The Evolution of Mark Fletcher

[Calinative]

You were one of the worst offenders.

I'm wrong often. It's tough to admit, but necessary for growth.

As we've seen with Fletcher and Mendoza, many people struggle to own up.

No you genuinely are just full of **** about the rb situation and were basically stating everything based on hope - same as Lofton, Lyle, etc (and negatively about Pringle against the actual output btw!) He literally was below average any time he got to the second level until the playoffs. Over 3 full regular seasons. It’s just a fact. Based on everything he had done for 3 full regular seasons of playing he was a solid RB2 and good short yardage and redzone back. Thats what he was. He also has consistently been bad as a pass catcher. I wasn’t being offensive or anything about him, I was accurately describing him.

Fletcher was absolutely great in the playoffs. He was great because unlike every other game and run of his career he stopped looking like Bambi in the open field. If he keeps that up he can be a great RB1 next yr. If he doesn’t he should be nothing more than a RB2 that is a short yardage and redzone guy. Because that’s what the output and performance would reflect. this is all simple.

If you can’t say that he took a MAJOR steps forward in areas they he clearly showed weaknesses during the playoff run you’re simply full of **** lol

Oh we also saw just how bad the “just don’t lose yards” strategy was of purposefully not having any explosivity that you loved lol. Oh and I have been the one most questioning why the **** we haven’t been using much more pistol especially with Fletcher - since last year…

 

[Calinative]

Dmoney, I absolutely love Fletcher and he is one of my favorite Canes of all time. But we cannot deny he had problems in the open field. There were games going back to his freshman year (@FSU and very similar to the Stanford run) ) where he had opportunities to break free and for whatever reason he would run towards defenders. This completely changed in the playoffs.

Every time this comes up you're really sensitive to this criticism but it's not subjective. He did those things. He struggled in those situations. But he evolved and became a complete RB in the playoffs. Everyone evolves. Everyone gets better. When we would speak about his open field issues on this board it wasn't because we wanted to clown him, it was because we knew he could get better.

And he did. And I cannot wait to watch him next year. It's gonna be amazing.

Nah Fletcher hasn’t gotten better and he certainly wasn’t better in the playoffs regardless what the tape and stats show, our hate filled blinders just finally came off!

 

[canesbrah]

thought he was 4th best back on the team starting the year

 

[Hegemon]

I don't think you're blind. I think it was 1 of 2 things happening:

1 - Playoffs greatly focused him and made him think less causing him to just run naturally. Mindset of see hole, hit hole, and use his strength when needed pause.

2 - Something (maybe coaching/development) finally clicked to make him actively resist the urge to run like a scatback like a Jaylan Knighton 5'10" 190lbs RB and start running like a big feature back that used his size to his advantage again pause.

Hopefully it was both so that we continue to see it this year. I have a lot of faith that it was development and he will have a big year as long as he stays healthy and focuses on his strengths as well as being able to switch hands like @bshaw28 eluded to.

That A&M run I thought I broke something in my shoulder high fiving humanity.

Legit MRI joy

 

[DubCaliCane]

It wasn’t the best PLAY of the playoffs (Scott’s Pick 6), but McDonough’s “Mark Fletcher REFUSING to go down!” was the best broadcast play CALL of the playoffs for me.

Summed up the play, the player, the team, and the whole **** season.

Really sticks with me as the call of the playoffs.

 

[Pimpdaddycane]

The broadcast call is seared wonderfully into the core of my brain. What an amazing run we all experienced and shared last year. Just incredible. Thanks for the heart and soul Fletch. Now run it back

 

[Ispyin]

Fletcher improved, as hard workers often do. He also got healthier and flourished in the pistol formation.

But the OP is a long way to avoid saying, "I was wrong about Fletcher." We all remember who said what.

Mark Fletcher is a championship player and I'm grateful he's a Hurricane.

plus people are not taking into account enough that yes he was "back" in 2024 after the injury but he wasn't back truly. I think we saw what realy fletcher is now fully healthy at the end of the season, plus the experience factor.

one of my fave canes ever already.