2 RBs in 1000 yard club in RB position room
- Thread starter Zstatman
- Start date
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
When I look at that Top 10 list and think about the greats on the list, the one name that I scratch my head on and shake my head is Akrum Wadley.
Yes, I thought Akrum was a great Hawkeye running back. I was urprised he didn't make it further than he did in the professional ranks. He didn't make the money he thought he deserved and there's the rub. By joining the lawsuit I always felt he joined to try and get that money he didn't earn on the field. Even his mother didn't want him involved.
But the truly saddest part of it all, at least IMO, is that now he'll never be invited to be part of any Hawkeye program activities again, he'll never be an honorary captain, anything like that. Just like Ronnie Harmon.
Yes, I thought Akrum was a great Hawkeye running back. I was urprised he didn't make it further than he did in the professional ranks. He didn't make the money he thought he deserved and there's the rub. By joining the lawsuit I always felt he joined to try and get that money he didn't earn on the field. Even his mother didn't want him involved.
But the truly saddest part of it all, at least IMO, is that now he'll never be invited to be part of any Hawkeye program activities again, he'll never be an honorary captain, anything like that. Just like Ronnie Harmon.
The thing that strikes me a bit....
It's been years since we saw a Shaw/Banks/Young type of back who rarely is tackled for a loss, rarely tackled for no gain, occasionally only getting 2....but way most often getting 3-4. Also frequently....4-5 times a game getting like 8-11 yards. And maybe twice a game cracking one for 20+ or even 60.
And I'm not saying this is "Brain's fault". We say that the game has passed Kirk. But, I can't think of too many teams that had backs that performed like this. Sure, you get Corums/Barkleys/McCafferys here and there. But as good as Betts/Young/Shaw were....so much more common across NCAAF when they played. Not saying they're remotely close to a dime a dozen. You end up comparing those 3 to the Ron Daynes/Barry Sanders/Herschel Walkers et. al. So, since we haven't seen a back like this....it's because Kirk's maybe a little more in line with contemporary offenses than we think?
The last time a runningback even remotely close to moving the needle similar to Dayne was maybe Ezekial Elliot? Corum, AS GOOD HE WAS....and I think he's one of the best backs in college football in a dozen years.....was not the 'feature' of that offense.
I like Johnson a lot. He's not going to wind up statistically a top Iowa back. But, neither did Greene. And I could argue he was every bit as good as the top 3 because of when he played. Johnson, same way. If his year plays out like this, (and doesn't come back for another taste), he *could* be one of the best backs we've seen....ALL things considered.
Clearly, to me, a different game these days and runningbacks are somewhat relegated to setting up the pass. Not gonna, we've needed that. Either the pass to set up the run, or the run to set up the pass. Complimentary offense, in complimentary football.
Trying not to get my hopes up. But, I at least feel better.
SCHawkeye2
Well-Known Member
Our RB's have demonstrated an explosive ability to occasionally find a small seam in the line and break a big play. But we continue to try to run behind a compacted line that resembles the old wing-t formations. This allows the D to stack the box and reduce the gaps for RB's.
Perhaps we should try to create more of these gaps, with much wider OL spacing, spreading the defense across the field and increasing the potential for larger gaps.
We don't seem to be able to change our scheme to create more of these situations and complement the talent we have. (and work around the talent we don't have on the OL)
Perhaps we should try to create more of these gaps, with much wider OL spacing, spreading the defense across the field and increasing the potential for larger gaps.
We don't seem to be able to change our scheme to create more of these situations and complement the talent we have. (and work around the talent we don't have on the OL)
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SCHawkeye2
Well-Known Member
We dont have the OL talent to play the type of offense Kirk has played for 20+ years.
But rather than change the scheme to fit the talent we have, Kirk prefers to run the same scheme. When it fails, he blames the player's 'poor execution'.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
Not sure why but I keep thinking about this post and these stats.
Right now, our 2-4 RBs are not coming close to producing the kinds of numbers you see here, that's troubling. Can we match 2019 even?
That 2022 season must have been pretty bad. I don't see us at the level, at least not yet.
KJ seems to be in pretty good shape right now.
Kirk and Lester are committed to the run, we all know that. We have a veteran, O line. I fully expect our running game to start producing better results. If not, we're in real trouble. Our success is predicated on a solid running game.
Was Leshon ever healthy this year? He never really seemed as strong or as fast as usual when he got snaps.
Not sure. I've read that his injury was with his hamstring. Those soft muscle issues can take a long to heal. And it's very easy to come back too soon and reinjure it.
Northside Hawk
Well-Known Member
And Banks was second string behind Shaw three of those four years (and Tim Dwight commanded rhe ball as well)
Nick Bell isn't on this list but he was better than Stewart. Ronnie Harmon was better than Gill but played WR two seasons.
Shonn Greene was better than any back on this list but basically did all his damage in one memorable year.
Betts and Young snuck up this list, but that was a case of staying and basically starting all four years when healthy and a heavy dose of steady as she goes.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
Johnson passed 1000yards for the season in this game.
Zstatman
Well-Known Member
Post Wisconsin:
career
yards
2470 Kaleb Johnson 135 in this game
450 Jazium Paterson 56
353 Kamari Moulton 74
Road to 9 rushers scoring rushing TDs:
1. Kaleb Johnson
2. Jazium Patteron
3. Breandan Sullivan
Top 10 all-time
1. 4156ed Shaw
2. 3686Ladell Betts
3. 3173 Albert Young
4. 2977 Tavian Banks
5. 2872 Akrum Wadley
6. 2760 Fred Russell
7. 2602 Mark Weisman
8. 2562 Tony Stewart
9. 2555 Owen Gill
10 2551 Tyler Goodson
2470 Kaleb Johnson
career
yards
2470 Kaleb Johnson 135 in this game
450 Jazium Paterson 56
353 Kamari Moulton 74
Road to 9 rushers scoring rushing TDs:
1. Kaleb Johnson
2. Jazium Patteron
3. Breandan Sullivan
Top 10 all-time
1. 4156ed Shaw
2. 3686Ladell Betts
3. 3173 Albert Young
4. 2977 Tavian Banks
5. 2872 Akrum Wadley
6. 2760 Fred Russell
7. 2602 Mark Weisman
8. 2562 Tony Stewart
9. 2555 Owen Gill
10 2551 Tyler Goodson
2470 Kaleb Johnson
