Very Impressed with LDP...

[CookieMonster.sixpack]

After Ballard left, I was very concerned that LDP would not be able to handle the load of being our primary back (I'm pretty sure I wasn't the only one). Halfway through, he has got to be one of our MVP's.

He's averaging right at 100 yards rushing a game and 5.7 a carry.

He's also gaining nine yards per reception (and we really haven't used him in that capacity like we have in the past).

On top of all that, he's made some absolutely CRITICAL plays for us when we needed them most (TROY & UT especially).

Russell, Bumphis & Banks are going to get most of the publicity (and deservedly so) but man LDP has been playing lights out.

 

[OleYeller]

I agree with C34, we need to involve him in the passing game more. Maybe if Robinson continues to develope we will

 

[bulldogbaja]

I was about to differ and say that we missed a more bruising-style back like Dixon or Ballard, but is crap, is Perkins really averaging 5.7 yds/carry?

 

[redbird4state]

You aren't the only one who thought that. I think LDP is a great back, however he is not like the bruising backs we have had the past couple of seasons (Dixon, Ballard). I don't have the stats, but I would venture a guess that those two had much better "yards after contact" stats than Perkins. On the flip side, Perkins is much better at finding creases and runs for big gains (except for the head scratcher in the 4th Q where he ran the completely wrong direction).

We really need to work on getting him in open space more often. The best way to do that has been to throw him the swing pass as C34 has stated many times. We need to utilize that play a lot more than we already do.

 

[EAVdog]

It's difficult to involve more than 8-9 different players in the passing game. The LDP screen pass, which has worked great in the past, is a situational thing that we'll probably use when we run up against a D-Line that is getting tons of push. We really haven't had that happen yet. I wouldn't be surprised to see some set up screen plays when we play Bama.

 

[redbird4state]

It seems like Bama always sniffs out our screen plays..especially the WR bubbles

 

[Chesusdog]

I like Perkins a lot. He is shifty and can break a big run at anytime. I think we put him up the gut a little too often but I suppose we have to in order to keep defenses honest. We definitely need to utilize him more on those swing passes. I saw at least two or three times Saturday when we missed on a pass downfield when he was wide open and would have likely gotten us the first down.

 

[Coach 57]

To me he is similar to how UF used Percy Harvin only more backfield. They have similar builds I know Harvin is faster but they are used SOMEWHAT the same. I love when TR uses him as a checkdown Vs. a man to man LB. We used him beautifully Vs. UT. He's just so versatile.

 

[Seinfeld]

While the O-line and Russell deserve some credit, Perkins deserves a hell of a lot of it also. My perception of him from the last few years has been that he's a quick back that will break one every now and then, but he'd also get knocked down by the slightest bump. He has really impressed me this year with his ability to make people miss and break multiple tackles. That guy fights for every yard also.

He is probably one of the more under-appreciated players in the conference right now.

 

[CEO2044]

onpoih

Been watching this guy play since he was in the 8th grade.

As I said on another topic, he IS a different back than what we are used to having. BUT, he has the skill set to help us a lot (duh). He is shifty, he fights for yardage, and he has great hands.

It would help if Josh Robinson develops into the bruising back.... but, either way, I think LaDarius is going to play his game and be successful with it. He's pretty versatile, and if we can play within his strengths as we have been, we'll have a lot of options.