Got to give a poster credit...he says basically just look at

[Reality Man]

the team. TE's are improved. QB...wr's, etc. etc.

What does that say about the run game? Think about this. The run game is basically not that good so it's says it can't be coaching. It's a combination of either the OL and the rb's.

I personally think you have to be blind as a bat to see that UM is just not very talented at the rb position. I mentioned that Houma looked to be the tailback on a couple of occasions. I like him but looks like the staff is frustrated with the lack of elusiveness at the position. UM tried Higdon there for a little bit.

The main blogger, in response to the poster, said UM is going to have to approach the rb position the same way as the qb position...over recruit and try and get some transfers. See IU and Howard. UM is being hampered by the rb position that has 2 five stars on the roster.

Wow. I don't know what to say



RM

 

[ArrowheadBlue]

it's perplexing, that's for sure. No slashers in the stable and star ratings are meaningless these days. Are there 5th year grad students who can run out there? JH's calling for you.

 

[Reality Man]

Howard is a transfer from UAB. There is talent out there and something tells me Harbaugh is out looking for it because any player out in America knows one thing for sure...he will get a chance to win a job regardless of his year or star rating .

Someone want to make a name for himself...here you go.


RM

 

[ThatsMrSpartan2U]

the team. TE's are improved. QB...wr's, etc. etc.

What does that say about the run game? Think about this. The run game is basically not that good so it's says it can't be coaching. It's a combination of either the OL and the rb's.

I personally think you have to be blind as a bat to see that UM is just not very talented at the rb position. I mentioned that Houma looked to be the tailback on a couple of occasions. I like him but looks like the staff is frustrated with the lack of elusiveness at the position. UM tried Higdon there for a little bit.

The main blogger, in response to the poster, said UM is going to have to approach the rb position the same way as the qb position...over recruit and try and get some transfers. See IU and Howard. UM is being hampered by the rb position that has 2 five stars on the roster.

Wow. I don't know what to say



RM

Running back is the hardest position to coach. RBs need to be strong, fast and have "instinct". You can put em in the weight room. Rep em and rep em. Show em film. Talk, yell, scream...... But how do you teach vision? How do you coach them to see something that's not there? You recruit big, fast, tough kids and hope they can continue to produce vs better competition.
I would think it's both one of the easiest positions to recruit for and hardest to "coach up." IMHO.

 

[Reality Man]

Interesting. I think when you look at the rb's (Smith, Isaac, Green, Johnson).

What is the one thing they have in common? They aren't elusive. You are right...they may lack vision but they are straight ahead Hoke type fullback hybrids.

Look at the best rb's. Lets look at Bell (MSU & Steelers). He is patient. Explosive. Sees the lanes and hits them. He is tough and able to juke here and there. Not Barry Sanders but he is a strong and explosive and has vision and patience.

You are right but here is the key distinction. You never know whether they guy is going to be able to read the right lanes or have 'vision'. I understand that point.

BUT...BUT..you can recruit guys who can juke or be elusive and none and these guys really are rb's. They are at best hybrid rb's.


RM

 

[ThatsMrSpartan2U]

Interesting. I think when you look at the rb's (Smith, Isaac, Green, Johnson).

What is the one thing they have in common? They aren't elusive. You are right...they may lack vision but they are straight ahead Hoke type fullback hybrids.

Look at the best rb's. Lets look at Bell (MSU & Steelers). He is patient. Explosive. Sees the lanes and hits them. He is tough and able to juke here and there. Not Barry Sanders but he is a strong and explosive and has vision and patience.

You are right but here is the key distinction. You never know whether they guy is going to be able to read the right lanes or have 'vision'. I understand that point.

BUT...BUT..you can recruit guys who can juke or be elusive and none and these guys really are rb's. They are at best hybrid rb's.


RM

It's funny RM, but I look at a lot of these high school videos on Rivals of these top recruits. Not just MSU's and whether they're DLs, LBs, QBs, TEs, RBs....they all look like beasts. You can definitely see that 99% of HS players are not Div I players. A lot of these kids are 2 way players. Every one of them is pretty much the best player on the field...if not in their league. How many B1G incoming linebackers also were RBs....a lot WRs were QBs and RBs. So when a HS RB slices through defenses like butter, it's not surprising to me that they frequently don't step up in college. I remember Ron Dayne was unstoppable in college ( I can't imagine the HS defenses he mauled) and was fairly pedestrian as a pro. Did you see Jeremy Langford with the Bears vs Chargers Monday night. He was nowhere, nowhere, nowhere his 1st 3 yrs in college....then his last 2 yrs at MSU were incredible. Now he looks like he belongs in the NFL. I'm surprised. If the coaches at MSU were so smart what took them so long to put him in the right place? You make a nice point with Bell. He was kinda an afterthought. I remember Ja'rhu Caulcrick. Very similar body and style.....but he was a fraction of what Bell was.
I'm thinking some of these kids are not very coachable. I'm thinking Harbaugh will not only identify the physical talent at RB but find the kid who listens to him. As much as our respective fan bases loathes the other guy's coach, ya gotta admit both of them identify the guys they want regardless of stars and pretty much makes them work in their system. I for one am not looking forward to having to beat JH coached teams going forward. I'm confident we'll compete as long as MD is at the helm, it will be that much more gratifying to win....too.....wink, wink.

