2017 Fall Camp Thread (Practice Reports and Press Conference Updates)

bamaslammer said:

I'm guessing at this point Josh Jacobs has very little chance of being on the field against Florida State. I know we have other running backs but I was really hoping to see him blossom this season. I hope he gets better.

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rgw said:

Josh Jacobs and Damien Harris were great pass catchers out of the backfield and the Pats were always a very friendly offense to that kind of tailback. We don't really know about the new Harris's hands and Scarbough is more like Henry who wasn't much of a pass catcher.

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RollTide_HTTR said:

True but IIRC Scarbrough played some WR in HS or something like that and reportedly has great hands.

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CrimsonForce said:

With the caliber of athlete we recruit (especially at the running back position) I don't think catching the ball will ever be an issue for our RBs. It's not like we're calling elaborate routes for the RBs anyhow. We generally just use them as a safety valve or chip block then peel into flats or something like a quick option route. Nothing really down the field or anything that would be considered difficult to catch. I think that sluggo to Kenyan Drake that we ran on the first play against Florida a few years ago is about elaborate a route as the coaches have called run for a RB. Drake was more of a hybrid player also..

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RollTide_HTTR said:

I think many of us were hoping that Jacobs and possibly Najee were going to change that and have those 2 guys be more in the David Johnson, Marshall Faulk, & Le'Veon Bell mold. Or at least that was what I was/am still hoping happens

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CrimsonForce said:

The NFL guys you listed aren't running routes down the field though. They're just such elite athletes that teams will do whatever they can to get the ball in their hands including little option routes and such to get them the ball in space. It's not like Jacobs and Najee can really do anything that previous RBs we've had here can't. I watched Derrick Henry run routes with the WRs at the NFL combine and I don't think he dropped a single pass. If you didn't know he was a RB you probably would've thought he was a WR/TE hybrid. TJ Yeldon had a 70 yard catch and run for a TD in his rookie season with the Jags. We've always had RBs capable of catching passes we just haven't traditionally utilized running backs in the passing game. I think we all hope that changes and if it does, IMO, it will have more to do with Daboll's scheme rather than we finally have RBs who are capable of running routes and catching passes..

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CrimsonForce said:

The NFL guys you listed aren't running routes down the field though. They're just such elite athletes that teams will do whatever they can to get the ball in their hands including little option routes and such to get them the ball in space. It's not like Jacobs and Najee can really do anything that previous RBs we've had here can't. I watched Derrick Henry run routes with the WRs at the NFL combine and I don't think he dropped a single pass. If you didn't know he was a RB you probably would've thought he was a WR/TE hybrid. TJ Yeldon had a 70 yard catch and run for a TD in his rookie season with the Jags. We've always had RBs capable of catching passes we just haven't traditionally utilized running backs in the passing game. I think we all hope that changes and if it does, IMO, it will have more to do with Daboll's scheme rather than we finally have RBs who are capable of running routes and catching passes..

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RollTide_HTTR said:

That's not entirely accurate. See this PFF article on David Johnson. Bell is more of a shorter route guy overall but Johnson is a legit weapon at WR and more and more RBs are adding that skill set (Christian McCaffrey for one). It also sounded like Jacobs was practicing some a slot WR. There is a big difference between being able to catch and being able to run routes. I personally was hoping Jacobs would run some real routes this season. It just allows your offense to be more flexible and catch the D in bad spots especially when going hurry up (which it sounds like we are going to do a lot of this season).


EDIT: I do agree Daboll will be the key factor if any of this happens not necessarily the RBs. But I think the depth at RB and the diverse skill set we have there encourages coaches to find creative ways to use all our RBs. So, if Bo and Damien are the main ground and pound guys then how do you get a guy like Jacobs on the field who is crazy elusive and has great movement skills? You have him play some WR.

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B1GTide said:

On Alabama's Pro Day, with all of the receivers injured, Henry became the receiver for Coker. He didn't drop one pass. That part of his game was totally wasted at Alabama.

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CrimsonForce said:

That may have been what I was thinking of. Kind of surprised the Titans haven't used him much at all in the passing game either outside of the traditional RB screens and such..

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