AnnArbor.com: With Toussaint back, Hayes and other young backs are focus
Nicole Ciglar
The question with Justice Hayes has mostly been, Does he have the bulk and strength to play tailback in the Big Ten? There's a fair amount of buzz about Hayes this spring, even though starter Fitzgerald Toussaint and primary backup Vincent Smith both return. I guess the third- and fourth-string running backs are big stories during spring ball.
I'm not sold on Rawls as a runner, as I've mentioned before. He got a few carries last year, but he didn't show anything great. Of course, it was very limited time, so he might still impress.
Mike Hart was 5'10 175 coming out of high school. Vincent Smith was 5'7 159 and has been the toughest back on the team. Jamie Morris was 5'7 188 when he played in the NFL - and he was michigan's all-time leading rusher.
Lack of size is not going to be a problem for Hayes.
Lack of size isn't an issue for running backs - it's the toughness with which he runs that might be an issue. Hart was small-ish, but he ran tough. And it obviously helped that he was over 200 lbs. by the time he was a senior. He was short, but not small. The most important thing was that he was a tough runner.
Hayes will have decent size by the time he's "needed" to play, which might not be until 2013 or 2014 (after Smith leaves). But whether you're 175 lbs. or 230 lbs., you're not going to be very good if you go down on first contact.
Eh...Anthony Thomas did OK. Of course he always had a big head-of-steam and fell forward a couple yards after - and he was fast enough to run through the big holes he got.
If you can be a complete back otherwise, you don't have to break a bunch of tackles like Hart did.
I have not been able to get to a practice yet. I was hoping to get over there this week for the coaches clinic, but it doesn't look like I'll be able to make it.
Rawls? Paging Thomas Rawls?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sold on Rawls as a runner, as I've mentioned before. He got a few carries last year, but he didn't show anything great. Of course, it was very limited time, so he might still impress.
DeleteMike Hart was 5'10 175 coming out of high school. Vincent Smith was 5'7 159 and has been the toughest back on the team. Jamie Morris was 5'7 188 when he played in the NFL - and he was michigan's all-time leading rusher.
ReplyDeleteLack of size is not going to be a problem for Hayes.
Lack of size isn't an issue for running backs - it's the toughness with which he runs that might be an issue. Hart was small-ish, but he ran tough. And it obviously helped that he was over 200 lbs. by the time he was a senior. He was short, but not small. The most important thing was that he was a tough runner.
DeleteHayes will have decent size by the time he's "needed" to play, which might not be until 2013 or 2014 (after Smith leaves). But whether you're 175 lbs. or 230 lbs., you're not going to be very good if you go down on first contact.
Eh...Anthony Thomas did OK. Of course he always had a big head-of-steam and fell forward a couple yards after - and he was fast enough to run through the big holes he got.
ReplyDeleteIf you can be a complete back otherwise, you don't have to break a bunch of tackles like Hart did.
thunder - any of your evaluations based on first-hand observations? Have you been able to get to practices and evaluate?
ReplyDeleteI have not been able to get to a practice yet. I was hoping to get over there this week for the coaches clinic, but it doesn't look like I'll be able to make it.
Delete