Ford third string | We'll Be Fine at RB

[BullsOnThaRize8]

Let me set the record straight because it could appear that I dislike Ben Williams. That is not the case. I want Ben to play. We can win with ben. I think he has to be apart of the offense but I like our more explosive threats. I don't want to come off as bashing BBQ because of everything he has done for us. I own a Ford, so maybe I'm biased. lol. I want to see Ford on the field the whole game.

[Mama_Bull]

Competition is a good thing.

I still think the biggest mistake we made last year was not using Kelly:

Kelly 'right in the heat' of RB competition

Most of the talk about USF's running game has centered on senior Ben Williams and sophomore Mike Ford, who each had more than 100 carries last season. Offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said Monday that another contender has stepped up in recent days, with sophomore Richard Kelly making a compelling case for carries with the top two returning backs and sophomore Jamar Taylor.

"The running back position is still a very intense competition between four guys," Gregory said. "Kelly stood out in the scrimmage, and he stood out again (Monday) morning. Kelly has thrown himself right into the heat of the battle. He's moved fast. He's playing extremely well. Big body, hard to tackle. He's pounding it. ... We don't know who No. 1 is yet."

Kelly, who had just one carry for 1 yard as a freshman, is the biggest of USF's backs, but not nearly as big as he was last year. Kelly said he weighed 255 pounds after two-a-days last year, but he's down to 238 pounds and quicker and more confident as a result.

"It's a battle between all the backs, so I'm trying to compete with them," Kelly said. "I'm real comfortable now. I've got more experience, and I have all the plays in my head now. The first game, everybody gets a little nervous. I'll be nervous, too, but excited as well."

Gregory said Monday's morning practice was "by far our best practice of the year," building off a strong scrimmage Saturday for the offense. Gregory said junior quarterback Matt Grothe on Saturday "played as well as he has played in a scrimmage since I've been here."

Sophomore tight end Trent Pupello, the transfer from Florida, continues to impress coaches, as Gregory said he is now a "co-starter" with senior Cedric Hill. "He's physical. He can knock you around," Gregory said.

Gregory has been pleased by the competition for starting positions at receiver. Sophomore A.J. Love is challenging sophomore Carlton Mitchell for a starting position, and sophomore Dontavia Bogan is pushing senior Taurus Johnson for another spot. Redshirt freshman Patrick Richardson is pushing junior Jessie Hester, with senior Marcus Edwards the most secure as a starter. True freshman Daniel Bryant, praised by coaches in the first two weeks of camp, is trying to keep a spot in the two-deep.

"Bryant's kind of hit the wall a little bit, as a lot of freshmen tend to do," Gregory said. "At some point, he'll get it all back together, but we've got a lot of receivers who can play. He's got a skill level where at some point it'll all catch up mentally."

Posted by Greg Auman at 8:21:47 PM on August 18, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

http://blogs.tampabay.com/usf/2008/08/kelly-right-in.html#comments

[KingBull]

Competition is a good thing.

I still think the biggest mistake we made last year was not using Kelly:

Kelly 'right in the heat' of RB competition

Most of the talk about USF's running game has centered on senior Ben Williams and sophomore Mike Ford, who each had more than 100 carries last season. Offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said Monday that another contender has stepped up in recent days, with sophomore Richard Kelly making a compelling case for carries with the top two returning backs and sophomore Jamar Taylor.

"The running back position is still a very intense competition between four guys," Gregory said. "Kelly stood out in the scrimmage, and he stood out again (Monday) morning. Kelly has thrown himself right into the heat of the battle. He's moved fast. He's playing extremely well. Big body, hard to tackle. He's pounding it. ... We don't know who No. 1 is yet."

Kelly, who had just one carry for 1 yard as a freshman, is the biggest of USF's backs, but not nearly as big as he was last year. Kelly said he weighed 255 pounds after two-a-days last year, but he's down to 238 pounds and quicker and more confident as a result.

"It's a battle between all the backs, so I'm trying to compete with them," Kelly said. "I'm real comfortable now. I've got more experience, and I have all the plays in my head now. The first game, everybody gets a little nervous. I'll be nervous, too, but excited as well."

