I don't know what I expected.

[John Lorry]

Holloway is the starting RB, followed by Shumpert.

No starting QB, we're playing multiple QBs.

I'm honestly more perturbed by the RB situation. From my uninformed, non-coach point of view, I am blown away Holloway and Shumpert are our best options at this point. I think I'll take raw talent and mistakes over a low-ceiling, pedestrian running game almost every time.

Oh well, I guess there's some value to have zero expectations.

 

[Mafiadawg]

It's almost like Dan wants the stadium to be as empty as possible Saturday morning.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

We don't have rb's in our system. We recruit pass blocking backs who sometimes run the ball, or pbbwsrtb's.

 

[civildawg88]

I shook my head at the "Holloway and SHUMPERT getting the majority of carries" line from him. I can not take watching shumpert get shoe stringed tackled for a loss again and again this year.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

And Holloway up the middle.

 

[msstate7]

Fwiw, Holloway was preseason, 3rd string all sec Rb and KR according to sec coaches.

Holloway sec only stats...

58 carries 296 yards 5.1 yds/carry
24 receptions 280 yards 11.7 yds/rec
82 total touches 576 yards 7.0 yds/touch

 

[HotMop]

Shut up with your stupid facts. ***

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I just hate when they line him up like he is a power back.

 

[patdog]

How they're lining him up has been working for 3 years now. But feel free to keep bitching about it.

 

[MSUDC11]

I get the Shumphert hate. Holloway was very useful for us last season though.

 

[AlCoDog]

People are basing their decision on whether or not to attend the game based on the South Alabama depth chart release? Or based on who the starting running back is? That's the dumbest **** I've ever read.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

K

 

[msstate7]

I just hate when they line him up like he is a power back.

I thought we used him well...

Vs lsu -- 5 rushes 37 yds 7.4/carry
Auburn -- 5 for 42 8.4/carry
aTm -- 5 for 5 1/carry
Kentucky -- 6 for 36 6/carry
Missouri -- 6 for 24 4/carry
Bama -- 7 for 34 4.9/carry
Ark -- 14 for 63 4.5/carry
Om -- 10 for 55 5.5/carry

 

[TBone.sixpack]

I'm not hating on Holloway. I just wish we would use one of the bigger backs up the middle.

I really like Brandon's play.

 

[notoriousD_O_G]

I just hate when they line him up like he is a power back.

yeah it would work so much better if every time he was on the field we just ran sweeps or threw it to him out of the backfield. That would keep the D guessing.********

 

[TBone.sixpack]

Maybe my objection is just emotional.

I can admit when I am wrong.

 

[57stratdawg]

Our RB have talent, OL is the story. Our offense goes just as far as the OL takes them.

 

[TBone.sixpack]

No need to be a dick.

 

[philduckworth]

Holloway was one of our best playmakers last year. Shump and Aeris are both good backs. Let's hope the line can open up better holes this year. South Alabama lost their entire starting DL to injury so if we don't run for at least 200 yards, we are in deep trouble.

 

[civildawg88]

I'm sorry, but how in the world can you say Shump is a good running back? Did you watch him last year at all? No vision, burst, or speed.

 

[FQDawg]

^^^ This

Our RBs aren't the issue. The swiss cheese OL is the issue.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

Holloway is the starting RB, followed by Shumpert.

No starting QB, we're playing multiple QBs.

I'm honestly more perturbed by the RB situation. From my uninformed, non-coach point of view, I am blown away Holloway and Shumpert are our best options at this point. I think I'll take raw talent and mistakes over a low-ceiling, pedestrian running game almost every time.

Oh well, I guess there's some value to have zero expectations.

It is against South Alabama! And they are missing key parts on defense from what I heard, so they will suck even more. I doubt we pulling out the whole playbook versus them. I would be willing to bet we see ALOT of running backs in this game.

 

[rugbdawg]

Yea. Seriously. Damien is gonna start too. Ridiculous. Who cares who is consistent. If Damien is our QB this year, we won't win 6. Why waste snaps?

 

[FlotownDawg]

Unless Shump has greatly improved in the offseason, he is not a good back

He has no speed, no vision, doesn't hit the hole hard, and for someone his size, goes down remarkably easy. When your OL isn't that great, you need a RB who can make extra yards after contact, like J-Rob did in 2014. Shump very rarely does that. Most of the time he falls where he is hit, which is usually at the LOS or in the backfield.

 

[philduckworth]

I'm sorry, but how in the world can you say Shump is a good running back? Did you watch him last year at all? No vision, burst, or speed.

A RB is only as good as his O-line. Shump is a powerful runner, but he has to have a hole and it has to be where the play is designed to go. I think that Aeris will end up being the feature guy this year though.

 

[IBleedMaroonDawg]

It's the first game. It's South Alabama.

With as many question marks as we have this season on offense, why are you basing your season expectations on starters for this game?

I imagine we might see every player on our roster on the field by the game's end.

I think I would wait on the South Carolina game and see what actually happens in that game before you give up, and I might not even make a decision then.

Dan will probably mix and match for several weeks on the offensive side of the ball.

 

[Sancho Panza]

Not that I like Shump; but, I'm going to trust Dan knows what he is doing.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I thought we used him well...

