Wolverine247 Board

I think Rawls should evolve into a 50/50 carries split with Fitz this year, but since I don't anticipate Fitz coming back next year, I think Rawls is going to be an absolute beast of a feature back.

He's a very good blocker

Our best offense for Denard is run out of the shotgun. Rawls is not a spread type of RB. Do we give up the spread just to get Rawls in the game and take away our best offensive weapon in Denard?

Opposing defense are slanting away from where Fitz lines up. When he crosses Denard and takes the ball he runs right into the slant. That leaves Denard wide open with the counter and he usually just has to beat one guy. We don't run many reverses or counters to the RB because we don't want the defense staying home. We want them to slant toward where the RB is going because that's when Denard is most effective.

Could be an Edwin Baker - Leveon Bell scenario. Baker left early even after a shaky year because he knew that in his senior year, Bell would take all of his carries. Could be the same with Fitz and Rawls

For me, it isn't only about the Purdue game. It is the little bit in the UMass game, and what he showed in the spring game.

I have seen little to nothing from Fitz this year. Time to give Rawls some drives with the first team.

I'm definitely not against Rawls getting more PT. He has earned it.

But I'm not getting my hopes up that his results would be better than Fitz's.

We need to start using more of both. Denard is running way too much.

I'm also begging for Norfleet to get some touches, even on little swing passes. Dude will be FILTHY if he gets into space

thats what I've been thinkin since the 2nd game. He's so fast and elusive that he could be a terror if we get the ball to him in space.

Darren Sproles 2.0.

My issue is Fitz waiting too long, and Hoke even said it in his press conference. When you have backs like Fitz you don't need a big hole, just a seam, hit it hard and fast and get 3-4 yrds. just like a QB checking down and taking what the D gives him. I would take 3 yrd gain anyday rather then a loss of 1. Besides that Fitz doesnt seem to be punishing defenders. I don't know how many times he has stopped right before he gets hit. I would rather see him take the fight to them rather then vise versa

The problem with Rawls is that he doesn't seem to be a shotgun running back. His best running is getting the ball moving downhill and building momentum rather than going East-West to get the ball and then changing direction to cut upfield. His best running doesn't mesh with what Denard does best, so do we want to put Denard in the I-formation which had everyone screaming, or have Rawls lose all his momentum trying to take handoffs in the read-option style?

Fitz hasn't been playing well, so I'm all for giving other people snaps, but Rawls success against Purdue was with Bellomy under center and a fullback (Kerridge) plowing through the hole first.

At least Rawls gives me hope for the future, since we're never going to run a shotgun spread after Denard leaves.