Who is the starting RB on this team?
In my mind is the most important spring battle, but also the least talked about. Last year the RBs were below average. Michigan's offense got a lot of credit but we never developed a solid run-game from the TBs to complement Denard's runs. I think it really hurt our spread sometimes when defenses could focus in on Denard.
It seems like Shaw and Hopkins fit the best in this new system, along with maybe Fitzgerald if he can stay healthy. I really don't see Vincent Smith getting a bulk of carries in this offense. Nor do I see a freshman coming in to make an immediate impact. Hayes and possibly Rawls will be very very good down the road, but I am not sure if they can play right away. I could be wrong, of course. SDSU had a big time frosh RB, but it's a different league here.
This should be a very interesting position battle, esepcially with the conversion from the spread to the Gulf Coast. And remember that SDSU's offense really opened up this year with the addition of that Freshman RB.
If it's Shaw, Hopkins, and Fitzgerald, who gets the edge? Is it more by committee or does someone seize that job?
EDIT: Consensus is ..... it is WIDE open.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:50 PM ^
Speaking of Iowa and RBs. Coker scares the shit out of me. He is a truck.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:34 PM ^
I want to see a healthy Fitz starting.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:28 PM ^
Seconded
January 20th, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
Just to refresh my excitement about Fitz I just watched one of his HS highlight videos and MAN do I want this kid to get healthy.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
I want to see a healthy Fitz
starting
Fixed.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:39 PM ^
As do i. We have a nice situation on our hands with all of these capable backs.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:34 PM ^
I'd say Shaw and Fitz split the bulk of the carries and Hopkins gets some short yardage and goaline carries, Fitz was the RB I was most excited to see last year and I really think he can be special if he stays healthy. I think V. Smith doesn't fit the system and Cox i just don't know cause RR apparently wasn't a fan so I didn't get to see him play.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:34 PM ^
no doubt
January 20th, 2011 at 7:35 PM ^
Remember we're actually going to be huddling and running in situational substitutes.
1st and second down back:
1. Shaw
2. Fitz
Goal line and Short Yardage:
Hopkins (fumbles too much to be featured back)
3rd down back = Smith
January 20th, 2011 at 7:35 PM ^
I think many of you guys are overrating Hopkins. It's not that I think he's bad, but several guys have a more well rounded set of skills. In addition, Hoke/Borges haven't always been huge proponents of big backs (see last year's 175-180 pounders in SDSU's backfield), and their commitment to Denard implies that they'll still spread the field a little bit.
If Toussaint stays healthy, I think it's a good race between him, Shaw, and Cox to be the feature back.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:40 PM ^
well said
January 20th, 2011 at 7:36 PM ^
I don't mean to discount Mike Cox because he's got all the physical tools, but I'm sure Rich Rodriguez would have used him if he believed he was the best back. I recall watching an interview of Roy Roundtree to which he said (paraphrased), "Man, Mike Cox...I don't know what goes on in his brain. He's got rocks in his head." I'm not saying that's true, but combining that with the fact that Rich Rodriguez has thrown his headset in disgust when watching Mike Cox ruin perfectly good plays by improvising...I just don't know.
I hope this is not true though and that he pans out because apparently he's Ladainian Tomlinson with the power of Ron Dayne...except with speed.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:42 PM ^
Rich Rodriguez also played Sam McGuffie (4.1 yards a carry) ahead of Brandon Minor (5.2 yards a carry) and Vincent Smith (4.6 yards a carry) over Michael Shaw (5.4).
Rodriguez ignored production and played his favorites while he was here. Hopefully, Michigan's new coaches deploy their personnel more effectively.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
If Minor and Shaw could stay healthy I'm sure they would have seen more playing time.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^
Minor had some nagging injuries in 2008, but he was available. Rodriguez still chose to play McGuffie over him.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:30 PM ^
RR loved Minor if he was healthy he would have played. No other player saw as much pt with no practice time.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
While I agree with you that RR did not use the best backs, in 2008, whenever Minor came in, he fumbled. It wasn't until he got healthy that he got away from his 20% fumble rate. RR would allow Minor to stay in until he fumbled. Once he stopped fumbling, he got to stay in.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
I don't want to completely rehash those old arguments from 2008, but...
...while Minor fumbled a lot, he was also scoring touchdowns at a ridiculous rate. It was a high risk, high reward situation with him.
When Smith fumbled a lot...Smith kept getting a majority of the carries.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:34 PM ^
No, Magnus is right. It was a nagging wrist injury that was supposedly to blame on a September fumble. But go back and watch Minor's leaping TD run in September at home.
It's clear it was a minor nagging injury for Minor.
