RB room and home run hitters

[blion72]

Phil and Jed discussed this one this morning. Phil indicated it was a concern he had that we have a good RB room but not clear who were the "home run hitters". He identified Lovett, Holmes and Ford as the 3 they were looking to for this capability. We had a run from 2015-2019 seasons where we had 3 different players who could take it the distance. all had elite 40 or track type speed.

so of the 3 guys identified as home run hitters - does anyone know anything about their speed (i.e. any of them run a 10.5 100M in HS)?

 

[Thorndike2012]

Ford was supposed to be the next home run running back. But he seems to be plagued by indecision and a lack of vision. If he can't get out of his own way, we don't have that sort of threat coming from this RB room.

 

[Woodpecker]

Jordan Stout?

 

[blion72]

Ford was supposed to be the next home run running back. But he seems to be plagued by indecision and a lack of vision. If he can't get out of his own way, we don't have that sort of threat coming from this RB room.

that is what I thought too, and when he took that 80 yd run his FR year it looked good....granted it was a lower team. have not seen him show shear breakaway speed or if he even has true blazing speed. if none of them emerge as the breakaway back, then our home runs will have to all be in the passing game. that means the run game is solid but more grinding style like we saw at the end of 2020. RBs can add to passing game, but more of the move the chains plays. nothing wrong with this but in 2020 we saw an offense that could grind actually a lot of yards and FDs but not so much points.

 

[GregInPitt]

Phil and Jed discussed this one this morning. Phil indicated it was a concern he had that we have a good RB room but not clear who were the "home run hitters". He identified Lovett, Holmes and Ford as the 3 they were looking to for this capability. We had a run from 2015-2019 seasons where we had 3 different players who could take it the distance. all had elite 40 or track type speed.

so of the 3 guys identified as home run hitters - does anyone know anything about their speed (i.e. any of them run a 10.5 100M in HS)?

I'm taking what's behind door #3.

Ford just hasn't shown the ability to hit a hole North and South and then turn on the jets, although he reportedly has some jets. Yep he didn't have great blocking, but he seemed to try and bounce too many runs East and West......

I was disappointed in what Holmes showed in regards to explosiveness in the limited opportunities he got in 2020. It seems like he bulked up in the S&C program and looks more the part of a B10 RB, but he just didn't show the jets either.

So although I haven't even seen a clip of Lovett, that's my dark horse candidate to break some long runs........

 

[PSU Mike]

All are capable of going 40, and I think the 80yd HR is overrated.

 

[Madsol]

I'm taking what's behind door #3.

Ford just hasn't shown the ability to hit a hole and then turn on the jets, although he reportedly has some jets.

I was disappointed in what Holmes showed in regards to explosiveness in the limited opportunities he got in 2020. It seems like he bulked up in the S&C program and looks more the part of a B10 RB, but he just didn't show the jets either.

So although I haven't even seen a clip of Lovett, that's my dark horse candidate to break some long runs........

Is it realistic to think that Ford might play faster as he gains experience? Maybe a long shot. Maybe he just doesn't have great football speed. But I wasn't blown away by Journey Brown's speed initially. But then, by his last game, wow! Fast forward to 1:33 in this video. Yes, there was a big hole. But man oh man does he explode through that hole. Good night!

 

[GregInPitt]

Is it realistic to think that Ford might play faster as he gains experience? Maybe a long shot. Maybe he just doesn't have great football speed. But I wasn't blown away by Journey Brown's speed initially. But then, by his last game, wow! Fast forward to 1:33 in this video. Yes, there was a big hole. But man oh man does he explode through that hole. Good night!

View embedded media

Sure you linked the correct video??

 

[Madsol]

Sure you linked the correct video??

Nope. Just looked at it. But George and George from Seinfeld is always good!

Sorry, can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. Oh well, I'm sure someone smarter than me will link it.

 

[olelion]

Just leave Keyvone Lee in the frigging game. Wear them out and then bust one with him or someone else. I think he's our best running back

 

[Locolion]

I'm taking what's behind door #3.

Ford just hasn't shown the ability to hit a hole and then turn on the jets, although he reportedly has some jets.

I was disappointed in what Holmes showed in regards to explosiveness in the limited opportunities he got in 2020. It seems like he bulked up in the S&C program and looks more the part of a B10 RB, but he just didn't show the jets either.

