Flops are players that are never remembered, until the flops questions is asked and people start looking for flops. JV will always be remember for his freshman season. How many running backs get MVP in the SEC Championship game and the MNC game in the same season. JV will always be remembered for what he did in the Tigers run for MNC. :usaflagwa :laflagwav :geauxtige :thumb:
I absolutely agree. The 2004 season was a let down partly the rapid rise to stardom in 2003 that got to his head. I thought he gradually but surely started to come around in 2005 in his running game, and continues to contribute on the special teams. His success in 2003 was also due to the better play of the offensive line in opening up big holes, which in turn suited him better. The apparent perception of flop is partly due to the underperforming/injured offensive line in 2005 which did not make him look as good as in 2003. Because of his stlye (strengths), he seems to do better in the more open field. He is still all heart for which he has to be given credit. Feel sorry he got hit with bad luck towards the end of the season which would make it tough for him to bounce back in 2006. ________ Nevada marijuana dispensaries
He won a SEC CG MVP and a National Championship MVP, he carried our running game as a RS freshman. We don't win a championship in 03 without him. There is absolutely NO WAY he is a flop. I wouldn't have cared if he never carried the ball again. He accomplished more in one season than most recruits can in a career.
Justin could never see the field again, and he wouldn't be a flop. SECCG & Sugar Bowl MVP. Without him, we wouldn't have won the national championship - plain & simple.
He needs to lose some weight, I think. If you watch the SEC Championship Game from 2003 and then the game this year, there is a considerable difference in his size. As a result, he lost some speed and couldn't hit the holes as quickly. I'd love to see him rebound next season and go out on a high note. Another thing to remember is that while he hasn't been performing up to expectations as a running back, he's been a beast on Special Teams.
Well, I don't know if it should be considered a "flop", but IMO, it's a situation in which AB--another 5-star player--has been more productive than JV; hence, surpassing him on the depth chart. When you have 2 former blue chip running backs, someone's GOT to be #2. Even in JV's worst statistical season (last year), he still averaged 4.2 yards per carry. You wouldn't take 4.2 yards per carry over the course of an entire season? What people don't realize is that JV, just like nearly every other running back, can't exactly be asked to rush for 100 yards a game if he's only getting a little more than 5 carries a game. Look around and you'll see that all running backs need upwards of 15 carries a game (on average) for them to increase their chances of getting a big gain. Even AB probably averaged 5 carries in which he was stopped for minimal yardage....but he was given 10-15 additional chances to gain more than 1-2 yards. You break just one run for 20+ yards, and all of a sudden, you can have 50 yards on 9 carries or so. JV's highest carry total in a game this past season was 20 vs Arkansas. He only cained 59 yards--but we only rushed for 108 as a team (and if you watched the game, Arkansas' run defense was playing pretty good)... Contrast that to the game against MSU where Addai was the games' leading rusher with 86 yards on 17 carries for a 5.1 ypc average. JV had 4 carries for 22 yards. An average of 5.5 yards per carry. JV can get the job done, IMO. But AB and Addai have just been better. Nothing wrong with that. JV is just in a situation that 2 running backs on his team are studs and he hasn't gotten his opportunities like he did in '03. But that doesn't mean he's a flop....it just means that we are fortunate to have recruited some serious RB talent. JV can get the job done....he just needs more than 4 carries in a game. And you can't put too much blame on the Arkansas game because every running back has had games in which they had that many carries and lower yardage totals than what you would want.
AB was a 4 star, not 5. JV needs to lose a few pounds and get the ball more and I think he can do a great job. Most games this year he had a higher ypc average then JA. I hope he gets a medical RS and comes back strong in 07. I also hope they call more plays suited for him and quit running up on dives behind the guard. That is not his game. He needs toss, zone plays, and stretches were he can pick his hole and not be forced into something that is not there. I think 04 was him having the big head and I beleive this last year he ran much much better, but also the playing calling was different. A lot more I form and running inside the tackles and the oline struggled to block that until the peach bowl. We will see, but in no way can he be considered a bust. I really believe you can't call anybody a bust until they graduate. Look at bennie, he would have been considered a bust till this past year. All it takes is one good year and you can break out.
Sorry. But even though he was ONE star lower--does that REALLY make that much difference??? I don't think so. 4-star...5-star...it's all the same sh*t in my mind--they both indicate a player that is in the top 15 or so at his position in the country.
Excellent point. Every player gets 4 full years to prove his worth because if a player goes through 3 years (plus his redshirt year) on the bench, but plays his Sr. year like a man possessed and tallies stats that rank near the top of the team and helps lead you to a great season, then who cares about his first 3 years??
