I have to say not only this site but others so many uninformed and sometimes plain Stupid Posts. Like today for example I am reading how some of you say Mcdaniel should jump Riddick on Depth chart or he is Better Ect. For some of U who think U are big football fans many seem Naive or Uninformed about how things work or cause and Effect. For example McDaniel looked Great because He was running with Fresh Legs and with something to prove against a Tired, Demoralized Defense who was ready to head back to South Beach. Another thing I read is Riddick is Not athletic um Yeah he is You cant have the moves he does or be able to leap over people if you aren't athletic. Also has been Clocked at 4.45 forty. Kid was a 2 sport star in HS and could of went D1 for Bball as a PG he lead his team to back to back state championships as well. Bottom line he is a Winner. Part of peoples biggest problem with Riddick is the YPC and I another reason I wish he didnt' get hurt with huge running lanes in 2nd half to have a chance to prove himself. If Wood and GA3 were ripping off Long Runs and Riddick was only getting 3 or 4 yards than I would agree. As I wrote Before against Purdue, Mich State and Michigan all those teams were stacking Box knowing the Runs were Coming. Running Riddick at teeth of a defense in short yardage situations or to Kill Clock late in game it is difficult to find a ton of room and he still Managed to make some big gm ending runs in 2 of those games. While I agree Riddick has gone down to easily a few Times(or Just missed) popping long runs He has done OK with the what he has had to work with which includes an Oline that has underperformed at times. Theo Also is a great blocker and pass receiver and knows the whole offense which is another reason why the coaches want him on the field. Ok end of rant I will be curious to see how he is used from here on out but I suspect Riddick still will be a very important player for ND down the stretch barring injury.

Edited October 8, 201212 yr by Kingwillball

He's had some pretty effective runs when we needed them.

I think he's just more or less lost in the shuffle right now. The game against Miami showcased everyone except Riddick - it's just natural to talk up the three guys who really shined the brightest that night. Theo is a grinder. I don't believe any of the other backs has his will and toughness. However, he also doesn't have the speed of GA3 or the vision and "quicks" of Cierre. Throw in Cam doing a very good job - albeit against a demoralized defense - but he was in with the #2s and #3s and *still* hit paydirt.

 

In other words, at least from where I'm sitting, it's not about disrespecting Theo, it's more about being excited for how everyone played last Saturday who isn't named Theo.

 

Just my $.02

I think he's just more or less lost in the shuffle right now. The game against Miami showcased everyone except Riddick - it's just natural to talk up the three guys who really shined the brightest that night. Theo is a grinder. I don't believe any of the other backs has his will and toughness. However, he also doesn't have the speed of GA3 or the vision and "quicks" of Cierre. Throw in Cam doing a very good job - albeit against a demoralized defense - but he was in with the #2s and #3s and *still* hit paydirt.

 

In other words, at least from where I'm sitting, it's not about disrespecting Theo, it's more about being excited for how everyone played last Saturday who isn't named Theo.

 

Just my $.02

 

Thats Fine but I saw the 2nd half coming the way the end of the 2nd qtr played out.. I thought Riddick played well in the 1st half but 2nd half the Floodgates opened and he wasn't aprt of it..

If you broke up that long narrative more might read it...

I guess I don't get all the angst - did you have money riding on how many carries/yards Riddick was going to have? He got a little banged up and the other guys had a field day. Theo's not going anywhere after all, none of us here have any say in what kinda PT these guys get.

When guys like Cierre and GA3 are breaking long runs routinely in games it attracts everyones attention. Theo just doesn't have straight line speed, I knew it when he couldn't outrun that air force last year. i don't care what anyone's forty time is, you don't play the game in shorts and a t-shirt, and there's a ton of factors that go into speed. Theo is a good back to get those tough yards, or grind out a game. yes he pass blocks well and is a good reciever but if we're talking about getting the most productivity out of our running game atkinson and wood need most of the carries.

I don't think Theo is disrespected i just think he has been starting at a position where he should NOT be the lead back.

 

Theo is a fine athlete--he is a tough player---he gives the effort and he is of course versatile as a reciever---

 

BUT CIERRE WOOD HAS BEEN THE BETTER RUNNING BACK FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS!

 

Cierre is bigger, faster, and simply a very sweet running back with an NFL future.

 

Anyone who thinks CAM should be the #2 back , well i just think we are giving cam SOME LOVE---HE IS SNEAKY TALENTED--- and got a nice chance to show some stuff against miami----next year, who knows, but Cam is clearly the #4 RB RIGHT NOW AND WILL STAY AS SUCH!----

 

Then there is ATKINSON---i mean the guy is just EXPLOSIVE and a threat to go the distance every time he gets the ball---IS ATKINSON READY TO BE AN EVERY DOWN BACK---maybe not as ready as THEO certainly. But he is an EYE OPENER.

 

So Theo has the fans respect but he does NOT HAVE AND IMO SHOULD NOT HAVE the consensus believing that he should be the LEAD BACK!

 

WOOD is the lead back and the best back---Atkinson is a WEAPON DELUX----Theo is a guy that gives you carries , can make a timely good run ( i recall a 12 yard run i think against purdue on that final drive that may have been as important to winning that game as goodmans catch and one of THEO's longest as well----

 

So theo gets his carries--and gets his respect for what he does---BUT HE IS NOT THE GAME BREAKER WOOD & GA3 CAN BE!___

 

We are very blessed at the running back position and i betcha MAHONE will be a good one as well.

 

aloha's go irish!

