Why run Toussaint that late in the game?
Can somebody make sense of this for me?
If Toussaint is our number 1 guy (which we've read on this site recently) and healthy, it would make sense for the coaches to either start him or play him early.
If Toussaint is our number 1 guy but not healthy, he shouldn't be getting garbage time against an opponent we're throttling. He should be rested until he's fully ready to go.
If Toussaint is truly behind Smith, Shaw, Hopkins, Cox, etc. then I am simply calling the coaching staff a bunch of dirty liars after the way he ran today.
I just don't understand playing Toussaint that late in the game when we obviously had things under control. Either let him show that he's the impact player we've been reading about early in the game or rest him for another day. Can someone provide a rational reason for playing him so late?
September 25th, 2010 at 9:20 PM ^
um really?
September 25th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
IF you knew anything you would know that they want to get him in game shape before they give him a bigger workload. The only way to do that is to get him carries where ever they can.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
This guy knows what I'm talkin about
September 25th, 2010 at 9:22 PM ^
My head hurts.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:23 PM ^
Uhhhhhhh pretty sure Shaw and V. Smith are our #1,2 guys going forward. Toussaint will tear shit up, but he is young yet and will get his chance.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
Gotta love the way Shaw runs the ball, speed, shiftyness and can bring the hammer when needed.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
WW what are you drunk as shit right now? You're better than this...
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<br>I swear no matter what happens people will complain! It's ridiculous and stupid
September 25th, 2010 at 9:25 PM ^
You're reading way too much into this. Enjoy the win and move on.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
probably because they didn't want him to re-aggravate his injury, BUT stil wanted to get him the chance to brush some rust off without giving away too much on tape or exposing him to danger. Also, if you think about it, he got a full drive-- that lasted all of 2 rushing plays, because that's how long it took for him to take it to the house.
1 drive for a recently injured RB seems reasonable. He didn't start because RR wanted to make sure Shaw/Smith established the run first.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
September 25th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
Toussaint was not listed at 100% prior to the game. He is our future (unless we see a Hello post from Dee Hart). He needs reps just like every other player. Realistically, how many games this season do you think we will have that we are playing our #3 or 4 RB? In my opinion, not very many. Get the guy as many reps in game situations that he can get.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:39 PM ^
Let's see if TomVH can help: www.twitter.com/tomvh
I'm at my friend's son's birthday party. Darth Vader and Obi Wan are here too; I'm as scared as the kids are.
No help there. Shit.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:27 PM ^
Nothing like finding the downside in a 721 YARD DAY.
Jesus Tapdancing Christ on a Cracker?
Jesus Tapdancing Christ on a Cracker.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:32 PM ^
Look, I'm not trashing the coaches' playcalling in any way. I know they see a lot more in practice than I do. I don't pretend to be a football coach...if I were I probably wouldn't be asking these types of questions. It just didn't make sense to me to play our next standout RB (FormerWolv's words, not mine) that late in the game. I appreciate the input from the above responses.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:41 PM ^
When healthy, he may be a stud. But he's not healthy, so the coaches wanted to get our healthy backs some work. They decided to let Fitz go for a couple of series of a blow-out just to see how close to "game ready" he is and reward him for working as hard as he has. You could tell by the fact that he was caught from behind that he probably wasn't ready for a 20 carry afternoon.
However, I stand by my earlier Jesus-and-cracker-related analysis.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:55 PM ^
I laugh every time. A biblical +1 to you.
And I am sure that I will have a condo in hell next door to you.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:09 PM ^
Probably have Michael Jackson as a roommate, too.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:20 PM ^
unless when you go to hell you become a 9 year old boy.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^
But then you have to deal with that chimpanzee and a couple of giraffes, not to mention the endless array of doctors coming and going at all hours of the day.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:56 PM ^
You're just ignorant!
[Shamone!]
September 25th, 2010 at 9:28 PM ^
Please attach link to Rich Rod saying Fitz was the #1 RB.
Note that Coach Jackson saying that Toussaint is the greatest running back in the history of the universe does not mean that he is our starter.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
That he is the best RB on the team. It is very possible that according to Coach Jackson the best RB on the team is the best running back in the history of multiple universes.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:29 PM ^
he's not actually the #1 guy just because some message board people told you so? I mean, really???? Brain hurt
September 25th, 2010 at 9:34 PM ^
So basically, the timing of when RichRod put in a rehabbing running back with mad skills wasn't okay?
