Backup RB's

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 5:40 pm

I went to practice to today and I noticed the coaches rotated JD, Gathing, and Groves quite a bit. JD will still start, followed by Gathing and Groves. I was really impressed with the way Gathing was running after he had been playing linebacker. JD impressed me the most with his pass catching and I think he will do better in the redzone. Groves looked very shifty and quick to get outside. He will be good in the future. Overall, I think we will be okay until Bass comes back.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:11 pm

Thanks for the update. I think we're in ok shape due to depth. Kramer will play Dominic for pass rush, but it also allows the the opportunity to design a run play or throw to JD. Anything to keep their D guessing. The others have great potential, so should make it interesting. I'm expecting some great play calling by Lulay this weekend. Miller is back, so our receiving core is solid.

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:14 pm

I also forgot to mention that they worked on the running backs passblocking for what seemed like an extra long time too.

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:18 pm

Bombs Away! $\:D/$

El_Gato · Post by **El_Gato** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:27 pm

I have no problem with JD as our "featured back" as long as Bailey and/or the RB Coach could DRILL into his head to simply ATTACK the line of scrimmage once he gets the ball. He simply isn't quick/nimble enough to dance around in the backfield, hoping/waiting ("pussy-footing around") for a seam to open up.

With his size, if he'd just make up his mind to hit the hole the play was designed for at full speed, he'd be a SOLID runner and I have no doubt he could easily achieve 4 yards/carry. If we can get that out of him, I feel very good about our offense.

Blue and Gold · Post by **Blue and Gold** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:39 pm

Uhhh....bombs away, and let me introduce our newest...best running back....Travis Lulay.

Groves has not proved he can pass block yet has he?

bobcatbaby · Post by **bobcatbaby** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 6:53 pm

i believe in all three guys because i love the cats Dominic started 10 games last year,gathings is a big back Groves is the future why waste time on the two seniors lets see what we can look forward for next year i hear all this concern with groves pass blocking i went to the practice and they did some kind of pass blocking drill Groves from what i seen may have even done better than gathering at the drill but who kramer or bailey choses for the job im happy with long as travis stays heathy i really dont give a damn about our runningback situation we can beat ISU without a runningback

GOKATS · Post by **GOKATS** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 7:00 pm

Blue and Gold wrote:Uhhh....bombs away, and let me introduce our newest...best running back....Travis Lulay.

Groves has not proved he can pass block yet has he?

psst- did you miss the last post by Longhorn?

longhorn_22 · Post by **longhorn_22** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:24 pm

Passblocking looked good in practice, well see how it translates in a game.

Platinumcat · Post by **Platinumcat** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 8:44 pm

I seem to remember Domineck saying last year that he wanted to get more rushes/game. It seems to me he actually was doing a pretty good job by the end of the season.

I think we have seen the explosiveness of Bass and have forgotten a little about JD. I'm excited to watch him play this weekend. I'm predicting a little attitude from him in a good hard day of running.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 7:28 am

longhorn_22 wrote:Passblocking looked good in practice, well see how it translates in a game.

Being as the Cat defense cant generate a pass rush, of course these guys looked good in pass blocking

Sorry, this is for another topic... I think we will be just fine at RB. Like I've been saying all week, it cant get any worse

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:06 am

Cat Pride wrote: Being as the Cat defense cant generate a pass rush, of course these guys looked good in pass blocking

Given we played 3 running oriented teams (NDSU, OSU, and SFA) in the 4 games played - where the D was focusing on stopping the run first - not having a huge pass rush is understandable.

But then we could have focused on a pass rush at all costs so the Nation could be happy. You can't focus on everything. The focus so far has been on Stop the run and on the O side protect Lulay. Fairly successful so far?

I can see the same thing happening against PSU, Montana, and Weber which are all run oriented teams this year. EW and NAU are passing teams and we'll see then. ISU is somewhat balanced so that will be interesting to see how the D focuses. Sac, well Sac is Sac, Balanced, but hasn't done either (pass or run) very well.l

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:28 am

El_Gato wrote:I have no problem with JD as our "featured back" as long as Bailey and/or the RB Coach could DRILL into his head to simply ATTACK the line of scrimmage once he gets the ball. He simply isn't quick/nimble enough to dance around in the backfield, hoping/waiting ("pussy-footing around") for a seam to open up.

