propensity of putting the ball on the ground and he can pick up the blitz.

We haven't had a chance to find out what he might be capable of in this offense, but we do know that he is the second leading rusher on the team and until this year he owned the longest run of any of the running backs. Last year he began to show an ability to run through defenders. If he has finally embraced his frame and bulk he could be an outstanding change of pace for Armando, one that wouldn't sacrifice the protection of Crist in the name of potential production.

He is the strongest back on the team, second most experienced and dammit he has been one hell of a team player for his career. Why not just give him a chance? I highly doubt it could hurt, I don't think he will fall backwards for more lost yardage. I just want to see what he could do.

 

[NDMontana]

What ND needs on kick returns, running plays and from receivers who make catches, is for them to square their shoulders up-field and get frigging going. It seems that every time I see a kick return and running play around college football, the players get the ball and kick it into gear. ND kick returners and running backs get the ball and it looks like they're going half-speed...they never square up and hit it...they pussy-foot around like they're waiting to take a hit.
I'm sick of Cierre Wood bringing kicks out of the end zone at half-*** speed. If you're bringing a ball out of the end zone you'd better be flying and you'd better be sure you can get to the twenty . He never does either.

The receivers, especially Floyd, need to stop catching the ball and immediately running half-sideways, half-backwards. They usually end up two yards back from where they'd have been had they just squared their shoulders and ran forward. It's a terrible habit in college and it certainly won't work in the NFL. Plus, those type plays seem to lead to quite a few clips and holding penalties. I'm always screaming "just go" at the t.v. There is never a sense of urgency, nobody looks explosive. Any good coach will tell you that playing the game at half speed leads to a lot *** kickings and a lot of injuries.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I didn't base my observations on the two plays, but if you want to look at them, you'll notice that Hughes caught the ball...no juggling...no question. He doesn't have breakaway speed, won't juke most second level defenders out, but he does bring more strength, mass and experience than any other back on the team. He hasn't really shown a propensity of putting the ball on the ground and he can pick up the blitz.

We haven't had a chance to find out what he might be capable of in this offense, but we do know that he is the second leading rusher on the team and until this year he owned the longest run of any of the running backs. Last year he began to show an ability to run through defenders. If he has finally embraced his frame and bulk he could be an outstanding change of pace for Armando, one that wouldn't sacrifice the protection of Crist in the name of potential production.

He is the strongest back on the team, second most experienced and dammit he has been one hell of a team player for his career. Why not just give him a chance? I highly doubt it could hurt, I don't think he will fall backwards for more lost yardage. I just want to see what he could do.

I love everything you just said there!

 

[mrmiller8]

I really think that one of the reasons why we are seeing so much of Cierre Wood is because of the transfer talks early in the preseason. Shaq evans left and thats his compadre, if Wood didn't get any playing time I think he was outta there too. Wood may not be a great player right now. But one year of maturity and a year of strength training in longo's system might be just the ticket. I think Kelly knows that Wood can be an explosive guy and a great player and he wasn't ready to see one of the few guys that actually fits his system walk out the door yet. So he is going to give him some reps. On hughes, I like him just as everyone else, but hes a senior, hes not a spread running back and you dont build for the future by letting a senior who doesn't fit your system play a whole lot.

 

[Irish Man3]

I really think that one of the reasons why we are seeing so much of Cierre Wood is because of the transfer talks early in the preseason. Shaq evans left and thats his compadre, if Wood didn't get any playing time I think he was outta there too. Wood may not be a great player right now. But one year of maturity and a year of strength training in longo's system might be just the ticket. I think Kelly knows that Wood can be an explosive guy and a great player and he wasn't ready to see one of the few guys that actually fits his system walk out the door yet. So he is going to give him some reps. On hughes, I like him just as everyone else, but hes a senior, hes not a spread running back and you dont build for the future by letting a senior who doesn't fit your system play a whole lot.

I find it very hard to believe that BK, who has preached since he has been here about wanting players that want to be here and players that embrace the Notre Dame tradition, would give Cierre Wood reps simply because he muttered words about a possible transfer. If you paid attention to the press conference after Shaq transferred, Kelly did not try and beg Shaq to stay. Shaq had been talking about transferring all summer and he still did not recieve reps because he didnt EARN them. If you watched the spring game this year, Cierre Wood looked amazing and very explosive. Cierre EARNED his reps in this offense. It just has not translated onto the field against a solid opponent.\

As far as Hughes..... he is a senior and he is a leader. He has a lot of experiance and he understands his role in pass coverage. I also think the best way to "build for the future" is to win. Winning helps with recruiting and it helps shape the attitudes of the players already on campus.
Cierre looks lost on the field with the ball in his hands and in pass coverage. You need a SENIORS experiance in the backfield to help protect Dayne. Hughes may not be a burner but right now, we aren't opening any holes for the backs to explode through anyway. We need a backup that is going to get us the tough yard and give Dayne the comfort of knowing the protection is there. Hughes gives us that.... Cierre at the moment, does not!

 

[lookingdeadred]

Huh?

Huh?

How exactly could Wood miss blocks on 75% of the plays when he was not in the game for that many plays?

What Wood has really cost us is a quarterback, and if he is left in he may cost us a quarterback for the whole season. Aproximately 75 percet of the plays I did get to see in the Stanford game, he missed his blocking assignment. I don't care about the running, even, until we can get someone else who understands their blocking assignment!