RR started McGuffie over Minor, and Sheridan over Threet that September. Deal with it.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:53 PM ^
People also forget that Roundtree never existed until Odoms could not play due to injury.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:37 PM ^
if he doesn't become a B. Minor (health wise). I'll just be glad to never again see the V. Smith 1st down 1-2 yard run! The one part of RR's offense I hated.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:44 PM ^
I think Hayes has may have a shot to be the tailback. Could be the truth.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:47 PM ^
Touissaint.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
Cox is very talented and I believe will be the big surprise onthe offense next year.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:52 PM ^
as long as it isn't vincent smith all be all set. i almost broke my TV watching him last year, i know he has the speed to be a good back but he doesn't have the explosiveness and can't run through holes very well. i think it should be toussaint and shaw based on the glimmers of hope i saw in the very little time toussaint wasn't injured. i liked shaw when they ran him up the middle in between blockers but i couldn't stand it when RR had him do runs along the outside because he doesn't have the speed to get around the edge.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:54 PM ^
With Shaw being a senior and possesing the most talent, he would be my pick to click, if he stays healthy.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:56 PM ^
I actually just watched this Mike Cox highlight video, and although there were no games against real competition, the dude can break tackles. He's definitely a Carr-era back:
January 20th, 2011 at 8:02 PM ^
I hadn't seen this before, but yeah...he's pretty good. There are also a couple good runs against EMU that were missing from that reel.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:42 PM ^
One of those runs, he got hit, his feet went into the air above his head, he somehow landed on his feet and continued to run. That was the run that sold me on him.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:15 PM ^
Delaware St and the spring game? That's your sample?
January 20th, 2011 at 8:25 PM ^
We exist on a blog that judges players on their performances against high school opponents, kids who won't be good enough to make the local community college's flag football team.
Outrunning a college athlete is outrunning a college athlete.
Breaking a tackle is breaking a tackle.
I admit that Ohio State's players are going to run faster and tackle better than Delaware State, but how much faster and better? If his 8.89 yards a carry drops to 5.89 yards a carry, isn't that still pretty good? What about 4.89?
I'm not convinced that playing every opponent on the schedule would make Cox's 8.89 yard average drop below, say, Smith's 4.6.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:32 PM ^
Glad to see your willing to admit that Ohio State's defense is better than Delaware State's.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:46 PM ^
I love when people try to point out others' stupid comments in the midst of confusing the whole your/you're thing.
January 20th, 2011 at 9:02 PM ^
For the correction of your/you're
January 20th, 2011 at 9:27 PM ^
You're right:) Been up since 3:30 and I'm a little cranky. But thanks for admitting your argument is stupid, especially since I have seen you on the other side of this argument regarding Vincent Smith.
January 20th, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^
Ummm...exactly when was I on the other side of this argument regarding Vincent Smith? I haven't been a fan of Vincent Smith's abilities for his entire career at Michigan. He's not up to par with Michigan's other running backs.
January 21st, 2011 at 8:44 AM ^
When people were touting Vincent Smith's stats against the Delaware State, you disregarded his stats because of the competition. At least that is how I remember it but I don't keep a file on your posts, so I can't look it up.
January 21st, 2011 at 9:22 AM ^
What I said about Delaware State/Vincent Smith was that he didn't do anything exceptional against anyone but Delaware State. IIRC, removing Delaware State from the mix last year left Vincent Smith with approximately a 3.5 yard average and 0 touchdowns (I'm not looking at the stats, so I could be slightly off).
January 20th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
I'm really looking forward to Hopkins in some short yardage situations and to see him wear down a defense over the course of a game.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:57 PM ^
HOPKINS. nuff said. Big back...perfect for between the tackles. can run over tackles. just need to hold on to the ball a little bit more.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
With these linemen and Denard Robinson, I don't think Hoke/Borges will necessarily be looking for a power back just to run between the tackles.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^
One of my biggest frustrations with RR was his incistence to always start vinny smith. I lways felt smith was a good 3rd down change of pace back, after the knee injury theres no way he was an every down guy. I thought Shaw always played well but could never get into a rhythm because RR would take him out. He's got the most experience in the backfield and I think he could really break out if given the oppertunity to be the main guy.
I liked what I saw in Hopkins but he needs to develope a little. I also think people are giving a lot of credit to Fitz, who has not been healthy long enough to show that he can be a main guy at this level.
Although Cox is a real dark horse pick, ill be interested in what he does come spring practice.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:59 PM ^
He is physical, and his speed is deceptive.
January 20th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
January 20th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Amen Brother!
January 20th, 2011 at 8:36 PM ^
Amen Brother!
January 20th, 2011 at 8:00 PM ^
January 20th, 2011 at 8:03 PM ^
to see how this plays out too they are all good in their own skill set. Id say the battle for starting position will be intense. I think Smiths lack of success had alot to do with the play calling hes a stout runner I seen him upend MM in practice or spring game cant remember which but the boys got some moves. How many times did RR send him on a suicide mission straight up the middle same play over and over...
January 20th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^
Fitz all the way. Shaw being the back-up who still gets a lot of carries. Hopkins will be a short yardage back.
It will be interesting to see what another year of S&C does for Hopkins. He was a big kid as a frosh. If he can stay the same size and add speed or put on weight and keep his speed, he could see his number called a lot. You just don't waste a fast 230 pounder or a pretty fast 240 pounder at RB.