Skill positions

[AE 87]

Lots of hope but--On running backs--when has any first yr (even R-Fr) back in our OFF with PJ ever been a big impact player? It is so tough to learn this OFF and block unless you have done it A LOT. Many are thinking about their speed and moves and less about the fumbles and missed assignments.

In addition to Dwyer 2008, Jones 2008, Smith 2010, you have Allen in 2009. All were major contributors in their first year of significant playing time with a year or less of training in the position.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

Dwyer was a true sophomore playing in CPJ's system for the first time in 2008...ACC POY and Offensive POY. That's probably the closest to your qualifications.

Roddy had a HUGE game against UGA, and was probably our best AB blocker even as a R-FR. Was the 3rd leading rusher in 2008 behind Nesbitt and Dwyer with 690 yards.

Your examples are good ones, but only prove it's a possibility not a certainty, not even a probability. I can give you 6 guys who hadn't done squat til their final year of eligibility.
Days, Laskey, Perkins, Zenon, Bostic, Hill.

That said, I really hope you are right. We all need you to be right.

 

[Techster]

Your examples are good ones, but only prove it's a possibility not a certainty, not even a probability. I can give you 6 guys who hadn't done squat til their final year of eligibility.
Days, Laskey, Perkins, Zenon, Bostic, Hill.

That said, I really hope you are right. We all need you to be right.

Wasn't saying it could or will be done...just giving examples to @alaguy post.

Calm down, hardcharger! The summer is long and hot...down burn out!

 

[ATL1]

Idk why there's doubt about Marcus Allen ? Spring game had me sold, kid is a load, and has speed.

 

[Techster]

Idk why there's doubt about Marcus Allen ? Spring game had me sold, kid is a load, and has speed.

No kidding. He was running behind a patchwork OL, against our first team D, with new ABs...and he STILL put up nice numbers. That's after moving at the last minute to BB. Now he has an entire off season and Fall camp to work on his game and his body.

I don't get the fawning over Skov. I think he's going to be solid, but I don't think he'll match the production of either Laskey or Days in 2014...though I'm more than happy to be wrong about that. BB is a totally different beast than playing any backfield position. Fullbacks aren't the focus of defenses, and BBs are the primary focus of pretty much every defense we face. Skov is obviously a smart guy, and I think he'll pick up our offense and the ancillary responsibilities of a BB pretty quickly...but being a productive runner at BB is an adjustment that's taken guys not named Jonathan Dwyer a good bit time. I think Skov is exactly what CPJ said he is...a mature body that will help us with much needed depth.

 

[dressedcheeseside]

No kidding. He was running behind a patchwork OL, against our first team D, with new ABs...and he STILL put up nice numbers. That's after moving at the last minute to BB. Now he has an entire off season and Fall camp to work on his game and his body.

I don't get the fawning over Skov. I think he's going to be solid, but I don't think he'll match the production of either Laskey or Days in 2014...though I'm more than happy to be wrong about that. BB is a totally different beast than playing any backfield position. Fullbacks aren't the focus of defenses, and BBs are the primary focus of pretty much every defense we face. Skov is obviously a smart guy, and I think he'll pick up our offense and the ancillary responsibilities of a BB pretty quickly...but being a productive runner at BB is an adjustment that's taken guys not named Jonathan Dwyer a good bit time. I think Skov is exactly what CPJ said he is...a mature body that will help us with much needed depth.

I think playing fullback in a traditional offense is a perfect lead in to playing Bback for us. The critical thing to learn at Bback is trusting the hole and going full speed regardless of what you see in front of you. As a fullback you're always going full speed into the LOS as it is your job to bust it up. I think we'll see the transition being short for this guy. The fact that he's a 5th year player with an NFL body and very football smart only add to the optimism.

 

[Techster]

I think playing fullback in a traditional offense is a perfect lead in to playing Bback for us. The critical thing to learn at Bback is trusting the hole and going full speed regardless of what you see in front of you. As a fullback you're always going full speed into the LOS as it is your job to bust it up. I think we'll see the transition being short for this guy. The fact that he's a 5th year player with an NFL body and very football smart only add to the optimism.

