AJC Update Nate Cottrell

[OldJacketFan]

Pretty good write up by KS. SO glad to see Nate back!

http://www.ajc.com/news/sports/college/a-back-nate-cottrell-full-go-for-techs-first-prese/nr9xj/

 

[jayparr]

Best news yet!!!

 

[SidewalkJacket]

The injection of NC, a healed-up QS (who I thought was dynamite before his injury), and JJ Green has got me pretty jacked about the AB position. And those three might not beat out Ike, CL, and LG, even.

 

[33jacket]

Imo he will still be a year away.....he was out so early he never played; and we have depth and honestly acl take time for truly there.

 

[OldJacketFan]

Imo he will still be a year away.....he was out so early he never played; and we have depth and honestly acl take time for truly there.

I think that's very possible and I wouldn't be upset if that's the case. But he was the one that really caught PJ's eye as a a true freshman and if he's head and shoulders above he will start. I doubt the medical staff would clear him if he wasn't ready. We know how conservative they are!

 

[takethepoints]

I think a healthy Nate Cottrell is the central element to returning to form this year. He was in line to start last year when he got hurt. That means that he's an ok blocker and sizzling hot as an AB.

I was just watching some of the FSU game (it's on ESPNU now) and I kept thinking, "Cottrell would have blown right past that." He gives us an element we haven't had since Tony Hollings - a guy who's so fast he can leave the whole field behind in one step. (And, yes, that includes Dwyer; different kind of runner.)

If he stays healthy - please, Jeebus - then I don't see how we can't be successful.

 

[vamosjackets]

I think a healthy Nate Cottrell is the central element to returning to form this year. He was in line to start last year when he got hurt. That means that he's an ok blocker and sizzling hot as an AB.

I was just watching some of the FSU game (it's on ESPNU now) and I kept thinking, "Cottrell would have blown right past that." He gives us an element we haven't had since Tony Hollings - a guy who's so fast he can leave the whole field behind in one step. (And, yes, that includes Dwyer; different kind of runner.)

If he stays healthy - please, Jeebus - then I don't see how we can't be successful.

I think Snoddy would be in that same category, just as far as pure speed at the AB spot. You saw him be a difference maker in blowing past defenses in 2014. He made what would've been 15 yard runs by others into 50 yard runs because of his speed defeating the defenders' initial angles.

 

[takethepoints]

I think Snoddy would be in that same category, just as far as pure speed at the AB spot. You saw him be a difference maker in blowing past defenses in 2014. He made what would've been 15 yard runs by others into 50 yard runs because of his speed defeating the defenders' initial angles.

Yes, Snoddy was wicked fast, but …

Cottrell is in another category on this. He may be the fastest player we've ever put on the field (faster then Kelly Campbell? Jeremy Meyers? Hollings? Yes). On top of that he is actually pretty hard to bring down. Watch his high school film; he's a traffic runner. That's why I compare him to Hollings. Same deal: a traffic runner who's as fast as Deion Sanders. This is why I think he'll have such an impact, especially if JT (who ought to know) is right about his speed.

But we'll see. I have been wrong before, you know. Shoot, it happened again just last month.

 

[ilovetheoption]

Yes, Snoddy was wicked fast, but …

Cottrell is in another category on this. He may be the fastest player we've ever put on the field (faster then Kelly Campbell? Jeremy Meyers? Hollings? Yes). On top of that he is actually pretty hard to bring down. Watch his high school film; he's a traffic runner. That's why I compare him to Hollings. Same deal: a traffic runner who's as fast as Deion Sanders. This is why I think he'll have such an impact, especially if JT (who ought to know) is right about his speed.

But we'll see. I have been wrong before, you know. Shoot, it happened again just last month.

I'm willing to bet that Snoddy beats Cottrell in a head to head race. Snoddy placed NATIONALLY in the 60 yard dash for GT's track team. That said, I bet Cottrell's a way better A-back (provided he heals right). He's probably almost as fast as Snoddy, but he's a natural running back, with vision and hips, whereas Snoddy was just a straight line sprinter. Now, if you could get Snoddy going in a straight line, well then whoa nelly, but Cottrell can GET to a straight line.

 

[alagold]

Until I hear of a race between JT and Cottrell (now) , I'm assuming he will lag a bit with the injury a bit..It will be also a while for the renewal of the fball skills.Just don't let him get hurt again or we'll be talking about him like Tony Hollings in "what might have been.".

