Carson expects to be a duck

[woundedknees]

DWill was the one who expressed the idea of embracing the redshirt as an opportunity to get better...

[briarduck]

All I know is that these are great problems to have, I like them all and the best will play!

[GrandpaDuck]

The Big Back/Small Back, Thunder & Lightening thing has always been an Oregon "Fan" concept, while the Oregon coaches have gone against the concept more than almost any coaches I have seen. When they had Blount and JJ they seldom switched to Blount for a short yardage downs, instead they stayed with their regular rotation.

Both James and Barner are considered excellent short yardage backs and power inside runners despite their small size. Even last year James was as likely to carry on short yardage as our fullback Masoli.

Dontae Williams is a North/South running speed back (at the US Army Jr. Combine he was 1/100th of second slower than Seastrunk in the 40.) Williams is an average sized back in the rest of the Pac-10. Whether he excels or gets buried in the depth chart won't be based on how he stacks up as a power runner, but how effective an any down any distance runner he becomes. Same with Seastrunk (though Seastrunk has the physical tools to excel in a Tazer or Slot position should he not adapt to the between the tackle running required of an Oregon RB.

[Bigducker]

The Big Back/Small Back, Thunder & Lightening thing has always been an Oregon "Fan" concept, while the Oregon coaches have gone against the concept more than almost any coaches I have seen. When they had Blount and JJ they seldom switched to Blount for a short yardage downs, instead they stayed with their regular rotation.

Both James and Barner are considered excellent short yardage backs and power inside runners despite their small size. Even last year James was as likely to carry on short yardage as our fullback Masoli.

Dontae Williams is a North/South running speed back (at the US Army Jr. Combine he was 1/100th of second slower than Seastrunk in the 40.) Williams is an average sized back in the rest of the Pac-10. Whether he excels or gets buried in the depth chart won't be based on how he stacks up as a power runner, but how effective an any down any distance runner he becomes. Same with Seastrunk (though Seastrunk has the physical tools to excel in a Tazer or Slot position should he not adapt to the between the tackle running required of an Oregon RB.

"Dontae Williams is a North/South running speed back (at the US Army Jr. Combine he was 1/100th of second slower than Seastrunk in the 40.) "

Wow, don't know where you read that Grandpa. I read where Seastrunk blew everyone away in the 40 including Dior Mathis who was supposed to be one of the fastest kids in the country last year.
"The Big Back/Small Back, Thunder & Lightening thing has always been an Oregon "Fan" concept, while the Oregon coaches have gone against the concept"
Also disagree with you Grandpa in that I don't think it's a fans concept at all.
I think the coaches absolutely want a big back to pound it up the middle on a tired defense and go with the smaller backs ( Thunder and Lightning ) more to the outside and less up the middle.
The reason they haven't is because we haven't had a big back for 2 years with Blount suspended most of last year and they wanted to get Williams bigger and stronger. LaMichael was pretty beat up by the end of this year.

[GrandpaDuck]

The below link isn't the best table, but I found this one quick. Williams is on page 1, Mathias on page 11, Seastrunk on page 15. Another combine result link I found in the past had top performers by position and overall. Seastrunk had the best short shuttle and vertical of the running backs.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/texas/football/ ... t_id=81877

With regard to thunder and lightening. In 2007 the big back started and was relieved by the smaller back because the big back was the starter. In 2008 this reversed with the smaller back (JJ) being rested by the big back Blount. In 2009 it was back to the big back starting with the smaller back rotating in. In 2010 it was back to smaller back starting relieved by another small back even though there were bigger backs available. All 4 years the rotation was by depth chart regardless of the size of the backs and the bigger back was not necessarily put in for short yardage.

LMJ was beat-up but that was largely due to Barner being injured and then after Costa was injured they wanted to run Thomas as little as possible. In the Oregon State game they rotated James and Barner throughout. Not James and the much bigger Alston.

[Bigducker]

The below link isn't the best table, but I found this one quick. Williams is on page 1, Mathias on page 11, Seastrunk on page 15. Another combine result link I found in the past had top performers by position and overall. Seastrunk had the best short shuttle and vertical of the running backs.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/texas/football/ ... t_id=81877

With regard to thunder and lightening. In 2007 the big back started and was relieved by the smaller back because the big back was the starter. In 2008 this reversed with the smaller back (JJ) being rested by the big back Blount. In 2009 it was back to the big back starting with the smaller back rotating in. In 2010 it was back to smaller back starting relieved by another small back even though there were bigger backs available. All 4 years the rotation was by depth chart regardless of the size of the backs and the bigger back was not necessarily put in for short yardage.

LMJ was beat-up but that was largely due to Barner being injured and then after Costa was injured they wanted to run Thomas as little as possible. In the Oregon State game they rotated James and Barner throughout. Not James and the much bigger Alston.

I think you forgot J-Stew and JJ, that's where the thunder and lightning really started at Oregon.

[dthomas=ddixon]

I'm with GrandpaDuck on the Thunder & Lightning thing. Its been completely made up by fans. No matter the size or stature or whatever, we don't bring guys in for specific situations. JJ would start the game & Blount would come in only when JJ was tired & needed a blow. The 1-2 punch thing sounds great but its a message board fantasy. It'd would be great to have a big power back that could come in & wear down the D in the second half but we don't need a big back for goal line or short yardage situations. We just need good running backs that fit our system.

[Bigducker]

I'm with GrandpaDuck on the Thunder & Lightning thing. Its been completely made up by fans. No matter the size or stature or whatever, we don't bring guys in for specific situations. JJ would start the game & Blount would come in only when JJ was tired & needed a blow. The 1-2 punch thing sounds great but its a message board fantasy. It'd would be great to have a big power back that could come in & wear down the D in the second half but we don't need a big back for goal line or short yardage situations. We just need good running backs that fit our system.