What next? Is this the best the RR haters can come up with? "Those dirty liars...".
Come on now.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:35 PM ^
Stop being such a hater hater!
September 25th, 2010 at 10:04 PM ^
I forgot that haters have feelings too.
September 26th, 2010 at 12:01 AM ^
What did Hagerup do that was worthy of RichRod keeping him on the bench today?
September 25th, 2010 at 9:31 PM ^
What're we gonna do, redshirt him?
September 25th, 2010 at 9:36 PM ^
Unless I missed Rich Rod saying Ftiz was the #1 guy, I'd counsel you to not always believe what you read on the interent. :)
September 25th, 2010 at 9:40 PM ^
Question, why not run him, that is why he gets to go to school for free, no? I mean he is a runningback..jeez Maybe next time we get a lead we should send out say Kovacs to play QB since Devin is the future. WTF the coaches don't have to justify anything to you. We won the game, most everybody played good, what the hell else do you want? Another defensive performance like last week?
September 25th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
OL-Avery, Talbott (the small one), Tate, Gallon, Dileo
RB-Obi Ezeh
WR-Mouton, Roh, Moundros
TE-Kovacs
QB-Campbell
In fact, why didn't we try that at least once
September 25th, 2010 at 10:59 PM ^
Ezeh was a RB in high school.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:44 PM ^
In Toussaint, you see the #1 back on the team. I (and others, probably) see a redshirt freshman making his career debut. Let him get his feet wet in a low-pressure situation.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:49 PM ^
oh no oh no oh no oh no I don't know what to complain about!
September 25th, 2010 at 11:04 PM ^
has been liberated from the RCMB.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
you make Forrest Gump look like a Nobel Prize winning physicist.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:13 PM ^
He did win the Congressional Medal of Honor, taught Elvis Presley how to dance, wrote one of the Beatles' biggest hits, started his own multi-million dollar shrimp company...Forrest was a genius. He just lulled people to sleep with his faux stupidity.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^
Because the Big 10 schedule starts next week and he hadn't played a snap yet.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:59 PM ^
After the way he ran today? I mean, I liked what I saw, but he had HUGE holes on those two runs. Nice run, but most of the credit for those goes to the O-line. He may be the greatest running back of all time, but those runs don't prove it. Those holes were generous
September 25th, 2010 at 10:24 PM ^
Are we talking about Emmitt Smith?
September 26th, 2010 at 7:13 AM ^
Oh never mind I get what you did there.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:10 PM ^
I start him in NCAA '11; that means he should start for us too, right?
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<br>:-D
September 25th, 2010 at 10:12 PM ^
September 25th, 2010 at 10:22 PM ^
why didn't more freshmen play? i'm growing concerned that ray vinopal only got in on garbage time. josh furman didn't even play!!
/sarcasm
September 25th, 2010 at 10:40 PM ^
In what world was Fitz the #1 guy on this team? Who said that? I am being completely serious - what reputable source ever listed Fitz ahead of Shaw, Smith, Cox, etc.?
September 25th, 2010 at 10:46 PM ^
To the OP: cue the temptation music.... YOU SUCK!
September 25th, 2010 at 10:51 PM ^
We scored more points than any game in 24 years BUT WHY DID WE LET A 5TH BALLCARRIER GAIN 50+ YARDS WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE TO LET HIM REALIZE HIS DREAMS THIS WEEK
...is what I'm hearing
September 25th, 2010 at 10:55 PM ^
2 carries for 66 yards and a TD. That's why.
September 25th, 2010 at 10:57 PM ^
Who cares??
Maybe he's healthy enough to play, but not quite 100%, and at whatever percentage capability he's at, he's clearly not as good as Shaw and Smith?
I'm sure the coaches had SOME reason for setting the RB rotation the way they did. I find it hard to believe that coming into the season they were like "Hey, u know what wud B funny? Lets tell every1 this Fitz guy is awesum even tho he sux and will only play like 5 snaps this year!!!11"
Or maybe he IS the best RB on the team, and the coaches just forgot about him? Maybe Magee was heading over to grab a cub of Gatorade and he saw Fitz chilling on the bench over there and was like "O crap! I 4got about u! Go get in there, Fitzy!!!11"
September 25th, 2010 at 11:39 PM ^
The coach might have asked him how he was feeling. Fitz said, "I feel real good, coach." So coach said, "Go in on the next series." He said, "Yes, sir!"