Watching college games last Saturday, including ours of course, left me wondering about our talent level at running back. A friend of mine texted me wondering the same. He asked me, “just ask yourself a question. Which one of our running backs will be draftable in the NFL someday?” I responded, “as far as I can tell… none.” I think that is an accurate assessment. And if it is, it tells me we need a talent upgrade at that position. Right now we have serviceable backs. They are decent and can play some football. But we do not have now, nor have we had in a while, true difference makers at that position.
Talent deficit at running back?
- Thread starter Pennsyhusker_rivals246774
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Ervin when healthy and older will be. Yant has that possibility. Maybe Sevion and Rahmir when older?
I remember thinking Ameer Abdullah wasn’t anything special as a freshman and sophomore.. but he worked his tail off and got better by the time he was an upperclassman
I remember thinking Ameer Abdullah wasn’t anything special as a freshman and sophomore.. but he worked his tail off and got better by the time he was an upperclassman
This is the key "but he worked his tail off and got better" Ozigbo got in the NFL with hard work. I think Yant could if he had some fire in his belly like Ameer and Ozigbo. Rhamir has a chance with his speed like Jerick Mckinnon but still needs to add at least 15lbs of muscle without speed loss.
If Frost stays, Held needs to be out the door along with Austin and Mario this off-season. I think coaching is a bigger issue than talent, but they're both an issue at that position.
Yes, there is always a chance some of our young backs will get better. But with Held as their coach?? I guess anything is possible.
The fact that Yant came into fall camp overweight and not ready for the season certainly makes you wonder about the fire in the belly. Sure gives the impression he thought he could put it on cruise control after becoming a spring practice hall of famer despite never having taken a snap in a real game. Hopefully he gets that figured out.
It's very difficult to say if these backs are talented, because none of them have gotten consistent reps. You can argue they haven't earned them in practice or on the field, but no matter, they certainly can't get comfortable or feel confident in running instinctively.
If you asked me who has the highest ceiling to be great players? I'd respond Yant, Morrison and Ervin based on the very small sample size we've seen.
Certainly you could argue that the quality of Corum and Haskins from Michigan as a one-two punch was better than what we had to counter them.
It's a very obvious weak point on the team. Where would any of these guys be on the 1995 depth chart. Probably 6-10. We need a game breaker at the position going into next season.
If this collective board assumed the role of AD, we’d have fired every coach on our team, twice.
Good Lord. Did you watch Rahmir pull away from the DBs on that one pass completion? The dude has been very good. Very fast. Our problem hasn't been our backs. It's been our O line. Yant didn't play well against Meatchiken but that had more to do with his lack of experience and lack of mastery of the offense. We absolutely stone walled MSU's Heisman candidate RB. Teams are selling out to contain Martinez and make him beat them with his arm. That doesn't leave much room for our RBs to operate.
and QBs who are better at finding open receivers and making them pay for spying the QB and loading up to stop the run.
Rahmir does have speed. And he is a good back. But my point is: does he have NFL level talent? The kind of talent Ameer had or Rex had or Helu or Ahman Green? Perhaps he will be someday. But he is not at that level of talent yet. Yes, we have issues on the offensive line. Very big issues. But I stand by my claim that there is nobody in our running back room who is a true "difference maker." Time will tell...
With the worst record in nearly 60 years, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.
I've been very impressed with Rahmir, he's not great running between the tackles or necessarily a great back that you can just feed and he'll wear the defense down. We don't have an NFL level back and the talent isn't what it has been so I see your point there, but they are young and have time to develop and I hope more people appreciate the other things Johnson brings. Good in pass protect, willing to lead block for Martinez, pass catcher and dangerous in the open field. He has stepped up when the room in general has been less than impressive.
That may be a fair opinion. I "like" a couple guys but I'm not sure we have a sure future NFL/difference maker currently. Then again I wish we could see other guys get into the game and play enough to get game feel and establish a rhythm. Outside of Rahmir for the last 3 games and maybe Steppe earlier we haven't seen that.
I like Rahmir but don't think he fits that description. Never was too high on Steppe tbh. Yant MIGHT have something but need to see more. Also like a Ervin a bit also.
I "like" a few of them but don't "love" any of them lol. At least as the NFL calibur guy u are talking about.
Holla
Guys like Barkley or Adrian Peterson don't come around very often. You usually get maybe one or two premier RBs in any given draft class. What you need is a guy who has good speed that can take it to the house if he gets an opening. Rhamir has that top end speed and clearly that's a major reason he plays so much. Our expectations for our RBs is inflated due to the guys that we used to get when Tom was running the top program in the country. We would have to get really lucky to land a Mike Rozier today.
