Ford third string | We'll Be Fine at RB

[smazza]

"Time to step it up" ?  :

No Sugar Sherlock ... being excited and happy about a 9 win season does not mean we sit back and bask in the glory. It's called reality. Being content? In no way, each loss SUCKED and being embarrassed in the Bowl after finishing the season so strong SUCKED more. I would say EVERYONE is pissed that we lost those 3 winnable games during the season, some need to try to realize it.

People have bashed Williams because he's started much of last season. Realize the fact that Williams had 105 carries, Ford had 138. Commenting on that a player needs to be better, don't bash the guy for not being a better player. It would be like bashing a #2 or 3 not being better or complaining that our walk-on talent isn't starting. Williams is a SR and Ford a SO don't worry about a preseason depth chart 2 weeks before KickOff ... the better man will get more carries, just like last season.

Some wanting an unproven True FR at QB over a proven winner is just stupid. And using this in an argument in this subject is even more stupid. Agreeing with this perspective loses much credibility, if you had any.

didnt usf lose 4 out of 5

usf finished weak

usf needs better conditioning

[smazza]

I find it odd that Mike Ford can be demoted to #3 on the depth chart due to conditoning and ball security issues yet Matt Grothe's #1 spot is never in doubt.  It's not like MG hasn't had a 1:1 TD to int. ratio his whole career or anything.  Daniels will run circles around him in practice yet still won't even be considered. 

Very curious indeed. 

very interesting perspective.

LMAO . . . it's amazing we've won 9 games each of the past 2 seasons with guys that shouldn't be starting  :

What are our coaches thinking.

Think some missed what usfgrad84 posted ...

Do some realize that we have yet to play a game. Nobody is leading in carries or TD's.

Go BULLS !!!

wow.  9 wins.  i guess that should be our goal every season, despite the fact that we could and should have won more with better preparation.

we had 9 win seasons 6 years ago.  time to take that next step.

We didn't win 9 games with Julmiste starting.  6 years ago we played slightly worse competition, I think you'd agree.  beating Bowling Green was nice, but they are no Big East team.

It's odd that all the sudden Grothe isn't getting the credit he deserves.  A lot of interceptions were tips and end of halves/games.  Some were costly, but everyone makes mistakes.  The guy is a playmaker, and contrary to what someone said on this forum recently, he rarely throws interceptions when he trys to make a spectacular play.  Now, he does get sacked, but I think he realizes he needs to not do that and throw the ball away a little more.  We'll see, but overall he's done a great job.

\

grothe has a world of talent but he made some bonehead mistakes and plays

usf offense was easy to figure out last half of season.DONT LET GROTHE BEAT YOU

usf has no running game

the game plan was full implimented against usf by oregon

[BiggTipp]

That's a pretty deep backfield.  It's tough to have a feature back with that much talent....Plancher is the 5th best?  Ford #3?  I'm happy with all that...Ford will see plenty of action this year and I guess so will everybody else listed there.

give me a superstar back over backfield by committee every time

If the backfield is deep enough then why not play them all. I see it like this if 1 rb goes down we have 3 others with game experience and practice with the 1st team in practice. So the dropoff is minimal

question..who was Rutgers 2nd team RB?... who was Slaton's backup before Devine...Who is Devine's backup? Give me 3 running backs with over 500 yds each than 1 guy with 1500 yds and his backup with 120 yds.I bet each BE  coach could name at least 2 of our running backs...can you name 2 rb's for each of the other conference schools?

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

That's a pretty deep backfield.  It's tough to have a feature back with that much talent....Plancher is the 5th best?  Ford #3?  I'm happy with all that...Ford will see plenty of action this year and I guess so will everybody else listed there.

give me a superstar back over backfield by committee every time

If the backfield is deep enough then why not play them all. I see it like this if 1 rb goes down we have 3 others with game experience and practice with the 1st team in practice. So the dropoff is minimal

question..who was Rutgers 2nd team RB?... who was Slaton's backup before Devine...Who is Devine's backup? Give me 3 running backs with over 500 yds each than 1 guy with 1500 yds and his backup with 120 yds.I bet each BE  coach could name at least 2 of our running backs...can you name 2 rb's for each of the other conference schools?

and yet all three of our backs combined didn't have as many yards as Slaton or Rice.

the point isn't for other coaches to know our backs' names [not all that impressive, considering they're on the back of the jersey], but for those backs to GAIN YARDAGE.

