Tom Herman on Shontrelle/Hollis & redshirting

**CrossCyed** · 08-19-2010, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by brett108

Why? Because he looks good on his Youtube video? If he was the second coming, don't you think recruiting services would have caught on a little more? I think he has less upside than ARob for one reason. Alexander played in Minnesota, where the talent is consisitently underevaluated. Shontrelle played in Florida, which is under a recruiting microscope. If he had as much upside as you say, he would have 5 stars behind his name in recruiting rankings. He did not.

I would think his offers, including Georgia Tech - where ALL they do is run the ball, speak to the fact that he was highly regarded. How he almost went to Northwestern is a credit to him that he was looking at a good academic school too.

Originally Posted by UNIGuy4Cy

What happens to both Bos?

I doubt Bo Williams ever sees another carry.

Originally Posted by Frak

I think that one of them (probably Hollis) HAS to redshirt. Looking at the RB group, you already have White and Woody as RSFR this year. It's obvious that Woody will get a scholarship sometime in the next few years. Assuming Shontrelle isn't redshirting, that's 3 RBs in one class. Three is already a lot, four is way too many. I don't care how good Hollis has looked, he's heading for a redshirt. It would be nice if Shontrelle could redshirt too, but that probably ain't happenin.

Hollis will probably redshirt, I think you'll probably see someone transfer, and a top 3 of Shontrelle, Hollis and Woody picking up the most carries next year.

**d4nim4l** · 08-19-2010, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

Not knowing where to be on the field and picking up blitzes are two different things. Bo didn't play because he didn't like contact and he didn't know where to go.

No, they really are not. If you are not in the right spot you may not pick up the blitz. You can also be in the right spot but fail to make the right decision (say two guys bust through the line).

Give me a RB who can actually run the ball and make plays over a guy like Hicks who doesn't run well but man can he block...any day of the week.

I tend to agree with this. All I am saying is do not be surprised to see Woody beat out Shontrelle to start the year as he has had an extra year in the system and likely knows the playbook better.

Herman wants to put the guys out on the field that can make plays based on any play he calls. Limiting our playbook (like we would have had to do with Bo) takes away some of our effectiveness.

**Clones85'** · 08-19-2010, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by d4nim4l

No, they really are not. If you are not in the right spot you may not pick up the blitz. You can also be in the right spot but fail to make the right decision (say two guys bust through the line).

I tend to agree with this. All I am saying is do not be surprised to see Woody beat out Shontrelle to start the year as he has had an extra year in the system and likely knows the playbook better.

Herman wants to put the guys out on the field that can make plays based on any play he calls. Limiting our playbook (like we would have had to do with Bo) takes away some of our effectiveness.

I guess I am just not worried about Shontrelle picking up the offense. He was smart enough to get offered by Northwestern after all.

I also believe that RB is the easiest position in college football to come in and play right away from day 1

**d4nim4l** · 08-19-2010, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

I guess I am just not worried about Shontrelle picking up the offense. He was smart enough to get offered by Northwestern after all.

I also believe that RB is the easiest position in college football to come in and play right away from day 1

Honestly I am not worried about Shontrelle either. I just think we should temper our expectations and not be surprised if he does not trot out there on the 3rd or 4th series against Northern Illinois and Woody does instead.

**tazclone** · 08-19-2010, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

Those depth charts are always so accurate at this time of the season

Who said anything about depth chart? I am just going by what Rhoads and Herman both said. They both were asked about Johnson and went out of their way to comment about how well Hollis has played. Then Herman went on to say the #2 back will be the RB they can "trust" to carry out assignments and "trust" to be productive.
The coaches are always asked about Johnson. Always. Yet they always seem to talk about Woody and Hollis. Unless you have seen these guys live in practice, I do not know how you can be so certain as to Johnson's abilities. All we have are highlight videos. And highlight videos are just that...highlights.

And don't under estimate the value of knowing your assignment whether it be blocking, route running, defense recognition, etc. Arob carried the ball 20 times per game last year and we averaged about 69 plays/game. That means a "FEATURE" RB runs the ball only 30% of the time they play. They have to block, run routes, run fakes, carry out the zone read option, and make reads 70% of the time. If a guy can't block or pickup a blitz, it really limits the offense.

