Lets talk running backs. Look at the system the coaches are implementing, the size/strength of our O-line, Jordy Johnson as a good distributor, and the lack of overall WR experience. All of these signs point to our stable of running backs possibly receiving the heaviest amount of workload and they will probably be the make or break to a successful offense.
RBs: Jordan Canada, Travon Van, Brett Kirschner, Joey Counts, Marlon Miles, Treshawn Favors, John Nguyen
Projected Depth
Starters: Jordan Canada (Junior) and TraVon Van (Junior)
Backup: Joey Counts (Sophmore) and Brett Kirschner (Junior)
Depth: Marlon Miles (Senior) and Treshawn Favors (Freshman)
Red-Shirt: John Nguyen (Freshman)
Strengths/Weaknesses
Jordan Canada - Jordan is entering his junior year with the team and there's a lot of expectations on him as a prior role player to step up and take an increased workload. Jordan in spring ball looked and ran more like a #1 back than I've seen in his past two years. His pass catching has improved and he is still a very shifty runner with a good burst of speed. The same concerns carry over as we've seen before, ability to hold his top speed and staying healthy. Jordan is also rumored to be an option in the PR/KR spot and in years past fielding punts/kicks was an issue.
TraVon Van - I liked what I saw from TraVon a lot this spring and the chatter I heard was a lot of people did as well. Coach Green worked with him pretty well, he went from (what I thought) was too much dancing around and indecisive running in the first scrimmage to being a pretty explosive and still shifty runner come the later scrimmages (think he missed the last one though). TraVon looks huge, but mostly b/c we're used to seeing 5-8 and 5-9 running backs. He's really shifty and can accelerate really quickly on cuts. I didn't see him field many passes, so unsure there. The scrimmage improvement suggests he's doing it but I hope he just continues to make good reads and attack open running lanes quickly.
Joey Counts - Tabbed as both a running back and fullback I believe Joey is a guy that will really make his presence felt this season. He's one of our two more powerful running backs but has a deceptive amount of quickness to him. He's already been labeled as "Mini-Moore" due to being a big running back, but I believe he's actually more elusive and quicker than Dan - but not as powerful as Dan. I haven't seen Joey block much, that is a question mark, especially when he's playing fullback - he'll be paving lanes and protecting the QB.
Brett Kirschner - Brett was going to move to safety but that didn't last long, his best fit really is at running back. Brett is a strong guy that isn't afraid to lay punishing hits on would-be tacklers and he's good at catching passes as well. While mired down in a bit of a depth issue I think Brett will probably split a lighter load of carries with Jordan and TraVon. Kirsch doesn't have the speed that those two but has more power. I could see the amount of carries from the RB position go 40% Canada, 35% Van, 25% Kirsch - kind of like the mix that Pflu used in 2011 with Nguyen/Moore (assuming all stay healthy).
Marlon Miles - I'd posted this after spring camp but I believe Marlon has a great opportunity as a pass-catching scat-back on this team. While I'm not sure how much he'll actually be used we saw in two scrimmages he made a ton of plays catching short passes or screen passes. Marlon is a smaller/lighter guy so getting a lot of handoffs and going between the tackles really isn't a viable option.
Treshawn Favors - I listed him as depth option, personally I HOPE he red-shirts for the single jealous point that I want him to get more looks/opportunities for a longer period. This year (and next year) RB is a little top-heavy with 1 senior and 3 juniors. If he red-shirts he'd come back in 2014 with Van/Canada/Kirsch as seniors and then in 2015 and on be in the running as a lead back with Counts and whoever else may come along. Favors in his highlight reel looks like a great 1-cut runner. Of course the speed and physical nature of FCS compared to high school will be his biggest challenge. If there are injuries among the ranks and Favors holds his own in spring ball I wouldn't be surprised to see him get some carriers.
John Nguyen - Haven't even seen much film on him, listed as a fullback and a bit bigger/powerful than his brothers, we'll just have to see how John adjusts and adapts. If he's got the shifty moves his brother had he could make an interesting prospect in this system which relies on a lot of running backs. It's probably not fair to compare him to his brother b/c he is his own player but when Pete showed up to the Griz he made an immediate splash in his first fall camp.