For the sake of the BB depth and productivity, I hope you're right. BB isn't about smashing full steam head first into a hole...you have to have the ability to move laterally in space...and like I said, defenses are not focused on FB like they will be when he moves to BB. You have to be an instinctive runner PLUS have the strength get past the first line. It's what they do AFTER they move past the LOS inside the box versus the LBs that separates the JDs/Ants/Days from the Laskey/Sims/Lyons (though Laskey got really good at it in 2014). You mentioned his "NFL body" and I think people are more enamored with that and overlook his actual game tape. I mean, Allen had more rushing attempts during the spring game than Skov had his entire career!

Skov will be the "3 yard and cloud of dust" type BB for us, and that's more than OK because I think our OL is strong...but I think Allen will be the more dynamic of the two with big play potential.

 

[croberts]

No kidding. He was running behind a patchwork OL, against our first team D, with new ABs...and he STILL put up nice numbers. That's after moving at the last minute to BB. Now he has an entire off season and Fall camp to work on his game and his body.

I don't get the fawning over Skov. I think he's going to be solid, but I don't think he'll match the production of either Laskey or Days in 2014...though I'm more than happy to be wrong about that. BB is a totally different beast than playing any backfield position. Fullbacks aren't the focus of defenses, and BBs are the primary focus of pretty much every defense we face. Skov is obviously a smart guy, and I think he'll pick up our offense and the ancillary responsibilities of a BB pretty quickly...but being a productive runner at BB is an adjustment that's taken guys not named Jonathan Dwyer a good bit time. I think Skov is exactly what CPJ said he is...a mature body that will help us with much needed depth.

We have gotten great production from average talent out of our b-backs. Would love to talk to Eric about this but when we look back over the past few years (10) we have only. Gotten Dwyer and Custus to sign out of our top backs on our board until 2015 and now 2016. I think that both Skov and Allen are as talented as who they replace. I think the ceiling on the backs from 2015 and the studs from 2016 are much higher.

 

[Boomergump]

I'll say this much for Skov, he will upgrade the physicality at the BB position to levels we haven't seen yet. I am not sure if he will bring a great deal of open-field running ability to go with it though. The kid will smash it up in there and keep the legs churning.

There is a hidden value to have a guy at that position who dishes out punishment whether or not he has the ball. So much is said about how many hits a BB takes etc etc. Well, if that is true then he has a lot of chances to dish it out too. That can wear down defenders and take a little air out of their sails. As tough as FB players are, they are still human, and when a guy gets hammered a few times, he won't be as torqued up to stick his hat in there the same way next time. Just saying. Skov will block well, which is so important, but he will bring the hammer both carrying the rock and being the decoy. I feel certain of that.

I doubt he will go for 1300 yards himself, but he will soften things up in a way we haven't seen yet. When you look back at our BBs under CPJ, who was a truly punishing runner? Dwyer? No. He was the worst we had at getting the first 2 yards. It was just that he was so electric once he found a seam that you couldn't keep him off the field. Allen? Kind of. AA had a thick pair of legs and a largish body, but he was a more slick and slippery type who just happened to weigh 220. When did you really see him lower the helmet and rock somebody? He was real good at giving just enough of a move to get hit with arms and then pull through the arm tackle. Lyons? No. He was a serviceable #2. Laskey? No. He was real quick getting too the hole and held on to the football. He was a passionate kid who ran with 100% effort but he was definitely short of the ideal build and power base. Synjin? He was probably the closest we have seen to the physical prototype. We saw how he finally took over the position. SD had a largish body too and ran with great lean. When he dropped his shoulder, he didn't give you much to hit. Defenders got fed a lot of thighs, shoulders, and forearms from SD and he was hard to bring down at initial contact. Clearly, we saw how punishing that type of runner can be. We saw how it wore down defenses and eventually we could own the game with the plethora of dive plays that we run (not taking anything away from the OL). We saw how it opened everything else up. With SD, we manhandled defenses that were otherwise considered the elite of CFB who dominated the rest of their competition.

