I noticed in the Duke game that he didn't get into the game until late (3rd, maybe 4th quarter). Do you think this is part of a strategy of using Peoples / Rogers to help loosen up the run-D initially and then continue to loosen it up in the second half with Marshawn?
I think it could be argued that perhaps it should be the other way around (have Marshawn loosen it up in the 1st / 2nd and have Rogers / Peoples come in later), but perhaps they just want a fresh RB set of legs after Travon presumably will be tired after the first half.
Marshawn has consistently shown that he's an excellent threat with Travon as our 1-2 RBs and for the life of me I don't know why he doesn't get the 2nd most touches more consistently - even if only as part of a formation for play-actions rather than actual hand-offs.
EDIT: Spelling mistakes corrected.
Comments
Personnel decisions in the run game have been puzzling. It seems the O coaches are really frustrated they can't get the run game going and they are trying a bunch of different things, while staying very conservative. I really believe Travon and Marshawn can get the job done but, I guess the coaches think differently. Travon should be a 1,000 hard ACC back. Hopefully that happens his next two years.
Hate to break it to you but he won't be a 1,000 yard back at Tech. That's not Fuente's offense.
dammit. I knew we shoulda hired Rich Rod /s
You a fan of not going bowling uh?
I think we might struggle to recruit big time backs in the future if we don't get better interior blocking or widen our splits or something. Marshawn is a talented player and I want to see him on the field more, but I am hoping that our ypc and interior run game woes are because of the offensive line and not our scheme, as has been suggested as a possibility (French discussed the tight splits as a possible reason why interior running is difficult, but should note he said he needs a bigger sample size to make a more definitive claim).
At the moment, our running scheme is not appealing to backs looking to stand out for the NFL. That said, with the game changing at the NFL level, I think some recruits might appreciate using our backs in the passing game and the fewer carries to keep their bodies intact.
edit: I think it's also safe to say if we land a big time talent like a Dalvin Cook or another RMFW, they will be utilized more heavily. I'm not suggesting our coaching staff wouldn't adjust to a big time player, but that the general scheme is "potentially" not suited for large chunks of yardage on interior runs.
Also, it is my understanding that right now we are in the running for a few big time recruits in the next few years with Ricky Slade and Devyn Ford. So I could, and hope to be, totally wrong about this.
The spread has been taking over for the past decade this shouldn't be anything new to recruits because it is the same at a lot of high schools . Someone that everyone forgets about is Shai, I think he is the one that really may be unhappy and transfer
I think you've misinterpreted my thoughts on our scheme. The spread, in general, has been excellent for running the football, and I in no way insinuated that was the issue with our inability to run or our lack of appeal to running back recruits. We are currently using tight splits on the O-line and it is potentially causing a lot of self-disruption to our interior run plays, thus the theory that Fuente doesn't expect or intend to get large running plays through the interior is born. There are many different ways to block and many different split widths used in different spread offenses around the country.
As I said, this is just a theory, and I hope it is wrong. I hope that we have much better interior blocking in the future and our backs find running lanes from all types of runs.
On Shai, I wouldn't be surprised to see some attrition at the running back position, but I haven't seen anything to suggest he is unhappy with his situation and from what I hear he has had a few lingering injuries that have been nagging him. I just prefer not to assume whether a player is unhappy or not, he certainly could be, but I think his health is the main reason for his lack of snaps in recent weeks. Remember that he looked to be getting a lot of work in the August practices.
I have a personal preference of mixing in quick hitters with these long slow developing zone rushes. I like Peoples in that role. They did it in the first qtr. never went back to it with People's that I saw.
Worth to note those were his only two carries of the season and he gained 13 yards. The kid ran for over 3,000 yards his senior year of high school. This wasn't against the talent you see in NOVA or the 757, but still impressive.
Honestly I like how their whole philosophy is take what the defense gives them. I'd like to think I study football as much as these coaches, but let's be real I don't. As long as we get the wins I do not care how it happens, and I think the kids are buying into that as well. So for now I am just going to be the best fan I can be and see how the rest of the season unfolds.
It appears that we are making adjustments on the fly, changing to what the coaches think will work for each opponent and situation. They seem to be guessing right more often then not so we will have to keep trust in that they know what they are doing...
I'm ok with "taking what the defense gives us" completely and "making in game adjustments on the fly" if that's necessary too - but there was some pre-game scheme that dictated that Peoples / Rogers would get the rock before Marshawn and that's what they started with. If it's a function of Marshawn not doing well in practice I'm ok with that, but I guess we won't know for sure.
Our former four-star running back isn't getting enough playing time? #firstworldproblems
I still don't understand why Rogers is getting this many carries. I think he's best used catching short passes in open space, where he can make someone miss and gain yards after the catch. He's not a between the tackles guy, and he doesn't have the speed off the edge.
