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Started By
Message
re: Late portal RB?
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:57 am to LSBoosie
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:57 am to LSBoosie
quote:
It’s not just the number of guys, it’s the quality in addition to the number of guys. We have one proven, quality running back.
See above. The 2019 team only had one proven RB (CEH). And even he wasn't the #1 guy in 2018.
EDT: Everyone was convinced before the season Emery would be the No. 1 back. If not early, eventually that season. And he was a true freshman who had never played a down of college football.
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 10:59 am
1
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:57 am to Lester Earl
quote:Kind of a hard sell to get anyone worth more than a PWO, no?
They had Jackson who wasn’t very good
Holly suspended
2 freshmen
There was no reason to not get a RB in the portal
"Hey, RB1 is locked down and he's great both as a runner and receiver. Oh he's also a sophomore so there's no path to starting for the next 2 years. RB2 is between a guy who's going into his 3rd year in the program and the top RB recruit in the country, so he'll get preferential treatment no matter what. RB3/4 is likely the aforementioned 3rd year back or another highly touted freshman. How would you like to come in and compete for the 3rd or 4th back?
Oh and by the way our other back has a trial set for June and has already had his more serious charges dropped."
I understand the problem, I just think you'd be getting scraps at that point, and guys not worth a scholarship.
I'd rather use Thomas/Johnson/Watkins as gadget guys than whatever RB4 would've come out of the portal. Just being honest. Think it forced the coaching staff to get more creative.
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 11:01 am
Posted on 8/11/25 at 10:59 am to LSBoosie
quote:We enter this year with a more proven RB room than we did in '18, '19, and '24.
It’s not just the number of guys, it’s the quality in addition to the number of guys. We have one proven, quality running back.
Durham is our best returning RB since Guice in '17, from a "proven" standpoint.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:05 am to Alt26
quote:
See above. The 2019 team only had one proven RB (CEH). And even he wasn't the #1 guy in 2018.
Yep and thank god he was healthy. Do you think this offense is going to be the same as 2019?
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:05 am to PP7 for heisman
quote:
We enter this year with a more proven RB room than we did in '18, '19, and '24.
Durham is our best returning RB since Guice in '17, from a "proven" standpoint.
Yeah our RB room hasn’t been very good or deep as of late…
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 11:06 am
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:06 am to PP7 for heisman
quote:
We enter this year with a more proven RB room than we did in '18, '19, and '24.
You could even throw 2011 into that group.
Ridley was the bell cow in 2010. He had 250 carries. Next most? Michel Ford (a true freshman) with 45. Spencer Ware had 24. Blue had 20.
LSU went into 2011 with Michael Ford as the leading returning rusher (among RBs) with 244 yards. LSU went into 2011 with 5 RBs. Two of whom were true freshmen (Hillard and Magee). And that was for a team that ran the ball 230 more times than they threw it in 2010.
People are acting like LSU used to trot out rosters with 7-8 quality RBs
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:11 am to Alt26
quote:Didn't want to go back that far
You could even throw 2011 into that group.
quote:I had a post a few days ago talking about how much we have used RB4 under Kelly. Basically, the only difference we'll have this year (barring injury) is that you'll see PWO or Jackson/Berry get carries late in blowouts instead of RB4.
People are acting like LSU used to trot out rosters with 7-8 quality RBs
I understand that it's not really ideal, but it's also not a big deal, and shouldn't materially impact the season.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:15 am to LSBoosie
quote:
Do you think this offense is going to be the same as 2019?
No.
But what I am doing is giving you actual past data that shows even with LSU was a predominantly run-oriented team, they were only playing 4-5 RBs. Until Lindsey was suspended, that is EXACTLY what LSU had this year. Now Johnson becomes RB #4
In 2018 LSU had 4-5 backs. Brossette, CEH, Curry, Lanard (true Freshman), Tae Provens (true Freshman). That year Brosette had 240 carries. CEH had 146. The no. 3 man (Lanard) had 12.
The apparent thought that in years past LSU was rolling out rosters 6, 7, 8 deep at RB is just wrong.
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 11:18 am
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:16 am to PP7 for heisman
I don’t really care who the RB4 is. I’m more concerned about the RB2.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:18 am to Alt26
quote:
The apparent thought that in years past LSU was rolling out rosters 6, 7, 8 deep at RB is just wrong.
I don’t have that thought. And to be honest, I don’t really care who the RB4 is. If our RB4 is getting any significant snaps, the season is most likely over anyways.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:20 am to LSBoosie
quote:Okay. It very likely wasn't going to be Lindsey. It was always going to be Jackson/Berry, and we were all pretty okay with that.
