I know there has been much discussion on GAIII and his role as a running back in next year's offense.

 

- Why not define a niche for him that calls for 6-12 touches a game? Atkinson is clearly one of the fastest players on our team and does not seem to have the running style that allows for him to be the feature back. However, he averaged over 7 yards per carry this season and with the backfield depth next year, his role should be specific, i.e. De'Anthony Thomas.

 

- What about some reps at the slot receiver position as well? With Carlisle, Mahone and Bryant there is no reason that GAIII would be hurting the RB position if he wasn't exclusive to it. With the athletes that ND has, it should be essential to get all of them on the field and another way to use GAIII's speed would be at the slot WR position.

good post..

 

Biggest thing with GaIII right now is hit it north/south run with forward tilt. he started going east-west to much and not reading blocks

 

I know he's fast but one-cut and go..

 

The slot stuff Kelly has said "he's uniquely qualifed to be a back, hands are good but not great"

 

he does run in the jet motion when Tommy's in. But I do expect George to earn more reps next year.

 

Supreme Talent!

Edited January 14, 201311 yr by FaithInIrishForever

He doesn't seem to have an explosive burst. Get him a step or two and an angle.. no one will catch him but that's not very often you get a jump like that.

 

He benefitted greatly from the sprint draw.

I expect very big things from GAIII coming into next season. He is a rare talent that BK & CO. will develope further this off season. He made significant strides from year 1-2. I personally feel like he will make greater strides in 2013.

 

He is an athlete that reminds me of the speedsters at UF while urban was there.

He looks like Golden Tate with a bigger head...

Cierre went pro, He needs to make a personal decision to either take the reps OR be passed on the depth chart, by a Carlisle, Mahone, Mcdaniel Bryant, ETC

 

I think hes up for this, Your turn GAIII

Brian Hamilton on Twitter..."Noted this on #NotreDame RB George Atkinson III in Sunday's Trib: 60% of his yards in 2012 came against terrible run Ds of Miami, Navy."

 

Obviously he is still young and has some developing to do, but I am not sure Atkinson is our running back of the future. He has good breakaway speed but I'm not sure he is going to develop the kind of lateral movement that will make him a great back.

I just don't see him blossoming into a future every down type of guy. I don't even see him as a slot guy because like BK has said he has good hands, but not great. Not knocking the kid, because I do love his speed, but he runs too upright with hesitation and he doesn't seem to have shiftiness or the other tools to make him into a complete back.

 

I think GAIII will assume a similar role next year with kickoff returns and about 6-8 touches a game on offense.

Hopefully Cierre gone will have aositive effect

 

He seemed to run softer this year, RBs need to have a killer insctinct culture thing going, ala McDaniel, not a oh shit please don't hurt me approach

 

Plus, running scared usually gets you hurt more as they say

he is still young, so I will not give up on him like I am sure half this board already has... but with the way he is now, he is not a reliable every down back. Plenty of time to develop this off-season with a wide-open competition for the RB position.

he is still young, so I will not give up on him like I am sure half this board already has... but with the way he is now, he is not a reliable every down back. Plenty of time to develop this off-season with a wide-open competition for the RB position.

 

I agree with this^^^^ . This next year is his time to show it. Defintely get in the weight room and add 10-15 lbs and get the one cut then north & south approach.

I think he needs to watch a ton of tape on Adrian Peterson. Similar running styles in the fact that they run upright. The same should be said for Springman and Justin Smith, Ishaq and Aldon Smith, Koyak should watch Eifert, and so on. Game tape doesn't lie. These guys should get familar to what their body types and similarities are to certain pros and try to emmulate them.

Anyone else notice that he runs really upright? he runs sort of like Adrian Peterson how he's upright but that's where the comparison ends. I think he needs to get lower because he doesn't have the strength of a guy like that and he probably never will. To be a complete back he's gunna have to start taking hits and I think he needs to get lower.

I think he needs to watch a ton of tape on Adrian Peterson. Similar running styles in the fact that they run upright. The same should be said for Springman and Justin Smith, Ishaq and Aldon Smith, Koyak should watch Eifert, and so on. Game tape doesn't lie. These guys should get familar to what their body types and similarities are to certain pros and try to emmulate them.

 

AP could leg press 600 on each leg as a freshman. I don't see that kinda power in GAIII's britches and he's a third year guy now.

Edited January 15, 201311 yr by JTennant

GAIII won't be more than a change of pace guy. Ever. He can't stick his foot in the ground and cut, he runs too high, and is a soft runner.

He seems to have "stiff hips" like another back that still had a great ND career: Ryan Grant, albeit a faster version.

 

Neither one is a shifty, make-you-miss guy. We'll see how he develops. I agree he's young and will start getting his opportunity, starting in the spring.

GAIII won't be more than a change of pace guy. Ever. He can't stick his foot in the ground and cut, he runs too high, and is a soft runner.

 

That is my exact issue with him as well, but that can be learned if he dedicates himself to becoming the best back he can be. Instead of cutting, he slows down, then shuffles his feet to change direction... That is useless at this level of play.

That is my exact issue with him as well, but that can be learned if he dedicates himself to becoming the best back he can be. Instead of cutting, he slows down, then shuffles his feet to change direction... That is useless at this level of play.

 

The cutting was my biggest problem with Riddick earlier this year. He became much better as the year went on, but he's tough as nails. I can't see Atkinson ever being as physical as Theo. Glad were on the same page.

The cutting was my biggest problem with Riddick earlier this year. He became much better as the year went on, but he's tough as nails. I can't see Atkinson ever being as physical as Theo. Glad were on the same page.

 

His big run against BYU gave me a glimpse of what could be with this kid. I won't give up on him until the end of this year.

The cutting was my biggest problem with Riddick earlier this year. He became much better as the year went on, but he's tough as nails. I can't see Atkinson ever being as physical as Theo. Glad were on the same page.

 

he may not be as physical as Riddick, but he could still be a solid back if he learned to cut.

Seems to me like it would be easier for the coaching staff to design plays to get him in space (like the counter draw we saw against MSU) to be able to utilize his speed rather than try to totally reprogram his running style