Spring Position Battles - Running Backs
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suh_fan93
Heisman Trophy Winner
Let it go dude. People have different opinions than you do. It's going to be o.k...
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Hedley Lamarr
All-American
Ozigbo looked pretty damn good for a true freshman IMO
ColoradoHusk
Heisman Trophy Winner
From Riley's past teams, unless there is an amazing player at RB (Steven Jackson) he tends to split carries at RB. He generally likes to have a smaller, quicker receiving threat at RB, and a bigger, power back.
Ozigbo seems like a natural choice as the power back going forward (replacing Cross). The kid is built very thick, and I like how he has more "moves" than Cross did. There were runs last year where the play design would be inside, and Ozigbo was able to bounce it outside for nice gains. That is something that Cross really couldn't do (I'm not trying to criticize Cross).
The coaches like Newby because of his versatility and pass-blocking ability. I hope Newby has a great year, but he concerns me. He rarely gets more out of the play than is blocked, and sometimes he makes a bad cut and gets less than what is there. Wilbon is the wildcard. He looks good on the field, but he must be doing something wrong in practice or in the classroom to never see the field.
Ozigbo seems like a natural choice as the power back going forward (replacing Cross). The kid is built very thick, and I like how he has more "moves" than Cross did. There were runs last year where the play design would be inside, and Ozigbo was able to bounce it outside for nice gains. That is something that Cross really couldn't do (I'm not trying to criticize Cross).
The coaches like Newby because of his versatility and pass-blocking ability. I hope Newby has a great year, but he concerns me. He rarely gets more out of the play than is blocked, and sometimes he makes a bad cut and gets less than what is there. Wilbon is the wildcard. He looks good on the field, but he must be doing something wrong in practice or in the classroom to never see the field.
84HuskerLaw
All-Conference
Burkhead could replace and do well any of the said backs for a half. Is he as good as Rozier? No. Phillips? No. Green? No. Jones? in the ballpark.dvdcrr said:
The point is the team would have been quite successful with Burkhead carrying the ball. No, he was not elite but certainly would have been in the depth chart. Burkhead would have been a tremendous LB in my view.
I stand corrected in earlier comment where I said David Horne instead. I believe we already had Horne and didn't feel we needed Woodhead. However, perhaps it was Cory Ross who he recruited instead of Danny. I do recall specifically the point was that Woodhead was just too slow and too small for D1 (lol - then Frank recruits Ross - go figure. Ross was much slower and smaller than Woodhead btw. My point remains and still stands. And, as for the Reggie Bush info - I personally knew the hotel manager fo the Lincoln motel where Bush stayed (on both times btw) when he traveled to Lincoln on his own dime to visit and sought a scholarship to play I Back. Both times he was told he could play Safety but just didn't see a scholarship as available for RB spot. So I believe I am correct on this. Of course, Bush would have never admitted it as he had a little self esteem would not have wanted to admit he had been turned down twice. These are my recollections from the time. And finally, Rozier ran 4.45 in the 40 and was in fact the slowest of the starting backfield in '83 with FB Mark Schellen actually the fast in both the 10 and 40s. He certainly was faster than a 4.6.
Redux
Assistant Coach
suh_fan93
Heisman Trophy Winner
Lulz. Someone got their panties in a wad when someone expressed an opinion that they didn't like. You won't find me upset about the state of Nebraska football or even by just reading someone's opinion that maybe doesn't jive with mine. I can't say the same for others however...
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Guy Chamberlin
Heisman Trophy Winner
Things happen in practices and locker rooms that message board posters know nothing about.
If you can't see why a player with athletic promise isn't getting more playing time, it probably has something to do with that thing you can't see.
If you can't see why a player with athletic promise isn't getting more playing time, it probably has something to do with that thing you can't see.
jsneb83
All-American
Well his favorite players seem to be backups who don't get much, if any, playing time, so...
B.B. Hemingway
All-American
I think people are confused how you can't be excited about a guy like Ozigbo (who showed a lot of promise for a true freshman) but you can be excited about a guy that was behind him on the depth chart.....
suh_fan93
Heisman Trophy Winner
I guess I am under the sense that you or whomever are free to like and prefer whomever you want. It's super super simple really.
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84HuskerLaw
All-Conference
Based on what we've seen so far from the various RBs in the committee, I'd say there is a good chance the committee approach may continue, unless Ozigbo assumes control and gets the nod as the primary ball carrier. He looked very good in the bowl game and showed he can get some yards in traffic and push the pile. That last yard or even two makes a great deal of difference when it comes to sustaining drives and moving the chains. We need to be able to feel comfortable in getting 4 or 5 yars and not the 2 or 3 we saw too often last year. Being confident that we get effective yardage and create pressure on the defense to bring up the extra defender(s) to stop the runs is the key. If we do, in my view, the passing gets better and we have the offense that Riley is trying to find. Tommy Armstrong can run this offense at a winning level but the question will remain as to whether he can reduce the turnovers and critical mistakes. Interceptions are momentum killers and often spark the opponent and keep them believing they can play with us. We don't have the swagger nor do we instill the fear in our opponents. We can win 11 games this year, in my view, if we find a couple backs that can and do catch several passes per game out of the back, with our starter averaging over 125 yards per game and 6 yards per carry or more, provided the QB completes 55% or better for 200 yards per game with no more than about 1 int every other game. We need our QB to make good decisions and get the ball in the hands of the playmakers and if they are not wide open or in excellent position, then to keep it himself and get positive results. Nothing Earth shattering here, just be a good game manager as we've said and avoid the disaterous 4 plays per game or so that put us in a hole in field position or cost us points.
HuskermanMike
Starter
Depth Chart for Spring game:
Red
Newby
Ozigbo
Bryant
White
Wilbon
Taylor
Nelson
I think Ozigbo and Newby split carries in the spring game
Wilbon gets to start for the white team and we can see what he can do vs the first team defense
Red
Newby
Ozigbo
Bryant
White
Wilbon
Taylor
Nelson
I think Ozigbo and Newby split carries in the spring game
Wilbon gets to start for the white team and we can see what he can do vs the first team defense