Stats don't lie, they might not always tell the full story, but they don't lie:

Leading rushers on this team are as follows:

 

29rushes 269yards 9.28ypc 3TD 5.80rushes per 53.80ypg

68rushes 263yards 3.87ypc 3TD 13.60rushes per 52.60ypg

35rushes 213yards 6.09ypc 2TD 11.67rushes per 71.00ypg

 

Can you guess who is who?

 

George leads the team in rushing, with under half the carries.

Then Theo with his absolutely abysmal yards per carry and the lowest ypg total

And finally Wood, checks in with the highest yards per game.

I think its unfair to get to down on Theo, and while I know they all play the same position, it is not entirely fair to compare Wood, Riddick, and Atkinson. Wood is clearly the every down back who is the most balanced runner of the three. Atkinson is being used as a home run hitter, and in that role, his carries are most likely going to be somewhat limited. Because we lack a big bruising back like Robert Hughes, Riddick has kind of filled the role of the short yardage change of pace back. Is his body/his skill set ideal for that? No, but I think he is more of a victim of the role they want him to play and the log jam of talent at his position than he is a victim of his own lack of talent.

 

Regardless, we are obviously stacked with talent at the position if a guy like Theo Riddick gets lost in the shuffle.

Stats don't lie, they might not always tell the full story, but they don't lie:

Leading rushers on this team are as follows:

 

29rushes 269yards 9.28ypc 3TD 5.80rushes per 53.80ypg

68rushes 263yards 3.87ypc 3TD 13.60rushes per 52.60ypg

35rushes 213yards 6.09ypc 2TD 11.67rushes per 71.00ypg

 

Can you guess who is who?

 

George leads the team in rushing, with under half the carries.

Then Theo with his absolutely abysmal yards per carry and the lowest ypg total

And finally Wood, checks in with the highest yards per game.

 

In this case the Stats Do Lie cause GA3 has 2 long runs that Skew his Numbers plus he is Used as a Wrinkle player get him on Edges ect He is Not pounding the Ball against 8 man Fronts and when he has been less effective than Riddick. Wood has done little of Both but bottom line Theo will have to prove everyone wrong and me right and Make more out of his attempts from here on out.

In this case the Stats Do Lie cause GA3 has 2 long runs that Skew his Numbers plus he is Used as a Wrinkle player get him on Edges ect He is Not pounding the Ball against 8 man Fronts and when he has been less effective than Riddick. Wood has done little of Both but bottom line Theo will have to prove everyone wrong and me right and Make more out of his attempts from here on out.

People always try to do this and it drives me nuts. YES, a long run counts towards your stats, in this case YPC. You do not get to pick and choose when something counts.

 

Please. everyone please stop trying to move numbers around to fit your own narrative.

People always try to do this and it drives me nuts. YES, a long run counts towards your stats, in this case YPC. You do not get to pick and choose when something counts.

 

Please. everyone please stop trying to move numbers around to fit your own narrative.

 

What are you talking about?

 

On every run of three yards, Theo is averaging 3.0 YPC.

 

60% of the time, stats are right every time.

What are you talking about?

 

On every run of three yards, Theo is averaging 3.0 YPC.

 

60% of the time, stats are right every time.

 

don't argue with stat-boy....

What is being mentioned is that Theo was the guy we hammered up the gut of an 8 and 9 man front to move the chains and run the clock. I have no problem saying Cierre is the better back. I like Atkinson more then Cierre. Theo rarely sees the pitch to get to the edge.

 

When it is all said and done, Cierre and Theo will have similar yards, except Theo will get a lot of his through the air.

IMHO, Theo is too good of an athlete to not be on the field. Clearly he is not our best back but why not put him back in the slot? Toma is doing a fine job, I get that, but Theo's game is after the catch and past the line.

 

Cierre is the best RB IMHO because he has the best vision and has an absolutely sick cut. GA3 has the extra gear. Theo needs to be out there somewhere though.

Personally I think Tyler Plantz gets zero respect. But that's just me.

In this case the Stats Do Lie cause GA3 has 2 long runs that Skew his Numbers plus he is Used as a Wrinkle player get him on Edges ect He is Not pounding the Ball against 8 man Fronts and when he has been less effective than Riddick. Wood has done little of Both but bottom line Theo will have to prove everyone wrong and me right and Make more out of his attempts from here on out.

 

Riddick is not capable of breaking the long runs that Atkinson has had this year.

 

Theo has been hyped up so much over the last 2 years and has done nothing outside a few good games at WR. He can't make the cuts that Cierre and GAIII can make. He should move back to the slot because he isn't a good enough back.

Kingwillbill has 110 posts and every single one vehemently defends theo guys i think this may actually be riddick

 

he's a good and important player but hes the third best back on the team. if you disagree thats fine but it doesnt mean everyone who has a different opinion is stupid and uninformed.

Edited October 9, 201212 yr by goirish83

People always try to do this and it drives me nuts. YES, a long run counts towards your stats, in this case YPC. You do not get to pick and choose when something counts.

 

Please. everyone please stop trying to move numbers around to fit your own narrative.

 

Plus, it's not like those runs were in garbage time against a FCS teams backups... It's not like it was a pass that traveled 5yards and the yards after catch made it look like a bomb on the stat sheet. GA3's game is to break out those long runs, he's a taller Darrin Sproles. He goes, tick,tick,tick,BOOM! We've never had anything like him since Rocket

Listen I like them all. Theo has no top end speed he is a make you miss guy but will get run down by the defense. He also falls when touched. He needs to be utilized out of the back field to cath passes he is not an in between the tackles type of runner. He is not a power back. So stop saying it. He is great athlete so utilize him to his strengths.