Ok, so who's the number one back now?
We all knew what Brandon could do from last year, and he has shown some of that same moxie this season; as a blocking back and running up the middle for the tough yards, he has few peers. As we know, Brandon reinjured himself and has left the door open for Carlos. Last year, especially in the NW game, Carlos showed me some things, he has great top end speed and catches the ball well out of the backfield. For the Eastern game, Carlos gained 147 yards on the ground with 2 TDs. If both are 100% for the Indiana game, who would you start if you had the say?
September 20th, 2009 at 2:39 PM ^
I'd say Minor is still the #1 back, although Brown had a quality game yesterday and did well against ND. I want to see how Brown performs if he sees significant carries at MSU or Iowa before saying that he's a co-#1 with Minor.
September 20th, 2009 at 8:57 PM ^
I think once we get into Big Ten schedule there won't be many if any teams that have a front seven as weak as Eastern's. Minor's physical style will be necessary to get through the first line of tacklers.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:30 PM ^
I don't think you meant to type this ..."although Brown had a quality game yesterday and did well against ND" If you did mean to type that then your opinion of well is not the same as mine. When i ee 4 rushes for a total of -3 yards i tend to think he didn't do that well. He had a couple catches, 4 of them for 36 yards but i still dont give 8 touches for 33 yards that good of a day.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
That's not to say I don't like Brown but his game against ND was nothing special ... his game vs. EMU was niiiiice.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
I think a healthy Minor is a better every down back than a healthy Brown but they both need to get their touches.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:43 PM ^
I love the rotation system we have with all 3 of them. Shaw is a great change of pace back and I hope he continues to get reps with minor and brown. Minor Rage is still the #1 choice and I think he proved that against Notre Dame when Brown and Minor were both getting carries and Minor clearly ran better against the same D. Hard to say though with Browns ability to catch the ball split out and swing out of the backfield. DAMN it feels good to have this many options!
September 20th, 2009 at 2:52 PM ^
Would love to see him get 5-10 carries a game.
I wouldn't mind seeing Mike Cox in short yard situations, his runs at the end of were very impressive, granted it was EMU, but he was running with authority.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:57 PM ^
Shaw's long run before his touchdown was impressive. I thought he was caught and then he kicked out toward the sideline. Much quicker than I remembered him being.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:12 PM ^
Probably because Shaw was injured last year and was hampered by it. In fact, I think a lot of people underrate Shaw precisely for this reason. He is really showing us that he can be a great feature back in this offense: he has excellent speed, good quickness, and I thought he ran with surprising power yesterday, too.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
Shaw showed tremendous speed on the run where he was called out of bounds at the 12 early in the game against EMU. I expect to see a lot of him next season. He's going to be great.
Also Minor is still the #1 guy, shame he's been hurt. Funny thing is they say he's got an ankle sprain but against Notre Dame it sure looked like he was just fine. He destroyed that #90 DE from ND that one play.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:46 PM ^
minor is the top back.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:49 PM ^
I like all of our backs,by the way nice run by Cox's at the end of the game there! Minor gets yards others cant it seems like. I will say that I think Shaw ends up better than Minor or Brown.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
he is the perfect combo of size, speed, toughness...Carlos is a baller but Minor is the complete package and as long as he is healthy, he's gotta be our main guy.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:50 PM ^
Minor, Minor, Minor...but why can't we use both a ton?
September 20th, 2009 at 2:51 PM ^
runs angry.
September 20th, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
...which equals violence
September 20th, 2009 at 2:53 PM ^
He will go with whoever is hot... so in theory all 3 or 4(counting the freshman) could be our # go to guy.. I personally like this also. this makes it very difficult for another team to focus on a main back and what he can do.. or what packages are ran with certain backs..
September 20th, 2009 at 2:54 PM ^
Minor is still the # 1 back no question about it. He runs more down hill and is much more physical than Brown, IME. U M will need Minor to be fully healthy for conference play. It's nice to have RB depth with a healthy Brown (finally), Shaw, and V. Smith though.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:08 PM ^
Minor, if he's healthy. If not, Brown. It doesn't really matter - they're more like #1A and #1B.
