Small Running Backs and a Pro-Style Offense

[oGriz]

A friend who coaches in high school had the impression that our running backs are generally about 6 feet tall. Not so I said.

Our Running Backs for 3 Select Years

2008: 6-0.5, 205 (4 RBs includes Reynolds)

2009: 5-10.4, 199 (5 RBs includes Reynolds, SO Moore, and FR Nguyen)

2013: 5-9, 191 (6 RBs includes a SR, 2 JRs, a SO, and 2 FR)

So, our current running backs are about as tall as I was many decades ago when I played at Sentinel, and obviously far faster. I did score a varsity TD as a shrimpy fullback.

Curious. We now use a pro-style offense. "Smaller, faster running backs should consider teams that run a spread offense. Pro-style offenses look for bigger running backs and those with a better balance of speed and power." --AthleticScholarships.com.

Are we loaded with short and fast RBs that are better suited to a spread offense? Or does it even matter? AZGriz suggested a "heavy set backfield" for short yardage. Maybe mix in our fullbacks more?

 

[BakunLT]

I think we need to utilize our tight ends more for 1st down and short yardage plays, never been a fan of fb's but i am a fan of small backs behind giant O lines

 

[StumptownGriz]

Jordan Canada seems to be excelling in goal-line situations as does the short Joey Counts when healthy. TraVon had some nice short yardage runs early in the season when healthy. I don't see where there is cause for concern with how this team and RBs are performing in goal-line situations. Maybe our OLine is to tall to get good leverage in short yardage situations. Honestly it just comes down to execution, and Jordan Canada is hitting pay-dirt consistently in those situations. A Lex Hilliard/Justin Green backfield wouldn't hurt either though

 

[oGriz]

BakunLT: I think we need to utilize our tight ends more for 1st down and short yardage plays

We have one SR tight end (Pierson) that's a little on the smallish side. He's been a very good receiver. Harper has been a very good TE receiver also, but he's smallisher than Pierson. We have a number of true freshmen TEs that have good size, but we won't use them HOPEFULLY till next year.

Maybe I haven't noticed, but our typical lineup seems to be one TE.

 

[StumptownGriz]

BakunLT: I think we need to utilize our tight ends more for 1st down and short yardage plays

We have one SR tight end (Pierson) that's a little on the smallish side. He's been a very good receiver. Harper has been a very good TE receiver also, but he's smallisher than Pierson. We have a number of true freshmen TEs that have good size, but we won't use them HOPEFULLY till next year.

Maybe I haven't noticed, but our typical lineup seems to be one TE.

TE Hayden Craig really left a huge void on this roster when he jumped ship for Oregon State. Literally and figuratively. Dude was a beast at 6-5 250+.

 

[oGriz]

BakunLT: never been a fan of fb's but i am a fan of small backs behind giant O lines

Mr. Greenjeans: Can anyone tell me why the don't give Wilson a few carrries...even one or two a game? They throw it to him every now and then, why can't they hand it off to him, seems like it would be another option that defenses would have to consider.

I don't have a concern about our running game, especially when you look at Canada's 4 TDs against Sac State. I'm just curious about why we recruit so many small RBs and maybe that was because we ran the spread, or maybe it was just coincidence.

But if we're running a pro-tyle offense, makes sense to give Wilson a few carries. Green was a fullback in the NFL, but he was our best running for a couple of years.

 

[oGriz]

StumptownGriz: TE Hayden Craig really left a huge void on this roster when he jumped ship for Oregon State. Literally and figuratively. Dude was a beast at 6-5 250+.

Yeah, he was a good one that got away.

Two of our freshmen: Noah Scarver is 6-5 250 and Mike Ralston is 6-5.5 245.

 

[AZGrizFan]

BakunLT: I think we need to utilize our tight ends more for 1st down and short yardage plays

We have one SR tight end (Pierson) that's a little on the smallish side. He's been a very good receiver. Harper has been a very good TE receiver also, but he's smallisher than Pierson. We have a number of true freshmen TEs that have good size, but we won't use them HOPEFULLY till next year.

