When D J Williams (LB) came here we needed running backs his freshmen year and he did a good job of filling in. I've been saying since Spring we were thin and wonder if there is a DJ on the team that could surprise at RB until we can recruit or portal sign talent?
@fraggle I appreciate that you're at least thinking about this more deeply than our staff apparently is.
Our offense is sputtering for many reasons but not being able to run the ball is near the top. No need to get a player to change positions, we just need to let our talented young backs play. We have three in addition to Cam'Ron.
We've lacked accountability with regard to in-game player performance and making personnel changes during games for a longtime. We've allowed players who are not performing to continue under perform while taking minutes from players who are eager to show what they can do. Not allowing young players to play is not protecting them, it in fact implies to the young players that the staff does not trust them to make plays and that kills morale, causes dissension, and erodes trust in Manny and his staff. It can even play with their confidence.
Trotting our young players out against Central Connecticut State to me cuts against the make up of most of our guys. Sure they want to play and we want to see what they can do, but South Florida players want a crack at Alabama, not CCS. They aren't wired that way. I don't think Manny really understands that.
Like I said, I think Manny believes he's protecting them, but that's not how you build confidence. In the post Bama game interview, for example, Kamren Kitchens mentions how having played Alabama he knew he wasn't going to see anyone better than that the remainder of the season. So, that was a lost opportunity in many ways. I still don't understand why I'm seeing #53 and not #56 at SDE.
Anyway, RB and WR are positions where we have young talent that should be playing significant minutes and where we need help. Those two positions are also positions where you can play young talent.
We have problems with our OL, but we looked different with Don running the ball. If our freshmen backs run as decisively as Don and run with the same type of determination and physicality our running game should really improve and that will be a boost to the offense.