Bench Conner
- Thread starter RINGGOLD94
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If this team was playing for anything, I would agree. However, they are playing for about 8 wins and a crappy bowl. Help JC fight through it and prepare for the NFL.
Like I mentioned before, him coming back for another year wouldn't surprise me. Today, the focal point for the coaches was not on JC.
Why? Don't really agree with his statement, but it's not out of the realm of possibility.
Moss has come on strongly and at the very least is deserving of more carries.
Don't "bench" him, but like today 12-15 carries and spreading the ball around like they did today makes them overall a better team
I feel like they got a good rotation going. Connor to me has improved from game one and looked a bit quicker today. Having Moss take some meaningful reps allows james to be fresher in the fourth.
Conner is not ready for the NFL right now. He needs another year to fully recover and regain his old form.
Moss' development is really positive for tge team, but whike JC is still at about 75%, Moss is still a true frosh getting his legs under him. Neither are ready to be a 25 carry bell cow at this point.
Given that, it seems best to have those two split carries mostly, w Ollison used very effectively as a wing back. Also, it helps Moss if JC remains the starter, it takes the pressure off him, lets the defense focus on JC, etc.
Given that, it seems best to have those two split carries mostly, w Ollison used very effectively as a wing back. Also, it helps Moss if JC remains the starter, it takes the pressure off him, lets the defense focus on JC, etc.
I am not sure JC is even 75%, We all want the great story, but the fact is JC is just not close to the same back he was at this point.
We just need to be smart about when and how much we use him. I expect James to return next year and if he does, hopefully he'll return to his prior form.
I know this is out there, I am wondering if he does return, Pitt maybe puts him on Defense, because I dunno if he is a RB on the next level.
I think you guys are right, JC is maybe 75%. Look at his '14 highlight tape, hell watch any game in '14. He punished that second level on the defense. He can get thru the line now, same as before but what he did in '14 is what separated him. He ALWAYS broke that first tackler, that guy never stood a chance. He'd run thru him or stiff arm him. At the very least, he'd "Fall forward" for 3 yards after initial contact. We are not seeing that at all this year. Hey, kid has gone thru hell and back, no knock on him..
Hope he can get back to form next year and I still think he should get 10 carries a game.. Let's not be ridiculous with "benching him" though. He is still head and shoulders above Hall. I'd like to debate an Ollison v. Conner topic but Ollison is in the duzzi doghouse so it's not even worth mentioning..
Hope he can get back to form next year and I still think he should get 10 carries a game.. Let's not be ridiculous with "benching him" though. He is still head and shoulders above Hall. I'd like to debate an Ollison v. Conner topic but Ollison is in the duzzi doghouse so it's not even worth mentioning..
He's put up 130+ all-purpose yards in three games, has 7 TDs, and 4.2 YPC (not good, but not terrible either).
This is a bad thread.
This is a bad thread.
I think Duzzi is handling it well. Personally I'd like to see more traditional running plays but hard to argue with the results. In last 3 games, Conner is averaging 13 carries for 53 yards a game and Moss is averaging 9 carries for 63 yards per game. That's about what I expect to see going forward..
He's not even close to full speed and he's not running as patiently or disciplined, but that will all come back. If he returns - and why wouldn't he - he'll be at top form again next season.
As of now, he's still the most dependable RB.
Don't be surprised to see him get snaps at DE.
As of now, he's still the most dependable RB.
Don't be surprised to see him get snaps at DE.
Good post completely wiped out by a ridiculous last sentence.
He looks just as strong as before, maybe a step slower though. If they fed him the ball 30 times again, he'd probably still rack up the yards but he'd be much more winded than he would've used to.
There's no reason to do that though. Just like there's no reason at all to bench him. The way they are using Conner and Moss right now is absolutely perfect. Ollison in there every now and then is nice too. But Conner/Moss by year's end might be up there with the likes of Shady/LSH and Dion/Graham.
There's no reason to do that though. Just like there's no reason at all to bench him. The way they are using Conner and Moss right now is absolutely perfect. Ollison in there every now and then is nice too. But Conner/Moss by year's end might be up there with the likes of Shady/LSH and Dion/Graham.
He was definitely significantly quicker and more explosive in 2014. He is not 100% back, there's no denying that. It will be interesting to see what he decides to do after the season. He's a bright kid who seems to be getting good advice from those around him. I'm sure he knows that he will be a mid-rounder at best, undrafted FA at worst coming off of this season, whereas if he says a year and plays at 100% health, at the right weight, etc., he could significantly improve his draft position. I think NFL teams will want to see that he's back to full health, no remission issues, no knee issues, before they spend anything but a later round pick on him. On the other hand, James knows how quickly life can change, you can't take anything for granted, he needs to take care of his family, and the NFL is every player's dream. He will do the research. Whichever way he goes, I think we can be assured that it will be a well-thought out decision.
As for benching him, that's absurd. It's not like he;s ineffectual, he's having a solid year and has made an impact catching the ball as well.