I don’t really care who the RB4 is. I’m more concerned about the RB2.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:23 am to PP7 for heisman
I guess I should’ve been more clear. This doesn’t have anything to do with the Lindsey situation. I had these same thoughts before that happened, as have others.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:24 am to LSBoosie
quote:
I don’t have that thought. And to be honest, I don’t really care who the RB4 is. If our RB4 is getting any significant snaps, the season is most likely over anyways.
Rarely in the last 7-8 years has LSU gone into a season with a "proven" #2 back. Hell, just last year Durham was #3 going into the season. Then he emerged as the guy. Usually, the #2 back has a way of working itself out.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:29 am to Alt26
quote:
Rarely in the last 7-8 years has LSU gone into a season with a "proven" #2 back.
I mean it’s widely accepted that the roster hasn’t been in great shape over the past 5 years or so right? So I’m not sure that’s saying a ton.
quote:
Hell, just last year Durham was #3 going into the season. Then he emerged as the guy.
And last year we were last in the SEC in rushing. Not great.
quote:
Usually, the #2 back has a way of working itself out.
Sure, I’m just saying it’s not ideal and it could be a concern. Guys like Hester have expressed this concern as well.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:36 am to Yaboylsu63
quote:
We will be fine:
Durham
Jackson
Berry
Johnson
And
Reid Chavin
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:36 am to Draco Malfoy
quote:
Should have let Emery back
We're fine at RB.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 11:59 am to Alt26
quote:
Going into camp LSU had 4 RBs + a 5th guy in Johnson who clearly is going to get backfield touches (most likely as a "wildcat" QB)
Scheduled gadget plays (Johnson /Thomas) is not a formidable supplement to what Durham will give you.
Furthermore, Berry is not ready to have a full work load (or even 50/50 share) should he be called into that spot (compared to your 2019 roster where Freshmen Emery & TDP were physically ready for that if needed). He is stuck in a situational role until he can get bigger & stronger.
To boast “strong” depth you need all 3 of
a)talent & b) experience c) numbers
Posted on 8/11/25 at 12:03 pm to king47
quote:
Absolutely.. Even without Lindsey getting in trouble this would have been a smart move. It is the only position group on the team that lacks depth. It would make more sense to give that spot to Emery and drop one of the o lineman that are never going to play here.
Emery probably wants to play more in his last possible college season if he can stay healthy. He may not have returned for the limited reps he would have been in line for here even if we had wanted him.
Posted on 8/11/25 at 12:10 pm to Lester Earl
quote:
Furthermore, Berry is not ready to have a full work load (or even 50/50 share) should he be called into that spot (compared to your 2019 roster where Freshmen Emery & TDP were physically ready for that if needed). He is stuck in a situational role until he can get bigger & stronger.
I know you've insisted this narrative since your 2025 LA RB rankings thread on the recruiting board, but Berry has put on 20 lbs since getting to campus already. He is not small any more. He's also taken some 1st team reps at RB in practice. Durham and Jackson are the obvious more workhorse backs, but it sure seems like they intend on giving Berry a number of touches this season already. He's not 170-175lb any more.
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 12:13 pm
Posted on 8/11/25 at 12:15 pm to Alt26
quote:
Which had little to nothing to do with RB depth. The top 3 guys were available all season. The only 1 who was lost was Emery. But he already had his 1 game brief moment where everyone thought he was going to be the 5 start Heisman RB they had been waiting for since 2019. So that loss wasn't significant.
Emery’s loss absolutely was significant. We saw a jolt giving him the ball vs USC last year. Why? Because his running style fit this scheme. You need someone who can find a crease and hit it quickly.
Williams was too slow to the line and didn’t have Daniels standing next to him anymore to help mitigate that with his elite run threat. His production went down significantly last year, and this played a role. Jackson was also too slow and had even worse vision.
Emery going down left Durham as the only back that really fit what we wanted to do, and we all saw him look dominant over 2 2/3 games. Then he got hurt and never looked the same again. We saw some flashes here and there, but that toe injury really hurt that quick burst to the hole that made him stand out in our backfield.
If Durham goes down, or just gets banged up and needed to divide reps, at least Harris has the quickness and speed that should allow him to excel as a single back up in this offense. It’s also good that Johnson has had a year to adjust to playing on this side of the ball.
Jackson? I don’t know. Cross your fingers and hope the lights come on. Or that maybe Atkins is savvy enough to know how to get more out of him. Jackson feels like a Harold Perkins situation to me- he has talent and could have a real impact in the right role, but he’s very specific in what he does and that’s a challenge to fit in our scheme.
This post was edited on 8/11/25 at 3:21 pm
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