Noah Cain

[lazydave841]

I think we see some 2 back sets vs Iowa. Cain/Ford has been exclusively saw Ford lead block, but I could see that trend changing vs Iowa.

Cain/Lee back field seems to be a 50/50 thing. Indiana cheated left on that Power T look because I suspect they expected Cain to get the carry. The combo of Strange missing his block and Lee not getting low stopped that touchdown, but it was a great look and successful.

Lovett seems to be capable of doing everything Cain can presently, except he's running faster / not hurt.

Lee probably needs to be our run down back because he is getting the best yardage. We are going to need him vs Iowa. Risk of fumbling or not.

Ford is responding well as the #4. Instead of pouting, he's blocking his butt off (he pancaked a guy vs Indiana) and he had two strong carrys (one negated by penalty). Yurcich could game plan him in and shock Iowa for sure.

Clifford looks good running as well. He's not a power guy nor a natural pull it and go guy, but he's keeping his eyes down field and either taking the yards or throwing over a conflicted defender for big yards.

We are the best offense Iowa will face all year, even if many don't like certain details of our game. I don't think that can be discounted.

 

[klive]

I do not recall Lee carrying the ball after he was stopped on the short yardage play.

May have had something to do with simply not getting those 2 yards for a first down by putting his foot in the ground and plowing ahead. Seems a lot of plays where our backs are missing the holes that are there. Gotta start trusting your teammates and hit the holes that are supposed to be there.

 

[blion72]

He's playing hurt.

Are we better off playing other RBs ahead of him if he is hurt? If he is going to avg 2 YPC vs others at 4-5 YPC he would have to bring something more to make up for the run deficiency. TFrank suggested maybe he is physically not back as lower body injury may have limited the lifting regimen of RB.

He did look better in Wisc game

 

[PSUQBKeeper]

Ford is responding well as the #4. Instead of pouting, he's blocking his butt off (he pancaked a guy vs Indiana) and he had two strong carrys (one negated by penalty). Yurcich could game plan him in and shock Iowa for sure.

that pancake by Ford was so cool, he leveled that guy

 

[YorkCoLion]

I also think Ford looks good, better than what folks on this board are stating.

He had one heck of a block from a two back set on a sweep. Just leveled the Indinia CB

 

[hereforthebeer]

Are we better off playing other RBs ahead of him if he is hurt? If he is going to avg 2 YPC vs others at 4-5 YPC he would have to bring something more to make up for the run deficiency. TFrank suggested maybe he is physically not back as lower body injury may have limited the lifting regimen of RB.

He did look better in Wisc gam

That's a good question. I'm not sure. He clearly has a leg issue of some sort, but is contributing because he is being asked to, so the staff must think so. I hope for enough growth from the rest that the kid can sit and get healthy for a very important stretch run. When healthy, he's a really good back.

 

[TheGLOV]

That’s not bad.

For a Carolina fan.

Just consider yourself fortunate!

 

[tlbakernc]

Cain is definitely hampered by an injury. He doesn’t have that burst of speed or ability to cut. He doesn’t look anything like the 2019 version.

 

[RickinDayton]

I was at the game tonight and I am beginning to think that Cain is just not the same guy as in 2019 and after his many injuries. The explosion is just not there….I hope I’m wrong.

Post game commentators said they believe he at about 75% from 2019. Not fully recovered from that nasty injury last year.

 

[anotherman]

Our best chance is to run Keyvonne and pray he holds onto the ball and Ford needs more carries.

 

[Ward Hog]

Lee is running well and seems to be finding open space, but he has to learn to get the first down on a 3rd and 1 or 4th and 1. No looking for a hole to break it, find room to not get hit squarely and at 240, you should not be stopped short. We need to be 100% on these.

 

[Scott beach]

Don't follow the running back rotation that closely and may not be aware of injuries but don't hear Caziah Holmes mentioned at all. Didn't he have some decent games in 2019? TIA.

 

[lazydave841]

Don't follow the running back rotation that closely and may not be aware of injuries but don't hear Caziah Holmes mentioned at all. Didn't he have some decent games in 2019? TIA.

