Who will our feature back be next year?
- Thread starter Hanmudog
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I truly think that it will be rb by committee. Elliott seems like he operates well in the 2 back set on the dive play and pitch. His problems this year seemed to be his ability to change direction. (ie fake punt vs UF) Hopefully this will come back to him. His downfield speed seems to still be there. Conner is going to be a bruiser. Look out for Perkins because this kid can move. I do not think that you will see one back with huge numbers.</p>
Hell we could almost run the wishbone Paul Johnson style. I guess we sort of did this year in the red zone at times.
Emory Bellard style in the red zone.
I've always wondered why more teams didn't do that. I think the wishbone is perfect for the redzone or goalline situations. Three backs, either one TE and a WR or Two TE or Two WR. You can run triple option, or really most any other type of run out of the formation, and you could have two really good running backs in at the same time, as well as your fullback. I like the idea of having the two really good RB's in the game at the same time because I think that makes it a little bit less predictable as to who will get the ball. The defense can't "load up" and try to stop the back. Oh yeah, and you can pass out of it to- just like we did when we threw the TD pass to Green in the Egg Bowl.
It just seems to me that the wishbone gives you a lot more options and unpredictability on the goal line than the conventional three TE goal line formation without sacrificing too much blocking.
It's good to see MSU be innovative on offense for the first time since the forward pass.
I've always wondered why more teams didn't do that. I think the wishbone is perfect for the redzone or goalline situations. Three backs, either one TE and a WR or Two TE or Two WR. You can run triple option, or really most any other type of run out of the formation, and you could have two really good running backs in at the same time, as well as your fullback. I like the idea of having the two really good RB's in the game at the same time because I think that makes it a little bit less predictable as to who will get the ball. The defense can't "load up" and try to stop the back. Oh yeah, and you can pass out of it to- just like we did when we threw the TD pass to Green in the Egg Bowl.
It just seems to me that the wishbone gives you a lot more options and unpredictability on the goal line than the conventional three TE goal line formation without sacrificing too much blocking.
It's good to see MSU be innovative on offense for the first time since the forward pass.
a backfield with Newton, Shumpert, and Conner would be pretty tough to stop. Stick Perkins back there too to give you the speed threat.
Elliot will be #1 starting spring Conner will be #2 and came on well at the end of the season. Hanrahan will be moved to S-back where Ducre played because he has very good hands and good downhill runner. Hemphill #1 at fullback Shumpert #2 This interview was two days after the Egg Bowl.
he didn't mention Ballard is b/c he isn't officially on the team, once spring practices start and things get going you'll see more of a running back by committee until someone pulls ahead of the rest.
It seems that even in 2 back sets we did not have a fullback. Usually I think of a fullback as a blocking back. I think that the TE takes the place of that. Also on our running plays out of 2 back set you rarely have 2 back going in the same direction.
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They must be confident in Hemphill and Shumpert, because Hanrahan was a beast blocking for Dixon this year.
I'm all for getting more production from a player. I just think he was pretty dang good at FB this year.
I'm all for getting more production from a player. I just think he was pretty dang good at FB this year.
I think it was. The first year after Jerious left. We had Brandon Thornton as the heir apparent having backed up Jerious and a couple of new guys, true freshmen Dixon and Stallworth. Thornton got a lot of press but never took hold of the position, soon we were debating whether Dixon or Stallworth would end up being our guy for the future.
Now we've got another record breaking RB leaving in Dixon, with an uncertain carryover, Robert Elliot, and a lot of new guys, Conner, Perkins, Ballard, etc. I was nearly convinced that Elliot would never come good, but he played well towards the very end of the season. Maybe it will just take him a year to get back in the groove after being out with injury. I'd expect several guys to get lots of touches with no one back being dominant next year. Not sure what the combination will be.
Now we've got another record breaking RB leaving in Dixon, with an uncertain carryover, Robert Elliot, and a lot of new guys, Conner, Perkins, Ballard, etc. I was nearly convinced that Elliot would never come good, but he played well towards the very end of the season. Maybe it will just take him a year to get back in the groove after being out with injury. I'd expect several guys to get lots of touches with no one back being dominant next year. Not sure what the combination will be.
Ducre did a lot nice blocking for Dixon in the two back set & Dixon did the same for Ducre. I recall Mullen saying all three were fullback type Dixon,Ducre and Hanrahan when it came to blocking. Do not think Elliot has the bulk & size to be a Dixon so I think it will running back by committee. Conner will grow during the season. We have some good talent but they will all have to find there place in the rotation. JC boys we will know more after spring how they work into mix.