Maybe I haven't noticed, but our typical lineup seems to be one TE.

TE Hayden Craig really left a huge void on this roster when he jumped ship for Oregon State. Literally and figuratively. Dude was a beast at 6-5 250+.

He's listed on OSU's roster at 6'3", 259 lbs. He hasn't caught a single ball this year for OSU...I'm not even sure he's playing. Not sure why he jumped ship--maybe to be closer to home, maybe tired of the political BS, who knows? All I know is he was one of the recruits I was most excited about 2 years ago, and we could REALLY use him in this scheme...

edit: NM...I see from OSU's website he's redshirting this year (apparently as required when moving up...)

 

[THE HERD]

We run a pro style offense and both our backs go about 6' 210ish, so they are not huge by any means, but are not quite as small as your backs. Pro style there tends to be a little more running in between the tackles, so a few extra pounds helps I believe. By the way have you guys seen the latest bracket projections?.....maybe you'll be coming to Fargo a year early. I hope so it would be a fun game.

 

[Htowngriz]

We run a pro style offense and both our backs go about 6' 210ish, so they are not huge by any means, but are not quite as small as your backs. Pro style there tends to be a little more running in between the tackles, so a few extra pounds helps I believe. By the way have you guys seen the latest bracket projections?.....maybe you'll be coming to Fargo a year early. I hope so it would be a fun game.

I'm sure it would be fun for you guys; for us, I'm not so sure...

 

[Grizo406]

We run a pro style offense and both our backs go about 6' 210ish, so they are not huge by any means, but are not quite as small as your backs. Pro style there tends to be a little more running in between the tackles, so a few extra pounds helps I believe. By the way have you guys seen the latest bracket projections?.....maybe you'll be coming to Fargo a year early. I hope so it would be a fun game.

I'm sure it would be fun for you guys; for us, I'm not so sure...

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Spot on!

 

[jodcon]

We run a pro style offense and both our backs go about 6' 210ish, so they are not huge by any means, but are not quite as small as your backs. Pro style there tends to be a little more running in between the tackles, so a few extra pounds helps I believe. By the way have you guys seen the latest bracket projections?.....maybe you'll be coming to Fargo a year early. I hope so it would be a fun game.

Most Bison fans are hoping for another team or two from this neck of the woods...in fact I think I heard they were playing this weekend.

 

['68griz]

We run a pro style offense and both our backs go about 6' 210ish, so they are not huge by any means, but are not quite as small as your backs. Pro style there tends to be a little more running in between the tackles, so a few extra pounds helps I believe. By the way have you guys seen the latest bracket projections?.....maybe you'll be coming to Fargo a year early. I hope so it would be a fun game.

I'm sure it would be fun for you guys; for us, I'm not so sure...

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Spot on!

This. But, I'm all for sending the "other" Montana team to Fargo, sooner rather than later.

 

[THE HERD]

We run a pro style offense and both our backs go about 6' 210ish, so they are not huge by any means, but are not quite as small as your backs. Pro style there tends to be a little more running in between the tackles, so a few extra pounds helps I believe. By the way have you guys seen the latest bracket projections?.....maybe you'll be coming to Fargo a year early. I hope so it would be a fun game.

Most Bison fans are hoping for another team or two from this neck of the woods...in fact I think I heard they were playing this weekend.

I would love to see all three of you come to Fargo this year! It is highly likely we will face a BSC or MVFC team in our first playoff game........I'm hoping for BSC.

 

[uofmman1122]

If we got sent to Fargo and won, we'd never be able to get rid of this coaching staff. :lol: :lol:

 

[mikegriz]

If we got sent to Fargo and won, we'd never be able to get rid of this coaching staff. :lol: :lol:

And I bet that, all of a sudden, nobody would would want to