Busy weekend ahead so I’m getting this together while I’ve got a few moments. The other week we looked at safeties, and QBs before that. So lets jump back over to the offense and take a look at the running backs and fullbacks, another deep and talented position on this team. The production out of this group this year should be huge, what’s not to like about this group? It’s deep, it’s experienced, and it’s got one of the better coaches on the team working with them.
Here we go:
Running Back
Starter Jordan Canada – Canada’s senior season could be his best yet. A player full of potential that’s always shared time but made the most of his opportunities will look to lead the group. Last year he ran for over 1000 yards and had 16 TDs. While most other running backs got hurt Canada became the work horse. A former player and teammate of Canada’s recently commented that he’s very pleasantly surprised with what a player and leader Canada has become. Jordan this off-season looks to have continually worked on his pass-catching too, which could add just a little more to what a threat he is. Canada’s versatility to be a between the tackles running back, a zone-read back, or a scat-back will be key to this team’s running success.
Backup / Rotation Travon Van – Van, also a senior, has a chance to go down as one of the more electric players in the conference this year… if he can stay healthy. We all know what a healthy Van can do, he’s quick, shifty, and a threat to also catch and run the ball. The coaches will have to perfectly balance using Travon so that he’s effective on the field but doesn’t get too dinged up. He could go down as having a Taiwan Jones type of impact for the Griz. He could also be rendered ineffective. Hopefully his athleticism is used for more mis-matches this season, slot WR, end-arounds, more trickery. Van is a beast in the open field, but the playcalling has to find a way to get him there more often.
Backup Joey Counts – Counts burst onto the scene early but injuries slowed him to the point where he wound up missing games and needing off-season surgery. That cost him playing in spring ball as well. Injuries happen, hopefully this isn’t an ongoing trend for Joey, he’s a big powerful runner and deceptively fast. He’s also a good blocker for runners or in pass-protection and could be a good option for some dual-back sets. Assuming he has a healthy season, continuing to become more aware and comfortable with this offense will be key. Counts will be used on ST a lot and just like Dan Moore did he’s going to have to find balance between reckless abandon and smart play on coverage and returns.
Backup John Nguyen – Nguyen’s taken heat, mostly rightfully so, on here for his fumble issues this spring. That’s got to get corrected, fortunately he’s going to have another season to continue to improve his ball handling before his role vastly expands. I really like what I see out of Nguyen, he’s just as quick and shifty as Peter was but has more power and what appears to be a little bit better top speed. However if John can’t hang onto the football he’s not going to find himself getting a lot of opportunities to carry the ball. A real boom or bust kind of player.
BackupTreshawn Favors – Favors started spring ball looking pretty good all while Canada, Van, and Counts sat out. Much like Nguyen he’s got another year to grow into his role before he’ll be called upon. Favors looked much more comfortable in the system and showed some good speed. Far too often he was still running into the backs of linemen or blockers instead of open lanes. Not sure if that’s on him or on the blockers.
Fullback
StarterJamaal Wilson – Wilson is a strong and solid blocker, it’ll be interesting to see how a year with Gerber’s system will work for him, will he be a little leaner and quicker? Some posters on here have also suggested Wilson leans to the direction of the run-play pre-snap, if that’s the case I hope that’s been addressed. Other posters want to see him with the ball on the goal-line, I worry his feet aren’t quick enough for him to explode across the goal-line with the ball. If anyone can improve him it’s coach Green.
BackupGavin Hagfors – Some posters were saying he’s no longer on the team? He’s on the roster and I’ve not heard much on the guy. He wound up carrying the ball a bit in spring ball because of the amount of RBs out. Hagfors is (I believe) a better ball-carrying option than Wilson, but not as good of a blocking option. A bit of a deceptive guy that gets lost by defenders in the passing game, with the loss of Harper at TE he might be used as a red zone target for Jordy a bit too.
BackupJohnathan Richards – Honestly I don’t think I’ve seen Richards play… so tough to say what to expect out of him.
Here we go:
Running Back
Starter Jordan Canada – Canada’s senior season could be his best yet. A player full of potential that’s always shared time but made the most of his opportunities will look to lead the group. Last year he ran for over 1000 yards and had 16 TDs. While most other running backs got hurt Canada became the work horse. A former player and teammate of Canada’s recently commented that he’s very pleasantly surprised with what a player and leader Canada has become. Jordan this off-season looks to have continually worked on his pass-catching too, which could add just a little more to what a threat he is. Canada’s versatility to be a between the tackles running back, a zone-read back, or a scat-back will be key to this team’s running success.
Backup / Rotation Travon Van – Van, also a senior, has a chance to go down as one of the more electric players in the conference this year… if he can stay healthy. We all know what a healthy Van can do, he’s quick, shifty, and a threat to also catch and run the ball. The coaches will have to perfectly balance using Travon so that he’s effective on the field but doesn’t get too dinged up. He could go down as having a Taiwan Jones type of impact for the Griz. He could also be rendered ineffective. Hopefully his athleticism is used for more mis-matches this season, slot WR, end-arounds, more trickery. Van is a beast in the open field, but the playcalling has to find a way to get him there more often.
Backup Joey Counts – Counts burst onto the scene early but injuries slowed him to the point where he wound up missing games and needing off-season surgery. That cost him playing in spring ball as well. Injuries happen, hopefully this isn’t an ongoing trend for Joey, he’s a big powerful runner and deceptively fast. He’s also a good blocker for runners or in pass-protection and could be a good option for some dual-back sets. Assuming he has a healthy season, continuing to become more aware and comfortable with this offense will be key. Counts will be used on ST a lot and just like Dan Moore did he’s going to have to find balance between reckless abandon and smart play on coverage and returns.
Backup John Nguyen – Nguyen’s taken heat, mostly rightfully so, on here for his fumble issues this spring. That’s got to get corrected, fortunately he’s going to have another season to continue to improve his ball handling before his role vastly expands. I really like what I see out of Nguyen, he’s just as quick and shifty as Peter was but has more power and what appears to be a little bit better top speed. However if John can’t hang onto the football he’s not going to find himself getting a lot of opportunities to carry the ball. A real boom or bust kind of player.
BackupTreshawn Favors – Favors started spring ball looking pretty good all while Canada, Van, and Counts sat out. Much like Nguyen he’s got another year to grow into his role before he’ll be called upon. Favors looked much more comfortable in the system and showed some good speed. Far too often he was still running into the backs of linemen or blockers instead of open lanes. Not sure if that’s on him or on the blockers.
Fullback
StarterJamaal Wilson – Wilson is a strong and solid blocker, it’ll be interesting to see how a year with Gerber’s system will work for him, will he be a little leaner and quicker? Some posters on here have also suggested Wilson leans to the direction of the run-play pre-snap, if that’s the case I hope that’s been addressed. Other posters want to see him with the ball on the goal-line, I worry his feet aren’t quick enough for him to explode across the goal-line with the ball. If anyone can improve him it’s coach Green.
BackupGavin Hagfors – Some posters were saying he’s no longer on the team? He’s on the roster and I’ve not heard much on the guy. He wound up carrying the ball a bit in spring ball because of the amount of RBs out. Hagfors is (I believe) a better ball-carrying option than Wilson, but not as good of a blocking option. A bit of a deceptive guy that gets lost by defenders in the passing game, with the loss of Harper at TE he might be used as a red zone target for Jordy a bit too.
BackupJohnathan Richards – Honestly I don’t think I’ve seen Richards play… so tough to say what to expect out of him.
