ESPN ranks SEC Runningbacks

#1
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KBVol

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#1
SEC preseason position rankings: Running back - SEC Blog - ESPN

4. Tennessee: The talent is in place for Tennessee’s backfield to make an enormous leap this fall. Jalen Hurd is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, and now he has coveted junior college signee Alvin Kamara alongside him. Let’s get one thing straight, though. The Volunteers’ running game was among the worst in the SEC last season because their offensive line was a liability. If that group performs well, Hurd, Kamara and quarterback Josh Dobbs will run wild.
 
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#2
#2
Maybe a little high, considering the questions at O-Line, but that seems fair.

Hopefully Hurd, Kamara and Dobbs will make the O-line look better than we had hoped.
 
#3
#3
Sharriscgcs said:
Maybe a little high, considering the questions at O-Line, but that seems fair.

Hopefully Hurd, Kamara and Dobbs will make the O-line look better than we had hoped.
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What 4 or more teams have a better backfield than us to push us down the list? UGA, Bama, LSU (maybe but I think Hurd surpasses Fournette this year in hype). Arkansas just lost Williams for the year, Hansbrough is good but not as good, USCjr has Wilds but he's no Hurd. I think 4 is good, maybe even 3.
 
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#5
#5
OrngeChkrboardVFL said:
What 4 or more teams have a better backfield than us to push us down the list? UGA, Bama, LSU (maybe but I think Hurd surpasses Fournette this year in hype). Arkansas just lost Williams for the year, Hansbrough is good but not as good, USCjr has Wilds but he's no Hurd. I think 4 is good, maybe even 3.
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It was more a question of our o-line, there is no doubting the talent in the backfield. I don't know how they came up with the rankings...was it purely on RB talent, or did they factor in who was blocking for them?

That's all.
 
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#6
#6
The line is part of the issue but Dobbs ability to hit a wide open receiver 9 out of 10 times will also determine it. If Dobbs accuracy is better that will stretch the field and help the run game as well. The same applies for Arkansas, if their QB can pass better then the loss of the RB will not be as much of a factor.
 
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#7
#7
Sharriscgcs said:
It was more a question of our o-line, there is no doubting the talent in the backfield. I don't know how they came up with the rankings...was it purely on RB talent, or did they factor in who was blocking for them?

That's all.
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I think that really is the question. A team with lesser talent at RB could still be very productive with a dominant OL where a real stud at RB could have less than stellar numbers behind a weak OL.
 
#8
#8
Another ranking head scratcher?

If the OL sux or if the OL is 5 All Americans, does it really have any effect on the rankings / ratings / quality of the RBs themselves? Are they rating how effective those RBs are, or how good those RBs are? Make up your mind ESPN.

If you're rating "running games" rankings then include the OL, TE's, WR's and scheme and call it that. If your ranking Running Backs, then just rank them by how good you think the RB actually is.

</end rant>
 
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#9
#9
VolBricks said:
The line is part of the issue but Dobbs ability to hit a wide open receiver 9 out of 10 times will also determine it. If Dobbs accuracy is better that will stretch the field and help the run game as well. The same applies for Arkansas, if their QB can pass better then the loss of the RB will not be as much of a factor.
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Arkansas will not miss a beat next guy up and run behind that big OL.
 
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#10
#10
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
By the end of this season, they'll be comparing Hurd to Adrian Peterson rather than Fournette.
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Lol! Man I certainly hope so but you realize AP is one of the greatest backs in modern football era? Dude rushed for almost 2000 yds as a freshman and we all know what he's done in the NFL. Let's hope the o-line has improved enough that Hurd gets his chance to shine.
 
#11
#11
KBVol said:
SEC preseason position rankings: Running back - SEC Blog - ESPN

4. Tennessee: The talent is in place for Tennessee’s backfield to make an enormous leap this fall. Jalen Hurd is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, and now he has coveted junior college signee Alvin Kamara alongside him. Let’s get one thing straight, though. The Volunteers’ running game was among the worst in the SEC last season because their offensive line was a liability. If that group performs well, Hurd, Kamara and quarterback Josh Dobbs will run wild.
Click to expand...

May be off base here, But didn't Tee Martin say Jalen Hurd was "Soft"? I wonder what he thinks now. With the addition of Kamara in the backfield I think Tee would love to be affiliated somehow with this group.
 
#12
#12
KBVol said:
SEC preseason position rankings: Running back - SEC Blog - ESPN

4. Tennessee: The talent is in place for Tennessee’s backfield to make an enormous leap this fall. Jalen Hurd is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, and now he has coveted junior college signee Alvin Kamara alongside him. Let’s get one thing straight, though. The Volunteers’ running game was among the worst in the SEC last season because their offensive line was a liability. If that group performs well, Hurd, Kamara and quarterback Josh Dobbs will run wild.
Click to expand...

excited-nets-fan-nba-fans.gif
 
#13
#13
tbulla said:
May be off base here, But didn't Tee Martin say Jalen Hurd was "Soft"? I wonder what he thinks now. With the addition of Kamara in the backfield I think Tee would love to be affiliated somehow with this group.
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And "turrible"
 
#14
#14
terrypedigo said:
Arkansas will not miss a beat next guy up and run behind that big OL.
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Agreed. Teams that think ARK is going to lie down and roll over because of the loss of Williams are going to get a nasty surprise. The ARK Oline is SO good they can get a mediocre back to 700-800 yards this season.

