A few weeks ago I thought Tony Gregory was going to be our go-to running back. He has the speed and vision to make the big play and I knew we needed to focus our team around one runner. After this game I have changed my mind.
J.C. Coleman has the talent and the speed to be a play maker. His small frame makes it hard to track him behind the line. This give's him an added edge that reminds me of Lamichael James. He has that home run threat that I have been dying for all season. I went ahead and put together some highlights from the Duke game to showcase his performance.
What are everyone's thoughts as far as finally finding our feature back?
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Now let's hope we actually stick with him. I don't want us to go back to a different starter after this type of performance... If we do, I want to know what and why it happened.
Amen
Does look LaMichael esq #notmad
agreed, I've liked jc all season, I hope that since this game the coaches will actually stick with him. I'm scared for some reason they'll go with someone else next week.
For some reason I feel like they'll go back to Holmes or even Gregory... I don't know why, but it just seems like one of those things this coaching staff would do just to confuse the hell out of us.
it does seem like that
I really think it would be bad for morale (JC and the entire team) if they don't go with the guy who crushed it this week...what's the incentive? play for performance...we need to get with that.
I know we've been saying that about the receivers, but this performance really was breakout for our current backfield.
I've liked JC more than Holmes all year and I'm happy that we finally had a break out performance by at least one of our backs. I also really liked the way Gregory was running today (who thought they'd ever be saying that?) and I wonder why he didn't get more snaps today. BUT I am still very happy for JC.
he looked like another #4 out there
yes he should be the starter
i think we have found our next one
I think we have found our next great back for the next few years
I said before the season....
....that I thought JCC would leave VT as its all time leading rusher. We have gotten close to that mark with Suggs, KJ, RW and DW....but none stayed for their last year (remember, Suggs could have applied for a Med RS and decided against it). JCC will be here for all four years.
I compare him to Dion Lewis from PITT. He's small, but powerful.
There's a reason
why Coleman was a highly touted back coming out of high school while playing at the highest level in-state. Hopefully, Shane will realize who our best home run hitter is in the backfield and stick with JC starting, using Gregory and Holmes as change of pace backs. Loved seeing how quickly JC gets to the edge and then makes his cut upfield decisively.
Fun to see
For all the shit we give the offensive guys, that was a good day of playcalling.
+1
Quick Piecharts
I know it's 8 AM, but it's never too early for piecharts.
The two things I take away from them: 1) Less carries to the wide receivers means more touches and production for the tailbacks, 2) if Logan Thomas is involved in the ground game, we will move the ball. He ran the zone read very well yesterday.
I agree with many of the comments in this thread. Specifically, if J.C. isn't the featured guy to start against Clemson, it would be demoralizing for the team and fans. That's nothing against Holmes who has done well in spots, but J.C. must have earned it in practice, and showed what he could do when he gets the touches. I never thought Gregory would compliment Coleman well, but he did just that. Both are speedsters, but Gregory seems to go downhill a little more. Although, I love Coleman throwing his shoulder into defenders and trying to run through people.
Good stuff Joe
Pretty sure this was Coleman's first start as well, so at least whatever the coaches see at practice is getting rewarded. I can't imagine then not starting him again next week after this game, but it tells you something when we are doubting the staff on something so obvious.
Great call with how well our RBs run when LT gets going too.
Pie....
Lots of pie here.
Lots of HAM too.
65% of rushes go to LT3 and JC4, that's the recipe for success! Our offense is totally different when Logan's involved in the run game and making the right decision on the zone read plays.
I still don't care for Michael Holmes at all; JC4, Tony Gregory, and Scales all get the job done better than him. Tony Gregory needs to learn how to break tackles though, he's great when he gets it on the outside with space to take off but he struggles at the first sight of a defender.
A 1-2 punch of coleman and gregory could be potent but it all depends on the guys up front. I could have turned the corner on some of those runs yesterday (ok, probably not but the blocking yesterday was great at times). If the OL can seal the edge the way they did yesterday the running game will yield some big plays the rest of the way.
