LaMichael James

[Flyingiguana]

Exactly. And since the NFL is becoming a passing league..."third down" packages are being run more on 1st and 2nd down. So a 3rd down back is a bit of a misnomer.

Also, when teams are in catch-up mode..the no huddle was something the niners struggled last year, too. Settling on Akers to bail em out with long field goals, when they had plenty of time to go downfield.

Only a handful of teams have the old school mentality the niners have on offense and I think harbaugh's going to open up the niners offense even more.

well 3rd down back refers to a back used primarily in passing situations. so until there's a new name, we still go with 3rd down back even if it's used on downs other than a 3rd.

should we go with west coast back?
mardi gras back?
bountygate back?
i cant run through wet paperbag back?

 

[imac_21]

Sproles averaged about 5.5 carries per game.
He averaged 6.9 ypc
That must be because teams knew the Saints were passing when he was on the field.

He caught 86 passes. That's a lot. He carried the ball more than he caught it.

 

[mem49er]

Give me a legitimate reason they would keep two situational running backs who only play in identical situations. Not a chance they keep two tiny third down-change-of-pace running backs.

They are not the same back, they are both talented, there's a little thing called injuries.

 

[SFAnthem]

well 3rd down back refers to a back used primarily in passing situations. so until there's a new name, we still go with 3rd down back even if it's used on downs other than a 3rd.

should we go with west coast back?
mardi gras back?
bountygate back?
i cant run through wet paperbag back?

A "change of pace" back has been used. A third down back hints at a guy who plays around 20% of offensive snaps.

I don't think it ends there with James. Mixing Gore and Hunter was effective at times as opposing defenses had issues adjusting to the two backs differing speeds. Like throwing a fastball and a changeup in baseball.

 

[Flyingiguana]

well for the saints offense thomas seemed more like the change of pace back

 

[mem49er]

well for the saints offense thomas seemed more like the change of pace back

P. Thomas change of pace back.....what?

 

[maniax]

Agreed, just like the Saints, with Ingram, Thomas and Sproles

The Saints have Ivory too.

 

[Flyingiguana]

P. Thomas change of pace back.....what?

for the saints thomas is a change of pace back, for most teams thomas would be the normal back and sproles the change of pace back...

 

[mem49er]

for the saints thomas is a change of pace back, for most teams thomas would be the normal back and sproles the change of pace back...

If Thomas was COP and Sproles was 3rd down, who was their actual back?

 

[Flyingiguana]

If Thomas was COP and Sproles was 3rd down, who was their actual back?

sigh...

 

[NinerSickness]

Random RB comment: I never much liked Anthony Dixon. There was a llot of excitement over him when he was drafted; I never got it. I won't mind if he's cut.

 

[mem49er]

sigh...

Seems like a simple enough question, sorry it's such a strain on ya'.

 

[Flyingiguana]

Seems like a simple enough question, sorry it's such a strain on ya'.

for the saints, sproles is a 'regular back'. what is a 'regular back' for other teams is a change of pace back for the saints.

u must be a smurf cuss everyting goes over your head

 

[mem49er]

for the saints, sproles is a 'regular back'. what is a 'regular back' for other teams is a change of pace back for the saints.

u must be a smurf cuss everyting goes over your head

So he's a regular/3rd down back. Gotchya'. I'm amazed you have time to visit out message board, Mr. Loomis. I guess your schedule has opened up a bit, though.

 

[Flyingiguana]

So he's a regular/3rd down back. Gotchya'. I'm amazed you have time to visit out message board, Mr. Loomis. I guess your schedule has opened up a bit, though.

wtf are u talking about? get your head out of your ass...

 

[mem49er]

wtf are u talking about? get your head out of your ass...

Re-read the thread, tell me when you've caught up. I expect that may be sometime around week 1.

 

[SFAnthem]

for the saints, sproles is a 'regular back'. what is a 'regular back' for other teams is a change of pace back for the saints.

u must be a smurf cuss everyting goes over your head

lol, to keep it simple..there are going to be situations where a power back is needed, situations where a runner with both running, pass catching, and pass protecting abilities is needed, and situations where a "scat back" (another term for those smaller, more elusive RBs) is needed.

The opponent and game plan will dictate what type of RB is needed more often.

btw, it's not just the saints that employ a multiple RB rotation. It's pretty much the way the league is trending.

 

[SFAnthem]

I think it's clear now that Harbaugh wants as many different tools at his disposable.

If you look at the way he gameplans it's all about exploiting weaknesses in the defense (Detroit), Out thinking your opponent (Giants 1st game), and creating as many mismatches and throwing off defenses as much as possible.

So basically having 4 different RBs is just a huge headache for defensive coordinators to account for and gameplan.

For example I already have a formation pictured in my mind that could give defenses fits:

2 TE set with Walker and Davis; LaMichael James lined up on the outside as an WR; Hunter and Gore (or Jacobs) split in the backfield. Think of all the things you can do from that formation and all the things defenses would have to account for.

You can pass or play action pass.

You can Fly Sweep with James, with one of the OGs pulling to the side of the run and Hunter or Gore being blockers depending on what side the play is ran on. And for a little trickery you could actually run that as an option play as well.

You can fake the Fly Sweep and hand the ball off to Hunter or Gore to run on the inside, or pitch for them to run on the outside, run a QB bootleg with a with a pulling OG along with James and Gore/Hunter to block, also could bootleg pass there too. Counter might work as well though it might be a little too slow to develop.

So imagine that running through your head as a defender trying to figure out what the play is going to be. Much harder to figure out what's going to happened compared 4 WR set with the QB in shotgun.

Also that's a pretty easy formation to tweak and play around with throughout the season.

And let's not forget one other thing to consider is that speed is one of the hardest things to defend in Football. A defense can have the perfect play called and it could be destroyed simply because the defender can't keep up with the speed. I mean look at how many times in the past our defense has been victimized by it.

How did I miss this post? Explains perfectly my excitement over adding another speed element in James.

What does Harbaugh like to do to opposing def coordinators? Mindf*ck them with different looks and formations. Imagine how many more possibilities he will have with James who is faster than any RB they had last year.

 

[deep9er]

think most of us agree Alex Smith isn't a vertical passing threat, not to mention our O-line isn't the stoutest in pass protect. so it makes sense to add weapons for the short/medium range, the higher percentage range.

this is where Jenkins and James will start off, using their abilities closer to the LOS. i would think they'll get open faster and be able to run for yards? this takes some pressure off Alex and the O-line.

 

[kennyt12]

The one thing this thread proves is that Toby Tyler has no idea what he's talking about! Toby, you think we're just going to release a back that we just drafted in the 3rd round last year. A back who was actually really productive when he was playing. Stop disgracing the last name!