Let's dispense with the Express back myth

[OttoinGrotto]

Hi sports fans,

I think we're all aware that a lot is about to change in the football program - conditioning, mentality, objectives for the offense and defense, etc. That's all fine and good and there's a certain amount of unpredictability to each of these things.

There's one thing I've seen a few people worry about in some posts that isn't actually cause for concern though, and I'd like to make the case for why it isn't a big deal.

See, the Express back was a one year creation. Not a single player on our roster played the position in highschool. They were either running backs or wideouts that then became Express backs. Now that the position is dissolved, they'll go back to being wideouts and running backs. This transition should actually be pretty natural.

Now, we do have a numbers problem at those more traditional positions, so we might see some weird looking receivers (could Dunkelberger end up there, maybe?). But we'll be fine there. We'll be asking the guys to learn to do some creative things, but they aren't foreign concepts. At least as it relates to the Express backs, we're going to do just fine.

My guess is Phillips, Lewis and Strickland all get long looks as WRs and contribute in a big way there next season. I'm very optimistic about this transition and think this will allow us to have our 5 most dynamic skill players on the field at once in a very natural way.

 

[Crusty]

Hi sports fans,

I think we're all aware that a lot is about to change in the football program - conditioning, mentality, objectives for the offense and defense, etc. That's all fine and good and there's a certain amount of unpredictability to each of these things.

There's one thing I've seen a few people worry about in some posts that isn't actually cause for concern though, and I'd like to make the case for why it isn't a big deal.

See, the Express back was a one year creation. Not a single player on our roster played the position in highschool. They were either running backs or wideouts that then became Express backs. Now that the position is dissolved, they'll go back to being wideouts and running backs. This transition should actually be pretty natural.

Now, we do have a numbers problem at those more traditional positions, so we might see some weird looking receivers (could Dunkelberger end up there, maybe?). But we'll be fine there. We'll be asking the guys to learn to do some creative things, but they aren't foreign concepts. At least as it relates to the Express backs, we're going to do just fine.

My guess is Phillips, Lewis and Strickland all get long looks as WRs and contribute in a big way there next season. I'm very optimistic about this transition and think this will allow us to have our 5 most dynamic skill players on the field at once in a very natural way.

Lewis in the slot is not a big adjustment anyway. If Dunk'S speed is accurate, he should be fine as well playing off the line. I know I am a broken record but Womack seems to be a natural fit when he learns to get off the line.

 

[TheCusian]

Hi sports fans, I think we're all aware that a lot is about to change in the football program - conditioning, mentality, objectives for the offense and defense, etc. That's all fine and good and there's a certain amount of unpredictability to each of these things. There's one thing I've seen a few people worry about in some posts that isn't actually cause for concern though, and I'd like to make the case for why it isn't a big deal. See, the Express back was a one year creation. Not a single player on our roster played the position in highschool. They were either running backs or wideouts that then became Express backs. Now that the position is dissolved, they'll go back to being wideouts and running backs. This transition should actually be pretty natural. Now, we do have a numbers problem at those more traditional positions, so we might see some weird looking receivers (could Dunkelberger end up there, maybe?). But we'll be fine there. We'll be asking the guys to learn to do some creative things, but they aren't foreign concepts. At least as it relates to the Express backs, we're going to do just fine. My guess is Phillips, Lewis and Strickland all get long looks as WRs and contribute in a big way there next season. I'm very optimistic about this transition and think this will allow us to have our 5 most dynamic skill players on the field at once in a very natural way.

Agreed.

I also think any transition issues will be somewhat mitigated by the sheer numbers of rep added in practice due to tempo.

 

[Toga]

Hi sports fans,

I think we're all aware that a lot is about to change in the football program - conditioning, mentality, objectives for the offense and defense, etc. That's all fine and good and there's a certain amount of unpredictability to each of these things.

There's one thing I've seen a few people worry about in some posts that isn't actually cause for concern though, and I'd like to make the case for why it isn't a big deal.

See, the Express back was a one year creation. Not a single player on our roster played the position in highschool. They were either running backs or wideouts that then became Express backs. Now that the position is dissolved, they'll go back to being wideouts and running backs. This transition should actually be pretty natural.

Now, we do have a numbers problem at those more traditional positions, so we might see some weird looking receivers (could Dunkelberger end up there, maybe?). But we'll be fine there. We'll be asking the guys to learn to do some creative things, but they aren't foreign concepts. At least as it relates to the Express backs, we're going to do just fine.

