WRT playing Ott more, I agree they shouldn't have pulled him until there was a bigger margin. But looking at the box score, it seems like coaches really need a third RB to get reps. Ott had 7 carries for 52 (7.4 YPC) and 1 TD. Moore had 6 carries for 26, a below-average 4.3 YPC (last year was 5.2). Seems like staff settled on Brooks as t…
WRT playing Ott more, I agree they shouldn't have pulled him until there was a bigger margin. But looking at the box score, it seems like coaches really need a third RB to get reps. Ott had 7 carries for 52 (7.4 YPC) and 1 TD. Moore had 6 carries for 26, a below-average 4.3 YPC (last year was 5.2). Seems like staff settled on Brooks as the #3 back and gave him 10 carries for a bad 22 yards (2.2 YPC). We don't need RB by committee this year -- Ott & Moore should get vast majority of reps -- but a team can't get by with just 2 backs, and young players need reps. Brooks appears to really need reps.
We don't need a 3rd RB when the person who should be our primary back is ONLY GETTING 7 CARRIES. Vereen carried the ball 45 times against Furd because Tedford wanted to win. Wilcox needs to stop being scared of losing and just focus on winning. Give Ott the ball 20-25x a game. Why the hell are Brooks and Moore getting 16 carries vs. his 7?
The problem is the drop off in the RB room is substantial...pound for pound, Ott is probably the most gifted skill position player Wilcox has signed in 6 seasons - you build a frigging Offense around talents like that...you DON’T lift them when you need a 1st down in predictable running situations to ice a game...the Bears were lucky it didn’t cost them a W.
The other backs don’t make anyone miss, and given the early inconsistency of the OL, that’s what this squad really needs right niw.
Hate to tell you, Bob, but chances are better than average that Ott leaves Cal after this season and heads to a better team. That’s life for a middling program in the era of the transfer portal and immediate eligibility. I’ll be shocked if we keep him.
I respect your opinion - I just completely disagree with it. The O looks noticeably different with a back of Ott’s caliber on the field, and both the statistics and eye test tell the story. Those other backs are struggling to make plays behind an O-line that has been completely overmatched by UC Davis and UNLV…the only guy making plays is Ott - feed him.
WRT playing Ott more, I agree they shouldn't have pulled him until there was a bigger margin. But looking at the box score, it seems like coaches really need a third RB to get reps. Ott had 7 carries for 52 (7.4 YPC) and 1 TD. Moore had 6 carries for 26, a below-average 4.3 YPC (last year was 5.2). Seems like staff settled on Brooks as the #3 back and gave him 10 carries for a bad 22 yards (2.2 YPC). We don't need RB by committee this year -- Ott & Moore should get vast majority of reps -- but a team can't get by with just 2 backs, and young players need reps. Brooks appears to really need reps.
We don't need a 3rd RB when the person who should be our primary back is ONLY GETTING 7 CARRIES. Vereen carried the ball 45 times against Furd because Tedford wanted to win. Wilcox needs to stop being scared of losing and just focus on winning. Give Ott the ball 20-25x a game. Why the hell are Brooks and Moore getting 16 carries vs. his 7?
Yes, this.
Too…many…fumbles…
The problem is the drop off in the RB room is substantial...pound for pound, Ott is probably the most gifted skill position player Wilcox has signed in 6 seasons - you build a frigging Offense around talents like that...you DON’T lift them when you need a 1st down in predictable running situations to ice a game...the Bears were lucky it didn’t cost them a W.
The other backs don’t make anyone miss, and given the early inconsistency of the OL, that’s what this squad really needs right niw.
Hate to tell you, Bob, but chances are better than average that Ott leaves Cal after this season and heads to a better team. That’s life for a middling program in the era of the transfer portal and immediate eligibility. I’ll be shocked if we keep him.
I respect your opinion - I just completely disagree with it. The O looks noticeably different with a back of Ott’s caliber on the field, and both the statistics and eye test tell the story. Those other backs are struggling to make plays behind an O-line that has been completely overmatched by UC Davis and UNLV…the only guy making plays is Ott - feed him.
6.5 yards per carry is massive, I have no idea what you're talking about. That means a first down every 2 times he touches the ball.