Article: Wilds or Davis to be Feature Back?

[HeadCockFan]

Darrin Mcfaddon 2.0 hopefully.

[Garnet Gamecock]

Wilds runs very much like Latti and he is built like him. He gets a good horizontal push and he is the same body type and is even faster than Marcus.

Davis is a "Tasmanian Devil." He can churn his legs and spin the way Walter Payton used to, and for those with enough strength in their legs and physical stamina (this form of running can wear a runner out), this can lead to very good yards after contact stats.

Wilds should be the go-to guy when we're in the red zone. Both have the potential to be great, but if Wilds is running a 4.4, then it's "Katie, bar the door!"

Gamecock football is going to be FREAKING AWESOME this year!

[CoverTwo]

I think what you are starting to see evolve is an Alabama-type situation. There are bunch of mouths to feed and only one ball. The competition at this spot is going to be fierce because we probably are only going to roll with 2 guys 90% of the game. It could get to a point where how many years you have in the system doesn't matter if you are the most productive guy.

A poor example because of the injury problem they had in the preseason, but Alabama is typically loaded at RB and TJ Yeldon comes in and grabs the #2 back spot. What is preventing a guy like David Williams from doing the same here? I guess what I am saying is that we are building up an abundance of riches and whomever the primary 2 backs are come the season opener, we should feel pretty confident that those 2 are the best on the team. When you are the best on the team, especially considering what we have its gotta be damn good.

Snoopycock, as much grief as some including myself give him sometimes, makes a good point in these type of threads that Shon Carson was indeed the #2 back ahead of guys like Brandon Wilds.

[MillerTime843]

Mike "Tasmanian" Davis

[MillerTime843]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

I think what you are starting to see evolve is an Alabama-type situation. There are bunch of mouths to feed and only one ball. The competition at this spot is going to be fierce because we probably are only going to roll with 2 guys 90% of the game. It could get to a point where how many years you have in the system doesn't matter if you are the most productive guy.

A poor example because of the injury problem they had in the preseason, but Alabama is typically loaded at RB and TJ Yeldon comes in and grabs the #2 back spot. What is preventing a guy like David Williams from doing the same here? I guess what I am saying is that we are building up an abundance of riches and whomever the primary 2 backs are come the season opener, we should feel pretty confident that those 2 are the best on the team. When you are the best on the team, especially considering what we have its gotta be damn good.

Snoopycock, as much grief as some including myself give him sometimes, makes a good point in these type of threads that Shon Carson was indeed the #2 back ahead of guys like Brandon Wilds.

So C2....Do you think the starting Lineup will look something like this, "as of now." Wilds, Carson"if he returns", Davis, Salley, Williams and Smith "redshirting." Or would you put Davis ahead of Carson because of game action and blocking skills?

[CoverTwo]

I'm thinking Wilds starts and 80% of the total carries are divid between he and Davis with remaining going to Carson, Salley, and I also think Williams is going to play this year. I think an ideal game carry distribution would be, give or take:

Wilds - 15
Davis - 8
Carson/Salley/Williams - 5

Total = 28 (obviously this doesn't include how many times Shaw calls his own number on the ZR)

Combine that with 30+ passing attempts from our QBs and I think thats a good day at the office.

[eaglegolf018]

Originally Posted by Gaichon

Regarding Wilds - I've never been more happy to be wrong about a recruit.

To be honest, his high school rating suffered because he was behind a rough O Line his senior year. Could have been a 4*. I remember seeing him at fullback a time or 2 being really impressed. Then he got his work that final drive after Lattimore got hurt and was impressive. Then against UT, he had some really nice runs.

[MillerTime843]

So we're not going too see a Barrage of carries by one back,"aka Lattimore with 28 and 30+ by himself"?

[CoverTwo]

We could depending on the situation. If the passing game is hot, I doubt it. But if they are struggling, you'd see more carries for the backs as Spurrier would probably go back to counting in his defense to bail his offense out. Another scenario would be if Spurrier gets a comfortable lead midway through the game and takes the air out of the ball.

[Flameout12]

Originally Posted by Goofyboy

Lattimore was a top talent with the ability to make what Spurrier called "the best two yard run I've ever seen." He did it by seening small openings, taking perfect angles, and using leverage. Wilds can push a pile, but that isn't the same thing. No hand-timed 4.4 40 equates to multiple 200 yard games vs top SEC defenses with mediocre blocking. Wilds will have to improve his leverage (not straight-ahead power), footwork and vision in blocking situations, and get some things to happen automatically (without conscious thought) by practice and experience to be a major force unless our OL improves on run blocking. A couple of months ago, I was arguing that Wilds has good speed and was dismissed by folks who thought of him as just a power back. I think his speed has now been acknowledged, but he needs to work on some other key skills to be in the class of complete back that Lattimore was.

