🏈 Bo or Damien: Who's getting the carries

[alabama mike]

I agree with UAGrad93, that it will be the one that can pick up blitzes. We all agree that both can run the ball but I also think that depending on the formation will determine who is in the game. Personally, I would like to see Big D get a break for the Auburn game and we run Harris and Bo for most of the game. The main thing after winning is to make sure we have someone capable of giving Henry a breather. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 

[OldPlayer]

Yep

I get excited every time I see him come in the game. I hate that KD got hurt but I think Harris can offer a "change of pace" to King Henry's style just as Drake could, just a different type of runner than Drake or Henry.

I hope Bo comes on and has a great career for Bama but I don't understand the negative criticism some have for Harris. He has done everything that has been asked of him and has been in at the end of several games where there was really bad blocking plus 11 defensive players within 5 yards of the LOS. He seems to have maintained a good attitude even with that being the case. Bo did a good job rehabbing and getting back earlier than most anyone thought he would but (right or wrong) he negated that by getting suspended. The 4 game suspension is what has caused his lack of playing time IMO as the staff had to dedicate the 3rd position RB reps to a back they knew would be able to play from the get-go as opposed to wasting those reps on a suspended player (better athlete or not)

He's criticized because he was a bunch-of-stars RB who hasn't run for 100+ in each game. I sound like a broken record but college football is so different from high school football in terms of complexity, speed, size and competition. Some positions are easier to transition, but a high school RB who is used to being the dominant force gets a big surprise when they go to college.

 

[Mr. Pink]

The freshman that have played a lot at the RB position have come in with usually only 1 person in front of them.

Ingram had Coffee
Trent had Ingram (and Lacy didn't play)
TJ had Lacy

Etc., etc..... Henry and Lacy and Drake didn't do shit in the freshman seasons because there were already 2 well established studs in front of them... much like Harris/Bo this year with Henry and Drake ahead of them.

Now with Drake out for the next few games, hopefully one can step up. But if anyone wants to criticize Harris this early on, just take a breath and remember that he's on the same track as some of these other guys that have become stars in the backfield.

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[Bammerboy321]

I think the coaching staff will split them up in the game between quarters. For instance: the 1st quarter, Damien will spell Henry. In the second, Bo will spell Henry. And so on.

 

[bcracker]

Umm I remember Henry dominating the Sugar Bowl in his first year. Damien Harris simply isn't anywhere near that level of talent. In fact when he enters the game, we have no legitimate rushing threat, which is why Henry's been getting so many touches.
Drake was getting back to being a solid #2, but now he's gone. My point is we need an actual threat as our #2 back. DHarris is nowhere close to what Yeldon, Richardson, and Ingram were in their first years. Yeldon beat LSU as a freshman, and was a dominant force from day one. I'm not saying Harris is bad, I'm just stating the obvious that he's not the elite back we're accustomed to.

Umm do you remember the VT game? Do you remember the other games he played in leading up to the OU game?

He may have broke out in the OU game but before then he was running around in the backfield like a chicken with his butt on fire. AJ actually chewed him out in the VT game.

Harris may not be a Yeldon, Ingram, Richardson or Henry. But no one knows that yet, and it's definitely not "obvious" to anyone either, assertions to the contrary notwithstanding.

And by the way, Yeldon didn't beat LSU. Alabama did. If you'll remember AJ threw him the ball. And if I remeber correctly he had some blockers.

 

[Redwave]

Well since Henry is likely leaving after this year for the NFL and Drake is a senior, I would vote for how about both of them step up and become awesome? We will need them next year.

 

[Rolltide24]

I agree with him. This will be about as empty as we have left the cupboard as far as RB experience when this year ends. In the Saban era that is. Had Coffee return in 08 (129 carries in 2007), Ingram 09 (143 carries in 2008) and 10, Richardson in 10 (145 carries in 2009) and 11, Lacy in 12 (56 in 2010 and 95 in 2011) ), Yeldon in 13 (175 in 2012) and 14, Henry in 15 (172 in 2014). At this point, Harris nor Bo has had near the carries these guys had in the season(s) prior to the ones I listed. # of carries entering the year will be drastically less than normal. But I believe talent is still right there where we're used to. Just not carries.

Carries are important. Harris so far has 34 carries and Bo .5 So this will be, by far, the biggest drop off in # of carries experience entering a season. 129, with Coffee in 2008, was the previous low for the most experienced RB entering the season. Harris will have time to beef that up, but that would be 20 carries a game assuming we play for the title, just to reach the lowest number.

Well since Henry is likely leaving after this year for the NFL and Drake is a senior, I would vote for how about both of them step up and become awesome? We will need them next year.

