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Running Back U - NorthCoast - 05-27-2021 10:29 AM
NIU needs to get some of that Running Back U juice back.
I want a dynamic, explosive, BALANCED, Offense with threats all over the filed, including at least one dynamic RB threat if not a ONE-TWO Thunder and Lightning combo.
Who do you believe will be NIU’s leading rusher in 2021?
For those inclined, please elaborate on why you voted the way you did.
RE: Running Back U - HawaiiToNIU - 05-27-2021 10:59 AM
Ducker is gonna transfer. Nothing against him, but as impressive as I thought he was. Hammock got some other impressive dudes to come in. Antario Brown is an impressive guy for the near future.
RE: Running Back U - NIU1981 - 05-27-2021 11:48 AM
I voted for Waylee but Collins did look much improved this spring and could be a nice complement. It also depends on whether Waylee can stay healthy for 12 games. He took some big time shots last year.
RE: Running Back U - epicbret - 05-27-2021 11:49 AM
Brown is going to be a horse sooner [2022] than later. That said Waylee has some juice and will be the leading rusher this fall.
Running Back U - Teamduh - 05-27-2021 12:17 PM
We have talented depth at RB and WR like we haven't seen in recent years. I expect RB by committee to some degree especially against non-conference teams.
1 Waylee to get 50% of carries and even larger percentage of yards.
2 Collins. More running between tackles.
3 Ducker will see action.
4 Ratkovich. He will be all over field. Maybe just a couple of runs a game to keep the D honest. More yards in passing game.
Last 3 more likely to get short yardage plays.
Waylee and Rat to be key contributors this year. I expect us to be singing huskie fight song plenty with these 4 healthy and improved oline and qb play.
Hard to evaluate the others not on campus yet.
No need for Ducker to transfer.
Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk
RE: Running Back U - klake87 - 05-27-2021 01:38 PM
If someone beats out Waylee, they are going to be averaging 8 plus yards a carry. Waylee is a stud. If someone supplants him OMG.
RE: Running Back U - BigChilla - 05-27-2021 01:48 PM
Waylee can do so much, he runs to daylight. He is 100% what Hammock wants in a back.
Plus his speed is legit. The O-Line has to be better and Waylee will be much improved.
Let’s remember some of his worst games were his first games. He was a true Freshman who had Covid wipe out any kind of normal practice or lifting schedule. It was real hard on Freshman last season and I thought all of ours who played looked much improved at the end of the season.
RE: Running Back U - TXHuskieJA26 - 05-27-2021 04:00 PM
I expect Waylee to be the leading rusher for 2 reasons. While I expect carrys to be pretty widely distributed, I think he will lead the team, and secondly I expect him to rip off big gains/homeruns a couple times a game. Collins will be the change of pace/spell back. Expect him to get a lot of runs straight up the middle following explosive plays from Waylee. Ratkovich is going to be the short yardage and goaline back who moves into an H-Back role in passing situations. Ducker will get a handful or dozen snaps per game as a 3rd down/passing situation back. I would also advocate for slowly teaching Ducker some slot/jet sweep stuff as the season progresses as a way to keep him involved without taking reps from the others. I anticipate that we will only see Brown in garbage time situations, likely Maine, Michigan, and one or two other games that aren't close and/or a Bowl if they make one. They will want to keep him as engaged as possible without burning his redshirt.
As for Ducker or other guys transferring, nothing would surprise me because transferring is the answer to all questions in college sports right now. However, personally I think it would be a mistake. Ratkovich is gone after this year and Collins after next. After that it would be a Waylee, Ducker,
& Brown 3 man rotation playing for a coach that has some of the best experience of any coach at any level in creating immensely successful multi-back offenses.
RE: Running Back U - klake87 - 05-27-2021 04:22 PM
Waylee could be like Garrett Wolfe. I want 20+ touches because he will break a few big runs. If someone can do better then this is going to be a fun year
RE: Running Back U - NIU007 - 05-27-2021 09:31 PM
Do we have the offensive line to get Waylee (or other RBs) the running room? If so, we'll be in good shape. I think we have a few guys that can actually take advantage of some daylight.
RE: Running Back U - NIU1981 - 05-27-2021 10:38 PM
(05-27-2021 09:31 PM)NIU007 Wrote: Do we have the offensive line to get Waylee (or other RBs) the running room? If so, we'll be in good shape. I think we have a few guys that can actually take advantage of some daylight.
The O line did look improved this spring, although that was a low bar to clear. I thought they really came on when they put Lippe at center and flipped Patton over to guard.