So although I haven't even seen a clip of Lovett, that's my dark horse candidate to break some long runs........

I honestly thought all of the RB’s last year looked good and got some tough yards and fell fwd. I didn’t see any jets but I thought they all performed quite well. I didn’t do any breakdown film studies, just going off basic viewership.

 

[ga.lion]

I'm taking what's behind door #3.

Ford just hasn't shown the ability to hit a hole and then turn on the jets, although he reportedly has some jets.

I was disappointed in what Holmes showed in regards to explosiveness in the limited opportunities he got in 2020. It seems like he bulked up in the S&C program and looks more the part of a B10 RB, but he just didn't show the jets either.

So although I haven't even seen a clip of Lovett, that's my dark horse candidate to break some long runs........

Better play calling and offensive line play might surprise all of us. I actually thought Ford’s problem last year was breaking the first tackle. If there is a hole there and not a LB we may see more of the 20-40 yard runs from a few backs.

 

[87 Penn St8]

Ford's other problem was k,owing when to cut a run short...which I think mentally plagued him in that he was trying too hard to create. I was at the Idaho game in upper South end zone when the long run started. At the time I thought he had jets....we'll see how things shake out. I honestly thought he'd portal and likely leave. I probably would just go get a change of scenery/fresh start. Ford, Ray Tarasi and Derrick Fox top my list of ignominious misses as a PSU fan.

 

[RickinDayton]

I'm taking what's behind door #3.

Ford just hasn't shown the ability to hit a hole and then turn on the jets, although he reportedly has some jets.

I was disappointed in what Holmes showed in regards to explosiveness in the limited opportunities he got in 2020. It seems like he bulked up in the S&C program and looks more the part of a B10 RB, but he just didn't show the jets either.

So although I haven't even seen a clip of Lovett, that's my dark horse candidate to break some long runs........

I think Lovett is the smart choice. He is a North/South runner.

 

[tullfan68]

I'm taking what's behind door #3.

Ford just hasn't shown the ability to hit a hole and then turn on the jets, although he reportedly has some jets.

I was disappointed in what Holmes showed in regards to explosiveness in the limited opportunities he got in 2020. It seems like he bulked up in the S&C program and looks more the part of a B10 RB, but he just didn't show the jets either.

So although I haven't even seen a clip of Lovett, that's my dark horse candidate to break some long runs........

can be hard to hit the hole if there isnt one??

 

[Ian]

Cain & Lee is all they need. Those two battering rams will be a joy to have come Q4... Holmes is the fastest of the other three and probably the HR but will probably RS this year. Ford may, too. Sharing the loaf amongst 5 guys is not good. Go with the firm of Cain, Lee, & Lovett and the running game will be great.

 

[GregInPitt]

Redshirting this year

Cain & Lee is all they need. Those two battering rams will be a joy to have come Q4... Holmes is the fastest of the other three and probably the HR but will probably RS this year. Ford may, too. Sharing the loaf amongst 5 guys is not good. Go with the firm of Cain, Lee, & Lovett and the running game will be great.

So they can possibly sit behind Lee, Singleton and Allen next year? Or the next Grad Transfer? I doubt it. Competition for playing time at RB at PSU is not going away. All 5 will play this season unless there is an injury redshirt. The 4 and 5 star RB's will come to PSU every year. Win playing time or be content being 4th or 5th on the DC, or move on to less competition somewhere else.

Franklin and Seider will give their RB's 3.5 years to get their degrees and then the scholarship goes to the next RB recruit......

 

[blion72]

I think Lovett is the smart choice. He is a North/South runner.

his video from Baylor looked absolutely north and south, and showed some speed. most of the video I saw was vs weaker teams. no doubt we have a great group of RBs that can drive the ball. at the end of the season last year we were looking good in that way.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

I'm taking what's behind door #3.

Ford just hasn't shown the ability to hit a hole North and South and then turn on the jets, although he reportedly has some jets. Yep he didn't have great blocking, but he seemed to try and bounce too many runs East and West......

I was disappointed in what Holmes showed in regards to explosiveness in the limited opportunities he got in 2020. It seems like he bulked up in the S&C program and looks more the part of a B10 RB, but he just didn't show the jets either.

So although I haven't even seen a clip of Lovett, that's my dark horse candidate to break some long runs........

How did that turn out?

 

[psupride1997]

We have a bunch of Rod Carew, slap-hitting singles hitters in that RB room.