I am hopeful that PS will elevate, even further, our physical presence at this position, and if he does, it will really pay off.

 

[redmule]

Wasn't Skov primarily a blocker? I expect CPJ will take advantage of that. I expect to see more passing from Thomas with Skov blocking for him. I can remember passes last year where Laskey or Days whiffed on their blocks and Thomas didn't have time to set his feet to hit an open receiver. Our pass protection was not that great. Lots of Thomas' completions were when he was being chased out of the pocket and Smelter circled back. Hopefully Skov allows Thomas more time in the pocket. Skov leading Thomas or Byerly into the hole on short yardage and goal lines should be better than last year. Skov without the ball hammering VT's and uga's DL will be enjoyable. We have lost some experience blocking at AB and gained quite a bit at BB. Adding physicality is never a bad thing in football.

 

[JacketFromUGA]

I'd say our most punishing bback we've had was Cox.

 

[Skeptic]

No kidding. He was running behind a patchwork OL, against our first team D, with new ABs...and he STILL put up nice numbers. That's after moving at the last minute to BB. Now he has an entire off season and Fall camp to work on his game and his body.

I don't get the fawning over Skov. I think he's going to be solid, but I don't think he'll match the production of either Laskey or Days in 2014...though I'm more than happy to be wrong about that. BB is a totally different beast than playing any backfield position. Fullbacks aren't the focus of defenses, and BBs are the primary focus of pretty much every defense we face. Skov is obviously a smart guy, and I think he'll pick up our offense and the ancillary responsibilities of a BB pretty quickly...but being a productive runner at BB is an adjustment that's taken guys not named Jonathan Dwyer a good bit time. I think Skov is exactly what CPJ said he is...a mature body that will help us with much needed depth.

It might be possible, depending on development of depth, that Skov could be the first 1,000 yard Bback guy since Allen, just based on carries. '14 is the first season I am aware of that Johnson platooned his Bbacks, ever.

 

[Skeptic]

I'd say our most punishing bback we've had was Cox.

This. Whether running it or blocking this guy was a load who did not shy from contact at all. Allen was aggressive that way. Dwyer, on the other hand, had the annoying technique of leading with his right shoulder and I kept looking for a separation or even a break there. Even the WF championship block leading Nesbitt into the hole was one of those and Nesbitt actually would have scored without it. But Cox would line up and hit people.

 

[AE 87]

It might be possible, depending on development of depth, that Skov could be the first 1,000 yard Bback guy since Allen, just based on carries. '14 is the first season I am aware of that Johnson platooned his Bbacks, ever.

Laskey and Sims, esp 2012 but also 2013.

 

[Yaller Jacket]

Wasn't Skov primarily a blocker? I expect CPJ will take advantage of that. I expect to see more passing from Thomas with Skov blocking for him. I can remember passes last year where Laskey or Days whiffed on their blocks and Thomas didn't have time to set his feet to hit an open receiver. Our pass protection was not that great. Lots of Thomas' completions were when he was being chased out of the pocket and Smelter circled back. Hopefully Skov allows Thomas more time in the pocket. Skov leading Thomas or Byerly into the hole on short yardage and goal lines should be better than last year. Skov without the ball hammering VT's and uga's DL will be enjoyable. We have lost some experience blocking at AB and gained quite a bit at BB. Adding physicality is never a bad thing in football.

I've had the same thought at redmule. To make sure Skov is in on passing plays is too obvious, but I can see us using some of that if some of the other new Bs don't turn out to be good pass protection blockers. Seems to me the B is often left to pick up the first unblocked rusher and the play works or not depending on whether the B holds up the rusher.

 

[jeffgt14]

I'll say this much for Skov, he will upgrade the physicality at the BB position to levels we haven't seen yet. I am not sure if he will bring a great deal of open-field running ability to go with it though. The kid will smash it up in there and keep the legs churning.