Vs lsu -- 5 rushes 37 yds 7.4/carry
Auburn -- 5 for 42 8.4/carry
aTm -- 5 for 5 1/carry
Kentucky -- 6 for 36 6/carry
Missouri -- 6 for 24 4/carry
Bama -- 7 for 34 4.9/carry
Ark -- 14 for 63 4.5/carry
Om -- 10 for 55 5.5/carry

I hate cherry picking stats but I'm going to do it anyway. Holloway is usually good for one intermediate-length run per game in his limited carries. The rest seem to be mostly decidedly average or below. That's not crapping on him - it's just who he is. He's 150 lbs but about 100 of that is balls because he's taking the rock knowing that guys literally twice his size are looking to decapitate him. Anyway, his stats somewhat bear out this if you take away his longest run in each game. ("YOU CANT TAKE AWAY HIS LONGEST RUN HE EARNED THOSE YARDZ!!!1!!!!1." I know, I know. I agree. Like I said, it's total cherry picking which I abhor. Just asking if the payoff of one run of 10-15 yards is worth the rest of the touches. Or maybe if he had twice the number of touches he would have more of the big play carries. That could also be the case.)


Vs lsu -- 5 rushes 37 yds 7.4/carry long of 11; others 4 for 26 (6.5 ypc)
Auburn -- 5 for 42 8.4/carry long of 14; others 4 for 28 (7)
aTm -- 5 for 5 1/carry long of 3; others 4 for 2 (0.5)
Kentucky -- 6 for 36 6/carry long of 18; others 5 for 18 (3.6)
Missouri -- 6 for 24 4/carry long of 9; others 5 for 15 (3)
Bama -- 7 for 34 4.9/carry long of 19; others 6 for 15 (2.5)
Ark -- 14 for 63 4.5/carry long of 12; others 13 for 50 (3.8)
Om -- 10 for 55 5.5/carry long of 13; others 9 for 42 (4.6)

 

[aTotal360]

We're doomed.

 

[VillagepeopleDogs]

Fudge. Do I need to cancel my room in Birmingham? I just made them yesterday.

 

[GloryDawg]

It's South Alabama. It will be more clear the following Saturday.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Are we doing poop jokes this year?

 

[John Lorry]

Our RB have talent, OL is the story. Our offense goes just as far as the OL takes them.

That's true.

I wasn't trying to project as much "doom and gloom" as I apparently did. But unless we have tremendous improvement at OL, our run offense will be as anemic as it was last year. Without Dak to lean on, that concerns me quite a bit.

Speaking of QBs, it'd be nice if a named starter got a game under his belt before facing a conference opponent, especially with our inexperience at that position and at WR (other than Ross). I guess that was more of where my frustration was in the original post.

 

[Junction John]

Might also be that if he had more touches, he would have fewer of the big play carries. He would be more tired and beat up, not to mention the D would have him timed out a little better.

He's the very definition of what you want as a 'change of pace' back...

 

[msstate7]

Might also be that if he had more touches, he would have fewer of the big play carries. He would be more tired and beat up, not to mention the D would have him timed out a little better.

He's the very definition of what you want as a 'change of pace' back...

I don't want Holloway to get more carries... I think we used him well last season.

I'm not sure why our fans wanna discredit him though when guys (sec coaches) who do this for a living like Holloway.

 

[rugbdawg]

Because his track record proves he plays the best player regardless of seniority.******

 

[kired]

Why do people say Shumpert is a power back? Dixon carrying 3 Houston defenders 10 yards into the endzone is a power back. Shumpert lowering his helmet, hitting a defender, and going down is not a power back.

 

[Junction John]

...So to that point -- can you be a good change of pace if you start?**

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Both of those statements are where I tend to lean. And given those two things, I'd allot his carries to someone else who could either prove himself worthy or unworthy. If unworthy, then on to the next one. Surely between Williams (Point City), Lee, Gibson, and Murphy there's ONE GUY who can be THE GUY.

 

[BertleTheTurtle]

It's the first game. It's South Alabama.

With as many question marks as we have this season on offense, why are you basing your season expectations on starters for this game?

I imagine we might see every player on our roster on the field by the game's end.

I think I would wait on the South Carolina game and see what actually happens in that game before you give up, and I might not even make a decision then.

Dan will probably mix and match for several weeks on the offensive side of the ball.

I've never understood this way of thinking. So we're supposed to not worry about who starts against South Alabama? It's not like Dan has some magical formula. Whoever starts in this game, is the projected starter going forward. Dan's track record proves this. You better believe that the term "starter" means a hell of a lot to these players. It did to us growing up, and it does with these kids as well. If we plan on certain players being in that key role at their respective position, then 17ing start them. Who cares about age? Aint nuthin but a number. Play, better yet START, our more talented youngsters. People defend sitting our talented youngsters because "they can't pass protect" or "they don't block well". Give me a break, the older guys do just as ****** a job, hence the reason our run game was non-existent last year. Give me talent and mistakes over age and general shittiness every day of the week. While we're on the topic, I'd love to see some odds of success for teams who utilize consistent QB rotations. Stupid. 17ing stupid.