Depth Chart for Northwestern released
October 5th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
Drake Johnson the number 2 back with no "OR."
That seems significant
Possible overreaction to Isaac's fumbles? Or is Johnson just that much better. Ty has looked promising, I think.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
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October 5th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^
I don't think he has, necessarily. My point was that I think they've both flashed enough potential to justify sharing the number 2 spot.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:46 PM ^
Is this what you saw last game or what the dog in your avatar saw? Because I dont think any human could actually think Ty and Deake are equal.
October 5th, 2015 at 6:03 PM ^
He has the best combination of vision & speed. And I still do not think he is at 100%, it will be exciting to see how good he is by the end of the year. BTW Isaac has been getting some snaps at Special Teams, I believe he drew a penalty flag for roughing the passer. Definately last Saturday was not Ty's day.
Edit I meant to say punter.
October 5th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
You made me spit up my coffee! +1 sir.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
Why is a guy who fumbles, struggles in pass protect being moved down an overreaction. Those are key things to a football team. I can't imagine the condition of the paint in the room where Isaac was "discussed" on these small errors. That is not Jim Harbaugh football.
Isaac seems to struggle at some of the mental parts of the game. There was some scuttlebutt about that on message boards this summer in terms of why he wouldnt move ahead of Smith. But I think it shows on the field. There is more to running back then just running. He seems to have issues with the "other stuff". For all the great running Mike Hart did he was considered a great blocker for his size and never friggin fumbled.
Drake and Deveon are a good combo. Both good stewards of the ball and both seem competent at pass protect. If you can get nearly the same thing out of Drake as he gets to 100% as Isaac without the mistakes its a no brainer.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
Needs to improve with Johnson in there. Otherwise, he is our best back.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
Isaac seems most comfortable catching the ball out of the backfield versus running hard between the tackles.
Too bad Green can't get it cranking in case Smith's ankle lingers
October 5th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^
What will it take for Green to be a viable option? I am still not sure why this hasn't happened yet. Actually makes me unhappy that he hasn't progressed more because I want him to do well.
October 5th, 2015 at 6:18 PM ^
They should start getting Isaac some reps where is split out and still have Drake or Smith in the backfield. Run some jet sweep action with him and the like.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:31 PM ^
I hear you, but Isaac had a few nice cuts and a really long run that should be replicated.
Hard to do if he drops the rock, tho.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^
I guess all those Scout *****'s don't matter all that much. He and Green appear to be supporting the back of the depth chart, much like a pyramid.
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October 5th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^
I guess all those Scout *****'s don't matter all that much. He and Green appear to be supporting the back of the depth chart, much like a pyramid.
***
***
*****
*****
October 5th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 1:37 PM ^
There is no possible overreaction to fumbles
October 5th, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
Maybe if Todd McShay saw Mike Hart's one fumble ever* and called him turnover prone, that would be both (a) an overraction to fumbling and (b) something Todd McShay would obviously do.
*I didn't look up Mike Hart's exact career fumble numbers for this board comment, but I remember they were few in number.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:58 PM ^
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October 5th, 2015 at 2:05 PM ^
...which tripled his career totals for lost fumbles at Michigan.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^
essentially were the difference between a 6-point win and a 20-point win. I recall at least one of those fumbles being right near the goal line. Those two turnovers made the score respectable in what was really a total beat down of the Gators.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:08 PM ^
Both were within the 5 yard line going in for a score.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:45 PM ^
IIRC, Michigan was -4 in turnovers in that game and still won. Michigan crushed UF otherwise, and only the TOs made it respectable.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:39 PM ^
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October 5th, 2015 at 2:03 PM ^
and has the vision we're looking for in a back. Our other backs not having the speed and shiftiness that Drake has would've never been able to make that run. Pound with Smith from tackle-tackle and get DJ outside later.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:04 PM ^
Benching a RB for fumbling is not an over reaction. Some might wonder why he was allowed back on the field to fumble it a second time?
October 5th, 2015 at 2:36 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
De'Veon Smith fumbled. Was he benched for an entire game?
October 5th, 2015 at 3:00 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^
I wouldn't mind seeing Isaac in trying to block punts still, he was close on that one.
October 5th, 2015 at 4:50 PM ^
I don't blame him much for the roughing call. Needs to take a better angle to avoid blasting the punter, but I don't know how he didn't get a hand on that given where he was.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:02 PM ^
probably has a much better handle on this and ability to assess who plays and why.
October 5th, 2015 at 5:43 PM ^
I'd love to hear him talk about it. I'm sure it would be informative and we would learn a lot. Nobody would complain either.
October is Sarcasm Awareness Month.
And with no sarcasm, I actually really do enjoy the word dance the coaches all give when in front of the mic. Last week's Wheatley presser was a hoot!
October 5th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
I think Drake being a solid #2 (and not sharing with Ty) could be as much about contrast as it is about performance to-date.
Deveon is an angry bowling ball, Drake is a shifty/bursty guy, and Ty seem to be a tallish version of something between those two.
Personally, if I were assembling a 1-2 punch out of the backfield, I'll take the contrast.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^
In 99% of the cases decisions on depth are based on MUCH more than one game, situational performances. Remember, Wheatley has been drilling, teaching, critiquing, and observing all of these guys since January.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:08 PM ^
as he's been able to do more. If he had entered fall camp 100% healthy, I think he would have started the season at least where he's listed now. Rather than looking at the new chart as Isaac being demoted, consider that Johnson is just finding his proper place.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:37 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 2:46 PM ^
Isaac is averaging 7.19 yards/carry. Take away his 76-yard run, and he's still averaging 4.44 yards/carry.
De'Veon Smith is averaging 4.8 yards/carry. Take away his 60-yard run, and he's averaging 3.98 yards/carry.
I agree that Isaac should probably be demoted after fumbling twice in 6 carries, but he has been gaining yards pretty consistently.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:15 PM ^
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October 5th, 2015 at 4:20 PM ^
Except Green needs to work on running the ball, at least without dropping to the ground on first contact.
October 5th, 2015 at 5:05 PM ^
or the occasional hard fart
October 5th, 2015 at 1:37 PM ^
Stribling listed as starter opposite Lewis. A one-gamer?
October 5th, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^
When the verb form in question is in fact a gerund, it is easy.
Swimming outdoors is fun. (swimming is the gerund here)
In the winter, swimming outdoors is no longer possible.
Come late Spring, swimming is back on track.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:21 PM ^
Glad he's back to strible some more.
October 5th, 2015 at 3:40 PM ^
...and chan.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:38 PM ^
Looks like the HB position has now sorted itself out. Surprised that Houma is listed as an "or" with Poggi. Also Clark still behind Stribling is interesting.
October 5th, 2015 at 1:40 PM ^
Where's Brian Cole?
October 5th, 2015 at 1:53 PM ^
If the other receivers step up, and he isn't 100%, I could believe a redshirt is forthcoming.
October 5th, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^
Darboh and Chesson seem to have the outside receiver positions locked down and the slot hasn't really been featured much in the offense the last few games.