The open space is there because he is a threat to get the ball running.
It needs to develop and be executed faster, though. A LOT fucking faster for it to actually work.
I don't know the strategy but I hope he gets more carries. He seems
to get better as the season progresses.
I wouldn't call Marshawn an "excellent threat." I wouldn't call any back on the current team an excellent threat. We haven't had a threat at RB since Wilson and Williams.
RB recruiting needs to improve.
Like WVU[sic], it's all relative. Comparing him to Rogers he sure is. Comparing him to RMFW or Wilson he's not.
My understanding is there's no real evidence that "softening up the defense" is a real statistical thing.
Yeah, you really only "soften up" the defense by burning them when they try to stack the box. Not by running right at them till they can't stop you anymore.
Whomever said it was a statistical thing?
Uhhhh..softening up is having a big body that can also be a threat to run by them, which is what Marshawn is. And if he does get in your way then he is a huge load to handle. In the latter regard he's probably comparable to Rogers, but in the former he's heads and shoulders above him.
The point is that it doesn't really show up in the stats- the research I've read on it didn't show any difference when using bigger or smaller RBs in running the ball. Basically the mere act of running the ball is softening up a defense and the size/style of back isn't that big of a factor.
So you're saying size really doesn't matter after all.
It's how you use it.
How often*
Sauce?
Football Outsiders wrote an article about it years ago. Unfortunately it was in their print book and isn't online as best I can tell. I have it somewhere.
I thought Peoples looked really good when he got a couple of runs in the 1st half.
I don't like Rogers running the ball. I like him blocking and catching out of the backfield.
What happened to Shai? I thought he looked good early in the season.
Pretty sure Shai is injured. Lower extremity I think.
And yes Peoples looked really good. I was re-watching the TMAC TD run against UTenn and he was running side-by-side with a DB! HE's god speed and size!
Using our current strategy, many games have been won. Overall, I'd say I'm content with what we are doing.
Your thoughts coach...
"You guys are a lot more concerned about who carries the ball. I've learned that much in my short time here. You guys want us to rush for 150 yards and you want to pick who gets the yards." Coach Fuente
Thanks coach. Back to you in the studio.
We should have McMillian and Williams together for two more seasons. We'll see what happens then.
One advantage that Rogers and Peoples have shown over Marshawn -- in Fuente's offense -- is that they're legit receiving threats.
I like what our offensive coaching staff has done thus far. They also adapt based on what the opposing defense gives/shows and exploit it. Get the best players on the field and utilize them.
As an example and daydreaming here, I wouldn't mind a wildcat formation with an o-line that allowed Darren McFadden to run the way he did at Arkansas. If we had heavies up front that imposed their will on both levels of the opposing defense, Dragon McMillan and Juice would be successful. Wishful thinking, but, I'm still happy with our current offensive situation.
Sometimes kids say the darndest things. Nice suggestion.
?
Not sure I understand what your post is suggesting, but it comes off as a flame. Can you clarify?
I like it suggesting playing Marshawn earlier and more to soften up the D. It makes sense.. Obviously, you are much younger than I and never read Art Linkletter's book titled, "Kids Say the Darndest Things".
Lol i'm still not sure what you're quoting or implying. I don't see where anyone said that (unless they edited it out).
it's a dick joke....don't get bent out of shape over it...laugh and move on
Haha ok. Got lost in translation for me.
Shit just writes itself.
I knew I could count on you, McGruber
He's our McGyver. Sorta came from this I guess: have Marshawn loosen it up in the 1st / 2nd and have Rogers / Peoples come in later)
Sounds like the D has already been softened a little too much
If we run the following plays, we are sure to get Juice 100 yards per game easily
Well yeah if we have Tecmo Bowl Barry Sanders.
Because nobody can tackle Tecmo Bowl Sanders
The running game is used in a different format. Wr running and rb catching out of the back, it's all part of creating illusion and having wide open receivers. Tmac will have more productive games and so will marshawn.
Side note, we can at least pitch the idea that you'll get your touches, in and out of the backfield, and you're less likely to get worn down/injured before your long, successful career in the pros
Running Backs are in a precarious position. They've been steadily devalued in the NFL, as trends show RB success is based more on O-line ability and scheme than individual ability. I would imagine that this devaluation will trickle down to the collegiate level and maybe even HS. I would also imagine that overtime, the most talented athletes would probably rather play QB, WR, TE, or LB, as these positions project better at the NFL level.
Considering these trends, I think Fuente is probably accurately devising his run game scheme to not value the individual player, but to value how any individual RB can fit into the scheme and still be successful with limited carries. This will likely make it difficult to recruit 4- and 5-star talent at the RB position, but it will ensure a successful enough run game when it's likely that RB-talent will be less available in future years.