 

[Reality Man]

Another good point. Dantonio is great at evaluation and development. Harbaugh is similar in that regard because he talks about guys being coachable. I think Dantonio tends to want a period of evaluation to watch a guy mature physically. Does he like contact? Is he coachable? Can he make people miss or especially intelligent enough to understand how his offense can work and how the opposing defense operates.

Maybe the genius behind Dantonio is taking a guys who understand how both sides of the ball work. I know you have watched UM play over the last few years and it's amazing to see some of these guys miss holes. It's shocking on some level. They don't necessarily have the mental aptitude to process what is going on which is what you are saying...guys that just get 'it' but how do you know they get 'it' at the college level. If they do get 'it'...do they have the physical talent to play the position.

This is where I think Dantonio and Harbaugh are willing to recognize that the light bulb may come on for certain guys or they need to see the offense from a different side for a couple of years.

Dantonio really is a heck of a coach. He is the JB of MSU or vice versa. He is very competent and knows the game. We haven't even discussed about motivating players either through fear or reward.



RM

 

[ThatsMrSpartan2U]

Another good point. Dantonio is great at evaluation and development. Harbaugh is similar in that regard because he talks about guys being coachable. I think Dantonio tends to want a period of evaluation to watch a guy mature physically. Does he like contact? Is he coachable? Can he make people miss or especially intelligent enough to understand how his offense can work and how the opposing defense operates.

Maybe the genius behind Dantonio is taking a guys who understand how both sides of the ball work. I know you have watched UM play over the last few years and it's amazing to see some of these guys miss holes. It's shocking on some level. They don't necessarily have the mental aptitude to process what is going on which is what you are saying...guys that just get 'it' but how do you know they get 'it' at the college level. If they do get 'it'...do they have the physical talent to play the position.

This is where I think Dantonio and Harbaugh are willing to recognize that the light bulb may come on for certain guys or they need to see the offense from a different side for a couple of years.

Dantonio really is a heck of a coach. He is the JB of MSU or vice versa. He is very competent and knows the game. We haven't even discussed about motivating players either through fear or reward.



RM

I think Dantonio brings a little of that Christian values, fatherly style to the recruiting trail. Not the phony, homey stuff that SEC coaches are known for. My impression of Harbaugh is that it's more about manly men, playing a manly game. It's not football. IT'S FOOTBALL! Both are no nonsense. JH is more fire breathing dragon "Are you with me?....Then let's go conquer the world" to Dantonio's benevolent king, "Come inside my castle walls and we will grow strong.....and go conquer the world". Harbaugh = Patton. Dantonio = Schwartzkauf. Both leaders. Both win. They gain the respect of their teams differently and effectively.
Harbaugh won me over ( even as I want to beat him so bad) with the "America Sniper" thing. I noticed no one went on marches and demanded he resign. No one demands a safe room around either coach. I kind of felt sorry for Pikel at Mizzou.
Good discussion. Thanks for indulging this Spartan.

 

[Reality Man]

Yeah...that's hilarious. Neither one of these guys is some liberal dweeb.

Pinkel. Seems like a good guy and wish him the best and to get well. I still believe (right or wrong) that people at Missouri (establishment) aren't particular happy with him. He sided with his team for some good reasons but as an adult you are supposed to think of consequences and in this case...he sided with RADICALS.

People who want to overthrow the establishment on some level and were smart enough to follow the money (football) and used it to divide and conquer. Well done.

Hilarious. Been watching South Park. Great stuff. Highly recommend this season. It's about the 'progressive movement'.


RM

 

[ThatsMrSpartan2U]

Yeah...that's hilarious. Neither one of these guys is some liberal dweeb.

Pinkel. Seems like a good guy and wish him the best and to get well. I still believe (right or wrong) that people at Missouri (establishment) aren't particular happy with him. He sided with his team for some good reasons but as an adult you are supposed to think of consequences and in this case...he sided with RADICALS.

People who want to overthrow the establishment on some level and were smart enough to follow the money (football) and used it to divide and conquer. Well done.

Hilarious. Been watching South Park. Great stuff. Highly recommend this season. It's about the 'progressive movement'.


RM

What would have happened if Pinkel had told his team, "We're going to go play BYU with whatever we got. You guys who want to play...want to represent Mizzou...let's go. You guys who want to protest and stay home...fine. I respect your right to do so. If you don't play, please clean out your lockers. If you change your mind, fine. If you don't please know your position with this team will be re-evaluated. I'm looking for Mizzou Men. Only Mizzou Men play for Mizzou. See you for practice at 3."

I don't think anything like that would ever have had happened to JH or MD. But if it did, I would think something like what I just said would more likely than not have happened.