RB Battles in Training Camp

[ckparrothead]

I'm sorry fellas, I do not have a link. I write emails back and forth with another guy in my field, originally started because he is a Williams & Mary alum, as is a friend of mine at the office, and my friend at the office one day forwarded some article about how Lang Campbell, the QB who came out of W&M this year, was at least as talented as Alex Smith, just put in a different situation. I argued against the dude by email and we've shared some news and tidbits with each other ever since. Lang Campbell is now on the Browns, and the guy tells me he got to speak to Campbell's QB coach Scherer at a W&M Alumnai function about Lang, and Lang is guaranteed a spot on the practice squad.

Anyway, he just forwarded me the following that was written somewhere about RB training camp battles. I thought it was interesting because it contained at least one tidbit of info that I didn't already know (unlike most ESPN stories nowadays).

RB Battles to Watch in Camp
July 1, 2005
********************

Training camp is going to be the proving ground for several possible Running-Back-By-Committee scenarios. Here are the first 6 "RB Battles" out of 12 different teams. We'll post #7-12 on Wednesday.

1. Miami

When Ronnie Brown went to Miami with the #2 pick it caused seismic waves in the dynasty-leaguer community. And why not? Miami was a garbage dump for RBs with an average-skilled fullback in Sammy Morris, an overwhelmed kick-returner in Travis Minor, and the worst trade pickup of 2004 in Lamar Gordon (for a 3rd round pick?). Sure, Miami's O-line has issues but Ronnie's good for 320 touches and a nice handful of TDs, right?

Wrong. Ricky Williams is back. No one saw this coming, at least not so soon. What changed? Is it the $8.6 million he owes the Dolphins? Is he just coming back to pay (or play) off his debts? I might be in the minority but I don't think so. That federal judge actually ruled that Williams owes Miami two separate amounts: $3.3 million as a pro-rated portion of his signing bonus, and $5.3 million from all the incentives Miami paid him. The $3.3 million is clear-cut. But the $5.3 million for incentive bonuses is murky because his attorneys have legitimate arguments they could press on appeal. Besides, you don't think Ricky's had 50 publishing houses offer to ghost-write a book ("Hemp and Paxil: How I Fumbled the Ball") that would bag him millions?

Of course, there's always a chance that Nick Saban just wants to showcase Ricky in the 3rd preseason game, roll him out for15 carries for 65 yards, and ship him to a desperate, gullible team for a 3rd rounder (and get back that 3rd they wasted on Gordon) - but that just seems like a reach. No, Williams obviously liked what Saban had to say and plans to play football again. Therefore, Ronnie Brown's touches could go from 18-20 per game to 8-10 after Ricky's 4-game suspension ends in October. That means Brown's draft price belongs in the 6th to 7th rounds, not the 4th where he's going now.

 

[Rocky Raccoon]

I think for this season the Dolphins should use "running back by commitee" and this way we can use Ronnie like Auburn did and keep him away from all of physicallness of an NFL season in his first year so he can get use to the game. And we can also see what Ricky has left.

 

[Agua]

But the $5.3 million for incentive bonuses is murky because his attorneys have legitimate arguments they could press on appeal.

Well, if they ever did, their time for filing a notice of appeal has long since passed.

 

[kpcane]

I'd like to see if Lamar Gordon is any good too. We could have a number of guys carrying the football for us this year. I'd like to see Lamar and Ronnie the first 4, then depending on how things go, Ricky, Ronnie, and Lamar for the rest of the year. We might also have a diamond in the rough with Kayjay....so we'll see.

 

[ckparrothead]

Best case scenario is that Ronnie gets a chance to run loose in the first four games of 2005, and shows something really special, which allows us to use Ricky to spell him and to have them decoy one another for the rest of the 12 games.

I would even go as far as having them flat out alternate games, to keep them both fresh as the season wears on. I remember games where we'd pummel Ricky into the ground, and then the next week he had nothing left in the tank. We did that with Lamar Smith too.

