[stanfan]

With Hewitt questionable for this week's game, I would like to see Gaffney get some reps at FB...especially the flat passess on which Hewitt is so effective.  Gaffney is an excellent receiver and an outstanding blocker and is apparently bigger than he was in 2011.  He was recruited as a FB by Under Stanford Control.  Having both Gaffney and Wilkerson in the backfield at the same time would create some interesting opportunities for the offense.

[stanfan]

With Hewitt questionable for this week's game, I would like to see Gaffney get some reps at FB...especially the flat passess on which Hewitt is so effective.  Gaffney is an excellent receiver and an outstanding blocker and is apparently bigger than he was in 2011.  He was recruited as a FB by Under Stanford Control.  Having both Gaffney and Wilkerson in the backfield at the same time would create some interesting opportunities for the offense.

[Spiny_Norman]

Hewitt has a bruised knee that is still swollen.  From David Lombardi - "Stanford FB Ryan Hewitt, currently questionable for Sat, also missed SJ State game last yr. 'He's been upset about it for 12 months' - Shaw"

Also news from Lombardi - Josh Garnett will play the Ogre position.

[Spiny_Norman]

Hewitt has a bruised knee that is still swollen.  From David Lombardi - "Stanford FB Ryan Hewitt, currently questionable for Sat, also missed SJ State game last yr. 'He's been upset about it for 12 months' - Shaw"

Also news from Lombardi - Josh Garnett will play the Ogre position.

[Leftcoast]

Ogre position?  What's that mean?

[Leftcoast]

Ogre position?  What's that mean?

[Bruce Wang]

Ogre position?  What's that mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZVdR19E5mU

[Bruce Wang]

Ogre position?  What's that mean?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZVdR19E5mU

[washingtonismoney]

Ogre position?  What's that mean?

The James McGillicuddy position with a sweet name, basically.

[washingtonismoney]

Ogre position?  What's that mean?

The James McGillicuddy position with a sweet name, basically.

[DC]

With Hewitt questionable for this week's game, I would like to see Gaffney get some reps at FB...especially the flat passess on which Hewitt is so effective.  Gaffney is an excellent receiver and an outstanding blocker and is apparently bigger than he was in 2011.  He was recruited as a FB by Under Stanford Control.  Having both Gaffney and Wilkerson in the backfield at the same time would create some interesting opportunities for the offense.

Most other schools, including I think ND, wanted Gaffney as a FB.  We got him partly because we promised he could be a RB/TB.  I don't know if he has practiced at FB.

That said, would he trade getting more playing time in return for not playing the RB/TB position all the time when he is in the game?

[DC]

With Hewitt questionable for this week's game, I would like to see Gaffney get some reps at FB...especially the flat passess on which Hewitt is so effective.  Gaffney is an excellent receiver and an outstanding blocker and is apparently bigger than he was in 2011.  He was recruited as a FB by Under Stanford Control.  Having both Gaffney and Wilkerson in the backfield at the same time would create some interesting opportunities for the offense.

Most other schools, including I think ND, wanted Gaffney as a FB.  We got him partly because we promised he could be a RB/TB.  I don't know if he has practiced at FB.

That said, would he trade getting more playing time in return for not playing the RB/TB position all the time when he is in the game?

[washingtonismoney]

Most other schools, including I think ND, wanted Gaffney as a FB.  We got him partly because we promised he could be a RB/TB.  I don't know if he has practiced at FB.

Not quite. SC wanted him as a FB. ND officially wanted him as an FB but were recruiting him as a RB, so as not to offend their other RB recruit, Cierre Wood. As it turned out, Wood (apparently) didn't have the greatest relationship with either set of Fig Thing Irish coaches, having held the view that he was much better than the first-string guy. Wood left for the 2013 draft and was rejected.

[washingtonismoney]

Most other schools, including I think ND, wanted Gaffney as a FB.  We got him partly because we promised he could be a RB/TB.  I don't know if he has practiced at FB.

