RB Hierarchy Revisited
Nothing tastes better than crow on a Sunday morning. As soon as Evans coughed up that early fumble I knew I was going to regret this thread:
http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/question-board-rb-hierarchy
When the passing game wasn't working, Smith put the team on his shoulders and delivered. Very proud of #4 today. Go Blue.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:05 AM ^
I hope so.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:07 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:08 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
I'm going to go ahead and assume DeVeon read my thread and decided to prove me wrong. You guys are welcome.
/s
November 20th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^
Lol I thought they read my thread too when I heard that.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:27 AM ^
I wouldn't be surprised!
November 20th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 11:56 AM ^
You do realize that 3 yards isn't a good rush attempt right?
November 20th, 2016 at 12:00 PM ^
What down/distance are we talking about?
November 20th, 2016 at 2:12 PM ^
Seriously. Evans is never going to run people over as well as Smith, nor is Smith going to outrun as many guys as Evans does/will.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:19 AM ^
I think we have to temper expectations based on the NY games. Anytime Michigan shoots well, especially with Beilein's system, we're going to do well. In the NY games, we shot above 50% from the floor and at 40% from 3 point land. Those numbers will win most games.
I'm still concerned that this team doesn't have the ability to get anything close to the basket with dribble penetration and scores/dishes. When the outside shots aren't falling and/or other teams contest our long ball better, then we'll see what type of team this really is.
Deveon though... beast.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:28 AM ^
As a rule, I wouldn't worry too much about our ability to score points under Beilein. How we fare defensively and on the glass will tell the tale.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:56 AM ^
are high after New York. The height of this team is impressive. The development of the defense is going to happen. I would be surprised if Michigan basketball is not in the big dance in March. Big Ten Championship? Yes. Good of chance as any big ten team.
November 20th, 2016 at 12:43 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:14 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:47 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:54 AM ^
Yup I agree, hopefully we'd want to keep him... The other backs don't have his size. I can't comment much on his pass protection because he rarely gets used in that situation, but I imagine he's better right now than Higdon and Evans at blocking. Do you think it comes down to what Kareem Walker is looking like and if Najee Harris were to commit? The current RB commits (Dillon, Samuel, Taylor) are all intriguing prospects but I don't see any of them being above Isaac on the depth chart from day 1.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:06 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 11:13 AM ^
I really like AJ Dillon too, he tests off the charts considering he's 230+ lbs.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:17 AM ^
Speaking of passing game and the all americans/team mvps. Where were them three again yesterday? That's two games in a row Butt, Chesson and Darboh haven't done much. I hope this isn't a trend and they get their heads out of their asses next week. I hate to criticize people but I honestly hope next years receivers/tight ends don't disapear down the stretch and in the big games.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^
De'Veon has always demonstrated an ability to break tackles and get tough yards. And there have been flashes of speed over the course of the year.
But yesterday he ran like a man on fire. He seemed to have better vision than at any point this year.
Hitting the hole quicker paid off when gaps/seams were available. That seemed to give him a head of steam which is obviously an additional benefit when making contact.
Maybe something has "clicked" and De'Veon will be an even better back going forward!? Could be lots of reasons (i.e. confidence, minor injury?), but he sure seemd to be in the zone yesterday.
All that said, it might also be that the initial push by the O-line was that much better. Whatever the case, the running gsme sure took a great step forward.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:33 AM ^
Ace has been saying that on the UFR's for a few weeks now, maybe that's been forgotten since the Iowa game. I really think that game (Iowa) was just a bad day. Yesterday was attributable to weather and a new QB, along with a little looking past... Hope I'm not just blindly hoping for the best!
November 20th, 2016 at 10:21 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:24 AM ^
Smith played a great game, but I think his success and failure falls more on the o-line. Smith runs hard and can truck guys at the second level, but that doesn't work against defensive lineman that outweigh him by 50 lbs and he doesn't hit the hole super quick. He gets tackled with little to no gain if there is penetration from the defensive line, but he runs through LB and DB tacklers so he's great at the second level. Smith is also better is pass protection and he rarely fumbles. I think if it's a close game Smith will continue to get the ball.
Evans is more explosive, hits holes quicker, has better vision at the first level, and can be a long run threat as he has better speed. I think he's the better back, albeit not the safer back. Isaac is also faster than Smith and hits holes quicker, but is too quick to bounce it outside. Neither Evans nor Isaac have as good of ball security. If it's a close game, Smith will be the safe bet to see most of the snaps with the other guys giving him breathers even though I think Evans is the better of the 3 backs. When you're in a close game against a rival on the road, you go with the safer, senior back.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:18 AM ^
If De'veon is able to get to the 2nd level consistently he can wear defenses down. But if he is forced to make cuts a yard deep into the backfield, he loses steam. Next week's outcome is going to hinge on the OL's ability to get hats on hats. more motioning/shifting, may help in this regard by causing their D to get misaligned.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:38 AM ^
Not sure I'd say Evans is the "better" back. They're all good in thier own ways - very different skillsets and styles of running. Because of that, I wouldn't say one is better than the others. They each excel in thier own ways, which I love! Otherwise, I agree with everything you wrote...
November 20th, 2016 at 10:25 AM ^
Like Tyrone Wheatley, I think it's more about going with the hot hand than having a firm hierarchy in place (aside from passing downs, where Smith is the guy due to his superior blocking).
Smith is at his best against smallish defenses like Indiana's that he can use his power against more easily, and where the OL gives him more room to reach the second level. I thought he'd do well against them. OTOH, he has a harder time against big, physical defenses, where he's got to use his feet and vision more, and hit the holes more quickly. I think OSU might end up being more like Iowa where a guy like Evans has more success. We'll see.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:35 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:39 AM ^
This is exactly what I was thinking. To me the answer is no.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:45 AM ^
Well, Smith's always going to be out there a fair amount because he's by far the best pass protector. And you can't only play him on a passing down or that telegraphs the play. So he'll always get some carries.
Nevertheless, we've played our three backups enough to get them over 1,300 yards on the season, which is a lot. Blowouts helped, granted.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:32 AM ^
If we had gone with the hot hand vs Iowa, Evans would have had double the carries he ended up with.
November 20th, 2016 at 11:56 AM ^
We go to the hot hand while respecting these restrictions:
1. Smith is going to get at least 40-50% of the carries in a competitive game, because of his aforementioned pass-blocking abilities and need to keep the defense honest.
2. All four backs will get at least one carry.
The hot hand will get most of the remaining carries.
The hitch is that Smith is much better in pass protection than the other backs. If Evans/Higdon/Isaac could protect better, restriction #1 wouldn't apply.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:24 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 11:32 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 11:52 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 11:08 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 12:41 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 1:46 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 20th, 2016 at 10:46 AM ^
I'd argue for some of Isaac's carries to be given over to Evans and Higdon. If Ty was as hard a runner as Smith or was as quick as Evans he'd be a beast, but he's neither.
November 20th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
November 20th, 2016 at 11:11 AM ^