 

[3P]

I remember games where we'd pummel Ricky into the ground, and then the next week he had nothing left in the tank. We did that with Lamar Smith too.

That's a good point, and I think Ricky would be a perfect case study for the effects of running a RB into the ground. Here's his game log since 01:


Att - Yards

2001

18 - 93
16 - 53
30 - 136
31 - 147
21 - 51
17 - 77
19 - 58
24 - 121
28 - 120
15 - 56
27 - 102
15 - 41
14 - 57
10 - 26
17 - 74
11 - 33

2002

20 - 111
24 - 132
24 - 151
14 - 66
36 - 105
20 - 49
25 - 97
14 - 47
20 - 53
26 - 102
29 - 143
27 - 228
31 - 216
27 - 101
15 - 67
31 - 185

2003

17 - 69
34 - 125
42 - 153
22 - 39
19 - 75
27 - 94
29 - 69
13 - 36
13 - 37
36 - 105
23 - 107
31 - 104
25 - 68
18 - 107
29 - 111
20 - 73

The most telling to me is his performance after his 42 carry game. 6 weeks with no 100 yard games, 5 weeks 80 or less, 3 weeks with 40 or less.

 

[LAphinfan]

Ronnie and Ricky will be anywhere from very good to great. I'm curious to see if Kay Jay Harris can beat out Gordon for a roster spot. We will only carry three backs plus Sammy Morris will likely be the backup full backup. What a waste it would be to trade a 3rd round pick for Gordon only to have him not be able to win the 3 spot on the RB rotation. You've got to keep the three best players and if #3 turns out to be Harris...Can't wait for TC and the preseason!

 

[Superself]

Ronnie and Ricky will be anywhere from very good to great. I'm curious to see if Kay Jay Harris can beat out Gordon for a roster spot. We will only carry three backs plus Sammy Morris will likely be the backup full backup. What a waste it would be to trade a 3rd round pick for Gordon only to have him not be able to win the 3 spot on the RB rotation. You've got to keep the three best players and if #3 turns out to be Harris...Can't wait for TC and the preseason!

I'm another who is quietly hoping that KJ proves his worth. I hope he shines the brightest in training camp.

Regarding who will start, I'm sure Saban realizes that with Ricky comes an Aura of power...if he can display during TC that the old Ricky is back, be sure to expect that he will utilize him for what he is worth. If Ricky doesn't perform like he did before, he may even get cut. :eek:

 

[ckparrothead]

I will say that Auburn seemed to get the best out of Ronnie and Caddie when they were rotating games as far as who started and got more carries. But, in every game they used Caddy on 1st and 2nd downs, Ronnie on 2nd and 3rd downs.

 

[FLOUNDER]

Im hoping that Kay Jay does get the #3 RB spot. He's been working very hard this season and i think he deserves it.

Ronnie brown it going to be the heart and soul of the offense and is going to be a breakthrough player.

Ricky williams is going to have a hard time gaining weight in my opinion. and him being outa shape will cause a probplem. Him being the #2 RB......Well just have to wait and see

 

[ckparrothead]

The weight gain thing is overblown. Ricky is already 205 pounds and gaining. He's got a month before training camp, and then on top of that he's got a 5 week regular season suspension to serve.

The guy isn't going to play a meaningful game until October 16th. That's almost a third of a year away. Do you really think he's going to have trouble gaining 20 pounds in 3 and a half months?

 

[CitizenSnips]

damn that 2002 line just makes me want to cry. such a wasted season.

 

[jason_taylor]

Im hoping that Kay Jay does get the #3 RB spot. He's been working very hard this season and i think he deserves it.

Ronnie brown it going to be the heart and soul of the offense and is going to be a breakthrough player.

Ricky williams is going to have a hard time gaining weight in my opinion. and him being outa shape will cause a probplem. Him being the #2 RB......Well just have to wait and see

i agree that kay jay will win the 3rd rb spot but i disagree that ricky will not be in shape and have his weight back he has plenty of time i think ricky will be the ricky of old without the problems he has had he will be ready to go when they call his #:evil: