I know it's only been two games but I have been extraordinarily impressed with Travon McMillian. He's from Hylton High School in Woodbridge, VA, which is a high school that mine played regularly and I watched him run over my school's defense for years. Through two games, he is averaging over 10 yards per carry compared to 3.2 and 3.9 for JCC and Trey Edmunds, respectively. I'd love to see him become the primary back in the rotation before the end of the season. He's going to be fun to watch.
What do you guys think about Travon McMillian and the running backs in general?
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I agree, based on his play so far he seems to have all the tools to be the #1 back very shortly. I have not had a good chance to see him picking up blitz's/blocking. But he seems to have good hands catching balls out of the backfield.
McMillian looks like the best running back so far. Has the most explosive play threat on the roster IMO. I haven't paid particular attention to his blocking. Anyone who has, is he serviceable?
Looks a lot like Ryan Williams....wearing that 34 doesn't hurt either!
That statement makes me question how much you watched Ryan Williams play
Haven't actually sat down and analyzed yet, but I would ask you guys where is he getting his yards? From memory isn't he getting more outside sweep-like stuff, where Trey and JC are being asked to go up the middle? Maybe the type of yards are tilting the numbers. Or I could be wrong.
Keep in mind that 10.3 ypc average is really skewed by one run of 63 yards. Take that out and his average is still solid, though, at 5.5 ypc. All told, I think he has shown the ability to break the big run, which is something we've been missing for a while. A home run threat on the ground opens up a lot in terms of play-action, which is especially important with playmakers we have on the outside like Hodges and Ford.
Having a strong play action also benefits all three of our mobile QB's right now. Can't lose!
A home run threat who still average five and a half per carry when you factor out the home runs?
I think he and Edmunds should get the bulk of the carries. That's subject to change after next week.
Liked what I saw. I think his carries will increase these next couple of games.
I have a very high opinion of Travon McMillian so far.
My top two RBs on our roster are Travon and Marshawn.
Big fan. I say we see him throw a pass by game 6. HS QB....
I think Shane should start TM and only play JCC to spell him every 3rd series or so. But that will never happen.... Instead we'll continue to see RB by committee. 4 RBs each drive, every game. #shanebeamerthings
I am with it! I am liking him and SM.
Edit: I ma dyslexic.
A helliva lot better than jc and trey at this point IMO
I think TM should be our starter, and I think Shai is our second best back.
Are you basing your opinion of Shai on this year or last?
Great point - last year. I'm assuming he can make a full recovery; not sure if that's the case.
McMillan hasn't run between the tackles. He's great with sweeps and getting to the edge, but a 1 back has to be able hit the guards
Edit: in response to bar1990
Correct, but I don't need to him be the best back...at least for right now. I don't need to call anyone the best back on our team. As long as McMIllan keeps on being a beast at what he does well, and puts points on the board.
Agreed. I think he is the best option right now. Loeffler certainly talked him up after the game.
How much film do we have of TM running up the gut? Blocking for a pass? Calling him the best back we have right now, I'm still not sure about that.
He has almost exclusively run his "change of pace" package and hasn't done too much in the traditional RB role.
I agree with all of those points, plus 1 game..vs. Furman? I think we should hold off before jumping on that particular hype train. Not that I don't believe that TM can be special, but he still needs to prove it over a few games against better competition.
None of them have singled themselves out in games so far as complete backs but you have to like our options!
I'm not particularly sold that any if our options are great yet, let alone liking them in general. Hoping for the best, though! Same as our quarterbacks.
When the ball is in his hands, I get very excited.
He's a dude. Man, he's a dude. He's a dude.
Someone should tell him the Purdue linebacker corps peed on his rug.
Thankfully, he's no Donny. Get this kid the ball.
El dude-a-reno if you're not into the whole brevity thing
A real 5-star, get-after-it guy, man.
EDIT: DECLARE ME
Took it all the way to the shade. To the shade, man. Demeanor.
Alright, you've convinced me. I'm gonna go watch that mic'd up video again.
I wasn't all that impressed with him vs anOSU but I was willing to give him another shot. He did stupendous yesterday (albeit only against an FCS opponent). Agree with what some folks are saying in regards to "up the gut." I still have JCC as my #1 back, but now I have Edmunds and McMillan tied for #2.
I, like everyone else, want to see more of this before passing judgment on McMillian...
Out of the pistol, without Sam running ahead of him? I like your style!
That''ll show what he's REALLY made of. Because running behind Sam is simply too easy.
Yes, MORE, MEOW!
Looks very explosive. Seems to be getting all of his runs (for the most part) on sweeps or tosses to the outside. Would like to see how he does getting 10 carries with some up the gut.
I'm still on the Trey hype train. I think we should at least give Trey the ball in the right situations 12+ times per game and have Travon and Shai spell him, JC in on 3rd downs.
This JC does not look like the end-of-2014 JC.
i completely disagree with this. JC is the smallest back we have and I don't feel comfortable with him in pass protection.
I also don't really like the idea of rotating RBs in and out based on situations. Other teams will pick up on tendencies really quickly and they'll have a pretty good idea based on our personnel what kind of play to expect. I think the best case is to establish a clear #1 and let him play 2 or 3 entire series before spelling him with #2 and #3. At that, those 2nd and 3rd guys should get their own series and not just spot duty. I am definitely not a fan of the rotation that Shane employs. Whether it's him or Loeffler, I don't know. All I know is that I don't like it.