He was our #3 RB in '20 after injuries. He had more hype coming in than Lee it seemed, but he also seemed to be lacking instincts as a RB. He's got speed, but considering he's only coming in with our backup QB, I'm going to assume that he has not picked up on the pass blocking and doesn't show enough burst in practice to warrant snaps.

 

[ryoder1]

I think we see some 2 back sets vs Iowa. Cain/Ford has been exclusively saw Ford lead block, but I could see that trend changing vs Iowa.

Cain/Lee back field seems to be a 50/50 thing. Indiana cheated left on that Power T look because I suspect they expected Cain to get the carry. The combo of Strange missing his block and Lee not getting low stopped that touchdown, but it was a great look and successful.

Lovett seems to be capable of doing everything Cain can presently, except he's running faster / not hurt.

Lee probably needs to be our run down back because he is getting the best yardage. We are going to need him vs Iowa. Risk of fumbling or not.

Ford is responding well as the #4. Instead of pouting, he's blocking his butt off (he pancaked a guy vs Indiana) and he had two strong carrys (one negated by penalty). Yurcich could game plan him in and shock Iowa for sure.

Clifford looks good running as well. He's not a power guy nor a natural pull it and go guy, but he's keeping his eyes down field and either taking the yards or throwing over a conflicted defender for big yards.

We are the best offense Iowa will face all year, even if many don't like certain details of our game. I don't think that can be discounted.

The 2 back set is a good move and I like getting Ford more reps against Iowa to surprise them.

I'm thinking Cain is in there more than Lee even though at 75% because his pass protection and ball security is better. Franklin knows a fumble that leads to points for Iowa could easily be the difference maker in us losing.

What about hitting Ford in space with some dump offs to him? That could be a goal line package with Warren in the wildcat or just have Clifford throw it to him. Or Iowa may sniff that out and use him as a decoy. I also think the fake run, jump pass using Warren inside the 5 could work.

 

[LIONJELLO]

time to make it the Keyvone & Caziah show

 

[tboyer]

Cain is playing hurt. They weren't even sure if he would play against Indiana until game day. The fact that he is playing means they're not worried about re-injury. His quickness will improve with time. Whether he'll get back to what he was in 2019 is a question, but generally the answer is yes these days. Knee surgery has come a long way. The lost speed may be the foot injury, not the knee.

 

[mcgunns]

His pass blocking is incredible and that's what the team needs most because the run blocking is dire. The speed and quickness should get better as he gains more trust in his repaired injury over time.

 

[KnightWhoSaysNit]

His pass blocking is incredible and that's what the team needs most because the run blocking is dire. The speed and quickness should get better as he gains more trust in his repaired injury over time.

That's why I think he needs to be an exclusively 3rd and 4th down back.

Ford should be in more with a lead blocker. He's our best outside threat. If we don't get better off tackle we're just going to have more congestion in the middle.

I think it's safe to concede that we're not going to get yardage by knocking DLs off the line of scrimmage.

I think our backs would be much better served if our linemen and tight ends simply committed to blocking someone before the snap. Seems to me that they are often unsure of what to do and whiff.

 

[Fayette_LION]

I was at the game tonight and I am beginning to think that Cain is just not the same guy as in 2019 and after his many injuries. The explosion is just not there….I hope I’m wrong.

If Noah Cain is physically healed, he is not mentally healed. He is not the same caliber of runner at this time. He used to knock people backwards but now gets knocked back himself.

 

[Cowbell Man]

We have high expectations at that position after Barkley, Sanders, and Brown. We’ve been spoiled.

Note that without injury to others, we wouldn’t have committed enough carries for Brown to turn into one of the best backs in PSU history.

at some point they gotta pick feature guy and the backups to spell him. Rhythm, man….rhythm.

 

[tboyer]

May have had something to do with simply not getting those 2 yards for a first down by putting his foot in the ground and plowing ahead. Seems a lot of plays where our backs are missing the holes that are there. Gotta start trusting your teammates and hit the holes that are supposed to be there.