Still not sure what you are saying. Marcus never had multiple 200 yd games v. top SEC defenses...his only 200 yd game v. any SEC team was UF in '10 and they were not a top run defense. Take nothing away from Marcus, but let's don't stretch things.
I also don't think Brandon has to improve that much to be a "major force". I think he needed to grow up and improve his blocking & concentration. The difference should be we see a more mature player who no longer is trying to survive, but instinctively knows the plays and plays with more confidence and focus.
And with Brandon, we now have more speed to go outside than we did with Kenny/Marcus...the running game should be more diverse.

[BeatBamaTwice]

I hope they all stay healthy, that the OL improves by 2 yards per carry, that we get big leads in most games, and that once we do that the coaches rest the starters and save their bodies for what all hope will be a 14 game season.

[SN33Z]

Seems some of our fans forgot how VERY WELL Wilds filled in'11 with lattimores first injury. The guy had comparable rushing stats.

Beast. Ill be SHOCKED if hes not #1 going into fall

[Acockolypse Now]

My guess is that unless we see Carson come in and enter the rotation right away, this will be his last year playing football.

I hope he gets a chance to show what he can do.

[Goofyboy]

Still not sure what you are saying. Marcus never had multiple 200 yd games v. top SEC defenses...his only 200 yd game v. any SEC team was UF in '10 and they were not a top run defense. Take nothing away from Marcus, but let's don't stretch things.

I was counting the 2 near 200 yard games against Georgia and the one against Tennesee when I mentioned the 200 yard games. A video of the times Lattimore got to the sticks or end zone after being hit would be interesting to see. He did it with power or with leverage (angles), and a few times with what looked like pure will. Brandon looked lost a few times blocking, reaching instead of moving his feet, and reacting too slowly, but I think he will pick it up.

[Flameout12]

Originally Posted by Goofyboy

I was counting the 2 near 200 yard games against Georgia and the one against Tennesee when I mentioned the 200 yard games.

Understand....and let's be fair...our OL did a solid job of run blocking v. UGA, Bama, and UF in '10. Chisolm and Rok Watkins were solid guards for us. We have not seen that an OL zone block as well as that group did and people who slam Shawn Elliott need to revisit the UGA game from '10....that may be the best run blocking in Gamecock football history considering the competetion.

[LegalCock]

We have lots of good tailbacks and quarterbacks and players and coaches and fans.

[cockybusiness2]

Originally Posted by LegalCock

We have lots of good tailbacks and quarterbacks and players and coaches and fans.

You forgot armchair coaches... Which I am probably one

[donbgamecock]

Originally Posted by cockybusiness2

You forgot armchair coaches... Which I am probably one

Yea, but are you good?

[ZenUSC]

Originally Posted by USCremedy

Davis seems to be the fan favorite, but Wilds is going to suprise. They will both contribute.

As far as onfield results and playing time Wilds has shown more than Davis. I think wilds was just becoming a star RB when he hurt his ankle in 2011. Davis hasn't played much due to Lattimore and Kenny Miles in 2012 and has no breakout game to his resume' like Wilds has from 2011. Wilds is capable of 150yds vs an SEC opponent which is downright amazing.

That being said, the season is long and brutal so I hope we can find two more RBs in addition to Wilds/Davis. In the SEC there really is no such thing as second string. The teams who win from October onwards are the teams who had depth as bruises add up. The Gamecocks have shown the past few years that they now have depth. If you win 10-11 games in the SEC it is because you had horses on the bench .

Wilds has been a star in my book for a long time.

[CockLurker]

Originally Posted by Flameout12

Understand....and let's be fair...our OL did a solid job of run blocking v. UGA, Bama, and UF in '10. Chisolm and Rok Watkins were solid guards for us. We have not seen that an OL zone block as well as that group did and people who slam Shawn Elliott need to revisit the UGA game from '10....that may be the best run blocking in Gamecock football history considering the competetion.

No they didn't, Latti really carried the team himself - that's what made him so special.

At least in the UGA game, I remember a stat of something dumb like 140 of his 183 yards came after contact. That does not point towards good run blocking. Especially when you consider how good his vision is.