You know I'm honestly not even thinking about a guy the calibur of an LP, Rozier, or an AP. Speed is absolutely a great asset to have but it's not the end all be all for a RB.
I guy like Helu,Brandon Jackson, Ameer or even the kid Goodson at Iowa would be great. None of those guys were 4 star guys. But they all are NFL calibur RBs.
Rahmir is damn fast I like him. I also see him improving as he gets more PT. I think he's FINALLY getting comfortable. Maybe our other backs look better if/when that ever happens. Just right now I don't see any of those guys on the level of guys I just mentioned.
I'm not even think the tier of RBs like you mentioned. I'm not expecting that at all.
Holla
I'm not sure the back gets enough reps to become a powerhouse, like rozier would have alot of carries to get into a rhythm, with the oline pounding some real run blocking. I don't think we will ever see that with frosts system.
the only help would be the threat of a pass completion to back the d off.
I fear the day of a Nebraska I-back pulverizing a defense while the opposing offense watching helplessly from the sideline, is but folklore now
the only help would be the threat of a pass completion to back the d off.
I fear the day of a Nebraska I-back pulverizing a defense while the opposing offense watching helplessly from the sideline, is but folklore now
I understand that and I am not expecting a Rozier. But how about a Helu? Or a Burkhead? or Ameer? It is not true that we have to go back to the Osborne years to find difference makers at running back for Nebraska who went on to the NFL. I don't want a guy who just has speed but does not seem to have much vision or really all that much shake and bake. Rahmir is a good back. He has speed. He can run routes and catch the football. He can pass block. He can take it to the house if given a chance but has not yet had that chance due to our offensive line. But heck, it is not as if Burkhead, Ameer or Helu were running behind all American offensive lineman like back in Osborne's day. Those were pretty average offensive lines. And yet they managed to excel. And that is because they had difference making kind of talent. I do not think Rahmir has (yet) shown that he has that level of talent. But he is young and our offensive line is putrid in run blocking. My hope is that he blossoms into something special. But what is behind him? A Lazy Yant. An overrated Stepp. A mysteriously disappearing Morrison and Scott? None of those guys have shown crap. Yant got us all excited against Northwestern's porous defense but then proceeded to piss down his leg against Michigan. But he too is young. So were will see....
Sproles was hard to tackle. I think he could squat like 700 pounds. So he made up for height by being fast, quick, and tough to bring down. Johnson isn't that right now.
I think all our guys look good when they’re decisive and hit the hole.
Zero issue with Rahmir leading the pack (yes, even up the middle)
Zero issue with Rahmir leading the pack (yes, even up the middle)
But they are ALL young. I get that most of these guys were granted an extra year but...
Ervin - Freshman
Johnson - Freshman
Yant - Freshman
Morrison - Freshman
Scott - Freshman
Stepp - Sophomore
I would argue this is the most talented group of backs we have had in a very long time and it's just too early to see who will develop into the NFL quality back.
Meh. Not one of them has done anything to impress. There have been “moments” of good play. Beyond that it has been nothing but mediocrity.
I think Johnson has shown consistent improvement each game. Does he currently look like the next great back or NFL quality back? No, not necessarily right now, but he certainly has the potential and ability to add strength.
My main point was how young the backfield group is and how hard it is to make a prediction one way or another on where they will be in two years.
That said, I feel like we have (4) guys; Johnson, Yant, Ervin, and Morrison that we certainly can't write off. It's been a long time since we have had that many guys with solid potential and they are all freshman.
Rhamir IMO has gotten better every game. Yeah Michigan shut us down pretty well at times, but Rhamir was running hard. I think he has the potential to be an NFL guy.
This may be blasphemy, but I think Ameer was a little over rated as a RB. He had iffy hands and his top end speed wasn't great. He had great wiggle and a HUGE want to. I think a kid like Rhamir has the potential to be a better all around back than Ameer. Helu was the whole package. Rex was just so smart with good hands and quick feet. He hasn't played as long as he has in the NFL because of his speed or power.
Not blasphemy. Just an honest opinion on Ameer. And you might be right about Rahmir. I hope you are
He ABSOLUTELY has gotten better. I'm not sure I'm ready to call him a potential NFL got yet though. Size is a question mark plus not very shifty for a small back. I still need to see more. Agreed that he's gotten better though.
Holla
I’m apprehensive about parting ways with Held as some mentioned above, in years past he’s been our best recruiter.
Hell, I can send out 400 letters to potential recruits too. It's almost like a direct mail campaign.
It's a helluva lot better to narrow it down to 100 or so and actually try to recruit kids that might fit your system.