-
New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.
LGHL If I Was in Charge: TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins would be on the field together
- News
- 0 Replies
If I Was in Charge: TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins would be on the field together
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
With a younger-than-usual receiving corps, an offensive coordinator who excels in the run game, and pehaps the two best running backs in the country, Henderson and Judkins would by dynamic together.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”If I Was in Charge” articles here.
Chip Kelly walked into a loaded Ohio State running backs room, and while the loss of Dallan Hayden thins out the group a little, the Buckeyes are in great shape ahead of the 2024 college football season. Kelly has two of the nation’s top returning ball carriers — arguably the two very best — in his backfield in TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. They have different strengths, but both are capable of doing whatever Ohio State needs them to do. Add in a younger-than-normal group of receivers for a new quarterback, and Ohio State should play both of its stud runners at the same time.
With Kelly relying on both inside and outside run concepts, having Henderson and Judkins both on the field at the same time would help the Buckeyes avoid tipping their hand. Rather than building tendencies and then trying to break them, Kelly could simply mix and match plays for his best outside runner (Henderson) and his best inside runner (Judkins). Faking to one and giving to the other some of the time, while handing off immediately on other occasions would likely be wildly successful in keeping defenses off balance. Mixing in zone running plays, draws, and sweeps with this talented duo has a good chance of keeping opposing defensive coordinators up at night, breaking some explosive plays in the run game, and simply wearing out the other team’s defense.
Henderson has game-breaking speed and an ability to excel (and accelerate) in the open field. Judkins can get the tough yards up the middle and break tackles, coming out the other side of the pile. A steady diet of both, while sometimes changing up the roles of each runner — and mixing in some fake handoffs with jet sweep concepts or play action passing, along with multiple types of designed quarterback runs for Will Howard or Devin Brown — is a likely path to a level of success that could have the Buckeyes among the nation’s best-rushing teams in 2024. Ryan Day should be pushing for this to help his second consecutive first-year starter under center.
Defenses would be hard-pressed to diagnose inside runs versus outside runs prior to the snap, because both running backs would be on the field. Movement at the snap might not tell them anything either, because Judkins could be used outside and Henderson inside — or the ball could go somewhere else entirely. The extra second or two bought by the indecision of a college defense is huge. It could be the difference between no gain and going the distance on any given play.
If successfully deployed, such an offense would allow Emeka Egbuka and the younger receivers on the team more time to get deep downfield, split seams left by the secondary, or find the level behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties. If whoever wins the quarterback position can make accurate throws in rhythm, the running game should make their job much easier.
Imagine being a middle linebacker and looking across the line of scrimmage, where both Henderson and Judkins are getting into their stances. If plays are mixed and matched regularly, it’s all guesswork where the ball would go at the snap. Is Howard going to give it to Judkins? Fake it to him inside and pitch it to Henderson? Is Henderson going to run an inside zone? Is judkins going to run a stretch play? It would be a nightmare. Add in a late switch between the positioning of the two before the snap, and it only makes it more difficult to anticipate.
Day brought Kelly in for many reasons, but one of them is his ability to succeed in the run game. Having both Judkins and Henderson on the team already seems unfair. Using them together to keep the other team off balance seems like the best way to use them both while still not overloading either runner with too many carries.
If Kelly can get the blocking he needs up front while using such a dynamic, two-man system, Judkins and Henderson will be off the field by halftime in most of Ohio State’s games anyway — each with more than, or close to, 100 yards.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
With a younger-than-usual receiving corps, an offensive coordinator who excels in the run game, and pehaps the two best running backs in the country, Henderson and Judkins would by dynamic together.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about what we would do if we were in charge of our favorite position group, team, conference, or sport. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”If I Was in Charge” articles here.
Chip Kelly walked into a loaded Ohio State running backs room, and while the loss of Dallan Hayden thins out the group a little, the Buckeyes are in great shape ahead of the 2024 college football season. Kelly has two of the nation’s top returning ball carriers — arguably the two very best — in his backfield in TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins. They have different strengths, but both are capable of doing whatever Ohio State needs them to do. Add in a younger-than-normal group of receivers for a new quarterback, and Ohio State should play both of its stud runners at the same time.
With Kelly relying on both inside and outside run concepts, having Henderson and Judkins both on the field at the same time would help the Buckeyes avoid tipping their hand. Rather than building tendencies and then trying to break them, Kelly could simply mix and match plays for his best outside runner (Henderson) and his best inside runner (Judkins). Faking to one and giving to the other some of the time, while handing off immediately on other occasions would likely be wildly successful in keeping defenses off balance. Mixing in zone running plays, draws, and sweeps with this talented duo has a good chance of keeping opposing defensive coordinators up at night, breaking some explosive plays in the run game, and simply wearing out the other team’s defense.
Henderson has game-breaking speed and an ability to excel (and accelerate) in the open field. Judkins can get the tough yards up the middle and break tackles, coming out the other side of the pile. A steady diet of both, while sometimes changing up the roles of each runner — and mixing in some fake handoffs with jet sweep concepts or play action passing, along with multiple types of designed quarterback runs for Will Howard or Devin Brown — is a likely path to a level of success that could have the Buckeyes among the nation’s best-rushing teams in 2024. Ryan Day should be pushing for this to help his second consecutive first-year starter under center.
Defenses would be hard-pressed to diagnose inside runs versus outside runs prior to the snap, because both running backs would be on the field. Movement at the snap might not tell them anything either, because Judkins could be used outside and Henderson inside — or the ball could go somewhere else entirely. The extra second or two bought by the indecision of a college defense is huge. It could be the difference between no gain and going the distance on any given play.
If successfully deployed, such an offense would allow Emeka Egbuka and the younger receivers on the team more time to get deep downfield, split seams left by the secondary, or find the level behind the linebackers and in front of the safeties. If whoever wins the quarterback position can make accurate throws in rhythm, the running game should make their job much easier.
Imagine being a middle linebacker and looking across the line of scrimmage, where both Henderson and Judkins are getting into their stances. If plays are mixed and matched regularly, it’s all guesswork where the ball would go at the snap. Is Howard going to give it to Judkins? Fake it to him inside and pitch it to Henderson? Is Henderson going to run an inside zone? Is judkins going to run a stretch play? It would be a nightmare. Add in a late switch between the positioning of the two before the snap, and it only makes it more difficult to anticipate.
Day brought Kelly in for many reasons, but one of them is his ability to succeed in the run game. Having both Judkins and Henderson on the team already seems unfair. Using them together to keep the other team off balance seems like the best way to use them both while still not overloading either runner with too many carries.
If Kelly can get the blocking he needs up front while using such a dynamic, two-man system, Judkins and Henderson will be off the field by halftime in most of Ohio State’s games anyway — each with more than, or close to, 100 yards.
Continue reading...
