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FB Branden Joe (official thread)

FKAGobucks877

The Most Power-Drunk
I haven't seen this mentioned anywhere yet...

Brandon Joe mentioned in yesterday's press conference that he will be spending half his time at FB and half his time at TB. If he can stay healthy, I really see him giving Ross and Hall a lot of competition at TB. I don't believe that Tressel addressed this, but Joe definitely did. I like the idea of Joe and Haw splitting time at TB in 2005 as well, that will give the offense a lot of different options. If Ross, Hall, and Joe all stay healthy for this year, I really see our running game improving a hell of a lot. Of course, a lot of that also depends on the OL production...
 
I think this is an indicator of three things:

1) Joe proved himself very effective at TB in the Fiesta Bowl. He seemed to bowl right through the line. It was obvious that K State was not prepared for that.

2) If Ross and Hall can't stay healthy, we're gonna need him at TB, unless one of the freshman come in and tear it up.

2) Maybe Tressel sees that we have some good depth at Fullback this year -- Schnittker, White, Franzinger (could be surprise), Johnson (frosh)
 
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I have been calling for Joe to get more carries at TB since early last season. He is a north/south runner who bruises the defensive players who try to tackle him. If used correctly (which he was in the Fiesta Bowl) he could run for 800-1000 yards next season.

Some folks forget that Joe was a highly touted TB coming out of high school.
 
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I really like the added dimension that Joe would give the O. He may not be an "every down" runner, but simply the threat of him carrying the ball adds to the offense, and when he does carry it, his style is much different than that of Ross or Hall. I look forward to seeing what he can do.
 
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I was very impressed with Joe in the Fiesta Bowl last year. The change of pace from Ross/Hall would be good for the offense. Hopefully he can stay healthy and show us what he can do. He has vision as well as power.... great for short yardage situations.
 
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One question - if we are going to put our best 11 on the field who plays FB when Joe is at TB? There was a pretty good drop off after Joe last season. I was not impressed with Schnittker or terribly impressed with White - certainly not enough to call them one of the 'best 11'.

Or will Joe only play TB in one back sets and play FB when we are using other TBs?


I agree with susichic - what I fear this says is:

1. Ross has always been injury prone and it could continue
2. Hall will be hard pressed to contribute after double knee surgery.
3. Guillford may be undersized and is far from proving he can be a feature back.
4. Parker has proven nothing.
4. The Frosh have not proven anything at this level despite the high expecataions some folks have (TBs who contribue as true Frosh are few and far between).

This could be a part of an 'if all else fails' backup plan based on necessity more than choice.

I am usually a glass-half-full kind of guy who is really looking for Ross to step up and have a monster season. But we could also end up in a plight not so much different than last season - except that Joe will start out healthy.
 
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This is quote from the O-Zone's 3/31/04 Note and Quotebook (John Porentas):


Thinning Down: After missing much of last season with an injury running back Brandon Joe had a very effective game in the Fiesta Bowl against Kansas State. Joe says this season he has slimmed down and expects to be an even more effective ball carrier.

"I dropped a couple of pounds since the last game to gain some quickness and speed, yet I haven't gotten too light to where I can't take on the Anthony Schlegals and other linebackers," said Joe.

"The year we won the Fiesta Bowl I was a whopping 257. Now I'm about 238. I definitely feel the difference."
 
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Oh8ch said:
One question - if we are going to put our best 11 on the field who plays FB when Joe is at TB? There was a pretty good drop off after Joe last season. I was not impressed with Schnittker or terribly impressed with White - certainly not enough to call them one of the 'best 11'.

Or will Joe only play TB in one back sets and play FB when we are using other TBs?


I agree with susichic - what I fear this says is:

1. Ross has always been injury prone and it could continue
2. Hall will be hard pressed to contribute after double knee surgery.
3. Guillford may be undersized and is far from proving he can be a feature back.
4. Parker has proven nothing.
4. The Frosh have not proven anything at this level despite the high expecataions some folks have (TBs who contribue as true Frosh are few and far between).

This could be a part of an 'if all else fails' backup plan based on necessity more than choice.
This could also be used as a preventative measure as well. If Ross, Joe, and Hall are all splitting carries, then the work is being spread around, and hopefully all three will stay healthy longer. Additionally, JT has hinted at playing much more one-back sets, which would negate the need for a FB.
 
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Once again I find myself in the minority, but I hate Joe as a tailback.

He gives teams no threat of the Home run. He can nickle and dime teams, but he isn't going to break one for more than 10 yards, and that is only if the defense is not playing the run at all. If the line doesn't give him a hole he doesn't have a chance.

Lydell, even though I don't like him either, can bounce one outside every blue moon.

The truth is we need to hope the either Hall of Ross are a whole lot better, a freshman (HAW!!!!) steps up, or that Justin Zwick's arm is going to have to be good enough to get the victories. Joe is just another distraction, to keep work away from the players that really need it, and can make a difference.

What we do need to do is involve Joe more in the offenese, maybe use him in passing situations as a blocker, or as a dump down reciever so he can run up field and get what we can before we punt.

Joe as a tailback? Nope
Ross/Hall? :shake:
Eric Haw :bow:
 
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oh8ch,

I'ver heard they plan to use him as the TB in single back formations, to allow an extra WR on the field. (Take Ross out, put WR in... Joe can block, run a route, or run the ball out of that backfield).

I like the idea.... he is big enough to not need a FB in front of him, and his hands aren't bad, so he can be an outlet pass if everything down field is covered...

How would you like to try to take him down while in a nickle or dime package?? :biggrin: :biggrin: :biggrin:
 
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"I agree with susichic - what I fear this says is:

1. Ross has always been injury prone and it could continue
2. Hall will be hard pressed to contribute after double knee surgery.
3. Guillford may be undersized and is far from proving he can be a feature back.
4. Parker has proven nothing.
4. The Frosh have not proven anything at this level despite the high expecataions some folks have (TBs who contribue as true Frosh are few and far between)."


1. It seems he's gotten over his turf toe, and was less susceptible to stingers, etc., later in the season. Could be he's toughening up.

2. If the surgeries are done right, his knees will actually be stringer than they were before the injuries. When he is healthy, he's a very capable back.

3. It sure seemed that Guillford suffered greatly from two things:
a.) Putrid blocking
b.) Running only in blatantly-obvious running situations
He's not exactly diminutive, and KSU's Sproles proved last year what a small back can do...just ask Oklahoma.

4. Parker hasn't had squat for opportunities. He's only had two carries in two years that I can remember.

5. While none of the frosh may turn out to be a Maurice Clarett, all we need is a solid, consistent back.

To me, the biggest problem with our running game last year was the inconsistent play of our OL.
 
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"1. It seems he's gotten over his turf toe, and was less susceptible to stingers, etc., later in the season. Could be he's toughening up."


Ross shows up for the Indiana's of the world. I do not remeber him ever having a good game against a good opponent. He has done nothing against scUM in the last 3 years and has gotten plenty of opportunities.

IMO: Ross is a very very poor man's Larry Johnson. Hope he proves me wrong, but we don't recruit RB to disappear in big games.
 
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