- Aug 12, 2014
- 5,846
- 15,818
first off, I was very impressed with the overall team yesterday. The offense did a great job feeding off of its own momentum, calling the right plays, taking what was open, and moving the ball. The momentum lasted all game long, something we haven't seen since Ole Miss last year.
One concern I have is the rushing game. Yes, we average 175 yards a game but we also average just 4.4 yards a carry and against the two teams we've played so far, and that raises an eyebrow. Yes. I know there's 3 shots to get a first down (4 technically) and 4.4 times three is a first down every time, but I can't help but wonder if those numbers would be better if we settled on 1 to 2 running backs, possibly just a third for change of pace.
I think Perine, although the youngest, is the future. He's got the body type, the running style, the vision, awareness, explosion, to be a killer in the SEC.
I'm not sold on Thompson at all. Two games and a spring game he lacks the overall explosion to really be a difference maker. Let's call it like it is. He doesn't look fast at all. He doesn't have a twitch when changing directions, so when he does decide to pivot , it won't be hard for defenders to change with him, and when he does change, he has no explosion to burst through and by defenders.
Coming to my second point, I think the running game needs to gravitate towards Perine and Scarlett as the two featured backs, Cronkrite as a change of pace, catching out of the backfield, etc. and Thompson as maybe a guy to move the chains in 3rd/4th and short.
I know it's only two games in and I'm sure Mac will eventually settle on the guys to get the running game going during the heavy portion of the SEC schedule, but what do you guys think? IMHO, I think going into Knoxville we will need to ride and die with 2 of them. Let them get their own momentum and carry the run game against a very formidable team.
One concern I have is the rushing game. Yes, we average 175 yards a game but we also average just 4.4 yards a carry and against the two teams we've played so far, and that raises an eyebrow. Yes. I know there's 3 shots to get a first down (4 technically) and 4.4 times three is a first down every time, but I can't help but wonder if those numbers would be better if we settled on 1 to 2 running backs, possibly just a third for change of pace.
I think Perine, although the youngest, is the future. He's got the body type, the running style, the vision, awareness, explosion, to be a killer in the SEC.
I'm not sold on Thompson at all. Two games and a spring game he lacks the overall explosion to really be a difference maker. Let's call it like it is. He doesn't look fast at all. He doesn't have a twitch when changing directions, so when he does decide to pivot , it won't be hard for defenders to change with him, and when he does change, he has no explosion to burst through and by defenders.
Coming to my second point, I think the running game needs to gravitate towards Perine and Scarlett as the two featured backs, Cronkrite as a change of pace, catching out of the backfield, etc. and Thompson as maybe a guy to move the chains in 3rd/4th and short.
I know it's only two games in and I'm sure Mac will eventually settle on the guys to get the running game going during the heavy portion of the SEC schedule, but what do you guys think? IMHO, I think going into Knoxville we will need to ride and die with 2 of them. Let them get their own momentum and carry the run game against a very formidable team.
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and uncalled for.
