As TKP's own Brian Marcolini first noticed today, JC Coleman spent some time talking with ESPN's David Hale for a Q and A today.
While the whole article is a decent read, this passage is particularly attention-grabbing when referring to his play at the start of the season vs. its end:
I had to get into a groove. Early in the season I was getting a few carries here and there, and it was hard to get into a rhythm. The offensive line got together and gelled much better, opening up a lot of holes that kind of weren't there early in the season. That mixed in with me getting into a groove and fill out the game, that helped with my success over those last three or four games.
Contrast that with Shane Beamer telling this to TKP's Will Grooms last week:
It's challenging. You think about these guys and then forget about (Marshawn Williams) and (Shai McKenzie). They're not out there repping. It's a good thing that you can add those guys to the mix. Everyone does something well. Everyone will have a role.
This isn't to pick at the frequently debated issue of whether Shane gets too cute with his rotation, merely to point out this disparity, should our internet-conscious RBs coach happen to be stopping by the site today.
Comments
100% correct RB's need to be able to feel the game out/get into the groove. Find 2-3 backs and go with them. If that's JC Edmunds and McMillian great.
Redshirt McClease, Juice and Shai if he comes back.. Peoples will be molded into a FB/H back for sure.
Unfortunately what is says is that if you start and only get 20 yards in 10 carries with a fumble in opposing territory against William & Mary -- and Ohio State on the road is coming up next week -- you're not going to endear yourself to the coaching staff and you're gonna see your role drastically reduced.
An opportunity to use this twice in one day, sure why not?
Oh lord haha, that is an uncomfortable gif.
It's exactly what happened with Ryan Williams, Darren Evans and David Wilson in 2010. Yeah, they were all starter-quality, but how can they be effective getting 8 carries a game, spaced over 4 quarters?
We need to have no more than 3 backs getting playing time, and two primary ballcarriers. This season, it should be Trey and JC as 1-2, with McMillan spelling.
Even though he hasn't played in a real game yet, I think that McMillian will be the starter mid way through the season. Idk about his pass-protection (Trey is pretty good), but from a running stand-point (speed, vision, patience, etc) I think he's the best back on the roster.
Wow, that is bold.
I'm expecting Trey and JCC to get 80% of the touches this year. Maybe McMillian plays Caleb's 3rd down role from last year.
idk about that.. Rogers has 3rd down back locked up IMO. I think we will see McMillian being used like JC was the first 3 weeks of last season.
Trey and JC will be 1a 1b and McMillian will get random carrier here and there but 3rd down protection..unlikely.. unless he already have blitz reads down 100%.
Have you seen him run in scrimmages or are you just going off what the coaches have said about him?
Seen him in scrimmages + HS tape. I'm mainly judging by what I've seen in scrimmages tho
Interesting that Shane seems to have the opposite approach that Hite had - he was always criticized for sticking with the "hot hand" too long and not sharing the ball, even when the RB was crashing into the line for 1 yard all game.
Now we're on the other extreme - noting that its tough to argue with the backs that Hite produced (especially given that he didn't produce any starting NFL RBs, with the exception of a few years of KJ).
Don't be surprised if Ryan Williams ends up starting this year for Dallas. The Cowboys coaches are really high on him.
behind that o-line he can put up some yardage, he just needs to stay healthy
He's not going to be the horse Murray was this year. I hope they don't try to do that to RMFW this year.
Murray wasn't that much of a horse, he would have led the NFL in yards if his yards before contact were the only ones counted. I think I could have had some level of success behind that line.
Murray was the definition of a work horse
I would disagree, my understanding of a work horse is a running back who is there to pound the rock into the d-line 30+ times a game. Murray was more of a show horse if he must be 4 legged, he got to the second level with little effort of his own and took fewer, and less intense hits. I believe this was his first nfl season as a starter where he didn't get hurt, and it is for the reasons previously mentioned, I think RMFW can handle the same work load.
When talking about running backs, horse means work horse. As in number of carries. Which he lead the nfl by very far
McMillian is drawing rave reviews he might be starter with breakaway potential that we haven't had recently
Mcmillian shouldn't start. He isn't experience enough at that position yet. He may be great with the ball in his hand but he is sure to be lacking in his play when he doesn't get the ball. He should definitely get playing time though.
Agreed. Caleb's biggest issue at RB was when he wasn't toting the rock. He missed a lot of blocks. From what I hear, that is one of the hardest things for RB to learn coming out of HS.
Pair that w/ the fact that McMillian was a QB in HS, and you've got a man with loads of talent, but no real experience on the finer points of his new position.
He'll see the field this year, but if he's ever the starter, it'll probably mean several other people are injured.
Shai and Marshawn were able to do it, as true freshman. McMillian has had a year to watch and learn and practice. If he can block, he's the starter from the running and catching ability shown so far. You can't just make a blanket assumption that he won't be able to block.
