Marcus Marshall

[AE 87]

I don't understand why everyone though Allen was the savior at B-Back. Did he have a nice spring game? Yes. That being said he wasn't even considered for the spot until about a week left in the spring, he was still practicing with the LB's before both Legget and Quaide when down with injury. If Legget and Quaide don't go down he is still buried on the depth chart and OLB. He has maybe a week and a half more experience at the spot than MM and Skov.

I think we can all agree that MM is a much more natural running back than Allen and that Skov is much more physically imposing than Allen.

I say all this not to diminish Allen, but to point out that it should really come as no surprise that he has been overtaken by two other players.

Allen was drafted at BBack and started there. I think people looked at that and the Spring game against the expectation of a longer learning curve for the new guys.

 

[ATL1]

We drafting players now

 

[SidewalkJacket]

Based on past CPJ B-Backs I would say these two are the most "prototypical" of what you're looking for.



and

Exactly. AP and KE were totally different players. Both were perfect BBs. Just like Dwyer was. Just like 5'5" Jermaine Austin was. And hopefully just like Skov and MM will be.

 

[B Lifsey]

I'm seeing an owl asking the question, "How many licks does it take to get AP to the ground?"

 

[deeeznutz]

I think Allen and Skov will end up playing the most, though who will end up starting is still up in the air. Marshall is talented, yes, but he is inexperienced, not a prototypical BB, and I think he'll end up at AB, just like Land-Davis will end up at BB. The present situation has been forced by injuries; Allen didn't lose his job until he couldn't play. And Quiade will be back soon too. Too bad CJ got hurt and we couldn't put all this behind us. But all this will be settled on the field. Personally, I'd want Marshall to red-shirt, if at all possible.

Oth, think about the position next year. It'll be the most competitive on the squad. Well, that and who'll end up as the no. 2 QB.

If Marshall was likely to be 2nd/3rd string behind Skov and Allen, he probably would have been listed at #2 behind Skov with Allen out. The fact that Paul Johnson has him at #1 BB right now (with Skov) shows that he really likes what he brings to the position. He may not be "prototypical" to your eyes, but I'm gonna trust the guy who invented this offense. We'll probably start seeing more BB option pitches in the next couple years if we have a more explosive running back there to take the pitch. Remember how dangerous that play was with Dwyer? When the blocking is solid, a BB with very good acceleration has a nice lane on the edge to run down the field.

 

[Declinometer]

Based on past CPJ B-Backs I would say these two are the most "prototypical" of what you're looking for.



and

AP senior size 5'10" 212 lbs
MM freshman size 5'9" 185 lbs
Very similar

 

[ATL1]

http://ink361.com/app/users/ig-179180519/mdmarshall34/photos/ig-993774664394744613_179180519


I promise you Marcus is closer to 200 - 205 Coach Cooks offer was contingent on Marcus adding weight. He is a ripped 205 easy.

 

[GTonTop88]

JT doesn't have prototypical size to play QB either but I don't see him moving to AB or CB in the near future. MM is strong and fast, he may be a little short but he's compact. Also the coaches love his first step burst, which IMO is one of the most important factors for a BB. He just has all the tools to go with that burst to torch defenses. Idk why people want him at AB so bad, if this works out this would be huge for us. Why would CPJ move MLD to AB for a year and swap him and MM the next? Makes no sense to me. The guy is 1st string as a true freshman, that should say something. Despite our lack of depth.

 

[UgaBlows]

Forgive my ignorance but why is height important for a running back?

 

[deeeznutz]

Forgive my ignorance but why is height important for a running back?

It's not, a lot of people just tend to assume height=size, and forget that it can help a power RB to be short as his center of gravity is lower. It can factor into a guy's weight/ability to add weight, no doubt, and can help with catching passes downfield (although Godhigh proved it's not a huge handicap). I've always maintained that a short, stout build is ideal for our BBs...I would love to see a guy like Maurice Jones-Drew at BB. That low center of gravity, combined with being invisible behind the line, would result in a lot of broken tackles on the first level and then wide open lanes to run to daylight.

 

[Bennett]

Forgive my ignorance but why is height important for a running back?

