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Topic: A. J. Progressing

Topic: A. J. Progressing

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Bcat2
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A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/22/2014 11:24:35 PM

Interesting to follow A.J. progress. At this point in the season it is hard to make big changes in some stats, but, he is trying. Before NIU Stingily was 6th in the MAC at 78.4/game. A. J. was 9th at 70.2/game. After the NIU game A. J. is up to 76.6/game and Stingily has fallen to 74.9/game. Ninth to sixth, with lots of help from his mates on the O line not to mention the defense that shut down Stingily. No small thing that. Hope Miami sees the 100% healthy A.J.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

OhioCatFan
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/22/2014 11:29:30 PM

Bcat2 wrote:

Interesting to follow A.J. progress. At this point in the season it is hard to make big changes in some stats, but, he is trying. Before NIU Stingily was 6th in the MAC at 78.4/game. A. J. was 9th at 70.2/game. After the NIU game A. J. is up to 76.6/game and Stingily has fallen to 74.9/game. Ninth to six##th, with lots of help from his mates on the O line not to mention the defense that shut down Stingily. No small thing that. Hope Miami sees the 100% healthy A.J.

+1

I'd love to see 200 yards for #45 against the redchickens!

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Bobcat1998
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 12:58:54 AM

He has been the major bright spot for this team this year. I believe that he has made the backfield a bright spot for the future. Now...if only our staff can go to a 2-back set next year with a platoon of Irons and Trae Williams and we'll be good to go. I'm convinced that Williams will be a stud.

BillyTheCat
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 6:41:49 AM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

Here is what you are overlooking, if you are going a two back set, they better be able to lead block and get down and dirty with a LB, neither Irons nor Williams have ever done this, and Williams does not have the body type for that either. So as much as some of you may want to see that, I would not count on that combination.

Bcat2
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 6:58:30 AM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

As soon as possible Ohio needs to get back to redshirting freshmen. Williams needs to be allowed five years in the program. I believe Dorian Brown has shaken his ball control issue. I will refrain from use of the "f" word. I would like for him not to be "labeled." The Bobcats continue to get bigger, stronger and faster. Next season should be fun. Depth should be good across the board. I don't expect to replace Crutch and McCleod, but, the DL should be good enough. Oh, the team is not expected to convert every third down. The other teams will win their share of the time. They are working very hard too and deserve credit.

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

Bcat2
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 7:13:11 AM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Bobcat1998 wrote:

BillyTheCat, who I shall now think of as "Wise One." Here sharing fruit of the sacred peach tree of football wisdom. Mr. Williams will have some great days as a Bobcat, however, his first day of practice vs Johnson, Russell, Poling and Brown will be one he remembers. Hopefully he will go against them behind the #1 OL, though, next year's #2s will be good too. A year of scout team work vs the 1s will make him better.

Last Edited: 11/23/2014 9:41:54 AM by Bcat2

"Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." JFK

Monroe Slavin
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 12:29:30 PM

Yeah, blocking a linebacker. That can't possibly be done or developed.

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WHERE"S THE BAND?!

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BillyTheCat
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 12:49:42 PM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

Yeah, blocking a linebacker. That can't possibly be done or developed.

It takes a body style and a certain amount of ass behind the shoulders. Something that Williams does not have. The closest we have to a lead back would be AJ.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 4:10:53 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

Monroe Slavin wrote:

Yeah, blocking a linebacker. That can't possibly be done or developed.

It takes a body style and a certain amount of ass behind the shoulders. Something that Williams does not have. The closest we have to a lead back would be AJ.

You can't make this stuff up!

L.C.
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 6:08:10 PM

BillyTheCat wrote:

... The closest we have to a lead back would be AJ.

I would agree that AJ is the closest running back to a traditional fullback, but if they wanted a fullback, they could look at other positions, such as LB.

I note that Minnesota has done pretty well in the B1G using zone read running with a single back set and rushing by the QB.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Bobcat1998
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 8:38:07 PM

Those of you that say trae doesnt have a feature back body...trae is 6 foot..195 lbs..melvin gordon is 6-1..207 lbs..and trae makes Burrow able 2 be a big 10 guy. Without Trae Joe is ours.

L.C.
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 8:53:26 PM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

Those of you that say trae doesnt have a feature back body...trae is 6 foot..195 lbs..melvin gordon is 6-1..207 lbs..and trae makes Burrow able 2 be a big 10 guy. Without Trae Joe is ours.

