[Warning: long]
I'm gonna start a new thread series until the Fall titled "Primary Concern" which features the issue that month that has me most concerned for the upcoming season. I will pose a set of questions and then provide my answers to them. Hopefully you guys will do the same and this can generate a good conversation. Here goes.
My primary concern for May 2017 is the RB position for next year. I and many others, by all accounts, have missed on our second year projections for CFA. With departures at that position, a position of strength (one could argue, our strongest) has turned into one or especially two injuries away from disaster.
1) Our hopes and dreams rest with JK, but is he durable enough to be an every down back for 13+ games in the SEC? I think so. What concerns me the most about JK's running style is that he runs so damn hard and he never wants to give up. I'm sure Coach G has discussed it with him but there is a time to go down, and JK toed that line a lot last year. It's more important now that he's the feature back as LBs and DBs will be looking for killshots when he keeps himself up with his hand.
But JK has the opportunity to be special. His balance is insane, his speed is deceptive, his pad level is excellent, and he has the perfect mentality and support for/from his teammates. We're in good hands as long as JK's healthy.
2) Is Ty Chandler that good and is he ready to be a bell cow just one year removed from mowing down 16 year olds in overmatched contests?
My former HS coach is Ty Chandler's HS coach, and in a discussion with him, he told me that Chandler was the best player he's ever coached in his 25+ years of HS head coaching. I believe him. Tape don't lie. Chandler's got all the physical tools that matter in droves, but most importantly, he's got the mental side on lock. A mature, smart, and driven young man. I'm ready to put my faith in him now at the risk of being proven wrong later.
3) Can CFA breakthrough to relevance? And what expectations should we have for him?
It's possible; I hope it happens; but my expectations are very low. If CFA could generate 400 yards rushing and 300 yards catching this year, I think we'll have gotten more than good work out of him. I don't expect those numbers, but I'm looking for CFA do something catching the ball out of the backfield. His 3rd down effectiveness needs to be at a premium if he's gonna be a factor, and that means his pass pro has to improve. I think that part will. Here's to hoping we see increased productive and maybe a "spark" from CFA.
4) Are Trey Coleman or Tim Jordan factors or merely bodies?
FACTORS. We are all rightfully high on Ty Chandler, but Coleman and Jordan bring a lot to the table. First, Coleman, strong runner, great pad level, good stiff arm. He has a great hop step and his very difficult to tackle in a box. While many pegged him as the power runner extraordinaire, I think he'll be an all-purpose style back for us. With regard to Jordan, a little less polished than the admittedly raw Coleman, but possesses good speed, good vision and good balance. I could see both backs developing as the season goes on, and by the midway point, hopefully one or both is able to come in and carry the load for a drive.
5) Should Evan Berry crosstrain at RB in some capacity or is that just being silly?
It's being silly. Berry won't be a salve for this RB group, and should only be crosstrained if disaster strikes.
6) What does RB recruiting success look like for the 2018 class with Corbin already in the fold? How many do you think we should take and what running style should they be ideally?
RB success is 3 talented backs, holding onto Corbin, landing Dixon, Teague or another similar caliber player, and then finding another good RB prospect, perhaps developmental. Sorry to say, but Ty Chandler should have the Alpha RB spot locked up once JK leaves. With the Iron Throne occupied, who will emerge as Tywin Lannister is the question. As far as style, I like to see a bruiser brought into the fold. We need a short-yardage monster in this unit; hopefully we can find it.
That's it. I look forward to y'all's thoughts.
I'm gonna start a new thread series until the Fall titled "Primary Concern" which features the issue that month that has me most concerned for the upcoming season. I will pose a set of questions and then provide my answers to them. Hopefully you guys will do the same and this can generate a good conversation. Here goes.
My primary concern for May 2017 is the RB position for next year. I and many others, by all accounts, have missed on our second year projections for CFA. With departures at that position, a position of strength (one could argue, our strongest) has turned into one or especially two injuries away from disaster.
1) Our hopes and dreams rest with JK, but is he durable enough to be an every down back for 13+ games in the SEC? I think so. What concerns me the most about JK's running style is that he runs so damn hard and he never wants to give up. I'm sure Coach G has discussed it with him but there is a time to go down, and JK toed that line a lot last year. It's more important now that he's the feature back as LBs and DBs will be looking for killshots when he keeps himself up with his hand.
But JK has the opportunity to be special. His balance is insane, his speed is deceptive, his pad level is excellent, and he has the perfect mentality and support for/from his teammates. We're in good hands as long as JK's healthy.
2) Is Ty Chandler that good and is he ready to be a bell cow just one year removed from mowing down 16 year olds in overmatched contests?
My former HS coach is Ty Chandler's HS coach, and in a discussion with him, he told me that Chandler was the best player he's ever coached in his 25+ years of HS head coaching. I believe him. Tape don't lie. Chandler's got all the physical tools that matter in droves, but most importantly, he's got the mental side on lock. A mature, smart, and driven young man. I'm ready to put my faith in him now at the risk of being proven wrong later.
3) Can CFA breakthrough to relevance? And what expectations should we have for him?
It's possible; I hope it happens; but my expectations are very low. If CFA could generate 400 yards rushing and 300 yards catching this year, I think we'll have gotten more than good work out of him. I don't expect those numbers, but I'm looking for CFA do something catching the ball out of the backfield. His 3rd down effectiveness needs to be at a premium if he's gonna be a factor, and that means his pass pro has to improve. I think that part will. Here's to hoping we see increased productive and maybe a "spark" from CFA.
4) Are Trey Coleman or Tim Jordan factors or merely bodies?
FACTORS. We are all rightfully high on Ty Chandler, but Coleman and Jordan bring a lot to the table. First, Coleman, strong runner, great pad level, good stiff arm. He has a great hop step and his very difficult to tackle in a box. While many pegged him as the power runner extraordinaire, I think he'll be an all-purpose style back for us. With regard to Jordan, a little less polished than the admittedly raw Coleman, but possesses good speed, good vision and good balance. I could see both backs developing as the season goes on, and by the midway point, hopefully one or both is able to come in and carry the load for a drive.
5) Should Evan Berry crosstrain at RB in some capacity or is that just being silly?
It's being silly. Berry won't be a salve for this RB group, and should only be crosstrained if disaster strikes.
6) What does RB recruiting success look like for the 2018 class with Corbin already in the fold? How many do you think we should take and what running style should they be ideally?
RB success is 3 talented backs, holding onto Corbin, landing Dixon, Teague or another similar caliber player, and then finding another good RB prospect, perhaps developmental. Sorry to say, but Ty Chandler should have the Alpha RB spot locked up once JK leaves. With the Iron Throne occupied, who will emerge as Tywin Lannister is the question. As far as style, I like to see a bruiser brought into the fold. We need a short-yardage monster in this unit; hopefully we can find it.
That's it. I look forward to y'all's thoughts.
