4 carries for 26 yards (6.5 yard average) Every time we plan on running, should he be in at QB in what is essentially a wildcat formation? Eventually, he will actually stun the world and throw it for a 79 yard TD reception to a wide open Toliver/Lafell as well, and that won't be a bad thing either. Use KW and Scott on 3rd down plays as backs out of the backfield. What say you?
If we are going to use Shepard we should just go ahead and use him consistently. I dont understand burning a kids red shirt to use him for 1% of the plays. If we are going to burn his shirt at least give him the carries especially since he has proven he can run effectively when others cant. I think Miles is walking a tight rope with Shepard and its hurting Shepard and the team. I know he promised him QB but that possibility seems more and more unlikely as JJ keeps developing. I know many here predicted Shepard would be in on 25% of the plays this year. So far he hasnt even come close to that or thrown a pass. I say give up the QB ambitions and turn Shepard into a permanent hybrid right now. I believe Shepard will accept that role and it will stop Miles from tip toeing around the issue with him.
I loved Andre Ware talking about Shepard early on in the telecast. "They use Shepard in a variety of ways. Shepard has yet to throw a pass this season". I swear he stated those 2 things in succession.
I think shep should be in the game 90% of the time yes. he gives us the best opportunity to win. why he is only in rarely, who knows? Prolly goes back to that Big ten power I thing engrained in the hat. :rolleye33:
The play used by Bama today from the Wildcat when they double reversed with McElroy finally getting the ball and throwing to Julio. Using Shepard as a RB or WR on a constant basis could give us about 400 variations of that play.
The players are there. LSU has more talented weapons than Alabama on offense. Will we use them? Or is it, and let me use a phrase so comically stated by one of the posters in the game thread, "2 yards and a cloud of mud" mentality the rest of the way?
We at least need to make the opposing D think if we're not having success running the ball with our regular guys. State players were in the backfield on way too many plays. They knew what was up. Not so much when Shep. was in there. He may not be the single answer in the running game, but he gives you something different that is harder to predict. Add in a pass or reverse here and there and then it gets real difficult. The biggest thing though is getting that O-line to block better. We miss our FB from last year, but you see very few holes on running plays by the O-line. With Scott and KW back there, we can do much better...obviously.
Shep is definitely not being utilized to his full potential, but it's not the RB's. The offensive line has really sucked through 4 games. He should be used more, but until the OL gets it together the running game is going to suffer.
Well when Shepard comes in the game, teams know we are going to run. But we are really effective anyway. When we line up in an I formation with Jefferson at QB, we get nothing. I just think Shepard should run this play 12-15 times a game, not just 3 or 4 times. And I think 1 or 2 of them should be a stop on a dime and throw the ball downfield to an unsuspecting defense, which would culminate in a huge play for LSU. Why can't we run Shepard 15 times a game? Anybody with an answer to that?