The hole was there, the TD was there for the taking but Lee just basically ran himself into the defender.

It was the same play (or very similar) to what they used to score the critical TD against Auburn (Cain was the back). There's misdirection right, receivers to the left, and the back has to head left and cut back right -- all Lee had to do was follow Theo Johnson into the end zone.

Yes Lee is inexperienced but this was a poor effort, either a lack of concentration or Lee hadn't bothered to watch the film and learn the play. If he didn't play after that, it's understandable.

It didn't matter against Indiana but would certainly matter against other teams they have coming up.

 

[tboyer]

If Noah Cain is physically healed, he is not mentally healed. He is not the same caliber of runner at this time. He used to knock people backwards but now gets knocked back himself.

I wouldn't make any assumption that it is psychological. He is clearly hobbled -- not by the knee but by the foot/ankle injury. He looked pretty good against Wisconsin -- not 100 percent but maybe 80 percent. Against Indy he was 50 percent maybe. I think chances are good he'll be in a little better shape vs. Iowa -- let's hope for 75%. Even at 75% he can help the team in a lot of ways.

 

[SR108]

He is experienced and he protects the football. He also is the most reliable back to get 3 yards if the drive needs 3 yards. The hope is that as the season goes he finds his stride. Right now this is how the situation goes.

He is also good in pass protection.

 

[heckmans]

Lee needs more than 8 carries. He is clearly your best back. Ford is more explosive catching the ball and Lovett is decent.

Take this opportunity to remember that despite what we saw on the field last year, the coaching staff was right about Clifford/Levis. If no back is starting to carry the load, then it likely none of them are separating in practice or games.

 

[Texas Lion]

with a bye week after the Iowa game I look for Clifford to get a majority of the carries this weekend with planned qb runs. Clifford gonna throw for 300 and run for 100 this weekend.

 

[marshall23]

Take this opportunity to remember that despite what we saw on the field last year, the coaching staff was right about Clifford/Levis. If no back is starting to carry the load, then it likely none of them are separating in practice or games.

Be careful. Asserting that coaches have good judgement, or may know more than posters here is heresy.

 

[bvillebaron]

That was Lee. Lee missed the whole on 3rd and 2.

Yeah but Cain looked hesitant and slower than usual. Hopefully, it’s just him getting a feel for the game after his injury because I still think he’s the best back when healthy.

 

[bvillebaron]

with a bye week after the Iowa game I look for Clifford to get a majority of the carries this weekend with planned qb runs. Clifford gonna throw for 300 and run for 100 this weekend.

I sure hope not. Need to get the run game going with the backs running the ball.

 

[bvillebaron]

He's playing hurt.

Sure looks like it. Didn’t the broadcasters mention something about his playing status being in question?

 

[GregInPitt]

Not much love here for Lovett, who I believe not only has the most experience, but also the best overall RB skills of the group, considering that Cain is not the Cain of 2019. Lovett is also an excellent receiver. I would like to see Lovett and Lee sharing the majority of the carries.

 

[WyomingLion]

I sure hope not. Need to get the run game going with the backs running the ball.

I hope not as well, if Cliff goes down we are toasted

 

[psu_et_vt]

I hope not as well, if Cliff goes down we are toasted

No way is Clifford getting any more designed runs than coaches think is necessary to keep D honest. Of course he can run on broken plays plus he may get a ZR or 2 but that's it. Only way he gets a real keeper is if the game is very tight and it means the win.

 

[ryoder1]

No way is Clifford getting any more designed runs than coaches think is necessary to keep D honest. Of course he can run on broken plays plus he may get a ZR or 2 but that's it. Only way he gets a real keeper is if the game is very tight and it means the win.

Yep, we cannot run Clifford a lot. Je cpuld fumble and/or get hurt.

Our RBs are not great but solid. Hopefully another werk of practice helps them correct the mistakes. I believe Franklin has more confidence in Cain over Lee to hold on to the ball so he gets more PT. We could see Lee emerge this Saturday like Cain did vs Iowa in '19.