VolBricks said:
The line is part of the issue but Dobbs ability to hit a wide open receiver 9 out of 10 times will also determine it. If Dobbs accuracy is better that will stretch the field and help the run game as well. The same applies for Arkansas, if their QB can pass better then the loss of the RB will not be as much of a factor.
Click to expand...

Brandon Allen is going to have to really step up. He's not been required to throw that much during his career at ARK. That's going to change this fall. One thing's for certain--he's got one of the best Olines in the country to hide behind, giving him plenty of time to find options. The only real question is does he have the ability to step up or will the pressure get him? I'm willing to bet he handles the pressure beautifully, and judging from the spring game he's going to be just fine throwing the ball.

tbulla said:
May be off base here, But didn't Tee Martin say Jalen Hurd was "Soft"? I wonder what he thinks now. With the addition of Kamara in the backfield I think Tee would love to be affiliated somehow with this group.
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Tee was fortunate in his Travis/Travis backfield tandem. I have a feeling Josh is going to enjoy his Jalen/Alvin combo just as much.
 
#16
#16
KBVol said:
SEC preseason position rankings: Running back - SEC Blog - ESPN

4. Tennessee: The talent is in place for Tennessee’s backfield to make an enormous leap this fall. Jalen Hurd is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, and now he has coveted junior college signee Alvin Kamara alongside him. Let’s get one thing straight, though. The Volunteers’ running game was among the worst in the SEC last season because their offensive line was a liability. If that group performs well, Hurd, Kamara and quarterback Josh Dobbs will run wild.
Click to expand...

If we finish #4 in the SEC in rushing there is a very good chance we are playing in the SEC championship.:rock::rock::rock:
 
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#17
#17
KBVol said:
SEC preseason position rankings: Running back - SEC Blog - ESPN

4. Tennessee: The talent is in place for Tennessee’s backfield to make an enormous leap this fall. Jalen Hurd is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, and now he has coveted junior college signee Alvin Kamara alongside him. Let’s get one thing straight, though. The Volunteers’ running game was among the worst in the SEC last season because their offensive line was a liability. If that group performs well, Hurd, Kamara and quarterback Josh Dobbs will run wild.
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OT, but since espn was brought up, Is just me or is Danny Kanell as annoying a college football analyst as Craig James was?:eek: where do they get these awful people?
 
#18
#18
Kamara hasn't proven anything against D1 level competition. Hurd has, but you can't really rank the Vols higher. The potential is obviously there, but the teams above have multiple backs who've proven they are good.
 
#19
#19
terrypedigo said:
Arkansas will not miss a beat next guy up and run behind that big OL.
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We'll see how well that OLine does when our mid season D Line stands them up. This years Barnett/Maggitt will be better than Mizzou's DE's last year and our interior will be running on all cylinders by then.
 
#20
#20
Dobbs 4 Heisman said:
By the end of this season, they'll be comparing Hurd to Adrian Peterson rather than Fournette.
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I really like Hurd but that's highly unlikely. Gurley was the closest we have seen since AP IMO and even he wasn't comparable. Hurd would have to have an almost historic season to be lumped in with AP. With Kamara in the backfield I don't see that happening.
 
#23
#23
mscelinaVol said:
Agreed. Teams that think ARK is going to lie down and roll over because of the loss of Williams are going to get a nasty surprise. The ARK Oline is SO good they can get a mediocre back to 700-800 yards this season.



Brandon Allen is going to have to really step up. He's not been required to throw that much during his career at ARK. That's going to change this fall. One thing's for certain--he's got one of the best Olines in the country to hide behind, giving him plenty of time to find options. The only real question is does he have the ability to step up or will the pressure get him? I'm willing to bet he handles the pressure beautifully, and judging from the spring game he's going to be just fine throwing the ball.



Tee was fortunate in his Jamal/Bryson/Travis/Travis backfield tandem. I have a feeling Josh is going to enjoy his Jalen/Alvin combo just as much.
Click to expand...

Fyp
 
#25
#25
Sharriscgcs said:
Maybe a little high, considering the questions at O-Line, but that seems fair.

Hopefully Hurd, Kamara and Dobbs will make the O-line look better than we had hoped.
Click to expand...

Dobbs made them look leaps and bounds better the last 5 games. Hurd getting stronger and adding Kamara can only help. 2500yds between the 3 is not out of reach, if all 3 stay healthy.
 
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