 

[forensicbuzz]

I'm willing to bet that Snoddy beats Cottrell in a head to head race. Snoddy placed NATIONALLY in the 60 yard dash for GT's track team. That said, I bet Cottrell's a way better A-back (provided he heals right). He's probably almost as fast as Snoddy, but he's a natural running back, with vision and hips, whereas Snoddy was just a straight line sprinter. Now, if you could get Snoddy going in a straight line, well then whoa nelly, but Cottrell can GET to a straight line.

Here's the thing about racing...it's amost always about the start. When I watched the Snoddy/JT race when JT was a freshman, they were essentially the same speed. The difference was that Snoddy got a slight jump. JT couldn't close the gap, but Snoddy also couldn't pull away from him. I think it'd be the same with Cottrell. If we were time the last 40 yrds of a 60 yrd run, I think the three of them would be very close to the same time.

 

[deeeznutz]

Yes, Snoddy was wicked fast, but …

Cottrell is in another category on this. He may be the fastest player we've ever put on the field (faster then Kelly Campbell? Jeremy Meyers? Hollings? Yes). On top of that he is actually pretty hard to bring down. Watch his high school film; he's a traffic runner. That's why I compare him to Hollings. Same deal: a traffic runner who's as fast as Deion Sanders. This is why I think he'll have such an impact, especially if JT (who ought to know) is right about his speed.

But we'll see. I have been wrong before, you know. Shoot, it happened again just last month.

Man, you're putting HUGE expectations on the kid, calling him the fastest player to ever play for GT...before he's ever played for GT. He looks promising, I'm very excited to see him play, but you have to be fair to the guy with what you put on his shoulders. I would be the happiest guy in the world to be proven wrong in the end though, no doubt.

 

[strong90]

In addition to AB, I predict he returns kick offs and takes at least one to the house.

 

[danny daniel]

In addition to AB, I predict he returns kick offs and takes at least one to the house.

IMO Too much risk. (there is NCAA consideration to eliminate kickoffs due to the high risk) Been there with Lenny Snow. Prefer someone who can help us in the return game that you can replace if necessary, not an every down playmaker. I cringed when Smelter ran back kickoffs. Go with a Jarrett type (someone with talent buried in the depth chart).

 

[strong90]

IMO Too much risk. (there is NCAA consideration to eliminate kickoffs due to the high risk) Been there with Lenny Snow. Prefer someone who can help us in the return game that you can replace if necessary, not an every down playmaker. I cringed when Smelter ran back kickoffs. Go with a Jarrett type (someone with talent buried in the depth chart).

Good point.

 

[iceeater1969]

He's faster than any wr.

I hope we send him and other fast abs on some pass routes.

 

[vamosjackets]

Yes, Snoddy was wicked fast, but …

Cottrell is in another category on this. He may be the fastest player we've ever put on the field (faster then Kelly Campbell? Jeremy Meyers? Hollings? Yes). On top of that he is actually pretty hard to bring down. Watch his high school film; he's a traffic runner. That's why I compare him to Hollings. Same deal: a traffic runner who's as fast as Deion Sanders. This is why I think he'll have such an impact, especially if JT (who ought to know) is right about his speed.

But we'll see. I have been wrong before, you know. Shoot, it happened again just last month.

Here are Snoddy's highlights:

You can really see the ludicrous speed (and the difference it CAN make) at the 30 second mark against Clemson. Another great example is at the 1:52 mark against UVA. He broke off some big ones against ND as well.

He was a very talented RB, also displaying power and tackle-breaking ability. He was just reaching his potential when had that devastating injury in 2014. He had become our premier AB, and that was when we had like 5 senior AB's who were all good. If Cottrell turns out to be as good as him, I'd be happy. He's kind of what I envision for Cottrell, which is a pretty high expectation.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

What hurt Snoddy was his transition from E-W to N-S wasn't that great. Once he got N-S, he turned on the jets, but he rounded the transition way too much.

 

[gtpi]

in a comparison between snoddy and nc.... i pick nc because snoddy had straight away speed but the juking wasnt there. my bet would be that nathan has jukes that snoddy couldnt make.

but i could be wrong.

 

[vamosjackets]

What hurt Snoddy was his transition from E-W to N-S wasn't that great. Once he got N-S, he turned on the jets, but he rounded the transition way too much.

I think he had become very good at it. Like I said, he had risen above the rest in '14 when we had a lot of good ones. He was going to be our next great one - in the ranks of Orwin and Godhigh, and then he was just never healthy again.