There is a hidden value to have a guy at that position who dishes out punishment whether or not he has the ball. So much is said about how many hits a BB takes etc etc. Well, if that is true then he has a lot of chances to dish it out too. That can wear down defenders and take a little air out of their sails. As tough as FB players are, they are still human, and when a guy gets hammered a few times, he won't be as torqued up to stick his hat in there the same way next time. Just saying. Skov will block well, which is so important, but he will bring the hammer both carrying the rock and being the decoy. I feel certain of that.

I doubt he will go for 1300 yards himself, but he will soften things up in a way we haven't seen yet. When you look back at our BBs under CPJ, who was a truly punishing runner? Dwyer? No. He was the worst we had at getting the first 2 yards. It was just that he was so electric once he found a seam that you couldn't keep him off the field. Allen? Kind of. AA had a thick pair of legs and a largish body, but he was a more slick and slippery type who just happened to weigh 220. When did you really see him lower the helmet and rock somebody? He was real good at giving just enough of a move to get hit with arms and then pull through the arm tackle. Lyons? No. He was a serviceable #2. Laskey? No. He was real quick getting too the hole and held on to the football. He was a passionate kid who ran with 100% effort but he was definitely short of the ideal build and power base. Synjin? He was probably the closest we have seen to the physical prototype. We saw how he finally took over the position. SD had a largish body too and ran with great lean. When he dropped his shoulder, he didn't give you much to hit. Defenders got fed a lot of thighs, shoulders, and forearms from SD and he was hard to bring down at initial contact. Clearly, we saw how punishing that type of runner can be. We saw how it wore down defenses and eventually we could own the game with the plethora of dive plays that we run (not taking anything away from the OL). We saw how it opened everything else up. With SD, we manhandled defenses that were otherwise considered the elite of CFB who dominated the rest of their competition.

I am hopeful that PS will elevate, even further, our physical presence at this position, and if he does, it will really pay off.

I know you're not trying to take anything away from the O-Line but when Synjyn made the switch to BB last year, our O-Line was firing on all cylinders. It's much easier to be a more punishing back when you get an extra yard or 2 to gain momentum. I can't argue who was more punishing between Synjyn and Laskey but they both had some incredible games last year. Synjyn against MSU may have been more explosive but Laskey against Miami may just be the benchmark to judge BB's by. Both RB's dominated uga though.

 

[alaguy]

k

does Orwin SMith as a sophomore count since he mainly returned kicks as a true freshman?

I was speaking about just -Freshmen

 

[alaguy]

Dwyer was a true sophomore playing in CPJ's system for the first time in 2008...ACC POY and Offensive POY. That's probably the closest to your qualifications.

Roddy had a HUGE game against UGA, and was probably our best AB blocker even as a R-FR. Was the 3rd leading rusher in 2008 behind Nesbitt and Dwyer with 690 yards.

yea, Roddy would have been the closest to a "newbie" in playing and effect

 

[Chas_Jacket]

I believe Skov could be the x factor this year. The transition from high school to college is not just physical but also emotional for an 18 year old. Patrick is physically more than ready and will not be awed by GT or the big city. After Stanford, academics will not be overwhelming and he will likely be 100% focused on football. He also knows that this is his big chance to get to the NFL. I can see him clearing the way for JeT, smashing for 3 or 4 yards when needed or as a sure blocker for pass plays.

 

[wishbone]

Wasn't Skov primarily a blocker? I expect CPJ will take advantage of that. I expect to see more passing from Thomas with Skov blocking for him. I can remember passes last year where Laskey or Days whiffed on their blocks and Thomas didn't have time to set his feet to hit an open receiver. Our pass protection was not that great. Lots of Thomas' completions were when he was being chased out of the pocket and Smelter circled back. Hopefully Skov allows Thomas more time in the pocket. Skov leading Thomas or Byerly into the hole on short yardage and goal lines should be better than last year. Skov without the ball hammering VT's and uga's DL will be enjoyable. We have lost some experience blocking at AB and gained quite a bit at BB. Adding physicality is never a bad thing in football.

If Skov is the FB he's cracked up to be ..."the follow" should set JT loose.