Who is a better slot back? We have better receivers who don't carry the ball well, if ever. We have better running backs who don't receive very well. Shepard is our best player who can do both proficiently, as is required in the slot. Backing off those linebackers with a downfield passing game also opens things up for the running backs and tight ends and even the quarterback, not just the slotback.
You act like only Shep can play slot. Seriously. Furthermore, you act like Shep has shown you something through his mediocre career.
He's shown me 9 yards per reception and 7 yards per carry over his career. I think he's a guy who needs to see the ball more.
I am not saying we don't use him, that would be dumb. I just think others should get more touches until he does something...
OBJ -- Two career carries averaging 9.5 yards. 41 catches averaging 11.6 yard per reception. Established wideout, not a slotback. Landry -- Four career receptions averaging 10.7 yards. Zero rushes. Wideout, not a slotback. Mainly a practice reputation so far. Blue -- Four career receptions for minus 2 yards. 98 rushes averaging 6.5 yards per carry. Established running back, not a slotback. Shepard -- 84 rushes averaging 6.8 yards. 52 receptions averaging 9.0 yards. This is a slotback. And an experienced one.
I also see what appears to be the belief that the Y position is judged by receptions alone. It's not. Shep has shown me something throughout his career. He's successfully taken a defender out of a play. I know his presence has been "game planned" for in our approach to defending the LSU offense. It appears from my point of view that Miles understands his impact as well. It seems logical to assume if he wasn't why would Miles spend the time talking him out of moving on from the game of football when he was considering it last year?
7 yards a carry and 9 yards a reception are not pathetic by anyone's measure. He's done what was asked of him and he wasn't shown the ball enough by our lame quarterbacks last year.