My guess is Phillips, Lewis and Strickland all get long looks as WRs and contribute in a big way there next season. I'm very optimistic about this transition and think this will allow us to have our 5 most dynamic skill players on the field at once in a very natural way.

If they can get Strickland the ball while he's running in open space then I'm a happy man.

 

[Millhouse]

this post is so bold and brave. thank you for puncturing this myth even though we've all already forgotten there was ever such a thing as the xback

coming soon, ottogrotto provocatively informs us that this offense is more baylor than elmworst

 

[OttoinGrotto]

this post is so bold and brave. thank you for puncturing this myth even though we've all already forgotten there was ever such a thing as the xback

coming soon, ottogrotto provocatively informs us that this offense is more baylor than elmworst

Hey now, "More Baylor than Elmhurst" was going to be a three part series. Show some respect for the craft.

 

[tipphill]

strickland was ignored rather than cultivated---one reason i am not a fan of lesters --strickland is a play maker

 

[Crusty]

What is the deal with Strickland? Someone alluded to issues related to durability I think.

 

[money3189]

Dont forget Perkins. He will transition back to RB. I personally dont think Strickland is a WR. I think he is natural at RB and I think he could be a good receiving back. Strickland will be like #8 Travis Green for Bowling Green. Phillips is more of a WR to me but it will be a minor transition for him because he was mainly a RB in h.s. He has average hands. His route running will improve through repetition. Watch #5 (Moore) the slot for Bowling Green, Phillips will be used like him. Lewis can get back to what he naturally do. I think he can really thrive in this system. He will be like #17 for BG except #17 has more wiggle to his game.

 

[Chip]

Dont forget Perkins. He will transition back to RB. I personally dont think Strickland is a WR. I think he is natural at RB and I think he could be a good receiving back. Strickland will be like #8 Travis Green for Bowling Green. Phillips is more of a WR to me but it will be a minor transition for him because he was mainly a RB in h.s. He has average hands. His route running will improve through repetition. Watch #5 (Moore) the slot for Bowling Green, Phillips will be used like him. Lewis can get back to what he naturally do. I think he can really thrive in this system. He will be like #17 for BG except #17 has more wiggle to his game.

Put Strickland at RB, and move Morris to safety. Hope for a one year Tebucky type miracle. He's better built for it, and looked to be a good tackler on kickoff coverage.

 

[ConnectiCuse]

Dontae will be a RB next year - not a WR and not moving to S.

 

[cuseguy]

The ship has sailed, but Strickland's dad thought he was more suited to be an H back than tailback.

Neither Strickland or Philips are suited to be every-down tailbacks.

But they're both talented and the staff will make the best use of their talents.

 

[SWC75]

Dino Babers will figure it out. I think he has several pieces to the puzzle here already.

 

[sdhall01]

I think it's the difference between having a bunch of prototypical RBs and WRs and instead having a bunch of tweeners that play both. Also, we just started calling the H-back the express back. It used to just be H-back.

Nevertheless, it's not that they CAN'T play WR and RB; it's that they aren't prototypical RBs and WRs. Hence, it could be a problem for HCDB's system.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I think it's the difference between having a bunch of prototypical RBs and WRs and instead having a bunch of tweeners that play both. Also, we just started calling the H-back the express back. It used to just be H-back.

Nevertheless, it's not that they CAN'T play WR and RB; it's that they aren't prototypical RBs and WRs. Hence, it could be a problem for HCDB's system.

First off, H-Back, when we're really honest with ourselves, is slot receiver.

Second off, I don't think we really have tweeners. I think we made guys in to tweeners. Now we're going to untween them.

 

[RMH44]

The ship has sailed, but Strickland's dad thought he was more suited to be an H back than tailback.

Neither Strickland or Philips are suited to be every-down tailbacks.

But they're both talented and the staff will make the best use of their talents.

What DS's father thought last year is irrelevant. The coaches will decide who players where. He has the size and frame to add quality weight to help him with durability.

 

[money3189]

First off, H-Back, when we're really honest with ourselves, is slot receiver.

Second off, I don't think we really have tweeners. I think we made guys in to tweeners. Now we're going to untween them.

They can be but we didnt play the H Backs primarily at slot. They didnt get a chance to really focus on specific slot WR moments. There was too much time spent at the wing position with with TE's, working on reach, wham and combo blocks. Their route tree was limited from that position.

 

[Crusty]

First off, H-Back, when we're really honest with ourselves, is slot receiver.

Second off, I don't think we really have tweeners. I think we made guys in to tweeners. Now we're going to untween them.

