Seems we have talked about depth at certain positions, especially running back, as being an asset
Thinking about our RB troubles this year I was reminded that we have had issues with good back up RB's for what seems like years now. Lawry, Cox and now Davis along with Strong have all had extended periods of down time due to injury and to the best of my recollection there has rarely been a suitable replacement.
The Oline has been paper thin since forever it seems. We do now have some linebackers and a couple of usable DB back ups.
Is depth simply on paper? if so, it's very thin. How to develop depth?
(10-22-2019 10:35 AM)VB Monarch Wrote: [ -> ]Seems we have talked about depth at certain positions, especially running back, as being an asset
Thinking about our RB troubles this year I was reminded that we have had issues with good back up RB's for what seems like years now. Lawry, Cox and now Davis along with Strong have all had extended periods of down time due to injury and to the best of my recollection there has rarely been a suitable replacement.
The Oline has been paper thin since forever it seems. We do now have some linebackers and a couple of usable DB back ups.
Is depth simply on paper? if so, it's very thin. How to develop depth?
Depth is a result of consistently recruiting at a good level, good coaching and training. We seem to have found the right trainer. But we have not recruited at a high level for our league.
Losing Will Knight certainly didn't help RB depth. But even if he was here, we aren't getting the push to have really productive RBs. We gotta get better up front.
Depth at RB was always a concern this year AFTER Knight and Jackson left.
Depth at RB has not been an issue in the past:
18- Cox/Davis/Knight/Strong
17- Cox/Lawry/Sinclair
16- Cox/Lawry/Jackson/Simmons
15-Lawry/Cox/Strong
14- Lawry/Gerard Johnson/Boyd
(10-22-2019 10:52 AM)Gilesfan Wrote: [ -> ]Depth at RB was always a concern this year AFTER Knight and Jackson left.
Depth at RB has not been an issue in the past:
18- Cox/Davis/Knight/Strong
17- Cox/Lawry/Sinclair
16- Cox/Lawry/Jackson/Simmons
15-Lawry/Cox/Strong
14- Lawry/Gerard Johnson/Boyd
Seems many of these RB's suffered season long nagging injuries, sometimes the back ups as well. I think sometimes we mistake the # of bodies at a position as depth. For 3-4 years now our # 1 running back has been hobbled by injuries and we use that as a reason for poor offensive performance.
(10-22-2019 11:34 AM)VB Monarch Wrote: [ -> ] (10-22-2019 10:52 AM)Gilesfan Wrote: [ -> ]Depth at RB was always a concern this year AFTER Knight and Jackson left.
Depth at RB has not been an issue in the past:
18- Cox/Davis/Knight/Strong
17- Cox/Lawry/Sinclair
16- Cox/Lawry/Jackson/Simmons
15-Lawry/Cox/Strong
14- Lawry/Gerard Johnson/Boyd
Seems many of these RB's suffered season long nagging injuries, sometimes the back ups as well. I think sometimes we mistake the # of bodies at a position as depth. For 3-4 years now our # 1 running back has been hobbled by injuries and we use that as a reason for poor offensive performance.
I think that falls on the S+C coach(es). And it seems we've hired a gem in that regard now. To your point I wonder if we'll see improvement in health but this season is yet again injury riddled and nobody behind them to take the reign (pun intended) because of our recruiting issues.
We also are razor thin on talent unlike P5's who can get 3 or 4 guys that are all top talent. We get 1 or 2 at best because at our level nobody wants to sit behind anyone else. Or maybe to your point that's the perception?
As long as we have weak offensive line play we will need many running backs because they are running into a defensive wall at the line of scrimmage every they touch the ball.
This thread title is groovy man! It's ALL an illusion.....
(10-22-2019 12:01 PM)odu83alumni Wrote: [ -> ]As long as we have weak offensive line play we will need many running backs because they are running into a defensive wall at the line of scrimmage every they touch the ball.
This is why I roll my eyes at Wilder saying we are a championship team next year. Championship teams must be able to run the ball on offense. ODU hasn't consistently (and successfully) run the ball since they went to a bowl game.
(10-22-2019 03:06 PM)odufansam Wrote: [ -> ] (10-22-2019 12:01 PM)odu83alumni Wrote: [ -> ]As long as we have weak offensive line play we will need many running backs because they are running into a defensive wall at the line of scrimmage every they touch the ball.
This is why I roll my eyes at Wilder saying we are a championship team next year. Championship teams must be able to run the ball on offense. ODU hasn't consistently (and successfully) run the ball since they went to a bowl game.
Damn right. Next year's team with the current personnel won't be better by virtue of being a year older. They need to be coached up. As long as this happens- anything can happen. It's on the Admin and Staff.