Neither of those guys had to carry the load at RB like Michael Ford may be asked to do. Keiland and CS's freshman years had so much support at RB that it didn't really matter much. There was no pressure for them to make big plays. We had JV, Alley Broussard (coming off of injury), and Jacob Hester. Still, they burned both CS and Keiland's redshirt to get them some PT. They did it because they thought CS and KW would be carrying the load in 2007 although Hester became the man. Would you say it was a mistake to use up KW and CS and not redshirt in 06???
I don't see how you get that when you look at the stats. We obviously did not have a feature back and he burned both of their chances for a redshirt in game 1. He clearly had no plans to red shirt KW and CS and it was clear as the season went on that the Freshman were being used as the feature backs when they were healthy. Vincent only ran for more than 50 yards and 10 carries in one game, the bowl game against ND. Hester had over 50 yards twice late in season and had more than 10 carries twice Broussard had over 50 yards once and more than 10 carries twice Williams had over 50 yards 5 times, once over 100, and more than 10 carries 3 times late in the season Scott had over 50 yards 2 times before being injured and exceeded 10 carries twice. When you look at the break downs by game I think it clearly points to Les using the Freshmen as feature backs as the season went on because we needed them and their game breaking ability, not because he was trying to get them touches so they could have experience for the next year. Broussard and Vincent were not getting it done. We all know Vincent declined in production every year and Broussard never truly got back to being the back he was before is injury in 05. Hester didn't become a workhorse till 07. You can read into the stats how you like but you won't convince me that he was just trying to get KW and CS some experience for 07 and beyond. We clearly have two different backs that are probably going to play on Sundays and they provide what we need to win this year. I just don't see Les wasting a year for Ford when he doesn't need him to win and has every intention of redshirting him this year with exception of injuries and us needing another back.
I understand the stats. i know KW was second leading rusher etc. The point is they played that year to get them ready for the next year when there wasn't really going to be a good back. Going into the year, the idea was that JV and Alley would be featured backs but KW and CS needed to get in for some experience. Turned out, they were better than anyone thought and became contributors just like Ford could be.
How can it be wasting a year if he is getting experience. Justin Vincent was pretty damn good as a freshman, but who else was? You don't think any of that had to do with some veteran offensive lines at the time? If you feel comfortable with Ford getting his first snap as a possible feature back, then ok, but i don't. Had Murphy not gotten hurt i wouldn't mind it as much, but other than Scott and Williams who will be gone, Ridley had some carries against Tulane last year, and that is it. You don't think its important to have game experience?
I'm sorry but I can't agree with you. Good experience was a by product of needing them to play. In theory we had Broussard and Hester another year after that. RB is the easist skill position to come in right away and play without experience or atleast that is my opinion. If they need Ford and Calhoun to play fine, but they believe we are deep enough without them so why waste a year in garbage time. Miles knows his personnel best and if he believes they need to play to get experience then he will play them, but my bet is Ford and Calhoun won't see the field this year unless more injuries occur. If they brought something to table that the other backs don't bring then I would think they would get to play at this point but they don't. They are still 4 deep even with Murphy being injured.
we will just have to agree to disagree then, i think its going to be a mistake going into next season. Do we play North Carolina next year to open up the season in the Georgia dome? Just think, you will be going with 3 or 4 backs who have little to no experience, unless Murphy can get back to his form, but that is 2 knee injuries for him, 1 in high school, and 1 this year. On a neutral field against a pretty good opponent. It may work out, but why risk it?
I'd love to get Ford some experience, but I've heard he has played very tentatively in practice. He hasn't built up the confidence to hit holes when he needs to & won't go head to head with the LB's. I don't think live snaps with rectify this situation. He just needs to recognize that he can play at this level. Hopefully, by next year he'll be ready.
LSU: Kevin Faulk LaBrandon Toefield Justin Vincent Alley Broussard Charles Scott - less than 10 carries before becoming feature back Kieland Williams - around 25 carries before becoming feature back Others I can think of off the top of my head Clinton Portis - Miami Willis Mcgahee - Miami Darren McFadden - Arkansas Ricky Williams - Texas Ron Dane - Wisconsin Maruice Clarret - Ohio State Beanie Wells - Ohio State (granted he shared time as feature back with Pittman) Adrian Peterson - Oklahoma Those are just a few off the top of my head. I'm sure I could come up with more if took the time to do the research. Notice all played as Freshman because they were unbelieavable talents and didn't have a whole lot of depth in front of them and were needed for the team to have success that year, unlike what we currently have. I will say it again, RB is the easiest skill position to acclamate to at any level. I don't have a problem if Miles wants to redshirt him because he knows his personnel better than me. He gets paid millions of dollars to coach the team and win championships while I gladly pay to help keep a site running so I can be a monday morning QB and praise or criticize his decisions.