You are correct. This is not a big deal. We only had 4 H-Backs on the roster and one of them - Perkins - played on special teams and only had one carry (vs RI).

Phillips is clearly suited as as a slot receiver. In 9 games, he had 29 receptions for 286 yards (9.6 avg), a dozen more than Estime had in 11 games (17 for 294 - avg of 17.24 per catch). While Brisly is the deep threat as evidenced by his yards per catch, Phillips has a nose for the end zone with 5 TDs, second only to Ishmael's (7) in receiving TDs. Erv led the team with a total of 8 TDs total. For those who question Ervin's hands, I would say that while he certainly had some drops, he is the second best receiver on the team and he is only a sophomore.

Lewis is a WR - just look at his number 84. Personally, I thought his talents were wasted at H-Back. He had six fewer receptions last year than he did in 2013 (24 vs 17). I think Babers will utilize Ben far more than he has been in the past. Just put him in the slot and he will kill people with the quick game and as a reliable hot receiver.

Strickland is probably more suited to RB, but it seems to be getting pretty crowded back there and considering we are short on WRs for Dino's scheme, I would not be surprised to see him in the slot. Babers carried 7 more WRs on the BG roster than we did.

In the final analysis, I will be glad to see the H-Back disappear.

 

[Millhouse]

I think Strickland should be at WR but he can play either. Pick one and stick with it, no waffling

 

[money3189]

You are correct. This is not a big deal. We only had 4 H-Backs on the roster and one of them - Perkins - played on special teams and only had one carry (vs RI).

Phillips is clearly suited as as a slot receiver. In 9 games, he had 29 receptions for 286 yards (9.6 avg), a dozen more than Estime had in 11 games (17 for 294 - avg of 17.24 per catch). While Brisly is the deep threat as evidenced by his yards per catch, Phillips has a nose for the end zone with 5 TDs, second only to Ishmael's (7) in receiving TDs. Erv led the team with a total of 8 TDs total. For those who question Ervin's hands, I would say that while he certainly had some drops, he is the second best receiver on the team and he is only a sophomore.

Lewis is a WR - just look at his number 84. Personally, I thought his talents were wasted at H-Back. He had six fewer receptions last year than he did in 2013 (24 vs 17). I think Babers will utilize Ben far more than he has been in the past. Just put him in the slot and he will kill people with the quick game and as a reliable hot receiver.

Strickland is probably more suited to RB, but it seems to be getting pretty crowded back there and considering we are short on WRs for Dino's scheme, I would not be surprised to see him in the slot. Babers carried 7 more WRs on the BG roster than we did.

In the final analysis, I will be glad to see the H-Back disappear.

Staff is going to have to figure out if they want to give the young legs more reps or not. Morris and McFarlane have shown flashes but lack consistency. With a crowded backfield will one or both take their degree and go? Also we are in need of bigger safeties. The staff may target Perkins to give the defense immediate help in the secondary.

 

[SmilinBob]

I like Phillips when he is sitting ready for the ball as he seems to struggle running downfield and catching the ball at the same time. Also, how many times in HCDB's system does the wr get a handoff from the qb? Another question...how important is blocking from the wr's in this system?

 

[money3189]

I like Phillips when he is sitting ready for the ball as he seems to struggle running downfield and catching the ball at the same time. Also, how many times in HCDB's system does the wr get a handoff from the qb? Another question...how important is blocking from the wr's in this system?

Exactly. Needs to show consistency on down field throws, just doesnt look natural to me. I think Phillips will thrive as a slot but it will take work. Most of his catches were short except for wheel routes out of the back field. When he plays the actual slot position, he's going to have to be a great route runner and he needs to catch balls down the field. Teams will have nickle corners on him. Alot different than having a LB on you.

 

[SmilinBob]

Out of curiosity, why not put the bigger receivers/TE the farthest outside and the smaller ones inside to try to create speed/size mismatches?

 

[Jake]

You know what's funny. Seeing a guy like Lewis have season numbers like 17 or 24 catches. And he was considered one of our top tier targets. The pinball Machine numbers this offense is going to put up are going to destroy our record book.

 

[money3189]

Out of curiosity, why not put the bigger receivers/TE the farthest outside and the smaller ones inside to try to create speed/size mismatches?

depends on the offensive scheme and philosophy. Most big WR/TE types dont have the speed to be a deep threat. Alot of the bigger guys lack consistency in route running thus making it easy for corners to diagnose routes and jump them. They will be used out there when a team likes a match up with a corner on particular down and distance like fades, slants