At any rate, I do think RR/Magee need to set out to get these guys more carries. The two have combined to carry the ball only 46 times in three games. Some of that is on Tate for keeping the ball so often on the read option; I'd ideally like to see him either hand off or go for the pass option most of the time on that play.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
If we have 2 quality backs like Minor and Brown, I see no reason not to play both. Great change of pace and style between the 2 backs to keep the defense on their heels, and also fresh legs all game long.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:03 PM ^
That I was very impressed with Mike Cox. I know it was the end of the game but I still thought he showed some promise as a replacment to Minor for next year.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:08 PM ^
He looked shifty and fast, even if it was only EMU.
September 20th, 2009 at 3:15 PM ^
"the headiness of Cox"
September 20th, 2009 at 7:02 PM ^
with a bang."
September 20th, 2009 at 3:09 PM ^
We will need him next season.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:11 AM ^
me and my cousin went down by the end zone to watch the players stretch. Some observations about the RB's with my favorite one for last: First of all, Kevin Grady has the thickest thighs I've ever seen. Good lord, if you looked at the kid from waist down, you'd swear that looking up would result in seeing an offensive lineman. Brandon Minor is a very big kid. Brown looked small standing next to him. Vince Smith is short as hell, but you can see from his build why he's not redshirting. He's absolutely ripped. At his height, it's unlikely he'll ever get bigger than he is now, so why not play now, right? Michael Shaw looked about the same size as Brown. Cox was big. Yes, i said that. Cox was big (Ha!) He looks like another Minor to me. Not quite as big as Brandon yet, but he's only a freshman. He appears to have the frame to add size to his arms. He'll be a good one I bet.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:07 PM ^
Minor is a better runner.
Several people (including Wayne Larivee yesterday) have said Mike Shaw is a "change of pace back." What does that mean? Shaw is very fast, just like the guy who started the game yesterday - Carlos Brown. And I've never seen Brandon Minor get caught from behind, either.
"Change of pace back" is apparently code language for "I have no idea what I'm talking about."
September 20th, 2009 at 10:25 PM ^
I've wondered this as well, as it pertains to shaw
September 20th, 2009 at 3:22 PM ^
Minor is the obvious #1. Brown had a great day yesterday (check that, career day) but it doesn't mean he's the new #1. He didn't look great against Western or ND, so I'd say yesterday is more a product of "it's Eastern" than anything else.
To Brown's credit something might have clicked after he was tackled by 1 finger on his first long run - looked like a beast after that.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:19 PM ^
Brown had 10 carries for 54 yards against WMU, and one reception for 14 yards. Against ND, he didn't get to do much on the ground (four carries, one of which was a fumbled exchange), but he caught four passes for 36 yards. He's also greatly improved in pass protection. He's a quality back. Our tailback depth this year is the best it's been in a long time.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:18 PM ^
Minor is better, no question. Also, he is an awesome blocker.
September 20th, 2009 at 4:54 PM ^
Just look at att/TD. I'll take Minor for the starting back, but we just need to have D-Rob on the field at all times. I'm for Forcier QB, Minor ull/back, D-Rob - Halfback/QB, Brown (TE), Koger (2nd TE).
September 20th, 2009 at 5:26 PM ^
So basically you want to have a QB play QB, a RB play FB, a Qb play RB, a RB play TE, and a TE playing a TE.
I see what your doing! If we put everyone in fucked up places, the D will have no idea what to do and probably curl up in the fetal position. I like how you think!
September 20th, 2009 at 5:47 PM ^
Denard is the backup QB, Coach Rod has said this numerous times. There is no need to risk an injury to our backup QB by playing him at halfback.
September 20th, 2009 at 6:53 PM ^
The inclusion of Carlos Brown as a TE should have been a clue that he was being facetious.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:00 PM ^
Best back is Denard, the kid is a phenom and when he runs through non existent holes he is a phantom
September 20th, 2009 at 7:16 PM ^
I guess if I had to pick one (and they were both healthy) I'd pick Minor, but this offense functions better the more options it has. Instead of Steve Slaton, we have Minor/Brown/Shaw, at the very least.
September 20th, 2009 at 7:28 PM ^
Minor
Any other answer is either funny or stupid.
September 20th, 2009 at 8:03 PM ^
Big 10 season is starting, Minor's going to be the number 1 just for his pass blocking abilities along.
Also, he's a monster.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:40 PM ^
I like Minor in Possession.
Anyone have a problem putting in Cox behind Brown?
(Pun Intended/ Inuendo Intended)
Discuss.
September 21st, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^
MINOR RAGE
also, I want to hear "Minor...is major!" again. (I believe it's from Wisky last year)