I think there is a misunderstanding here. The discussion was about whether Ohio should be using a 2-back set. No one said he doesn't have the body to be the feature back. To the contrary, they said he does have the body to be a feature back, but not the body to be a lead back, i.e. a fullback/lead blocker. For that you'd like to see someone more like Mitch Morsillo (6-1 255) or Jayson White (6-1 240).

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

doubledribble
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 9:53:02 PM

L.C. you are spot on with your clarification about the difference between a featured running back and a lead blocker like Mitch, or Jason. We have not had a body type like that since those guys graduated !

BillyTheCat
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/23/2014 10:31:09 PM

Bobcat1998 wrote:

Those of you that say trae doesnt have a feature back body...trae is 6 foot..195 lbs..melvin gordon is 6-1..207 lbs..and trae makes Burrow able 2 be a big 10 guy. Without Trae Joe is ours.

Trae is not 195, more like 180-85, he will continue to fill out, but he's not there yet and he's amazingly lean, small waisted kid.

LC, thanks for clearing that up for those who cannot read. There is a difference in the meaning of "lead" and "feature" back, and if you have a two back set, you'd better have a lead blocker, because you just brought another guest to the party and maybe two. And, yes it can be learned, but it's a steep curve and a big adjustment.

L.C.
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 4:55:35 AM

BillyTheCat wrote:

... if you have a two back set, you'd better have a lead blocker, because you just brought another guest to the party and maybe two. ..

To clarify what Billy is saying here, if the offense adds another player to the box, by replacing a wide receiver with a fullback, the defense similarly brings another player, or perhaps two players, into the box. That can be a disadvantage, or an advantage.

Let's says that when you bring in your fullback, the defense goes from a nickle to a conventional defense, and thus replaces a DB with a linebacker. If the linebacker is 6-1 and 220, while your fullback is 6-1 250, the additional road grader may help. Even then, though, it adds congestion at the point of attack, and that additional congestion may make it harder to get a big gain.

In the end it's a mixed bag. Both offenses can be used effectively. I have personally always been partial to having a fullback, yet if I go back and compare numbers, I can't argue against the fact that Ohio's average yards/carry actually went up significantly when they moved away from a fullback.

�We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.� ― Epictetus

Monroe Slavin
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 5:58:06 PM

More later...but quickly: L.C., I don't buy that. That's just saying 'if we do this, then they'll do that.' I still insist that teams are now set up to stop the spread, so not set up to stop a heavy run attack. Hence, they play smaller d-backs and linebackers because the emph is on speed, not size--especially in MAC which I think it's fair to say doesn't get the 'big' athletes ('cause those guys are 4-5 stars and go the 'the power schools).

Plus, our qb's aren't great passers. So, put a heavy running game on the MAC (and other) schools because they don't have the size to readily stop it (even if they match us by adjusting their personnel).

What in the name of common sense would there be to lose by going heavy jumbo running game? We're not very good as is so a change can't hurt. And unleash our best player better, which is our running back.

What in the name of common sense would there be to lose by going heavy jumbo running game?

What in the name of common sense would there be to lose by going heavy jumbo running game?

What in the name of common sense would there be to lose by going heavy jumbo running game?

What in the name of common sense would there be to lose by going heavy jumbo running game?

BillyTheCat
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 7:06:38 PM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

I don't care if you buy it or not Monroe, it's a fact. Defenses adjust their personnel to the offensive package. When you watch a game, you will see someone on the defensive side of the ball holding up numberd cards, that will read, 11, 12, 21, 22, etc.. that is the offensive personnel grouping, and the defense will adjust their's accordingly. If you watch an OHIO game at a dead ball COP, you will almost always see OHIO take the field with 12-13 defensive players. When they get the card, the package needed stays.

You are correct, in that people are changing how they defend the spread, however that does not mean they cannot add beef to their front via an extra DL, MLB, OLB or SS into the box. Football is about numbers and angles, and is really pretty simple from that perspective.

And please, I am not trying to belittle or demean you with this post, just explain the basics of that situation, and how defense's adjust their base.

At the end of the day, I love a good fullback. I enjoy watching teams with a fullback, I love the ISO, the old school double down and kick out. I love the Lead, the Load, and Wham. However that is not part of what this staff does, and I have no issues with them making the decisions the way they want to make them.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 8:07:50 PM

Stop being dense, please.

