Ollison Leader In Clubhouse To Replace Pitt Running Back Conner, LINK!

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

A question — maybe the question — confronting Pitt this spring is: How do the Panthers replace running back James Conner, the second-leading rusher in school history? Tough one, huh? But what if there's a player on the roster who actually ran for more yards in his best season than Conner did last year? And what if that player enters this season with a smarter, more mature attitude than he previously displayed, aiming to not only produce on the field, but lead a young group? Hello, Qadree Ollison. Remember him?............................
LINK:
http://triblive.com/sports/college/...clubhouse-to-replace-pitt-running-back-conner

 

[PhPanther1]

As much as I would like to believe this....once Hall comes back, he'll magically ascend to the top of the depth chart and look like shit on Saturdays. We'll all wonder why and then we'll be told by posters that Ollison doesn't practice hard, doesn't break enough tackles, doesn't pick up 3rd down blocking good enough....all this while leading the team in rushing and being their main rb on 3rd down.

 

[EastOhioPanther]

I hope Ollison does step up this year... but just to be clear on last season....
Moss 42/232 - 5.4 ypc
Hall 36/167 - 4.4 ypc
Ollison 33/138 - 3.8 ypc

With past concerns about pass blocking... I hope the improvement is there, for the sake of good depth. But lets not be so quick to throw others under the bus, when performance is not as dire as one may think....
We are fortunate to have all 3 of these guys... With 2 good ones coming in as freshman....
H2P

 

[ksquared33]

We should be very happy about our RB situation considering the amount of experience our young RB's have....Moss & Hall have both seen pressure filled rep's considering their youth while Quad carried the load for a entire season to some acclaim.
People need to understand that each team goes thru depth & experience problems each & every year. Actually we are in much better shape at RB than many teams are considering we lost a great one.

H2 PITT !!!

 

[MajorMajors]

While all of the returning backs are decent, none of them is particularly elusive or has elite speed -- though I'm thinking Moss would be at the top in those two qualities. I prefer a home-run potential RB in the mold of Shady, Ray or Dion, over a battering ram...

The positive about Hall is that he runs really hard. He seems to always make a couple yards after contact - something coaches love to see.

I'm hoping incoming freshman Anthony Davis shows some zigzag, big-play ability.

Go Pitt.

 

[Pitt-Chains]

We should be very happy about our RB situation considering the amount of experience our young RB's have....Moss & Hall have both seen pressure filled rep's considering their youth while Quad carried the load for a entire season to some acclaim.
People need to understand that each team goes thru depth & experience problems each & every year. Actually we are in much better shape at RB than many teams are considering we lost a great one.

H2 PITT !!!

Aka, the voice of reason.

 

[Delpanther]

While all of the returning backs are decent, none of them is particularly elusive or has elite speed -- though I'm thinking Moss would be at the top in those two qualities. I prefer a home-run potential RB in the mold of Shady, Ray or Dion, over a battering ram...

The positive about Hall is that he runs really hard. He seems to always make a couple yards after contact - something coaches love to see.

I'm hoping incoming freshman Anthony Davis shows some zigzag, big-play ability.

Go Pitt.

Agree with you completely on all counts. The need for a HR threat is critical when you're trying to build an O around a running game.

 

[thebadby2]

As much as I would like to believe this....once Hall comes back, he'll magically ascend to the top of the depth chart and look like shit on Saturdays. We'll all wonder why and then we'll be told by posters that Ollison doesn't practice hard, doesn't break enough tackles, doesn't pick up 3rd down blocking good enough....all this while leading the team in rushing and being their main rb on 3rd down.

So what you're saying is you believe our coaches to be incompetent idiots.

Great post.

 

[ksquared33]

While we do not play Quad Henderson from the RB slot he is more than effective being our game breaking Home Run threat. The RB's we have are more than capable of breaking off big gains if not being the Home Run threat some desire.
I think sometimes people go to great lengths to find problems.....It's not like we lost a Home Run threat in James Conner from the RB position yet that offense was the greatest statistically in Pitt history.
Overall we are in very good shape at the RB position.....it could very easily be so much worse. In the college game you only have kids for set periods of time so developing depth along w/ experience is always going to be an issue for all teams. I do not think the staff could have done much better last year by getting Hall & Moss quality reps while in the thick of games yet still having James carry the bulk of the load. And Quad had his moments last year while being allowed an opportunity to mature & grow up a bit.

H2 PITT !!!

 

[PhPanther1]

So what you're saying is you believe our coaches to be incompetent idiots.

Great post.

No, i believe our coaches have a major bias towards their hometown boy in Hall.

 

[Delpanther]

While we do not play Quad Henderson from the RB slot he is more than effective being our game breaking Home Run threat. The RB's we have are more than capable of breaking off big gains if not being the Home Run threat some desire.
I think sometimes people go to great lengths to find problems.....It's not like we lost a Home Run threat in James Conner from the RB position yet that offense was the greatest statistically in Pitt history.
Overall we are in very good shape at the RB position.....it could very easily be so much worse. In the college game you only have kids for set periods of time so developing depth along w/ experience is always going to be an issue for all teams. I do not think the staff could have done much better last year by getting Hall & Moss quality reps while in the thick of games yet still having James carry the bulk of the load. And Quad had his moments last year while being allowed an opportunity to mature & grow up a bit.

H2 PITT !!!

In my opinion, the jet sweeps are susceptible to being shut down by good defenses which is why it's important that the tailback also be a HR threat because the tailback will get more carries. I don't believe that any of the current backs on the roster have shown the elusiveness, vision and speed to be big play backs ala Shady and Dion Lewis.

 

[thebadby2]

No, i believe our coaches have a major bias towards their hometown boy in Hall.

So you just think they're stupid?

 

[vegasgreed]

a lot of backs will play and they will try to ride the hot hand.

 

[Piranha]

Ollison is a very good back. He just needs to block or else he will get the QB killed on blitzes.

 

[PhPanther1]

So you just think they're stupid?

I think they let their heart overrule their head on decisions at times. It happens to a lot of coaches. You can term that however you wish.

 

[wbrpanther]

I think they let their heart overrule their head on decisions at times. It happens to a lot of coaches. You can term that however you wish.

I think your head has been overruled.

 

[thebadby2]

I think they let their heart overrule their head on decisions at times. It happens to a lot of coaches. You can term that however you wish.

Sure. Their livelihoods depend on winning football games, so I'm sure they try to base most of their strategic decisions strictly on emotion and gut feelings, as opposed to what they see in practice and on the field every single day.

 

[ksquared33]

Quad Henderson is not resigned to only taking the ball to the endzone out of a end sweep situation. And OC is more than capable of using Quad in a plethora of ways, situations, positions, etc. if Home Run speed is what you demand.
Overall I think we have our share of big play playmakers. We'll be just fine...or should I say that will not be our most pressing issue. We have bigger fish to fry but that's not too say if A.J. or Todd show's out big speed & shiftiness in camp it would not be welcomed...it would.

H2 PITT !!!
p.s. I think Moss has a bit more giddy-up than people give him credit for....IMO.