It's not

 

[OldJacketFan]

Lots of good point being made about MM, the most important of which is what CPJ sees and says

 

[danny daniel]

I think Allen and Skov will end up playing the most, though who will end up starting is still up in the air. Marshall is talented, yes, but he is inexperienced, not a prototypical BB, and I think he'll end up at AB, just like Land-Davis will end up at BB. The present situation has been forced by injuries; Allen didn't lose his job until he couldn't play. And Quiade will be back soon too. Too bad CJ got hurt and we couldn't put all this behind us. But all this will be settled on the field. Personally, I'd want Marshall to red-shirt, if at all possible.

Oth, think about the position next year. It'll be the most competitive on the squad. Well, that and who'll end up as the no. 2 QB.

I haven't seen them play yet but CPJ has. He already quickly decided Marshall over L-Davis. Skov, Allen, and Quaide are the bulls (as was L-Davis). I think he wants the home run BB in the mix and Marshall is the one. CPJ has some BB plays to get Marshall in space. IMO he stays at BB.

 

[JorgeJonas]

I'm interested to see the continued development at A-back. With all the kids at B-back, obviously to get on the field some will have to move. That seemed to work out well with Perkins and Snoddy, and it adds a size element to the A-backs that we have previously lacked. It seems to give more flexibility both in terms of who we block, how well, and the style (cut vs. drive). It would, pardon the horrible pun, give us options.

 

[JorgeJonas]

I haven't seen them play yet but CPJ has. He already quickly decided Marshall over L-Davis. Skov, Allen, and Quaide are the bulls (as was L-Davis). I think he wants the home run BB in the mix and Marshall is the one. CPJ has some BB plays to get Marshall in space. IMO he stays at BB.

I think there's truth in this. Days added the homerun element to the position last year. Before him, I can't really recall the last 40 or 50 yard run we broke up the gut. All the big plays were from the A-backs, the QB, or in the passing game. The return of the big play to the B-back was a welcome sight.

 

[bke1984]

Cutting right after hitting the hole is exactly what they want the B-back to do. A guy I met that knew Wes Durham once told me of a player we had at B-back that loved contact (not going to name the guy). Every time he hit the hole he'd run straight at the linebackers. Coaches kept trying to get him to cut, but he wanted to bowl over the defenders. It didn't work out and he ended up changing positions.

The home run threat we had at B-Back with Dwyer had a lot to do with two things: 1) his legs were massive and he was hard to tackle, 2) the cuts he made after the first level

The thing that stands out to me when you watch Marshall's high school tape is just this...he sees the holes develop and cuts right when he hits the hole.

I'm not trying to knock what our B-backs did the last few years, as they always gained yards and it produced wins...but man, this kid has me excited. If this one skill translates to college ball then this kid is going to be a stud for us over the next four years.

 

[bke1984]

I think there's truth in this. Days added the homerun element to the position last year. Before him, I can't really recall the last 40 or 50 yard run we broke up the gut. All the big plays were from the A-backs, the QB, or in the passing game. The return of the big play to the B-back was a welcome sight.

Days was better at breaking tackles, so it produced more long runs, but he didn't have the top end speed we've had there before. The play in the Orange Bowl had a lot to do with the last guy not really wanted to get hit...I actually chuckle every time I see it...that guy wanted nothing to do with trying to tackle the Engine

 

[mj claz]

Based on past CPJ B-Backs I would say these two are the most "prototypical" of what you're looking for.



and

I would not use the word "prototype" to go along with that 5.4 40 time Eckel appears to be running

 

[AE 87]

Days was better at breaking tackles, so it produced more long runs, but he didn't have the top end speed we've had there before. The play in the Orange Bowl had a lot to do with the last guy not really wanted to get hit...I actually chuckle every time I see it...that guy wanted nothing to do with trying to tackle the Engine

I think that last point is going to be huge for Skov. I recently saw a show on Larry Czonka where they talked about that. DBs did not want to get in front of him.

 

[deeeznutz]

I would not use the word "prototype" to go along with that 5.4 40 time Eckel appears to be running

Wasn't the fastest guy (40 times in the 4.7-4.8 range) but was effective and had a 5 year NFL career as a fullback. You notice his vid shows him making a quick cut to avoid hits a lot. With the power he ran with defenders had to really commit to putting a hit on him, so even though he may not have been the quickest guy out there he was able to dodge a lot of quicker defenders.
And I think he was trying to show opposite ends of the spectrum with those two vids. We can be successful with either a bruising FB type, or a smaller home run hitting type...this offense is versatile enough to utilize both players.