Lastly, I think we can expect to see Ollison, Hall or both announce their transfers at year end, especially if JC stays. I still don;t understand what;s going on with Ollison, he has a lot of talent. There is definitely something that the team is keeping internal. He's too good to sit, he will most likely be on his way elsewhere.
Agree on his not doing the damage at the second level like he did, though he still does more than most backs.
The other way I see it is the cut back on the power play. He was able to make the cut back, remain upright and balanced and rip/mangle DBs for 20 yards. Now, he can make the cut back, but almost always stumbles and loses his balance and ends up falling for about 6-7 yards.
Bench him? As in don't play him at all? What are you, some kind of moron? In case you didn't notice Pitt get's the ball into the hands of multiple players every game and Conner gets it as much as anyone.
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
He will be fortunate to be drafted at his current playing level. I think he will be advised to work on his conditioning, get back to full strength and have the kind of year of which he is capable. James strikes me as very level headed so that I believe he probably recognizes that he hasn't played up to his capabilities and that it's in his best interests to return.
Yes, Bench him as put him as the #2 option....maybe 3rd. Chawntez Moss is a game breaker.....Conner is not.
So when i say bench him, i mean to make him the #2 or #3 option.
So when i say bench him, i mean to make him the #2 or #3 option.
Moss is a game breaker? Geez, we love to go overboard on this site or what? He had some decent runs, lets relax a tad..
Agreed, his pass coverage has been abysmal ! Tired of seeing guys jump over him for jump ball catches or race past him for 80 year tds....
Anyone who knows someone close to them who had cancer understands how difficult it is to fully recover. It will take atleast one more year to get back to somewhere near 100%.
In addition to the initial treatments recovering cancer patients depending on their situations take strong maintenance drugs that have a significant impact on energy, wieght, stamina, appetite, mental focus, etc. Most people take some combination of drugs for up to five years. So its not a simple matter of working out to get in shape.
Recovering from cancer to return to everyday normal go sit at a desk life is one thing to play major D1 or NFL football is another story.
IMO Conner is being used properlywhich is helping the new RB's break in without a ton of pressure being put on them.
In addition to the initial treatments recovering cancer patients depending on their situations take strong maintenance drugs that have a significant impact on energy, wieght, stamina, appetite, mental focus, etc. Most people take some combination of drugs for up to five years. So its not a simple matter of working out to get in shape.
Recovering from cancer to return to everyday normal go sit at a desk life is one thing to play major D1 or NFL football is another story.
IMO Conner is being used properlywhich is helping the new RB's break in without a ton of pressure being put on them.
Don't think you bench him. He is productive. But I think you have Moss be the go to guy and reduce Conner's carries, which it seems like they are doing. Benching to me is not even letting him play.
For sure. To me the most glaring difference, and the one that jumped out at me right away in the Villanova game, is he is not exploding into his runs once he gets the ball. As a freshman he was a little sluggish that way. In 2014 he was a totally different runner, slimmed down a little bit and just exploded into his carries. Same thing in the YSU game last year until he got hurt. With his combo of size, strength and explosiveness, he was unstoppable. Now, he more of a big, grinding type of runner. He doesn't have the kind of pop in his carries that he had pre-injury/cancer. My belief is that it's just that his body still isn't right, and that he will get it back--but not this season.. He will need a full off-season.
No. He's still the most polished back we have and the one I trust the most as we go into 2nd half of season. We are spoiled to have the depth we have right now. Moss has me excited for the future and Ollison made the play of the game (minus Orndoff TD) to get us in close FG range, imo. Conner will be #1 for as long he puts on the blue and gold....
I do hope that Hall doesn't get frustrated with his role (or lack of) and decides to transfer. That is always a concern...
"Bench" is a bad choice of words. If you wanna limit his number of carries, then sure, we get it.
Pitt's blessed to have a stable of running backs, and personally, I'd love to see Ollison and Moss get a few more carries each.
But the title of your thread makes it sounds like Conner's been non-productive; it's not only unfair, it's grossly inaccurate.
He has shown occasional flashes of the old Conner. I just think it is a process that will take a while. He has been thru plenty and I think we are all guilty of thinking he would come back as the 2014 version. I like how they are using him and everyone else. The defense never knows who is going to end up with the ball.
It's possible but if he wants to go I wish him luck. I don't mean to sound flippant but kids transfer all the time. It'll be more crowded next year with Sibley.
HMMMNNnnnnnnn........all Teams preparing for Pitt Offense must worry about Conners and his power, abilities, and heart to make Touchdowns, break Tackles, and run and catch passes, and that opens up many opportunities for other RBs, WRs, TEs.....AND YOU PROPOSE TO OC CANADA TO TAKE THAT ADVANTAGE AWAY? James does have 13 Touchdowns?
This Pitt Team is winning as a Team and Conners is just part of it and not all of it. Pitt is scoring 35+ Points a Game together and you want to change it?
Lets say Conner comes back for his final year at PITT. Would that upset the "applecart" and is it possible that we lose RB's that we'll need for the next four years.
Right now RB is a position that's set for a few years.
I hope he does well enough that an NFL team decides to pick him up based on his three years of solid performances.
We'll see!
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