Who do you want to win the RB position?

Submitted by cargo on

Was wondering what everyone's opinion is.  Personally I hope Shaw wins it.  When healthy he in the past two years has been a strong runner with few mental mistakes.

IndyBlue90

August 10th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^

I hope you're right, but early reports seem to indicate that Rawls and Hayes are just behind the pack in terms of knowledge of the offense. You could even see it in the rivals video when Rawls went through one of the drills and then you could hear some one telling him to watch how Vince does it. After Vince went through you could see a huge difference in just knowing how to do drills and such. There's plenty of time for them to catch up and Rawls highlight tape looked like exactly what I want our backs to play like, so my fingers are crossed.

joeysos33

August 10th, 2011 at 10:00 PM ^

but i dont buy not grasping the playbook for a running back. Like you said RB is the easiest to make an early impact, Cox is seasoned he should be able to get that part down. Cox is the guy i want to see starting, hes at 215 right now with good speed. Dude just needs to hit the hole and go and he should be just fine.

PurpleStuff

August 10th, 2011 at 10:52 PM ^

Your description just reminded me of why I can't shake the perception that Cox is just the poor man's Carlos Brown.  Brown had similar size (a little smaller, but still no slouch) and even better (downright elite) speed.  Just seemed to run upright and never had the vision/balance/lateral movement to be a consistent running back.  Could "hit the hole and go" for 90 yard TD's all day against subpar competition but just couldn't get it done against a better defense. 

Probably (certainly) unfair to paint Cox with that brush before he's gotten any meaningful carries against a real defense, but I just don't expect to be pleasantly surprised/proven wrong at this point.

bklein09

August 11th, 2011 at 12:00 AM ^

I don't think its as simple as just hitting the hole and relying on natural instinct. 

The problem with freshman is that in addition to grasping the offense (which not only includes terminology, but also includes protection schemes, route running, etc), they often have a lot to learn in terms of fundamentals such as pad level, ball security, and decision making.

I think most highly rated kids were able to get by without having done all the little things right because they had so much more natural ability than most HS players. When they hit the field in college, natural ability doesn't always cut it.

Now, I am not saying that any of this is true for Michigan's freshman RBs, because who knows. But its simply not that easy to walk in to the Big Ten and start from day one.

kaykaybroke

August 10th, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^

Whoever Fred Jackson thinks should win it.

(aka. Barry Sanders with the size of Brandon Jacobs speed of Chris Johnson, and the toughness of Jerome Bettis)

PurpleStuff

August 10th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^

Borges' most successful running backs have been guys like Hillman, Cadillac Williams, Kenny Irons (all small), and Skip Hicks (a little bigger, but really athletic and versatile catching balls out of the backfield). 

I love Stephen Hopkins but I really don't think he is what they are looking for out of their every down back.  I think he'll score a bunch of touchdowns next year but I doubt he'll get the bulk of the carries.

In reply to by chris1709

Indiana Blue

August 10th, 2011 at 8:48 PM ^

Cox was B1G Network's pick to start last year ... but he for some unknown reason never saw the field in game situations last year.  He most resembles the Tim & Tyrone runner as Michigan's past "manball" RB's.

Mike can bust tackles and has moves to make that 1st lineman or LB miss.  I'm hoping that he gets a FULL chance this year!  Fired up and ready for 9/3/11 ...

Go Blue! 

wlubd

August 10th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^

No snark intended, but whoever can get the job done best.

Be it Shaw, Rawls, Hopkins, whoever. Just as long as someone can step up and carry the ball 20-25 times a game so Denard doesn't have to.

Fhshockey112002

August 10th, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^

I preface this with HEALTHY! My order would be:

 

Toussant (If he can stay healthy I think he has best combo of Size & Speed)

Smith (If can be an every down back I love his versatility)

Shaw (Quality back)

Hopkins (Love his size but can he provide a homerun threat)

Rawls (Freshman struggle with pass coverage pickups)

Hayes (See Rawls)

Cox

BRCE

August 10th, 2011 at 8:23 PM ^

Vincent Smith just because I like him the most. None of us have any idea who the best option is from this group yet.

One guy I seriously doubt it will be is Shaw. It's too instinctual a position for us to drool about his physical potential and say he just needs to cut back on mental mistakes. If he was going to, he probably would have by now.

Farmhouse Funk

August 10th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^

I would love to see Shaw reach his potential but I'm not holding my breath. The thing about Hopkins is he may not break the big one but he seems to be able to get the 5+ yards consistently. I also have always liked Smith and his work ethic I just don't see him as an every down back, I like the way he runs/blocks/catches though so I could see him getting a good amuont of playing time regardless of who wins the job.

Blueroller

August 10th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^

I'll second your Shaw, with Smith as third-down back and the best of Rawls/Cox/Hopkins/Toussaint as short yardage/change of pace.

Another thing to keep in mind: Rawls and Hopkins have both been mentioned as part-time FBs. Passes to the FB in the flat are a staple of the West Coast offense. Whoever has the stickiest fingers is gonna get the ball with room to rumble.