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

So this will be, by far, the biggest drop off in # of carries experience entering a season

This worries me more than any question about talent. Bama will be most likely operating under a new OC, a new QB etc. Some experienced carries by any party would be a huge plus

 

[BamaFan334]

Be nice if we could pull Kareem Walker to build some depth with atleast three five star backs. I know I know, stars don't always mean everything, but having a stable of highly recruited backs will undoubtedly give us something and someone could break out. Add in Najee Harris and quite possibly Dylan Moses the next year and we are stacked again. Some wishes and high hopes there, but still possibilities.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

I agree with him. This will be about as empty as we have left the cupboard as far as RB experience when this year ends. In the Saban era that is. Had Coffee return in 08 (129 carries in 2007), Ingram 09 (143 carries in 2008) and 10, Richardson in 10 (145 carries in 2009) and 11, Lacy in 12 (56 in 2010 and 95 in 2011) ), Yeldon in 13 (175 in 2012) and 14, Henry in 15 (172 in 2014). At this point, Harris nor Bo has had near the carries these guys had in the season(s) prior to the ones I listed. # of carries entering the year will be drastically less than normal. But I believe talent is still right there where we're used to. Just not carries.

Carries are important. Harris so far has 34 carries and Bo .5 So this will be, by far, the biggest drop off in # of carries experience entering a season. 129, with Coffee in 2008, was the previous low for the most experienced RB entering the season. Harris will have time to beef that up, but that would be 20 carries a game assuming we play for the title, just to reach the lowest number.

You make good points. Wasn't Lacy the lowest at 95 instead of Coffee? I remember being concerned that Lacy wouldn't be able to hack it as number 1 because he was always nicked up and didn't have many carries. My concern was misplaced, of course. I do think that by the end of the season, Harris and Bo will have betweem 60 and 75 carries combined, perhaps more, so it won't be quite as stark as it is right now.

RTR,

Tim

 

[61champs]

From Tidesports:
Replacing Drake
With Kenyan Drake on the shelf for a few weeks with a surgically-repaired fractured arm, the offense will need to lean on a couple of true freshman running back backs to take some of the load off Henry.
"Both guys are going to have to play a role, there's no question about that," UA coach Nick Saban said. "Again, they're young guys, so are they going to step up to the challenge and compete and show the maturity you need to get ready to play a game and play it well and do it on a consistent basis?

"That's the challenge for all the young guys. We've had a couple do a great job of that. Minkah (Fitzpatrick) has done a great job of that. Calvin Ridley has done a good job of that. Sustaining the standard. Nobody is entitled to anything. You have to earn it.

Running back Damien Harris could see an increased role this week.
"Those guys are very capable and we certainly need them to come through us right now after losing Kenyan and I think they're both very capable of doing that."

- See more at: TideSports.com - NOTES: Tackling Henry, SEC players of week, more

 

[Teague]

I really don't get the worry a lot of people have for next year about our RB's not having many carries. I just don't think it's that critical, especially since there will be two former 5* recruits that will have been in the system for more than a year. They'll be mature enough to handle the job. How many times have we had a true freshman excel as the #2 RB? If they can do it in year one, Bo and Harris can do it in year two.

As for this year, it will probably depend on who is practicing best, but I'd be surprised if both didn't get carries.

 

[jdpas29]

it would be encouraging if one or the other had somewhat of a breakout game here at the end of the year getting some meaningful carries in a big game. .... and by breakout game i mean a few big plays and maybe 50-70 yds in a game.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Let's not forget Jake threw two INTs in that loss to Ole Pisa... He was a big part of why we lost too...

Harris more than likely has had more reps and understands the blitz pickups better than Bo at this point... my guess is that Harris get's the lion share of the looks, but I don't know how quickly Bo has been able to understand his assignments. Bo also almost fumbled the ball in one of his carries last night. He might not yet have the ball security the coaches want to see. I'd love to see Bo in there is the solid #2, but not at the lose of ball security and blocking assignments. I trust the coaches understand how to handle this situation as it was always a good possibility to come to reality as it has now.

Let's also not forget that Jake was getting DRILLED in both of those pics, and the balls floated on him.

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[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Y'all need to ease up on uofa.

Cuz if you knew who he was, you'd sh!t your pants.

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[PCRammer]

Y'all need to ease up on uofa.

Cuz if you knew who he was, you'd sh!t your pants.

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:shock: HA!

 

[RollllTide!]

ease up on uofa

OK I am old so Sh!t in my pants won't be new. Who is uofa?

 

[Rolltide24]

Yes, Lacy had 95 in 2011, but he also had 56 in 2010, so he entered 2012 with 151 or so. That's why I mentioned Coffee's 129 as the lowest incoming carries for our most experienced RB.

You make good points. Wasn't Lacy the lowest at 95 instead of Coffee? I remember being concerned that Lacy wouldn't be able to hack it as number 1 because he was always nicked up and didn't have many carries. My concern was misplaced, of course. I do think that by the end of the season, Harris and Bo will have betweem 60 and 75 carries combined, perhaps more, so it won't be quite as stark as it is right now.

RTR,

Tim

 

[94 Grad]

Let's also not forget that Jake was getting DRILLED in both of those pics, and the balls floated on him.

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And your point? I responded to a post that said if Jake had been named the starter we'd be undefeated... I don't see how being named the started would have changed the fact our Oline was crap and Jake got crushed...

 

[Bammerboy321]

Switching it up here, I'd like to see some of the younger receivers in the game. Someone like Derek Kief, who was a highly touted receiver out of high school.