Zach LINE

[stc9]

If we hang on to Nlemchi, it would indeed seem that SMU will have an embarrassment of riches at the RB spot.

While Jones is obviously a system guy with the Run and Shoot, he has shown a willingness to modify the system to fit the players he has. For example, while it may not have made it onto the field very much, the pre-season looks included using a tight end to take advantage of our bigger receivers.

So I'm wondering if there may not be a coming inclusion of a 3 wideout, 2 back set, with one back as a blocker/draw threat, and the other running routs out of the backfield and occasionally taking the handoff.

Obviously, there are downsides to taking one of your receivers and placing them five yards behind the line of scrimmage, but with some of these kids we have coming up, we'll still be a threat with the pass, run, and screen.

With the weapons that we'll have available, I'd really be interested to see how we can take advantage of them.

-CoS

There were a couple of times during the Tulane game that JJ came out in different formations. He started in the pistol a coule of times with two backs. One of them they ran a play action pass and Hayness dropped it with nobody within 25 yds of him. Another time they ran the veer option with KP keeping it. JJ and Co are giving the kids more to work with.

[mrydel]

Yeah even with the fuzzy All Access picture I saw the pistol formation once.

[PK]

Yeah even with the fuzzy All Access picture I saw the pistol formation once.

I think we only ran it that one time. At the start of the second half we were doing a lot of strange things.

[Big Hoss]

The 2nd of Zach's two fumbles was really just a damn good play on Tulane's part. Hard to hang on the ball when you are being bent backward, you have both hands on the ball, and there is a guy not involved in the tackle with nothing else to do but stand over you and strip the ball out with both hands. He had the leverage on Zach, and it still didn't come out of there easily. So yes, he needs to be more sure handed, but I don't count that one against him as bad as the first one.

As far as catching out of the backfield vs Shawnbrey, could it be that Padron has just gotten really comfortable looking for Beas in the short-distance checkdown type routes this season vs. looking for the running back on a screen out of the backfield (which was more of his go-to last season with Shawnbrey)? So that may be more on Padron looking to get the ball further down the field (even if it's just 5 more yards) vs. dumping it off to Zach.

And with respect to a home-run rusher, Zach has decent speed. It honestly seems like he looks for contact downfield so that he can just run over people. But given how many 30-40 yard running plays he's had, I won't be one to complain about his speed anytime soon.

The kid is just flat out good. Very happy with how far along he has come since last season. He's been given an opportunity, and he's responded.

[unclebill]

The bottom line is that if you have a running back that is leading the entire conference and is ranked 10th over all in the nation, it is difficult to ask for anything more. Zach is simply an old school smash mouth football player and in the future will be playing on Sundays; regardless, of the position (e.g. RB, Linebacker, Special Teams).

With this offensive scheme and Zach's linebacker blocking mentality, he is simply the best running back on the team and everyone should just appreciate how lucky we are to have discovered such a talent.

[DallasDiehard]

For some of you older fans, he reminds me a lot of John Riggins (Redskins) and John L. Williams (Seahawks).

[ponyboy]

He reminds me of Earl Campbell.

[mrydel]

As much as I like Line, I have Earl Campbell in a class with very few members. I have not seen a comparison of anyone to Earl Campbell.

[ponyboy]

Of course not. That was one bad dude with many, many skins on the wall. Too bad he can barely walk any more.

[mrydel]

Yeah. Today I compare Earl Campbell to Coach McKnight. If I had to compare Line to a professional RB, which is totally unfair at this stage of his young career, it would be John Riggins.

[ponyboy]

Serious question. If Zach Line happened to be of African descent, would he still remind everyone of John Riggins? To me Riggins was big, tough and wily but slow. Zach Line is no finesse back, but he's not slow.

[sbsmith]

Serious question. If Zach Line happened to be of African descent, would he still remind everyone of John Riggins? To me Riggins was big, tough and wily but slow. Zach Line is no finesse back, but he's not slow.

If he were black he'd remind everyone of Craig Heyward (one of June's old NFL backs).

[ponyboy]

I am not trying to ascribe anything to mrydel or anyone else. I just get tired when comparisons of ability, intelligence, etc. incorporate judgements based on the person's skin color. We are supposed to be beyond all that.

Zach Line isn't a good white running back. He's a good running back. Warren Moon wasn't a good black quarterback. He was a good quarterback. And if someone's style reminds you of someone else it had better not be because the two individuals shared the same racial inheritance.

[jtstang]

He reminds me of Dat Nguyen.

[ponyboy]

smarty pants