Saquon Barkley is....

[tboyer]

Two of the most frustrating observations of PSU games over the last 10- 15 years are opponents with 8 or 9 in the box Northwestern,Indiana,Rutgers etc. And second is the PSU running backs getting caught from behind.
I believe the stable of backs we have now will set our offense more comparable to the plays Kijana,and Warner had designed for them.
Bottom line you better have a very fast and great tackling corners to compensate for the toss sweep.

I don't know why PSU fans obsess on the whole caught from behind thing. Your average top corner is faster than your average running back -- should be, because your average TB usually is carrying 20 more pounds plus carrying a bill. So a corner will, given enough field, catch the average running back from behind.

That said, the underlying point is correct. PSU has not had great speed at running back in an incredibly long time. I used to think it was because PSU didn't pay enough money for tailbacks and forced them to attend class, unlike other unnamed B1G schools that always have great running backs. But Franklin may disprove that.

 

[HazletonLion]

I don't know why PSU fans obsess on the whole caught from behind thing. Your average top corner is faster than your average running back -- should be, because your average TB usually is carrying 20 more pounds plus carrying a bill. So a corner will, given enough field, catch the average running back from behind.

How many OSU backs are caught from behind, was it Royster who was takled at the 3 yd at OSU ,false start then a FG. My point is Kijana,Warner, and LJ made a difference MAYBE some of the new Rb's will too.

 

[jschrantz]

Sorry EPC, he is a total STUD. Franklin even just named him in the race for the starting job. I think that is a bit ambitious with how good Lynch has been but still the kid will be on the field a good bit this fall.

EPC knows Say Say, as he is called by friends,will be great but realizes danger of early huge comparisons.

 

[bmw199]

EPC knows Say Say, as he is called by friends,will be great but realizes danger of early huge comparisons.

The kids not on here reading my expectations and even if he was I don't think he would care what I think.

 

[Gitzit]

I don't know why PSU fans obsess on the whole caught from behind thing. Your average top corner is faster than your average running back -- should be, because your average TB usually is carrying 20 more pounds plus carrying a bill. So a corner will, given enough field, catch the average running back from behind.

That said, the underlying point is correct. PSU has not had great speed at running back in an incredibly long time. I used to think it was because PSU didn't pay enough money for tailbacks and forced them to attend class, unlike other unnamed B1G schools that always have great running backs. But Franklin may disprove that.

Indiana couldn't catch Bill Belton. He just didn't have many holes to run through

 

[HazletonLion]

Indiana couldn't catch Bill Belton. He just didn't have many holes to run through

That was their 11 in the box D on that play.

 

[tboyer]

How many OSU backs are caught from behind, was it Royster who was takled at the 3 yd at OSU ,false start then a FG. My point is Kijana,Warner, and LJ made a difference MAYBE some of the new Rb's will too.

Well Carter was crazy fast. Might have been the fastest back at his size in college football in a decade. Warner and LJ had blazing speed as well.
I don't know if any of the current backs will be THAT fast. But I do think several of them are faster than Royster or Bill Belton. Really, Royster was a good running back -- durable, smart, great balance and elusiveness. Top end speed was about the only thing he lacked. Belton came in with very good speed but didn't get faster -- and he was banged up a lot so we really didn't see his top speed very much IMHO.

 

[tboyer]

Indiana couldn't catch Bill Belton. He just didn't have many holes to run through

I dunno, Belton drove me crazy. Granted the blocking was abysmal and that causes backs to develop bad habits, but even when Belton did have a hole last year he usually danced at it for a while before trying to run through it. Just didn't run with confidence. There were many times the hole was there, a quick hit and cut would have gained very nice yards, but by the time Belton danced his way there, the hole was gone. It couldn't have been a lot of fun blocking for the guy. Still, Bill Belton was a warrior and an important leader on those teams so I don't want to criticize. But I am hopeful for a little more north-south running style out of the TBs this year.

 

[PSUSignore]

The kids not on here reading my expectations and even if he was I don't think he would care what I think.

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if many players read these boards.

 

[CappyToCJF]

How many OSU backs are caught from behind, was it Royster who was takled at the 3 yd at OSU ,false start then a FG. My point is Kijana,Warner, and LJ made a difference MAYBE some of the new Rb's will too.[/QUOTE


Warner is one of my top favorite players of the last 50 years but he was a special runner due to his cutting and moves, not elite speed. Yes he was fast, but he did not finish all of his long runs.

 

[CappyToCJF]

Indiana couldn't catch Bill Belton. He just didn't have many holes to run through

.......And got tripped and fell to the ground by the first touch.....

Watch Robinson the tank and see what he gets out of similar small openings......

 

[CappyToCJF]

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if many players read these boards.

Good, then they know the 107k strong have high expectations. It's why great players come to PSU.....