I'm pretty excited for a
Edmunds/Harris and JCC combo backfield next year.
Start working on those nicknames.
There's the obvious...
Thunder and Lightning.
Be more original...
That one's too closely tied to Clemson for my liking.
Hulk and The Flash... Tonka
Hulk and The Flash...
Tonka Truck and Speed Racer... (I kinda like this one).
I agree that Thunder/Lightning is too close to clemson.
Truck and Duck?
Except now Harris will be the truck instead of LT?
Doctor Evil and Mini Me?
Let's Go!
Watching every practice since training camp on August 6th, I've been extremely impressed with JCC. Small back, bounces off defenders, and has explosive speed to cut the corner and head up field. He has definitely earned his spot as the starter. The only problem is that Duke's defense is terrible. Finally a D-Line that our O-Line could handle and a secondary that our receivers were outrunning. They gave up over 500 yards of offensive to us. It's going to be a tough next 4 weeks, but I'm hoping this win gives us momentum going into Death Valley next week.
The next two defenses we play are also...
...terrible.
Clemson's terrible defense
Lest we forget, Clemson's terrible defense last year (WVU just scored again) managed to shut our offense down twice last season like Bama spanking an FCS victim. Hope our coaches have learned something new offensively from the film on Clemson or we're in for another long Saturday.
Unfortunately...
... so is ours (hate to say it)
we need a hard running back
That keeps his legs diving through contract and that's exactly what jcc does. Kids been productive all season just never got Carries. He'd make a great run and then boom in comes Holmes only to lose a yard or two because of hesitant running. I know jcc is small but if you look at how he's built he can carry the ball 20-25 times a game. And each touch had a chance to go all the way. The most electric player on the team needs to get his touches and lots of them. I've said since the spring that he needs to be the starter. I was never worried about the rbs because i knew he was there. With all due respect to edmunds because he looked great in the spring and fall as well but we have our primary back now. Defenses now have to respect jcc put him in the backfield run that read option and defenses won't know who they need to worry about more.
jcc has tremendous speed .. that was obvious after his first few carries this season .. power?? not sold on that yet and i think he needs to gain a few more pounds .. but he definitely appears to be the clear starter now..unfortunate for holmes and i'm sure they'll continue to mix it up ... but i'd look for him to get the majority of carries ... if he can get to the open field (somehow), he's very dangerous. he can catch the ball too so i hope they continue to pass the ball to him (at least) a few times a game so that the d has to at least account for it.
i'm worried about clemson .. with our oline issues now but their defense (and mainly dline) is not as good as they were last year. i think the coaches have been watching the '11 games over lunch for the last 9 months so they should have a good plan .. bottom line -- we'll need good play on both sides of the ball. our defense needs to get SOME stops and our offense needs to score some points .. because clemson will .. bottom line -- we just need to outscore them ... if we can put up 40 points, i think we beat em
I don't know if 40 will do it. They can torch our secondary and they already average 41 points per game.
Put on a damn shirt
Hahaha! - try 70
JC
Its cool watching him run and see his little feet churning fast.
At the beginning of the season/preseason I thought Holmes would be our most consistent runner and JC would get the share of the 2nd back carries. Little did I know the offense would be so wishy-washy about who the lead guy would be at the Tailback spot. But at this point it NEEDS to be Coleman with 60% of the RB carries. Gregory to get the 2nd most and Scales to get mop-up/goal-line duty.
From my POV at least, Holmes has been very disappointing and the least consistent with his share of the carries. I don't see anything he excels at (had a twitter convo with a few other guys from the site a week ago about this...they agree). Unless he starts showing up better in practice, Holmes should be the 4th man in the stable.
Coleman and Gregory are our HR hitters with their speed. Scales can bring some power (being a former FB). And I haven't even mentioned LT3! I'm not trying to bash Holmes I just think he really needs to improve. /end rant
Keep starting JC, Shane!
Holmes was overhyped from day one.
Herbstreet's stain a** even had him on 'breakout player' watch in the pre-season.