jdon

December 14th, 2012 at 7:08 PM ^

honestly, I think everyone is overreacting a little bit, this is the internet so i understand.  However, I think that it is at least reasonable to believe that norfleet can make an impact at corner...

I'm not saying we have to blindly trust the coaches or that we can't question here and there but lately I am getting repulsed by the combination of revisionist history and blatant denial of the coaches' abilities to make personnel decisions;  we have to stop questioning every movement and labeling it blatant ignorance...

but hey, this is the internet so whatever floats your boats I guess...

 

Ball Hawk

December 14th, 2012 at 7:00 PM ^

Well hopefully he doesnt tackle like he did when we punted the ball to Ohio and he came hauling ass down only to grab all facemask at 300mph. The refs missed it cuz it was like a fucking blur.

Dagger

December 14th, 2012 at 7:01 PM ^

Hoke and Borges are really going to use him at RB but they are just telling everyone he'll play CB.  

Don't tell anyone else though, because that would ruin this secret.

BloomingtonBlue

December 14th, 2012 at 7:03 PM ^

South Carolina's receivers aren't very tall. Norfleet's height isn't a big deal in this game. He  makes up for it with agility, change of direction, etc.  I think its a good move for this game. Long term, not so much.

In reply to by BloomingtonBlue

denardogasm

December 14th, 2012 at 7:11 PM ^

Hopefully that is what the coaches are thinking but I doubt it.  I just don't understand why someone would take Darren Sproles 2.0 and say DONT WANT, PUT ON 3RD STRING D.

WolvinLA2

December 14th, 2012 at 7:12 PM ^

Except I doubt the coaches are going to play a true frosh who has been a CB for a month over the CBs we have who played there all year, and aren't freshmen. So I doubt this move is for this game.

mgoO

December 14th, 2012 at 7:11 PM ^

Corner makes more sense than safety but Norfleet is a guy that the coaching staff was designing plays for earlier this year. Now he's just a corner unlikely to ever start considering our current depth at the position?



I do not have high hopes for our offense going forward.

los barcos

December 14th, 2012 at 7:28 PM ^

I'll admit I am a bit puzzled by this move but I think a bit of perspective is necessary...stats showed that he was an average kick returner and he couldn't garner meaningful playtime, even with our atrocious running game. The way people are acting seems like we just moved denard to safety...

B-Nut-GoBlue

December 14th, 2012 at 9:47 PM ^

^This.

I thought the guy made quite a bit out of very little this year on Kick-offs.  Because he didn't break one long I don't think means he lacks any speed/agility.  He didn't break one long because it was impossible to do so, meaning he actually did do a nice job with what was "given to him".

Leonhall

December 14th, 2012 at 7:33 PM ^

Still return kicks, not sure why everybody is so up in arms...on offense he could run one play, jet sweep, and we can probably run that play with Hayes if it even stays in the play book. Seems like he is destined for nickel back coverage and not anytime soon. He can still do what he was probably brought here to do, return kicks or punts.

Gitback

December 14th, 2012 at 7:38 PM ^

Norlfeet looks like a career returner to me, not much more.  They can switch him to Nose Guard for all I care, he's going to be behind many others at RB, Corner, Receiver, Safety...  He was a flier as a recruit whose worked out well in a special teams role.  He's a good little returner, but I never saw him playing meaningful minutes on O or D anyway.  RB makes the most sense as his "position" given his skills and the team's depth there, but honestly, which group he practices with every day is of minimal concern to me.

gopoohgo

December 14th, 2012 at 7:43 PM ^

panic level for M offense, 2013 version, sloooowly starting to rise.

Lewan and the twosie gone....breaking in up to 4 new starters on the O-line....our best WR is also our projected starting QB....we have very poor WR depth....Northfleet now a CB....

Borges' fault?

 

WolvinLA2

December 14th, 2012 at 7:51 PM ^

Oh come on (this is not directed only at you). Were you guys expecting Dennis Norfleet to carry the load at RB next fall? He got a small handful of carries on offense and did almost nothing with them. He would be behind Fitz (if healthy), Rawls, likely Hayes, and maybe even Deveon Smith and Derrick Green if he comes.

Point is, there has been no indication that Norfleet can be a quality option on offense, but now we're gonna give up on 2013 because he's not there? I think he could have been a nice weapon at one point too, but I wasn't planning on him having that big of a role next fall. And if the coaches are moving him, my guess is he hasn't stood out at RB when we're not watching either.

UMaD

December 14th, 2012 at 8:17 PM ^

Not right away, but I don't think much of Rawls and co. so I thought Norfleet would eventually establish himself as the best overall player and the one who got most carries outside of short-yardage.

The indication that he would be a good RB is based on his ability to run with the ball - which looks good, at least in the return game.  There was less indication Rawls, Hayes or a freshman can do the job....until they moved him to the secondary -- that's a pretty good indication they don't think much of him as a RB.

gopoohgo

December 14th, 2012 at 8:27 PM ^

Well who were you envisioning to provide offense?

Here is our RB depth chart at the moment:

Rawls

Hayes

...(Northfleet was here)

 

We have two true-frosh RBs thus far

Smith

Shallman

With Green as a possible third.

I'm hopeful that Smith is underrated, seems to have good vision, doesn't have top-end speed, but you need to be able to get to the second level/outside first, and without interior line blocking, top-end speed can be a little moot.  There has been even less indication that Rawls and Hayes were the answer.

Our WR depth is even worse:

Darboh/Chasson, Gallon, Dileo, Jackson.  That's it...we have 3 true frosh (Dukes, York, Jones) coming in, but all are more under-the-radar types.

I'm all for optimism/spring practice hasn't even begun yet, etc.  Howeva, the talent pool @ RB, WR is threadbare, and were NOT strong points in the 2012 offense.  Losing two of the pieces (even if they weren't the centerpieces) does NOT inspire optimism.

Edit: I left Fitz off the depthchart for now; that was a nasty injury and will wait to see how his rehab goes before putting him at the top of the heap at the moment.

UMaD

December 14th, 2012 at 8:14 PM ^

since Schofield is likely to move to LT.

But oiur best WR is Gallon and will be again next year.  Roundtree will be missed but is replaceable.

Our TEs will be better.  Our FB will be better.

QB should be pretty good too.

RB will miss Smith, but if Toussaint is back we'll be fine.