RB Depth Chart

[Mops]

I've been thinking about this for a long time. It seems like Blount is easily the hands down favorite to be the #1 back at Oregon in the fall. However, after that it gets all crazy. Senior Andre Crenshaw has shown some flash and dash a few times while here. Alston is a bowling ball with legs, and freshman LaMichael James has potential just oozing out of him.

Yet, James is unproven, Alston has been injury prone, and Crenshaw has never lived up to the hype for a full game.

Anyone concerned about our RB depth like I am?

[Tray Dub]

No. I think at least one of those guys will pan out.

Then again, if none of them do, it's not like Blount can carry the load for a whole game. But it's hard to imagine none of our three backup backs not being able to hold up their end in a game.

[gregspechtismyhero]

No. I think at least one of those guys will pan out.

Then again, if none of them do, it's not like Blount can carry the load for a whole game. But it's hard to imagine none of our three backup backs not being able to hold up their end in a game.

Exactly what I was thinking. and the newfound confidence Masoli has in his passing game should take the load off our running game. Especially with receivers like Gaines and LT joining the crew. I think our rushing will go way down this year, but only because we'll start passing more like we did with DD.

[brich75]

No. I think at least one of those guys will pan out.

Then again, if none of them do, it's not like Blount can carry the load for a whole game. But it's hard to imagine none of our three backup backs not being able to hold up their end in a game.

Exactly what I was thinking. and the newfound confidence Masoli has in his passing game should take the load off our running game. Especially with receivers like Gaines and LT joining the crew. I think our rushing will go way down this year, but only because we'll start passing more like we did with DD.

i think way down isa stretch. We may not rush as much this year but, I think we will have more big gains. (not like we didnt have a ton last year.) I think our big gaines on the groung will be more consitent than last year.
As far as RB go, I think if tje guys we are talking about dont live up to chips expectations we will see kenyon Barner get some carries. He looks to be as talented or more than anyone i have seen this year.

[bigfootlebowski]

Yes, i think we potentially in big trouble, if we get an injury or too are depth will have to step up and there are no proven quantities beyond blount. Think about the senior year with A Smith and R Droughns, beyond RD our next best rusher became smith after the UCLA game where he went down,.
Secondly we need the quick back to go along with Blount, teams with speed like USC can shut the Blount option down, like they did last year. So we really need someone to step up and play the lightning role.

[ducksrock]

Well, JM is a back, albeit QB, so I dont see us dropping off all that much...Yeah, replacing JJ is not gonna be ez, but.....we have fantastic speed in LaMichael James...and the others have speed, illusiveness, and their individual talents....WE JUST NEED TO STAY HEALTHY.....That IS the key, imo....

[quackaddict]

i'm concerned.

especially if blount starts going by the wayside again and getting into trouble during the season. i have a feeling that kelly won't be as lenient as bellotti was with the 1qtr suspensions. blount might be getting full-game suspensions handed down to him. hopefully he has all that off the field stuff squared away.

has anyone heard how he is doing as far as academics are concerned?

after blount, its kind of a hodgepodge.

crenshaw has shown that is a capable back. but he definitely isn't as explosive as we've gotten accustomed to at the uo over the last few seasons with guys like stewie, jj, and blount spoiling us duck fans. as long as the passing game is clicking, crenshaw could do enough to keep a defense honest.

i don't have as much faith in alston. i don't mean to bang on a duck, but he hasn't really shown me much when i've watch him play. maybe i'm just not paying attention. who knows?

i was salivating over james when i heard the scout team reports from last season. it reminded me a lot of the type of chatter we heard about jj before they pulled the redshirt off him and threw him into action. the only concern i have with him is his shoulder. has anyone heard how that has healed or if it is still bothering him at all?

i know all three backups, crenshaw, alston and james have had their injuries over the last year. so that could be a concern too as far as depth goes.

hopefully, fingers crossed, everyone can stay healthy and on the field.

[duckgrad99]

As long as Blount stays healthy, I'm not concerned. I'm a lot more concerned about Alliotti and the defense as well as the offensive line.

[dthomas=ddixon]

Worse case we move Barner to RB....not a bad wrose case if you ask me. Kid definitely has some skill running the ball.

[gofightingducks]

I am not concerned. I think Blount will carry the load and James, Crenshaw and Alston will all step up to provide some relief for Blount. Masoli should also have his fair share of running yards, but I think this year with the talented receiving core and Masoli's new found confidence in the passing game there will be a more even balance between run and pass plays.

[UOducksTK1]

I'm not too worried about our RB depth chart. However if Blount gets hurt, that changes everything. He's our only big back right now. The rest of our RBs consist of speed or of a finesse type of running.

Pretty sure CK would manage to work around it, but to me it's still somewhat of a concern.

[Mops]

my biggest concern is that I am not sold that Blount can be an every down back or feature back. Reason being is that he is strong, huge, and decently fast for his size, but none of that translates well into being a top back in a spread offense attack. That type of back is best used as a downfield runner who can get a few steps in before he hits the line of scrimmage.

People compare Blount to Stewart and say that is why Blount will do wonders this fall. Stewart is a totally different player than Blount is. Stewart had game changing speed and cut back ability much like Jeremiah Johnson did last year and then he also had Blount's size. Blount doesn't have the speed or cutback ability JJ had let alone Stewart.

Blount was most effective when he came in fresh middle of the 2nd quarter and then late 3rd/early 4th and was able to use his speed and brute strength to over power defenders as they struggled to adjust from a scat back to a bruiser.

Will Blount be able to improve on his speed and cut back agility? I bet he has, but my question is, is it enough to be a feature back?

Oregon is going to need Crenshaw or Alston to step up and be that scat type back until LMJ can get adjusted to the college game.

Getting onto LMJ, I think he's starting to develop unrealistic expectations. Being compared to Rogers at OSU because of the size similarities, having seen him do well in spring ball, fall camp reports, and the shear fact we need him to produce this coming fall.

[duckgrad99]

Very valid points Mops. I'm hoping LMJ can come in and do well immediately. I don't expect him to be like JJ was the last few years, but I am expecting big things eventually from James.

[liberalduck]

I'm concerned because none of the backups have done much in game situations in which they are really being counted on to produce. However, as long as Blount is healthy and we have someone else really step up (LMJ, Alston, or Crenshaw) to help share the load we will be fine. For the first few games I think the coaches will be playing Blount as primary back and the others will play by committee. The coaches will utilize the other three by using plays that are designed around the strengths they bring to the position. In this process, I think they will be evaluating the three for a go-to guy so they have more of a 1-2 punch and the others will end up getting fewer reps as the season goes on. I think it will ultimately be Blount and LMJ. If the other two don't impress, and LMJ or Blount gets hurt, I think Barner will work his way into significant playing time. He looked very good and the coaches seemed to think highly of him at the RB position. Though they also seemed to keep the possibility of him permanently moving to the RB position somewhat low key. I think this was done for two reasons. 1. They really would like to keep him on D. 2. They want to see how the other three pan out first before throwing another stick into the fire. There may be plenty of heat with those already in the mix. I do think if they played the three best RBs, it would be Blount, LMJ and Barner, in that order.

[Boom]

I think more importantly it will come down to our Oline and Masoli's health. If defenses have to account for Masoli in the backfield then I think whoever we have lined up back there with him will do fine.