Jennings in particular looks really slow to me(idk maybe I'm wrong) not that our run blocking is any good but there were a few runs last night that a speedy back would have had a shot to go to the house.
William's first step is fine. It's his vision/cutback ability that is lacking.
I agree totally. He reminds me of Ron Dayne in that he always seems to running into a brick wall. He's more powerful than Dayne, and maybe a little quicker off the mark. But not any more elusive.
RE: RE: They got tripped up, not caught from behind last night
Ours is too easy to defend. There is no deception in our running plays and the defense does not have to defend the edges. EVERYTHING is run inside due to lack of speed in the backfield. We have more running plays for negative yardage then anyone and that I am just guessing on. I'd like to see Darkwa get a try. How hurt is he?
you guys want a powerful, elusive, fast runner who can block and catch.
Unfortunately, Jim Brown and Earl Campbell both retired some years back. In the meantime, you will need to settle on some other mix of characteristics.
And some of you are unaccustomed to the NFL where players have a role. Each of our RB have a role- Williams is the horse, Vereen is the pass catching 3rd and long back and Jennings does a little bit of both. All are expected to pass block and hang on to the ball.
Of course Darkwa is the most popular running back- he hasn't played.
They dont need breakaway speed. They just need a running lane.
LOL and I'm sure glad he did and I also know you're smart enough to know that was a dumb reply to whether or not he has had an impressive start to his rookie season.
RBs don't need breakaway speed and most don't have it anyway
Emmit Smith for example. Chris Johnson does and he is a backup. Besides how often would they use it? What is more important is quickness and breaking tackles. Besides speed doesn't help you if there are no holes, elusiveness and quickness does (ala Barry Sanders). Our RB's are not the problem.
and tiki did not have "breakaway speed" he had unbelievable quickness, but he got caught from behind all the time.
You're right. I was confusing quickness with top speed. Good call. I guess Da'Rel Scott had it but that's all he had. Bradshaw was very quick but never fast. Jacobs, well he was the juggernaut.
So I guess that makes my point even more then. We've never really had that as far back as I can remember. I don't think I can even name very many bacsk in the league now that have "top end speed". Those are all WRs and DBs now I guess.
This is false. Bradshaw absolutely was fast in his first few years. Do you not remember the Buffalo game in '07?
Yeah Bradshaw was plenty fast in pads, he just wasn't a blazer
in the underwear Olympics AKA the NFL combine, running a 4.55 there.
He did post an excellent 20 yard shuttle time at 4.09, and an elite 3 cone at 6.70...
Andre Williams in underwear at the combine ran 4.56, which was not good enough to be a top performer among RBs, and his 3 cone was a rather dismal 7.27, which perhaps explains the jitterbug difference that Bradshaw possessed that Williams doesn't have.
On the flip side, Williams posted "top performer" #s in his broad jump, short shuttle, and long shuttle at the combine and had a 4" better vertical jump than AB (38" vs 34".)
Williams has decent enough "breakaway" speed IMO. It's his vision, more than anything else, that's questionable. And thus far this year he looks to be improving.
I gave him heck last year for lack of vision, so I hope what I am seeing now is a real improvement.
So did Jacobs. At 270 lbs that was frightening to see
Y'know, Jacobs was pretty darn fast, but he wasn't really a threat to score from anywhere on the field, because DBs were able to catch him from behind. At his best he'd be good for one or two runs a game of around 30-40 yards, but he wasn't fast enough to go much longer than that.
Also, he didn't have great balance, so he wouldn't bounce off tacklers and continue running. He could run over tacklers sometimes and get another 5 yards on his way to the ground, but he wouldn't keep his feet and go for another 25. Tacklers would bounce off him sometimes, but he would fall down, too. If he'd had better balance and more ability to shed tacklers, he'd have been more of a home run threat, with or without breakaway speed.
Quote:
and tiki did not have "breakaway speed" he had unbelievable quickness, but he got caught from behind all the time.
Tiki didn't get caught from "all the time". He often outran the pursuit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASx7TGjzEyI
Good highlights. Now find the highlights where he gets caught from behind more than half the time.
It is not just as simple as finding a speed guy. You need a guy that can actually play
Wilson would be awesome in this offense
Unfortunately, Jim Brown and Earl Campbell both retired some years back. In the meantime, you will need to settle on some other mix of characteristics.
And some of you are unaccustomed to the NFL where players have a role. Each of our RB have a role- Williams is the horse, Vereen is the pass catching 3rd and long back and Jennings does a little bit of both. All are expected to pass block and hang on to the ball.
Of course Darkwa is the most popular running back- he hasn't played.
Quote:
He would have been a nice pick in the 3rd round.
Yeah, he looked very athletic fumbling.
LOL and I'm sure glad he did and I also know you're smart enough to know that was a dumb reply to whether or not he has had an impressive start to his rookie season.
That is correct
I remember reading that the team loved Abdullah and would have selected him in the third rd had he made it there.
Whoops meant to reply to this one
That is correct on Abdullah
Quote:
and tiki did not have "breakaway speed" he had unbelievable quickness, but he got caught from behind all the time.
You're right. I was confusing quickness with top speed. Good call. I guess Da'Rel Scott had it but that's all he had. Bradshaw was very quick but never fast. Jacobs, well he was the juggernaut.
So I guess that makes my point even more then. We've never really had that as far back as I can remember. I don't think I can even name very many bacsk in the league now that have "top end speed". Those are all WRs and DBs now I guess.
This is false. Bradshaw absolutely was fast in his first few years. Do you not remember the Buffalo game in '07?
He did post an excellent 20 yard shuttle time at 4.09, and an elite 3 cone at 6.70...
Andre Williams in underwear at the combine ran 4.56, which was not good enough to be a top performer among RBs, and his 3 cone was a rather dismal 7.27, which perhaps explains the jitterbug difference that Bradshaw possessed that Williams doesn't have.
On the flip side, Williams posted "top performer" #s in his broad jump, short shuttle, and long shuttle at the combine and had a 4" better vertical jump than AB (38" vs 34".)
Williams has decent enough "breakaway" speed IMO. It's his vision, more than anything else, that's questionable. And thus far this year he looks to be improving.
I gave him heck last year for lack of vision, so I hope what I am seeing now is a real improvement.
Some data and food for thought linked re speed:
Williams' Combine performance:
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/andre-williams?
id=2543565
Bradshaw's combine data:
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/andre-williams?id=2543565
Wake Up Call: Notable 40 Times - ( New Window )
So did Jacobs. At 270 lbs that was frightening to see
Also, he didn't have great balance, so he wouldn't bounce off tacklers and continue running. He could run over tacklers sometimes and get another 5 yards on his way to the ground, but he wouldn't keep his feet and go for another 25. Tacklers would bounce off him sometimes, but he would fall down, too. If he'd had better balance and more ability to shed tacklers, he'd have been more of a home run threat, with or without breakaway speed.
give this offense wilson, and we are one of the best in the league.