[windbane]

That's a pretty deep backfield.  It's tough to have a feature back with that much talent....Plancher is the 5th best?  Ford #3?  I'm happy with all that...Ford will see plenty of action this year and I guess so will everybody else listed there.

give me a superstar back over backfield by committee every time

If the backfield is deep enough then why not play them all. I see it like this if 1 rb goes down we have 3 others with game experience and practice with the 1st team in practice. So the dropoff is minimal

question..who was Rutgers 2nd team RB?... who was Slaton's backup before Devine...Who is Devine's backup? Give me 3 running backs with over 500 yds each than 1 guy with 1500 yds and his backup with 120 yds.I bet each BE  coach could name at least 2 of our running backs...can you name 2 rb's for each of the other conference schools?

and yet all three of our backs combined didn't have as many yards as Slaton or Rice.

the point isn't for other coaches to know our backs' names [not all that impressive, considering they're on the back of the jersey], but for those backs to GAIN YARDAGE.

Maybe because Slaton and Rice were NFL backs and our guys aren't there yet.  Those teams also had better OLs.

[smazza]

That's a pretty deep backfield.  It's tough to have a feature back with that much talent....Plancher is the 5th best?  Ford #3?  I'm happy with all that...Ford will see plenty of action this year and I guess so will everybody else listed there.

give me a superstar back over backfield by committee every time

If the backfield is deep enough then why not play them all. I see it like this if 1 rb goes down we have 3 others with game experience and practice with the 1st team in practice. So the dropoff is minimal

question..who was Rutgers 2nd team RB?... who was Slaton's backup before Devine...Who is Devine's backup? Give me 3 running backs with over 500 yds each than 1 guy with 1500 yds and his backup with 120 yds.I bet each BE  coach could name at least 2 of our running backs...can you name 2 rb's for each of the other conference schools?

because grothe willrun the most leaving few carries for one other back let alone 3

[smazza]

That's a pretty deep backfield.  It's tough to have a feature back with that much talent....Plancher is the 5th best?  Ford #3?  I'm happy with all that...Ford will see plenty of action this year and I guess so will everybody else listed there.

give me a superstar back over backfield by committee every time

If the backfield is deep enough then why not play them all. I see it like this if 1 rb goes down we have 3 others with game experience and practice with the 1st team in practice. So the dropoff is minimal

question..who was Rutgers 2nd team RB?... who was Slaton's backup before Devine...Who is Devine's backup? Give me 3 running backs with over 500 yds each than 1 guy with 1500 yds and his backup with 120 yds.I bet each BE  coach could name at least 2 of our running backs...can you name 2 rb's for each of the other conference schools?

and yet all three of our backs combined didn't have as many yards as Slaton or Rice.

the point isn't for other coaches to know our backs' names [not all that impressive, considering they're on the back of the jersey], but for those backs to GAIN YARDAGE.

Maybe because Slaton and Rice were NFL backs and our guys aren't there yet.  Those teams also had better OLs.

why isnt usf's oline up to snuff yet?

[smazza]

"Time to step it up" ?  :

No Sugar Sherlock ... being excited and happy about a 9 win season does not mean we sit back and bask in the glory. It's called reality. Being content? In no way, each loss SUCKED and being embarrassed in the Bowl after finishing the season so strong SUCKED more. I would say EVERYONE is pissed that we lost those 3 winnable games during the season, some need to try to realize it.

People have bashed Williams because he's started much of last season. Realize the fact that Williams had 105 carries, Ford had 138. Commenting on that a player needs to be better, don't bash the guy for not being a better player. It would be like bashing a #2 or 3 not being better or complaining that our walk-on talent isn't starting. Williams is a SR and Ford a SO don't worry about a preseason depth chart 2 weeks before KickOff ... the better man will get more carries, just like last season.

Some wanting an unproven True FR at QB over a proven winner is just stupid. And using this in an argument in this subject is even more stupid. Agreeing with this perspective loses much credibility, if you had any.

didnt usf lose 4 out of 5

usf finished weak

usf needs better conditioning

well it was 4 losses out of the last 7 games actually

winning the three to finish the season got us to the Sun Bowl-- and that was an accomplishment of sorts. I remember Pitt had a great start several years ago, then faltered and never really got back on track. Now our three losses in a row were pretty close also-- and those suckers hurt like hell. The Oregon game was for the most part very competitive for 3 out of 4 quarters-- but that 3rd quarter was just a good aold fashion ass whooping. No Bulls fan relished that by any means-- BUT it would be awesome if the team found a way to use that experience to get them farther this season. It might take some of the sting out of the losses from 2007-- that's my hope

being competitive for 3 quarters isnt  the goal

the goal is to win the game

[BigShoop]

I agree with trust the coaches but it is as simple as....

Williams gets the first carries and we go backwards most of the time.

Ford gets the carries and we go foreword.

Taylor gets the carries and we go forward.

Mike ford must have the ball.

Taylor must get the ball.

Williams must get in the game sparingly when we need him the most. Example if we bring him in the defense just might think we are using him strictly for blocking and he can actually sneek a big gainer in there.

LOL The coaches are not stupid your right....so Ford will get the bulk of the carries.

What's wrong with D1-AA football. The qb from app st. is making a name for himself. No matter where Ford goes he will get a shot at the NFL.

you can make crap up all you want to try to support your case-- but this is pretty pathetic and completely ignorant

Elon:

Williams

1st down runs: -3, -3, 0, 0

2nd and short runs: 11

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 0

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs: 19

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Ford

1st down runs: 1, 0

2nd and short runs: 48, 1, 21

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs: 12

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs: 1, -1

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs: 4

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Auburn:

Williams

1st down runs: 3, -3, -3, 19

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs: 2

Ford

1st down runs: 4, -2, 3, 1, 2, 1, 5, 6, 0, 20, 13, -2, 8

2nd and short runs: 2

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 2, 2, 3

2nd and long runs: 2

3rd and short runs: 3

3rd and 5-6yds runs: -1, 2

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs: 3, 2

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs: 1, 1

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs: 1

North Carolina:

Not found in the official game notes. But the overall stats were as follows:

Williams 15 carries 68 yds 1 TD 4.3 avg w/long run of 16

Ford 6 carries 19 yds 1 TD 2.2 avg w/long run of 9

Taylor 6 carries 21 yds 1 TD 3.5 avg w/long run of 10

West Virginia:

Williams

1st down runs: 0

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs: 7

Ford

1st down runs: 35, 3, 0, 3

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs: 6

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs: 12, -3, 7, 4, 5, -1, 2

2nd and short runs: 1, 4

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 19

2nd and long runs: 0

3rd and short runs: 7, 0, -3, 4

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Florida Atlantic:

Not found in the official game notes. But the overall stats were as follows:

Williams 25 carries 189 yds 4 TD 7.4 avg w/long run of 54

Ford 0 carries

Taylor 3 carries 1 yd 0 TD -1.3 avg w/long run of 1

UCF:

Williams

1st down runs: 2, 2, -1, -3, 2

2nd and short runs: -3

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Ford

1st down runs: 8, -2, 3, 3, 12, 2

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 11

2nd and long runs: 2

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs: 2

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs: -1

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Rutgers:

Williams

1st down runs: 8, 15, 0, 1, 0, 14, 1

2nd and short runs: 4, 3

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs: -2

3rd and short runs: 0

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Ford

1st down runs: 5, 1, 2

2nd and short runs: 1

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs: 0, 2, 2, 0

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 0

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

UCONN:

Not found in the official game notes. But the overall stats were as follows:

Williams 5 carries 28 yds 0 TD 5.6 avg w/long run of 22

Ford 7 carries 31 yds 0 TD 3.9 avg w/long run of 13

Taylor 5 carries 56 yds 0 TD 10.4 avg w/long run of 54

Cincinnati:

Williams

1st down runs: -2, 0, 0, 3

2nd and short runs: 6, 2

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Ford

1st down runs: 6, 5, 4, -5, 0

2nd and short runs: 0

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 3

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs: 3

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Syracuse

Williams

1st down runs:

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Ford

1st down runs: 5, 2, 2, 6, 2, 3, 4, 5, 2, 5, 9, 8, 1, 7, 6, 1, 0

2nd and short runs: 1, -1, 4, 4, 14, 2

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 15

2nd and long runs: 19, 2, 4

3rd and short runs: 2

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs:

2nd and short runs: -2

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Louisville

Williams

1st down runs: -2, 2, -4

2nd and short runs: -1

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Ford

1st down runs: 43, 23, 6, 4, 2, -1, 2, 8, 4, -1, 5, 2, 3, 14, 3, 4, -2, 6, 2

2nd and short runs: 2, 2

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs: 3, 11

3rd and short runs: 1

3rd and 5-6yds runs: 2

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs:

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Pittsburgh

Williams

1st down runs: -2, 7, 2, 6

2nd and short runs: 0, 6

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs: 2, 1, 5

3rd and short runs: 2, 4

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs: 5

Ford

1st down runs: 3, -1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 5, 3, 0, 1

2nd and short runs: 6

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 2

2nd and long runs: 15, 1

3rd and short runs: 1, 11

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs:

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Oregon

Williams

1st down runs: -2, 0, 2

2nd and short runs: 2

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Ford

1st down runs: 1, 1, 4, 2, 0

2nd and short runs: 5

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs: -1, -2

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

Taylor

1st down runs: 7

2nd and short runs:

2nd and 5-6yds runs:

2nd and long runs:

3rd and short runs:

3rd and 5-6yds runs:

3rd and long runs:

-------------------------------------------------------

So, what have we learned?

Williams

1st down runs: 61.4% 35 carries 61 yds 1.74 yds/carry

2nd and short runs: 17.5% 10 carries 30 yds 3 yds/carry

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 1.8% 1 carry 0 yds 0 yds/carry

2nd and long runs: 7.0% 4 carries 6 yds 1.5 yds/carry

3rd and short runs: 7.0% 4 carries 25 yds 6.3 yds/carry

3rd and 5-6yds runs: 0% 0 carries 0 yds

3rd and long runs: 5.3% 3 carries 14 yds 4.66 yds/carry

Negative yardage - 14 carries 24.6%

No gain - 11 carries 19.3%

1-4 yds - 19 carries 33.3%

5-10 yds - 8 carries 14.0%

11+ yds - 5 carries 9.7%

Ford

1st down runs: 65.6% 84 carries 375 yds 4.46 yds/carry

2nd and short runs: 12.5% 16 carries 112 yds 7 yds/carry

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 5.5% 7 carries 38 yds 5.43 yds/carry

2nd and long runs: 9.4% 12 carries 62 yds 5.17 yds/carry

3rd and short runs: 4.7% 6 carries 30 yds 5.0 yds/carry

3rd and 5-6yds runs: 2.3% 3 carries 3 yds 1.0 yds/carry

3rd and long runs: 0% 0 carries 0 yds

Negative yardage - 12 carries 9.4%

No gain - 8 carries 6.2%

1-4 yds - 66 carries 51.6%

5-10 yds - 25 carries 19.5%

11+ yds - 17 carries 13.3%

Taylor

1st down runs: 54.5% 18 carries 47 yds 2.61 yds/carry

2nd and short runs: 9.0% 3 carries 3 yds 1.0 yds/carry

2nd and 5-6yds runs: 9.0% 3 carries 18 yds 6 yds/carry

2nd and long runs: 12.1% 4 carries 6 yds 1.5 yds/carry

3rd and short runs: 12.1% 4 carries 8 yds 2.0 yds/carry

3rd and 5-6yds runs: 0% 0 carries 0 yds

3rd and long runs: 3.0% 1 carries 1 yds 1.0 yds/carry

Negative yardage - 6 carries 18.2%

No gain - 5 carries 15.2%

1-4 yds - 17 carries 51.5%

5-10 yds - 4 carries 12.1%

11+ yds - 2 carries 6.1%

Granted, this doesn't count the FAU, UNC, or UCONN games. Those 3 games accounted for:

- 278 of Williams' 425 rushing yards on the season, and his 2 longest runs(54,22).

- 69 of Taylor's 147 rushing yards, and his longest run(54).

- Ford did not play @ FAU, and rushed for a combined 40 yds in the other 2 games.

Discuss.

(Oh, btw....looking at the play-by-play of all of those games showed me a HUGE, GLARING weakness in our playcalling. On the vast...VAST majority of drives that did NOT involve a running back(didnt matter which one), the end result was a punt or a turnover. And there were WAY too many drives that went: "Grothe, Grothe, Grothe, punt." We MUST MUST MUST improve the playcalling on running plays. Way too predictable - note the % of 2nd and 3rd down runs with the RBs - and waaaaaaaaay too dependent on Grothe. Just saying.)

[JerseyBull06]

dude shoop...get a life! ok seriously this is cool cause I have you to look statistics up like this and it saves the rest of us time.

in all seriousness as you already know I agree on the play calling being an issue, has been for a while. here's my question: do the coaches make the calls the way they do because they feel our rb's are not strong enough to get the yardage and make the plays? or did they get so used to having to rely on Grothe for our yards two years ago they don't want to put it in the RB's hands?