Not quite. SC wanted him as a FB. ND officially wanted him as an FB but were recruiting him as a RB, so as not to offend their other RB recruit, Cierre Wood. As it turned out, Wood (apparently) didn't have the greatest relationship with either set of Fig Thing Irish coaches, having held the view that he was much better than the first-string guy. Wood left for the 2013 draft and was rejected.

[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=DC link=topic=8340.msg67030#msg67030 date=1378338077]

Most other schools, including I think ND, wanted Gaffney as a FB.  We got him partly because we promised he could be a RB/TB.  I don't know if he has practiced at FB.

Not quite. SC wanted him as a FB. ND officially wanted him as an FB but were recruiting him as a RB, so as not to offend their other RB recruit, Cierre Wood. As it turned out, Wood (apparently) didn't have the greatest relationship with either set of Fig Thing Irish coaches, having held the view that he was much better than the first-string guy. Wood left for the 2013 draft and was rejected.[/quote]

Gaffney rushed for 2800+ yards and scored 51 TDs as a senior in high school.  And U$C and N.D wanted to primarily use him as a blocker?

[Spiny_Norman]

[quote author=DC link=topic=8340.msg67030#msg67030 date=1378338077]

Most other schools, including I think ND, wanted Gaffney as a FB.  We got him partly because we promised he could be a RB/TB.  I don't know if he has practiced at FB.

Not quite. SC wanted him as a FB. ND officially wanted him as an FB but were recruiting him as a RB, so as not to offend their other RB recruit, Cierre Wood. As it turned out, Wood (apparently) didn't have the greatest relationship with either set of Fig Thing Irish coaches, having held the view that he was much better than the first-string guy. Wood left for the 2013 draft and was rejected.[/quote]

Gaffney rushed for 2800+ yards and scored 51 TDs as a senior in high school.  And U$C and N.D wanted to primarily use him as a blocker?

[FarmBoy]

Toby Gerhart set a California state record for rushing yards with 9,662 yards in his career and US'C only wanted him as a FB.

[FarmBoy]

Toby Gerhart set a California state record for rushing yards with 9,662 yards in his career and US'C only wanted him as a FB.

[AthleticsDynasty]

With Hewitt questionable for this week's game, I would like to see Gaffney get some reps at FB...especially the flat passess on which Hewitt is so effective.  Gaffney is an excellent receiver and an outstanding blocker and is apparently bigger than he was in 2011.  He was recruited as a FB by Under Stanford Control.  Having both Gaffney and Wilkerson in the backfield at the same time would create some interesting opportunities for the offense.

I want to see what Ward and Skov bring to the table. Leave Gaffney at HB

[AthleticsDynasty]

With Hewitt questionable for this week's game, I would like to see Gaffney get some reps at FB...especially the flat passess on which Hewitt is so effective.  Gaffney is an excellent receiver and an outstanding blocker and is apparently bigger than he was in 2011.  He was recruited as a FB by Under Stanford Control.  Having both Gaffney and Wilkerson in the backfield at the same time would create some interesting opportunities for the offense.

I want to see what Ward and Skov bring to the table. Leave Gaffney at HB

[fullmetal]

Can Gaffney and Wilkerson coexist at RB?  If so, timeshare them...

Wilkerson possesses size.  *He* could be a FB as well.

[fullmetal]

Can Gaffney and Wilkerson coexist at RB?  If so, timeshare them...

Wilkerson possesses size.  *He* could be a FB as well.

[terry]

In Stanford's offense, the fullback is mostly a lead blocker, occasionally a receiver, and a short yardage runner once in a while. I think it would be a waste to use Wilkerson or Gaffney at fullback. I doubt that either of them has practiced at fullback or practiced being a lead blocker. We have Ward and Skov to back up Hewitt. They should be OK.

We do have a few formations in the playbook that put two running backs on the field at the same time. We saw that a few times last year, with Hogan in the shotgun and RBs on both sides of him. That might be a good change of pace.

