Best Case - Knox and Jones take up the majority of the snaps at RB and produce between 1600-2000 yards rushing, and combine for 25 TDs. The biggest thing for the RBs may be the ability pass block and pick up blitzes. In 4 wide sets, they are going to have to understand the protection schemes and be at the right place at the right time to either assist by chipping a pass rusher or to handle a blitzer one on one. Knox's size is going to be exploited by defensive coordinators - much like Dan Dierking was when he was playing for Purdue. I remember Dierking, who always gave his all, saying that he tried to block AJ Hawk one time and he bounced off the guy. Knox is also going to be swatted away at times - how well he can block is going to determine how much he can be on the field in passing situations. He can't just always be sent on a route either, there are times where he's going to need to pass block. Same with Jones - he's going to be able to run and pick up yards, his success and the offenses success will come with pass blocking.
Worst Case - None of the running backs can pick up the protection schemes and become adequate a pass blocking. This would mean pulling them off the field and having to play someone like Jurasavich or Yancey - who give you much less options, making us one dimensional.
Most Likely Case - Knox and Jones will have success running the ball, but they will be a mixed bag in pass protection. There are going to be times where Knox is overwhelmed by someone and gets swatted away or gets flagged for a holding penalty. Jones, for all his progress from spring to fall, will miss assignments as all freshmen do. A third back will come into play - seems like it might be Yancey as Green has continued to fall down the depth chart.
I'm interested to see how we line up in a goal line/short yardage information and who is the lead blocker. I don't think any of the big freshmen will play this year (it will be nice to have actual big backs who enjoy contact and effort) so who is the lead blocker? I'd imagine that Jurasivic would be lined up as a true TE in short yardage situations, but at this point who knows.
Worst Case - None of the running backs can pick up the protection schemes and become adequate a pass blocking. This would mean pulling them off the field and having to play someone like Jurasavich or Yancey - who give you much less options, making us one dimensional.
Most Likely Case - Knox and Jones will have success running the ball, but they will be a mixed bag in pass protection. There are going to be times where Knox is overwhelmed by someone and gets swatted away or gets flagged for a holding penalty. Jones, for all his progress from spring to fall, will miss assignments as all freshmen do. A third back will come into play - seems like it might be Yancey as Green has continued to fall down the depth chart.
I'm interested to see how we line up in a goal line/short yardage information and who is the lead blocker. I don't think any of the big freshmen will play this year (it will be nice to have actual big backs who enjoy contact and effort) so who is the lead blocker? I'd imagine that Jurasivic would be lined up as a true TE in short yardage situations, but at this point who knows.