I am not saying Johnson won't be the #2 back. I just question why yuo are so certain he will be the #2. Maybe you have insider info or have seen all the backs in practice/scrimmage. If so, I would trust you a little more

**tazclone** · 08-19-2010, 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

I guess I am just not worried about Shontrelle picking up the offense. He was smart enough to get offered by Northwestern after all.

I also believe that RB is the easiest position in college football to come in and play right away from day 1

I would argue WR.

**tazclone** · 08-19-2010, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by d4nim4l

Honestly I am not worried about Shontrelle either. I just think we should temper our expectations and not be surprised if he does not trot out there on the 3rd or 4th series against Northern Illinois and Woody does instead.

This is what I am trying to say.

**woodie** · 08-19-2010, 01:45 PM

woody will be the no.2 running back. i think johnson and hollis will both redshirt......we have too many good backs that r soph thru the senior class....arob will be the main cog in our backfield....woody will get carries in the red zone where we will need the bigger back to punch the ball into the endzone for touchdowns.....

**Clones85'** · 08-19-2010, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by tazclone

Who said anything about depth chart? I am just going by what Rhoads and Herman both said. They both were asked about Johnson and went out of their way to comment about how well Hollis has played. Then Herman went on to say the #2 back will be the RB they can "trust" to carry out assignments and "trust" to be productive.
The coaches are always asked about Johnson. Always. Yet they always seem to talk about Woody and Hollis. Unless you have seen these guys live in practice, I do not know how you can be so certain as to Johnson's abilities. All we have are highlight videos. And highlight videos are just that...highlights.

And don't under estimate the value of knowing your assignment whether it be blocking, route running, defense recognition, etc. Arob carried the ball 20 times per game last year and we averaged about 69 plays/game. That means a "FEATURE" RB runs the ball only 30% of the time they play. They have to block, run routes, run fakes, carry out the zone read option, and make reads 70% of the time. If a guy can't block or pickup a blitz, it really limits the offense.

I am not saying Johnson won't be the #2 back. I just question why yuo are so certain he will be the #2. Maybe you have insider info or have seen all the backs in practice/scrimmage. If so, I would trust you a little more

Ah I remember my first fall practices!

It's coach speak IMO. How many times in the last 5 years have we heard all about how great a guy is doing in practice only to not see him play? Happens all the time. Not saying Hollis and Woody aren't good, just that the coaches aren't going to tip their hand.

**Clones85'** · 08-19-2010, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by woodie

woody will be the no.2 running back. i think johnson and hollis will both redshirt......we have too many good backs that r soph thru the senior class....arob will be the main cog in our backfield....woody will get carries in the red zone where we will need the bigger back to punch the ball into the endzone for touchdowns.....

Besides AROB tell me a good RB we have that is a soph thru SR. Tell me how many D1 carries they have.

We have little to no depth behind AROB. Do people forget about last year?

**MookInLincoln** · 08-19-2010, 02:30 PM

I like redshirting as much as the next guy, but I'm not as ardent about it as I used to be.

Consider that once that redshirt is used, a guy has four years left regardless of what happens. If he suffers a season-ending injury (common in football - see Money and Parker) then you lose a year.

I'm now of the belief that if a guy can contribute and wants to play - let him.

**tazclone** · 08-21-2010, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

Ah I remember my first fall practices!

It's coach speak IMO. How many times in the last 5 years have we heard all about how great a guy is doing in practice only to not see him play? Happens all the time. Not saying Hollis and Woody aren't good, just that the coaches aren't going to tip their hand.

Rhoads is not DMac with the coach speak. We saw Scwartz at the #2 spot last year on the depth chart and he was the #2 back. No one wanted to believe it. Everyone want Bo but that wasn't the case

BTW- You should listen to Pope's most recent interview. Said Woody"no doubt." Then talks about assignment football

**tazclone** · 08-22-2010, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

Besides AROB tell me a good RB we have that is a soph thru SR. Tell me how many D1 carries they have.

We have little to no depth behind AROB. Do people forget about last year?

You should also listen to the Rhoads interview. When discussing Woody he says "He knows his assignments. He doesn't bust and that's one of the first things in order to get on the field with us..."

Johnson may catch up but at this time Woody is #2.