Back-up for Woody

[Cycsk]

We have been riding Jeff Woody at full-back for several years. Who is his back-up next year? Do we have anyone red-shirting this year? Or any recruits on the horizon?

[Rhoadhoused]

Ehh. He isn't really a fullback. He's a power RB. I think once he is gone we just eliminate his "position". He's a good player and we use him because we have him.

[MJ271]

Ehh. He isn't really a fullback. He's a power RB. I think once he is gone we just eliminate his "position". He's a good player and we use him because we have him.

Agree for the most part. Definitely isn't a fullback, but is a power back. We don't necessarily need a running back in the future with his size, but we definitely still need guys who run very hard and work for extra yards

[CycloneVet]

I myself would like to see a 5-10 210 shifty fast guy to complement the smaller backs that we have. Someone that can break one but usually grinds out the tough yards.

[Cycsk]

Huh? Whether you want to call him a fullback or not, are you serious that you don't think we need a big, short yardage back once Woody is gone?

[MJ271]

Also, I'm still keeping an open mind with class of 2013 recruit Justin Webster, most likely will play linebacker, but I wouldn't be surprised if he played running back. He's already 220, and probably will easily put on 10-20 more pounds.

[MJ271]

Huh? Whether you want to call him a fullback or not, are you serious that you don't think we need a big, short yardage back once Woody is gone?

Several of the tight ends that we have been getting and will continue to get have been or will be recruited by other schools as full backs. And it really shouldn't be that hard for a smaller running back who runs hard to be able to get a few yards if the line does their job

[Rhoadhoused]

Huh? Whether you want to call him a fullback or not, are you serious that you don't think we need a big, short yardage back once Woody is gone?

There are plenty of productive offenses without a big back for short yardage. We don't line up in the I-formation. Sometimes being quick to the hole (actually, I'd say at least 50% of the time) is more important that power. Especially when him coming in is basically a huge warning sign saying "RUN BETWEEN THE TACKLES". I have always been just as confident in White and SJ (when he doesn't try to bounce it outside all the time) as I have been in Woody.

Also, if you want to find someone who is capable of doing that, Emmanuel Bibbs is your guy. OU wanted him as basically an H-back. They were going to have him play TE and FB. Maybe we have similar plans, who knows.

But the value of big, bruising backs in our offense is easily seen by our recruiting efforts to get one. We have never given a scholarship out of high school to one. Woody was a walk on and happened to just be phenomenal at that role.

[nickcyv]

We don't use a fullback and handing the ball off to a slow bruiser out of the spread is a disaster. How many short yardage situations did Woody actually convert this year? Not saying it is Woody's fault but handing him the ball in the zone read doesn't really work.

So no I'm not worried about Woody's replacement.

[Cycsk]

But the value of big, bruising backs in our offense is easily seen by our recruiting efforts to get one. We have never given a scholarship out of high school to one. Woody was a walk on and happened to just be phenomenal at that role.

I've noticed that we haven't had this kind of player recently, except for Woody, but didn't know that it was so intentional.

[Cycsk]

We don't use a fullback and handing the ball off to a slow bruiser out of the spread is a disaster. How many short yardage situations did Woody actually convert this year? Not saying it is Woody's fault but handing him the ball in the zone read doesn't really work.

So no I'm not worried about Woody's replacement.

Often this year, we didn't really use Woody to run north/south. For instance, we had him stepping sideways in the endzone and then he gets caught for the safety against Tulsa. Seems like we did this a lot with him this year.

It seemed like he had a more vital role in the previous year, such as against Okie State and at the end against Rutgers.

[nickcyv]

Often this year, we didn't really use Woody to run north/south. For instance, we had him stepping sideways in the endzone and then he gets caught for the safety against Tulsa. Seems like we did this a lot with him this year.

It seemed like he had a more vital role in the previous year, such as against Okie State and at the end against Rutgers.

I think Cyclone nation collectively has remembered the Okie State win with Woody plowing through their D and just assumed it has happened since. Which really isn't the case. Although, he did run well against KU this year.

[Frak]

I was a little worried about the H-Back role. Outside of Woody, we don't really have a lead blocker now that Hammer and Howard are gone. Maybe Bibbs fits that mold...seems likely if OU wanted him to play that. I've always hoped that Webster would be the eventual replacement for Woody, but maybe he's too valuable at LB. They definitely have a need there too. Seems like the younger TEs (Richardson and Leslie) are more receiving threats than blockers.

[Al_4_State]

Woody runs well when we get him going north/south out of the pistol. The zone read does not suit his talents well and our continual insistence on using him in that capacity demonstrates the offensive staff's inability to play to the strengths of the guys we have.

[demoncore1031]

i have been wondering the same thing. i love having the big power back. i was thinking maybe justin webster could be the woody-type guy but i think he is gonna be a linebacker