Wow. You don't think the coaches don't want or need a big power Back ? And as far as the thunder and lightning thing I actually heard Chip say they meaning J-Stew and JJ "they are our thunder and lightning".

Who do you think they brought in when they needed short yardage when they had Blount and J-Stew.

[buckmarkduck]

Personally I don't view Dontae as a "big back", he's 5'11 205 right now the same size as Polk a UW and the same size as Tj Ward. Having him, Lache and Carson will be a very good 3 headed monster to have. You get hit by the flash then a guy who can run around you or run you over, and then Chip sends in the big guy when the D is tired of chasing the other two around who will just run you over.

[Bigducker]

Personally I don't view Dontae as a "big back", he's 5'11 205 right now the same size as Polk a UW and the same size as Tj Ward. Having him, Lache and Carson will be a very good 3 headed monster to have. You get hit by the flash then a guy who can run around you or run you over, and then Chip sends in the big guy when the D is tired of chasing the other two around who will just run you over.

I wouldn't classify Williams as a big back either unless he's put on another 20lbs but I would classify Carson as a big back.

[dthomas=ddixon]

I'm with GrandpaDuck on the Thunder & Lightning thing. Its been completely made up by fans. No matter the size or stature or whatever, we don't bring guys in for specific situations. JJ would start the game & Blount would come in only when JJ was tired & needed a blow. The 1-2 punch thing sounds great but its a message board fantasy. It'd would be great to have a big power back that could come in & wear down the D in the second half but we don't need a big back for goal line or short yardage situations. We just need good running backs that fit our system.

Wow. You don't think the coaches don't want or need a big power Back ? And as far as the thunder and lightning thing I actually heard Chip say they meaning J-Stew and JJ "they are our thunder and lightning".

Who do you think they brought in when they needed short yardage when they had Blount and J-Stew.

Thats not what I said. We don't need to bring a big back in for certain situations, like goal line or short yardage. Lamike, Barner or whoever can handle any situation. It would great to have a change of pace guy though that could come in & wear the D down. The whole Thunder & Lightning thing is a bit overrated though.

[woundedknees]

I just want the opportunity to watch these guys continue to build the tradition the Ducks, Chip, and Gary Campbell are creating... And just once, I want to watch Lache break some Cal defenders ankles twice, on the same play, in person!

[Bigducker]

I'm with GrandpaDuck on the Thunder & Lightning thing. Its been completely made up by fans. No matter the size or stature or whatever, we don't bring guys in for specific situations. JJ would start the game & Blount would come in only when JJ was tired & needed a blow. The 1-2 punch thing sounds great but its a message board fantasy. It'd would be great to have a big power back that could come in & wear down the D in the second half but we don't need a big back for goal line or short yardage situations. We just need good running backs that fit our system.

Wow. You don't think the coaches don't want or need a big power Back ? And as far as the thunder and lightning thing I actually heard Chip say they meaning J-Stew and JJ "they are our thunder and lightning".

Who do you think they brought in when they needed short yardage when they had Blount and J-Stew.

Thats not what I said. We don't need to bring a big back in for certain situations, like goal line or short yardage. Lamike, Barner or whoever can handle any situation. It would great to have a change of pace guy though that could come in & wear the D down. The whole Thunder & Lightning thing is a bit overrated though.

The only reason we have used LaMike and Barner in short yardage or at the goal is because we don't have a big back. Who do you think they'd bring in 3rd and goal ? Blount / J-Stew or LaMike / Barner ?

Disagree but hey, that's what makes sports and these boards fun.

[dthomas=ddixon]

I'm with GrandpaDuck on the Thunder & Lightning thing. Its been completely made up by fans. No matter the size or stature or whatever, we don't bring guys in for specific situations. JJ would start the game & Blount would come in only when JJ was tired & needed a blow. The 1-2 punch thing sounds great but its a message board fantasy. It'd would be great to have a big power back that could come in & wear down the D in the second half but we don't need a big back for goal line or short yardage situations. We just need good running backs that fit our system.

Wow. You don't think the coaches don't want or need a big power Back ? And as far as the thunder and lightning thing I actually heard Chip say they meaning J-Stew and JJ "they are our thunder and lightning".

Who do you think they brought in when they needed short yardage when they had Blount and J-Stew.

Thats not what I said. We don't need to bring a big back in for certain situations, like goal line or short yardage. Lamike, Barner or whoever can handle any situation. It would great to have a change of pace guy though that could come in & wear the D down. The whole Thunder & Lightning thing is a bit overrated though.

The only reason we have used LaMike and Barner in short yardage or at the goal is because we don't have a big back. Who do you think they'd bring in 3rd and goal ? Blount / J-Stew or LaMike / Barner ?

Disagree, but that's what makes sports and these boards fun.

I think they'd leave LaMike in. He's extremely powerful & explosive between the tackles. I don't disagree that its nice to have a big back but in our zone blocking system quickness & acceleration is more important IMO, than size or strength. We don't have a lead blocker, we need our RB to be in the hole or out in the stretch very quickly. Especially in short yardage. In short yardage, when the other team was stacking the box it seemed like Blount struggled the most. Defenders got to the hole before he did because our blocking schemes allow for that if you aren't quick enough.

[wheaton4prez]

I've seen 4 and 5 star RBs that had less impressive reels. Pretty sure he'll turn out to be a steal at 3 stars, whoever gets him.