mrydel wrote:Why did Dickerson and James both come to SMU when they knew they would be sharing time and spotlight? Seems to me they were sold on coming by the recruiting, not the offense being run.
I was only 7 at the time and don't remember anything, but didn't we also have a guy who was supposedly just as good as Dickerson, but got hurt in '79 or '80?
Waggoner was injured, as I recall, on the next to last game. Both he and Dickerson were used in the kickoff return team and BOTH wer einjued on the same kickoff. Dickerson couldnt play the last game in Little Rock against Arkansas and James carried the ball a zillion times to satisfy his mother's criticism of Meyer for not playing him more. He ran for over 100 yards but we stil lost.
Dickerson returned the following season of course, but Waggoner was done.
Stallion wrote:Because the I-Formation Spotlights the TB and allows about 60 carries from the position every game and every great Tailback thinks he'll be the Man anyway. Both Dickerson and James won State Championships their Senior Year running in an I Formation.
This is exactly correct. And a triple option runs the ball 80+ times a game and every stud running back thinks he will get the ball on every play.
I still am not convinced Johnson is our man but if he is and if he runs the triple, we will have no trouble recruiting backs and linemen ( with the understanding that the BCS teams still have the upper hand regardless). I can see your point with receivers, but a well run triple does not need many and you can get by with less than the very best.
The triple is an equalizer offense that allows you to do a little more if you have less just as is the spread offense. Neither one is a line up and run over them and hit them with the long one every now and then offense. That would be nice but we can not get those guys on the fiels right now.
We have been able to get above average backs running the spread and we have not gotten extraordinary receivers by passing on every down. The type offense does not matter. It is establishing a winning team and being able to break through with some better recruits. And of course, being able to plug holes with JCs when necessary.
30 years of following recruiting convinces me otherwise-you are welcome to your opinion. You've got to sell top recruits that you will spotlight their talents. Ain't going to happen in a 3 back veerbone. How many rushes did Navy's top RB get today?
ANSWER: 14 carries
I made the point w/o even looking first because I knew thru experience that a veerback RB is not spotlighted in that offense. Opposing Coaches know this and will pound top recruits with this FACT.
Arkpony wrote:Waggoner was injured, as I recall, on the next to last game. Both he and Dickerson were used in the kickoff return team and BOTH wer einjued on the same kickoff. Dickerson couldnt play the last game in Little Rock against Arkansas and James carried the ball a zillion times to satisfy his mother's criticism of Meyer for not playing him more. He ran for over 100 yards but we stil lost. Dickerson returned the following season of course, but Waggoner was done.
Waggoner was hurt on the opening kickoff against Tech. What a shame! He had greatness written all over him.
Stallion wrote:30 years of following recruiting convinces me otherwise-you are welcome to your opinion. You've got to sell top recruits that you will spotlight their talents. Ain't going to happen in a 3 back veerbone. How many rushes did Navy's top RB get today?
ANSWER: 14 carries
Opposing Coaches know this and will pound top recruits with this FACT.
Personally I did not watch the game. I have to work sometime. But I bet if they would have tackled the QB the RB would get some carries. I think the idea is still to win. I would have to believe there were games that the QB was shut down and the RBs got more carries. But again, I do not care. I do not see how any coach can come into SMU and immediately start recruiting top RBs WRs and more imprtantly Linemen. What we need to do is win and I think a well disciplined, proven coach has a better chance of doing that than a OC or a DC or someone who has not been in coachng for 10 years. I would gladly welcome Gill, Nieuhisel, Fran, or even Todd Dodge. Kragthorpe or Graham would be Godsends. But I also see a great upside to Johnson. Boring, maybe but not quite so bad if they are boring wins. Beats the heck out of exciting loses.