Gregory said Monday's morning practice was "by far our best practice of the year," building off a strong scrimmage Saturday for the offense. Gregory said junior quarterback Matt Grothe on Saturday "played as well as he has played in a scrimmage since I've been here."

Sophomore tight end Trent Pupello, the transfer from Florida, continues to impress coaches, as Gregory said he is now a "co-starter" with senior Cedric Hill. "He's physical. He can knock you around," Gregory said.

Gregory has been pleased by the competition for starting positions at receiver. Sophomore A.J. Love is challenging sophomore Carlton Mitchell for a starting position, and sophomore Dontavia Bogan is pushing senior Taurus Johnson for another spot. Redshirt freshman Patrick Richardson is pushing junior Jessie Hester, with senior Marcus Edwards the most secure as a starter. True freshman Daniel Bryant, praised by coaches in the first two weeks of camp, is trying to keep a spot in the two-deep.

"Bryant's kind of hit the wall a little bit, as a lot of freshmen tend to do," Gregory said. "At some point, he'll get it all back together, but we've got a lot of receivers who can play. He's got a skill level where at some point it'll all catch up mentally."

The part I bolded is probably why he didn't get used much last year.  He probably wasn't comfortable, didn't have experience, and didn't have all the plays in his head.  Having those things now makes him a big threat for playing time.

[Mama_Bull]

Competition is a good thing.

I still think the biggest mistake we made last year was not using Kelly:

Kelly 'right in the heat' of RB competition

Most of the talk about USF's running game has centered on senior Ben Williams and sophomore Mike Ford, who each had more than 100 carries last season. Offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said Monday that another contender has stepped up in recent days, with sophomore Richard Kelly making a compelling case for carries with the top two returning backs and sophomore Jamar Taylor.

"The running back position is still a very intense competition between four guys," Gregory said. "Kelly stood out in the scrimmage, and he stood out again (Monday) morning. Kelly has thrown himself right into the heat of the battle. He's moved fast. He's playing extremely well. Big body, hard to tackle. He's pounding it. ... We don't know who No. 1 is yet."

Kelly, who had just one carry for 1 yard as a freshman, is the biggest of USF's backs, but not nearly as big as he was last year. Kelly said he weighed 255 pounds after two-a-days last year, but he's down to 238 pounds and quicker and more confident as a result.

"It's a battle between all the backs, so I'm trying to compete with them," Kelly said. "I'm real comfortable now. I've got more experience, and I have all the plays in my head now. The first game, everybody gets a little nervous. I'll be nervous, too, but excited as well."

Gregory said Monday's morning practice was "by far our best practice of the year," building off a strong scrimmage Saturday for the offense. Gregory said junior quarterback Matt Grothe on Saturday "played as well as he has played in a scrimmage since I've been here."

Sophomore tight end Trent Pupello, the transfer from Florida, continues to impress coaches, as Gregory said he is now a "co-starter" with senior Cedric Hill. "He's physical. He can knock you around," Gregory said.

Gregory has been pleased by the competition for starting positions at receiver. Sophomore A.J. Love is challenging sophomore Carlton Mitchell for a starting position, and sophomore Dontavia Bogan is pushing senior Taurus Johnson for another spot. Redshirt freshman Patrick Richardson is pushing junior Jessie Hester, with senior Marcus Edwards the most secure as a starter. True freshman Daniel Bryant, praised by coaches in the first two weeks of camp, is trying to keep a spot in the two-deep.

"Bryant's kind of hit the wall a little bit, as a lot of freshmen tend to do," Gregory said. "At some point, he'll get it all back together, but we've got a lot of receivers who can play. He's got a skill level where at some point it'll all catch up mentally."

The part I bolded is probably why he didn't get used much last year.  He probably wasn't comfortable, didn't have experience, and didn't have all the plays in his head.  Having those things now makes him a big threat for playing time.

I understand that it's always tough playing true freshmen. But, since we did NOT redshirt him, because he played on special teams, he could have been used as a RB/FB/TE in some blow away games which would have helped him gain experience and become more confident. I know that we HAD plays drawn up with him getting the ball, but never used them.

