This post from horribilus in another thread was spot on in my opinion. They locked that thread due to the "my dick is bigger than yours" banter going on there, but I would like to agree totally with this post. It certainly appears that the coaches have put the brakes on JJ running the ball. There were several times last game where he could have run for 15-20 yards, but never even looked to run, instead forcing passes to well-covered receivers.
I'm no fan of Big G, but if your going to start a thread bashing two people, you might want to start with a truthful premise. BG said a former player put his hands in his head and said he feels sorry for JJ. Nothing a large handful of posters haven't already said on this site fairly regularly for the last 2 years. And for this game, for the first half, I tend to agree.
The way UCD over pursued, JJ could have been the top Griz rusher if he had been allowed to fake handoffs and run as he did in the read-option. Both of the big gainers by Van and Canada were on stretch plays that were stuffed, and if not for cut back and broken tackles would have gone nowhere. Great efforts by both backs. Had JJ kept the ball on both plays he would have had the same open field. Had those plays been called for JJ early, that would have put an end to the run blitzing and ends crashing which was stuffing the early run game.
Kudos to the play calling in the second which allowed rollouts and room and time for JJ to do what he does best. Kudos to the line for better blocking, run and pass in the second half. I hope we are not saddled in the future by a pig-headed desire to have this offense excel like the HC would like, instead of using what is working.
JJ's an ultimate team player. Loyal to the core. He's not going to say or even hint that he's unhappy with this style of offense. Especially not to bragadocious insiders. But those who have known him forever, including those that played with him when he first got here, know what burns in his heart as the offense he would prefer to run. If the coaches have any sense, they will continue to ease this offense in that direction.
His post:
"JJ's a Formula 1 driver being forced to drive MD dirt track stock car. He'll do his best to win but its not taking advantage of his true talents. I can understand why former teammates might feel sorry for him under the circumstances. What I can't understand is why agenda driven apologists for MD think they have to spin and falsely declare a former player is embarrassed by this team when the actions and words were directed at the use of JJ by the coaching staff. Oh wait, this is Egriz, home of the sanctimonius and self righteous opinon police. Some of you folks should work spin in Washington."
