JV defintiely had an amazing ability to break tackles in 03, he had the perfect mix of power and speed, but really he wasn't all that consisitent, his stats were boosted by big runs, especially the last 2 games (87, 61, and 64 yard runs) but i think now he has bulked up and is more of a power back probably to become more consistent and in the sugar bowl he was lookin back a lot on the run, but he did get caught by all-american cornerback Derrick Strait...
Slower because of the weight he gained. He shouldn't be playing around 220. He isn't a power runner. He used to be a make you miss guy. He is playing with heart, which speaks numbers...but I imagined so much more with him.
I think someone had a pretty good point about Michael Clayton being a great downfield blocker. This is something that's often over looked, but combined with a better Offensive line it meant worlds to his production levels. I think Vincent knew that the team was on his shoulders & just took it upon himself to step up at the time. He probably performed better than he really is that season, and I'm very happy he did because it won us a national championship. PS: Plenty of threads have been devoted to this topic. Pretty far from "few discussing it"
Oh, I know... he is too much of a MAN to call an "adult" out though... He likes to pick on a "kid" It is cool though! It is all in fun!
one thing I remember is LSU running a different offense back then... whatever happened to the shotgun spread runs that worked so well for him in the past? remember the draws, draw option runs and passes? vincent doesnt have the best field vision and coming from behind a fullback, he's looking directly at the line of scrimage. Out of shotgun, the defense is more spread out, giving him an option of where to go with the ball and also, not putting as much pressure on the o-line to "make a hole" because the holes create themselves when the defense is spread out. still following? also, lsu ran plays where mauck would read the defensive end and either hand to vincent coming in front of him in the shotgun, or fake to vincent and keep it himself going the opposite way...even if he just kept the ball twice a game, it holds the linebackers for a split second while vincent gets the extra time to read and react, also the defense is off balance, creating cut back lanes for vincent.. shifty running backs love cutback lanes and off balance linebackers... If russel were faster, or better at selling fakes, we could use this play to keep the defense off balance.. I mean, there are so many possibilities: hand to vincent fake to vincent, qb run opposite side fake to vincent, throw back wr screen to skyler fake to vincent, look to screen for skyler, throw back to vincent fake to vincent, read the safety.. if he comes up for the run go deep to any receiver we have... most are bad matchups one on one deep vs a corner. fake to vincent, throw to tight end rolling away from the draw davis and green to the left, tight end to the right, bowe on the left. vincent lined up behind left guard, next to the quarterback in shotgun. BUT.... russel falls on his face in the open field and just isnt the running threat mauck was I seem to remember variations of this play being like 20 percent of the offense in 03... am I imagining things?
Great point. One of the lost arts of the modern QB is truly selling the play action fake. P. Manning does it VERY well, and it got them the first TD of the game Monday. I wish QBs put more emphasis on really selling the handoff. I've gotta disagree with you here. My impression of Russell early on was that he was remarkably inept at carrying the ball. It was as if he never learned how to run. However, over the last three games or so, it's like night and day. He seems to be running effectively, and is a scary sight for that poor SOB cornerback or safety that has to take him down.
There are two reasons for the lower production by Vincent... The first applies to the running game as a whole. No one fears LSU's passing game. In 2003, people actually had to gameplan for Mauck because he, along with Clayton and Henderson, were dangerous. In 2k4 and this year everyone is putting 8 and 9 in the box and saying "go ahead, pass it... either JR will miss or the reciever will drop the ball..." The second is the weight issue. Bulking up can be a good thing for some players. But for runningbacks, wideouts, and qbs, there is an optimum playing weight. For JV, it is not 220 pounds... he needs to get back down to around 205, maybe 210, and cut some body fat... no, he isnt fat, but a speed guy like him needs to get his percentage very low. While he never had the greatest 40 time in the world, he did have quickness. Quickness is the primary thing that is effected by added weight. An while we are on weight, I'd like to see JR slim down a bit too. Would make him a much more effective runner.
I noticed a couple of times in the Arkansas game that when he hits the hole he slows down to cover up the football tighter and you cannot have success when you play that way. It is simply just that the fumbles have gotten into his head and he needs to work to getting back to the place he was in 2003 when it wasn't in the forefront of his mind. Hopefully, he will get to work on that next week though, as I still recall the sick feeling in my stomach watching him run that long TD in 2003 in the championship game.
