Running back room
- Thread starter Girthang
- Start date
I expect doses of levis called runs and brown/trob sweeps to ease the need of a huge running back game. Plus hot routes from the help side tight end hopefully. Help chuck and pop open For easy movement.
I have long said, Wright needs more chances
One thing I think we will see are jet sweeps to both Brown and Robinson.
Sadly, its more like a RB closet these days OP.
But like Ive been saying in other threads, “Smoke them if you’ve got him”!
LFG!!!!
But like Ive been saying in other threads, “Smoke them if you’ve got him”!
LFG!!!!
Stoops has already said Wright is going to get more chances against Florida. Doesn't really have a choice now with Jefferson and McClain out, but I think it's pretty clear Wright is the clubhouse favorite to be the featured back in 2023.
Wright is also working his way back from a hamstring, so his workload probably needs to be managed. For a single game, I feel that the combination of Smoke, Wright, and Drennen should be enough to give us a chance. Long term we need Crod back ASAP.
What was the final verdict on Smoke's performance vs Miami? Lot of talk about how he whiffed on several protections but Coach Stoops actually praised him for his blocking in the game? Were those incidents not really his fault?
What was the final verdict on Smoke's performance vs Miami? Lot of talk about how he whiffed on several protections but Coach Stoops actually praised him for his blocking in the game? Were those incidents not really his fault?
Smoke is a change of pace home run hitter, like Rose was, he shouldn’t be our every down back.
I feel like Wright is the only real threat. Smoke is what he is a guy that if everything opens up and he doesn't get touched is gone, but he's not making guys miss or breaking tackles. So if you don't have everything blocked up for Smoke, he's 3 yards or less. I know he's small, but I wouldn't mind seeing if they could give Jordan Anthony a few touches out of the backfield. Obviously you don't want him in doing pass protection, but since he has more speed than Barrion Brown, and is obviously way down on the WR depth chart, why not give him some RB touches to get that speed on the field, while our RB room is limited?
No he shouldnt but guess what?
No Crod
No Jefferson
No McClain
That basically leaves Smoke and Wright and Wright is very green.
We are at the point where at least Smoke has some experience and has shown he can bust off big runs.
I guarantee you he gets the majority of the reps down in the Swamp.
Does Justice get some fullback carries this week? Also, quick outs to the TE and WOs, same as a running play. It's a luxury handing off to guy like CRod but we can still move the ball with the running game while he is out. The OLine needs the help while they're learning on the job.
We may all just be over concerned based on the Miami game too, where UK was being very vanilla and not showing cards. They may come out Saturday in the Swamp and look totally different.
This could be wright’s coming out party. Hard hitter and can block. Runs with a mean streak and has size.
I agree and think they will. Stoop's postgame comment was telling to me. He said guys need to self motivate or something along those lines. It seemed to me that Stoops didn't feel like the team was up for that game, I can't see that being an issue heading in to the Swamp.
Thats a pretty good sign if they weren't up for that game, and still won by 24 more than covering the spread, and winning by a larger margin than we usually win these clunker OOC games.
I don’t believe we win see any called runs for Levi’s . Possibly the whole season.
It has to be a part of our offense because its so effective. The threat of the QB run alone adds a lot to any offense. When you have someone who is also strong at it you have to use it or your tucking away one of your best weapons.
The injury fear from an occasional running QB is way overplayed. There's a much greater threat of a QB getting hurt standing in pocket 25 times a game with bodies falling into him with little ability to brace for it than running with almost total control to brace or get down. All Will has to do to make that threat even less is to stop lowering his shoulder which he can control.
But the Qb draw or scramble take offs on pass plays that arent immediately there can be crushing and backbreaking plays against a defense that is at the mercy to stop them. I know its always my number one fear from opponents when we play and thats with any QB much less an athletic one.
The reward/risk factor is just too much in your favor to not take advantage of an occasional QB run threat. Without it you dont really have Will Levis back there, you have Mike Hartline. Will Levis is Will Levis because he is a threat to do both.
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But if you use them occasionally, and then fake them with a hand off it makes holes for RBs to run through.
If we've been game planning for Florida up until that game I would say the Cats were overlooking Miami OH to this game Saturday.
With Brown, et al, running the jet sweep action and the speed they possess, no way Florida afford to ignore it. Should open up some lanes for our offense.
Mike Drennen II switched back to RB, right? Dee Beckwith is another possible option.
We always come away from our first game complaining. In 2018, we beat Central Michigan 35-20 and people were griping, then we went down to the Swamp in week 2 and shut everybody up.
GBB30 FTW! Don't forget Isaac Dixon, either. We should never discount what these KY kids bring to the table
When it comes to FB, the ones that make comments like yours are my people!
We have Smoke, Wright, Donut, Beckwith, and Dixon on the roster. Also have 2 FBs (Dingle and Wheatley) and some playmakers we can flex. Excited for this game! Hope we stay healthy from here forward
I was really impressed with Mike Drennen in the B/W game. Think he was an mvp.
Found the end zone. Speed. Ran inside well. Know he can catch it.
Was surprised he wasn’t our 2 rb in the fall. I have confidence he is a player. Also have liked what I’ve seen of Wright at 215 lbs!
Found the end zone. Speed. Ran inside well. Know he can catch it.
Was surprised he wasn’t our 2 rb in the fall. I have confidence he is a player. Also have liked what I’ve seen of Wright at 215 lbs!
A reminder that the only time we've seen Wright was in mop up duty vs bad teams. Definitely has potential but hasn't seen SEC Ds yet.
Drennen was dinged, missed the Miami game.
Drennen was dinged, missed the Miami game.
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