Football is significantly about adjustments. So is life.

First, if we come out running heavy jumbo then the first game the oppo won't be prepared for it. Advantage us.

Then, if I'm right that teams in MAC (and elsewhere) don't have the personnel (big lb's and d-b's) to put up with a heavy running attack, advantage us--'cause they can't recruit heavier guys mid-season.

Look, I know how you pride yourself on being an expert. Fine. But show a little bit of ability, or respect for the ability, to change and to react to circumstances.

Don't ya get it--we haven't beaten a MAC team with a winning record for over two years. The staff which has led us to this hasn't won a MAC title in ten years. WMU, CMU, NIU, Toledo, and BG are all better than us. Miami, Akron and UMass appear to be on the rise.

That means...pay attention, please...there is a very significant chance that we are not winning the MAC next year.

I love hope. It makes life sweet. Heck, in the off season I'll come to think a bit better about our future. But to think that, hey, we're gonna turn it around next year is, without significant changes, not very realistic.

Last Edited: 11/24/2014 8:09:54 PM by Monroe Slavin

Monroe Slavin
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 8:08:45 PM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

Don't ya get it--we haven't beaten a MAC team with a winning record for over two years. The staff which has led us to this hasn't won a MAC title in ten years. WMU, CMU, NIU, Toledo, and BG are all better than us. Miami, Akron and UMass appear to be on the rise.

That means...pay attention, please...there is a very significant chance that we are not winning the MAC next year.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 8:36:17 PM

It is NOT that I'm agitating for change just for something to do. I was the leader of the bandwagon for many years.

But if you don't think that big change is needed, then I think your thought process is flawed.

Without OUellette, we might have only two wins this year.
We are in a deep hole in the MAC, only beating losers.

Hewing to the course we are on now won't get it. Significant change is the only way we'll get a lot better.

Does it really make sense to think that more of the same is the path to a MAC title?

BillyTheCat
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 8:52:27 PM

Monroe Slavin wrote:

And your first comment proves my point, if we can line up and run over a 6 man box, how are we going to run over a 8-9 man box. We adjust personnel they adjust personnel. It's not rocket science.

C Money
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 9:06:25 PM

I think this offense doesn't go jumbo based on blocking scheme/technique. A lot of our run blocking is designed to get the D Line moving laterally, and let the RB make a cut into a seam once it opens up. Witness all the illegal chop block penalties, where we have one guy engaged with the defender up high in one direction with another blocker going low.

If we go jumbo, it's a matter of going hat on a hat and muscling open a hole. Not that we can't do that, but it's just a completely different way of teaching and executing blocking.

That being said, I don't think we have to have a big fullback to go to 2 back sets either. I've watched both WVU and Okie State, plus some others I'm sure, go 2 and even 3 back sets out of the pistol, with speed and misdirection running out of those formations. You don't have to flatten a LB to open a hole around him if you can get him to hesitate, and a smaller RB can screen him.

All Football
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 9:15:42 PM

Well since this post is about AJ OUellette I'm just going to say this kid needs a congrats for his 2nd offensive player of the week and was only the starter in 4 games, which out of those 4 games 3 of them were over a 100 yard games. I feel if they build this offense around him we'll go far.

TheBobcatBandit
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 9:17:51 PM

Somewhat agree with Monroe here. I think with the way teams setup their personal now, with college and Pro being dominated by passing, the opportunity for a power running game is wide open and I want one of my teams to take advantage of it. Nobody will be able to handle a good power running team. Very few teams run this and maybe one or two do it effectively. One reason we may not see it anymore or teams reverting back to it is just the plain fact that there aren't as many power runners as there used to be.

OhioCatFan
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RE: A. J. Progressing

Posted: 11/24/2014 9:36:11 PM

As I said earlier, I won't be surprised if we see a few two back sets next year with Irons and AJ. This won't be an every down kind of thing, but something to keep the defense off guard. In these formations AJ might be the blocking back more often than not; however, from what I've heard Irons is very, very strong for his 6-0 211 frame. Maybe someone who has attended a few practices can give an update on how Irons has looked, but I was told when he was recruited that he had tremendous talent but needed a redshirt year to get used to our blocking scheme and other aspects of the game that are a lot different than what he was used to on his Canadian high school team.

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