RBs: Jordan Canada, Travon Van, Brett Kirschner, Joey Counts, Marlon Miles, Treshawn Favors, John Nguyen
Projected Depth
Starters: Jordan Canada (Junior) and TraVon Van (Junior)
Backup: Joey Counts (Sophmore) and Brett Kirschner (Junior)
Depth: Marlon Miles (Senior) and Treshawn Favors (Freshman)
Red-Shirt: John Nguyen (Freshman)
Strengths/Weaknesses
Jordan Canada - Jordan is entering his junior year with the team and there's a lot of expectations on him as a prior role player to step up and take an increased workload. Jordan in spring ball looked and ran more like a #1 back than I've seen in his past two years. His pass catching has improved and he is still a very shifty runner with a good burst of speed. The same concerns carry over as we've seen before, ability to hold his top speed and staying healthy. Jordan is also rumored to be an option in the PR/KR spot and in years past fielding punts/kicks was an issue.
TraVon Van - I liked what I saw from TraVon a lot this spring and the chatter I heard was a lot of people did as well. Coach Green worked with him pretty well, he went from (what I thought) was too much dancing around and indecisive running in the first scrimmage to being a pretty explosive and still shifty runner come the later scrimmages (think he missed the last one though). TraVon looks huge, but mostly b/c we're used to seeing 5-8 and 5-9 running backs. He's really shifty and can accelerate really quickly on cuts. I didn't see him field many passes, so unsure there. The scrimmage improvement suggests he's doing it but I hope he just continues to make good reads and attack open running lanes quickly.
Joey Counts - Tabbed as both a running back and fullback I believe Joey is a guy that will really make his presence felt this season. He's one of our two more powerful running backs but has a deceptive amount of quickness to him. He's already been labeled as "Mini-Moore" due to being a big running back, but I believe he's actually more elusive and quicker than Dan - but not as powerful as Dan. I haven't seen Joey block much, that is a question mark, especially when he's playing fullback - he'll be paving lanes and protecting the QB.
Brett Kirschner - Brett was going to move to safety but that didn't last long, his best fit really is at running back. Brett is a strong guy that isn't afraid to lay punishing hits on would-be tacklers and he's good at catching passes as well. While mired down in a bit of a depth issue I think Brett will probably split a lighter load of carries with Jordan and TraVon. Kirsch doesn't have the speed that those two but has more power. I could see the amount of carries from the RB position go 40% Canada, 35% Van, 25% Kirsch - kind of like the mix that Pflu used in 2011 with Nguyen/Moore (assuming all stay healthy).
Marlon Miles - I'd posted this after spring camp but I believe Marlon has a great opportunity as a pass-catching scat-back on this team. While I'm not sure how much he'll actually be used we saw in two scrimmages he made a ton of plays catching short passes or screen passes. Marlon is a smaller/lighter guy so getting a lot of handoffs and going between the tackles really isn't a viable option.
Treshawn Favors - I listed him as depth option, personally I HOPE he red-shirts for the single jealous point that I want him to get more looks/opportunities for a longer period. This year (and next year) RB is a little top-heavy with 1 senior and 3 juniors. If he red-shirts he'd come back in 2014 with Van/Canada/Kirsch as seniors and then in 2015 and on be in the running as a lead back with Counts and whoever else may come along. Favors in his highlight reel looks like a great 1-cut runner. Of course the speed and physical nature of FCS compared to high school will be his biggest challenge. If there are injuries among the ranks and Favors holds his own in spring ball I wouldn't be surprised to see him get some carriers.
John Nguyen - Haven't even seen much film on him, listed as a fullback and a bit bigger/powerful than his brothers, we'll just have to see how John adjusts and adapts. If he's got the shifty moves his brother had he could make an interesting prospect in this system which relies on a lot of running backs. It's probably not fair to compare him to his brother b/c he is his own player but when Pete showed up to the Griz he made an immediate splash in his first fall camp.
