FB: Ohio Athletic Conference

[skunks_sidekick]

68:  As an ex-center and O-line coach, I'd love for the hogs to take all the credit, but I think the RB is as much or more of the equation than the line.  Maurice Clarrett ran for 1300+ yards and made the same O-line look good that Lydell Ross made look terrible the very next year.   A great O-line will make an average RB look good and vice-versa, but IMHO a great RB behind an average O-line will be more effective.

What made Moore, Pugh and Kmic such great runners is the O-line didn't have to create a hole for them to be successful.  If the O-line did create a good hole, then they were off for a big gain.  But even when there wasn't a hole, they still usually got 2 or 3 yards by having good vision, balance and leg drive.     

Moore was the best at always "falling forward".  He always seemed to to gain an extra yard or two as he was being tackled.   Had good vision and balance with enough speed to hit the home run if given a seam.  Hardly ever stopped for negative yardage.  Even if met in the backfield.  Was bigger & stronger than most people remember.   Wonder what he'd have been without the 2 knee surgeries?  Probably Kent State's all-time leader rusher.

Pugh had the best moves for making someone miss.  D3 version of Barry Sanders.  Sometimes got into negative plays trying to do too much, but also made some crazy runs by never giving up on a play.   Legit homerun threat on every care.

Kmic had the best vision of any RB I have ever watched.  After watching 4 years worth of his runs from high atop the pressbox, I could probably count on 1 hand the times I thought he'd have been better off making a different cut than he did.  Wasn't as big, powerful or as fast as Moore, nor did he have Pugh's cut back ability, but had had great balance and incredible vision.   


It's the above traits that I haven't seen in any of the current mic of RB's.  None of them have displayed the balance to maintain their feet when going thru the hole and someone gets a hand on their legs.  Way too many times an arm tackle attempt trips them up.   Doesn't completely knock them down like a rag doll, but the O-line got them 3 yards by creating a small hole and they were unable to survive contact and take the run to the next level of the defense.   

As well as each of them in the JCU game made questionable decisions on reads and cut-backs.  Specifically Zac Lemmon and Jeremy Murray.  Each had easy 6-8 yard gains in front of them if the make the right read of the DE/OLB depending on the play.  However they made the wrong cut and ended up with only a 4 yard run because that's what the O-line generated.   

Hopefully I'm wrong, but they all look like your regular "good D3 running backs".  Not difference makers that scares a defense or makes them game plan against them.  They're guys that would probably start at 80-90% of D3 schools, but aren't someone that you can ride to Salem VA when the weather sucks, or your QB is having an off day, or your All-American WR has a broken hand, etc.  Guys like Moore, Pugh, Kmic, Justin Beaver, etc were all capable of carrying a team on their backs if needed against a quality opponent.   Maybe we have someone like that on the roster that will emerge like Kmic did in the playoffs of '05, but at this point I just don't see it yet.

YEP....

I couldn't help but think that with Jr.'s team playing Lake this week, I wondered if Jimmy Luther's injury (Lake STUD RB) would potentially allow him to fall into Mount's hands.  It could be a Chuckie Moore story all over again.   I think the kid is that good, and a quality individual at that.

[PurpleSuit]

I couldn't help but think that with Jr.'s team playing Lake this week, I wondered if Jimmy Luther's injury (Lake STUD RB) would potentially allow him to fall into Mount's hands.  It could be a Chuckie Moore story all over again.   I think the kid is that good, and a quality individual at that.

A couple weeks back Luther was the Rep's player of the week and he listed Mount among the schools he was considering, mostly MAC schools if I remember correctly.

As for the current RB situation for Mount, I agree that they are lacking that dynamite #1 back at the moment.  But Lattimore showed some quickness and elusiveness against JCU.  He had a TD run from about 20 yards negated by a penalty.  I would like to see him get a few more carries early against Wilm this weekend.  Also, Wes Ryder is Morring v.2 as the hard running FB.

[seventiesraider]

Gotta say, Wes Ryder is refreshing. Mount hasn't shown a lot with big FB's in recent years. If Neil continues to stepup as he has, we may no need a Kmic back there,, just some good blockers and outlet guys

[runyr]

Doesn't apply to any on THIS board, but this is a funny article.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-18/nfl-the-5-stupidest-things-football-commentators-say/?cid=sexybeast%3Amainpromo3

Excellent, kehresma.  I turn off audio on many TV commentators.  Some are so bad that terrible is the best thing I can say about them .

[Dr. Acula]

I couldn't help but think that with Jr.'s team playing Lake this week, I wondered if Jimmy Luther's injury (Lake STUD RB) would potentially allow him to fall into Mount's hands.  It could be a Chuckie Moore story all over again.   I think the kid is that good, and a quality individual at that.

A couple weeks back Luther was the Rep's player of the week and he listed Mount among the schools he was considering, mostly MAC schools if I remember correctly.

Jimmy was likely going to end up at a MAC school, but now who knows.  May indeed be Chuck Moore 2.0 if the Raiders are lucky.  As a Lake guy we've been hearing about Jimmy since he was 13.  Just a great athlete, great work ethic and a leader.  He's a lot leaner than Chuck, but he definitely has the home run speed and he runs hard.  I just hope he recovers and lands somewhere he's happy. 

[skunks_sidekick]

I couldn't help but think that with Jr.'s team playing Lake this week, I wondered if Jimmy Luther's injury (Lake STUD RB) would potentially allow him to fall into Mount's hands.  It could be a Chuckie Moore story all over again.   I think the kid is that good, and a quality individual at that.

A couple weeks back Luther was the Rep's player of the week and he listed Mount among the schools he was considering, mostly MAC schools if I remember correctly.

Jimmy was likely going to end up at a MAC school, but now who knows.  May indeed be Chuck Moore 2.0 if the Raiders are lucky.  As a Lake guy we've been hearing about Jimmy since he was 13.  Just a great athlete, great work ethic and a leader.  He's a lot leaner than Chuck, but he definitely has the home run speed and he runs hard.  I just hope he recovers and lands somewhere he's happy. 

Time for the Chuck Moore, Note Kmic double-team on Jimmy!  Who could resist that hardware, pedigree, and desire to be "next"?   

[bignscarey]

Question? How can a player who was on the roster of a D2 or NAIA team last year and doesn't play as a freshman transfer to a D3 school and still be listed as a freshman?Yet if a freshman listed on a D3 team doesn't play & transfers to another D3 school is considered a sophmore?Just doesn't seem equitable.

[Dr. Acula]

^^^^  Do DII/NAIA have red shirts?  Maybe that's the answer?  I don't know enough about DII/NAIA to say, but that was my knee jerk reaction.

[reality check]

I think I recall that they did away with redshirts at the DIII level only.  Players can still claim medical hardships to get back a year but if they start out elsewhere (NAIA, DII, DI - FCS or FBS) and don't see the field in a game situation, then their DIII clock hasn't begun ticking. 

Here's the real question: Why do we keep allowing ourselves to think that the NCAA makes any kind of sense?

[bignscarey]

I think I recall that they did away with redshirts at the DIII level only.  Players can still claim medical hardships to get back a year but if they start out elsewhere (NAIA, DII, DI - FCS or FBS) and don't see the field in a game situation, then their DIII clock hasn't begun ticking. 

Here's the real question: Why do we keep allowing ourselves to think that the NCAA makes any kind of sense?

How true!

[seventiesraider]

The NCAA makes...............wait for it.......................................................money

[Pat Coleman]

Question? How can a player who was on the roster of a D2 or NAIA team last year and doesn't play as a freshman transfer to a D3 school and still be listed as a freshman?Yet if a freshman listed on a D3 team doesn't play & transfers to another D3 school is considered a sophmore?Just doesn't seem equitable.

If he redshirted there he is still a freshman, including at Division III.

[Raider 68]

Which OAC game will be the most competitive this weekend?

[Bein_86]

Question? How can a player who was on the roster of a D2 or NAIA team last year and doesn't play as a freshman transfer to a D3 school and still be listed as a freshman?Yet if a freshman listed on a D3 team doesn't play & transfers to another D3 school is considered a sophmore?Just doesn't seem equitable.

If he redshirted there he is still a freshman, including at Division III.

D3 schools always list academic year. Last year my son was listed as a Redhirt Frosh and this year a junior. He has 3 yrs of eligibilty counting this year.

[seventiesraider]

Which OAC game will be the most competitive this weekend?

Competitive? John Carroll and Marietta