With his size, if he'd just make up his mind to hit the hole the play was designed for at full speed, he'd be a SOLID runner and I have no doubt he could easily achieve 4 yards/carry. If we can get that out of him, I feel very good about our offense.

Hmmmm, this sounds familiar. Did someone tell you this at the tailgate last weekend?

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 9:43 am

Point taken BobcatLion. The defense has done a good job defending the run in the 2 wins this season, but when we know its a passing down, why arent they being more aggressive? Isnt that why they went to the 3-4 in the first place, to blitz like mad? Maybe I'm knit picking, I mean MSU held a high scoring NDSU to 17 points last weekend, SFA to 6 and OSU to 15.

But for example, some of those 3rd down plays last week where the QB had all day to throw, a pass rush might not have allowed a 3rd and 17 pass to a TE, or a 4th and 20 to a TE. No way should a TE be getting that deep if any pressure was applied to the QB - no matter how good NDSUs TE is. Simply, I thought their QB had all day to throw, and the DBs can only do so much back there - not even Joey Thomas can cover a guy for 5+ seconds without a reception or penalty.

I know that Mac is out, Clive, Kolone too, but still, are the starters the only kids who know how to apply pressure? I think the D is playing head and shoulders better than last year, but I also still think they have a ways to go - injuries or no injuries. When its all said and done, I'd rather have an attacking defense on the field instead of a defending defense. You know, attack against the run - attack against the pass, not defend the run or defend the pass. Make offenses react to us, not vice versa.

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:24 am

In the 4th Q, the D was playing deep zone, keep the ball in front of you and use the clock. LBs were dropping, not rushing. Except for a couple (King on one and then the play for negative pass yardage was rushed).

Earlier in the game, it was run. NDSU had very little 3 and long in the first 3 Qs. Only one that I remember. Their QB ran alot on rollouts right if I remember.

Again, can't do everything and their OL was reasonably good, granted slow and banged up, but they handled a three man rush only.

Ponycat · Post by **Ponycat** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 10:48 am

BobcatLionFan wrote:In the 4th Q, the D was playing deep zone, keep the ball in front of you and use the clock. LBs were dropping, not rushing. Except for a couple (King on one and then the play for negative pass yardage was rushed).

Earlier in the game, it was run. NDSU had very little 3 and long in the first 3 Qs. Only one that I remember. Their QB ran alot on rollouts right if I remember.

Again, can't do everything and their OL was reasonably good, granted slow and banged up, but they handled a three man rush only.

I think NDSU's O-line is going to be one of the best we see all year.

BobcatLionFan · Post by **BobcatLionFan** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:01 pm

Ponycat wrote: I think NDSU's O-line is going to be one of the best we see all year.

Every week we see one of the best OL.

Oh you were talking about the team we face?? Right NDSU was good

grizzh8r · Post by **grizzh8r** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 1:22 pm

Just thought I would point out that their line was getting away with a lot of holds on our DL, part of the reason we had no pass rush. I saw Papitch held at least 3 times when there should have been a flag. One time, he was turned completely around on a pass play by one of their lineman. Goes back to the same old sh!tty BSC refs.

tetoncat · Post by **tetoncat** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 1:30 pm

I remember people talking last year that in film of the EWU game Domineck had a hole in the OT but tried to go outside and was stopped. If he had hit the hole quickly he would have scored. hopefully he has learned and he will run North and South and pick up those tough 4-5 yards. I still maintain we will not have a huge run or high total yards until we commit to give someone 25+ carries in a game.

Helcat72 · Post by **Helcat72** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 3:49 pm

tetoncat wrote:I remember people talking last year that in film of the EWU game Domineck had a hole in the OT but tried to go outside and was stopped. If he had hit the hole quickly he would have scored. hopefully he has learned and he will run North and South and pick up those tough 4-5 yards. I still maintain we will not have a huge run or high total yards until we commit to give someone 25+ carries in a game.

Dominek did the same thing last week, but scored that time!