RE: Running Back U - prairiedawg - 05-27-2021 10:45 PM
(05-27-2021 10:38 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:(05-27-2021 09:31 PM)NIU007 Wrote: Do we have the offensive line to get Waylee (or other RBs) the running room? If so, we'll be in good shape. I think we have a few guys that can actually take advantage of some daylight.
The O line did look improved this spring, although that was a low bar to clear. I thought they really came on when they put Lippe at center and flipped Patton over to guard.
Lippe is the center now?
RE: Running Back U - NIU05 - 05-28-2021 06:13 AM
(05-27-2021 10:38 PM)NIU1981 Wrote:(05-27-2021 09:31 PM)NIU007 Wrote: Do we have the offensive line to get Waylee (or other RBs) the running room? If so, we'll be in good shape. I think we have a few guys that can actually take advantage of some daylight.
The O line did look improved this spring, although that was a low bar to clear. I thought they really came on when they put Lippe at center and flipped Patton over to guard.
I thought Champer & Z were the guards? We need big year from OLine. Seems people are expecting something out of our 21 Huskies as we have 6 nationally televised games.
.
RE: Running Back U - NIU1981 - 05-28-2021 10:23 AM
They moved Lippe to center later in spring and the line looked better, just my opinion.
RE: Running Back U - TXHuskieJA26 - 05-28-2021 02:01 PM
(05-28-2021 10:23 AM)NIU1981 Wrote: They moved Lippe to center later in spring and the line looked better, just my opinion.
When they did that did Patton replace Champe or Zschernitz?
When they started to improve last season it was moving Patton from guard to center replacing Olsen, and putting Champe into the lineup at left guard that really made a difference.
RE: Running Back U - NIU1981 - 05-28-2021 02:45 PM
I saw them practice twice in spring. The first time they started out with Champe at left guard and Patton at center, and later had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center. The second time they had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center most of the time. I thought the Patton/Lippe combo looked better, although it may have been the line gelling as a whole. I don't think anything is in stone yet.
RE: Running Back U - BDB5yp - 05-28-2021 03:34 PM
(05-28-2021 02:45 PM)NIU1981 Wrote: I saw them practice twice in spring. The first time they started out with Champe at left guard and Patton at center, and later had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center. The second time they had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center most of the time. I thought the Patton/Lippe combo looked better, although it may have been the line gelling as a whole. I don't think anything is in stone yet.
Could be a really good move. Lippe came as a D-End so his athleticism and strength could be a big plus if he sticks.
RE: Running Back U - TXHuskieJA26 - 05-28-2021 06:51 PM
(05-28-2021 03:34 PM)BDB5yp Wrote:(05-28-2021 02:45 PM)NIU1981 Wrote: I saw them practice twice in spring. The first time they started out with Champe at left guard and Patton at center, and later had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center. The second time they had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center most of the time. I thought the Patton/Lippe combo looked better, although it may have been the line gelling as a whole. I don't think anything is in stone yet.
Could be a really good move. Lippe came as a D-End so his athleticism and strength could be a big plus if he sticks.
He played some defense in HS, but he's always been an OL. That is what he was all conference as. He was recruited as an OG but was moved to OC pretty much since day one at NIU. He was a OT in HS though, so him potentially overtaking guys he was behind last year makes sense as he had a steeper learning curve than most. He has also put on 51 lbs since he stepped on campus.
Also, as 81' said, nothing set in stone. Could have just been getting reps as you definitely always want alternative options along the o-line in case of injuries.
RE: Running Back U - BigChilla - 05-28-2021 09:00 PM
(05-28-2021 02:45 PM)NIU1981 Wrote: I saw them practice twice in spring. The first time they started out with Champe at left guard and Patton at center, and later had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center. The second time they had Patton at left guard and Lippe at center most of the time. I thought the Patton/Lippe combo looked better, although it may have been the line gelling as a whole. I don't think anything is in stone yet.
That’s curious - but not unexpected due to some tweets by the OL coach.
Seems we are satisfied with our tackles and working on the interior. Patton at guard in the long run makes me feel better. Lippe gets snaps at center this year and if anything goes wonky Patton is still around. If it goes fine Champe or whomever can compete for time at LG next season. It’s a short term fix and a better move for the long term.
RE: Running Back U - NorthCoast - 05-30-2021 08:19 AM
Waylee’s running away with the poll (pun intended) and only one person has mentioned staying healthy. It could be a long hard grind and Waylee’s not exactly the most robust guy out there. It wouldn’t surprise me if there’s more of a sharing of the load than expected. Keep guys fresh, keep Defenses guessing.
With all that talent in the RB room, it’d sure make sense to spread the carries around. Especially, if the OLine is improved as many of us here are projecting/hoping for, there’d likely be less of a drop-off in production from one guy to the next.
My two cents.