RBs next year -
BostonCard - 01-06-2016
OK, this one will be short and sweet, since there isn't much to discuss, other than who is the new vulture.
Departing
Remound Wright 82 carries, 239 yards, 13 TD
Barry J Sanders 51 carries, 315 yards, 4 TD
Returning
Christian McCaffrey 337 carries, 2019 yards, 8 TDs, 45 receptions, 645yards, 5 TDs, plus kickoff and punt returns
Bryce Love 29 carries, 226 yards, 2 TDs, 15 receptions, 250 yards, 1 TD
Daniel Marx (FB)
Chris Harrell (FB)
Additions
Cameron Scarlett (Redshirt)
Trevor Speights ****
Brandon Stephens ****
Beau Bisharat ****
Not much to discuss when your all-time season rushing record holder and Voldemort runner up comes back. I guess the questions are whether you just give the ball to McCaffrey in short yardage/goalline situations or if Scarlett comes in as the vulture. I suppose it is worth asking if any of the true freshmen will play (and if they all stay at RB). Also, how best to incorporate Love is a good question. It seems like we might want him on the field more, but it means taking away touches for McCaffrey, unless you split one of the two out wide or in the slot (which, if we lose Rector, might not be a bad idea). Finally, if he can have good hands, I wonder about making Love the punt returner.
BC
Re: RBs next year -
Spiny_Norman - 01-06-2016
Don't forget FB Reagan Williams whom Bloomgren loves. Sounds like Williams has the attitude of Owen Marecic.
Playing time for newcomers will likely be dependent on pass blocking ability as much as running ability. On passing downs the past two years, Wright played an unheralded but critical role as the designated blitz picker-upper. To my eyes, he was fantastic. He almost always picked up the right guy and neutralized him. Not sure who will replace Wright, but he better learn quickly if we want to keep the QB healthy.
Re: RBs next year -
ColoradoTree - 01-06-2016
First off, this is a great problem to have. We have a generational talent as a starter in McCaffrey, a guy with ludicrous speed in Love, and what looks like a more traditional Stanford power back in Scarlett. What a time to be a fan of this team.
Second, I'd be in favor of McCaffrey being his own vulture to a certain degree, and getting more of the short-yardage carries (and the TDs that come with them). That probably means fewer touches at RB or split wide (with Love getting those), but whatever gets Love in space makes me happy. And giving the PR duties to Love seems like a good option as well, just to limit Christian's touches.
I'm guessing our offensive coaches will have some fun brainstorming ways to get Love and McCaffrey as many touches as possible. And really, with Chryst (presumably) being in his first year as a starter, you have to think he'll take the check down to McCaffrey even more than Hogan did.
So excited to see this offense next year, though the unbalanced schedule tempers my optimism for the overall season record. Now I'm just hoping that Christian tells us all he'll return for his senior season in 2017!
Bryce Love - Redrum - 01-06-2016
Didn't see his whole body of work this season. From what I did see, my impression is: Love has top level speed but without the direction change or the (surprising?) kind of power that McCaffrey showed running inside and after contact in general. I don't know how much more involved with the down-to-down work of gaining yardage and consistently moving the ball Love is up to. After McCaffrey leaves (heaven forfend) the need for speed and power means we "telegraph" intent before the snap more than we do now and it limits what we can do with a single back.Â
Re: RBs next year -
BostonCard - 01-06-2016
The alternative to telegraphing the speed/power breakdown is "Bookman up the middle"
To an extent almost every team has to deal with that and can still mount a consistent running attack. Very few players have the combination of strength and speed (and vision) that McCaffrey does; he's a once-in-a-decade player.
More importantly is that even when we do "telegraph" a play, we still execute our blocking schemes well. When that happens, even a telegraphed play goes for 4 or 5 yards (and more if the running back can make a guy miss or run over a defender).
BC
Re: RBs next year -
AthleticsDynasty - 01-06-2016
I think Marx will get the short yardage and goaline touches Wright got
Re: RBs next year -
fullmetal - 01-06-2016
I would love to see an explosive blocker like Owen Marecic take over at FB. That and some heavy roadgraders at OG and Ogre who are fast enough to beat opposing run-stuffers to the point of attack and strong enough to pancake them. I'd like McCaffrey to have clean holes at the LOS.
Re: RBs next year -
BostonCard - 01-06-2016
(01-06-2016, 04:57 PM)fullmetal link Wrote:I would love to see an explosive blocker like Owen Marecic take over at FB. That and some heavy roadgraders at OG and Ogre who are fast enough to beat opposing run-stuffers to the point of attack and strong enough to pancake them. I'd like McCaffrey to have clean holes at the LOS.
Have you not seen Marx' blocks?
BC
Re: RBs next year -
terry - 01-06-2016
(01-06-2016, 04:57 PM)fullmetal link Wrote:I would love to see an explosive blocker like Owen Marecic take over at FB.Â
Marx is a pretty darn good blocker.
Re: RBs next year -
fullmetal - 01-06-2016
Am I overromanticizing about Marecic's blocking then...? I could see myself doing that.Â