Just because Keiland's ypc is good, it doesn't mean anything. IMO, the coaches would prefer a RB who averages 2.5 ypc over a back who averages 5 ypc when the second back does it without consistency or versatility. I'm not a sunshine pumper & I don't fall in love with highlight reels. Keiland can be a playmaker, but if he wants to be the go to guy at LSU there's a lot of stuff he needs to work on. Fumbles lost is all that ultimately matters, but that's more luck than anything. Coaches don't want to see fumbles, period.
I think I'm one of the few people that look at our RB group as a double edged sword. On the one hand I think we have the best 1, 2, 3, 4 line-up of RB's in the nation. At the same time however, I think there's almost a little too much variety. Last year we had Hester who we knew was our go to guy and as he took more and more snaps that became even more apparent. I'm fearful that with all the RB's we have that none of them are going to get enough snaps to get that swagger, that feeling of being "THE" Rb. Is this a problem? No I don't think it's some horrible problem and we're doomed to fail. I, just like every other fan and the Coaching Staff, just want one of them to step up and take over the top spot. Now as far as who I see being our go to guy, I think CP hit the nail on the head. Scott is our power guy while RM and KW are flashier. We'll have to see how Scott heals, but he could end up being our power back. RM I think would be great in the Slot position. Expect to see him line up there often. Bubble screens and plays to get him open on the edge seem like they'd work great. And yeah, KW looks like a baller, but as long as he can't hold onto the football he's never going to take the top spot. He's the one I kind of hope for the most. If he could get everything clicking, he'd be a beast in the backfield. I hope we do see TH again. Direct snaps, even in the shotgun to give him some room to run, I could see working well. Even reverses. The other way I see it is in a max WR set. Spread the Defense and direct snap it to him. Granted, this are plays you pull off very quickly. Maybe take a time out with Lee and sub in your plays and quick snap it with TH.
Depth is the key. LSU has lost starting running backs many times in the last ten years. It will be injuries that decide who plays, I fear, especially if our green quarterbacks force more rushing in the attack. We play in a violent league and I don't think we'll see 30-carry guys like Charles Alexander and Hershel Walker again. These guys will split the load and try to stay healthy and playing. I think Scott is going to be our inside power back. I think Williams is going to be the outside running threat. I think Murphy will be an all-purpose back. Holiday will be a waterbug with blazing speed to exploit a tired defense. Younger backs won't see the field much this season, except on special teams.
I have to take up for K Williams, i think he is a special player with great talent, If he can get his inconsistent play together, he will be the man. Murphy is a star in the making, this year he will prove that.
murphy is who i want to see. i dont have problems with the other guys but murphy is electric---more so than any lsu back i can remember. i love to watch that guy get the ball. runs with reckless abandon like addai kinda, but looks much quicker/faster (although i know addai ran a fast 40)
We had the same issue last year, and Hester stepped up to be the main guy (although almost nobody was predicting it despite the coaching staff talking him up all spring). An article I read, on Scout I think, pointed out that Miles has mention Murphy first every single time he talked about the RB's this spring. It was just a small ankle injury. There shouldn't be any issues with it.
I remember seeing Hester in the BCS game before last season and thinking he was going to be good. I hope it plays out the same way again this year. I wouldn't mind seeing a two back set with Scott/Murphy in the backfield. Much like how the Saints would line up Deuce/Bush when Deuce was healthy. Crowton has the formation to do it, the Pistol, which he used last year. The only problem I see with Dickson. He's such a good fail safe to have on the field that we're going to have a crowded backfield. Good. I knew it was an ankle but I couldn't remember how bad it was. Isn't this a common theme with Scott though? I seem to remember him being injured previously. Can someone clairfy this? I can't remember.
http://www.tigerforums.com/tigers-den/34365-could-hester-our-guy-next-year.html They said I was crazy.
I argued the same thing last preseason and took it from a few. I predicted he would have the most carries but I did not expect him to have far more than the rest. I do expect the carries to be more balanced this year compared to last with no one guy stepping way above the rest throughout the entire season because of injuries and the many different abilites each will bring to the table in Crowton's offense. The real question is who will step up as the go to guy in critical situations? I can see CS being that guy because he has the most balance IMO. He can pound for the short yardage and catch it out of the backfield. I see Murphy getting his fair share next year in the slot and RB position. KW will have slightly fewer carries than Scott IMO but not a huge difference as Hester had last year. I think Quinn Johnson will be the surprise out of the backfield this year both with his power running and short pass receptions.
