Yasin Willis transferring to Kansas

[Cusefan78]

Big loss, anyone pretending it’s not doesn’t understand the real reason for our running game struggles

He can’t catch the ball. It’s not a match for our offense

 

[OttoinGrotto]

We've lost almost all of Fran's top recruits.

This is the more concerning thing to me.

 

[Blanko97]

He can’t catch the ball. It’s not a match for our offense

The offense that got like 80 yards a game?

 

[sufan59]

Did he not take the next step or did the line suck? The way people are talking it sure seems like we should’ve always known Yasmin wasn’t good. I just think fans are quick to dismiss losses

I would say it’s both. Many yards and TDs that he missed out on because of decision making. Everyone saw it. Though it’s scary how effective he could be with better decision making.

 

[Blanko97]

I would say it’s both. Many yards and TDs that he missed out on because of decision making. Everyone saw it. Though it’s scary how effective he could be with better decision making.

Well that’s where coaching comes in, Treveon Henderson isn’t coming through the door so we need to coach up talent

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The potential was obvious but it never really clicked. I don't think he ever had a 100 yard game. Yeah, I know he wasn't running behind the best lines, but something seemed off beyond that.

 

[Lukeyloo]

Nixon's offense seems to need a RB who can block and catch. Yasin wasn't great in these areas.

 

[dwilmont44]

Does being a good recruiter matter if all your good recruits leave?

 

[Cusefan69]

$$$$$

Richmond said this was not a money matter.

 

[Archbold44]

If Willis had been better, the offense would have been better. Against SMU, we had decent enough blocking to pick up much needed first downs and he all out refused to get it. We still had a game and a season at that point. If we had given SMU a game, it would have been a different Rickie coming back to the Pitt game. We needed one yard, the offensive line gave it to him, and he did not take it. For a guy quick to jump up and celebrate his few great runs... he played small in that situation.

He had that terrible penalty against Clemson. Seems like he also had a bad fumble at some point.

But when Rickie missed the pass to him against SMU, he was demonstrative about it. The same guy that couldn't or wouldn't pick up a first down, and made his own series of errors this year, was awfully critical of his teammate.

Regardless, we need a RB that is a receiving threat... not one that is looking for the highlight reel. Nixon was just as capable at picking up short yardage... and that does not physically make sense. Meanwhile, Villari should not be a our most reliable runner to pick up one yard. If that is the case, then I think the RB room does need a complete retool.

It is a loss, but I think we can get a net gain out of this.

 

[Blanko97]

The potential was obvious but it never really clicked. I don't think he ever had a 100 yard game. Yeah, I know he wasn't running behind the best lines, but something seemed off beyond that.

The 2/3 games he played with Steve he got 91 and 94. Then the QB went out and you could just load the box. He wasn’t really given a chance.

 

[sufan59]

We've lost almost all of Fran's top recruits.

That were at Syracuse.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

The 2/3 games he played with Steve he got 91 and 94. Then the QB went out and you could just load the box. He wasn’t really given a chance.

That's fair, and 100 yards is a fairly arbitrary thing anyway.

 

[Archbold44]

The 2/3 games he played with Steve he got 91 and 94. Then the QB went out and you could just load the box. He wasn’t really given a chance.

But they could load the box because he had brick hands. If he was in the game, we were not going to be able to pass to him... so he was either running or blocking. And most likely running. Nixon at least gave us the threat of a potential dump off pass.

I still find it pretty amazing the number of highlight reel catches we had with our WRs with Angeli... that they failed to make with Rickie. As bad as Rickie was at times, some key help from his teammates might have made him a bottom 10 P4 QB, rather than bottom 3 P4 QB.

 

[OburgOrange]

yawn and LOL. I mean I just cant give a rats a$$ anymore. Whatever. Next kid up

Gotta just love the state of "college" football. Ridic.

^^This^^!!! So glad I was around to witness the late 80’s and 90’s. You could follow the the team and the players every year through their career and identify with them. Not any more. Hate what college football has become.
Just cheering or the jersey now, and whoever is in it

 

[JoeSU]

One would think that having a highly-regarded/experienced OL coach coming onboard would provide some incentive for Willis to stay.

 

[Archbold44]

One would think that having a highly-regarded/experienced OL coach coming onboard would provide some incentive for Willis to stay.

Maybe that OL coach looked at the tape and realized that the OL created more holes that were not taken advantage of by a randomly tentative RB#1.

 

[Blanko97]

But they could load the box because he had brick hands. If he was in the game, we were not going to be able to pass to him... so he was either running or blocking. And most likely running. Nixon at least gave us the threat of a potential dump off pass.

I still find it pretty amazing the number of highlight reel catches we had with our WRs with Angeli... that they failed to make with Rickie. As bad as Rickie was at times, some key help from his teammates might have made him a bottom 10 P4 QB, rather than bottom 3 P4 QB.

I don’t think any d coordinators worth their salt would ever leave a RB open out of the backfield even if he’d never caught a pass in their life. The risk is way too big

 

[RMH44]

yeah the year before last. This year he really performed well below expectations. I'm sure the line was a part of that no doubt, but great running back find ways to get yards regardless, even good ones do. This kid ending up being disappointingly average.

Bingo!!!! And he has awful hands, poor vision and is an average blocker. With his straight-up running style, he could end up in concussion protocol multiple times a season.

 

[Archbold44]

I don’t think any d coordinators worth their salt would ever leave a RB open out of the backfield even if he’d never caught a pass in their life. The risk is way too big

Willis was pretty wide open against SMU.

 

[UnknownOrange]

this is a day and age where nothing surprises me, i have zero expectations, and truly don’t really care much about the roster until fall camp. Yasin is a loss, until he isn’t. Just like every position. No position is a big loss if we bring in equal or better talent, but we just don’t know that until later on

 

[SanDiegoCuse]

He’s without a doubt a loss. However, there should be a chance to replace him with a better fit. He needs to be in a different offense.

 

[Blanko97]

Willis was pretty wide open against SMU.

Fair, “any d coordinator worth their salt…” if the team has a QB who can throw

 

[Cuseregular]

Bingo!!!! And he has awful hands, poor vision and is an average blocker. With his straight-up running style, he could end up in concussion protocol multiple times a season.

Yep was thinking same. It may have contributed to his subpar performances this year, more significantly I would not be surprised if this concussion history ends up being a career ender.

I say that as someone who has taught neuroscience and brain related tbi classes for over 30 years. When you get concussions from the milder hits that’s not a good sign. Regardless, best of luck to him……with that part. On the field stuff he does elsewhere I could care less.

 

[Ringostar57]

at 235 pounds never really moved the pile never kept his legs moving and never saw obvious un frequent holes. Add to that concrete hands.