I haven't seen anything beyond the few videos released so far. It sounds like all the backs are doing really well behind the 1st string O-line.
History tells me that he won't be the starter unless he is just head & shoulders above everyone else.
My assumption is that the coaches are going to make the right determination on the starter based on what they see, and that if he isn't the starter, it's probably not going to be because of his running & catching ability.
I agree it sounds like all backs are doing fine behind the line. That's why I can't wait for the spring game. Seeing is believing. I want to whitness Mcmillian with my own lookey holes. I love the prospect of having multiple backs who can get us yards, but early diagnosis is he is a homerun hitter. He very well could be the 2015 David Wilson. The other backs pound it inside and he gets into space and is gone.
Let's not throw in a David Wilson comparison around until he actually plays a down of college football
Wasn't really a comparison, more an observation. Like I said I haven't seen him play in person all I've heard is his speed and shiftiness and he is predicted to be in the 3rd back conversation ala David Wilson. I'm not one to count chickens before they hatch.
I agree on waiting to see how the spring game plays out. Travon could see his carries increase in the 4th qtr if we can wear down the defense (dare I say...yes I dare) and be a game clincher. I really think Ztrey will surprise some folks early.
I still think we in the 2009 UA game if Evans is healthy. He and Williams could have kept the chains moving.
1) It didn't hurt that the the light went on for Teller at about the same time
2) It didn't hurt that JCC had August legs in November
Don't you think getting more consistent carries had something to do with his dramatic increase in productivity per carry?
The Line blocking had more to do with it. That and Coleman running north and south which was a change from his previous tendencies to try and break everything outside. Has to be a conscious effort by the coaching staff and Coleman to break that habit.
Sure, to some degree I suppose.
But the dramatic part was the Duke game and he hadn't been getting anything remotely close to consistent carries (as in ZERO to be precise) the 2 weeks prior to that Duke game, yet was immediately productive in the Duke game (58 yards on 9 carries in the 1st half).
JC owns Duke though. It's like something always clicks when it's Duke and he's productive.
Probably has something to do with Duke's run defense not being all that good.
IMO, it has to do with JCC's skill set being a favorable matchup against what Duke generally has (or does't have per se) defensively, i.e. not a lot of athleticism on the edge.
I personally would have used JCC the majority of the carries even if MW didn't get injured vs Duke.
I mean, just... look at them. I can understand JCs motivation, they're implorable.
One thing is for sure, we will be better prepared for RB injuries this year. Same with FB and same with QB. This year I hope we get revenge on the teams who beat us last year (due to our injuries) and some like BC who have beat us 2 times in the past 2 years. September 7th can't come fast enough! Coleman, Edmunds, and McMillian will give us a solid running game for sure especially behind a solid o-line.
Actually, I felt Shane did a great job with the running back rotation last year. Shai and Williams were the feature backs as everyone knew they had the highest ceiling. When they got hurt, he went with JC's experience and that paid off too.
I really don't get people complaining about Shane's rotations or comments. A role doesn't mean situational playing time for everyone. Special teams is a role. Scout team is a role. Knowing the offense and being ready to come in when people get hurt is a role. Last year Marshawn and Shai were the feature backs and they definitelly got into a rhythm. Once they went down they identified the next man up (JCC eventually) and fed him the carries.
3 years of bad offense tends to make fans less sympathetic to their coaches. Bud could forget to wear pants to a media interview and talk about playing Maddy at corner and fans would have an open mind. The offense hasn't quite earned that much faith.
Bud without pants is a feature not a bug
#teamnopants
You know what else helped JC Coleman? Quality of opponent. Here's VT's last 4 opponents and how they did against the run:
Duke: 196.3 yards/game allowed (96th)
Wake: 182.7 yards/game allowed (84th)
UVA: 120 yards/game allowed (20th)
Cincy: 181.5 yards/game allowed (82nd)
It's entirely possible that getting into a rhythm helped. The level of competition shouldn't be ignored.
Good point. However he had arguably his best game against UVa.
Wait a minute...it was UVA. Sorry, my bad.
You made the joke before I could.
The improvement in the running game wasn't due to just one thing. I'm sure Coleman being the only guy had some impact. Coleman having actual holes to run through helped more. I don't know exactly how to apportion the credit for the improvement, but I would tend to credit the line and the weak opposition more than I'd credit it to Coleman finding a groove.
I legged your first comment because I it had never occurred to me to look at who we played and how their run defenses stacked up. Your prudent observations regarding the strength of their run defenses and the improvement in our offensive line notwithstanding, if it means a higher degree of confidence for JC and the line, then it could have been against really bad teams like LOLUVA and the Little Sisters of the Poor for all I care.
Hey now, Little Sisters of the Poor beat out the Sisters of Mercy in the All-Convent Championship last year! Show some respect. If you had said a team like the Poor Clare's, I would have agreed.
Best third down defense in the country
/s