I understand where your heads at, but I like using guys situationally, especially if they are versatile. You can use them to build tendencies only to break them at crucial points in the game and dictate the look your opponent will give you. Get that muscle memory from the first six times they saw something in the game and use it against them.
yeah maybe but I think that you're starting to get a little too cute at that point. Another factor is that RBs tend to be groove players. They generally play much better when they don't have to split carries with 4 other backs. Look at JCC last year. He was all we had left and he played well. He even went so far as to say that it's much easier to get into a groove when you're not constantly being subbed in and out.
My main point, though, is that I don't like the idea of getting our smallest back in the game for an obvious passing down. If everyone and their brother knows we need to pass the ball at least stick Edmunds or somebody who can eat up a linebacker blitz in there instead of a 5'-6" 187 lbs scat back.
Yea fair enough, I agree with all of that. Definitely hate seeing running backs in and out on the same series. I thought Shane mentioned there would be less of that this year but I haven't really seen him stick to that statement yet.
It's spreading to the QB's now.
We may need to start changing coaches mid-series.
haha..I actually chuckled audibly at this...leg
You forgot that I think both Travon and Trey catch the ball better than JC. So if the RB is released, we need somebody that can catch as well as block.
I was referencing using JC in 3rd down receiving situations, not necessarily short-yardage or pass-pro situations. Otherwise I still think Trey or a healthy Shai are the power backs for 3rd downs.
I will say that even NFL teams rotate backs situationally. It plays to the backs' strengths. But I agree with your point about Shane, I don't like how he's rotating guys now either. Reminds me of 2010 with Ru, Evans and Wilson. None reached their full potential that season. I feared this coming into this season, and it's a huge reason why I wanted Shai to redshirt; he's yet another talented back getting less carries than he should this season.
Can we even redshirt Shai now that he has played?
You can redshirt a kid up to 1/6th of the snaps for a season (I think that's the ratio), but it may need to be accompanied by an injury. Shouldn't be too tough to find an injury on a RB with a sore hamstring and 2ACL's in the last 24 months.
But...rumors have been that Shai said he would transfer if redshirted.
to clarify..!!!
The student-athlete, however, must not have participated in more than two contests or dates of competition or 20 percent (whichever is greater) of the institution's scheduled contests.
EDIT: so if shai plays this week and next week he cannot redshirt..
But this week would be his second contest this year as he did not play in the first.
this is true.. i jumped the process but if shai plays vs Purdue don't see him not playing vs ECU
You can dress for a game and still redshirt. You cannot participate, meaning being involved in a play, but you can sit on the sidelines and still redshirt. Look at our QBs who we give headsets to while they are in pads and jerseys. If you take a single snap in a game, your redshirt is gone. You have participated in the season. You can apply for a medical redshirt if you've been injured and played in less than 30% of the contests, but that's the only rule that considers the amount of games you've played. Just one snap and you use that year of eligibility.
but Shai is coming off an acl tear which he did late last year.. VT could apply for a medical redshirt for this year due to ongoing injury as he was not able to redshirt last year due to # of games he appeared in.
Yes, if they can prove that the injury caused him to miss this season. And you have to apply for that, you don't just get it because you were injured. Coming off injury, playing in 2 games and then coaches saying "hey, you're redshirting" and not documenting further issues caused by injury would likely not be approved and he'd lose a year of eligibility. Facyson got one because he required further work on his leg. But the way you originally phrased it was not clear that you were referring to medical redshirts.
correct.. wording was off
2 ACL tears in 2 years and then plays 2 games in 15 season with what 10-20 snaps total.. he probably have a good case for the 6th year medical redshirt. I'm sure VT is documenting every thing in regards to Shai and how he's feeling..
Fear it you should. Garbage heap backfield.
Agreed. JC isn't a 3rd down back. Not sure trey is that guy either right now with how high he is running and especially down at the goal line how he's performed.
I am very excited about him. He seems to have that Percy Harvin type of versatility that we haven't had/or utilized effectively when we've had it. I want him to keep getting more touches, but I assume there is some reason he isn't the back getting the majority of the standard run plays between the tackles. Perhaps he is still learning to read blocks well or they are concerned with his durability or pass protection. Regardless, I am want him to get more touches and I am excited about having him for the next few years.
My thoughts:
McAttack - Young player - coaches are building confidence by letting him do what he does best, attacking the outside - I just hope he he doesn't learn to bounce everything outside when needed to go inside.
JC - Did fine until taken out. Still undersized to be great at what he does, but always ran better in the second half, when the D is run down, like most "power backs".
Trey - Needs better situational/numbers awareness. Great ability to wait for blocks to set up, and gets good runs because of it, but you can't wait for blocks to set up when the you are on the goal line or third and 1 or 2. The D is charging the ball and usually will outnumber the blockers.
Shai - looked like he was timid and does not yet trust his knee. Sure the brace does not help with that,
On the rotation - I thought it looked more like a scrimmage type substitution that a game type, with the coaches running with a plan for each back than for the game. Lets get McAttack some confidence, get JC and Trey enough carries he and Motley are on the same page on the options, and get Shai some work to see where he is in his recovery in a game situation. If it continues this way I will be concerned, but this is what I expect from a tune-up game, like W&M last year.
Are you trying to put the pussy on the chain wax?
In summary, 4 TB's.....all with pros/cons.
We don't have a RW/DW/LS/KJ. We've got a Imoh, Humes, Burnell and Stith. Need to squeeze the best we can out of that 4.
I think he's a dude!