I'm curious as to what metrics

[drt7891]

Mullen uses to evaluate some of his players in practice. We've seen this before... Perkins over j-rob, Devon Bell (did great in practice**), and now the stubbornness of allowing shump/holloway to continue to run the ball as much as they do. Does Mullen base playing time on how these guys perform in practice? Simple seniority? Do the get playing time based on Juice Points or something?

I'm just wondering because your first goal as coach is to win games and put players in position to contribute and produce in games. I know we don't need to further break down the fact that Holloway is not going to be effective between the tackles and Shump... Well, yea.

So 30% of our rushing yards Saturday night came on one play by one guy who we saw run for a TD and barely saw again the rest of the night. So is in-game production just a lost measurement for our coaches? I'm curious as to when enough is enough and what it's going to take for our coaches to try to increase production from our run game.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Talking to LonesomeDog last night and I came up with a theory. In general, I think Mullen plays the best guys with the exception of the ones you mentioned, but there's also a theme there: Kicker and RB. I think we agree Devon has the best chance to get the ball there on a long one and for whatever reason Mullen puts a lot of emphasis on "the little things" a RB must do to be out there and trusted. Only reason I can think of why a less talented guy gets the start.

So, here's my theory: I think Mullen puts so much pressure on guys to remain focused, it hinders their ability to go out there and "let loose" and just get after it from start to finish. Our guys may be pent up trying to stay focused on their keys and not make a mistake early in games. It's not until they feel a sense of urgency that they start making plays, and we're usually down a TD or two before we wake up and start making plays.

Maybe Mullen puts too much pressure on our players rather than just turnin' the dawgs loose. When you think about it like that, and Mullen is all about focus, it makes more sense the true freshman and underclassmen aren't playing as much as the upper classmen, bc they are more prone to not focus throughout the game.

I say put the best talent out there and let 'em go make plays. Sitting back "focused" has gotten us in holes.

That's my theory. We know we got some really talented guys. I think we should just let them grow up this year and it'll help the further into the season and down the road. Ask yourself this, who's more likely to go snag a ball outta the air and return it for six? Jamal Peters or Kivon Coman? But who's probably more "focused?"

 

[aTotal360]

Classification and attending class are huge with Mullen.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Which of our players routinely skip class? If they do, they wouldn't be on the team.

 

[missouridawg]

Y'all do realize that Dear wasn't touched for like the first 30 yards of that run. Then, he only had to hit once to avoid being tackled.

Westin Graves could've made that same run. A RB is typically only as good as his OLine.

 

[BiscuitEater]

I'm just wondering because your first goal as coach is to win games and put players in position to contribute and produce in games. I know we don't need to further break down the fact that Holloway is not going to be effective between the tackles and Shump... Well, yea.

So, Mullen does EXACTLY what you want and puts in Dontavian Lee, who proceeds to get a whopping 0 yards on 2 carries and he puts Aeris Williams, who has a couple of good carries BUT doesn't move the ball to his outside arm and is easily stripped of the ball near the goal line.

 

[drt7891]

Yes, I do... But Why hasn't shump or Holloway broken a run like that this year?

 

[ronpolk]

Yes, I do... But Why hasn't shump or Holloway broken a run like that this year?

The play caught A&M off guard. They were not expecting our WR to take a handoff probably. I agree that we need to get dear more touches and I assume you will see that. If you look at his plays so far it's all been the exact same play. I just don't think we have put much in the playbook for him. I bet you'll see him much more involved the next few weeks.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

So, Mullen does EXACTLY what you want and puts in Dontavian Lee, who proceeds to get a whopping 0 yards on 2 carries and he puts Aeris Williams, who has a couple of good carries BUT doesn't move the ball to his outside arm and is easily stripped of the ball near the goal line.

I would rather have run the chance of fumbling while being able to move the chains with Williams than knowing we will have to get our yards through the air and face a lot of 2nd and 3rd & longs because we can't get anything out of the backfield. Williams may turn the ball over and he may not, but he's capable of getting yards. Shump may not turn the ball over but we're going to have to punt it if we can't get our yards through the air.

 

[Shamoan]

old new england intuition. who needs metrics.

 

[Shamoan]

i think you are pretty close to right, but with your starter fumbling inside the 10 and the back up fumbling inside the 10, does it really matter? we know what we get with shump, williams and lee are wildcards that might rise above if given the opportunity. that said, i have a feeling neither are the answer because our line cant block worth ****.

 

[missouridawg]

Because the deceptive part of this play

was bringing the slot into the backfield. Shump and Holloway rarely line up at slot. And if they did, then motioned into the backfield, the defense wouldn't be fooled by them running it.

Dear did great on his run, don't get me wrong. But everyone trying to fix our run problems by changing out RBs is thinking about it in the wrong way. OLine and scheme are more of our problems than the actual guy carrying the ball.

Don't forget that last week, the freshmen were going to fix our problem. One had a key fumble and the other had 2 carries for 0 yards.

 

[ronpolk]

was bringing the slot into the backfield. Shump and Holloway rarely line up at slot. And if they did, then motioned into the backfield, the defense wouldn't be fooled by them running it.

Dear did great on his run, don't get me wrong. But everyone trying to fix our run problems by changing out RBs is thinking about it in the wrong way. OLine and scheme are more of our problems than the actual guy carrying the ball.

Don't forget that last week, the freshmen were going to fix our problem. One had a key fumble and the other had 2 carries for 0 yards.

Scheme is not the problem. Mullen has had a 1,000 yard rusher ever year but what 1? Last year we almost had 2. You're right about the o-line. That is the problem. Very rarely has our RB has running room.

 

[Confucius Say]

Y'all do realize that Dear wasn't touched for like the first 30 yards of that run. Then, he only had to hit once to avoid being tackled.

Westin Graves could've made that same run. A RB is typically only as good as his OLine.

There is some truth to that, but dear is averaging 14 yards a touch. Dude needs more touches.

 

[missouridawg]

When I say scheme, I'm pointing towards our tendency to not run Dak this year. We finally did against aTm an had 200 yards in the ground. By far, our best ground game this year. That is a scheme thing.

 

[drt7891]

This is my thought. Shump has not been productive this year at all. Holloway can be, if used the right way (I.e. Not between the tackles). Those are the knowns.

 

[ronpolk]

When I say scheme, I'm pointing towards our tendency to not run Dak this year. We finally did against aTm an had 200 yards in the ground. By far, our best ground game this year. That is a scheme thing.

Got it. Was not thinking about it in that sense.

 

[missouridawg]

This is my thought. Shump has not been productive this year at all. Holloway can be, if used the right way (I.e. Not between the tackles). Those are the knowns.

Holloway isn't going to break many tackles against LBs running between the tackles.... but he has had success this year when we're spread out 4 wide running towards the middle of the field.

 

[fishwater99]

There is some truth to that, but Dear is averaging 14 yards a touch. Dude needs more touches.

THIS....

 

[Junction John]

Wait now... Are you saying you think Shump or Holloway would've scored?

Y'all do realize that Dear wasn't touched for like the first 30 yards of that run. Then, he only had to hit once to avoid being tackled.

Westin Graves could've made that same run. A RB is typically only as good as his OLine.

1. Shump never would've made it down the field, because some DL would've caught him in the hole, IF he cut into the hole.
2. Holloway would've been knocked backward by the DB who touched Dear downfield.

I agree that the OL is a big factor, but don't tell me there's no difference between RBs either. There are differences.