[terry]

In Stanford's offense, the fullback is mostly a lead blocker, occasionally a receiver, and a short yardage runner once in a while. I think it would be a waste to use Wilkerson or Gaffney at fullback. I doubt that either of them has practiced at fullback or practiced being a lead blocker. We have Ward and Skov to back up Hewitt. They should be OK.

We do have a few formations in the playbook that put two running backs on the field at the same time. We saw that a few times last year, with Hogan in the shotgun and RBs on both sides of him. That might be a good change of pace.

[Bruce Wang]

Given the uncertainty at TE and depth at RB, it would seem to make sense to move Gaff/Wilk to FB and Hewitt to TE.  I will take this as a sign that there's high comfort level in Hopkins/Kautamale.

[Bruce Wang]

Given the uncertainty at TE and depth at RB, it would seem to make sense to move Gaff/Wilk to FB and Hewitt to TE.  I will take this as a sign that there's high comfort level in Hopkins/Kautamale.

[washingtonismoney]

We had a three-RB formation in 2011 against UW where Luck handed off to Gaffney, who had an option pitch available to Gaffney. Sadly we only used that play once -- too bad, it was a ton of fun.

Might be fun to dust off an old West Coast Offense staple and split RBs. Glyn Milburn made some hay off of that, if I recall correctly.

[washingtonismoney]

We had a three-RB formation in 2011 against UW where Luck handed off to Gaffney, who had an option pitch available to Gaffney. Sadly we only used that play once -- too bad, it was a ton of fun.

Might be fun to dust off an old West Coast Offense staple and split RBs. Glyn Milburn made some hay off of that, if I recall correctly.

[FarmBoy]

Luck handed off to Gaffney, who had an option pitch available to Gaffney.

I'd like to see that play.

[FarmBoy]

Luck handed off to Gaffney, who had an option pitch available to Gaffney.

I'd like to see that play.

[stanfan]

My suggestion that Gaffney get some pt as FB was not that he be there all the time.  No, I wouldn't use him primarily as a blocker, although he is an excellent blocker.  I would like to see him used on the pass plays on which Hewitt is so effective (think spyder 2 y banana).  Gaffney is an outstanding receiver...better than Stephan.  Although the depth chart says Wilkerson or Gaffney, I expect to see Gaffney get more pt than Wilkerson as the season moves along.  Although Wilkerson is a fine player, I think Gaffney is a better overall back and that it will show. 

[stanfan]

My suggestion that Gaffney get some pt as FB was not that he be there all the time.  No, I wouldn't use him primarily as a blocker, although he is an excellent blocker.  I would like to see him used on the pass plays on which Hewitt is so effective (think spyder 2 y banana).  Gaffney is an outstanding receiver...better than Stephan.  Although the depth chart says Wilkerson or Gaffney, I expect to see Gaffney get more pt than Wilkerson as the season moves along.  Although Wilkerson is a fine player, I think Gaffney is a better overall back and that it will show. 

[Redrum]

As a running back, the knock on Wilkerson is he is:  a)tentative running inside, in traffic.  b)doesn't make a lot of yards after contact.    Neither of these tendencies shout "fullback".  You want a guy who is emphatic and reflexive about sticking his assigned man and a hammer when he does make contact.  Either Ward or Skov would be better.

I hope this season is an eye-opener as far as Wilk's production at RB.  That's position that is his most natural and Shaw says he's going to get him the ball.  Now is the time, if ever.

[Redrum]

As a running back, the knock on Wilkerson is he is:  a)tentative running inside, in traffic.  b)doesn't make a lot of yards after contact.    Neither of these tendencies shout "fullback".  You want a guy who is emphatic and reflexive about sticking his assigned man and a hammer when he does make contact.  Either Ward or Skov would be better.

I hope this season is an eye-opener as far as Wilk's production at RB.  That's position that is his most natural and Shaw says he's going to get him the ball.  Now is the time, if ever.