Ugh. I like Rawls and all, but man, I was starting to think we had a chance before Toussaint's screw up. Why does it seem like these things always happen before big games?
I thought Rawls would become a nice feature back given the same opprtunity Fitz was given last year, so if 28 was to go down to injury or DUI, I was comfy with the backs we have. Now that Fitz IS most likely out, Im scared as hell....
Denard will still have to beat Bama with his arm. Fitz getting a DUI doesn't change that.
Is that supposed to make me feel better?
and remember a few of your favorite things, and then you won't feel... so... bad
I love Denard and all, but that statement makes me feel uncomfortable.
Just because we weren't going to run the ball fifty times against Alabama doesn't mean it's not critical that we get Alabama to respect the run game. Next to no one these days goes into a football game thinking that. But it is critical that Alabama doesn't just run blitzes to take Denard out of the passing game the whole game. That's what Michigan State does, and that's what Virginia Tech did to an extent. Michigan's offensive success against teams with a pulse last year followed Fitzgerald Toussaint's production (the outlier being Notre Dame and their absurdley unaware defensive backs) pretty well. We'll need to establish a running game to have a hope of moving the ball against Alabama.
In Rawls we trust. Fitz screwed himself, no sympathy here. we got plenty of other backs on the team, lets rally around them.
Has Fitz punishment by Coach Hoke been confirmed? Has he pleaded guilty to the DUI charge? Just saying! Besides, Hoke might have a different punishment in mind.
As much as it pains me, I think he should be suspended for the first two games. I think with all of the stuff that has gone on with Penn State, punishments for any athletics are going to be on the more severe side of things (just to cover their butts)
Might as well make it a 3 game suspension (UMASS).
We will be fine with Rawls, watched him go for 350 plus yards in one high school game. Alabama is not high school obviously, by Mr Rawls is a MAN.
Nice pic of George "The Animal" Steele.
It's not that I don't love George "The Animal" Steele, but for the record, he graduated from MSU. Maybe we could let that one slide.
Come on guys, no faith in Vincent Smith going manball? His 5'6" 172lb frame is going to run right over that Bama D.
Perfect game to prove that he's "better than Mark Ingram"
Although losing our starting running back is a large setback, we have some quality players at running back who may be able to help pick up the slack. Rawls is slated to be the starter once Fitz leaves, and Vincent Smith is a senior with a ton of experience. Plus if Rawls starts, there is a lot less footage on him for scouting. No I'm not a coach, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night... So my opinion is that we will be fine.
With Fitz out, I don't think there's a good chance that we're going to line up in I or Ace very often. Probably 80% of our plays are going to be run from a 1-2 flex shotgun set. Which then makes Smith a good back and makes some of our more inexperienced wide receivers go up against Bama's Robber zone D. Not a good matchup.
When does practice start?