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Zips camp: Previewing day three


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Love it George!!!

I get more and more excited everyday and every bit of information we get fuels the fire!

+1

Keep it coming! But I disagre about Chisholm's lack of breakaway speed. He didn't get many opportunities tp prove it last year (insufficient running room), but he did fly past CMU defenders on a long TD run.

Although I am REALLY glad they're looking at trying to get the ball to some of the new speed guys by whichever means necessary.

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+1

Keep it coming! But I disagree about Chisholm's lack of breakaway speed.

I disagree with your disagreement. :D

Breaking away from CMU's lame defenders isn't really showing breakaway speed. I think Bowden is looking for a pure speed, "Jimmy Grey" type back to complement Chisholm (long stride, size, balance and decent speed) and Alexander (between the tackles, power, excellent leg drive, decent speed). I like trying to get a legit "burner" in our backfield.

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I disagree with your disagreement. :D

Breaking away from CMU's lame defenders isn't really showing breakaway speed. I think Bowden is looking for a pure speed, "Jimmy Grey" type back to complement Chisholm (long stride, size, balance and decent speed) and Alexander (between the tackles, power, excellent leg drive, decent speed). I like trying to get a legit "burner" in our backfield.

Fair enough. CMU obviously had some defensive issues last year. I just feel that, last year, Jawon rarely had a clear seem through which to even TRY to explode and take it all the way. For far too many plays, he was hit by 1 or 2 defenders before even getting to the line of scrimmage.

I compared Chisholm to Greg Lomax after watching the spring game and other spring highlights from 2011. Lomax clearly had "Jimmy Grey" type of explosiveness. I still think the jury is out on whether my early assessment is correct or not. We'll find out prety soon :D

BTW, I fully expect Chisholm's rushing yardage to go DOWN from last year in Bowden's spread offense. However I think his average per carry will be better, and his total yards will probably be around the same due to more effective screen passes and the like.

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While looking up Jimmie Gray’s (I misspelled his name also, CK) stats I happened to come across some general statistics that were sort of interesting to me:

1. While I’ll concede that Chisholm has not yet proven to be the home-run hitter Greg Lomax was, the statistics show just how big of a “go-the-distance” threat Lomax really was. He holds 2 of the top 6 longest runs from scrimmage in Zip history (92 vs. OU and 87 vs. K.E.N.T., both in 1997). His career yards per carry (YPC) was 5.6!

2. Jimmie Gray averaged 4.6 YPC in his senior season (2000).

3. Paul Winters is tied with Jack Beidelman for the longest run from scrimmage in UA history at 95 yards. Jack’s came against EKU in 1969. Guess who Winters has his against? Ha ha WAYNE STATE!

4. Part of these next statistics deals with the evolution of the game, but another part of them (to me) should clearly take some wind out of the “Jim Dennison should never have been fired” camp. I was fully aware of the over-emphasis of the running game during this period of Zips history, but even I was surprised to see that no leading passer for ANY Jim Dennison-coached UA squad EVER threw for more touchdowns than interceptions in a single season. And on top of that, here are the last 4 season completion percentages for Dennison’s leading passers (1982-1985): 0.510, 0.316, 0.388, and 0.448. This is not exactly a recipe for success in the modern era.

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Can we put Yasin Reeder in the "Burner" category? From my recollection, he didn't have many moves, but he could out-run just about anyone.

Bobby Hendry? Did anyone ever catch in from behind?

Reeder was one of our original "mercenaries" when The University of Pacific dropped football. He's a burner. In fact, he had TDs of 86 yards and 80 yards in his one and only season with the Zips (4.6 YPC).

I'd put Hendry more in the grinder category myself. I'm not saying he didn't have speed, but his longest TD was less than 70 yards (didn't make the top 20). But his career 4.7 YPC is impressive indeed. He had a great knack for only needing the slightest crease to gain positive yards. He almost always went for 2 to 3 yards, and his quick feet often got him 7 to 10.

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What about the late signee running back from Miami?

I believe Hakeem Lawrence is with the team, but I haven't seen/heard much else.

Here is a George Thomas article on current backup RBs Hundley and Hines. Since TB is still looking for a home run hitter, I'm probably going to have to eat my words regarding the Chisholm/Lomax comparison :D

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