[BiggTipp]

Running Back is crazy deep right now. Think..Ford, Williams, Taylor, Plancher, and Kelly...wow

great depth..crazy to think what USF had in 2006 compared to now..amazing.

Mama..how did you know about the plays drawn up? inside sources?

[Mama_Bull]

Running Back is crazy deep right now. Think..Ford, Williams, Taylor, Plancher, and Kelly...wow

great depth..crazy to think what USF had in 2006 compared to now..amazing.

Mama..how did you know about the plays drawn up? inside sources?

I spoke with a couple of players last year and they told me that. I always expected they would use them, and I'm still waiting. LOL

[BullsOnThaRize8]

I like how it says all the wr's are pushing the others for starting spots. It really doesn't matter in our system anyway. I think they will all be in the game from last year's performance. It wouldn't be smart to keep bogan or love off the field. Every wr we have is talented enough to get significant playing time and I hope they do.

[TRUTH D. Antagonist]

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.)

/thread

[smazza]

Competition is a good thing.

I still think the biggest mistake we made last year was not using Kelly:

Kelly 'right in the heat' of RB competition

Most of the talk about USF's running game has centered on senior Ben Williams and sophomore Mike Ford, who each had more than 100 carries last season. Offensive coordinator Greg Gregory said Monday that another contender has stepped up in recent days, with sophomore Richard Kelly making a compelling case for carries with the top two returning backs and sophomore Jamar Taylor.

"The running back position is still a very intense competition between four guys," Gregory said. "Kelly stood out in the scrimmage, and he stood out again (Monday) morning. Kelly has thrown himself right into the heat of the battle. He's moved fast. He's playing extremely well. Big body, hard to tackle. He's pounding it. ... We don't know who No. 1 is yet."

Kelly, who had just one carry for 1 yard as a freshman, is the biggest of USF's backs, but not nearly as big as he was last year. Kelly said he weighed 255 pounds after two-a-days last year, but he's down to 238 pounds and quicker and more confident as a result.

"It's a battle between all the backs, so I'm trying to compete with them," Kelly said. "I'm real comfortable now. I've got more experience, and I have all the plays in my head now. The first game, everybody gets a little nervous. I'll be nervous, too, but excited as well."

Gregory said Monday's morning practice was "by far our best practice of the year," building off a strong scrimmage Saturday for the offense. Gregory said junior quarterback Matt Grothe on Saturday "played as well as he has played in a scrimmage since I've been here."

Sophomore tight end Trent Pupello, the transfer from Florida, continues to impress coaches, as Gregory said he is now a "co-starter" with senior Cedric Hill. "He's physical. He can knock you around," Gregory said.

Gregory has been pleased by the competition for starting positions at receiver. Sophomore A.J. Love is challenging sophomore Carlton Mitchell for a starting position, and sophomore Dontavia Bogan is pushing senior Taurus Johnson for another spot. Redshirt freshman Patrick Richardson is pushing junior Jessie Hester, with senior Marcus Edwards the most secure as a starter. True freshman Daniel Bryant, praised by coaches in the first two weeks of camp, is trying to keep a spot in the two-deep.

"Bryant's kind of hit the wall a little bit, as a lot of freshmen tend to do," Gregory said. "At some point, he'll get it all back together, but we've got a lot of receivers who can play. He's got a skill level where at some point it'll all catch up mentally."

The part I bolded is probably why he didn't get used much last year.  He probably wasn't comfortable, didn't have experience, and didn't have all the plays in his head.  Having those things now makes him a big threat for playing time.

I understand that it's always tough playing true freshmen. But, since we did NOT redshirt him, because he played on special teams, he could have been used as a RB/FB/TE in some blow away games which would have helped him gain experience and become more confident. I know that we HAD plays drawn up with him getting the ball, but never used them.

if leavitt recruit 4 and 5 star freshman they would be starting at several positions

[E.T.]

...

if leavitt recruit 4 and 5 star freshman they would be starting at several positions

Duh ... wonder why he doesn't ?